Are you wondering what the best laptops for live streaming on Twitch/YouTube are? Here you will learn what you should look for in a streaming laptop. You will also learn about the best laptop choices between 15.6 and 17.3 inches. Keep reading for more information.
Live streaming is the thing to do like now and people are slowly starting to understand that earning a living by streaming live videos on Twitch, YouTube and even Facebook is becoming a job – and nothing to be ashamed of.
But to do this, one piece of equipment is more important than all: the device you’re streaming from.
Today, I am here to share with you the best laptops for live streaming on YouTube, Twitch or any other platform in 2023. But before that, I will guide you on what to look for in a streaming Laptop.
What to Look for in a Streaming Laptop?
As far as choosing a laptop for live streaming, it all depends on what you plan to use it for.
Cyberpunk 2077 or Stardew Valley are the two most popular indie games you plan to stream. What will you do with it if you don’t want to use it for fun?
A laptop under $1000 can deliver solid streaming and gaming performance, but it requires closely examining the various components.
For example, if you’re playing Fortnite, you don’t need a strong GPU. Each member plays a role. That’s the most important thing to keep in mind, though.
Feature#1: GPU
Choosing a GPU is essential because it is not something you can change afterward. The GPU will directly impact the performance of your system. Fortunately, solid gaming performance doesn’t necessitate the finest of the best.
The GTX 1650 is a great budget option when playing high graphics games. However, the latest games have lower frame rates.
We recommend a GTX 1660 Ti or higher or a more modern RTX 30-series GPU if you’re searching for greater power.
Feature#2: CPU
The processor, like the GPU, cannot be changed, so you’ll need to be careful. A Core i5 or i7 from Intel’s 11th generation is what we suggest for most users. A Ryzen 4000 or 5000 is the best AMD option.
Generally, a processor with four or more cores is preferable to one with six or more cores.
RAM: You’ll need 8GB of RAM at the least. If you can afford it, consider upgrading to 16 GB of RAM. You can always upgrade your system’s memory by swapping it out for more when you need it.
Feature#4: Display
The minimal minimum is 1080p with a 60Hz refresh rate. A person’s preferred shoe size is a matter of personal taste. When streaming and dealing with many windows, I would choose a 17-inch screen.
Battery life on gaming laptops is notoriously short. Due to their heavy power usage, this is the case. Because of the additional space required for heatsinks and other cooling components, these laptops are typically heavier.
The battery life of most devices ranges from four to six hours, depending on usage.
Feature#3: Storage
The amount of storage on your laptop impacts the number of games and applications you can run. Storage, like RAM, can be upgraded and replaced later. As a result, you’ll need a hard drive and SSD storage to play AAA games.
Laptops For Live Streaming on Twitch/YouTube
Until recently, streaming video live from a laptop was very difficult because of the lack of processing power.
All thanks to the fact that extremely powerful notebooks are now available on the market, today we have quite a few options when it comes to solid live streaming – and they are made to fit all budgets.
Below we have the best recommendations for you, in all price ranges, so you can begin right away your adventure of live streaming on Twitch or Youtube from a super-laptop.
Normally, the more you are able to spend, the better the machine you’re getting, but we have some cheaper options available as well, because we all have to start somewhere!
And to make things even easier, we’ll recommend laptops with two different screen sizes: 15.6″ and 17.3″ – while the latter are less portable, they are usually better choices if you get them for live streaming, as you need the extra screen space for your games.
Please note: for the those who are not very tech-savvy, these are NOT laptops for streaming movies or TV shows from Netflix, Hulu and so on. Although these products can definitely do that, you don’t have to spend that much if watching your favorite series is the only thing you want to achieve.
These laptops are recommended for people who want to do their own streaming (usually playing games) on various platforms. If you only want to watch movies, we have some cheap Chromebook recommendations for you instead.
With these in mind, let’s check out below Techosaurus Rex’ list of the best laptops for live streaming below!
Please note: We get commissions for purchases made through links in this article.
If you’re in a big hurry and you don’t want to read through the entire list and go in depth, here are our top recommendations:
Best Budget Laptop for Live Streaming: Acer Predator Helios 300 (15.6″, i7-10750H CPU, RTX 2060 GPU, 512GB SSD)
Best Overall Laptop for Live Streaming: ASUS Rog Strix Scar 17 (17.3″, i9-10980HK CPU, RTX 2080 SUPER GPU, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD)
Now let’s check out some more details and other options that you have!
Best 15.6″ Laptops for Live Streaming
If you want a bit of portability, going for a traditional 15.6″ laptop is a good idea. These laptops don’t have a large screen (which could be a problem if you’re gaming, for example) but they pack a really solid punch over the hood.
1. Acer Aspire 5 A515
Even if you’re only using a microphone to stream, this Acer Aspire 5 shows that you don’t have to spend much money.
The Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD are all part of this system. Those are all you need to start a successful Twitch or YouTube channel.
If you’re planning to stream with a webcam, you’ll almost probably want to forego the laptop’s built-in mic and camera in favor of a separate webcam.
Although the Aspire is on the more affordable end of the laptop spectrum, it nevertheless packs a lot of punch in terms of functionality.
Display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels on the large 15.6-inch screen. It’s bright enough for streaming, but it won’t be able to withstand direct sunlight.
It incorporates a fingerprint scanner on the keyboard deck for further protection, and, in a departure from recent design trends, it boasts a plethora of connectors.
It has one USB-C port, one USB 2.0 port, and two USB 3.1 ports. It’s particularly excellent that one of the USB 3.1 connectors supports power-off charging.
2. Lenovo ThinkPad E15
Whether using the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 to stream video games or professional presentations, the ThinkPad E15 is a reliable laptop from a well-known manufacturer.
The mid-level Intel Core i5-10210U can handle streaming and video creation without upgrading to the more expensive Core i7 series.
Allows you to work on many projects simultaneously with the 16GB RAM. Lenovo also provides an SSD that is a little bit larger than typical.
This storage option is an attractive mid-range option that provides plenty of room at a reasonable cost. However, if you need more or less RAM or storage, there are several options available for this model.
If you’re looking for a laptop with a large 15.6-inch full HD display (1920 x 1080 pixels), don’t expect to play many high-end games on this one. It is possible to find better laptops if that is your objective.
3. HP Omen 15
To stream to Twitch, you’ll need a computer that can handle at least $1500 in investment.
Moreover, would it be able to stream games using OBS? The HP Omen 15 may be a good starting point. For storage, it contains 512 GB of SSD and 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core i7-10750H.
It is a robust configuration from the start, capable of streaming video and games with no problems.
The 16GB RAM is adequate for moderately demanding work but may struggle if you frequently produce high-quality video.
The 15.6-inch display boasts a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for playing games. All of this is made possible by an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q.
Streaming projects benefit significantly from the 2070 Max-power-conscious Q’s slightly slower performance.
The case is one of only a few that stands out in this compilation.
The all-metal construction is durable enough to be a functional portable laptop, especially considering the six-hour battery life.
The case’s distinctive shape gives the display the appearance of standing on a pedestal. However, at 5.3 pounds, it’s not something you’d want to lug around all the time.
The keyboard has a four-zone backlight that you may control independently.
4. Lenovo Legion 5
The cheapest entry on our list (at the moment of writing this article, at least) offers a cheap entry for wannabe live streamers, while also guaranteeing a decent performance overall.
Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor, with 16GB of RAM, Lenovo’s laptop also comes with a solid graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti, which can easily handle more demanding tasks. It also offers a decent amount of storage – 512GB on a SSD.
While this isn’t the best possible laptop for streaming out there, it has the advantage of being the cheapest.
It will also perform really well when you stream. But if you plan to do some serious gaming, it won’t be able to play them all on the highest settings.
But for an entry point and testing out the waters, it’s a really good choice. You can definitely start streaming with it right away and it offers a good performance for the price.
There are better options below, but if you’re on a limited budget, this one will have to do.
It has a good display too, with an 144Hz refresh rate, which will make movement on the screen smoother and easier on the eye.
It’s full HD, has some internal tweaks to prevent overheating and it is, overall, a more than decent laptop.
The battery is not amazing, lasting around 5 hours tops, but you’ll most likely keep it plugged in at all times anyway, so that shouldn’t be a big problem.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a backlit keyboard and it isn’t the best looking laptop you will ever see, but it gets the job done, so if you’re on a budget, this is your best choice.
5. Acer Predator Helios 300
(Budget award)
Acer’s Predator line is well known by gamers for all the right reasons: it comes at decent prices and offers amazing performance in return.
The same goes for the Helios 300, which is one of the best laptops for live streaming in 2022, offering a lot of bang for your buck.
It is also a smaller laptop (15.6-inch display), powered by the 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H Processor which has 6 cores and goes up to to 5GHz, which is pretty impressive.
This is a really solid processor and I am surprised to see it on a product that sells for such a low price, especially when paired with an amazing graphics card.
The GPU itself is the amazing GeForce RTX 2060 with 6GB of dedicated RAM. This is one of the best graphics cards you can get on a laptop right now, so you’re up for a really sweet deal!
Pair that up with 16GB of RAM and you have a really good mix for streaming your games on Twitch, Youtube or Facebook.
It also have a really good display, with 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms Response time, meaning that your games will move smoothly and nicely, helping your eyes a bit too.
In my opinion, since it’s not a lot more expensive than the first recommendation, it’s a much better choice – hence the reason behind it scoring the best budget award.
So definitely get this laptop if you don’t have a massive budget available.
It also comes with fast SSD storage, and offers 512GB.
While it’s not ideal, you can still make it work if you don’t have a ton of games or content to store. If you do, you can always consider an upgrade, an external HDD or even cloud storage.
Also have in mind that a ton of storage doesn’t mean much if the other specifications are crap – and for the Predator Helios 300, this is not the case!
It has all the bells and whistles you need, including a backlit keyboard, various ports and a decent battery life – although you’ll most likely keep it plugged in anyway when streaming.
All in all, this is a really good laptop for live streaming at an excellent price.
It is a bit bulky and heavy, but it does the job it’s supposed to and I would consider it the best value deal on our list. So if you don’t have a ton of money to spend, choose this one!
Click here to check the price on Amazon.
6. MSI GL65 Leopard
Another really good option here for a streaming laptop, this one offers a small but important upgrade compared to the previous model. So if you have the extra money to spend, it’s definitely worth the cost.
While it has the same processor as the Helios 300 (the i7-10750H Processor), it offers a better graphics card – the GeForce RTX 2070 with 8GB RAM.
This will really help when it comes to streaming the latest games on the market!
All the specifications are basically the same as with the previous model, including 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
The 15.6″ FHD display comes with a 144Hz refresh rate also, which is exactly what you need if you plan to do some live streaming.
Since this one’s a gaming laptop, it looks really cool too, with a backlit keyboard and a really nice design overall.
I also like the fact that it has a ton of ports, including an HDMI port (which many models are starting to dump), but also a Mini DP, an USB-C port and three regular USB ports.
All in all, it’s a good device that offers a lot for the money, making live streaming a breeze no matter if you plan to stream games or other activities.
Click here to check it out right away.
7. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
Now let’s talk about breaking the bank! We’re still in 15.6″ territory, but Asus’ Republic of Gamers laptop doesn’t shy away from telling you exactly what it’s worth. And it doesn’t come cheap, that’s a fact.
But it does come with specifications that will make your jaw drop. For starters, we’re talking about a state of the art Intel Core i9-10980HK processor – the best of all processors on this list.
It also has a whooping 32GB of RAM, as well as a similarly jaw-dropping GPU, the GeForce RTX 2070 Super with 8GB RAM. These specs alone make it a real beast when it comes to live streaming anything.
The ROG Strix Scar 15 offers a ton of SSD storage as well – 2TB to be precise – which should be more than enough even today when you need more and more GBs for each program you install.
But the goodies won’t stop here. The display offers a 300Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time, making everything on-screen run smoothly and look amazing.
It still doesn’t offer 4K resolution, but for its small size, that’s not really needed and the FHD display is really high quality, offering a crisp, perfect image.
It comes with a backlit keyboard and all the goodies you can think of, including internal cooling for keeping the temperatures under control when things get heated.
It also has a large, perfect keyboard without a numpad, which is moved over to the touchpad in case you ever need it.
The only real con of the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is its price, as it costs way more than the previous models that I recommended.
Now, this shouldn’t be a problem if you’re already doing well with your live streaming and you can afford it. It’s even better, because you’re getting the best 15.6″ laptop for live streaming for the money.
But if you are just starting up, we would recommend choosing another model and not breaking the bank for this one – unless you really know you can afford it.
It is indeed an amazing laptop, but if you’re just starting, it might be better to start small and see if live streaming is really something you want to do and are good at.
No need to spend a ton of money just to check things out.
In other words, this is aan amazing choice for those who have a bit more to spend, but don’t consider it a must have no matter what, especially if you’re just starting.
Click here to check its price on Amazon.
Best 17.3″ Laptops for live streaming
For live streaming, we do believe that going for a laptop with a larger screen is the way to do it. Therefore, unless you really want a 15.6″ model, it’s best to go with one of the products recommended below.
1. Asus ROG Zephyrus S17
If you are a streamer, the Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 is a dream come true. It is packed inside a 17.3-inch 4K display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, making this laptop one of the most powerful on the market.
Premium touches like the sturdy aluminum chassis with six speakers and a customizable keyboard round out the package.
However, you’ll have to fork over a pretty penny to get it. The Zephyrus S17 is undoubtedly the best of the best if you have a flexible budget and won’t settle for anything less than the best.
2. GE76 Raider 12UHS
It has a 17.3-inch display and a 12th-generation Intel processor. It’s a sleek piece of machinery. If you’re looking for blazing-fast gaming performance, go no further than this laptop.
In addition to the large screen, the immersion gets further enhanced by its large size.
One major issue is the cost of nearly $4,000, which is prohibitive for most people. Woof.
Nevertheless, if you’re prepared to part with the dough in exchange for some significant clout, you won’t be let down by the experience.
3. LG Gram Laptop
The LG Gram delivers an actual notebook experience with its ultra-sleek form and portability.
The Intel 10th Generation i7-1065G7 processor and Iris Plus graphics make it widely regarded as one of the best laptops for multitasking and entertainment.
It is one of the greatest laptops to use for Netflix viewing and light gaming. It is not a gaming laptop, so be aware of that.
With 20 tabs open in Chrome, this super-efficient Ultrabook can do anything from watching movies to responding to emails and other work-related tasks.
LG’s claim of 19.5 hours of battery life is a little overblown. But it does provide more than 10 hours of backup for even the most demanding user.
Your eyes will immediately go for the huge 17-inch 1660p screen’s crisp contrast and brightness and the screen’s sheer size.
The LG Gram is one of the lightest laptops, but it’s also incredibly durable. Thanks to a specially redesigned chassis for endurance.
4. Acer Nitro 5
We’re getting back to Acer when it comes to budget-friendly options for live streaming, and the Nitro 5 is everything you need if you don’t have a big budget available.
The 17″ Nitro 5 is powered by a 9th generation Core i7-9750H processor (6 cores, up to 4.5GHz), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Graphics Card and also has 16GB of RAM.
The large display is really nice too – also with 144Hz refresh rates – making everything look smooth on-screen.
You also get a backlit keyboard, a fual fan system to keep the temperatures low and various ports, including USB-C and HDMI.
The biggest drawback here is the really small storage it offers: just 128GB of SSD storage might not be enough for most people.
So you would definitely have to invest in additional storage as the default amount simply won’t do.
But if you’re comfortable with this (or if you really don’t need more storage), then the Acer Nitro 5 is a really good large laptop for live streaming.
Click here to check the price on Amazon.
5. MSI GS75 Stealth
This MSI model is probably the best option that you have if you don’t have an unlimited budget, but you also want a large screen laptop that offers impressive performance.
The GS75 Stealth is a really solid model that isn’t cheap, but not extremely expensive either if we look at its specs.
It is powered by an i7-10750HK processor, it has an amazing GPU (GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q with 8GB RAM) and 32 GB of RAM.
It is all paired up nicely with 32GB of RAM, resulting in a solid laptop that can easily handle any sort of live streaming or pretty much anything you throw at it.
The large display also offers a 300Hz refresh rate so even the fastest on-screen movements will look smooth and natural, while the laptop itself looks good, has a backlit keyboard and offers various ports, including two USB-C slots and an HDMI port.
While this is still not the best on our list in terms of performance, it is a mighty good laptop that would get no complaints from most streamers out there.
Click here to check its price on Amazon.
6. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17
(Editor’s choice)
If you’re looking for a fancy, slim laptop that is extremely portable (considering its size), yet on that offers mindblowing specifications, you don’t have to look any further – this is THE laptop for ultimate live streaming on Twitch or any other platform.
This laptop gets the editor’s choice award, based on multiple factors which will be covered below. It’s simply the best option out there – but it’s not cheap!
For starters, it comes with the amazing 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK processor, which is only matched by its smaller sized cousin that we recommended earlier.
One of the best CPUs out there at the moment of writing.
But it won’t stop here – it also has a graphics card that makes us really happy – the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER with 8GB of RAM.
It can really handle anything you throw at it, and will do so with grace and style.
It also has 32GB of RAM, which should be more than enough for most, as well as a super huge storage: 2TB on two SSDs.
Bascially, you don’t even need to think about any upgrades if you get this model!
The display is really good too, with solid image quality for you, as well as a 300Hz refresh rate.
We really have no complaints for this model which is by far our top recommendation for live streaming.
It is also really expensive, so let us say it again: if you’re just getting into live streaming, it might be best to invest in one of the cheaper models and see how it goes.
You can always upgrade to an amazing laptop like the Strix Scar 17 when the money starts pouring.
Click here to check it out on Amazon.
Best Overall Laptop for Streaming: ASUS Rog Strix Scar 17
Regarding gaming performance, the Asus ROG Strix Scar is a monster. It’s possible to run most games at their highest settings on the 12th Gen i9 and RTX 3070 Ti GPU when these components are combined, and with such high configurations, you won’t be limited by what your computer ‘can’ perform.
Best Budget Laptop for Streaming: Acer Predator Helios 300
You can play games with RTX enabled on the Acer Predator Helios 300. The quality of this laptop’s construction is impressive given its relatively low price.
In contrast to most others, this Acer laptop has a premium appearance and feel.
It takes less than three seconds for the laptop to start up. The only hiccup is when the user has to enter the password to log in. The laptop outperforms the Xbox Series X when it comes to gaming.
Outer Worlds was the first game I ever played on my Acer Predator Helios 300. There are a lot of complaints about this game’s slow loading times and hefty resource consumption.
Thanks to the SSD on the Acer Predator Helios 300, it just takes 5 seconds for the game to load. It takes over 10 seconds on Xbox One X.
Conclusion
We have recommended 13 very powerful laptop computers above, all of them being perfect for live streaming. We also did our best to cover all budget ranges, so that you have a model that’s as close to your budget as possible.
The golden rule of thumb here is that the more expensive models are also better, but don’t go above and beyond your means just to get the most amazing one out there: all these laptops are really good!
And if you still don’t really know what to choose – go for either the Budget Award or the Editor’s Choice laptops, depending on how much you’re ready to spend.
Now all I have to say is good luck with your streaming plans and may you have millions of subscribers and hundreds of millions of views as soon as possible!
We conclude our article “Laptops For Live Streaming on Twitch/YouTube.” For more informative articles, stay tuned!
Megan
Thursday 22nd of April 2021
Hi my son has a Xbox series x and wants to live stream using twitch he has an legato hd60s+, what kind of laptop would be most suitable and do we need a gaming laptop or just an ordinary laptop. I’m a bit baffled by all the specs. Any advice please ? Ty x We have a very tight budget !
Calin
Saturday 24th of April 2021
@Megan, yes, he would still need a gaming laptop, one with a dedicated GPU. The Legato HD60+ requires at least a GTX 10xx card, but also an i5 processor (at least). But the better the specs, the better the performance.
Plus, if your son doesn't want to live stream only and plans to do some video editing as well, a powerful laptop is needed. Any of our recommendations above would fit the bill, but you might still be able to find something cheaper that would still work. Just check to see the minimum requirements of the Legato device, buy a laptop that fits those numbers and then upgrade whenever it's possible.
Jennifer
Thursday 14th of January 2021
I have a question, I am wanting to purchase a laptop to do streaming live on OBS through Facebook what is the best laptop for this ?
Calin Ciabai
Thursday 14th of January 2021
All of the laptops above will handle OBS streaming streaming really well. It all depends on your budget - the more expensive products on the list offer more in terms of performance, but even the cheapest option (first laptop) is still a good choice and can handle streaming - including OBS - without a problem.