Best Laptops for The Sims 4 - Updated 2021
Playing with the best laptops for The Sims 4 can make your experience of this amazing and powerful world-building game a million times more enjoyable. The Sims 4 doesn't require too much power (in terms of hardware) to run on base settings, but if you want to play it lag free and stutter free, you'll want to get a decent laptop in your bag to make it run smoothly.
The Sims 4 is the latest version of The Sims franchise in which you can create your own characters, build houses and develop your own relationships between the characters. There are also lots of expansion packs, including the latest Cats and Dogs which add a whole host of other unique features and content to keep the game fun and refreshing.
Laptops for The Sims 4
- The Sims 4 Laptop Settings
- The Sims 4 System Requirements
- Best Laptops For The Sims 4
- High-End Laptops For The Sims 4
- The Sims 4 Laptop Reviews
- FAQ for The Sims 4 Laptops
| RANK | Computer | Processor | Graphics | RAM | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Budget |  2020 Asus TUF 15.6 FHD Premium Gaming Laptop | i5-10300H | GTX 1650Ti 4GB | 16GB |  Find Price |
| Worthy Mention |  ASUS TUF VR Ready Gaming Laptop | AMD Ryzen 7-4800H | RTX 2060 | 8GB | Find Price |
| Worthy Mention |  Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop | Intel i7-10750H | GeForce RTX 2060 | 16GB | Find Price |
| Winner! |  Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 15.6 Inch Full HD 120Hz Gaming Laptop | i5-10300H | GTX 1650 Ti | 8GB | Find Price |
| Worthy Mention |  Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop AN515-54-5812 | Intel Core i5-9300H | GTX 1650 | 8GB | Find Price |
The Sims 4 Laptop Settings
The Sims 4 is a game which allows you to change the graphics settings in game. This allows the game to run on different laptops with different hardware specifications, including older laptops which don't have powerful graphics cards or CPUs. This is great- if all you want to do is play the game on low-medium settings and have an old laptop hanging around. However, if you've tried playing The Sims 4 on higher settings before, you'll notice the difference in gameplay is a million times smoother than playing on lower settings.
The Sims 4 uses a setting which makes your games FOV (field of view) go blue on lower settings. That means, in expansion packs such as City Living, you won't see all the buildings around you on the lower settings; instead you'll be presented with a sort of blue haze fog and only when you zoom in will the buildings and details show themselves.
On lower settings, your Sims 4 character models will also be of lower quality. This is quite hard to stomach at times, with bad anti-aliasing and other issues which are very noticable if you've ever played the game on high-quality settings. Create-A-Sim or CAS as it's known by the Sim Community, is one of the most important parts of playing The Sims 4 and whilst playing it on low settings isn't bad- it still is a shadow of what it can be on higher settings.
The other thing you'll notice is stuttering and frame rate drops on lower settings. When you're in big areas that have lots of sims moving around (such as in the new expansion packs, like City Living and X) the frame rate will drop considerably to compensate for all the moving objects the computer has to process.
So what do you need to be able to run The Sims 4? What are the most important parts of a laptop you should be considering?
The number one thing you want to consider is your laptop's graphics card. This piece of hardware is responsible for all the rendering going on in games; most laptops don't have a dedicated graphics card and instead rely on the CPU's integrate graphics processor, which is nowhere near as powerful as a top-end graphics card. If your CPU is processing a game's graphics, it's going to be loud and noisy and get very hot very quickly. This can also cause it to damage other components in the laptop, meaning that after a year or so of using the laptop, it'll start to get slower and slower.
Nowadays, you can get great Gaming Laptops. These laptops are designed to run games with intensive graphics and give you a smooth experience as if you were using a desktop computer to play The Sims 4. They pack powerful hardware into the laptop, like a fast SSD, the latest CPU and powerful graphics cards that can render games in high-quality settings.
The Sims 4 System Requirements
The Sims 4, like most games these days, allows you to play it on a variety of different computers due to their optional gameplay settings. These settings adjust the quality of graphics, which means your computer doesn't need to be as powerful to run it. That being said, if you want to play The Sims 4 with smooth gameplay and have good FPS, you'll want to have a computer that meets the recommended system requirements:
| Recommended System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7/8/10 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel core i5 or faster, AMD Athlon X4 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 650 or better |
| Minimum System Requirements | |
| OS | Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista (SP2), Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8 or 8.1 , Windows 10 |
| CPU | 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Athlon 64 Dual-Core 4000+ or equivalent (For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.0 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-62 or equivalent) |
| RAM | At least 2 GB RAM |
| Graphics | 128 MB of Video RAM and support for Pixel Shader 3.0. Supported Graphics cards: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or better, ATI Radeon X1300 or better, Intel GMA X4500 or better |
As you can see from these settings, it says you can still playing The Sims 4 on Windows XP! This is amazing- considering Windows XP was running the original Sims and The Sims 2 when it came out. We don't recommend using a laptop with Windows XP as you'll be playing on the lowest of settings, it'll take forever to load up and make the game really unenjoyable. You want to aim for Windows 7+, ideally a Windows 10 laptop.
Source: EA Support Page
| The Sims 4 Details | |
|---|---|
| Homepage | The Sims 4 |
| Publisher | EA Games |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Genre | Life Simulation |
Depending on how well you want to run The Sims 4 and your budget, check out a list of laptops below. You may need to tweak the in-game settings in order for the game to run well on some of the cheaper laptops.
Why not consider a computer instead?
We've also compiled a list of the best computers for The Sims 4. A desktop computer generally gets you better hardware and more power for a cheaper price than a laptop would.
Check out this Sims 4 Video:
Best Laptops For The Sims 4
If you want a computer with a little more power behind it and a computer that won't need to be upgraded in a couple of years, consider these best laptops for The Sims 4.
| Computer | CPU | RAM | Storage | Graphics | Purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 15.6 Inch Full HD 120Hz Gaming Laptop | ||||||
| i5-10300H | 8GB | 512GB SSD | GTX 1650 Ti | Check Price On Amazon | |
| 2019 ASUS ROG 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop | ||||||
 | i7-9750H | 16GB | 1TB HDD + 512GB SSD | GTX 1650 | Check Price On Amazon | |
| Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop | ||||||
| Intel Core i7-9750H | 16GB | 256GB NVMe SSD | RTX 2060 | Check Price On Amazon | |
| HP - Pavilion 15.6 - Gaming Laptop | ||||||
 | AMD Ryzen 5 | 8GB | 256GB SSD | GTX 1650 | Check Price On Amazon | |
| 2020 Asus TUF 15.6 FHD Premium Gaming Laptop | ||||||
| i5-10300H | 16GB | 1TB SSD | GTX 1650Ti 4GB | Check Price On Amazon | |
| ASUS TUF VR Ready Gaming Laptop | ||||||
| AMD Ryzen 7-4800H | 8GB | 512GB | RTX 2060 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Last Updated on January 2021
High-End Laptops For The Sims 4
High-End laptops are beast machines that can run most games well. You won't struggle to run The Sims 4 at all with any of these machines since they are finely tuned to run intensive graphical games.
| Computer | CPU | RAM | Storage | Graphics | Purchase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop | ||||||
| Intel i7-10750H | 16GB | 512GB NVMe SSD | GeForce RTX 2060 | Check Price On Amazon | |
| Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 15.6 Inch Full HD 120Hz Gaming Laptop | ||||||
| i5-10300H | 8GB | 512GB SSD | GTX 1650 Ti | Check Price On Amazon | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-54-760S Gaming Laptop | ||||||
 | i7-11800H | 16GB | 512GB SSD | RTX 3060 | Check Price On Amazon | |
| MSI GP66 Leopard Gaming Laptop | ||||||
 | i7-11800H | 16GB | 512GB SSD | RTX 3070 | Check Price On Amazon | |
| Alienware m15 R4 RTX 3070 | ||||||
 | i7-10870H | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB SSD | RTX 3070 | Check Price On Amazon | |
| MSI Crosshair17 17.3" | ||||||
 | i7-11800H | 16GB | 512GB SSD | RTX 3060 | Check Price On Amazon | |
| ASUS ROG Strix G15 (2021) Gaming Laptop | ||||||
 | AMD Ryzen 7 4800H | 8GB | 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD | RTX 3050 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Last Updated on March 2022
The Sims 4 Laptop Reviews
Let's take an in-depth look at all the laptops we've listed on this page. Here we'll discuss the advantages of using these laptops when playing The Sims 4.
Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 15.6 Inch Full HD 120Hz Gaming Laptop - Our Thoughts
| CPU | RAM | Storage | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| i5-10300H | 8GB | 512GB SSD | GTX 1650 Ti |
This Dell Gaming Laptop is great if you're on a budget; it gives you the GTX 1650 Ti Graphics Card, released in 2020, for running popular games such as Fortnite, The Sims 4, GTA 5 and more. You have a nice amount of storage with the 512GB SSD, great for loading up games super fast. It does have only 8GB of RAM, which might mean you have to restart the laptop every now and then to refresh it. It has an i5 -10300 processor, one of the more modern CPUs to be released in the last year.
2019 ASUS ROG 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop - Our Thoughts
| CPU | RAM | Storage | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| i7-9750H | 16GB | 1TB HDD + 512GB SSD | GTX 1650 |
Deciding on what high-end gaming laptop to buy can be difficult with so many different options available. The 2019 Asus ROG provides a great opportunity with its 1TB harddrive and 512 SSD; great for storing files and loading up games to play quickly. It has the right amount of memory with 16GB, allowing you to play all modern day games just fine. It comes with an 8-core processor (i7-9750H) and the GTX 1650 Card, which was made as a stepping stone betwee GTX and RTX cards.
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop - Our Thoughts
| CPU | RAM | Storage | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel i7-10750H | 16GB | 512GB NVMe SSD | GeForce RTX 2060 |
The Acer 300 Helios Laptop has been a staple of gaming laptops for a long time. This updated version includes a 2060 RTX card, 16GB of Ram and 512GB of SSD storage for super fast loading of games. Performance wise, this laptop should run most of the top-end games on the market; this Helios Laptop also comes with a Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display, which is perfect for reactive games that require little input delay.
The laptop also looks and feels like a premium gaming laptop; you've got customisable RGB keyboard lighting, smooth laptop finish and a cover-case to keep the laptop from getting scratched.
Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 15.6 Inch Full HD 120Hz Gaming Laptop - Our Thoughts
| CPU | RAM | Storage | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| i5-10300H | 8GB | 512GB SSD | GTX 1650 Ti |
This Dell Gaming Laptop is great if you're on a budget; it gives you the GTX 1650 Ti Graphics Card, released in 2020, for running popular games such as Fortnite, The Sims 4, GTA 5 and more. You have a nice amount of storage with the 512GB SSD, great for loading up games super fast. It does have only 8GB of RAM, which might mean you have to restart the laptop every now and then to refresh it. It has an i5 -10300 processor, one of the more modern CPUs to be released in the last year.
FAQ - The Sims 4 Laptops
Can The Sims 4 work on Macs?
The Sims 4 can be played on a Mac. You can see their Mac system requirements here.
What kind of Laptop do I need to run all The Sims 4 Expansions?
The Sims 4 is constantly adding new expansions to the base game and these expansions often require more powerful hardware to run due to massive areas that get added. For example, in the recent Get Famous expansion pack introduces a new world which has a lot of objects and sims to render. Players who can play the base game fine on lower settings may notice it struggling more in these expansion packs.
With that being said, if you have a laptop with a graphics card that is in the GTX 1000 series, such as a 1060, 1070 or even the 1080, you should be able to run these expansion packs on the highest settings in high detail.
What is the best laptop to buy for Sims 4?
A laptop that can play The Sims 4 on it's highest quality settings will need to have a good GPU, such as a 1070, 1080 or 1080 TI. It should also have one of the latest generation of i7 CPUs, such as Intels i7 7700K or i7 7700HQ, which comes with up to 4 cores and 8 threads. If you're lucky enough to get an i7 8700K, you can run up to 6 cores and 12 threads for multi-tasking. If you want to load up The Sims 4 fast, you should also look out for an SSD storage drive, which is much faster than a standard harddrive.
A laptop for Streaming The Sims 4 on Twitch?
Streaming to Twitch requires a lot of processing power. Streaming to Twitch and playing a game like The Sims 4 requires even more. So if you want to do this on a laptop, you're going to need to get a really powerful gaming laptop. As mentioned, the latest graphics cards and CPUs are a must for this, because OBS software and running a game require plenty of processing power to multi-task.
Can Sims 4 run on Windows 10?
Yes, and it's ideal for running The Sims 4. Windows 10 is the latest operating system from Microsoft and will be constantly updated to make sure it runs games at the best settings. You'll get better graphics drivers which can take advantage of Window's 10 latest updates and you'll find Windows 10 more secure.
How do I install Sims 4?
The Sims 4 requires using EA's Origin platform to play. Origin is like Steam, in that you download all your games via their game launcher, including expansion packs. When you buy The Sims 4, it will appear as a download in your Origin account and begin installing once complete. It makes managing the game's installation a lot easier, as well introduce you to other EA games you might be interested in, such as The Sims 3 or the original Sims game.
Can I Get The Sims 4 for cheaper?
Keep an eye out on the Origin Store. EA often discounts The Sims 4 expansion packs and on Black Friday there is usually a sale. You can now also buy The Sims 4 Base Game + a couple of expansion packs to get you started. Don't forget that the Base Game is still updated to this day, introducing a number of key features such as Pets, Toddlers and more.
Can you play Sims 4 online?
The Sims 4 is a single-player game where you create your own worlds and stories. However, in The Sims 4 you can share your latest builds, characters and families to others via the use of The Sims 4 gallery.
Is The Sims 4 available on Steam?
No, it currently is not and it won't be for the foreseeable future. This is due to Origin (EA's platform and developer of The Sims 4) is a competing service to Steam, so they won't want to give Steam access to their games and lose customers.
What are all The Sims 4 Expansion packs currently released?
The current The Sims 4 Expansion packs are:
- Get Famous
- Cats & Dogs
- City Living
- Get Together
- Seasons
- Get To Work
There are also multiple game packs and other downloadable content such as:
- Jungle Adventure
- Vampires
- Outdoor Retreat
- Spa Day
- Dine Out
- Parenthood
How much space does Sims 4 take up?
The Sims 4 base game takes up about 9GB of space. It is recommended you have at least 10 GB of space for additional updates. If you are interested in expansion packs, you'll need more space for those too.
Suggestions for The Sims 4 Laptops?
Got any suggestions for running The Sims 4 on a laptop? What are you currently using? Do you find it runs well, or do you have lag? List your processor, ram, graphics card and HDD type in the comments below so we can see what everyone else is using.
Destiny
Will an HP 14-AN019AU laptop be enough to power sims 4 and expansion packs?
Here is a description of the laptop:
Multitask even when you’re on the go with the HP 14-AN019AU 14” Laptop. The latest AMD Quad-Core A6-7310 processors combined with ample 1TB storage in this HP laptop for the performance needed while creating your documents. Featuring a riveting 14" High Definition BrightView WLED-backlit Display, AMD Radeon R4 Graphics and Windows 10 Operating System with more excellence.
Key Features
Performance: With the latest AMD Quad-Core A6-7310 processor and plenty of storage, you can work, play, multitask, and store more of what matters to you. Get reliable power and storage you can trust.
Efficient: whether you want to play or need to work, this Laptop provides a noteworthy audio-visual experience with worthy functionality through its 14" HD HD SVA BrightView WLED-backlit Display (1366 x 768), AMD Radeon R4 Graphics, 3.5mm Audio Output and more.
Spacious: A 1TB hard drive gives you plenty of storage space for your most important documents, photo’s videos, games and more.
Measurable Quality: Life can be unpredictable, but your HP laptop shouldn't be. So whether it's last minute projects or spontaneous movie nights, enjoy outstanding performance backed by over 200 tests.
Expedient: Offers ample connectivity through its lightning-fast USB ports, while its HDMI output ensures you’re Multimedia-Ready for connecting with the latest electronics.
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