Are you looking for a laptop that is capable enough to handle anything you pour at it?
Well, probably you are considering buying an Intel core i9 laptop. The latest Intel designed powerful processor support hyper-threading, turbo boost, and improved RAM and graphics handling. It is designed for power users who consume bulky applications, heavy software, and other professional scale tasks on regular basis.
Tasks such as video rendering, machine learning, music recording, and 3d modeling require a laptop with enough capabilities to smoothly breeze through the mentioned tasks. The Core i9 processor is said to be 8.5 times faster than core i7, it does not look much a difference but for the power-users and hardcore processing handlers, this marks a huge difference in their processing.
So if you are a gamer who likes on par fluidity in games playing or a professional requires a bump in professional scale tasks handling, it is the time to think of buying a laptop with a Core i9 processor.
In this post, we are going to pen down in-depth research about core i9 processors, their types, power-consumption, and speed.
If you have made up your mind of buying the latest and fastest processor available in the market to skyrocket your processing and computing, and looking for some cool recommendations, that’s the post for you. In this guide, we are also going to recommend the best core i9 models available in the market to help you pick one. Without further dragging let’s see our top picks.
Best Intel Core i9 Laptops
1. Apple MacBook Pro 16
- 16-inches retina display
- Powerhouse processor core i9 8-cores
- Portable workstation
- Upgraded Magic Keyboard
- Advanced thermal mechanism
- Longer battery
When it is about portability, performance, and aesthetics, no one can compete with one of the biggest laptop and smartphone brands in the world; Apple. The core i9 laptop designed by Apple comes powered with the cutting-edge features that outrank others added in the list. Yes, it is expensive, costs a hefty amount of money, but the performance and portability worth the spend.
It comes installed MacOS, if you are acquaintance to the Mac Ecosystem and likes to consume the laptops comes installed the OS, this model got all in one. It has a sturdy all-metal construction, stunning Retina display, Magic Keyboard, and slim bezels around the display. It is a portable workstation to take around to cater to your high-ended, bulky, high-graphics-oriented tasks on regular basis.
Apple MacBook Pro comes powered by a Core i9 8-core processor, which adds a new boost to your processing and performance. The 8-core processor supports hyper-threading enables you to consume 16 virtual threads to get more speed and power, and data transfer. The scale of the CPU lets you render 3d models, pen test your application; consume machine learning and other high-ended tasks.
The Apple Macbook Pro’s most exciting feature is its bright retina display. It got a 16-inches Retina display that adds 500-nits of brightness, P3 wide color gamut, and true tone technology that brings crystal clear, true to life images and videos into existence.
To deliver, next-level graphics handling this model comes powered by AMD Radeon pro 5000M graphics card. That’s the highest graphics horsepower in any Apple MacBook Pro base model. The graphics processor enables the power users to render 3d models, sketches, videos and consume high-end gaming development.
As long as the RAM is concerned, Apple MacBook Pro 16 comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM. The RAM with the highest bandwidth offers on par multitasking. You get smoother tasks handling, switching back and through the programs and apps will be as smooth and efficient as possible. On top of that, the model got the extra space to expand the RAM size up to 64 GB. Yes, to make the laptop a powerhouse of processing and efficiency you can make it go up to 64GB RAM.
The model shares 1TB SSD storage. Enables you to take the entire gaming or movies archive with you. Play any game you like to play and copy larger files or applications at a stunning speed. More than that, the storage size is upgradable too, supports up to 4TB SSD storage.
It will be near to crime not to mention its Magic Keyboard. The latest magic keyboard brings efficiency in typing to a whole new level. It supports the latest scissors switches that are more responsive, shares improved 1mm travel distance, and renders a quiet typing experience.
As you will be using a core i9 processor, the powerhouse of processing takes the processing to a new level but make the machine gets hot. To cater to the heat issue, Apple designs a chassis that takes care of the air-flow to make the chassis temperature remain at an optimal level. It complies redesign of the thermal architecture and features larger fan blades to increase airflow.
Its touch bar and fingerprint ID are the latest and advanced features that make your computing experience smoother.
In total, Apple-designed MacBook powered with a Core i9 processor is something that you can rely on. It is equally powerful, sturdily made, and beautiful looking, lets you take it around, showcases its aesthetics, and makes your colleges envy.
2. MSI GS66 Stealth
- Sturdy all-metal construction
- Expandable RAM and storage
- Impressive battery backup
- Lightweight as feather
- Longer battery backup
A powerful laptop with high specs is often bulky, cumbersome to carry. To wrap high-end specs, more space and area is required. MSI is one of the brands that break the rules and offers an easy to carry, slim-profile laptop that outranks others when competed in performance. The mentioned MSI powerful, slim looking laptop offers a workstation-grade performance in ultrabook chassis. It packs a Core i9 processor and lets you smoothly pass through any workloads that come your way.
The MSI GS66 Stealth comes powered by a 10th Gen Core i9-10980HK processor that shares a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz and goes up to 5.3 GHz to support your super-bulky processing, software handling, and 3d models, videos, images, and sketches rendering.
To support the visually intensive tasks there comes an RTX 2080 Max-Q designed graphics card with 8GB dedicated space. The added graphics card renders super-smooth visual handling and makes you reach up to the top level of graphics processing. This top-notch graphics card when bundles with the Core i9 processor, the processing and results are unrivaled, unprecedented.
For the memory option, the model got 1TB NVMe SSD storage that offers you a giant room to store your files and folders. In other words, you take your gaming archive, movies archives along and get things rolled smoothly. Besides offering the giant room, NVMe’s latest type of storage makes you never witness a lag or rendering. Your loading time and boot-up speeds see a new height, within 3 seconds of power-tap you get your system accessed.
As long as the memory is concerned, the model got 32GB RAM. The RAM size is enough to suit even the commercial-scale project handling. The mobile-workstation got an extra slot that supports RAM expansion. You can upgrade the RAM size up to 64 GB to pace up with your processing and handlings.
Besides 20-series graphics cards to support high-frame rates to the gamers, the model got a supportive display. Its 15.6 inches FHD IPS display with 300 Hz refresh rates makes you enjoy crisp, smooth, and error-free visuals. The display got an anti-glare coating to make you enjoy a super-smooth viewing experience in bright environments such as outdoors.
When it is about the battery backup, the model would not take you down. It got a superb battery backup that stays along for an entire day. It seems like the MSI engineering team this time has given their full and packs a bulky battery in such a slim-looking laptop.
It also got an RGB Backlit supported keyboard. The keys of the keyboard can be customized easily, you can change the color-scheme anytime you like. Though it is hard for new gamers to find how to change the color scheme to the desired settings.
In a nutshell, the reviewed model hits the right chord and falls right on every criterion of gaming, professionals’ tasks handling, every-day using and streaming. It is a sturdy, elegant looking all-metal constructed laptop that would not compromise on durability and performance.
3. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
- Stunning FHD IPS display 300 HZ
- RTX 2070 Graphics card
- Core i9 8-core processor
- 32GB RAM
Asus is an esteemed name in designing high-ended premium laptops. It’s designed laptops are synonymous with durability and offer a longer life-span than any other brand. That’s the reason; avid gamers tend to pick ASUS laptops due to their top-notch gaming performance, reliability, functionality, and premium look.
This particular model has raised the bar higher even for the brand’s other line-ups. It got a core i9 processor, RTX 2070 Super graphics card, 15.6 Inches FHD 300 display, and the right memory option to render on par performance.
Let’s begin with the most important attribute its processor. It got a 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK processor that offers a 2.6 GHz base clock speed and boosts up to 5.3 GHz in turbo boost. The 8-core processor shares 16 virtual threads to offer more area for calculations and processing. In other words, you get snappy, instant, and efficient handlings of hard-core tasks. Tasks such as rendering, editing, sketching, machine learning, music production can easily be tackled using the processor onboard.
To soar up the creativity, to make this model undrafted, there comes an RTX 2070 Super graphics card with 8GB dedicated space. The latest graphics card support Rog Boost technology to make you touch new heights in graphics handling. It ensures that you enjoy a seamless, smooth, and efficient gaming performance.
Furthermore, the graphics card comes with AI and R-tracing technology supported. The R-tracing adds a new layer of clarity and provides natural beams of light in the games. You get true to life shadows, lights, and effects and enjoy your gaming like never before.
The latest model got 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz RAM. This size of RAM is enough to handle commercial-scale rendering, machine learning, architecture, and CAD projects. You can increase the RAM size as well, the model got an extra slot to serves the purpose.
The same goes for storage. It got a 2TB SSD storage that allows you to store up your larger folders, files, application, and programs at enhanced speed. You can enjoy improved system speed’; boot-up times and data-transfer. Furthermore, the model got an extra slot to further enhance the storage size, I do not think you would ever require using that slot.
The slim looking model boasts 15.6 inches FHD IPS 300 Hz refresh rate display. It got an anti-glare coating to prevents glares, 3ms response time to eliminate any lagging in input and help you perform better in competitive games.
The model got a super-functional cooling system. The latest designed ROG intelligent cooling system marries hardware and software and provides supreme airflow to help you play games for a longer time without lagging or rendering.
The model got a super-rich connectivity system. It got three USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one HDMI port. The integration of the USB Type-C port lets you enjoy smooth data-transfer and connecting the 4k monitors along with the charging.
In short, the model got the right flux of power to let you enjoy the latest games as well as hardcore tasks. Yes, it is an expensive beast, costs a hefty price, but you are going to enjoy super fluid computing without freezing or any other issue.
4. ASUS ZenBook Pro
- Dual Screen
- Powerhouse processor
- 32GB RAM upgradable
- Longer battery backup
- Bright 4k screen
- Thunderbolt 3 integration
If you are a content creator and looking for a professional laptop that offers enhanced screen real-estate to let your creativity oozes out, ASUS got your back. ASUS designed ZenBook Pro is unmatched, out of the box designed a super-functional and feature-rich laptop that shares an outstanding range of specs to outcast others listed.
This laptop got a dual-screen, a 15.6 inches primary screen with 4k resolution, and a 14-inches touch-screen that lets you create anything directly onto the screen.
Asus designed ZenBook Pro matches your gaming needs as well. But a gaming laptop cant’ match up the status of this model. It is a uniquely designed laptop that offers an out of the box solution to your screen space issue without weighing up the size.
The model comes powered with a 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980HK Octa-core processor that supports overclocking. The base clock speed falls at 2.4 GHz while in turbo boost the mobile-workstation reaches up to 5.3 GHz and lets you match up the processing of a specified application demand. It is an 8-core processor, offers 16-threads in virtual with a 16MB cache to help you run 3d rendering, video editing, machine learning, architecture projects, and others in the row.
The laptop got an efficient and powerful graphics card. It has Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card with 6GB dedicated space. The latest graphics card can handle most of the latest titles at ultra-settings without lowering the frame rates down. Furthermore, the graphics card supports r-tracing, artificial intelligence to add a new layer of clarity, smoothness, and realism.
The memory option of the ASUS Flagship laptop model is more than just amazing. It shares a 32GB DDR4 RAM that is enough to handle the professional industrial-scale projects. For the users deal with 3d application, rendering, sketching, designing, and others, the RAM size is more than enough. Moreover, the RAM size is expandable, can expand it further up to 64GB.
The same goes with the storage; 1TB SSD storage looks more than adequate. But for the power users, require more storage, there is an extra slot that helps in expanding the storage up to 2TB SSD.
The laptop got a full set of high-performance I/O ports. It got a Thunderbolt 3 port that supports up to 40 GB/s data transfer, charging, and docking of the 5k/6k monitors. There is other 2 other USB 3.1 port with Audio Jack, HDMI, and DC-in to maximize your connectivity experience.
The model got a stunning battery backup. Even with the Core i9 processor, and a bright display it lasts around 5k in a single charging.
If you got a big budget and looking for something marvelous get hands on the model and adds a new tool to your computing arsenal.
5. Gigabyte AERO 15
- Professional looking
- RTX 2070 Graphics
- 6 Inches FHD 144 Hz display
- Thunderbolt 3 support
- Per key RGB backlighting
Gigabyte is known for producing stunning looking thin gaming laptop. The brand is there in laptop manufacturing for years, has earned a huge name. Its products are synonymous with professional-looking, and it takes very care of the models to look elegant besides power-performance. This model got no exception, looks thin, and shares a solid line of specs to outrank its competitors.
The model got a super performing core i9 processor. The power-centric CPU takes the big loads, and let you smoothly pass through that. It comes powered with a 10th Gen Intel i9-8950HK processor that offers a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz and goes up to 5.3 GHz in turbo boost. It offers a 16MB cache and with 16 virtual cores, you see new heights of efficiency and performance.
The mobile-workstation comes with GeForce RTX 2070 Graphics card with 8GB dedicated space. In the realm of the latest titles, the laptop stays you ahead and never makes you lag. It supports r-tracing and AI to make you emerged victorious out of the competitive battleground. The model got the real-flux to make you outrank others and enjoy super-smooth gaming performance.
Let’s see how the model takes care of its users in terms of memory. The laptop shares 1TB SSD storage. That’s huge storage, and SSD NVMe type of storage is often known to handle fast boot-up speeds and reduced loading times. You would not have to face huge loading downtime even an immensely big application is getting loaded.
The RAM section comes with 16GB RAM. The RAM is enough to handle most of the apps out there. That’s a standard RAM size most of the models come out with. If you are into memory-intensive handling and looking for enhanced RAM size, fret not. The model got another slot that lets you expand the memory up to 64GB.
This laptop comes fitted with a 15.6 inches FHD IPS LCD. The bright display supports 144 Hz refresh rates and shares an anti-glare dedicated coating to prevent glares. Even in the shiny outdoor conditions, you would not have to lower the brightness down to get better viewing. The display is great at playing the latest titles as it supports a 144 Hz refresh rate.
It got per-key RGB backlighting that lets you smoothly type through the typing for a long-time. The backlighting per key makes it great to type in dim environments, or in dark rooms where you are not allowed to turn the light-on.
It got a 94.24 Whr battery to take care of your battery backup. The battery possesses a longer runtime and makes you enjoy an enhanced game playing experience.
In total, the model got you back to handle high-ended computing. You enjoy super-smooth gaming and computing, and never lags or freezes when handling high-ended tasks.
6. Lenovo ThinkPad X1
- Long 14-hours runtime
- 32 GB RAM
- 1TB SSD storage
- Lightweight model
Power-packed laptop due to their high-end specs and top of the line features does not offer a long battery backup. That’s very true in the case of the core i9 laptop; as the latest generation processor offers a super-amazing processing power consumes lots of power. That’s why you would see the Intel Core i9 processor laptops are very short at the battery.
Not in the case of our picked Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen-2 laptop. This model as per the brand’s claims lasts longer than 12-14 hours, that’s a huge runtime, believe me, no other core i9 laptop could afford to last this long.
Let’s see the specs the thin profile laptop packs under the sturdy chassis.
It shares a 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9880H hexa-core processor with a base clock speed of 2.3 GHz that goes up to 4.8 GHz in turbo boost. The laptop supports overclocking and makes you enhance the clock speed when needed. The processing power of the model is impressive, capable of handling the most demanding computing and gaming tasks at great speed.
As long as graphics processor is regarded this model got NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4GB dedicated space to dazzle your gaming and other high-ended graphics handling tasks. You will be quite capable of handling the latest titles such as Fortnite, Call of duty, GTA: V, and others at improved frame rates.
The model comes filled with 32GB DDR4 RAM. The RAM size is more than good for average to professional scale handling. Especially the users involved in background rendering, running multiple tabs in the browser for the research work, video editors, 3d project handling, and much more in the row. The RAM size can further be expanded; it got an extra slot to serve the purpose.
The mobile workstation features a giant SSD storage. It comes with a 1TB SSD storage that enhances your boot-up time and app’s loading time. It is an NVMe type of storage that is considered great in speed compare to a typical SSD storage.
The model shares a 15.6 inches FHD IPS display. The laptop offers a 1080P resolution and shares an anti-glare panel to make you enjoy a super-smooth performance without glares. The FHD display offers enhanced viewing angles to make you gaze at the screen from any angle without distortion.
It also offers an RGB Backlit keyboard. The keyboard got a customized option to make you enjoy the desired shading for a smooth typing experience.
It weighs just 3.76 pounds, one of the lightest core i9 laptops available on the market. Easy to take around, slip into the bag and take it away to knock heavy tasks down on the road.
Actually for high-ended tasks, not just one attribute is important. You can’t enjoy a super-fluid computing performance by just adding a core i9 processor. A fast efficient core i9 processor, a good graphics processor, and RAM join hands and make the system super-smooth and capable enough to handle anything you call off.
7. Dell XPS 15
- 6 inches ultra HD 4K display
- Enhanced screen to body ratio
- Giant 32GB RAM
- Revolutionary thermal design
Dell XPS 15 is the right fusion of power, ultra-portability, bright 4k display, and performance. It is hard to get hands-on with such a great package that gets your base covered. It got an ultra HD 4K display in slim bezels, a core i9 processor, and an immense memory size at an affordable price range. It is a sleek laptop, looks stunning, and easier to take around.
The model is often picked by the content creator that requires a big large screen. As it has a 15.6 inches FHD ultra HD screen in a 14-inches chassis that translates the image into 3840 x 2160 pixel resolutions to have crystal clear, smooth images and video produced. Content creator likes to get hands-on a screen that let them have an in-depth viewing of their creation. It is the best laptop for them, and four-sided nano bezels around the display make the viewing area expand. You get more area viewed in less physical space, less clutter.
Under the chassis, the model shares the 8th Generation Intel Core i9-8950HK processor that shares 6-cores, and support 12 virtual cores. The model goes up to 4.8 GHz clock speed and pace up with your processing and apps or programs handling. The added core i9 processor makes you never lags or renders and enjoys a super smooth passing through the tons of tasks.
To make you handle visually loaded tasks there comes a GTX 1050 Ti graphics card with 4GB dedicated space. The graphics card might not be as powerful as the other model possess but enough to take care app’s visuals handling. The mentioned graphics card lets you get hands-on latest games at low to medium frame rates.
For storage the laptop shares a giant size. With 1TB SSD storage, you can store as many files and folders as you like without scarifying your speed. This amount is more than required for an average professional, and he/she can easily take their games or movies archives always with them.
To ensure smooth multitasking the model comes integrated with 32GB RAM. The model ensures that you run multiple apps and programs and ensure smooth handling of those apps and programs. The model makes a great pick for the users involved in memory-intensive tasks such as video editing, 3d modeling, sketching, and others in the row.
This model got an RGB backlit keyboard that supports marvelous typing. You can type through a long typing work without putting your hands or fingers on the strain. Enjoy the ergonomic keyboard and accomplish the tasks quicker than ever before.
Its fingerprint scanner, cutting-edge designed thermal mechanism, and ultra-portability are the other amazing features that let this model stands out in the crowd.
So, if you are into buying a power-packed laptop from a reliable brand, get hands-on with the model and adds a new boost to your high-ended computing.
Are i9 laptops worth it?
If you are into heavy commercial-grade projects handling or like to play the latest titles at ultra HD frame rates, yes the core i9 processor worth it. It simply offers more cores, more cache, high clock speed, and hyper-threading support to the next level.
Here you enjoy hyper-threading technology to a new level, you get virtually two threads of every physical core. More area your laptop will have to process the information, and quicker processing and calculations will happen.
But it consumes lots of power. If you do not into heavy processing handling and need a good processor that handles basic to advanced level of computing, it is good to restrict yourself to a Core i7 processor.
Is a Core i9 processor better than the i7?
Yes, it is more powerful than a core i7 processor and offers a commercial scale performance. It offers improved single-core and multi-core performance. You get improved up to 30-percent CPU performance and enjoy handling difficult to go through tasks without any issue.
Moreover, the processor introduces a new height of hyper-threading here. Moreover, the core i9 processors offer diversity to choose from to fits the user’s needs.
Can you edit videos on laptops with the Core i9 processor?
Core i9 processor without any shadow of a doubt can handle video editing. Regardless of the generation of the processor, you can take i9 onboard for a myriad of complex processing. The lowest core count of a Core i9 processor is six, so without any issue you handle video editing and rendering using the processor.
The Core i9 processor is often taken on board for 4k video editing; in the case of 4k rendering there must be a good graphic processor to got your back. Yes, with a good graphics card and a Core i9 processor you can think of doing anything.
Can you play games on Core i9 laptops?
If you are a casual gamer who likes to play light games, a core i9 processor without a dedicated graphics card lets you play the light games. It is a powerful processor that offers an enhanced clock speed, number of cores, hyper-threading support, and overclocking.
If you are desired to get hands-on latest AAA titles, it is essential to take a dedicated graphics card onboard. Yes, with a good graphics card such as RTX 2060 you can roll hands AAA titles without any issue.
Bottom Line
No doubt, Intel core i9 processor is the fastest processor available on the market to the time of writing this piece. It offers unmatched processing power to let power users handle their tasks. The Core i9 processors are not for mainstream users, they are for those involved in high-ended tasks handling such as 4k video editing, machine learning, pen testing, and IT professionals.
Even mainstream users get their hands on the processor, those who do not like upgrading their mobile-workstation so often. They play safe, invest in the future, and get a laptop that helps them go for a long-time.
We have reviewed the top 10 best Intel core i9 laptops. These are the top premium highest performer available on the market. View them, check their rating, and upon getting fully satisfied, buy one.
