The best
ASUS ROG Strix GL702
ASUS took the archetypical 17-inch gaming laptop beast and hit it with a shrinkray. Well, not that, but they did rip out the bulky optical drive and literally trim the excess around the laptop to bring it down in size.
And that's without any scrimping on the hardware, too. With a G-Sync display, GTX 1060 and Core i7 processor, the Strix GL702 is well equipped, well priced and well sized.
Bottom line: Probably the most portable high-end 17-inch laptop ever made.
One more thing: At around $1,500 the GL702 also represents remarkably good value.
Why the ASUS ROG Strix GL702 is the best
17-inch laptops are very much a niche, but still, something that certain consumers must have. Traditionally, 17-inch laptops are big, heavy, cumbersome brutes that aren't exactly portable without a serious case of backache.
This is a 17-inch laptop not much bigger than a 15-inch. Which is awesome.
ASUS changed that with the GL702, making a laptop that packs a 17-inch display inside a body not much larger or heavier than your average 15-inch laptop. That alone makes it enticing, as does the remarkable sub-$1,500 price tag considering what you get for your money.
Inside it's packing a Core i7 processor from Intel and a GTX 1060 GPU from NVIDIA, paired up with a G-Sync 17.3-inch 1080p display. It weighs just under 6lbs, has tons of storage and is easily upgradeable.
It's also not particularly wild styling, considering it's primarily a gaming laptop. So you can use it in public without feeling embarrassed.
Runner up
Alienware 17
Long popular with gamers and creative professionals alike, Alienware's latest big laptop is definitely its best yet. It loses some thickness by dropping the optical drive, but has so much power and connectivity it's hard to know where to begin.
The options go up to a GTX 1080 GPU with G-Sync display, all with the latest generation Intel Core i7 processors, including unlocked versions for overclocking. It's larger and more expensive than the ASUS at equivalent spec, but it does have a party trick in the form of Tobii eye tracking technology.
Bottom line: Powerful and packed with options to get exactly the laptop you want.
One more thing: Go hands-free with the integrated Tobii eye tracking technology.
Ultimate power
Razer Blade Pro
It's impossible to talk about 17-inch laptops without including Razer's epic Blade Pro. While out of reach for many due to its high price, this is as close to the ultimate laptop as you can get right now.
The latest refresh brings an overclockable Core i7 processor, a GTX 1080 GPU, 4K touch display, RAID 0 storage and as much connectivity as you could possibly ever want. All wrapped up in a stylish, and surprisingly thin metal body. The only drawback is that it keeps going out of stock.
Bottom line: Pricey, but it's hard to find a laptop with better hardware right now.
One more thing: The low profile mechanical keyboard takes time to get used to, but it's a dream when you are.
The best
ASUS ROG Strix GL702
ASUS took the archetypical 17-inch gaming laptop beast and hit it with a shrinkray. Well, not that, but they did rip out the bulky optical drive and literally trim the excess around the laptop to bring it down in size.
It did it without scrimping on the hardware, too. With a G-Sync display, GTX 1060 and Core i7 processor, the Strix GL702 is well equipped, well priced and well sized.
Bottom line: Probably the most portable high-end 17-inch laptop ever made.
One more thing: At around $1,500 the GL702 also represents remarkably good value.