The Sims is a popular title game and one of the least demanding on your laptop. Finding the best laptop for the sim only requires you to meet the minimum threshold for specs, which truth be told, is easy to do at any budget.
Although you should be fine playing the Sims 1 to 3 on virtually any laptop made within the last 10 years, things begin to get a little sticky when you want to play the Sims 4 going forward. The best strategy is to get a laptop that will handle any Sims game ever made and that will ever be made in the future so you don’t have to upgrade your device every few years.
Bonus points if you can also play other games on it such as Minecraft, Warcraft, and League of Legends just as well as your Sims games. With this in mind, we have reviewed the best laptops for the Sims; past, present, and future.
Although these devices vary in overall gameplay quality, you can still be confident with any laptop you choose from this review.
Recommendations for October 2024
- MSI GF63 – Entry Level Gaming
- Asus ROG Strix Scar II – VR Ready
- HP Envy – For Multitasking
- LG Gram – Long Battery Life
- Apple MacBook Pro 16 – Core i9 Choice
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Exceptional Portability
- ASUS ZenBook 13 – Tough And Durable
- Dell G5 15 – Amazing Value For Price
- Acer Aspire 5 – Cheap With Long Battery Life
- Hp 15 – Budget Touchscreen
Best Laptop For Sims 4 In 2024 Reviews
Asus ROG Strix Scar II – VR Ready
The real selling point of this ASUS ROG Strix Scar II is its performance. The ASUS brand has made a name for itself in high-performance laptops and this model is no different.
You get a high-end graphics card – the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 which is precisely what you should expect for gaming laptops in this price range. This is powerful enough to run your favorite Sims game and branch out to more demanding games.
The 512 GB RAM means you don’t need to spend any extra money on an upgrade unless you really want to. The SSD on this one is 17 times faster than the regular HDDs and more than enough to quickly load your favorite games.
With the performance out of the way, you want a laptop that is well designed if you are a high-end shopper. 5.29 pounds is a decent weight for a gaming laptop which is what you get with this ASUS. The device has a great heat control especially considering its light weight and slim design.
The screen size is a decent 15 inches, enough to get satisfaction from your gameplay. The generous screen size also means that there is more room for cooling the components. Of course the screen wouldn’t matter if you’re playing a VR game.
We’ve mentioned VR because this laptop has multiple ports that were designed for VR equipment. So if you want to immerse yourself in VR Games, then you might want to try the Asus ROG Strix Scar II.
Finally, if you do decide to upgrade this laptop, and it is difficult to see why, there is plenty of room to upgrade speed and space with a better performing SSD.
Recommended configuration for Asus ROG Strix Scar II
CPU: Intel Core i7 8750H Hexa core processor | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 | RAM: 16 GB RAM | Screen: 15.6” 1920×1080 IPS type display 144Hz 3ms | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: 3.5 hours | Weight: 5.29 lbs
MSI GF63 – Entry Level Gaming
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Finding a laptop that comes at a reasonable price and that far exceeds the EA requirements for playing Sims 4 is a stretch, but the MSI GF63 tows the thin line between prices and specs admirably.
The 4.5 GHz CPU gives you all the clock speed you will need for your gaming needs. The 8GB RAM also rivals many high-end laptops that cost twice as much as this one.
To get the downside out of the way, you won’t get the 17-inch screen that gamers are accustomed to. What you sacrifice in screen size you gain in specs so it is not a total loss. The display pairs an IPS panel with Full HD.
Combine these with anti-glare and you can enjoy your gaming regardless of the ambient lighting in the room. The colors are however less vibrant than we are used to but the additional flexibility of where you can use the laptop makes this small design flaw forgivable.
Gaming laptops are notorious for overheating but MSI has a solid reputation for its cooling system.
The cooling design by itself is above average but the Ultra Boost heat control is a feature that we would like to see more on gaming laptops. You can activate the fans to operate at maximum speed at the push of a button.
The ultra boost, however, comes at a cost; these fans can get loud which you can get around by wearing headphones – preferably noise-canceling headphones. The MSI GF63 is simply an amazing entry level laptop.
Recommended configuration for MSI GF63
CPU: Intel 6-Core i7-9750H up to 4.5GHz | Graphics: GTX 1050 Ti 4GB | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 15. 6 inch FHD (1920*1080), IPS-Level 60Hz 45%ntsc thin Bezel | Storage: 256GB SSD (Boot) + 1TB HDD| Operating System: Win10 Home | Battery Life: 5 hours | Weight: 4.1 pounds
Dell G5 15 – Amazing Value For Price
High-end gaming laptops can be expensive but this is one of the more affordable options in this range of gaming laptops.
The machine comes with a dedicated graphics card that holds up well to even the more recent versions of the Sims. You can expect all the custom content, mods and expansions to load quickly and smoothly on this laptop.
You get 15.6 inches of screen size with this Dell which is decent for gaming. The colors and graphics are vivid on this screen and with 1920×1080 resolutions, and LED screen you get an all-around great visual and satisfactory gaming experience.
Combine this with the GB GDDR5 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti video graphics and you have the recipe for an unforgettable gaming experience.
We have taken issue with the battery life of the laptops reviewed here so far. The Dell G5 15 has a good battery life – up to 7 hours while gaming depending on the demands you put on your device. It will definitely hold up for many hours especially if you are playing the early Sims versions.
The main downside is this laptop is that it is heavier than most other options with the same specs. This can be a problem if you commute with your laptop often. The fans also get loud which you can solve by wearing a good set of headphones.
You’ll get a lot out of the Dell G5 15. And all for a reasonable price!
Recommended configuration for Dell G5 15
CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4GB GDDR5 Graphics | RAM: 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM| Screen: 15. 6-Inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare LED backlight Non-Touch narrow Border IPS display| Storage: 256GB SSD and 1TB SATA | Operating System: Windows 10 Home | Battery Life: 7 hours | Weight: 8.58 pounds
Acer Aspire 5 – Cheap With Long Battery Life
If there is something that the Acer Aspire 5 gets right it is cramming high-end features at an affordable price.
You would need to shell out at least a thousand dollars for a gaming laptop with a dedicated graphics card so it is great to see one at this price range.
You get 12 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD, more than enough that you won’t need to stick to the base game even with the newest Sims game on the market.
This laptop handles the extra custom contents, patches, and expansion packs that come with the Sims 4.
You get the MX 250 graphics card; it’s not quite the 960M but you can still get a great gaming experience out of this laptop especially because it has 2 GB of VRAM.
The Acer Aspire 5 has some of the longest battery life especially for a laptop at its price range. You can get up to 9.5 hours of gaming on this laptop.
It weighs 3.97 pounds so the extended battery life still doesn’t make it as heavy as some that we have reviewed here.
This Acer is dual core but still competent for all your gaming experience. The main downside is that you might need to get a cooling pad especially if you will be playing continuously for extended periods of time.
This laptop is also more fragile than many other options and will not hold up well to rough handling.
CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8565U | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX250| RAM: 12 GB RAM | Screen: 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED backlit IPS display | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 Home | Battery Life: 9.5 hours | Weight: 3.97 lbs
Hp 15 – Budget Touchscreen
Granted that the HP 15 isn’t exactly the fastest laptop on the market but its 10th gen core i5 makes it perform admirably for the price.
You can play your game at maximum settings and still run background programs without any problems. It multitasks a lot better than many laptops at this price range.
Once you tick the performance box, what’s left to enjoy a good gaming experience is a good display to go along with it. You get a HD screen with 1366 x 768 pixels resolutions. The display makes the great graphics of the Sims 4 come alive and its touchscreen as well.
This is the everyday laptop that you can get some good gaming experience out of.
We prefer specifications overlooked but this HP is beautifully designed and is sleek. It is light enough to make this laptop an everyday machine that you can carry on your daily commute without too many problems.
The speakers, although not the best, are better quality than most laptops at this price range.
All in all, this is a capable, budget laptop that we recommend for anyone with a tight budget and is looking for a laptop that they can use occasionally for gaming.
Recommended configuration for Hp 15
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1, quad-core, 1.0 GHz Base frequency, up to 3.6 GHz | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 16 GB RAM| Screen: 15.6-Inch diagonal HD SVA bright View micro-edge WLED-backlit touchscreen display (1366 x 768) | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: 6 hours| Weight: 3.74 lbs
HP Envy – For Multitasking
The HP Envy is a powerful laptop that is more than meets the recommended requirements for the Sims 4. It features the latest 10th gen i7 processor that can go up to 4.9 GHz. The laptop is ideal for multitasking as well with its enormous RAM.
16 GB of RAM will allow the user to run the Sim 4 quite easily and smoothly while also running less resource intensive programs in the background. So think about playing the Sims 4 while working on editing a document file or simply browsing the net or listening to a podcast.
Time is of the essence and multitasking is a good way to save time. The HP Envy will make other people envious of what you’re doing.
Lastly, the HP Envy has a 17 inch FHD display. This means you’ll be able to enjoy the Sims 4’s quality resolution and you can admire the houses you’ve made or simply admire the aesthetics of your created Sim.
Recommended configuration for HP Envy
CPU: Intel Core i7-10510U Processor (10th Gen, upto 4.90 GHz, 8MB Intel Smart Cache, 4-Cores) | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX250 2GB GDDR5 Integrated Graphics | RAM: 16 GB DDR4 SODIMM RAM | Screen: 17.3 inch diagonal Full HD (1920×1080) 16:9 Aspect Ratio
LG Gram – Long Battery Life
The LG Gram is probably one of the more well-known laptops when it comes to travelling. And why wouldn’t it be? This laptop is simply ideal for travelers!
What makes the LG Gram so special is that it’s a fairly powerful laptop that has powerful specs like a10th Gen Core i7-1065G7 processor and a decent 8 GB of RAM. These specs might not look super powerful but you have to take note that the laptop weighs 2.4 lbs which is simply ridiculous!
And to top it off, the LG Gram has the longest battery life on this list of over 21 hours. That’s almost a day’s worth of battery. This means that you can entertain yourself by playing Sims 4 on the airport or on a boat for hours before having to charge your laptop.
The LG Gram is definitely a good choice if you want a powerful lightweight laptop that has a long battery life.
Recommended configuration for LG Gram
CPU: 10th Gen Core i7-1065G7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8 GB RAM| Screen: 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS LCD Screen | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 Home | Battery Life: 21 hours | Weight: 2.4 lbs
Apple MacBook Pro 16 – Core i9 Choice
It’s almost impossible to not include a Macbook on your “best laptops” list. They’re simply good computers all around with powerful specs, long battery lives, as well as plenty of storage.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 sports a 1 TB SSD storage for all of your games, videos, and large files. Being an SSD you can store the Sims 4 here as well as other Sims 4 mods without a problem.
Modding simply enhances a great game and it would be nice if you can run multiple mods without having storage problems.
Asides from good overall specs, the Apple Macbook Pro 16 features the latest Intel Core i9 processors. This simply means that running the Sims 4 wouldn’t pose a big problem and it will be useful in running resource intensive programs.
Recommended configuration for Apple MacBook Pro 16
CPU: Intel Core i9| Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: 16 GB RAM | Screen: 16-Inch Retina with True Tone display| Storage: 1 TB SSD| Operating System: Mac OS| Battery Life: up to 11 hours | Weight: 8.23 lbs
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Exceptional Portability
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a powerful 2 in 1 tablet that weighs about 2.45 lbs. It’s also very small with its 12 inch display making this a very portable convertible.
Normally, tablets can’t run Sims 4 because the game is compatible only with MAC OS and Windows operating systems. Thankfully the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 runs on Windows. This means you can play the Sims 4 while lying down the bed while using the Surface Pro 7.
Recommended configuration for Microsoft Surface Pro 7
CPU: Intel Core i7 10th-Gen| Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics| RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 12.3-Inch 2736×1824 display| Storage: 256GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10| Battery Life: up to 10.5 hours | Weight: 2.45 lbs
Recommended configuration for Galaxy Tab A
ASUS ZenBook 13 – Tough And Durable
The ASUS ZenBook 13 is one of your go to choices if you’re looking for a powerful and durable laptop that happens to be portable. It’s very light, it’s very strong, and it certainly has enough power to run the Sims 4.
It may not have a high-end gaming graphics card with its NVIDIA GeForce MX250, but its more than enough to run the Sims 4 quite easily. The laptop is pretty good in other areas as well, especially since it has 11 hours of battery life and a FHD resolution on its display.
Recommended configuration for ASUS ZenBook 13
CPU: Intel Core i7-10510U |Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX250 | RAM: 16GB RAM | Storage: 512 SSD| Screen: 13.3 inches; 1920 x1080 resolution| Storage: 512 GB SSD|Operating System: Windows 10 Pro | Battery Life: 11 hours | Weight: 2.8 lbs
Picking The Best Laptop For Sims 4 In 2024
Operating System
You can run the Sims on most Windows operating systems including XP, Vista, 7,8,8.1, and Windows 10. Alternatively, you can play on Mac OS X 10.75 (Lion) or by meeting the minimum Mac specification requirements which you can find here.
The Sims 4 for Mac is a digital-only release which you can download through Origin provided you have the PC version.
You can find instructions for playing Sims 4 for Mac here. Overall you should be fine running the game on any Mac with integrated graphics and was built after 2012.
performance
The laptop performance is arguably the most important consideration for playing the Sims.
Good performance means you experience shorter loading screens and minimal lag and crashes.
For running the base game you need at least 14 GB free space on your hard drive and an additional 1 GB if you intend to load saved games and custom content.
For the CPU – AMD Athlon 64 Dual-Core 4000+, 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, or similar will do. If you have a laptop with built-in graphics chip you need 2.0 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-62, or 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, or similar.
Additionally, Make sure you have at least 2 GB RAM to play all versions of The Sims currently out
Display
Once you have met the performance threshold for playing the Sims; how the game actually displays on your laptop screen is going to have a big impact in your overall gaming experience.
The Sims falls in the category of casual gaming so display specs such as contrast, brightness, and resolution are not all that important.
Even so, these specifications are hardly ever mentioned in relation to laptop screens. A good rule of thumb is to look for the panel type in relation to the screen.
ISP panels typically offer deeper color contrasts and better overall viewing angles which is more than you need even for the Sims 4.
The panel type should be listed in the laptop’s Specs sheet. The TN panel is older and although you may still get decent visuals, especially for earlier games, the ISP panel remains the safest bet.
Graphics
The minimum graphics requirements for playing all versions of the Sims are Intel GMA X4500 going up, ATI Radeon X1300 going up or NVIDIA GeForce 6600 going up.
The laptop should also be able to support Pixel Shader 3.0 and have at least 128 MB of video RAM.
A laptop with a dedicated graphics card, although not mandatory, is the only way to really bring the game alive and experience it fully.
It doesn’t even have to be a top-of-the-range graphics card but it will help immensely with the gaming experience.
You can still play the game on low settings but the visuals will be seriously impaired.
For example, character models will be of lower quality on the Sims 4 on lower settings and you won’t be able to get the best out of your expansion packs.
Faraway buildings may also appear hazy while the frame rate will drop noticeably in areas where there is high activity if playing on low settings.
Battery life
Generally the Sims games aren’t too demanding on your laptop’s battery power but it is still worth it switching to laptop mode on the game’s settings especially for the newer games with lots of add-ons.
This option is even less taxing on your battery life and graphics. The battery life becomes crucial if you intend to use your laptop primarily for gaming.
75 Wh batteries and higher work best for gaming although it is worth considering that you still won’t get the same performance as using your laptop while plugged in, even with Battery Boost.
Overall, the bigger the battery you can get for your money the better, especially if you intend on playing away from a power outlet often. A ‘decent’ battery life on a gaming laptop is about 4-5 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Specs do You Need to Play the Sims?
Are Macbooks good for Sims 4?
However that was when the game first launched and most issues with MACs have been fixed. Still using older macbooks before 2012 may cause some issue but then again, if your MAC is that old, you’re better off buying a new one.
Can I play Sims 4 on a Chromebook?
Chromebooks aren’t generally powerful and they were meant to be more portable laptops. They can still play video games especially on low settings or if the chromebook is powerful enough and the Sims 4 isn’t a very resource intensive game.
As you can see from thes specs mentioned above, the minimum amount of RAM it needs is 2 GB which most Chromebooks meet the specifications for.However specifications aren’t the problem here. The Sims 4 requires either Mac OS or Windows to run. So sadly that’s a no for your Chromebook.
But if you really want to play the Sims 4 on a Chromebook, there is a way. You can use a remote desktop to connect your chromebook directly to Windows PC or MAC and play the Sims 4 from there.
Chromebook already has an app that works well with this and it’s called the “Chrome Remote Desktop”. This software allows you to safely access your computer from any device and it will allow you to play games from that computer as well.
Resources
- Andy Chalk, The Sims 4 Recommended System Requirements Revealed, PC Gamer
- EA Sports, The Sims4 System Requirements, EA Games
Kenny Trinh is a seasoned expert in the field of laptops and technology, boasting an extensive background enriched by years of hands-on experience and in-depth research. With a keen eye for innovation and a passion for staying ahead of the technological curve, Kenny has established himself as a trusted voice in the tech community. Holding a prestigious degree in Computer Science, he combines his academic insights with practical expertise to deliver valuable insights and recommendations to his readers and followers. Through his work, Kenny aims to demystify complex tech concepts, empowering individuals to make informed decisions and optimize their digital experiences.