Best Laptop for Dolphin Emulator

Which is the best laptop for Dolphin Emulator?

Dolphin is a popular video game console emulator designed for Nintendo’s devices GameCube and Wii. It is developed for use with Windows, Linux, Android, and macOS. Emulators have taken up the gaming world by storm. Primarily desktop gaming. An emulator is software or hardware that allows a computer or laptop to behave like a third-party application. 

Gaming laptops are pretty vital if you intend to run dolphin emulators on them. Specs, features, pros, and cons would help you identify the best laptop for a dolphin emulator.

In essence, emulators enable a host computer to run the software and use an auxiliary device designed solely for the guest computer. Suppose you are a gaming geek and mostly interact through your desktop for accessing video games. And looking for your next device that runs Dolphin Emulator smoothly. In that case, you need an exceptional review regarding the best laptops for emulators. That allows you to have the best Nintendo device experience.

10 Best Laptops for Dolphin Emulator in 2023 Comparison

While searching laptops for dolphin emulator. You will find numerous gaming laptop brands and devices online. Now, the question is which laptop is best to run the dolphin emulator smoothly?

We had tested many laptops by running a dolphin emulator on them. And listed the 10 best laptops according to their specs. Below you can see the comparison and select the one which best fits your budget. Because all are high-performance devices and run a dolphin emulator smoothly.

10 Best Laptops for Dolphin Emulator Reviews

Below we have described each and every aspect of the above 10 best dolphin emulator laptops. Let’s read completely to make the best decision for money.

Acer Aspire 5 Gaming Laptop – Best laptop for Emulators

Acer Aspire 5 gaming laptop review:

If you are looking for a gaming laptop that ticks all the boxes and favors your budget, then Acer’s newest addition to its gaming range is the best option. For a reasonable price, you are set for a gaming experience like never before. Acer’s Aspire series is widely regarded as one of the most powerful laptops in the world. Specifically built to run games, it is one of the best laptops for emulation.

The Acer Aspire 5 gaming laptop uses the Intel UHD Graphics card and a 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor. Unlike the case with many unbalanced gaming laptops, Acer Aspire 5 boosts all the great gaming specs it has to offer with the dual-fan cooling system. A lighting keyboard is quite popular in all Acer’s gaming laptops, and Aspire 5 is nothing different. In addition, the laptops house a 1080p screen display, all in one economical price as far as gaming laptops are concerned.

Additionally, the Acer Aspire series comes with a touchscreen interface and 8 hours of long-lasting battery. So, you can play the games on dolphin emulators on the go.

Why I listed Acer Aspire as laptop for emulation?

Acer Aspire is a decent and elegant laptop that has pretty good specs to run emulators or games on it. It is recommended for persons who play games just for a hobby or when they got bored. Because Its elegant design and long-lasting battery make this laptop suitable for everyday tasks like presentations, crafting, and gaming.

So, you can install a dolphin emulator on this laptop and play games on the go.

Lenovo IdeaPad 314 – dolphin emulator laptop

Lenovo IdeaPad 314 Review:

Let us begin with the name. You would find Lenovo’s IdeaPad with a numeric digit in the end just as 14. The model represents the screen size in inches. A 15-inch version of the IdeaPad is also available in the market if you wish to go for a large screen. Most laptop users are focused on obtaining a product that values money. Well, if you are of the same idea, then IdeaPad 3 has your back.

The laptop is one of the most talked-about products in the gaming market these days. And this is not because of its decent design and performance, but the cost for which it is available. Talking about performance, IdeaPad 3-14 comes with a 1080p display. Although screen brightness is not top-notch alongside a battery that does not power for the whole day, the price factor battles complex alone to keep the IdeaPad 3 floating in the modern market. 

Also, I don’t like the trackpad of this laptop and wouldn’t recommend it for gaming. So, for the best gaming experience. You may need an additional gaming mouse.

Why Lenovo Idea Pad is a good laptopfor dolphin emulator?

When observing dolphin emulator recommended specs, Lenovo’s IdeaPad 3 14 covers all the necessities required to make sure that you enjoy the best Wii emulator along with GameCube. Basic features such as 4GB RAM and a built-in Windows 10 interface ensure all emulator requirements are covered. 

Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop – best laptop for emulation

Acer Nitro 5 Review:

Nitro is Acer’s top-of-the-line gaming laptop sub-brand for your gaming use. You can do intensive gaming on this laptop. You might be aware of the dolphin emulator for PS2. But that tiny device might have served its time long ago because modified laptops are hitting the market now and then. The same is the case with Acer’s series. In 2020, Acer launched Nitro 5 to present a new version of their formidable lineup. And now, in 2021, Acer has just tweaked a little bit with its 5 series. 

The significant modification, well, that is quite limited, has come in the design. Although the same old dark grey outlook with a chrome Acer logo has not disappeared, accessibility is improved. Now you can access your RAM and SSD with ease without putting in effort and experience. Bezels are not reduced considerably compared to other modern laptops available, and the display is not good or up to the mark. It might come to preferences, but the color contrast is not good. 

To get some, you have to lose some. It is the case with Nitro 5. The keyboard and touchpad are just perfect. Without extraordinary additions but simplicity speaks for itself. Battery life is another critical factor these days. Aspire Nitro comes with Intel’s Core i5 processor. Its battery life is somewhat less than the 2019 Aspire 5 model. However, it is approximately three hours more compared to the 2020 model.

So, Acer Nitro 5 is specifically designed for gaming and can be considered the best laptop for running emulators.

Why Acer Nitro 5 is best laptop for Dolphin Emulators?

Acer Nitro 5 is an ultra gaming laptop developed specifically for gamers. It has all the specs that can run any kind of game smoothly without lagging. Powerful air vents on the sides prevent the laptop from overheating. Fast access solid state 512 GB Storage, Powerful gaming processor, 16GB of RAM, Ultra HD Display, and Graphics makes this Acer laptop the best laptop to run dolphin emulator.

Lenovo Chromebook S330 – Cheap laptop for emulation

Lenovo Chromebook S330 Review:

Lenovo’s Chromebook S330 is nothing short of a brilliant laptop that ticks many boxes and lacks only a few specs. Made from thick plastic, at first glance, you might think the price must be too high. However, it is amazingly low considering the design. Though the design of the lid looks stunning, it tends to catch fingerprints. The display is a general 1920x1080p, with Lenovo claiming to be 4K in upgraded versions. 

Though the display is TN and not IPS, the resolution is much better for general performance than many other laptops available in the market for the same price bracket. However, the brightness is not very bright but enough to be visible if you keep using it at around 80%. When talking about features that are only or mostly limited to Chromebook, you will find a search key in place of Caps Lock with a decent enough mousepad. 

Apart from this, the laptop hinges are designed to provide a 180-degree use; in other words, you can lay the laptop flat on tables. Lenovo allows you to select the best Chromebook that suits your use. The company provides you Intel’s Core M-Series, i3, and i5 options depending upon versions, i.e., standard to premium. But with a UHD Graphics 620, the system lags a bit in terms of gaming. But if you ask that I run the dolphin emulator on the Chromebook S330, the answer is yes, you can.  

Why I listed Lenovo Chromebook S330 as a laptop for emulation?

Because the specs and features are pretty great in certain aspects provided by Lenovo in its Chromebook S330 with 180 degrees flat laying option one of the iconic features. A good screen resolution with excellent battery life is undoubtedly a great choice. Though it might not be one of the best laptops for dolphin emulators with above mentioned basic specs, you can make sure this laptop serves its purpose. The main thing is that if you are short on budget then Lenovo Chromebook is good to go.

Dell G15 5510 – Dell laptop for emulators

Dell Gaming G15 Laptop Review:

Dell is a pioneer of modern laptops and has stayed top of the line for quite some time now. The brand’s laptop arsenal is second to none, and it has maintained the performance for which it is best known. Dell has produced some finest machines recently, and the G15 speaks for itself. It is a good enough gaming laptop providing some quality specs, but mediocre is outstanding as well. Gaming laptops are most concerned about their battery timing. Even more than the graphic specs, users tend to fall for good battery options. Dell’s G15 in its 5510 series is a gaming laptop that ticks this box for sure. 

When you talk about gaming laptops, you mean pixel density, display, and resolution. Thanks to the G15, this is resolved. The laptop has 141 pixels per inch, providing an excellent gaming experience through the display. On the low side, the laptop offers 8GB RAM. You might be excited to read this, but it is low in terms of a gaming laptop, and G15 is thus not suitable for extreme gaming. But still, keeping in view all the gaming specs it has to offer, it is one of the best laptops for dolphin emulators, if not the best. 

Is Dell G15 can be considred as Dell laptop for emulatrors?

My answer to this question is Yes! Because Dell G15 is from the dell gaming laptop series. And manufactures specifically to run massive games.

Specs are up for grabs with Dell’s G15 gaming laptop. Except for the RAM, all specs and features certify that your gaming experience is about to get enhanced with this laptop. There is not much to complain about the higher resolution display, the latest processor with Nvidia’s RTX 3060 is incorporated. And this laptop can run not only Dolphin emulators but also other emulators smoothly.

HP Chromebook 14 – Laptop for everyday use

HP Chromebook 14 Laptop review:

If you use the laptop for office work, use the laptop for study, or stream movies on it. Then you need a simple yet efficient device. The Chromebook has been developed under HP and Lenovo, and it is all about the specs on offer. Compared to Lenovo’s Chromebook, HP stands out in numerous aspects. For instance, Intel’s Celeron N4000 makes it one of the suitable laptops for gaming and multitasking. The processor is not of much power so you cannot do gaming on it for hours long. It’s UHD Graphics 600, though, making it a bit lagging device when it comes to gaming. So, my usage experience recommends this laptop to office workers or students who don’t do much gaming on their laptops.

With a 14inch 1366x768p micro-edge HD display, pictures appear clear, texts appear sharp, and brilliant resolution. Moreover, it provides anti-glare LED. Anti-glare LEDs ensure that sharp resolution does not cause the eyes to blink more from sharpness and vibrant colors. With around 13 hours of battery timing, all of your daily workload through the laptop is set to go undisturbed. 

Who can use HP Chromebook for running dolphin emulator?

Persons who do not do gaming as a profession, or who are addicted to gaming can use this laptop. Because it can be used for their everyday tasks as well as for little gaming.

Features and specs are good of HP Chromebook, but they need backing from another side as well. When you look at the processor power, it is good but not the best for gaming. But with UHD 600 graphics, the gaming experience is set to experience lag. So make sure your requirements are straight if you are looking to buy the Chromebook 14.

Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best gaming laptop for dolphin emulator

Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop Review:

Gaming laptops are built with perfection, and they require exceptional features to provide a unique experience. Almost all laptop brands have developed gaming laptops incorporating different specs and features. Acer is a well-known brand when it comes to gaming laptops. The Predator Helios 300 is one of the finest gaming laptops produced by Acer that maximized in various aspects. 

GTX graphics are pretty standard in gaming laptops. Acer’s Predator Helios 300 uses a GTX 1660 Ti graphic processor to amplify the technological grounds of the device. A 15.6inch display is not the only top feature in this department. Helios 300 makes use of a 1920x1080p display with 141 pixel-per-inch, which is considered one of the sharpest in the market at present. 

Why Acer Predator Helios is best for emulation?

Acer Predator Helios 300 stands out in gaming specs. GTX graphics with a sharp display are the most iconic and premium features provided in the device to enhance the gaming experience. The battery life is limited, though. The average battery life of about 6 hours is nothing extraordinary in any respect. Still, if you think you can compromise on this front, then nothing else is to complain.

Asus TUF Gaming F17 – Best laptop for dolphin emulator

ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop Under 1000 Review:

Asus has landed its TUF Gaming F17 with flare and specs, no doubt. However, there are certain things to consider. The Asus TUF F17 is available in two versions. Either you can opt for a GFX 1650 Ti or RTX 3060. Both versions are a mixed sort of device. They provide some key specs but are average in others. For example, the TUF Gaming F17 being reviewed here powers a GFX 1650 Ti processor. However, when it comes to the display, the device provides a simple IPS display.

Gaming laptops are considered the most powerful laptops in the market. There is no doubt that they lack specific specs but tend to provide more pros than cons. Asus TUF Gaming F17 is made for gaming. The devices ticks all the dolphin emulator recommended specs and even tops in certain areas as well. For instance, the device provides 8GB DDR RAM and a Quad-Core Intel Processor. Above all, the built quality of the TUF F17 is exceptional. Asus says that the laptop has a standard military construction, which means it lasts long. 

Why ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop is recommended laptop for emulation?

ASUS TUF F17 laptop is a gaming laptop equipped with the latest graphics and processor technology. While gaming its performance was found quite satisfactory. It is versatile has a large screen size of 17.3 inches. Smooth RGB Gaming keyboard, fast refresh rate, and the best thing about this is its affordability.

So, this ASUS mid-range gaming laptop is highly recommended if your budget is under 1000.

MSI GF63 Thin Gaming Laptop – Best laptop for emulators

MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop Review:

MSI’s GF63 gaming laptop is the ideal choice for you if you intend not to spend thousands of bucks on gaming laptops. With a good value for money factor, there are loads of superb specs on hand. The GF63 is powerful and fast Intel’s 10th Generation Quad-Core i5 processor with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphic processor. This combination is good enough to run high-end games for you, and thus without a doubt, it is one of the best laptops for emulations. 

Talking about the design, the GF63 is ultra-thin that provides a sleek and stylish design and an effectively low weight of 3.9lbs. As far as the display is concerned, you will get a 1920x1080p IPS display which is not much sharp and vibrant, but a 60Hz display makes a slight improvement. However, this is where manufacturers need to improve if they are providing IPS displays in gaming laptops. One of the best features onboard the GF63 gaming laptop is customizable memory and storage. You can upgrade the RAM to 16GBs and SSD to 256GB for professional use.

Why MSI GF63 is best emulation laptop?

MSI GF63 is a thin and lightweight laptop intended for gaming, but only a few specs live up to the mark as far as gaming experience is concerned. The laptop is a 50-50 device, providing an equal number of excellent and average specs.

Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop 

Lenovo Legion 5 emulation laptop review:

Stylish is the first word that comes to mind when you see Lenovo’s Legion 5 15 laptops for the first time. Embedded in a dark black color, this laptop is a market favorite when it comes to design. Legion 5 is promising. The specs and features it offers are on par with other similar laptops available in the market. Here is your favorite thing, the battery timing is decent but not excellent. No other laptop that houses dolphin emulator recommended specs offer one terabyte of SSD storage except the Legion 5. 

What else do you need from a gaming laptop? If you guessed “the display,” you are right. Lenovo’s Legion 5 is an instant hit in this regard. Lenovo laptop provides a 15.6inch IPS HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. However, Nvidia’s GeForce GFX 1650 Ti graphics are other basic options. Apart from this, the laptop provides Dolby Atoms Headphone support with two Harman speakers. 

Why Lenovo Legion is recommended laptop to run dolphin emulator?

A recommended laptop is a powerful gaming laptop, no doubt. In addition, upgradeable to bolster all the specs on offer. The cons that are on offer are somewhat upgradable and avoidable. Maybe upcoming versions sort out these things and make the Legion 5 a giant in gaming laptops.

Best Laptop for Dolphin Emulator – Buying Guide

The diversity in laptops is not going to end anytime soon. Brands are constantly producing high-end and specs-rich gaming laptops that compete each year against each other. The end-users have different strategies and ideas, from necessities to pro features, when they step out to purchase a gaming laptop. 

Suppose you purchase the best laptop for the dolphin emulator, then there are many factors that you need to look beyond the horizon. You would find most of the specs in gaming laptops, whereas some critical features are utilized in non-gaming laptops or conventional laptops. So below are some dolphin emulator pc requirements that would help you select your next best laptop for emulation. 

Operating System 

There are some basic requirements of a dolphin emulator for your system, and the first on the list is your operating system. Dolphin requires that your device, such as a laptop, have 64-bit Windows 7 or higher, macOS Sierra 10.12 or higher, or a modern 64-bit Linux desktop. 

Windows laptops are pretty familiar in the gaming laptops lineup, and all gaming laptops present nowadays operate on the basic 64-bit Windows 10. Some gaming laptops provide 64-bit Windows 10 Pro, which is a plus point, but recent updates would set your basic Windows up to the pro version soon. Unless you are an old user, make sure that recommended Windows 7 of 64-bit is in place. 

Processor

The processor is where the heart and soul of a laptop lies. The processor powers your laptop and all the specs it wishes to offer. Consider it the backbone of your laptop device. Dolphin emulators require that the processor of your laptop is Intel’s Core i5 or higher. Almost all gaming laptops and conventional laptops operate with a process of i5 or higher. 

Moreover, variations are also present elsewhere. For example, Quad-Core and Hexa-Core Intel processors are also provided as a built-in feature in many laptops these days. Moreover, any laptop operating with any Ryzen processor, old or newer, would be a perfect fit. 

Memory 

Dolphin emulators are not memory-driven software, and they don’t require gigantic memory as well. The essential requirement of Dolphin for its emulators is a RAM of a minimum of 2GB. Surprisingly, many gaming laptops provide a memory of 8GB built-in. Many laptops even allow you to upgrade your memory however you wish up to a maximum of 16GB, which is spectacular. 

As far as memory is concerned, there is no need to worry if you are purchasing the latest edition laptop. All modern laptops are equipped with at least 8GB of RAM because numerous specs and mini devices are running within a laptop, and storage is the key here. 

Graphics Hardware

If you are talking about gaming laptops or laptops for emulations, then this is the category where you need to be careful. Dolphin requires that its emulators run on the laptop or desktop that possesses Pixel Shader 3.0, DirectX 10, or OpenGL 3 at minimum. However, recommended graphics hardware includes DirectX 11.1, OpenGL 4.4, or Vulkan GPU. Apart from these basic requirements by Dolphin, you need to make sure that your laptop is up to the mark through built-in internal graphics. 

RTX or Nvidia’s GeForce GTX are some standard graphic processor options available nowadays. However, there is no choice in this field, and all you can do is opt for a better graphic processor that you feel would provide the best results. 

Input Devices

Input devices are the hardware connected to the desktop device for other use. For example, for quite some time, dolphin emulators for PS2 have been used with desktop devices. There are specific requirements regarding the input devices as well. 

Dolphin emulators work best with desktops such as laptops that provide mouse and keyboard as primary input devices. However, recommended input devices such as the original Nintendo GameCube controller with Smash Bros. Wii U USB adapter or original Nintendo Wii Remote via DolphinBar are other required options. 

Best Laptops for Dolphin Emulator – FAQ

Conclusion:

Dolphin is world-renowned open-source software to play Nintendo’s GameCube and Wii games on desktops. Laptops being portable devices are shaping nicely to become the next premier zone of gaming. In addition, for this very reason, gaming laptops are getting advanced with each passing year. 

There is a broad acceptance of a new phenomenon: customized storage, which allows you to select the best modifications for your laptop. Below are the three best laptops for emulations which you can consider as your next device.

• Dell G15 5510 (best overall features, best laptop for dolphin emulator, and best laptop for emulation)
• Acer Aspire 5 Slim (Cheap laptop for emulators)
• MSI GF63 Thin Gaming Laptop (best laptop with minimum Dolphin requirements)

When considering gaming laptops, specs and features must be compared and thoroughly viewed. The above review would help you choose your next device but consider the above three shortlisted laptops as some brilliant laptop devices for providing an excellent experience for emulations.