XMG's NEO 17 has appeared on these pages before. The 2022 version featured an AMD processor, mated with a 175 W 3080 Ti. This go around, for 2023, we've got an Intel CPU, the mighty 32-thread Intel Core i9-13900HX, mated with the RTX 4090 175 W GPU. Same power use as the past 3080 ti, but far larger performance figures. For some, those changes would be enough of a update, but not for XMG. What they have provided in the 2023 version of the mighty NEO 17 sees updates to nearly every aspect of the laptop, and meanwhile there were no compromises made with connectivity. From audio down to the keyboard; everything has been given an update and so much so that I'm utterly impressed that I have so much to talk about.

First, let's talk about the elephant in the room, which is the OASIS water cooling. The highly functional OASIS watercooler is completely different this go around, with no aspect of it left untouched. Updated pump and fan are present here, as is a fancy new magnetic quick connect, a little engineering marvel that makes connecting and disconnecting the OASIS unit from the NEO 17 truly quick and easy, without so much as a drop of water lost.

Although it has about the same size as the previous version, the new OASIS cooler features a grille that lets the fan peek through, and for good reason, as this time around we have a rather well-lit RGB fan providing airflow to the 120 mm rad. We also see a well-lit water-level indicator, something that truly needed an update. As if that wasn't enough, we have the quieter pump, and the new hose fittings too, so most of the physical water loop has seen an update. I think the radiator might be the same, but that's about it. Even the power cord is removable this time, where the past OASIS saw the power cord stuck out like a tail. Noise levels are significantly reduced compared to the previous version, thanks to all these updates. The whole OASIS experience is brand new, and I have to commend XMG for taking so much time and effort in updating this part of the NEO 17, as it takes what was great before and brings it up a level into something that is truly incredible. The OASIS cooler isn't a gimmick... it actually makes the NEO 17 run quieter while at full load, too. I'd hazard a guess and say that overall noise is reduced by half while gaming and using the OASIS, and that lets you run the speakers at lower levels, where they can be more accurate.

Further to the audio updates is a change from Creative's Sound Blaster audio software to Nahamic by Steelseries. I am personally a big fan of what Nahamic offers, and it has been around for many years now, and seen many updates. Nahamic offers some nice user-adjustable presets as well as fine-tuning options if that is more to what you'd prefer, and while it might not seem like that big of a deal, anything that improves audio in the laptop space comes as a welcome addition since the size constraints here really affect audio performance compared to a desktop. That is important because this version of the NEO 17 does strive even further to be like a desktop in what it offers, starting with the BIOS.

Most laptops have rather constrained BIOSes, with little-to-no options that we as enthusiasts might be interested in. The NEO 17 throws that to the wind and offers a plethora of user-adjustable performance options for the built-in CPU, ready for you to undervolt so it can scale further and offer optimized performance. We also see support for memory speed, voltage and timing adjustments, and getting 5600 MHz memory installed as standard instead of 4800 MHz stuff is an option with the NEO 17 as well, should you be so inclined to have that little boost right out of the box.

Undervolting options for the built-in Intel CPU are rather extensive. We've gone from none to several pages of options to adjust, with both power limits and voltage settings adjustable by the end user. XMG is really ready to offer customers full control over the hardware they have purchased, and the appearance of these options in the BIOS speak volumes towards that focus. You spend top dollar on one of these XMG laptops, and its not just about the hardware specifications that command this premium; XMG provides these options without a lot of the software "bloat" that you'll find elsewhere. Having spent a lot of time with gaming laptops, what XMG offers software-wise almost seems spartan; but its that way because that is what end users have asked for.

I can't possibly go into too much detail about how XMG is really catering to a high-end enthusiast with this E23 model of the NEO 17. Like chances are, if you are in the market for a laptop like this, you are also likely a content creator. So you get the CPU option with the most cores possible as standard, and then you get your choice of GPU, starting with an RTX 4060 mobile chip, up to the $1500+ option of the RTX 4090 mobile GPU. So if you like what you see but don't need all that gaming grunt, there's a NEO 17 for you, too, and then we see prices that fall into reasonable areas, although adding on the features can make that overall price tag jump considerably. You can go with just 16 GB of RAM instead of 64, or you can opt for dual M.2 SSDs; you do have choices to be made here, but all of them have that same screen, and that same CPU. You can even opt for a quieter membrane-based keyboard if the mechanical thing isn't all that you are after but yet again, you still have the same screen and the same CPU. And the same option for the OASIS watercooler. You might think all of these options might make reviewing a product like this more difficult, but actually, it's easier... you just strip all that stuff away and see what's left. And here with the XMG NEO 17, what's left definitely appeals.

Opening up the NEO 17 to upgrade storage is a simple task; you just remove the screws and pop off the backplate. It all nicely pops back into place easily too. The attention spent on little details like this go a long way towards showing that XMG is careful about their product design, truly considers how their products are going to be used, and strives to make that experience as great as is possible. The keyboard deck, where your hands will spend a lot of time, has a nice soft-feel texture to it. The inner and outer casings are metal, to provide strength to the chassis so there is little-to-no flex in the screen or the keyboard deck, making the NEO 17 feel tough and robust. And you have to remember that there's some pretty high-end parts stuff under this really thin chassis, so some heat is felt on the keys under long periods of load; the keys get warm but not too hot. It helps keep your hands dry during extended gaming sessions, I suppose. It's a comforting feeling rather than an uncomfortable one.

There are several other design cues that show not only does XMG build high-end products, they use them too; things like being able to adjust the system volume with one hand, as well as screen brightness. That bit about the volume control may seem like a small detail, yet I find when it comes to laptops specifically, its the small details that matter. XMG seems to understand that as well, and gives time and attention to things that other companies simply do not. The OASIS cooler isn't a gimmick. It's a rather affordable accessory that completely changes your experience with XMG's NEO 17 platform...and its ease of use and simplicity to make the most of while having a truly tangible benefit... noise reduction. That's a huge issue with high-end laptops - they literally scream under load. Each and every one of them. Yet with the OASIS, that completely changes, and at load the NEO 17 is often quieter than some high-end laptops at idle. My daily-driver laptop that cost me a pretty penny is pretty noisy, so I really feel this noise difference.

XMG went far and above this year with the NEO 17 platform. They literally addressed every single angle they could, all at once, and didn't get any of it wrong. The XMG NEO 17 is practically the perfect high-end laptop, and that should command a price premium. It really is a 10 out of 10 product, with nothing that I think they need to address with this model. Even overclocking the GPU, while also undervolting the CPU, is all possible, so you can truly optimize performance and get the most out of your expensive laptop purchase, just like you can on a desktop.

A big part of my enthusiasm for this laptop is seeing the huge amount of progression XMG has made towards offering a truly enthusiast-focused product, without any compromises. They've taken a high level of engineering with the OASIS watercooling, and nearly provide it for free. The 149 Euro price for this cooler is fantastic. Consider that with a high-end gaming laptop, it's pretty noisy and hot, so you'll likely end up buying some sort of added cooling pad, so to me, paying for additional cooling is just one of the costs of owning a gaming laptop. However, there's no way any cooling pad can compare to the difference that XMG's OASIS provides. The connector that it uses really shows that high level of engineering in the NEO 17; and the same applies to the rest of the internals, which do not even fill the large 17-inch chassis since they are so compact. Quality and fantastic craftsmanship are seen all around the NEO 17 and I couldn't be more impressed.

To sum it all up is pretty easy. XMG's NEO 17 (E23), paired with the OASIS water cooler, is the current pinnacle of mobile computing. Everything here is top notch, and there is a huge number of options available to make the NEO 17 perfect for you. I would gladly replace my current system with the NEO 17, and the price, while high, doesn't make me falter one bit. Getting a water-cooled laptop with a 13900HX and a RTX 4060 for just under $3000 is pretty nice, if you ask me.