Eluktronics · Instant quote

Eluktronics MAX-17

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The Eluktronics MAX-17 is an ultra-light 17.3-inch gaming laptop from the US-based boutique brand Eluktronics, sold across three generations between 2020 and 2022. Every MAX-17 shares the same core idea — a full magnesium-alloy body billed as one of the lightest 17.3-inch gaming laptops in the world, a large ~91 Whr battery, and full-wattage NVIDIA graphics — but the processor, graphics, memory, and ports changed significantly from year to year. That makes identifying which MAX-17 you own the single most important step before requesting a quote, since a 2020 model and a 2022 model are worth very different amounts. Because these were also highly configurable at checkout, and because their RAM and SSD are user-upgradeable (so yours may differ from the factory build), your exact configuration decides its final resale price. If you're looking to sell your MAX-17, our gaming laptop trade-in page gives you a real cash offer — just pick your components using the tool above to see an instant quote for your exact device.

First: which MAX-17 generation do you have?

The three MAX-17 generations look similar from the outside but use completely different internal platforms. The quickest way to tell them apart is by the graphics card and processor, which you can read in Windows: press the Windows key, type “Device Manager,” open it, and expand “Display adapters” (for the GPU) and “Processors” (for the CPU). Match what you see to the cards below.

MAX-17 (2020)

Intel Core i7-10875H paired with an NVIDIA RTX 2070 or RTX 2080 Super. Uses DDR4 memory and a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port. This is the original “Covert Gamer” MAX-17.

MAX-17 (2021)

Intel Core i7-10875H or AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, paired with an NVIDIA RTX 30-series card (RTX 3060 / 3070 / 3080). Typically a QHD 165Hz screen, DDR4 memory.

MAX-17 (2022)

Intel Core i7-12700H (14-core) with an NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti. Uses newer DDR5 memory, a Thunderbolt 4 port, HDMI 2.1, and a QHD 240Hz screen. The newest and generally most valuable generation.

Not sure how to read your specs? Our guide to finding your laptop's model number and our how to find your processor type walkthrough both show exactly where to look, step by step.

Core hardware configurations

Processor (CPU)

  • 2020: Intel Core i7-10875H — 8 cores, 16 threads (Comet Lake)
  • 2021: Intel Core i7-10875H, or AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX — 8 cores, 16 threads
  • 2022: Intel Core i7-12700H — 14 cores, 20 threads (Alder Lake)

Graphics (GPU)

  • 2020: NVIDIA RTX 2070 (Max-P) up to RTX 2080 Super (Max-Q)
  • 2021: NVIDIA RTX 3060, RTX 3070, or RTX 3080
  • 2022: NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti (up to 150W with overclock)
  • Full-wattage “Max-P” graphics with Eluktronics' higher TGP tuning — a selling point of the line

Memory (RAM)

  • 2020 & 2021: DDR4 (2666/3200), 16GB / 32GB
  • 2022: DDR5-4800, 16GB / 32GB
  • Two SO-DIMM slots — user-upgradeable, so your MAX-17 may hold more (or less) than it shipped with

Storage

  • M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive (Gen 3 on 2020/2021, Gen 4 on 2022)
  • 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB shipping capacities
  • Two M.2 slots (one often shipped empty) — user-upgradeable, so drives may have been added or swapped

Make sure it's a MAX-17 (and not a look-alike)

Eluktronics builds its laptops on “white-label” chassis (Tongfang / Clevo designs) that other small brands also sell under their own names, and Eluktronics itself makes several similar 17-inch models. A 30-second check keeps you from picking the wrong product. The two cards below cover this model and the ones it's most often confused with.

This model — Eluktronics MAX-17

Look for the Eluktronics name and “MAX-17” on the bottom-cover sticker. The MAX line is the “Covert Gamer” design — a clean magnesium lid with little or no external branding, an RGB light bar along the front edge, and a 17.3-inch screen. Weight is roughly 5 lb.

Not this one — the look-alikes

Same or similar chassis were sold as the Schenker / XMG and EVOO Gaming 17. Eluktronics also sells the MAX-15 (15.6-inch), the MECH-15 / MECH-17 (different chassis line), the older MAG-15, and the Prometheus XVII (which shares many MAX-17 parts). If your sticker shows any of those instead of “MAX-17,” please pick that model when you get your quote — not this page.

Where to look: the exact name is on the regulatory sticker on the bottom cover. You can also open the Start menu, type “System Information,” and read the System Model line. Our model-number guide shows exactly where to find it.

Display & audio

Display

A 17.3-inch anti-glare, narrow-bezel IPS-type panel. Early 2020 units shipped with a Full HD (1920 × 1080) 144Hz screen; later 2020 and 2021 units offered a color-calibrated QHD (2560 × 1440) 165Hz panel; the 2022 generation moved to QHD 240Hz. Higher-resolution, higher-refresh panels generally add to trade-in value.

Audio

Stereo speakers with an Eluktronics “Smart Amplifier” (up to 4 watts per speaker) and dual digital microphones paired with the IR webcam.

Ports & connectivity

A full port set for a thin 17-inch machine. Note the USB-C standard differs by generation: the 2020/2021 models use Thunderbolt 3, while the 2022 model uses Thunderbolt 4. Check your generation above.

Rear & Left Side
  • 1× Thunderbolt 3 (2020/2021) or Thunderbolt 4 (2022), via USB-C
  • 1× HDMI (HDMI 2.0 on 2020/2021; HDMI 2.1 on 2022)
  • 1× Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45; 2.5G on the 2022 model)
  • 1× DC-in (barrel power connector)
Right Side & Extras
  • 1× USB-A 3.1 Gen 2
  • 2× USB-A 3.1 Gen 1
  • 1× microSD card reader
  • 1× 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack
  • 1× Kensington lock slot

Intel Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1 / 5.2

Battery, build & more

Battery & charging

A large ~91 Whr polymer battery — big for a thin 17-inch laptop — charged via the included barrel-style AC adapter (not over USB-C).

Camera & sign-in

Full HD (2022) or HD (2020/2021) IR webcam with Windows Hello face sign-in and dual digital microphones.

Keyboard & input

Full-size RGB backlit keyboard with a numeric keypad and a customizable RGB front light bar. Earlier MAX-17 units offered a mechanical keyboard option; the 2022 model uses a membrane RGB keyboard. Glass Microsoft Precision touchpad throughout.

Build & design

Full magnesium-alloy construction in a low-key “Covert Gamer” finish, shipped with a clean, bloatware-free Windows install and the Eluktronics Control Center for power and fan profiles.

Weight

≈ 2.3 kg (about 5 lb), varying slightly by generation.

Thickness

≈ 20 mm (about 0.8 inch) — among the slimmest 17.3-inch gaming laptops of its era.

Frequently asked questions

01 How do I tell which year my MAX-17 is (2020, 2021, or 2022)?
The easiest way is to read your processor and graphics card, since those changed each year. Press the Windows key, type “Device Manager,” and open it. Expand “Processors” to see your CPU and “Display adapters” to see your GPU, then match them to these: an i7-10875H with an RTX 2070/2080 Super is the 2020 model; an i7-10875H or Ryzen 9 5900HX with an RTX 3060/3070/3080 is the 2021 model; and an i7-12700H with an RTX 3070 Ti is the 2022 model. When you build your quote above, just select the parts you found. Our find-your-processor guide walks through it with pictures if you get stuck.
02 My laptop looks the same but has a different name (or it's a MAX-15 / MECH / Prometheus) — what do I do?
This is the most common mix-up with boutique brands, so it's worth a moment. Eluktronics builds on shared Tongfang/Clevo chassis that were also sold as the Schenker / XMG and EVOO Gaming 17, so if the name on your machine is one of those, pick that brand when you request a quote. Eluktronics also makes several relatives: the MAX-15 (15.6-inch version), the MECH-15 and MECH-17 (a separate chassis line), the older MAG-15, and the Prometheus XVII (which shares many parts with the 2021 MAX-17). If your sticker says any of those rather than “MAX-17,” choose that model so your offer matches your actual device.
03 Can I sell a MAX-17 that has wear, upgraded parts, or hardware issues?
Yes. We buy these in every working condition. Whether yours is like-new, has scuffs on the magnesium lid, loud or worn fans, a battery that no longer holds a charge, or a cracked screen, just set the matching condition options above and your quote updates to a firm cash value. Because the MAX-17's RAM and SSD are user-upgradeable, it's completely fine if yours has been changed from the factory build — just select the memory and storage that are actually installed now so your offer reflects the real hardware.
04 How does the trade-in process work? (Many people don't realize this is an option.)
A lot of people don't realize you can sell a boutique gaming laptop like this directly for cash instead of letting it sit unused or wrestling with buyers on a marketplace. Here's how it works: choose your generation, configuration, and condition above to get an instant quote; if you accept it, we email you a free, fully insured prepaid shipping label. Pack up your MAX-17, drop it off, and once it arrives and our team confirms the configuration and condition, your payment is approved — usually within about two business days. You can get paid by PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or CashApp, or by a mailed check. Want to read more first? Our step-by-step guide to selling a used laptop online and our post on where and how to sell a gaming laptop walk through it. You can also browse all the gaming laptops we buy or all PC laptops.
05 Should I wipe my data or remove the SSD before shipping?
Back up anything you want to keep — personal files and game saves — to an external drive or the cloud, then sign out of your Microsoft account and do a factory reset (Windows Settings → Update & Security / System → Recovery → Reset this PC) before you ship. You do not need to open the laptop or pull the M.2 SSD(s) yourself — our team runs certified, multi-pass data sanitization on every drive we receive. If your MAX-17 has two drives installed, both are wiped. You can read exactly how we handle it on our data erasure protocols page.