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| Nvidia has not confirmed yet which of its partners will be using the RTX 5070 12 GB. |
It’s been the worst-kept secret in the PC gaming world for weeks. Rumors of a new, juiced-up version of the GeForce RTX 5070 laptop GPU have been swirling since early March, with eagle-eyed gamers spotting mentions of a “GeForce RTX 5070 12GB” in pre-release documents from major OEMs like Lenovo and MSI. Each time, those references were swiftly scrubbed from the internet, leaving enthusiasts to wonder: was it a typo, or was something real brewing?
Now, as April draws to a close, we have our answer. Nvidia has officially broken its silence. But in a move that is both classic Nvidia and utterly baffling, the company didn’t issue a press release or host a flashy livestream. Instead, the confirmation came buried in the release notes of a GeForce Game Ready Driver update, hidden beneath the headline of optimizations for Conan Exiles Enhanced.
The Official Word: More Memory, Same Name
The new SKU, officially dubbed the “GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU 12GB configuration,” isn’t replacing the existing 8GB version. It will exist alongside it. According to Nvidia’s statement within the driver release:
“Demand for GeForce RTX GPUs remains strong, and memory supply is constrained. In order to maximize memory availability, we are releasing the GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU 12GB configuration with 24Gb G7 memory. This gives our partners access to an additional pool of memory to complement the 16Gb G7 supply that currently ships with most GeForce GPUs. The 12GB configuration will exist alongside the current 8GB configuration, and allows our partners to bring a broader range of GeForce RTX 5070 laptops to consumers.”
In plain English, Nvidia is swapping out the 2GB GDDR7 memory modules used on the original RTX 5070 for new 3GB GDDR7 modules. Four of those modules get you to 12GB. It’s a clever supply-chain hack to keep laptops moving off shelves, but it raises a ton of questions.
Performance, Pricing, and a Warning from XMG
Here’s where things get messy. Nvidia has not released full hardware specifications for the new 12GB variant. Crucially, we don’t know if the memory bus width or core clock speeds have changed. Just slapping on more VRAM doesn’t automatically make it faster—though for memory-hungry AAA titles and creative workloads, that extra 4GB could be a game-changer.
But before you start celebrating, German boutique laptop maker XMG has thrown some cold water on the excitement. In a recent roadmap update, XMG warns that the new 12GB RTX 5070 could cost almost as much as the RTX 5070 Ti—a significantly more powerful GPU.
If you’re shopping for a high-performance gaming laptop right now, you might want to check current deals on established RTX 5070 Ti models. For example, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S remains a top-tier option for those who don't want to wait. Check the latest price on Amazon here.
XMG’s insider note suggests that the bill of materials (BOM) for this “new” GPU is surprisingly high, meaning the laptops it ships in may not offer the value you’d expect. You might end up paying near-$2,000 for a GPU that sits awkwardly between the vanilla 5070 and the far superior 5070 Ti.
Which Laptops Get the New Chip? And When?
So, when can you actually buy one? According to the latest roadmaps, expect the first GeForce RTX 5070 12GB laptops to start shipping around June 2026.
Both XMG and MSI have confirmed specific models. XMG has announced that its Apex 16 Max and Apex 17 will be receiving the new GPU configuration. Meanwhile, MSI had previously confirmed the Crosshair 16 Max EX E2WGXK would launch with the new chip. Lenovo is also all-in, planning to use the 12GB RTX 5070 in its Legion Pro 5 16ADR10, Legion Pro 5 16IRX10, LOQ 15IRX10, and LOQ 17IRX10.
The Bottom Line: Should You Wait or Buy Now?
This is a classic “hurry up and wait” scenario for laptop buyers. On one hand, 12GB of VRAM on a mid-range 50-series card is a welcome sight, future-proofing your machine for texture-heavy games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws.
On the other hand, the potential pricing from XMG is a red flag. If the RTX 5070 12GB laptops launch too close to existing RTX 5070 Ti models (which offer a wider memory bus and more cores), the value proposition collapses. You’d be paying a premium for a supply-chain fix, not for raw performance.
Our advice? Watch the reviews closely this June. If you need a laptop today, the current crop of RTX 4070 and 5070 Ti laptops are still excellent buys and may even see price drops as this new inventory arrives.
Sources:
ⓘ Nvidia Official Driver Release Notes
ⓘ XMG Official Roadmap Q2 2026
