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You’re in the right place if you’re thinking about getting one of the best gaming laptops. To give an in-depth decision about what’s best for your budget and use case, we’ve spent more than 15 years testing and assessing everything from mainstream marvels to portable powerhouses (and everything in between).
Gaming laptops prioritize power and performance above all else, while the best laptops are shifting more and more toward AI-powered CPUs with dedicated NPUs. This is true not only for larger, desktop-replacing 15-inch devices, but also for smaller, 14-inch models and enormous 18-inch machines that run the fastest processors and graphics cards available.
With our selections of the greatest gaming laptops, we’ve tried to cover as many angles as we could. Brands like MSI, Razer, Alienware, and Acer are represented. Choosing setups with AMD and Intel CPUs at the three desired resolutions of 1080p, 1440p, and 4K also reflects this.
The most interesting thing about modern gaming laptops is the introduction of AI-powered upscaling, which makes even less powerful hardware theoretically capable of 1440p thanks to Nvidia DLSS. You also won’t be completely shut out of 4K in the midrange thanks to the new Frame Generation function included with the RTX 40 line of graphics cards. This feature employs a hand-tuned algorithm to recreate frames using deep learning.
Quick List of Best Gaming Laptops
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Alienware M18 R2 BEST OVERALL
- COMMANDING POWER & PRESENCE: Outplay your rivals and show them who's boss with an 18-inch...
- UNCOMPROMISED PERFORMANCE: Our exclusive thermal interface material*, now located on the CPU...
- STUN RIVALS, STAY IN AWE: Never overlook your competition with our crystal-clear, 18-inch,...
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Numerous upgrade and repairability options
- Strong gameplay performance
- Cherry Keyboard choice feels fantastic
Cons
- Display is darker than the competitors
- Heavy, even for its small
- Touchpad feels inexpensive
Specifications
| CPU: | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
| GPU: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 |
| Display: | 18-inch, 2560 x 1600, 165 Hz |
| Weight: | 8.63 pounds (3.91 kg) |
ALIENWARE M18 R2 – Overview
An 18-inch laptop will probably become a semi-permanent fixture on your desk if you get one. Because of its weight of 8.63 pounds, the Alienware m18 R2 is a terrific choice for gaming because it offers powerful performance on a huge, high-resolution display.
Even though a desktop computer may be upgraded more easily than a gaming laptop, the Alienware m18 R2 is still a powerful device. Upon opening it, we discovered a multitude of other M.2 SSD slots, slotted RAM, a swappable Wi-Fi card, and of course the batteries.
The laptop is sturdy, with a large amount of aluminum along the length of the frame; nevertheless, this may also add to its rather high weight. Perhaps our favorite feature is the Cherry MX low-profile mechanical keyboard, which is excellent for typing and gaming. The extra cost makes sense, and I wish more computers had mechanical keyboard options. Unlike the MSI Titan, the mechanical keyboard from Alienware features full key coverage.
Not that we don’t have any concerns. Although functional, the display lacks the brightness of some of the other OLED choices. Furthermore, even though you probably use a gaming mouse, the touchpad needs some TLC. However, the performance, upgradeability, and build quality still make this one a winner in our eyes.
Razer Blade 14 BEST MIDRANGE
- AMD RYZEN 9 8945HS — Leverage the power of the Ryzen AI engine to achieve new levels of...
- MOST PORTABLE RAZER BLADE — Thoughtfully crafted for those on the go, the laptop’s compact...
- NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 40-SERIES GRAPHICS— Enjoy playing at higher frames and greater visual...
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Top gaming performance for the form factor
- Beautiful 14-inch QHD+ 240Hz display
- Built-in speaker system is among the best of its kind
- Stunning aluminum chassis
Cons
- Incredibly costly when compared to other possibilities here
- Battery life leaves more to be desired
- It can get quite heated and noisy under stress
Specifications
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS |
| GPU: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 – 4070 |
| Display: | 14-inch, QHD+ (2560×1600), 240Hz, 3ms, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut |
| RAM: | Up to 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage: | 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD |
RAZER BLADE 14 – Overview
The Razer Blade 14, which is so popular among gamers, is back for 2024 sporting a new CPU and the same timeless design. This is one of the best-built gaming laptops available, and the fact that it’s so light and portable instantly makes it resemble a MacBook Pro. It was made from a single CNC aluminum block.
The most current hardware update for the Blade 14 this year beats the previous model somewhat and excels all other 14-inch gaming laptops we’ve tested this year, even though it doesn’t completely surpass it. Given Razer’s past performance, it makes sense to assume that its advantage will hold for a considerable amount of time.
Regarding the laptop’s real performance, the RTX 4070 GPU in the sample I tested was able to run Assassin’s Creed Mirage at its highest settings and at the native 2560x1600p resolution of the Blade 14. This translated to an average frame rate of 73 FPS. It performed a little worse than its competitors on Cyberpunk 2077 at native resolution, averaging just 23 frames per second. Nevertheless, DLSS 3 will easily provide you with a playable framerate at native resolution.
Considering that this is a gaming laptop, the only real letdown is its battery life. Under light use, the Razer Blade 14 (2023) achieved a battery life of little over eight hours, whilst the Razer Blade 14 (2024) only managed to achieve roughly six and a half hours. Though battery life was never going to be its greatest point after all, this is a gaming laptop and its exceptional performance in every other area makes it an easy recommendation, provided you’re ready to spend the higher price.
Acer Nitro 16 BEST BUDGET
- Display.resolution maximum : 1920 x 1200 pixels
- Cellular technology : Wireless lan
- Connectivity technology : USB
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Competent gameplay performance
- Bright G-Sync display
- Excellent battery life
- Fans are quiet
- Many connectors, including USB 4
Cons
- Low-quality webcam
- Speakers are hollow
- Lots much bloatware
Specifications
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS |
| GPU: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 |
| Display: | 16-inch, 1920 x 1200, 165 Hz, G-Sync |
| Weight: | 5.95 pounds (2.7 kg) |
ACER NITRO 16 – Overview
Editor’s Choice
This list frequently includes products from Acer’s Nitro series, which combines affordability, performance, and good build quality to produce a fair product. With certain amenities you can buy for around at good price, the Nitro 16, which replaced the old Nitro 5, offers the entry-level power of an RTX 4050 and a Ryzen 5 7640HS.
A 1920 x 1200, 165 Hz display with G-Sync functionality was included in our evaluation model, making it ideal for esports gaming. Our light meter reads 371 nits, which is quite bright and covers 91% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum.
During our testing of games, we discovered that while the system is not the most powerful, it is sufficient for modern games played at its original 1920 x 1200 resolution. The Acer Nitro 16 exceeded 60 frames per second in nearly every game we tested.
We also valued the laptop’s 8 hours and 24 minute battery life on our test, surpassing the battery life of other computers in my class by several hours.
Acer has a tendency to load notebooks with excessive bloatware that requires effort to remove, and the webcam isn’t particularly good. But for someone whose budget is set at a different and better price, this is a terrific option because it comes with USB 4, a good screen, and respectable performance for the money.
ASUS ROG Strix G16 BEST THIN & LIGHT
- POWER UP YOUR PLAY - Draw more frames and win more games with Windows 11, a 13th Gen Intel Core...
- BLAZING FAST MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask swiftly with 16GB of DDR5-4800MHz memory and...
- ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING – To put this amount of power in a gaming laptop, you need an even...
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Outstanding gameplay performance
- Excellent battery life
- Very good keyboard
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Webcam is 720p
- Competing laptops generally have 1440p resolution as standard
Specifications
| CPU: | Intel Core i9-13980HX |
| GPU: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 (8GB GDDR6, 2,225 MHz Boost Clock, 140 W Max Graphics Power) |
| Display: | 16 inches, 1920×1200, 165 Hz, 16:10 |
| Weight: | 5.51 pounds (2.5 kg) |
ASUS ROG STRIX G16 – Overview
When it comes to strong, portable gaming laptops, Asus is rapidly catching up to Razer. The Core i9-13980HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 of the Strix G16 delivered excellent performance in a chassis that was 0.89 inches thick. Is the style as svelte as the Blades from Razer? No, however Asus is also competitive in terms of pricing, based on our testing.
We particularly valued the RGB keys’ 2 millimeter travel and the Strix’s 8 hours and 49 minutes of battery life during our battery test. The laptop is plastic throughout, with an aluminum lid. Throughout our experience with the laptop, we never felt that the ROG Strix G16 was subpar.
As a matter of fact, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 performed admirably at both 1080p and its native 1920 x 200 resolution, exceeding 60 frames per second (often happily!). Our item featured a 1920 x 1200 touch screen, which was possibly the largest problem we faced. Our benchmarking indicates that the RTX 4070 should have no trouble powering that, and in this price range, 1440p (or, in 16:10 displays like this one, 1600p) display panels are common.
MSI Katana 15 BEST BUDGET ALTERNATIVE
- Processor: Intel Core i7 13th Gen 13620H 1.8GHz Processor
- Memory: 16GB DDR5-4800 RAM Storage: 1TB SSD
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Pros
- Excellent 1080p gaming performance
- Excellent speakers
- Great value
Cons
- Battery life is short
- Display is washed out
Specifications
| CPU: | Intel Core i7-13620H |
| GPU: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 |
| Display: | 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080, 144 Hz |
| Weight: | 5.51 pounds / 2.5 kg |
MSI KATANA 15 – Overview
The MSI Katana 15 is one of our top choices for a gaming laptop. We tested a device with a Core i7-13620H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 that provided acceptable 1080p performance, however some games may require you to change the settings.
The majority of the benchmarks in our testing, including Red Dead Redemption 2, saw the Katana perform at 60 frames per second at fairly high settings. Budget computers can’t play games at their highest settings for very long, especially as they get harder. It’s great that a moderately cost PC comes with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, as those are sometimes the first features to go in favor of a lower-end machine. Instead, the chassis is made of cheap plastic, but the internal parts should be adequate.
The 144 Hz refresh rate of the panel will benefit esports gamers, however it could be a little more colorful. It also produces good audio for the price.
How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop for You
How We Test the Best Gaming Laptops
FAQs: Best Gaming Laptops
- What part of a laptop is most important for gaming?
Even while every component affects how you play games, the GPU is the one that has the biggest direct impact on how many frames per second you can achieve at a given resolution. RAM and CPU come next, then storage. Most of the time, you won’t need a display larger than 1440p, and a laptop with a 1080p display will still provide excellent gaming results. - Is purchasing a gaming laptop worth it?
Without a doubt. Due to the advancements in laptop technology, there is now a much smaller difference between gaming PCs and mobile devices. One of the best gaming laptops should be on your list if you’re searching for a computer that is portable, takes up little room, and has the capability to run everything from the most graphically demanding games to the less demanding ones.
Round Up of Today’s Best Deals
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.
Why Trust Factic
Berry Alex has been evaluating, testing, and reviewing tech, Household and travel items for several decades. He compiled all of the testers’ input, conducted extra research to assess each phone mount’s essential features and overall functioning, and reviewed professional profiles and verified customer reviews for each product.
