Table of Contents
The very best gaming laptop is an attractive piece of technology. A piece of gaming gear for personal computers that is both stylish and portable, in addition to being powerful. The state of personal computer technology has advanced to the point that it is now possible to get desktop-level gaming performance in a notebook that is less than an inch thick and is compact enough to fit in a backpack.
Whether you’re looking for the most powerful model on the market or the best budget choice, you’ll find all our favorite laptops here. We tested a wide range of gaming laptops to find the best rigs in the industry, testing performance against specs offered, design efficiency and temperature, and all over value for money.
We run each machine through a series of performance benchmarks and live, work, and play with the models we review over a long period of time you can check out exactly how we test gaming laptops in our dedicated guide. Below you will find all of our recommendations for the best gaming laptop on the market and more information on choosing the correct configuration for you and your budget too. Below we have mentioned the best gaming laptops.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Gaming Laptop
There are a lot of things to think about when picking a gaming laptop so that you can have the best gaming experience. Here are the most important things to think about:
- Performance: For smooth gaming, look for a laptop with a strong processor (like an Intel Core i7 or an AMD Ryzen 7/9) and a specialized graphics card (like an NVIDIA RTX 30 Series or an AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series).
- GPU and VRAM: Think about how fast the GPU is and how much VRAM it has. The images in games with high-resolution textures run better when the VRAM is higher.
- Display: For smoother games, choose a laptop with a high-refresh-rate screen, like 144Hz, 240Hz, or 360Hz. A good color-accurate IPS screen also makes for a more immersive gaming experience.
Best Gaming Laptops Comparison Table
We tested a wide range of gaming computers to find the best ones on the market. We looked at how well they performed compared to their specs, how well they handled heat, and how much they were worth overall.
Laptop Model | Display | Processor | Graphics | Memory | Weight | Latest Deal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023) | 17-inch, QHD, 360Hz, IPS | Intel Core i9 or Ryzen 9 | NVIDIA RTX 30 Series | Up to 64GB DDR4 | ~3.5 kg (varies with config) | Check Price |
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen8) | 16-inch, QHD, 165Hz, IPS | Intel Core i7 or i9 | NVIDIA RTX 30 Series | Up to 32GB DDR4 | ~3.3 kg (varies with config) | Check Price |
Gigabyte G5 (2023) | 15.6-inch, FHD, 240Hz, IPS | Intel Core i7 or i9 | NVIDIA RTX 30 Series | Up to 64GB DDR4 | ~2.3 kg (varies with config) | Check Price |
Acer Predator Helios 16 | 16-inch, QHD, 165Hz, IPS | Intel Core i7 or i9 | NVIDIA RTX 30 Series | Up to 32GB DDR4 | ~3.0 kg (varies with config) | Check Price |
Razer Blade 15 | 15.6-inch, FHD, 360Hz, IPS | Intel Core i7 or i9 | NVIDIA RTX 30 Series | Up to 32GB DDR4 | ~2.1 kg (varies with config) | Check Price |
Here is the list of Best Gaming Laptops
Each gaming laptop we test undergoes gaming and productivity performance testing. Below are two scores for Fire Strike and Time Spy, our favorite machines. After finishing, both tests rate a laptop’s graphics and processor. Performance improves with higher scores.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2023)
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Operating System | Windows 11 |
Processor | Ryzen 9 |
Display size | 17.00-inch |
Memory | 64GB of RAM |
Storage | 2TB of SSD |
Check Price |
For gamers who seek the best, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2024) is a potent gaming laptop that provides outstanding performance. It is equipped with the most up-to-date AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, both of which are capable of handling even the most demanding games on high settings. A 17.3-inch 1440p display with a 240Hz refresh rate is also included in the laptop, which is excellent for gamers who desire a fluid gaming experience.
The ROG Strix Scar 17 (2024) boasts a lot of additional features in addition to its potent performance that make it a fantastic option for gamers. A comfortable keyboard with per-key RGB illumination, a sizable touchpad, and a number of ports are among these characteristics.
The Good
- Powerful performance with high-end components
- Excellent display with high refresh rate and resolution
- Robust cooling system
- Premium build quality
The Bad
- Heavy and bulky design
- Limited battery life
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen8)
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Operating System | Windows 11 Home/Pro |
Processor | Intel® Core™ i9 (2) |
GPU | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ |
Memory | 32 GB DDR5-5600MHz (SODIMM) – (2 x 16 GB) |
Storage | 1 TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC |
Check Price |
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 starts at $2,299 and comes with an Intel Core i9-13900HX processor, 16GB of DDR5 memory, 512GB of solid-state storage, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU with 8GB of video memory. Our test model of the Legion Pro 7i is a step up in several ways. It has 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU with 12GB of VRAM. It costs $2,749.
The Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU, which has 32 working threads and 24 cores, is a beast. It has 8 Performance cores and 16 Efficient cores. Our test machine’s mobile Nvidia RTX 4080 is also no slouch. Even though it’s not exactly the same as the desktop Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080—it uses the same chip as the desktop 4070 Ti—it’s still one of the best GPUs on the market, and technologies like DLSS 3.0 and ray tracing make it even better.
The Good
- Strong gaming performance
- Good cooling capabilities
- Customizable RGB lighting
- Decent battery life
The Bad
- Bulky and heavy
- Limited availability of configurations
Gigabyte G5 (2023)
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
Processor | 4.7 GHz (24MB Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 6 P-cores and 4 E- cores) |
GPU | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 Laptop GPU 6GB GDDR6 |
Memory | 2x DDR4 Slots (DDR4-3200, Max 64GB) |
Storage | 512GB SSD |
Check Price |
This computer’s CPU is an Intel Core i5 12500H. A pretty good choice, but having only four Performance-cores (P-cores) holds it back a bit. This is a hybrid Alder Lake chip from Intel, so it has a bunch of Efficient-cores (E-cores) to help the faster game silicon do less work. There are eight E-cores, so this chip has a total of 12 cores.
With a Phillips-head screwdriver, it’s not too hard to open this laptop and get to its insides. You will have to poke through a few stickers over the screws, which could void your insurance, so make sure you really want to get in there before you do. Behind the back panel, there is a free M.2 SSD slot that you can use to easily add more storage space. You’ll probably want to use that at some point, since the 512GB SSD that comes with this computer will fill up fast.
The Good
- Competitive performance
- Value for money
- Sleek design
- Ample storage options
The Bad
- Mediocre battery life
- Build quality could be better
Acer Predator Helios 16
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Operating System | WINDOWS 11 HOME |
Processor | 13TH GEN Intel® Core™ i9 |
GPU | GEFORCE RTX™ 4080 |
Memory | 32 GB |
Storage | Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4x4 |
Display | NVIDIA® ADVANCED OPTIMUS® |
Refresh Rate | upto 250HZ |
Check Price |
The Acer Predator Helios 16, which has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 inside, isn’t the fastest game laptop, but it has a lot going for it. If you want pure speed, you should look elsewhere, but this laptop’s Mini LED screen and its relatively low price make it worth considering.
Then, let’s talk about the screen. It’s one of the best things about the Helios 16. It’s a Mini LED panel with 1000 zones. Instead of diodes, these zones are made up of small LEDs that are packed together behind the screen. The extra zones are meant to make the brightest parts of a picture even brighter without washing out the dark parts. Even though Mini LED isn’t as good as microLED, I’d take it over a regular LED screen any day.
The Good
- High-performance hardware
- Impressive display quality
- Good thermal management
- Reasonable pricing
The Bad
- Hefty and not very portable
- Battery life may suffer during intense usage
Razer Blade 15
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Operating System | Windows 11 |
Processor | Intel Core i9 12900H |
Memory | 32GB |
Storage | 1TB |
Check Price |
The Razer Blade 15 is one of the best gaming laptops. Starts at $2,499.99 for the RTX 3060 configuration. But if you’re looking for the most technically capable machine in a more portable form factor, that money is well invested. This isn’t necessarily the best gaming laptop for everyone – those who play light games don’t need the power offered here, meaning you won’t get solid value if you’re just looking for a machine you can log into every now and then.
But if you’re interested in a top-of-the-line rig, our tests speak for themselves. We maxed everything out here and managed to run Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 74 fps in 4K. Even though the more loaded titles are still struggling at UHD resolutions, we were impressed with Red Dead Redemption 2 at over 60 fps at 1440p and The Division 2 at 78 fps at the same resolution.
The Good
- Premium build and design
- Powerful performance
- Thin and portable
- Excellent display quality
The Bad
- Expensive
- Limited upgrade options
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Processor | AMD Ryzen™ 9 6900HS Mobile Processor |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti |
Display | 15.6″ WQHD (2560×1440) IPS-Type, 165Hz, Adaptive-Sync |
RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
Storage | 1TB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD |
Battery | 90WHr |
Check Price |
ROG Zephyrus G15 is of the best best gaming laptops you can buy. It is one of the lightest 15-inch gaming laptops you can buy, at just over 4 lbs. with the best mobile chips from AMD and Nvidia. and a fast 165Hz QHD (1440p) display. Together, these components can handle even the toughest AAA titles.
QHD resolution. The panel also has excellent color reproduction, so games are displayed beautifully. But it’s not just games that are great, almost everything else on the G15 is great too. The audio has powerful typing and bass, the keyboard and touchpad have satisfying clicks, the port selection is almost unsatisfactory, and the battery lasts a full 8.5 hours.
The Good
- Powerful performance with AMD Ryzen processor
- High refresh rate display
- Slim and lightweight
- Good battery life
The Bad
- Limited availability of certain configurations
- Less powerful than some other gaming laptops
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 |
Display | 14″ QHD (2560×1440) IPS-Type, 120Hz, Adaptive-Sync |
RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
Storage | 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD |
Battery | 76WHr |
Check Price |
The new 2022 version of the Zephyrus G14 will once again impress us with its balanced specs and excellent gaming performance; breaking frames down to a refresh rate of 120Hz, it is perfect for non-gaming applications as well. We checked out the version with AMD’s RX 6900HS, but there is also an RX 6700S option available for a much lower price. Overall, this is one of the best gaming laptops that you can buy right now.
No doubt, that cheaper option sounds a bit better for us, as the high-end ones can be a bit more expensive and get you closer to the pricey but excellent Razer Blade 14. In that regard, 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM isn’t much help, but we love having all that quick memory that we can’t wait to find what you can throw at us.
The Good
- Strong performance in a compact size
- Portable and lightweight
- Long battery life
The Bad
- Smaller display compared to others
- Limited ports
Razer Blade 17
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Processor | Intel 12th Gen processor. |
Graphics | Nvidia’s new RTX 3080 Ti |
Display | 17.3″ WQHD (2560×1440) IPS-Type, 240Hz, G-Sync |
RAM | 16GB |
Storage | 1TB of NVMe storage |
Battery | 70.5Wh to 82Wh |
Check Price |
The Blade 17 offers some of the best gaming performance you can find in a laptop, but it’s not that super-powerful either.What makes Razer’s 17-inch flagship so impressive is that it packs its incredible power into a slim, attractive chassis It’s because it packs it all into a slim and attractive chassis. Less than 0.8 inches thick and requiring only a charging brick, it can be carried in a backpack or briefcase without compromising on power.
This year’s model features a 240 Hz QHD screen. It also has a customizable RGB keyboard with customizable per-key coloring that pops without being too flashy for the office. The Blade 17 is certainly not cheap, but it is the laptop to buy if you want one of the best gaming laptops.
The Good
- Powerful gaming performance
- Large, high-quality display
- Premium build and design
The Bad
- Expensive
- Heavier and bulkier than some competitors
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Processor | Ryzen 5000 Series |
Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 |
Display | 16.00-inch |
RAM | 16GB |
Storage | 1TB of SSD |
Battery | 80 WHr |
Check Price |
The Legion Pro 5 proves that AMD is an absolute contender in the gaming laptop space. The combination of a mobile Ryzen 7 5000H and RTX 3060 creates a laptop that can handle the latest games with ease, but can also launch more serious adventures.The QHD 16:10 165Hz screen makes gaming and using Windows a pleasure and is the real highlight here.
It is also an IPS panel with 500 nits peak brightness, so you won’t be disappointed when playing games or watching movies. The Legion Pro 5 is also a beast when it comes to gaming, with the high-powered RTX 3060 matching its vibrant screen perfectly. Thus, this product is one of the best gaming laptops available right now.
The Good
- Excellent performance
- High refresh rate display with good color accuracy
- Robust cooling system
The Bad
- On the heavier side
- Limited availability in certain regions
MSI GS66 Stealth
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Processor | Core i7 |
Graphics | Nvidia GeForce |
Display | 15.60-inch |
RAM | 16GB |
Storage | 512GB |
Battery | 99.9WHr |
Check Price |
The MSI GS66 is one hell of a machine. It’s sleek, smooth, and powerful. But it’s not the uncompromising power of an Nvidia Ampere; MSI had to scrimp a bit on power demands to cram something as high-performance as an RTX 3080 into a slim 18mm chassis.
This flagship GPU, in its 95W version, outperforms a fully unleashed RTX 3070 like the one in the Gigabyte Aorus 15G XC. But it is still surprisingly powerful silicon for mobile graphics. It may be a bit noisy, but fortunately, you have all the features of Nvidia Max-Q 3.0 at your disposal. This includes Whisper 2.0 mode, which turns the game down to an almost inaudible level, which is handy when you want to sneak in a game.
The Good
- Powerful hardware configuration
- Sleek and portable design
- Good battery life for a gaming laptop
The Bad
- Can get warm under heavy load
Acer Predator Helios 300
Specification | Detail |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i7-12700H |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 |
Display | 15.60-inch |
RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
Storage | 1TB |
Battery | 59.9WHr |
Check Price |
The Acer Predator Helios 300 GTX 10 Series era and the current Helios generation still manages to outperform its weight class compared to other best gaming laptops. It may not be the best gaming laptop, but it is one of the best value machines. The latest version of the Helios comes with an RTX 3070 GPU and a more refined form factor without significantly increasing the price.
It also has a 144Hz screen and smaller bezels, which are more in line with the thin and sleek light than its bulky siblings of the previous generation. The only real downside is the small SSD, but this laptop has slots for two SSDs and one HDD, making upgrading storage as easy as getting a screwdriver. Upgrades in this price range often need to be addressed, and the Helios 300 is no different in that regard.
The Good
- Solid gaming performance
- Decent display quality
- Relatively affordable
The Bad
- Bulky and heavy
Questions and Answers
A gaming laptop is a small computer that is made and set up to play games. It usually has high-performance technology like powerful processors, dedicated graphics cards, fast storage, and a lot of RAM so that games run smoothly.
Gaming computers are made with hardware that can handle games that use a lot of resources. Compared to regular laptops, they usually have special graphics cards, screens with high refresh rates, and better cooling systems. Normal laptops are better for general work and entertainment jobs.
Think about the CPU (processor), GPU (graphics card), RAM, type and amount of storage, display resolution and refresh rate, cooling system, keyboard quality, and overall build quality when picking a gaming laptop.