Some PC enthusiasts swear by their hulky desktops, but in reality, a gaming laptop can be a more practical choice. But how do you make sense of all the screen sizes (14 to 18 inches!) and component options (Core, Ryzen, Radeon, GeForce!) you face when shopping? Our experts can help. Gaming laptops are all about tested CPU and graphics performance, and our analysts are aces at benchmarking and evaluating these laptops to find the best values. (They also assess design, usability, connectivity, and display quality in every model.) Our favorites are organized into budget (under about $1,200), midrange (between $1,200 and $2,000), and high-end ($2,000 and up) categories. Our top basic gaming laptop for most shoppers is the MSI Katana 15 HX, but we've compiled a list of additional tested options, along with shopping advice and critical specs for pinpointing the best gaming laptop for you.
Overview
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![MSI Katana 15 HX]()
Best Gaming Laptop for Most PeopleMSI Katana 15 HX
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![Alienware 16X Aurora]()
Best Gaming Laptop for Sleek DesignAlienware 16X Aurora
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![Acer Nitro V 16 AI]()
Best Budget Gaming LaptopAcer Nitro V 16 AI
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![Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10]()
Best Midrange Gaming LaptopLenovo Legion 5i Gen 10
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![Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (G635LW)]()
Best High-End Gaming LaptopAsus ROG Strix Scar 16 (G635LW)
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![Razer Blade 14 (2025)]()
Best Portable Gaming LaptopRazer Blade 14 (2025)
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![MSI Raider 18 HX AI]()
Best Giant-Screen Gaming LaptopMSI Raider 18 HX AI
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![Razer Blade 18 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX)]()
Best Gaming/Content Creation Laptop CrossoverRazer Blade 18 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX)
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![Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 10]()
Best OLED Gaming LaptopLenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 10
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![MSI Katana 15 HX]()
Best Gaming Laptop for Most PeopleMSI Katana 15 HX
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Since most customers are looking for the best value and are not hard-core frame rate hounds, the affordable MSI Katana 15 HX has the widest appeal for most gamers. The RTX 5050 GPU proved to be a steady 1080p performer, and that's before considering DLSS 4, which enables more demanding titles and higher frame rates if desired. A ho-hum display and a limited 512GB SSD are the main concessions to keep the price down.
Who It's For
Budget-conscious gamers: The MSI Katana 15 HX is the top choice if you're a gamer looking for an affordable laptop. It meets most mainstream needs without deal-breaking compromises, thanks to its RTX 5050 GPU and DLSS 4 technology. The Katana will get you playing the most popular games for less.
Gamers in college: If you're a college student who likes to game, then this Katana budget laptop is an excellent fit. Its processor is faster than you usually see in this tier, so it will power your schoolwork more than adequately when you're not gaming. When you are, it's capable of running new PC games smoothly with the help of DLSS.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i7-14650HX RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 144 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 8:11 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 5.29 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More MSI Katana 15 HX Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Alienware 16X Aurora]()
Best Gaming Laptop for Sleek DesignAlienware 16X Aurora
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
This redesigned Alienware laptop is the latest effort from the king of gaming in style. Its build quality, aesthetics, feature set, and performance all add up to a compelling mainstream machine. The Aurora’s highlight design feature is its anodized metal frame with a bluish iridescent color scheme. (Softer edges and quality materials set it apart as a toned-down version of Alienware's audacious Area-51.)
As for what's inside: Alienware offers many configuration options, but our test model featured an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, both midrange gaming essentials. The laptop comes with a bright, sharp 1600p screen and lots of useful ports. Additionally, Dell often runs deals on its web store, so look out for hundreds of dollars off this high-style Alienware machine.
Who It's For
Gamers looking to make a statement: This laptop is the best fit for you if you're looking to show off your gaming gear. The Aurora comes in an attention-grabbing yet sleek all-metal design with the gaming performance to back up its flashy appearance. It won't be mistaken for anything but an Alienware.
Gamers replacing a desktop: If you're looking to replace your desktop with a laptop, then the 16X Aurora is a fitting option. The 16-inch 1600p display is a 240Hz panel that delivers a monitor-like experience, making it a high-quality primary or secondary screen. Plus, the aluminum build makes using it that much more satisfying.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 0.92 by 14.05 by 10.45 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1600 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 240 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 5:39 Variable Refresh Support G-Sync Weight 5.66 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Alienware 16X Aurora Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Acer Nitro V 16 AI]()
Best Budget Gaming LaptopAcer Nitro V 16 AI
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Acer has long been the king of affordable gaming laptops, and its reign endures with its latest 16-inch Nitro V system. This laptop delivers reliable 1200p gaming performance for as low as $750 on sale, making it the most affordable gaming laptop we’ve tested recently. Of course, it helps that the Nitro earns its keep with a fast screen that its entry-level GPU can keep up with, buoyed by reasonably long battery life and a keyboard you can actually game on.
Who It's For
Cash-strapped PC gamers: If you have a minimal entertainment budget or just enough dosh for one PC, then this is the best gaming laptop right now. Let's say you can’t muster more than $900 and would love to spend even less, for example. That's when the Nitro V becomes the gaming laptop to pick.
First-time PC gamers: This is a worthy choice if you're just getting into PC gaming or if it's your kid’s first gaming PC. The Nitro’s rock-bottom price allows for minimum investment while delivering a smooth basic PC gaming experience
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 0.96 by 14.2 by 10.9 inches Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor AMD Ryzen 5 240 RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 180 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 12:07 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 5.38 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6 Learn More Acer Nitro V 16 AI Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10]()
Best Midrange Gaming LaptopLenovo Legion 5i Gen 10
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Lenovo's latest Legion 5i takes the spot for best midrange laptop, thanks to its 15.1-inch OLED, 1600p display, and potent enough performance to back up that colorful panel, refreshing at 165Hz. This is a complete package for gamers looking to upgrade their current gaming laptop while maximizing value, or those replacing their gaming desktop with a mobile solution. It's well-priced to start and as configured for our review, and the system includes the latest connectivity standards and a fantastic-feeling keyboard with robust backlighting regardless of configuration. That all helped it win our Editors' Choice award in the category.
Who It's For
Gamers who want an affordable OLED: This is the best gaming laptop option if you want a crisp and fast OLED screen for as little cash as possible. The Legion 5i delivers not only on this promise, but backs it up with the performance necessary to push the pixels and polygons fast enough to keep up with the refresh rate at 1600p resolution.
Gamers replacing a desktop: If you're replacing an aging gaming desktop PC, then this gaming laptop is excellent. With all of the features it includes within its 4.19-pound chassis, like Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4 in addition to the dazzler of a display, the Legion 5i brings a complete PC gaming experience even before you hook up an additional monitor.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 0.85 by 13.58 by 10.05 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2,560 by 1,600 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor Intel Core i7-14700HX RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 165 Screen Size 15.1 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 5:22 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.19 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 Review -
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![Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (G635LW)]()
Best High-End Gaming LaptopAsus ROG Strix Scar 16 (G635LW)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Our high-end pick is free from the budget restraints of other categories, and in this fiercely competitive tier, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 stands out. It manages to remain a decent value despite its price, and the performance, design, and feature set make it a winner for enthusiasts. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 in our test model made light work of our benchmark tests, and it's up to the task for any real-world title. Additionally, it features a brilliant 240Hz 1600p mini LED display, long battery life, and tool-free RAM and storage upgradability.
Who It's For
Hard-core gamers with deep pockets: This ROG Strix laptop works if you're a gamer willing to spend $3,000 or more. It's expensive but maximizes that value with top-end parts and materials. Any modern game will run smoothly on this machine, and it has a boatload of memory, storage, and processing power.
Creatives and power users: If you're a creative professional with high demands, then you should look to this laptop for those tasks. You'll find plenty of overlap between creators and gamers today. This laptop has as much muscle for crunching through media editing and data as it does for handling the latest games.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.21 by 13.9 by 10.6 inches Graphics Memory 16 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1600 Operating System Windows 11 Pro Panel Technology Mini LED Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 240 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 8:23 Variable Refresh Support G-Sync Weight 6.28 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (G635LW) Review -
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![Razer Blade 14 (2025)]()
Best Portable Gaming LaptopRazer Blade 14 (2025)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Blade 14 is our current favorite ultraportable gaming laptop, thanks to its exceptional combination of performance, style, and price. It costs a pretty penny—cheap laptops at this size are uncommon, and Razer leans premium to begin with—but it's worth it if you can afford it. The high-quality chassis and slick style are unmatched in the gaming space, and the 120Hz 3K OLED panel only sweetens the pot. Its battery life is long, you can upgrade the SSD after purchase, and, of course, the laptop's gaming performance meets expectations. Aside from the cost, it's difficult to find much fault with the system, resulting in a fast, chic, and portable gaming machine.
Who It's For
Gamers on the go: If you're a gaming enthusiast who travels a lot, then this gaming laptop will fit like a glove. The Blade 14 is not exactly a value play, but it is a device you'll love if you frequently take your laptop with you. If you need a primary gaming PC that you can travel with over short or long distances, the Blade 14 is your best bet.
Frequent-traveling content creators: This is a top portable option if you're an editor or other kind of media maker. You already often work on the road or frequently change location, so this mobile and premium laptop is a suitable fit. Razer has long courted people like you, and this edition seems to seal the deal.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Class Ultraportable Dimensions (HWD) 0.64 by 12.2 by 8.8 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2880 by 1800 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 14 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 11:37 Variable Refresh Support G-Sync Weight 3.6 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Razer Blade 14 (2025) Review -
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![MSI Raider 18 HX AI]()
Best Giant-Screen Gaming LaptopMSI Raider 18 HX AI
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Want the best big-screen experience that money can buy? Your best bet today is MSI's Raider 18 HX AI, which goes all in for processing and graphics muscle. Our test model packs an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX CPU, 64GB of memory, and an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU, which unsurprisingly made mincemeat of our benchmark tests, posting staggering 3D and gaming results. The downside? It's big, loud, and expensive, but that's more or less table stakes at this size and power tier. A sharp mini LED screen and acceptable battery life for the size round out the system.
Who It's For
Power seekers: This laptop is designed for you if you're a gamer with deep pockets who demands maximum performance. The Raider is one of the most potent gaming laptops available, especially if frame rates and performance in the latest titles are your primary concerns. Even without an RTX 5090, it's enough for virtually any current-day gaming scenario.
Gamers replacing a desktop: This gaming laptop is a nearly perfect desktop replacement. Whether you are replacing an old tower or deciding between a new desktop or a laptop, the Raider will please. Its big display is like a desktop monitor, and its power level is about as potent as it gets in the mobile space.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Desktop Replacement Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.26 by 15.9 by 12.1 inches Graphics Memory 16 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX RAM (as Tested) 64 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 18 Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Secondary Drive Type SSD Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 5:37 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 7.94 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More MSI Raider 18 HX AI Review -
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![Razer Blade 18 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX)]()
Best Gaming/Content Creation Laptop CrossoverRazer Blade 18 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The Blade 18 is a dream laptop for demanding content creators, gamers, and people who are both. It's a premium affair with a steep starting price, thanks to its best-in-class build and high-end parts. This laptop's loadout is easily capable of powering any gaming scenario and potent enough to drive strenuous creative workloads. Add a slim all-metal build, and an advanced dual-mode display supporting both sharp 4K (for high-detail play) or full HD (for high-speed play) resolutions, and you have an exceptional laptop. For some time now, Razer has been targeting gamers who are also media editors, and this laptop is the ideal solution if you're seeking a sleek, desktop-like experience rather than a portability-first machine.
Who It's For
Content creators moonlighting as PC gamers: Razer's 18-inch gaming laptop is an excellent fit if you're a creative professional who also enjoys PC gaming. You'll come for the roomy 4K display and speedy processor, wrap up your workday, and stay for the gaming-ready GPU. The Blade 18's power, memory, and sharp display make it a smart, albeit steeply priced, gaming-laptop choice if you need more than just fast frame rates from your hardware.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.1 by 15.7 by 10.8 inches Graphics Memory 24 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 3840 by 2400 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RAM (as Tested) 64 Screen Refresh Rate 240 Screen Size 18 Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 Secondary Drive Type SSD Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 5:43 Variable Refresh Support G-Sync Weight 7.06 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 10]()
Best OLED Gaming LaptopLenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 10
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
When OLED panels first hit the laptop market, they appeared in all types of categories. When that initial enthusiasm waned, OLED screens stuck around in some categories, but retreated from others like gaming. They are making a resurgence again, and the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 10 is our favorite current OLED gaming laptop. It's a solid midrange machine to begin with: Our test model includes an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX CPU with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU for a nice price. Add in a gorgeous 165Hz 1600p OLED screen, and this is an attractive overall package, though we should note its short battery life.
Who It's For
Gamers who prioritize their display: OLED monitors and TVs are highly attractive for gamers right now, so the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 10 is the leading pick for such gaming laptops. This laptop delivers you a gaming-ready (high refresh and high resolution) panel and gaming hardware to back it up, without soaring into enthusiast pricing.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.02 by 14.4 by 10.6 inches Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 2,560 by 1,600 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology OLED Processor AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX RAM (as Tested) 32 Screen Refresh Rate 165 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 2:48 Variable Refresh Support G-Sync Weight 5.07 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 7 Learn More Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 10 Review -
Compare Specs
![Razer Blade 14 (2025) [Review]](https://sm.pcmag.com/t/pcmag_uk/review/r/razer-blad/razer-blade-14-2025_j1wr.640.jpg)
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4.0 Excellent |
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4.5 Outstanding |
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Best For | Best Gaming Laptop for Most People | Best Gaming Laptop for Sleek Design | Best Budget Gaming Laptop | Best Midrange Gaming Laptop | Best High-End Gaming Laptop | Best Portable Gaming Laptop | Best Giant-Screen Gaming Laptop | Best Gaming/Content Creation Laptop Crossover | Best OLED Gaming Laptop | Best Gaming Laptop for Most People | Best Gaming Laptop for Sleek Design | Best Budget Gaming Laptop |
Class | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming, Ultraportable | Gaming, Desktop Replacement | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming |
Processor | Intel Core i7-14650HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | AMD Ryzen 5 240 | Intel Core i7-14700HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX | Intel Core i7-14650HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | AMD Ryzen 5 240 |
Processor Speed | ||||||||||||
RAM (as Tested) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 64 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 | 1 | 512 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 512 | 1 | 512 |
Secondary Drive Type | SSD | SSD | ||||||||||
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
Optical Drive | ||||||||||||
Screen Size | 15.6 | 16 | 16 | 15.1 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15.6 | 16 | 16 |
Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1080 | 2560 by 1600 | 1920 by 1200 | 2,560 by 1,600 | 2560 by 1600 | 2880 by 1800 | 3840 by 2400 | 3840 by 2400 | 2,560 by 1,600 | 1920 by 1080 | 2560 by 1600 | 1920 by 1200 |
Touch Screen | ||||||||||||
Panel Technology | IPS | IPS | IPS | OLED | Mini LED | OLED | IPS | IPS | OLED | IPS | IPS | IPS |
Variable Refresh Support | None | G-Sync | None | None | G-Sync | G-Sync | None | G-Sync | G-Sync | None | G-Sync | None |
Screen Refresh Rate | 144 | 240 | 180 | 165 | 240 | 120 | 120 | 240 | 165 | 144 | 240 | 180 |
Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU |
Graphics Memory | 8 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 8 | 8 | |||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Dimensions (HWD) | 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches | 0.92 by 14.05 by 10.45 inches | 0.96 by 14.2 by 10.9 inches | 0.85 by 13.58 by 10.05 inches | 1.21 by 13.9 by 10.6 inches | 0.64 by 12.2 by 8.8 inches | 1.26 by 15.9 by 12.1 inches | 1.1 by 15.7 by 10.8 inches | 1.02 by 14.4 by 10.6 inches | 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches | 0.92 by 14.05 by 10.45 inches | 0.96 by 14.2 by 10.9 inches |
Weight | 5.29 | 5.66 | 5.38 | 4.19 | 6.28 | 3.6 | 7.94 | 7.06 | 5.07 | 5.29 | 5.66 | 5.38 |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 8:11 | 5:39 | 12:07 | 5:22 | 8:23 | 11:37 | 5:37 | 5:43 | 2:48 | 8:11 | 5:39 | 12:07 |
Buying Guide: The Best Gaming Laptops for 2026
How to Choose a Gaming Laptop: Start With Your Budget
No surprise here: The ultimate factor in your gaming laptop purchase decision will be how much money you have to spend. Gaming systems have higher-end components than run-of-the-mill consumer laptops, so their prices will be higher, but the range across the category is huge, from under a grand to nearly $5,000. Budget gaming laptops start at around $800 and can go up to about $1,300 with current pricing trends due to memory and storage shortages. For that, you get a system that can play games at full HD resolution (1080p) with the settings turned down in demanding titles, or at maximum quality settings in simpler and/or older games. Storage will likely be a modest-capacity solid-state drive (SSD); a hard drive indicates an older model best avoided. An SSD as the boot drive is always preferable.
Want something better? Midrange systems give you smoother gameplay at high or maximum settings on a better-quality 1080p screen (which will support high refresh rates; more on that in a moment). These models will range in price from around $1,300 to $2,000.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)High-end systems, meanwhile, should guarantee you smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p with graphics details maxed out, invariably on a high-refresh screen. They may even let you play at 4K resolution, if the screen and GPU support it. A high-end model should also power additional external monitors. These machines tend to come with capacious PCI Express SSDs, and they are priced above $2,000, often closer to $3,000.
Still, you can easily spend more than $3,000 on a gaming laptop, with some models (particularly the 18-inchers, when fully kitted out) approaching $5,000. A big, beautiful screen often calls for a big price tag and is often paired with the highest-end components.
Some laptops in this class support QHD (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) and QHD-equivalent (2,560-by-1,600-pixel in 16:10 aspect ratio) screens, 4K screens, and unseen extras like ultra-efficient cooling fans to power top-end parts. Thanks to modern advancements, an increasing number of systems are even relatively thin and portable. With laptops in this tier, you'll either pay a premium for high-end performance in a thin chassis or pay for the most possible power in a chunkier build.
Of course, these prices are just rough guidelines based on what we've seen in the recent past. Between swirling tariffs and a memory and storage crunch, the market is experiencing more turmoil than ever, leading to rising prices. Increasingly, laptop makers are keeping product pricing close to the chest until launch due to that uncertainty, and everything is subject to change. Laptops are a bit less affected by the demand from data centers than desktop parts, but they are, nonetheless. We'll do our best to keep on top of these changing prices, but always browse the latest deals and availability when considering a system.
Which Component Matters Most for Gaming Laptops?
While your budget will be the ultimate deciding factor, knowing which components to prioritize can be challenging. Unless you have no spending limit, you must choose where to compromise and where to double down between the graphics processing unit (GPU), central processing unit (CPU or processor), memory, storage, and display. We'll run through the different components below, in order of where to spend your cash.
1. GPU
It's natural to ask, "What is the best GPU for a gaming laptop?" But that's not quite the right question for your shopping search. The "best" GPU overall will always be the fastest, most expensive AMD or Nvidia has to offer, so you should ask: "What's the best GPU for my gaming goals?" We only consider a laptop to be a gaming laptop if it has a discrete graphics chip from Nvidia or AMD (or, much less commonly, an Intel Arc GPU).
A quick crash course for the uninitiated: The higher the suffix number in a GPU series, the more powerful it is. For example, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 will generally produce faster frame rates and higher-quality graphics than an RTX 4070, and so on down the stack. The "40" denotes the generation, so the latest GeForce RTX 50 series is preferable to the older RTX 40 series, since, for example, the GeForce RTX 5080 is the successor to the RTX 4080. Nvidia dominates the field right now, currently producing discrete GeForce RTX 50-series mobile GPUs based on its latest "Blackwell" microarchitecture. However, you'll still find RTX 40-series "Ada Lovelace" GPUs for the time being, largely in budget models.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Nvidia's GeForce RTX 40- and 50-series GPUs carry an RTX designation (rather than the GTX name of old), a nod to the ray-tracing lightning technology that provides enhanced visuals with compatible games. This fancy real-time lighting effect looks impressive, but it is very demanding to run. (See our primer on PC ray-tracing.) For the first time in years, Nvidia did not launch any new GPUs at this year's CES, so the GPU hierarchy is frozen as-is for the foreseeable future.
Combined with an AI-based rendering and upscaling technique called DLSS, Nvidia GPUs can enable ray tracing at higher resolutions in the latest titles. Nvidia is continuously working on this technology, and the improvements in the latest edition, DLSS 4.5, are a major factor in the effectiveness of its current GPUs. DLSS 4 was originally exclusive to RTX 50-series GPUs, but the launch of DLSS 4.5 at CES 2026 added new features and support for older RTX GPUs. That brings superior performance and quality to older RTX GPUs, too, though only the 50-series GPUs can use the more advanced transformer model.
Depending on the laptop, demanding games may not hit 60 frames per second (fps) at 4K resolution, especially with ray tracing enabled. But it's much more feasible for a laptop to manage both a high frame rate and high resolution with a top-end GPU's DLSS 4.5 and "frame generation" feature, which stitches AI-generated frames between GPU-rendered frames to increase frame rates. From DLSS 4 onward, Nvidia's biggest GPU performance gains are likely to come from DLSS rather than pure horsepower. This technology can help powerful laptops squeeze out extra performance at the highest settings, and, conversely, let budget laptops run cutting-edge games smoothly.
Lovelace and Blackwell laptop GPUs are not 1:1 performers in line with their desktop counterparts, but their performance is still respectable. We've found some sizable real-world performance variance between the same GPU in one laptop versus the same silicon in another, depending mostly on the power or wattage that laptop manufacturers allocate to the GPU. To see why this is, read our article comparing the laptop versus desktop GeForce RTX 4090, and pay attention to the listed TGP on any given laptop GPU. This makes laptop shopping a bit more complicated than simply finding the GPU model in the spec sheet. Our hands on testing is more important than ever.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)As for the model hierarchy, high-priced notebooks with RTX 4080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 GPUs are exceptional performers at all resolutions. As mentioned, we recommend DLSS for running ray tracing at higher resolutions and visual settings, but these top-end 40- and 50-series GPUs are much more capable than lower-tier chips (with or without DLSS). Our first opportunity to test the mobile RTX 50 series was with an RTX 5090 in a Razer Blade 16, where it proved its power, while an RTX 5080 laptop was our first full RTX 50-series review.
Moving down the stack, Nvidia has RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070, RTX 5060, and RTX 5050 GPUs. Laptops like the Acer Nitro V 16 AI and MSI Katana 15 HX have shown that even the entry-level RTX 5050 can deliver fast frame rates at full HD resolutions, a big win for price-conscious shoppers. The RTX 5070 Ti occupies the upper-midrange tier below the true premium systems, while the RTX 5070 has proved to be Nvidia’s true midrange GPU.
Like the RTX 4060, the RTX 5060 lives in less expensive machines that define the top end of "entry-level." Think of the RTX 5060 as a reliable, steady pick for full HD laptops that can stretch to 1400p or 1600p at times. These are your bread-and-butter laptops, just above bargain-priced systems, which is RTX 5050 territory.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Nvidia is still the leading player in graphics, and while its rival, AMD, does sell alternatives, you won't find them nearly as often. AMD's current mobile generation is the Radeon RX 7000M line, but we've seen only a few of them in gaming laptops since launch. One interesting wrinkle you may have heard about: Intel and Nvidia are joining forces on new chips that, while not discrete GPUs, will leverage system memory and Nvidia graphics chiplets for better-than-integrated graphics performance. These likely won't launch for some time, but they may be a factor in the lower end of the gaming market sometime in 2026 or 2027.
Even with all the above complexity, we can still draw some basic conclusions about graphics performance. Today, a single midrange or high-end discrete GPU will let you play the latest AAA gaming titles at 1080p with high-quality settings enabled and be fine for powering VR. The RTX 3070 and 3080 made smooth 1440p gaming the norm, the RTX 40 series raised the baseline and made high-res gaming on laptops more plausible, and the RTX 50 series is doubling down on DLSS effectiveness.
2. CPU
As you may have surmised from the GPU section, we have no one clear answer to someone asking, "What CPU do I need for a gaming laptop?" either, though there are clearer baselines. Intel's 13th Generation ("Raptor Lake") chips and AMD's Ryzen 7000 processors dominated most of 2024, before Intel's 14th Gen "Raptor Lake Refresh" H and AMD's Ryzen 8000 chips launched and took over in several of our top picks. Unlike in the GPU space, you will see more AMD processor options out there, as the company's current offerings stack up well against Intel's chips.
Intel also launched its Core Ultra "Meteor Lake" and "Lunar Lake" chips with onboard AI processing, which will run in a few gaming systems, but won't be seen in most. You've likely seen the hype around Copilot+ PCs and Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips, but these AI processors are not relevant for gaming, at least for now. Intel also launched new Core Ultra 3 "Panther Lake" chips at CES 2026, but given the priority here is graphics performance without a discrete GPU, they aren't likely to appear in gaming laptops.
What you are more likely to see are Intel's "Arrow Lake" Core Ultra mobile processors, which bridge the gap between AI performance and general power. You can see our first tests of those chips here, and read about the more recent refreshed Arrow Lake HX chips here; we expect to test the first of these as 2026 rolls on. Last year was a silicon onslaught from AMD, too, which brought us Ryzen 9000 HX ("Fire Range"), Ryzen AI 300 ("Strix Point"), and Ryzen 200 processors.
The more AI-centric chips aren't primarily for gaming laptops, but that doesn't mean you won't find them at all; a few of our picks (particularly high-end or cross-functional models) use Ryzen AI and Core Ultra processors. The potent H and HX processors from AMD and Intel alike are the ones likely to appear in your favorite laptop lines as the year progresses, and our current list is a mix of these product lines.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Many entry-level and midrange gaming systems house 7-class Intel processors, while the most expensive models flaunt 9-class chips. The most affordable systems settle for 5-class chips. In general, more cores and higher clock speeds improve overall efficiency and performance on multithreaded tasks like media projects, but are less vital for gaming. Gaming usually sees less of a boost from multiple threads than many media tasks do, but having a beefier CPU certainly doesn't hurt.
If you have to choose between a deluxe CPU and a high-end GPU, however, go for the graphics. For example, we'd recommend getting a Core 5-class processor over a 7 if the money saved could go, say, toward an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU instead of an RTX 5050. Spending your money on the GPU makes more sense if gaming is your chief concern.
Look for Intel Core i5 processors in budget gaming systems, with Core i7 (or Ultra 7) H or HX processors in midrange gaming laptops. The HX-series processors are higher-powered and tend to appear in more expensive gaming laptops, such as the 14th Gen HX chips. Meanwhile, lower-power Core i7 U-series chips pair best with thinner, more portable, generally non-gaming machines. The most expensive and largest gaming laptops for sale use Core i9 or Ultra 9 H-series processors, which are also superior for media tasks. Intel's newer Core Ultra Meteor, Lunar, and Arrow Lake processors drop the classic Intel "i" in the chip number but still have their own Ultra 5, 7, and 9 tiers, as well as designations like H series and V series. Of these, you'll mostly see H-class Arrow Lake chips (aka Core Ultra 200H series) in gaming laptops. A Core Ultra V- or U-series chip, in almost all cases, indicates a non-gaming-oriented machine.
Then you have the AMD side, which we alluded to at the start of this discussion. As mentioned, AMD's chips long played second fiddle to Intel's offerings, but these days, Intel and AMD tug back and forth for performance supremacy, and you can largely follow the same 5-, 7-, and 9-tier logic when shopping for AMD. AMD's Ryzen 7000 and 8000 chips go toe-to-toe with Intel's 13th and 14th Gen processors, making for fiercer competition. Any Ryzen 7000 or 8000, Ryzen AI 300 (with their own H and HX designations), or Intel 13th or 14th Gen Intel H-class chip should be a capable enough gamer under most circumstances. AMD Ryzen AI 400 processors will appear in laptops this year, too, with some modest upgrades to performance.
3. RAM
How much memory should you get? If you want a rundown of needs for different scenarios (including gaming), check out our RAM buying guide. In short, for gaming on Windows, 8GB of memory is the absolute minimum (you won't see a true gaming laptop with any less), but we recommend at least 16GB. Many new PC games list 16GB as the recommended amount, if not the outright requirement. This much memory will give you some breathing room when switching back and forth between your gameplay and some browser windows or other side tasks. It can even support streaming video simultaneously.
Even more RAM, like 32GB, is more common than it used to be; many enthusiast gamers are power users who are constantly multitasking, and this capacity helps. On the other hand, a budget gaming laptop should function OK with 8GB of RAM, but this amount will soon become obsolete. You should be aware that some gaming laptops are not upgradable, and you may be stuck with the amount of memory you order.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Beware, however, that RAM is more expensive than ever. A memory supply crunch has driven up prices due to an insatiable demand for memory in AI infrastructure, and laptop (and other computer) costs are rising as a result. This may lead you to lean toward a lower capacity when shopping, but the price increases are beyond just ordering more RAM—you'll likely notice higher costs across PCs as a whole.
4. Screen
This aspect has become increasingly complicated for gaming laptops, really boiling down to two questions: "What is the best size for a laptop screen?" and "What is the best refresh rate?"
First, regarding display size, we're always talking about the diagonal distance from corner to corner. A 15.6-inch screen was the traditional sweet spot for a gaming laptop, but 16-inch screens are replacing that size as the new standard. You can buy models with larger displays, but this will almost certainly increase the weight to well beyond five pounds and put portability in question.
Larger 18-inch laptops began arriving in force in early 2023, and they've stuck around. These have all but replaced 17-inch laptops as the largest laptop screen you'll find, a monitor-like experience that can substitute for a desktop permanently or when you're away from home.
Smaller, super-portable gaming laptops, usually around 14 inches, are also mildly popular. These are for gamers who know they'll be on the go frequently, but make sure you're OK with this smaller size if it will be your primary gaming PC.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)In terms of resolution, the default minimum has changed slightly as many laptop screens have shifted from a 16:9 to a 16:10 aspect ratio—screens that are just as wide but a little taller. This changes the exact pixel count, but the resolutions are nearly functionally identical: You'll find either a "full HD" 1080p screen (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) in a 16:9 aspect ratio, or a full HD-equivalent 1200p (1,920 by 1,200 pixels) in a 16:10 aspect ratio.
Those are generally the lowest resolutions you'll see, and for gaming laptops, this HD picture both looks sharp enough and is less taxing on your hardware. Higher resolutions have more pixels, making it more strenuous to run games, which in turn means you'll need more powerful laptop hardware. For this reason, many budget and mainstream laptops stick to 1080p (or 1200p) to ensure higher frame rates.
More expensive laptops can give you those higher-than-full-HD resolutions, but choose wisely, as a resolution of 1440p/1600p (QHD) or 4K (UHD) can boost the real-world cost twice: first for the more advanced panel and second, for that higher-quality graphics chip you'll need to drive it to its full potential. As mentioned, look for a high-refresh-rate screen (as discussed earlier) if you want smoother visuals; they are now standard in gaming laptops.
Because they require the most potent GPUs for smooth gameplay at native resolution, gaming laptops with 4K screens (3,840 by 2,160 pixels in 16:9) are still an exception, and still expensive. Only the most powerful and pricey GPUs can render complex game animations at playable frame rates at 4K, so a 1080p or 1440p screen may be a better use of your money if all you do is play games.
Even though the RTX 4080, 4090, 5080, and 5090 can handle 4K gaming much more ably than any laptop GPUs before them, we still don't generally think it's worth the cost to seek out 4K gaming in laptops unless you can spend big. Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR can greatly improve frame rates at high resolutions, making 4K play more attainable than ever. However, these resolutions are still generally recommended with more powerful desktop GPUs. The screens do look excellent, though, especially when paired with OLED technology. QHD is often a better resolution pairing for modern high-end GPUs on laptops.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Now, to address the refresh rate question. Refresh rate is the number of times a screen refreshes its image per second, and thus how "fast" it can display images in succession. This will always be a relatively large number measured in hertz (Hz). Refresh rate functions alongside a video game's frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps); the Hz limit of your screen is the maximum number of frames per second the display can render. These together determine how smooth a game looks in practice: The computer's CPU and GPU can power a game at a specific frame rate, and your screen needs at least that many refreshes per second (in Hz) to display the images at that rate.
As with GPUs, you should consider what your target refresh rate is for your gaming goals. In the past, the power of a GPU like the RTX 5070 would have looked like overkill for gaming at "just" 1080p, but several new factors can harness that extra potential. A high-refresh-rate screen is now the norm in new gaming laptops, allowing for a full display of lofty frame rates to smooth out the perceived gameplay. You'll need a powerful graphics chip to leverage the benefits of a high-refresh panel with demanding games. You can identify machines like these by marketing lingo about, say, a 144Hz, 240Hz, or even 300Hz-plus screen. (A typical display on a laptop is a 60Hz panel, but new gaming models all have 144Hz-plus screens now.)
A 144Hz panel is emerging as the most common, but we're also seeing some 240Hz and even 360Hz options in pricey models, all capable of displaying more than 60 frames per second (for example, up to 144fps on 144Hz screens). This makes gameplay look smoother, but in many cases, only high-end GPUs can push those limits. Additionally, the aforementioned ray-tracing techniques (real-time lighting and reflection effects) are resource-intensive, but as more video games implement them, you will want to keep them on. They add to the experience.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Because of that, you have multiple reasons to opt for a high-end GPU, even if playing games at full HD (1080p) resolution doesn't look too demanding to you on paper. On the lower end, DLSS can also help less powerful hardware like the RTX 3050 or 4050 run ray tracing with limited downsides, so you're not totally out of luck if you can't afford the top-end chips. DLSS support is far from universal, but it's increasingly appearing in more titles.
Nvidia's G-Sync and AMD's FreeSync technologies are more down-to-earth. They help improve the gaming experience and smooth frame rates by letting the laptop screen rewrite the on-screen image at a variable rate that depends on the GPU's output (rather than the fixed rate of the screen). Look for support for one of those technologies if you're a stickler for perfectly rendered visuals. These technologies, collectively known as "adaptive sync," tend to show up in pricier machines, with G-Sync being much more common in laptops.
5. Storage
How much storage space should you get in a gaming laptop SSD? These days, virtually every laptop comes with an SSD as the boot drive, and most have eliminated spinning hard drives entirely.
SSDs speed up boot time, wake-from-sleep time, and game launch and level load times, and essentially every laptop benefits from these factors now. Only older laptops will still have a hard drive as the boot drive. The bad news? Like with RAM, SSD prices are rising, too. (AI infrastructure demands are hitting storage just as hard.) You'll likely see increased costs for SSD capacity upgrades as the year goes on, as well as higher baked-in prices overall.
In large gaming laptops, it was previously common to see a small-capacity (256GB) SSD boot drive paired with a roomy (1TB or greater) secondary drive to store the bulk of your library. This kind of combination is rare now, only seen on older models; as higher-capacity SSDs have become more affordable, a single large SSD has become the norm. A 512GB SSD is the new default, even on budget gaming laptops, with 1TB the mainstream capacity. High-end systems will include a 2TB or larger SSD. New gaming laptops almost all implement their boot SSDs via the M.2 gumstick format.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Adding greater SSD capacity will increase the price, but it may be necessary, given how large modern game installations can be, so shop accordingly. We recommend at least a 512GB SSD if you can afford it; even then, your library will fill up your drive fast. If you see 256GB offered, that suggests an older model; bump up the capacity if you can, unless you know you only want to play smaller indie titles, perhaps. A too-small SSD can mean you're forever shuffling games on and off the drive.
One workaround: Some larger gaming laptops include an extra M.2 SSD slot or two, in addition to the slot holding the boot drive. It may be possible to add an aftermarket M.2 drive and designate that as your secondary "game" drive, if space runs low.
6. Battery
Given that high-end components tend to drain battery life, don't plan on taking any of these gaming rigs too far from a wall socket. Gaming laptops have improved on average regarding battery life, but it's generally not a long-lasting category. While many will now get you five, six, or seven hours, we still see more powerful laptops last only two to three hours in our rundown test. It's also something you can't tell just by shopping for a laptop without looking at our reviews.
This is, of course, before even playing games on battery. Doing so will drain your laptop's battery quickly, so you'll need to plug in soon if you're playing on battery power. Between the fact that you're going to buy this laptop to play games mostly and a battery run time that's short, even when you're not gaming, battery power just is not one of the priorities when buying a gaming laptop. Longer is still better than shorter, and we include at least one gaming pick on our guide to the laptops with the best battery life, but it's not a strength of gaming machines.
Buying the Best Cheap Gaming Laptop
If you're shopping for a gaming system on a limited budget (in this case, between roughly $800 and $1,300), you must make some sacrifices. Maximizing power while staying within a limited price range is the goal, but you'll have to accept that some components won't be as good as those in more expensive laptops you'll see while browsing. That said, $1,200 is a reasonable ceiling for what some buyers are ready to spend on a gaming laptop, and you can still get an effective system for that much. (Check out our side roundup of the best cheap gaming laptops.)
The main drop-off will be in the graphics since the dedicated graphics chip is one of the most expensive components in a machine and the primary factor in a laptop's gaming prowess. The graphics chip almost single-handedly defines the class of laptop you're dealing with, so pay attention to that part. Fortunately, even the less powerful GPU options these days are pretty capable.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Past budget systems were equipped almost exclusively with those wallet-friendly Nvidia GeForce GTX GPUs we mentioned earlier. The RTX 4050 has been the go-to budget GPU of the past few years, with the rare RTX 4060 system sometimes found at budget pricing.
The RTX 4050 was the budget baseline for some time, but the mobile RTX 5060 and RTX 5050 are now available. You'll be able to play smoothly at 1080p with an RTX 4050, just not at high settings in newer games; the RTX 5050 raises the bar, making even demanding titles playable with DLSS 4. All should be able to provide at least a decent level of VR play if that's your thing. An RTX 4060 is much more capable than an RTX 4050, so especially as the 50 series successors take over, look out for sales on older systems.
Processors are the next most significant difference. In a budget model, you'll likely get a capable Core 5 instead of a faster Core 7. Still, some of the benefits of a Core 7 machine aren't major for gaming; they benefit video editing and other creative uses. A Core 5-class chip will usually do the job for basic budget gaming. Over the past few years, we saw more AMD Ryzen CPUs in cheap, general-use laptops than in affordable gaming laptops, despite their adoption in some higher-end or ultraportable gaming systems. AMD GPUs are much less common in budget gaming laptops than Nvidia ones. You'll probably be sussing out Intel CPUs and Nvidia GPUs when shopping in the gaming budget zone.
Outside of the graphics card and processor, the other components should be closer to more expensive machines than you'd expect. SSD boot drives are the norm in all new gaming laptops, though they may be small in capacity. The display will almost certainly be 1080p; grainy 1,366-by-768-pixel panels are now reserved only for the very cheapest non-gaming systems, while sharp 1440p isn't a budget resolution. The very cheapest gaming laptops will likely offer 8GB of memory, but you will find plenty of entry-level 16GB laptops these days.
What Else Do You Need to Up Your Game?
Cutting-edge ports like USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 4 are beneficial now and will only be more so down the road, but look for at least two ordinary-shaped (aka, "Type-A") USB 3.0 ports so you can plug in an external mouse and a hard drive for your saved media files. There's also a load of extras like RGB key and chassis lighting, software performance modes, and Ethernet ports for wired downloads or online gaming.
If you want to attach a wired VR headset to your rig, look for a loadout with the right ports to accommodate it. You'll need a well-placed HDMI or DisplayPort video-out port (depending on the headset) and enough USB ports for a possible hydra-head of cabling. Other video ports, like DisplayPort or mini-DisplayPort (sometimes implemented over a USB-C port), will be helpful if you want to play games on an external display, but they aren't necessary if your laptop's screen is large enough.
Which Brand Is Best to Buy a Gaming Laptop From?
Our picks span many brands, though we often see the same names rate highly on our lists. Some of these are gaming specialists, and others are not. At any given time, you should expect to see some systems from the biggest manufacturers, which always sell multiple models and configurations at various price points. These primarily include Acer, Asus, Dell, and Lenovo. The last, in particular, has been serving up impressive value in the gaming category recently.
Some of the more specialist brands that consistently produce great gaming rigs are Alienware (a Dell subsidiary), Gigabyte, MSI, and Razer. Some of these, particularly Razer machines, come with hefty price premiums but emphasize superior build quality.
Ready to Buy the Right Gaming Laptop for You?
Feeling more prepared now to buy than before? We hope so. Our detailed spec breakdown of the top-pick machines we have laid out should help you settle on the best gaming laptop that fits your budget and gaming aspirations. Game on!