Over the past decade, gaming laptops have made the transition from a niche option for hardcore enthusiasts to a vibrant product category with a wide range features and price points for all kinds of players. Packed with more powerful graphics processors than your average laptop, they’re great for playing games but also manage just fine when you’re cranking out work, especially if it involves demanding tasks like editing high-resolution video and compiling code.
Leading PC-makers like Acer, Alienware, Asus, Razer, and many others offer reliable gaming laptops in all shapes and sizes—from impressively portable machines to full-blown desktop replacements. The gaming laptop marketplace is chock full of high-quality products, so navigating it can be daunting. To help with your decision and big-ticket purchase, we spent months scrutinizing the latest gaming laptops. Whether you’re a newbie looking for your first gaming laptop or a longtime player hoping to replace an old rig, there’s one that will fit your criteria.
Your next play session could also benefit from some upgrades. Check out the best gaming keyboards, PC game controllers, and joysticks.
The Best Gaming Laptops
- Best Overall: Asus ROG Strix G16
- Best Value: Acer Nitro V
- Best High-End: Razer Blade 16
- Best Big-Screen: Alienware M18
- Best for Cloud Gaming: Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE
What to Consider
GPU
The graphics processing unit (GPU) is the most important component of a gaming laptop. As its name suggests, it’s a processor tasked solely with rendering on-screen visuals. Today’s finest video games have been developed to feature stunning attention to detail and elaborate cinematic sequels, so a powerful GPU is a must.
Nvidia has been synonymous with excellence in gaming graphics for many years, and looking for its current lineup of graphics cards, the GeForce RTX 40 Series, should be a priority when you’re deciding on a laptop. It includes five options, from the budget-conscious GeForce RTX 4050 and 4060 to the mid-tier RTX 4070 to the extremely powerful RTX 4080 and 4090. Each step up the GPU ladder raises the price of a laptop considerably, so picking the right computer often comes down to balancing power and price.
Having personally tested them all, I’ve found that GeForce RTX 4070-equipped laptops best straddle that line. An RTX 4070 can generate rich, detailed visuals in AAA games, even on large, high-resolution displays. Drop it a step down to the 4060, and you’ll still be able to run AAA titles well in sharp-looking Full HD (1080p). The RTX 4050 is the cheapest option, and works fine in 1080p, though you may need to lower the visual settings in some games to get things running smoothly.
Laptops that pack Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 or 4090 graphics can deliver a smooth gaming experience akin to a powerful gaming desktop. You’ll have no problem playing games in 4K on a large external monitor. You may find that them to be prohibitively expensive, but I promise y0u’ll get your money’s worth.
Processor (CPU)
Unless you’re shopping on a tight budget, look for a gaming laptop with a future-proof 14th-generation Intel Core processor. That said, picking a machine packing an older-generation Intel CPU or an AMD Ryzen 7 chip, which will still provide plenty of power and speed, is a great compromise on a tight budget.
Display
It’s 2024, so your next gaming laptop should have a killer display that can show off the sharp details and bright, vibrant colors of the best-looking games. Ideally, look for a QHD+ (2560 x 1600 pixels) screen or better, which delivers detail-rich visuals in an up-to-date 16:10 ratio. If you’re looking at laptops under $1,000, 1080p still looks great, especially when paired with an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU.
Depending on the game and your detail preferences, you can lower the resolution to Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) pixels and still get a more immersive 16:10 experience than an old-school FHD screen with 16:9 aspect ratio will afford.
A great gaming laptop screen should also have a high refresh rate. Measured in Hertz (Hz), refresh rate determines the maximum number of times your laptop can update what’s on screen each second. In games, a higher refresh rate opens the door to smoother animation, but it also makes web pages and documents scroll more smoothly, among other things. Since games are top priority for our purposes here, I’d aim for a gaming laptop with a 120-Hz refresh rate or higher.
Most gaming laptop displays have in-plane switching (IPS) panels, a type of LCD display, which offer a good balance between picture quality and performance. If you are willing to spend big, keep an eye out for high-end gaming laptops with Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, which featuring individually backlit pixels to create unmatched visual fidelity with vibrant colors and deep contrast.
Memory and Storage
Random access memory (RAM) and storage are both critical for gamers. Memory helps your computer work faster, which keeps taxing programs like games running smoothly. I recommend you spec a gaming laptop with at least 16 Gigabytes (GB)—the more the better. Don’t worry if the cheap gaming laptop PC on your radar has only 8 GB of RAM, though.
Modern video games often top 100 GB in size when installed, so even a budget gaming laptop should have at least 512 GB of upgradable solid-state-drive (SSD) storage. In a high-end machine, look for a Terabyte (TB) or more.
Connectivity
Future-proof wireless connectivity features like Wi-Fi 6 (and higher) and Bluetooth 5 (and up) are essential for any laptop. Thankfully, most gaming notebooks skew large, so they have plenty of room for wireless hardware and ports to plug in accessories.
If you’re planning to link the notebook to a 4K gaming monitor, make sure it has an HDMI 2.1 port. The connector will allow you to enjoy the highest fidelity possible on external displays.
Portability
Packing desktop-grade hardware and serious cooling to match invariably makes gaming laptops bigger and heavier than their productivity-focused counterparts. It also takes a serious toll on battery life. Most gaming laptops and their bundled chargers are noticeably bulkier than standard ones, which makes most gaming laptops hard to lug around every day.
Should you choose to use your gaming laptop for school and work, take care to factor in size and weight. Look for options with smaller screens (13-15 inches), as they’re often more portable than the biggest, most powerful machines.
How We Selected The Best Gaming Laptops
My journey as a gamer began in the late ’80s on an 8-bit desktop computer. I’ve experienced almost every platform in the decades that followed. Gaming laptops became a frequent part of my gaming setup about a decade ago, and I lost count of how many I’ve put through their paces at this point.
For this guide, I zeroed in on gaming laptops with future-proof hardware at multiple price points. I parsed through hundreds of lines of product specs to make sure that beginner and advanced gamers alike could find a machine that suits their needs and budget. Every notebook I selected is from a maker with a stellar track record in this product category.
I have personally tested several laptops on this list, and my routine included hours playing Doom Eternal and Forza Motorsport. I always adjusted the in-game detail levels on each machine to make sure I gave its GPU a proper run-through.
Regarding the Razer Blade 16 and the Acer Nitro V, even though I didn’t test the notebooks in person, I still vouch for them. I’ve evaluated multiple Acer and Razer gaming machines over the years, and their design and performance consistently met my expectations. Given my experience with the brands, the up-to-date specs make me confident in recommending them.
Pros
- Future-proof hardware
- Excellent performance
- Rich set of connectivity features
- Customizable RGB lighting
Cons
- Low-resolution webcam
Key Specs
| Processor | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
|---|---|
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Display | 16-in. QHD+ IPS display, 240-Hz maximum refresh rate, Dolby Vision |
| Memory | 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2, two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet port |
| Weight | 5.5 lb |
| Other | Customizable RGB lighting, HD webcam |
The Asus ROG Strix G16 offers everything I look for in a gaming laptop, including advanced hardware, stellar gaming performance, and a cool design, all at an agreeable price. It treats you to top-notch gameplay and packs plenty of memory, as well as a ton of connectivity features, so you won’t have to think about replacing for years.
Equipped with Intel’s latest Core i9 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, the ROG Strix G16 can easily power through today’s popular PC games in QHD resolution with high levels of in-game detail and a triple-digit refresh rate. Reducing the resolution to a still-sharp FHD+ will get you smoother gameplay and even higher levels of detail. In terms of everyday computing tasks, there’s nothing that can slow the machine down.
The Strix G16’s Nvidia G-Sync-equipped display is a great match for its powerful GPU. It’s also Dolby Vision-compatible, so great for streaming HDR content from Netflix and Max, to name a couple of popular services. With generously spaced keys, customizable RGB lighting, and a light strip underneath, the laptop’s keyboard is equally great for intense gameplay and work sessions.
No laptop is perfect, though. The Strix G16’s integrated webcam is very basic, topping out at 720p resolution. Obviously that’s not a big concerning for gaming, but streamers and remote workers may want to invest in an external webcam.
For about $600 more, Asus offers a more powerful configuration with a beefier Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU if you want to max out your visual fidelity. The much cheaper G16 with an RTX 4060 is also an option if a $2,000 laptop feels like a stretch.
Pros
- Good hardware for the money
- Solid gaming performance in Full HD
- Plenty of connectivity ports
Cons
- Keyboard lacks RGB backlighting
Key Specs
| Processor | Intel Core i5-13420H |
|---|---|
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 |
| Display | 15.6-in. Full HD IPS display, 144-Hz maximum refresh rate |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4, three USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet port |
| Weight | 4.7 lb |
| Other | Keyboard with white backlight, HD webcam |
Starting at less than $800 before sales and promotions, this version of the Acer Nitro V gaming laptop is cheap enough to be a straight-up impulse buy. An ideal upgrade on a tight budget, or perfect for a first-time PC gamer, it packs solid hardware for the money—and tucks into a fairly lightweight package. (It tips the scale at a tad above 4.5 pounds.)
This configuration of the Nitro V sports an entry-level Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. While far from the most powerful among our recommendations, it can deliver robust gameplay in Full HD resolution with in-game detail set to medium. Its 15.6-inch display has a high refresh rate, guaranteeing that the on-screen action will be smooth and enjoyable.
As expected from a budget-tier gaming notebook, the Acer Nitro V is a bit short on RAM and storage. Thankfully, both are easily swappable, and you don’t need to spend much to upgrade: You can upgrade both right away and still spend less than $1,000.
The Nitro V has a no-nonsense design and a backlit keyboard that lacks customizable colors (it only glows in white). Some might find this omission strange, but it’s actually quite common under $1,000. The main things to look for in a cheap gaming laptop are a reliable GPU and screen and a rich set of connectivity features. The Nitro V has all of them.
Pros
- Timelessly elegant design and build
- Best-in-class display quality
- Top-notch specs and gaming performance
- Amazing set of connectivity features
Cons
- Rivals with more graphics power are available for less
Key Specs
| Processor | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
|---|---|
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Display | 16-in. QHD+ OLED display, 240-Hz maximum refresh rate, Dolby Vision |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2, three USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader |
| Weight | 5.4 lb |
| Other | Razer Chroma RGB lighting, Full HD webcam, four built-in speakers |
Razer’s latest Blade 16 is the gaming laptop to get if your upgrade budget has no limit. Its all-metal, unibody craftsmanship is the best on this list, and worth the higher spend all on its own. The same goes for the notebook’s OLED display, whose individually backlit pixels will make every second you spend gaming, streaming video, and browsing the web look gorgeous. Under the hood, the Blade 16 has a desktop-grade Intel Core i9 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, enabling smooth and detail-rich gameplay. Throw in a sleek design, stunning display, excellent keyboard, and a vast trackpad with a glass surface, and you have an incredible workstation.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Blade 16’s battery life is nowhere near that of standard laptops in this price range. Speaking of price, Razer tends to charge a premium for its gear: At close to $3,000, there are comparable rigs out there with more powerful graphics cards. They’re probably bigger and heavier, though. The design is a big part of the price tag here. Ultimately, the holistic design makes it worth the spend, though.
You can order pricier, more powerful versions of the Razer notebook with a GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 graphics card, with the latter rocking a price close to $5,000. You can also get the Razer Blades in configurations with either a smaller 14-inch or larger 18-inch screen.
Pros
- Large screen delivers desktop-grade visuals
- Surprisingly sleek metal finish
- Excellent performance
- Amazing connectivity options
Cons
- Large and very heavy
Key Specs
| Processor | Intel Core i7-14700HX |
|---|---|
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Display | 18-in. QHD+ IPS display, 165-Hz maximum refresh rate |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2, three USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, Mini Display port, Ethernet port |
| Weight | 9.3 lb |
| Other | Customizable RGB lighting, Full HD webcam, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos |
The Alienware M18 features a massive 18-inch display: That’s bigger than the 17-inch CRT monitor I used with my first gaming PC in the late ’90s. Sitting up close to a screen this size, it almost feels like you’re playing on a desktop.
A big screen also means a large, heavy design. The M18 is a “desktop replacement” laptop, which means it’s extremely powerful and also not meant to travel often. It weighs more than 9 pounds, so it’s designed to sit on a desk or a roomy table, rather than your lap. Its battery life is also very poor—you wouldn’t want to bring it to class or to work at a coffee shop.
Despite being quite massive, the Alienware M18 looks sleek, courtesy of an anodized aluminum housing with a dark metallic finish. I like the fully customizable lighting of its keyboard and chassis, which has a tastefully placed light strip around the air vents and connectors on its back. Alienware also smartly put most of the essentials ports on the back, with just a few on both sides, which makes for a clutter-free desktop setup.
Performance-wise, the Alienware M18 can deliver a smooth and immersive gaming experience that’s worthy of its size and price category. This particular configuration packs a capable Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, allowing it to run top-tier games in high resolution and levels of in-game detail. For around $500 more, you can snag an M18 with a more capable Intel Core i9 CPU and GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card for truly best-in-class visuals and frame rate on “Ultra” settings.
Pros
- Excellent cloud-gaming chops
- Doubles as a great everyday laptop
- Sleek and lightweight (for its size)
Cons
- Needs a paid subscription to deliver that great gameplay
Key Specs
| Processor | Intel Core 5 Series 1 |
|---|---|
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Integrated Graphics |
| Display | 16-in. WQXGA IPS display, 120-Hz maximum refresh rate |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, two USB-C 3.2 ports, USB-A port, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet port |
| Weight | 3.8 lb |
| Other | Customizable RGB lighting, Full HD webcam, four stereo speakers |
Even though it’s very affordable, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE can leveraging cloud gaming services to deliver gameplay that rivals what you’d get from far more expensive machines. All you need is a solid internet connection and an Nvidia GeForce Now Ultimate membership that costs $20 per month. The subscription includes access to a cloud-based gaming comparable to a GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, ensuring you can max out the detail settings of any game in your library.
The Chromebook Plus 516 GE packs a large high-resolution screen with a 120-Hz refresh rate, so it has all the tools it needs to take advantage of high-fidelity game streaming. It also has a keyboard with customizable RGB backlighting, giving it that distinctive gaming laptop feel.
Best of all, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a great everyday laptop. It has a speedy Intel processor, an excellent webcam, great battery life, a rich set of connectivity features, and a secure and intuitive Chrome OS platform support for Android apps, as well as deep integration of Google’s AI-powered assistant, Gemini.
Weighing less than 4 pounds, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE is also portable and ideal for use on the go. I’d recommend this notebook to students who need a reliable laptop every day and only play games every now and then.
Stefan is the senior technology editor for Best Products, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015. He is an award-winning editor with more than a decade of experience reporting on and reviewing consumer tech products, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear like headphones, earbuds, speakers, and soundbars. Stefan was previously the U.S. editor for GSMArena.com. His writing can also be found in Popular Mechanics.
