By Robin Owens 21 days ago, Hardware
Top-rated gaming laptops with a solid performance.
The gaming laptop is a powerful yet compact machine capable of handling the latest games with ease. While some people still prefer bulky Razer laptops, I believe that technological advancements in the sphere of gaming laptops have made ultraportable powerhouses a more appealing option.
Frankly speaking, modern gaming laptops can easily compete with top-notch gaming PCs and even surpass some of them.
I have carefully studied the modern market and managed to name the top 9 models that are well worth the price. While conducting the survey, I evaluated such characteristics as overall and gaming performance, styling, keyboard, sound and display quality, as well as the availability of additional features.
I have thoroughly described each model, highlighting its strong and weak points, so you will face no difficulties selecting the best gaming laptop for your needs.
CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.7 pound
⊕ Amazing design
⊕ Decent overall performance & cool graphics
⊕ Capacious battery
⊖ Not the brightest display
⊖ Poor sound quality
⊖ Overheats while playing games
Razer Blade 15 instantly attracts attention with its head-turning design. If you start examining the specs, you are bound to be amazed by its powerful Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, an RTX 2080 GPU and an OLED 4K display.
This is a very lightweight gaming laptop that is capable of handling resource-demanding games and working for up to 6 hours without charging. Besides, this is the first representative of the Blade line that comes with dual storage. All in all, if you want a compact laptop that can assists you in the most severe battles without compromising operating speed, this is a good option to try.
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1660Ti 6G GDDR6 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.1 pound
⊕ Bezel-free frame
⊕ Aluminum case with an asymmetric pattern
⊕ High-resolution audio quality
⊕ Works for over 7 hours without charging
⊖ 2 built-in fans can’t prevent fast overheating
This thin gaming laptop allows you to enjoy your favorite games to the fullest. It is equipped with a mighty i7 processor and has 8GB of RAM to run AAA titles without any drops in performance. The Nvidia GeForce GTX1660Ti graphics card ensures detailed and vibrant graphics on a 15.6-in screen. The laptop is fitted with a 512GB SSD that provides large storage and agile boots.
Thanks to a powerful Intel Core processor, you will have a competitive edge over your rivals while playing the latest games and won’t suffer from delays at startup. The selling point of this 15 inch gaming laptop is its smooth upgradability as it has a special slot for a 2nd SD as well as extra memory slots. Mind that it may get hot rather easily and 2 built-in fans will be of little help.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800H | GPU: GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 5.07 pound
⊕ Amazing 8-core AMD APU
⊕ 90Wh battery
⊕ 144Hz FHD screen
⊖ Loud fans
⊖ Performance issues
Many users believe this is the best gaming laptop you can find in 2024 and there is certain proof for that. The machine is supplied with a new 8-core AMD Accelerated Processing Unit, while Zen 2 architecture delivers first-class performance.
The Nvidia 1080p graphics card takes care of the details and visuals of your games, while Ryzen 4000 CPU matches 1080p gaming demands without making you bankrupt. Such a model can smoothly run competitive eSports and serve you for many years.
Asus TUF Gaming is highly popular among users with limited funds, who still want to play their favorite games at a convenient tempo. Anyway, there is one shortcoming, namely loud fans, but that is rather a minor inconvenience that can be easily forgiven.
CPU: Intel Core i5-9300H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.84 pound
⊕ Irreproachable 1080p gaming performance
⊕ Good value for money
⊕ Long autonomous work
⊕ Nice keyboard layout
⊖ Noisy ClickPad button
⊖ 512 GB SSD may be insufficient for gaming
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 seems like a point of compromise for some gamers, as this is a relatively cheap laptop that can function at a decent level when it comes to gaming. Though such a price presupposes some trade-offs – lack of a memory card reader, a bit weak ClickPad and sluggish Wi-Fi, they won’t significantly affect your gaming experience.
This model fully meets the requirements set for entry-level, budget-friendly gaming laptops. It is equipped with a Core i5 quad-core processor and 4GB Nvidia 1650 graphics card, which means you can enjoy most of resource tolerant-games without burning a hole in your pocket.
CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 5.07 pound
⊕ Robust and reliable laptop
⊕ Huge storage
⊕ Reasonably-priced
⊖ Large dimensions
⊖ Poor sound quality
Though I can’t call Acer Nitro the most powerful gaming laptop because of certain specs that call for upgrading, this is still a reliable device you can use for your casual adventures. Its most attractive feature is a fair market value that makes it especially popular among beginner gamers.
The laptop is fitted with an Intel Core i5 processor and has 8GB of RAM, which means there won’t arise any difficulties with simple and medium computing tasks. Besides, it can work for 8 hours without charging, so you can take it with you whenever needed.
Frankly speaking, Acer Nitro is positioned as a basic laptop, but it is designed to satisfy the user’s regular gaming demands. The possibility to replace Nvidia and Intel with AMD is a strong advantage.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7-4800H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 5.05 pound
⊕ Long-lasting and stylish design
⊕ Good typing experience
⊕ Remarkable results at CPU-heavy loads
⊕ Amazing customization and upgradability
⊕ Capacious battery
⊖ No card-reader or USB-C charging
⊖ Expensive when specced up
If you are determined to buy the best gaming laptop, you should have a closer look at this offer as it is available in several different configurations with varied amount of storage and RAM, processors, graphics cards, and even screen variants.
The models with more advanced GTX 1660Ti and RTX 2060 are treated as pro-level laptops and claim to be a perfect match for the efficient AMD processors in the lineup. Those equipped with ADM’s unites deliver better performance but that comes at a higher price. So, decide on how much money you are ready to spend and choose the configuration respectively.
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H | GPU: GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 5.29 pound
⊕ Good price
⊕ Low battery consumption
⊕ 1660Ti GPU
⊖ Rather bulky
⊖ GPU could be better
This is the most demanded laptop among avid gamers, who want to always occupy top positions in different games. It is the bestseller on Amazon for 2 seasons and there are 2 reasons for such popularity. Acer Predator Helios is budget-friendly and reliable.
The upgraded model has an almost bezeless design and a 144Hz IPS panel. Such a modification made it a truly desired slim gaming laptop perfectly corresponding to the demands of modern users. RAM speed now reaches 2666MHz, which is really fantastic. The real serious disadvantage is the shrimpy SSD. If that is a crucial point for you, you can choose a model with larder SSD described in this article.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS | GPU: GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.6 pound
⊕ Compact body
⊕ Wonderful FHD 240Hz IPS display
⊕ Great performance
⊕ Cool PowerProfiles
⊕ 76Wh battery & USB-C charging
⊖ Lots of plastic elements
⊖ Doesn’t collect smudges
⊖ Only supplied with MaxQ graphics
This is a fairly competent 15 inch gaming laptop that also shows great results when used for regular computing tasks and color-related work. It has a compact body, bright screen and powerful internal components that function in efficient conjunction to provide you with satisfying gaming experience.
Anyway, you need to understand the compromise you agree to when buying this laptop. First of all, it is prone to showing smudges. Secondly, the keyboard feels shallow and the laptop is available only with MaxQ graphics. Moreover, there are many plastic elements and the entire body gets hot during heavy loads.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 4.37 pound
⊕ Handles demanding 1080p gaming
⊕ Long battery life
⊕ Good deal with entry-level hardware
⊖ Lacks Thunderbolt 3 port
⊖ Not the brightest display
If you are searching for a reliable gaming machine that doesn’t cost a fortune, you can fully rely on this option. It boasts an amazing price-quality ratio and appeals to gamers with its AMD Ryzer 5 4600H processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 put in a compact body.
Such a tandem of internals ensures efficient performance when you play the most popular titles with crisp details on a 1080p screen. While it has 8GB of RAM, it runs at a tidy 3200MHz and has a blitz on most eSports. Such a small gaming laptop allows you to enjoy vibrant graphics and remarkable processing powers during casual gaming and even multitasking.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Razer Blade 15
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
MSI GF65 Thin
For Beginners |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
ASUS TUF Gaming
Mid-range Laptop |
CHECK PRICE → |
While shopping for the best gaming laptop, you need to clearly understand your demands, namely those related to what games you are going to play and whether you want your laptop to occupy a stationary position or be your portable friend.
If you plan to play AAA demanding games at home, then you’d better opt for a performant device capable of withstanding the load. A good option is Alienware Area 51M. In case you often carry a laptop with you and play when you have a spare minute, then you’d better choose a compact and lightweight model, e.g. MSI GS65 Stealth Thin.
Laptops with high refresh-rate displays are ideal for people preferring to play fast-paced games. This is also relevant if you need a powerful laptop for architecture. But if you plan to connect an external monitor, then it seems a better decision to choose a 60Hz Full HD screen.
A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is responsible for producing pixels that build images on a screen when you play games. Together with CPU, it is the major element that ensures smooth frame rates and high-res gameplay.
If you are aimed at 1440p or 4K games, then a capable CPU and GPU are a must. Higher resolution - more pixels on a screen.
Even choosing the most powerful gaming laptop, you may feel the need to upgrade its functionality over time. This is easier to realize if a laptop has a sufficient number of ports. Some models, e.g., Lenovo laptops, come with fewer ports because developers decided to achieve a smaller form factor in such a way. Keep this in mind while shopping for your best gaming laptop.
The most evident characteristic that differentiates a gaming-oriented laptop from a regular one is the amount of RAM, which is often larger in a gaming device. Besides, gaming machines, e.g., the best Alienware gaming laptops, always have discrete graphics cards.
Definitely. Though you won’t derive benefit from a dedicated graphics chip, you can fully enjoy fast processors and high-speed RAM that are available in modern gaming laptops to work with Word docs and spreadsheets with the utmost efficiency.
Most of Apple gaming laptops occupy an average position – somewhere in between entry-level devices and powerhouses. The company released MacBook Pro models with dedicated graphics chips, but they can’t surpass even more affordable Acer laptops.
If you spend lots of time playing games and this has become more than an occasional hobby, then it makes sense to buy the best gaming laptop that will help you reveal your full potential. Average users can either rest satisfied with their traditional laptop or buy a purpose-built one but with a smaller price tag.
