Best Gaming Laptops

When we tested the ASUS ROG Strix G16, we were blown away by its raw power. The NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU paired with the Intel i7 processor chewed through every game we threw at it. Even demanding titles ran buttery smooth at high settings.

The 16-inch screen is a joy to use. Colors pop and motion looks crisp thanks to the 165Hz refresh rate. We found ourselves noticing details in games that we’d missed before. It’s great for work too – there’s plenty of space for multiple windows.

One thing to note is the weight. At over 5 pounds, it’s not the most portable option. The fans can also get pretty loud when gaming hard. But that’s the trade-off for keeping such beefy components cool. Speaking of cooling, the liquid metal on the CPU does a great job at managing heat.

We love the overall design. The cyberpunk-inspired look stands out without being too flashy. The keyboard feels great to type on, and the large trackpad is responsive. With 16GB of fast DDR5 RAM and a speedy 1TB SSD, everything feels snappy.

We tested the Acer Nitro V 15 and were pleased with its gaming chops. The 13th Gen Intel i5 CPU and RTX 4050 GPU pack a punch for the price. We played several games at high settings and got smooth framerates on the 144Hz screen.

The 15.6-inch 1080p display looks sharp and colorful. We like the matte finish that cuts down on glare. The keyboard has nice travel and RGB backlighting. There’s a good selection of ports including Thunderbolt 4.

We did notice the fans get loud when gaming. The plastic chassis also flexes a bit. With only 8GB of RAM, you may want to upgrade for better multitasking. Battery life is okay but not great – expect 4-5 hours for light use.

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 packs a punch for gamers and content creators. We were impressed by its Intel Core i7-13650HX processor and NVIDIA RTX 4060 graphics card. These components blazed through our gaming tests. We played Cyberpunk 2077 on high settings and got 90-110 fps with DLSS.

The 16-inch WUXGA display really caught our eye. Its 165Hz refresh rate and G-Sync support made games look buttery smooth. Colors popped and motion stayed clear, even in fast-paced scenes. The 16:10 aspect ratio gave us some extra vertical space for productivity tasks too.

Acer didn’t skimp on cooling. The 5th Gen AeroBlade fans and liquid metal thermal paste kept things running cool. We pushed the system hard, but it never got uncomfortably hot. The fans can get noisy at full tilt, but that’s par for the course with gaming laptops. The RGB backlit keyboard added a fun touch of customization. We liked being able to tweak colors and effects through the PredatorSense app.

We got our hands on the Dell Inspiron 3000, and it’s a mixed bag. The 16GB of RAM is nice, but the Intel Pentium processor left us wanting more. We found it struggled with anything beyond basic web browsing and document editing.

The 1TB hard drive gives plenty of room for files, but it’s not as speedy as an SSD. The 15.6-inch screen is big enough, but the 1366×768 resolution looks fuzzy by today’s standards. We wish Dell had gone with at least a Full HD display.

On the bright side, the battery lasted us through a full workday. The laptop also stayed cool and quiet during use. While it won’t win any beauty contests, the build quality seems solid enough for the price. Just don’t expect to play any modern games on this machine – the integrated graphics can barely handle simple 2D titles.

When we fired up this ASUS TUF gaming laptop, we were blown away by its raw power. The RTX 4070 graphics card handled everything we threw at it with ease. We played the latest games at max settings and got silky smooth framerates. The 144Hz screen made fast-paced action look buttery smooth.

The 64GB of RAM and 2TB SSD are more than enough for most gamers. We had no trouble running multiple apps and games at once. Load times were lightning fast. The Intel i7 processor chewed through demanding tasks like video editing without breaking a sweat.

We love the RGB backlit keyboard for late-night gaming sessions. The keys felt great to type on. While the laptop isn’t the thinnest or lightest, the build quality is solid. It stayed cool under load thanks to ASUS’s cooling system. The fans can get a bit loud, but that’s expected for this level of performance. Battery life was average for a gaming laptop – fine for short stints away from the charger.

The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio packs a punch with its Intel Ultra 9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4080 graphics card. We found it handled even the most demanding games with ease, producing smooth framerates at high settings. The 18-inch QHD+ display is a standout feature, offering crisp visuals and vibrant colors that really bring games to life.

We were impressed by the laptop’s build quality. Despite its large size, it feels solid and well-made. The keyboard is comfortable for long gaming sessions, with nice key travel and customizable RGB lighting. We appreciate the ample port selection, including multiple USB ports and Thunderbolt 4 support.

Cooling is always a concern with powerful gaming laptops, but MSI’s Cooler Boost 5 system does a good job keeping temperatures in check. We noticed the fans can get loud under heavy loads, but that’s par for the course with high-performance machines. Battery life is decent for a gaming laptop this powerful, though you’ll want to stay plugged in for intense gaming sessions.

The Lenovo V15 Gen 4 surprised us with its snappy performance. We breezed through multiple browser tabs and office apps without a hitch. The 16GB of RAM and Ryzen 5 processor handled everything we threw at it smoothly.

We really liked the speedy 1TB SSD. It made booting up and loading files super quick. The 15.6-inch screen is fine for work, but we wish it was a bit brighter. We had to crank up the brightness to see clearly in well-lit rooms.

Battery life impressed us. We got through a full workday without needing to plug in. The touchpad gave us some trouble, though. Right-clicks were hit-or-miss at times. We ended up using a wireless mouse for better control. While not a powerhouse for gaming, this laptop is great for everyday tasks and light multimedia use.

When we first got our hands on the MSI Katana A17 AI, we were impressed by its sleek black design. Turning it on, the 17.3-inch QHD display immediately caught our eye with its vivid colors and smooth 240Hz refresh rate.

We put this laptop through its paces with some demanding games. The Ryzen 9 processor and RTX 4070 GPU handled everything we threw at it without breaking a sweat. Load times were lightning-fast thanks to the 2TB NVMe SSD.

During extended gaming sessions, we noticed the fans kicked into high gear and got quite loud. The left side of the keyboard also warmed up, but not to an uncomfortable degree. Battery life was solid for a gaming laptop, lasting about 3 hours under heavy use.

For content creators, the 64GB of DDR5 RAM made multitasking a breeze. We edited 4K video while running multiple browser tabs and the Katana A17 AI didn’t miss a beat.

At this price point, we think the MSI Katana A17 AI offers great bang for your buck. It’s not the lightest option out there, but the performance more than makes up for it. If you’re after a powerful gaming laptop with a beautiful display, this is a solid choice.

We’ve been testing the HP Victus 15 for a few weeks now, and it’s impressed us with its gaming chops. The 144Hz display makes a big difference in fast-paced games, giving us a competitive edge. Colors pop nicely, and the anti-glare coating helps reduce eye strain during long sessions.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor handles most games with ease. We ran several demanding titles at high settings and got smooth framerates. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM lets us keep multiple apps open without slowdowns. Loading times are quick thanks to the 512GB SSD.

While gaming, the laptop does get warm. We recommend using it on a desk or laptop cooler for the best results. Battery life takes a hit when gaming, so keep the charger handy. The RTX 2050 GPU is good for 1080p gaming, but you may need to lower settings in the latest titles for the best performance.

The backlit keyboard feels nice to type on, and the large trackpad is responsive. We appreciate the variety of ports, including USB-C and HDMI. The silver chassis looks sleek and doesn’t attract fingerprints. Overall, we think the HP Victus 15 offers great value for gamers who want a capable machine without breaking the bank.

We’ve spent some time with the Acer Nitro 5, and it’s clear this laptop punches above its weight class. The 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card handled our gaming sessions with ease. We were able to play most modern titles at high settings without any noticeable lag.

The 15.6-inch Full HD display is a standout feature. Its 144Hz refresh rate made our gameplay feel smooth and responsive. We noticed a big difference when playing fast-paced shooters and racing games. The colors looked vibrant, and the IPS panel gave us wide viewing angles.

We did find the 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD a bit limiting. We had to be mindful of how many apps we ran at once, and the storage filled up quickly with just a few big games installed. The laptop is also on the heavier side at 5.51 pounds, so it’s not the most portable option. But for the price, we think these trade-offs are reasonable.