BEST GAMING LAPTOPS

Please make sure you read our quick Before You Buy guide before picking a gaming PC, so that you can make a well-informed decision.

Unlike gaming desktops, gaming laptops are by necessity more expensive given similar specs (it is harder to pack power and an efficient cooling system inside a smaller PC). So, viable options are typically $1,000 or more.

Also remember that while RAM can generally be upgraded in a laptop, other components such as CPU and GPU can’t, so choose wisely.

An important thing to know about laptop GPUs is that while these can share the same name with their desktop counterparts, they typically pack a smaller amount of VRAM (among other things) and so they are not as powerful. For instance, a laptop NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4090 has only 16 GB of VRAM compared to the 24 GB of the desktop version, and is roughly equivalent to an NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4080 desktop GPU.

Storage drives are also an important factor to consider, because they can be challenging or impossible to upgrade. While some laptops have a spare M.2 connection to fit an additional SSD drive, this is not always the case.

If we consider the recent trend of AAA games requiring 100 GB or more to install, we warmly advise against buying a laptop with less than 1 TB of storage space.

Regarding screen size, larger displays (17” and 18″) look great but they will increase the weight of your laptop. So please consider this carefully if you plan to carry your laptop around a lot.

You can find some general information about display sizes, resolutions, refresh rates and more on our page devoted to standalone monitors, since many of these concepts are the same for laptop displays.

One final consideration is about Wi-Fi connectivity. Until recently the widespread standard was Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), but now the much faster Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) has made its debut and is slowly replacing the old protocol in most recent laptops. If you want to future-proof your purchase, then make sure that your laptop is Wi-Fi 7 ready.

Below is a list of what we consider some of the best gaming laptops ordered by increasing price (prices are in US$ and may vary depending on current promotions and availability). Please make sure that you also check our regularly updated News & Deals section for limited-time offers.

ASUS TUF gaming A17

($1,399.99 on Asus.com)

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (16 cores, up to 5.2 GHz)
Storage: 1TB SSD (M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8 GB GDDR6)
RAM: 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR5 5200 MHz
Display: 16″ QHD+ (2560×1600) 16:10, 165Hz
Camera: 720p HD
Weight: 5.0 lbs (2.27 kg)
Misc: 2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (two with DisplayPort, one with power delivery), 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6

An entry level gaming laptop. CPU and GPU are mid-range, but the price is very competitive.

Dell G16

($1,699.99 on Dell.com)

CPU: Intel Core i9-13900HX (24 cores, up to 5.4 GHz)
Storage: 1TB SSD (M.2, PCIe NVMe)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8 GB GDDR6)
RAM: 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR5 4800 MHz
Display: 16″ QHD+ (2560×1600) 240Hz
Camera: 720p HD
Weight: 6.3 lb (2.87 kg), can vary with customization
Misc: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x 1 USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, 3x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6

A good laptop with everything you need to game like a pro wherever you go without breaking the bank. It has a mid-range GPU and a beautiful 16” QHD+ display.

Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-72-77KA)

($1,899.99 on acer.com)

CPU: Intel Core i7-14700HX (20 cores, up to 5.5 GHz)
Storage: 1TB SSD (M.2, PCIe NVMe)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8 GB GDDR6)
RAM: 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR5 SDRAM
Display: 16.0″ QHD+ (2560×1600) 16:10, 240Hz
Camera: 720p HD
Weight: 5.84 lbs (2.65 kg)
Misc: 2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7

A fantastic laptop with one of the latest (14th gen) Intel CPUs and ready for Wi-Fi 7. Like the previous two entries in this list, this model from Acer is also sporting a mid-range GPU and a nice QHD+ display.

Dell Alienware m16 R2

($1,999.99 on Dell.com)

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (16 cores, up to 5.1 GHz)
Storage: 1TB SSD (M.2, PCIe NVMe)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8 GB GDDR6)
RAM: 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR5 5600 MHz
Display: 16.0″ QHD+ (2560×1600) 240Hz
Camera: 1080p FHD RGB+IR
Weight: 5.75 lbs (2.61 kg)
Misc: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (with DisplayPort), 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 (one with PowerShare), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x MicroSD card slot, Wi-Fi 7

A fantastic laptop with a Series 1 Intel CPU, Wi-Fi 7, and a Thunderbolt port. An excellent compromise between power, price, and portability.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (2024)

($2,299.99 on shop.asus.com)

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX (24 cores, up to 5.8 GHz)
Storage: 1 TB SSD (M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8GB GDDR6)
RAM: 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5 5600 MHz
Display: 18” QHD+ OLED (2560×1600) 16:10, 240Hz
Camera: 720p HD
Weight: 6.6 lbs (3.0 kg)
Misc: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (with DisplayPort & power delivery), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6E

What truly shine in this gaming laptop are the fast last-generation (14th gen) Intel CPU and the fantastic 18″ QHD+ OLED display, which coupled with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU will provide some great gaming moments. This laptop also has a good amount of fast RAM (32 GB, DDR5 5600 MHz) and a Thunderbolt port.

Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9

($2,419.99 on Lenovo.com)

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX (24 cores, up to 5.8 GHz)
Storage: 2 TB SSD (M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC) (2 x 1 TB)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8 GB GDDR6)
RAM: 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5 5600 MHz
Display: 16” QHD+ (2560×1600) 240Hz
Camera: 1080p FHD
Weight: 5.51 lbs (2.5 kg)
Misc: 2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6E

This is a great little laptop. It has a fast CPU, a solid mid-range GPU, a good amount of RAM, plenty of storage, and lots of USB ports for all your needs.

MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio (A1VHG-008US)

($3,199.99 on msi.com)

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9-185H (16 cores, up to 5.1 GHz)
Storage: 1 TB SSD (NVMe Gen4x4)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (16 GB GDDR6)
RAM: 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5 5600 MHz
Display: 18″ UHD+ (3840×2400) 16:10, 120Hz
Camera: 1080p FHD RGB+IR
Weight: 6.4 lbs. (2.9 kg)
Misc: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (with Displayort), 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7

Now we are starting to talk power. This laptop packs a great NVIDIA GPU, has a good amount of fast RAM (32 GB, DDR5 5600 MHz), a fantastic 18″ UHD+ display, and also comes with a Thunderbolt port and Wi-Fi 7. Unbeatable for this price.

Dell Alienware m18 R2

($3,799.99 on Dell.com)

CPU: Intel Core i9 14900HX (24 cores, up to 5.8 GHz)
Storage: 2 TB SSD (M.2 PCIe NVMe)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (16 GB GDDR6)
RAM: 64 GB (2×32 GB) DDR5 5600 MHz
Display: 18″ QHD+ (2560×1600) 165Hz
Camera: 1080p FHD RGB+IR
Weight: up to 9.32 lb (4.23 kg) depending on customization
Misc: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1, 3x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 (one with PowerShare), 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 1x mini-Display port, Wi-Fi 7 Ready

A beast of a laptop, equipped with top-notch CPU and GPU, lots of storage, RAM, and a huge 18” QHD+ display, all at a very competitive price. The only downside is its hefty weight. The laptop can be customized if you feel like adding more RAM or storage (or downgrade some components to meet your budget). This laptop is Wi-Fi 7 ready.

MSI Raider GE68 HX (14VIG-285US)

($3,899 on msi.com)

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX (24 cores, up to 5.8 GHz)
Storage: 2TB SSD (NVMe SSD Gen4x4)
GPU: GeForce RTX 4090 (16 GB GDDR6)
RAM: 64 GB (2×32 GB) DDR5 5600MHz
Display: 16″ UHD (3840×2160) 16:10, 120Hz
Camera: 1080P FHD RGB+IR
Weight: 6.06 lbs (2.7 kg)
Misc: 1x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (two with DisplayPort, one with power delivery), 1x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, SD 7.0 card reader, Wi-Fi 7

A superb gaming laptop, pricey, but it packs everything you need to run the latest titles smoothly on the go. It has a smaller display than the previous entry from Dell but has a higher resolution (UHD+). This laptop also comes with more RAM (64 GB) and is lighter. This laptop is Wi-Fi 7 ready.