5 Best Gaming Laptops for Conquering Your Opponents
Gaming laptops have become more popular than ever, with today’s available options spanning a broad price range and available features. Whether you're shopping for your first gaming notebook or are looking to upgrade your current rig, we can help you find the right one for your needs and budget.
What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Laptop
The GPU Matters Most
The graphics card (GPU) and the processor are the two most essential hardware bits in a gaming laptop. The GPU in particular is crucial, because it's tasked with rendering the graphics of the video games you'll be playing. We highly recommend that you buy a notebook with as powerful a graphics card as your budget allows.
NVIDIA is the market leader in graphics by a large margin. Its lineup of chips spans from the entry-level GeForce GTX 1050 series, all the way to the cutting-edge, monstrously powerful NVIDIA RTX 2080 lineup. All NVIDIA GPUs (except for the 1050 series) are capable of powering a virtual reality headset.
The Screen
Most of today’s laptops come equipped with a Full HD display panel. Some notebooks are available with a 4K screen, though the higher resolution puts much higher strain on the GPU.
Display refresh rate and response time are two important features in display panels. Today’s leading gaming notebooks have screens with refresh rates of 120 Hz or the even better 144 Hz. Higher refresh rates result in smoother gaming graphics and an overall more enjoyable user experience.
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Screen response time is measured in milliseconds, and it should be as low as possible. Having a faster response time means that the pixels of the display panel change to black, white, or gray tones at a more rapid rate, so that fast-paced action gaming has no on-screen artifacts that can ruin it.
Some of today’s best gaming rigs have NVIDIA G-Sync on board. As its name suggests, the technology syncs the NVIDIA-made graphics card with the display panel for an optimal gaming experience.
AAA Games
This terms refers to today’s big-name, big-budget video games from the leading studios. A good gaming laptop should be able to deliver the hottest titles in at least 60 frames-per-second. The bare minimum for a decent playing experience is 30 frames-per-second.
The level of in-game detail is what sets the top-shelf laptops apart from the premium ones. Typically, video games have at least four levels — low, medium, high, and ultra. A good laptop should be able to effortlessly play games in its display’s native Full HD resolution and high graphics settings.
The Best Gaming Laptops for an Unforgettable Experience
Best Overall
Key Hardware Specs
Intel Core i7-8750H CPU (hexa-core)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPU with 8 GB GDDR5 memory
15-inch Full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) IPS display with 144Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-Sync
32 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD
Two full USB 3.1 ports, one USB-C 3.1 port with Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0 port, mini DisplayPort
Bang & Olufsen audio, upgradeable hardware
Weight: 5 pounds
The 15-inch HP Omen is the best gaming laptop for most prospective buyers. It offers a cool design, good hardware specs, and excellent performance at a really attractive price point. With easily upgradeable hardware, the gaming notebook is also a nicely futureproof pick.
The gaming performance of the HP Omen is excellent, especially for its price range. The device’s NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPU can easily power through today’s AAA gaming titles in full HD resolution at high settings. The notebook’s display panel has a speedy refresh rate, which, combined with NVIDIA G-Sync support, ensures that the gaming graphics are incredibly smooth.
We like the audio experience that the 17-inch HP Omen has to offer, too. The Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers are not only great for gaming, but also perfect for catching a movie or an episode of your favorite show. The keyboard of the notebook is excellent as well — it’s great that the commonly used WASD buttons have a contrasting red finish.
According to an in-depth review by Laptop Mag, the notebook offers a blend of excellent performance, a high-quality display, and a solid audio experience. However, the tester noted that the notebook is a bit bulky.
As expected from a large gaming laptop, the 15-inch Omen has an excellent set of connectivity features (both wired and wireless). HP claims up to 5 hours of mixed use between battery charges.
Best Budget Buy
Key Hardware Specs
Intel Core i5-8300H CPU (quad-core)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti GPU with 4 GB GDDR5 memory
15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) IPS display
8 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD
Two full USB 3.1 ports, one USB-C 3.1 port, one USB 2.0 port, HDMI 2.0, SD card slot
Weight: 4.9 pounds
Priced below $800, the MSI GV62 gaming laptop is a great option for budget-conscious buyers. The affordable gaming rig packs NVIDIA’s entry-level GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics card, which will run today’s hottest games in 1080p resolution at a smooth frame rate and with a reasonable level of detail.
The hardware specs of the notebook won't shock you, but they're great for its price tag. The respectable GPU and the snappy solid-state drive are crucial for a budget laptop, so it’s great to see that MSI included them.
Having only 8 GB of RAM isn't great for multitasking, but thankfully, you can easily upgrade it to a maximum of 32 GB. We strongly suggest that you add at least 8 GB of extra memory after you purchase the notebook — it’s an inexpensive, yet really helpful upgrade that's worth it.
Developed in partnership with Steelseries, the keyboard of the notebook offers a great experience for a device in its price point. Weighing less than 5 pounds, the MSI GV62 is also reasonably portable for a gaming notebook.
Best Splurge
Key Hardware Specs
Intel Core i7-8750H CPU (hexa-core)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory
15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) IPS display with 144Hz maximum refresh rate
16 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD
Three full USB 3.1 ports, one USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0 port, mini DisplayPort
Razer Synapse 3 keyboard with customizable RGB lighting
Weight: 4.6 pounds
The latest Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop is hands down the most beautiful device of its kind. It has an impressively thin, beautifully designed machined aluminum body with a black anodized finish, plus a display with ultra slim side bezels. The gaming notebook matches its sweet looks with an equally great gaming performance.
Combined with a powerful Intel CPU, the high-end NVIDIA RTX 2080 GPU Max-Q graphics card enables the Razer Blade 15 to play today’s hottest AAA games with the highest level of detail. In addition to being an excellent gaming rig, the stealthy-looking notebook is also a great option for graphic design and video editing tasks.
The touchpad of the notebook is one of the best in its class. We also like the Synapse 3 customization tool for its keyboard, which allows you to create custom shortcuts and adjust the RGB lighting exactly to your liking.
The most notable downside of the new Razer Blade is its eye-watering price. Razer is charging a hefty premium for the head-turning design and the compact size. If you don’t mind lugging around a larger device, you can get your hands on a more powerful gaming rig for less.
Best Ultra Portable Pick
Key Hardware Specs
Intel Core i7-8750H CPU (hexa-core)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory
15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) IPS display with 144Hz maximum refresh rate
32 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD
Three full USB 3.1 ports, one USB-C 3.1 port with Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0 port, mini DisplayPort
Dynaudio speakers, Steelseries keyboard
Weight: 4.1 pounds
The latest MSI GS65 Stealth gaming laptop sets a new standard for performance and portability. It’s mind-bogglingly thin (less than 0.7 inches) and incredibly light. With pleasantly restrained design and ultra thin, sub-5 millimeter screen bezels, it actually looks like a full-size ultrabook, not a highly capable gaming rig.
The gaming performance of the MSI GS65 Stealth is fantastic, especially considering how portable it is. The notebook a powerful processor and a cutting-edge graphics card, which enable it to run AAA games at high settings without even a hint of hesitation.
The audio experience is superb, courtesy of Dynaudio-tuned speakers. They make the notebook sound uncannily big for its size. The Steelseries keyboard is one of the best out there, offering great tactility and an overwhelming amount of customization options for you to create.
With up to 8 hours of battery life and a reasonably sized charger, this laptop is suited for daily use that goes beyond gaming. A lot of gamers have been waiting for a laptop that’s powerful and portable in equal measure, and the MSI GS65 Stealth Thin delivers on both fronts.
The notebook received high review scores from CNET and Laptop Mag. Testers praised it for offering excellent design and performance, as well as solid battery life for a gaming notebook.
It's no surprise that MSI is charging a premium for offering a product this elegant and powerful. However, if the notebook fits your budget, we highly recommend it.
Best Desktop Replacement
Key Hardware Specs
Intel Core i7-8750G CPU (quad-core)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory
17.3-inch Full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) IPS display with 144Hz maximum refresh rate, 144Hz refresh rate, 3 ms response time, NVIDIA G-SYNC support
16 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD, 1 TB SSD
Three full USB 3.1 ports, one USB-C 3.1 port with Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0 port, mini DisplayPort, SD card reader
Quad-speaker audio, built-in Hi-Fi DAC, upgradeable hardware
Weight: 10.4 pounds
The ASUS ROG G703GX gaming laptop has monster specs and the performance to match — it's so good, it can even replace your desktop. Packed with the latest range-topping hardware from Intel and NVIDIA, the gaming rig can effortlessly deliver the latest blockbuster gaming titles in a brisk frame rate and ultra high graphic settings.
The 17.3-inch display of the notebook is handily one of the best in its class. It has a blisteringly fast refresh rate, coupled with the ability to sync with the graphics card for smooth and stutter-free gameplay.
The keyboard is unsurprisingly excellent. You can individually customize the lighting color of each key to your liking. The quartet of speakers deliver a properly immersive audio, while the notebook’s built-in Hi-Fi DAC results in an audiophile-grade experience with headphones.
A weight of more than 10 pounds and gargantuan size are the tradeoffs you make here for having a gaming laptop this capable (the notebook won't fit in most backpacks). Its desktop-grade internals also require two large power adapters instead of the single one most laptops use.
Best Pick With a 17-inch Display Panel
Key Hardware Specs
Intel Core i7-8750H CPU (hexa-core)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPU with 8 GB GDDR5 memory
17.3-inch Full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) IPS display with 120Hz maximum refresh rate and NVIDIA G-SYNC support
16 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD, 1 TB HDD
Three full USB 3.1 ports, two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0 port, mini DisplayPort
Upgradeable hardware, customizable gaming experience
Weight: 8.8 pounds
The Acer Predator Helios 500 is an excellent gaming laptop with a 17-inch display. The notebook packs powerful hardware, as well as a rich set of features that serious gamers with surely appreciate. Crucially, unlike many high-quality 17-inch gaming rigs, the Helios 500 is priced below $2,000.
The gaming performance of the big gaming notebook is unsurprisingly exceptional. The Predator Helios 500 can play all of today’s premium gaming titles in Full HD resolution with the highest levels of detail.
Enthusiasts who need even more hardware oomph can overclock the laptop’s graphics for even higher performance. We like that Acer has equipped the notebook with an intuitive software suite, which gives gamers complete control over the gaming experience.
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Top-Rated Gaming Keyboards for Every Budget
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