overview 7 comments
Buying a new gaming laptop can be overwhelming, as new models with the latest and greatest hardware are being released all the time. There are a few key aspects to consider when shopping. First, you'll want to look atCPU and GPU performance, and keep performance over time in mind; no one likes to see their frames tank during long gaming sessions due to thermal throttling. For the display, focus on refresh rate, motion performance, and VRR support to ensure your gameplay looks smooth and feels responsive. A good keyboard that gives clear tactile feedback and won't cause fatigue over long gaming sessions is important, too. If you don't plan on using a headset, you might want to considerthe fan noise, as most gaming laptops can get pretty loud under load. Finally, the laptop's portability and battery life are important if you plan on gaming on the go; regardless,keep a charger close, as gaming laptops are power-hungry machines.
We've bought and tested over 125laptops. Below are our recommendations for the best gaming laptops you can buy. You can also see our recommendations for the best laptops, the best budget and cheap gaming laptops, and the best Windows laptops.
If you need to upgrade your wireless network at home to get the best online gaming experience, check out our recently launched router reviews and our recommendations for thebest Wi-Fi routers.
-
Best Gaming Laptop
Dell Alienware m18 R2 (2024) 3
Gaming
9.1
Size
18"Refresh Rate
480 HzVariable Refresh Rate
G-SYNCTyping Quality
9.0
Ports
9.5
Thermals And Noise
5.4
Serviceability
9.1
See all our test results
The best gaming laptop we've tested is the Dell Alienware m18 R2 (2024). This large 18-inchmodel deliversa fantastic gaming experience with high, consistent frame rates. It's available with fastIntel 14th Gen CPUs and discrete NVIDIA GPUs, up to a Core i9-14900HX and an RTX 4090, respectively. Display options includea480Hz FHD+ and165Hz QHD+ IPS panel, so you can choose whether you want smoother motion and better responsiveness or a sharper image. Both displays have a fast response time and VRR support to reduce screen tearing. Online gamers willbe happy to hear it has Wi-Fi 7 and an Ethernet port to ensurea fast, reliable internet connection. Of course, the main downside is portability, as it's a bulky, heavy laptop that's more of a desktop replacement. It's also quite expensive. Since thememory and storage drive are user-replaceable,it maybe cheaper to get a configuration with less RAM and storage upfront sinceyou canupgrade these components later on.
For gaming on the go, we recommend the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024). This popular 14-inch model feels remarkably well-built and is easy to carry around. Plus, unlike the Dell Alienware, it has asleeker,more subdueddesign, so it won't stick out in a professional environment should you use it for work. The downside is that because it's a smaller laptop with more limited cooling, you have to compromise a bit on performance. The available AMD Ryzen CPUs aren't nearly as fast, and you can only get up to an RTX 4070 GPU running at a lower wattage of 90W. Also, while its OLED display is bright and colorful, it has a lower refresh rate of 120Hz, so the overall gaming experience won't feel as smooth or responsive as the Dell. Storage configuration maxes out at 1TB, which isn't a lot considering the size of modern games, but thankfully, the SSD is user-replaceable.
See our review
-
Best Mid-Range Gaming Laptop
Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023) 1
Size
16"Refresh Rate
165 HzVariable Refresh Rate
FreeSyncTyping Quality
8.0
Ports
9.0
Thermals And Noise
6.7
Serviceability
8.6
See all our test results
If you want something a little cheaper, check out our best mid-range pick,the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023). Available with AMD Ryzen 7040-series CPUs and NVIDIA 40-series GPUs (up to an RTX 4070), this 16-inch model also delivers an excellent gaming experience. Its GPU actually runs at a higher140W TDP than the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) above, so it can push more frames. However, the ASUS comes with newer and faster AMD Ryzen 8040-series CPUs, is more portable,and provides a more premium user experience overall; you'll have to decide what's better for your use case.
For the display, you can choose between a 165Hz or a 240Hz QHD+ IPS panel; both have a fast response time and FreeSync support.It has a tactile, full-size keyboard, Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, and tons of ports, including an HDMI 2.1 and Ethernet. Unfortunately, the USB-Cs only support USB 3.2 Gen 2 transfer speeds, which are much slower than the Thunderbolt 4 ports on the Dell Alienware m18 R2 (2024)laptops mentioned above. Wireless connectivity is also a slight downgrade, as it only supportsWi-Fi 6E (like the ASUS) instead of the latest Wi-Fi 7 standards.
See our review
-
Best Budget Gaming Laptop
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) 1
Gaming
8.6
Size
16"Refresh Rate
165 HzVariable Refresh Rate
FreeSyncTyping Quality
8.0
Ports
8.0
Thermals And Noise
5.9
Serviceability
8.4
See all our test results
The best budget gaming laptop we've tested is the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023). You can get this laptop in a Ryzen 7 7735HS or Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU configuration paired with an AMD Radeon RX 6700S or Radeon RX 7700S. Every configuration can deliver high, consistent frame rates in demanding AAA games at 1080p or 1440p. Display options include a 165Hz FHD+ or a 240Hz QHD+ panel; both are 16-inch panels that support variable refresh rates to reduce screen tearing.
This laptop sports a solid port selection for peripherals and external displays, including an Ethernet and HDMI 2.1 port. The RAM and storage are user-replaceable, providing a clear upgrade path down the line. Thermal throttling is minimal under load, but the laptop does get hot and loud. Thankfully, there aren't any hot spots around the WASD keys. This laptop also isn't particularly portable as it's relatively bulky, and you'll need to carry along its fairly beefy charger for use on the go as its battery life lasts a little over an hour when gaming.
See our review
-
Best Cheap Gaming Laptop
Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023) 0
Gaming
8.7
Size
15.6"Refresh Rate
144 HzVariable Refresh Rate
FreeSyncTyping Quality
7.5
Ports
8.0
Thermals And Noise
7.2
Serviceability
7.6
See all our test results
The best cheap gaming laptop we've tested is the Lenovo LOQ 15 (2023). This 15.6-inch model is available with an AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS or Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU and various NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs ranging from an RTX 3050 at the low end to an RTX 4060 in the high end. These GPUs deliver high and consistent frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. We recommend going with an RTX 4060 for 1440p gaming, as the RTX 4050 only has 6GB of VRAM, which will likely cause pop-ins and stutters.
For the display, you can choose between a 60Hz or 144Hz FHD panel or a 165Hz QHD option, with the latter two being your best bet for gaming, as they'll provide better responsiveness and support VRR to minimize screen tearing. Just note that the response times on these displays are on the slower side, so you can expect to see some ghosting behind fast-moving objects. As far as downsides go, while this laptop feels sturdy for its price point, its all-plastic construction sets it apart from some of the more expensive options on this list. It also has a relatively small 60Wh battery that struggles to provide a full hour of gaming time, so you'll need to ensure your charger is handy.
A quick FYI: this laptop may be hard to find via marketplaces and third-party sellers. You can get it directly from Lenovo if you have trouble finding it.
See our review
-
Best Gaming Chromebook
Acer Chromebook 516 GE (2022) 5
Gaming
5.1
Size
16"Refresh Rate
120 HzVariable Refresh Rate
NoTyping Quality
7.5
Ports
7.0
Thermals And Noise
9.1
Serviceability
6.0
See all our test results
The best gaming Chromebook we've tested is the Acer Chromebook 516 GE (2022). Unlike our picks above, this device runs Chrome OS, an operating system that isn't typically associated with gaming, and it runs on its Intel CPU's integrated graphicsbecause it's made for cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW. Cloud gaming means the processing takes place on NVIDIA's server—or whichever company provides the service—and the image is streamed to your device, alleviating the need for powerful hardware. GeForce NOW is a paid subscription service; the laptop comes with a three-month trial.
The overall build quality is good, and while it's on the bulkier side, it isn't too heavy, so it's still portable. Its 16-inch QHD+ display has a 120Hz refresh rate and a good response time, resulting in a clear image with minimal ghosting in fast-moving scenes. You get Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity and an Ethernet port, which is great, as cloud gaming performance highly depends on your internet connection. The keyboard feels spacious and tactile, doesn't get hot under load, and has RGB backlighting. Unfortunately, its battery life is very short, at around six hours of light use or an hour of gaming.
See our review
Recent Updates
-
Aug 21, 2024: We've added the ASUS ROGZephyrus G16 (2024) GU605 as a Notable Mention and edited the article for clarity.
-
Jul 25, 2024: Small text changes to add the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) as an alternative to the Dell Alienware m18 R2 (2024). Removed the HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024) as a Notable Mention because the G14 is a better option.
-
May 28, 2024: Replaced the Dell Alienware m16 R1 (2023) with the Dell Alienware m18 R2 (2024) because the m16 is an older model and getting harder to find. Added the HP OMEN Transcend 14 (2024) as a Notable Mention.
-
May 01, 2024: Small text edits for clarity. Added the Dell Alienware m16 R2 (2024) as a Notable Mention.
-
Apr 04, 2024: Small text edits for clarity. Added the Dell Alienware m18 R2 (2024) as an alternative to the Dell Alienware m16 R1 (2023).
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best laptops you can buy for gaming. In addition to the test results, we factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our laptopreviews, sorted by price from low to high. Keep in mind that most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it's best to see the full review for information about other variants.
