There was a limited choice for dedicated gaming laptops for a while, and the price point was much higher than a better-quality PC. Now, however, the technology is cheaper, and perhaps more importantly, even many standard laptops can play many modern games.
Gaming laptops have come a long way since their origin. They used to be clunky, heavy, and slow, but now they are lightweight and so rapid you can play live poker, MMORPGs, DOTAs, or even a cozy game on a train as you travel.
So, if your next laptop is one that you want to game on, here are some of the best options.
Alienware M15 R7
Alienware has long been known for offering great gaming laptops, and this one is a great option. The display is super-fast, with an FHD at 165Hz/360 Hz or QHD at 240 Hz.
It has multiple ports, which isn’t always common, but the Alienware M125 R7 has 3 USB Type-A, a Type C with Thunderbolt, a headphone jack, power port, and a RJ-45 Killer E3100 2.5Gbps Ethernet. Full specs here: Alienware m15 R7 Setup and Specifications.
It has a robust design because, like the rest of the Alienware line, it is built for gamers and with the idea of power in mind. It is heavy enough to consider if you really want to take it traveling with you, and the charging brick is the same length as the keyboard. So, by no means small.
That is a minor consideration because the performance is something to write home about. It can run heavy titles like Metro Exodus and Red Dead Redemption without flinching in max – which is enough for many other gaming laptops to bow out. By Alienware standards, it is affordable, but it is not the cheapest on the market by a stretch.
Razer Blade 15
The original Razer Blade was the first gaming laptop to hit the market, and each newer model builds on that success. The Razer Blade is lightweight and has a solid build with a luxury feel to it.
The Razer Blade 15 boasts FHD at 360Hz, QHD at 240Hz or UHD at 144Hz – the color and contrast on this model are stunning. When it comes to ports, you have 3 USB-A Gen 2, 1 USB-C, 1 USB-C Thunderbolt, audio jack, HDMI, and SD card slot – and the power port. Full specs here: Still the Best 15-inch Gaming Laptop – Razer Blade 15
One thing to note is that many gamers report that the screen can feel a little flimsy, and the hinges will need to be watched (they wobble sometimes). However, the reason for that is that this design couldn’t possibly get any slimmer.
While it is one of the most expensive gaming laptops on the market, it can run all your favorite heavyweight games with ease – arguably one of the best gaming laptops in terms of tech capabilities on the market, thanks to the RTX 3060 Ti graphics card configuration options. The 15 is cheaper and a better option than the heavier and poor battery life Razer Blade 17.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 18
Aside from having a cool name, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 has a lot to offer, but there are some quirks with this gaming laptop. It’s not very portable; the ports feel like they weren’t considered in the design process, the fans are loud and perhaps most importantly the chassis isn’t something that everyone will like.
However, if you go for the top model, you will be rewarded with a gaming laptop that has incredible power, great cooling capabilities, a stunning display, and even the speakers are good. In terms of display, you have a huge 18-inch QHD+ IPS at 240 Hz.
There aren’t as many ports on this one as some of the others, but you will still have 1 USB-C, 1 USB-C Thunderbolt 4, and 2 USB-A plus HDMI and an audio jack. Full specs here: ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) | Gaming Laptops｜ROG – Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global
It’s a big piece of kit, and while it doesn’t have the luxury feeling of some others, it does compete and out pace in terms of the tech. Skipping on some aesthetic items in favor of things like the Intel i9-13980HX processor. With a consistent 100+ framerate with the graphics cranked up in games like Hitman 3 – it packs a punch.
Acer Nitro 5
Anyone looking for a gaming laptop that is under the $1000 mark, this is the best you can get. The Acer Nitro 5 is a highly underrated gaming laptop, but it has everything you need and more to play almost any game with ease (and glitch-free).
The display is quite standard with a FHD at 360 Hz, QHD at 240Hz or UHD at 144Hz – it’s not as vibrant as other gaming laptops but does the job. Ports are a combo audio jack, HDMI, 2 USB-A 3.2, USB-A Gen 2, USB-C, and an RJ45. Full specs here Acer Nitro 5 | 17-inch i7 Gaming Laptop | Acer United States.
The Acer Nitro 5 not only plays well, but it looks cool too, and comes in at only 2.3kg so it’s easy enough to be mobile with your gaming. You can see that some of the design choices made on the external of the laptop were to keep the overall costs down – but even with its old-fashioned laptop look it is a great buy.
The combination of the Ryzen 5800H processor and the RTX 3060 GPU means that it offers a good amount in raw power and performance. It can sit steady at 86 frames per second when cracked up to high on games like The Division 2 – but the clincher is that almost any other game will sit steady above 60.
The Acer Nitro 5 can be the perfect intro to gaming laptops or for those on a budget. But perhaps what is great about it, is that it can highlight what you want in your gaming so when you upgrade in a few years, you’ll have a solid idea (and time to save).
Once you have your laptop, you’re going to want to maintain it so that you can enjoy the high-speed gaming you purchased it for, and here are some tips for that: 7 Hacks to Maintain Your Gaming Laptop – Weird Worm.
