Best Gaming Laptops - Best Gaming Laptops in 2022
Quick Gaming Laptop Shopping Tips. best gaming laptops for every type of gamer and budget
Quick Gaming Laptop Shopping Tips
Note on GPU: Most games rely on GPU and are not upgradeable. If you splurge on a powerful GPU right now, you'll be gaming comfortably for a few years.
You can upgrade some parts later: While CPUs and GPUs are almost always soldered, most gaming laptops let you change RAM and storage, so you can buy cheaper now and have more memory and a larger hard drive or Can connect SSD on the road.
Battery life will probably be poor: Very few gaming notebooks get 8 hours or more on charging, and you need a power supply to get the best gaming performance anyway. However, we've seen some strong timing from AMD's Ryzen processors, and Nvidia suggests that its improved Optimus technology may help turn the tide.
Best gaming laptops at a glance:
- MSI GE66 Raider
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
- Razer Blade 15 Advance Model
- Alienware m17 R4
- Acer Nitro 5
- Alienware Area-51m
- Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733
Best Gaming Laptops You Can Buy Today
1. MSI GE66 Raider
The Best Overall Gaming Laptop
MSI Prestige 14 A10RB-038IN Intel Core i7-10510U 10th Gen 14-inch Laptop(16GB/512GB NVMe SSD/Windows 10 Home/MX250, 2GB Graphics/Grey/1.29Kg )9S7-14C212-038
Best Gaming Laptops in 2022 - GOOD or BAD
GOOD
- Great gaming performance
- 300 Hz display
- Well-executed RGB light bar
- High-end build
BAD
- Cramped keyboard
- Tinny audio
MSI GE66 Raider - Overview
The MSI GE66 Raider is a gaming laptop, and it is loud with a massive RGB light bar. Its new look is aggressive, but it's not just talking, with alternatives to the Intel Core i9-10980HK and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q.
For those looking for esports-level performance in games such as League of Legends or Overwatch, there is a choice of a 300 Hz display.
And while it's not the thinnest laptop (or even the thinnest of the MSI), it feels remarkably portable given the power inside, and we can't help but appreciate the high-end build quality.
We have not yet tested the MSI GE66 Raider with the RTX 30-series GPU, but we got the MSI GP66 Leopard to review. It is a very similar notebook but has a 240 Hz display and no RGB light bar. If you want something less attractive, you can consider that option.
2. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Best Thin and Light Gaming Laptop
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, 14" QHD, Ryzen 7 4800HS, GTX 1660Ti Max-Q 6GB GDDR6 Graphics, Gaming Laptop (16GB/1TB SSD/MS Office 2019/Windows 10/Moonlight White/Anime Matrix/1.7 Kg), GA401IU-HA245TS
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 - GOOD or BAD
GOOD
- Good looks
- AMD Ryzen 4900HS offers strong performance
- Stellar battery life
- Comfortable keyboard
BAD
- Fan sometime whirs when idle
- No webcam
- No Thunderbolt 3
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| (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) |
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 - Overview
For those looking for something slim and attractive, our choice is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. As far as gaming laptops are concerned, the Zephyrus is simple in white or gray with minimal styling. But with the AMD Ryzen 4900HS and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q in our review unit, you get strong productivity and gaming performance. It is not the best performer on the market in terms of graphics, but it is the best value for most people.
Battery life is also surprisingly long for a gaming notebook and the keyboard is clickable and comfortable. However, the fan sometimes turns off even when sitting on the desktop, and the system is not equipped with a built-in webcam.
3. Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model
Best Thin and Light Gaming Laptop (Alternate Pick)
CPU: Intel Core i7-10875H | GPU: Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q | Display: 15.6 inch, 1920 x 1080, 300Hz | Weight: 4.7 pounds (2.1 kg)
Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model - DOOD or BAD
GOOD
- Thin and light
- Stunning design
- Great selection of ports
- 300 Hz Display
BAD
- Uncomfortable keyboard
- Expensive
Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model - Overview
If you want a higher specification and are willing to pay more for a thinner and lighter gaming laptop, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced model is a strong choice. It has a sleek design that is easy to carry with you anywhere and has a good selection of ports if you want to plug in a set of external devices.
While the Zephyrus stops on the RTX 2060, the blade goes to an Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q. It also has options for a faster 300 Hz display, which is great for esports.
Instead of the Ryzen chip, Razer has opted for Intel's 10th Gen H-Series processor to power the Blade 15. It is not as powerful but provides strong performance.
4. Alienware m17 R4
Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i9-10980HK | GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080 (165W TGP) | Display: 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 360Hz | Weight: 6.6 pounds / 3 kg
Alienware m17 R4 - GOOD or BAD
GOOD
- Unrivaled performance
- Snappy keyboard
- Attractive design
BAD
- Noisy fan
- Heavy
Alienware m17 R4 - Over view
A 17-inch gaming notebook falls into the desktop replacement category and is exactly the Alienware m17 R4. In its top-end configuration, as we reviewed it, it can be very expensive, but you also get the top-end Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU with 165W TGP. There are options for 4K or our 1920 x 1080 360Hz option for esports aficionados.
Other RTX laptops we've tested to date have not touched the m17 on display, which leaves the Max-Q technologies in favor of the most powerful part you can pack in a notebook.
It also has a nice, flamboyant RGB keyboard and the design, at 0.87 inches, is still quite a secret for notebooks packing so much performance.
5. Acer Nitro 5
The Best Budget Gaming Laptop
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600U | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | Display: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 | Weight: 5.3 pounds / 2.4 kg
Acer Nitro 5 - GOOD or BAD
GOOD
- Great value
- Comfortable keyboard
- Good webcam
BAD
- Dim display
Acer Nitro 5 is the best gaming laptop for low-budget people. For the price, you will get a very good value on entry-level performance. When you sacrifice a bright display, the keyboard is comfortable and you also get a good webcam.
Our review unit had an AMD Ryzen 5 4600U paired with the Nvidia GeForce 1650. We've noticed that some Ryzen-based gaming laptops have better battery life than expected, and the Nitro 5 lasted more than 11 hours.
If you're in the works, there's plenty of room to upgrade (and you might want to consider it online with only 256GB of storage in our review unit), but for $ 700, you're getting a lot for the money.
7. Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733
The Best Esports Gaming Laptop
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 | Display: 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080, 360 Hz | Weight: 5.95 pounds / 2.7 kg
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733 - GOOD or BAD
GOOD
- 360 Hz Refresh Rate
- Comfortable keyboard
- Strong productivity performance
- Bassy Audio
BAD
- Divisive Design
- Short charging cable
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| Credit: HP |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G733 - Overview
360 Hz refresh rate comfortable keyboard string productivity performance basic audio divider design short charging cable
If you want to play eSports like a professional, you need the fastest screen laptop you can find. The Asus ROG Strix Scar G733 offers a 360 Hz refresh rate on its FHD screen and has top-end components that deliver power esports titles to frame rates that can actually be used.
The design feels premium but has an interesting mix of dark material and clear plastic. It is reminiscent of both a hot rod car and a 90s MP3 player, which may turn some people off.
But the comfortable keyboard, strong overall performance, and stale audio all contribute to a strong gaming experience, even if you don't like to look inside your laptop.