Buying a gaming laptop isn't easy as there are tons of options these days, with new models coming out every year sporting increasingly more powerful CPUs and GPUs. On top of that, a CPU or GPU might perform very differently from one laptop to another due to their power draw and the chassis' thermal limitations, making the buying decision even harder. To help you, we've narrowed down the best laptops and configurations that'll give you the smoothest gaming experience for various price segments. The list is short for now, but it'll grow as we review more laptops.
We've bought and tested over 70 laptops. Below you'll find our recommendations for the best gaming laptops you can buy. You can also see our recommendations for the best laptops, the best laptops for college, and the best Windows laptops.
Best Gaming Laptop
Gaming8.6Size14"Refresh Rate165 HzVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncTyping Quality8.0Ports8.5Thermals And Noise6.3Serviceability6.5The best gaming laptop we've tested is the Razer Blade 14 (2022). This premium 14-inch model has a sturdy aluminum chassis, a comfortable keyboard with per-key RGB backlighting, and plenty of ports for peripherals. It's very portable, thanks to its compact design, although you'll have to bring the charger if you want to game on the go, as the battery life is very short when gaming. Its 1080p webcam is pretty good if you want to stream, and it doubles as a Windows Hello IR camera for facial recognition, allowing you to log in quickly. The keyboard gets a little hot under load, but thankfully, the fans remain relatively quiet and aren't distracting.
This laptop is available in three preset configurations. All three have the same AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, so you only have to choose the display and GPU combo you want. We recommend getting the base model with an FHD 144Hz display and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU or the mid-range model with a QHD 165Hz display and an RTX 3070 Ti. Both will provide smooth gameplay in modern AAA titles with minimal tweaks to the graphics settings. The top-end RTX 3080 Ti configuration will provide higher frame rates, but it's significantly more expensive and isn't the best option value-wise.
Best Mid-Range Gaming Laptop
Gaming8.3Size14"Refresh Rate120 HzVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncTyping Quality8.0Ports8.0Thermals And Noise5.1Serviceability7.7If you find our top pick too expensive, consider the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022). This all-AMD system sports an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU, and you can choose between an AMD Radeon RX 6700S or 6800S GPU. Both GPUs provide smooth gameplay in AAA titles at the display's native QHD resolution. As for the display itself, the 120Hz IPS panel has a fast response time to deliver a clear image in fast-moving scenes and FreeSync support to reduce screen tearing.
The storage maxes out at 1TB, which isn't very much considering the size of modern AAA games; however, it's user-upgradeable. Ports include two USB-As, two USB-Cs, an HDMI, and an SD card reader. One last thing: there's a newer (and more expensive) model of the G14 with AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs and NVIDIA 40-series GPUs, and consequently, this 2022 model is often on sale at around $1000 USD, so it's a great time to pick one up.
Another option is the HP OMEN 16 (2022). It's a great alternative if you want a larger 16-inch screen or prefer an Intel/NVIDIA system. It's available with an Intel 12th Gen. Core 5 or i7, and there are many GPU options, from an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 to an RTX 3070 Ti. It has a wider port selection than the ASUS, as it includes an Ethernet port and Thunderbolt 4 support. Also, it doesn't get as hot or loud under load. The downside is that none of the available displays get very bright, so it might not be the best option if you often use the laptop in very well-lit settings.
Best Budget Gaming Laptop
Gaming8.2Size15.6"Refresh Rate120 HzVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncTyping Quality8.0Ports9.0Thermals And Noise7.2Serviceability7.6Our best budget pick is the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021), an affordable 15.6-inch model that you can configure with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H or Ryzen 7 5800H CPU and an NVIDIA discreet GPU. The GPU options range from an entry-level NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 to a powerful RTX 3070 with ray-tracing and DLSS support. For the display, we recommend the 165Hz 1080p or 1440p panel for the best visual experience, as they have the fastest response time and support variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing. The RAM and SSD are user-replaceable, so you can add more later on if you don't want to spend too much upfront.
Build-wise, this laptop has a sturdy chassis with a finish that doesn't scratch or smudge easily. The keyboard feels great to type on, and there are plenty of ports, including four USB-As, two USB-Cs, an HDMI 2.1, and an Ethernet port. The USB-C port doesn't support Thunderbolt 4 since this is an AMD system, and there's no fingerprint sensor or a facial recognition IR camera for quick logins either.
Best Cheap Gaming Laptop
Gaming7.7Size15.6"Refresh Rate120 HzVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncTyping Quality8.0Ports6.0Thermals And NoiseIf you want something cheap, get the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021). It's a 15.6-inch laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H or Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, and GPU options range from an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 to an RTX 3060. The GTX 1650 is an entry-level GPU that can only push around 60 fps at 1080p with medium or low settings. If you want to keep the laptop for a while, it's best to get a better configuration with an RTX 3050 or 3060, as the GTX 1650 may not handle newer AAA titles. There are only 1080p display options; we recommend getting the 120Hz or 165Hz panel, as they'll deliver a clearer image with less ghosting.
Though entirely plastic, this laptop feels surprisingly sturdy, especially for a model in its price range. It has a comfortable and tactile keyboard, and the webcam is pretty good if you want to stream. Its port selection includes three USBs, an HDMI, and an Ethernet port. Like most laptops with a dedicated GPU, the battery life is very short, so you'll have to play with the laptop plugged in most of the time.
definitely cheap
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