The Best Gaming Laptops for 2023

Gaming laptops bring the best of both worlds. With the portability of a laptop and the performance of a PC, having a gaming laptop can revolutionize the way gamers play. These laptops offer high-performance rates that can help with almost anything, be it school, animation, side projects, or gaming. While they are a tad bulkier than a standard laptop, many have the option for a slimmer model that can fit into most backpacks and side bags. If users are not worried about portability, they might want to Game Rant’s list for the best gaming PCs for 2024 for their gaming needs.

Some gaming laptops are designed for artists, with touch screens and a foldable interface. Others are designed with only gaming in mind, with robust fans and other cooling options to keep everything functioning smoothly. There are many choices to make when considering a gaming laptop, such as budget and workload, which is why we have some of the best picks possible to help gamers get started.

Key Factors To Choosing The Best Gaming Laptop

When looking for a new laptop, there are a couple of factors users will want to consider to make sure they pick out the perfect laptop for themselves:

• Display: What kind of performance do users want from the display? Gaming laptops come in all shapes and sizes and their displays are no different with some of them opting for a basic high refresh rate display while others use considerably more tricked-out panels with extremely high refresh rates or higher resolutions or even completely different display technology altogether to enable a better gaming experience. Options Available: High-resolution displays, High refresh rate displays, OLED (High contrast) displays, Mini LED (High brightness/HDR performance centric displays) etc.
• Form Factor: What size of laptop do users want? Gaming Laptops can range from compact 13 inches to mammoth 18-inch options. There are larger desktop replacements, but most tend to be in the 14 to 16-inch range. Gamer choices tend to vary based on portability and keyboard size requirement as well as comfort with certain display sizes.
• GPU and CPU: What games do users want to play, and what specs will allow them to play those games? Gaming laptops can have entry-level gaming CPUs and GPUs such as a Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 CPU paired with an RTX 3050 or a maxed out, unlocked Ryzen 9 or Intel Core i9 CPU paired to an RTX 4090 GPU depending on the budget of the gamer they are targeting as well as the games and resolutions/refresh rates they tend to target.
• Memory and Storage: How much space is required for a game library, and how much RAM makes sense for a gamer’s needs? Modern games tend to consume a great deal of memory and require large amounts of fast SSD storage. This also means that gaming laptops might require upgrades that end users are not comfortable doing themselves. Therefore, picking up the right amount of storage and memory from the get-go helps save unnecessary time spent attempting DIY solutions later.
• Special Features: What makes a laptop go the extra mile and be perfect for gamers? All gamers have different needs. Some laptops come with unique features such as eye trackers, additional USB ports, glare-free displays, and unique peripherals that add value for enthusiasts looking to max out their gaming experience.

Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Gaming Laptops

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) is an easy choice for the best gaming laptop this year given the amount of power under the hood, which is also equally balanced. The G16 uses liquid metal as part of its cooling mechanism to deliver lower temperatures and higher boost clocks, making it an excellent product to consider if potential buyers are going for a powerful, current generation, and mid-range option that gets the job done with plenty of upgrade potential.

At the same time, the WUXGA resolution-offering laptop does have its drawbacks: It only comes with 16GB of DDR5 memory on offer, which could be seen as detrimental given its current pricing even as modern laptop memory grows increasingly cheaper over time. Still, the G16 offers excellent hardware with upgradable options and is a stellar performer, making it an excellent purchase that also doubles as our weapon of choice as the best gaming laptop given its unique hardware options, a dedicated MUX Switch for the discrete GPU and a well-priced package, making it an easy recommendation for general gaming use.

While most budget gaming laptops feature an older-gen CPU-GPU combo, including something from the 11th gen and the RTX 3050, this Acer Nitro edition comes with a more recent Alder Lake CPU and the Ada-based RTX 4060 to provide significant improvements in productivity and gaming. The RTX 4060 is considerably faster than the 3050 and can play most games on ultra settings. Users will have so much fun getting high frame rates on the IPS panel, which boasts a refresh rate of 144Hz for smooth gameplay.

The build quality is acceptable with a sleek and slim body. Although there aren’t many premium features, the keyboard is RGB backlit, making it look gorgeous in the dark. At its core lies the i7 12650H CPU, which has a total of 10 cores: 6 Performance and 4 Efficient cores. It’s fairly adequate for running some rendering and CPU-intensive tasks, and makes the laptop fit for both gaming and work. For connectivity, there are a few USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 ports and a Type-C port as well.

The MSI Raider GE78 HX is pretty much as beefy as it comes in terms of gaming laptops. It features the top-of-the-line i9-13980HX, which is the fastest laptop CPU to date, a dedicated RTX 4090 laptop GPU, and over 64 GB of DDR5 RAM. This gaming laptop performs the best and even runs on par with some of the highest-end desktops at the moment.

Whether people are looking for a beast of a gaming laptop that can handle pretty much any game thrown its way or people want this laptop for content creation, the high performance of the GE78 HX makes any task an absolute joy.

Nvidia’s RTX 4070 is not only the most popular GPU for desktops, but it is also one of the most popular GPUs on gaming laptops. The sheer reason is its capability of maxing out games at 1440p resolution and providing great ray tracing performance. The Acer Predator Helios 16 is one of the very few gaming laptops that come with high-end specifications while costing just $1400. The RTX 4070 is combined with the Core i7 13700HX CPU to execute the most intensive tasks without breaking a sweat.

The hybrid architecture of the CPU allows distributing primary loads on the 8 performance cores, while the 8 efficient cores keep powering the background operations. The laptop also features a reliable construction and a high-quality IPS panel with a 240Hz refresh rate. Additionally, it also supports G-Sync for tear-free gaming, which makes the gaming experience more enjoyable. However, with these powerful specifications, an RGB keyboard, and a high refresh rate display, the battery hardly lasts up to 3 hours with continuous gaming.

Acer Nitro 5 is a decently priced laptop with specifications from the previous generation, but capable enough to outperform many laptops for the same price. What makes it unique is the presence of one of the best Rembrandt CPUs that provides both the CPU and iGPU. Users, however, will be better off with the discrete GPU if they don’t want to limit the frame rates. Ryzen 7 6800H isn’t limited to low clock speeds and can hit as high as 4.7GHz. It features 8 cores/16 threads to handle CPU-intensive tasks and will be a perfect match for the RTX 3070 Ti.

The 3070 Ti comes with 8GB VRAM, which is adequate for most modern titles, but at 1440p resolution, some games may suffer from frame dips on ultra settings. Still, not many gaming laptops for this price provide more than 8GB VRAM. Additionally, users get compelling features such as FreeSync Premium support on the QHD IPS display, which runs at a 165Hz refresh rate. Also, the system RAM is plenty for content creators who work on intensive applications.

Despite not having the latest gen components, the Razer Blade 15 is one of the fastest gaming laptops in the display area. The 360Hz refresh rate is insanely good for smooth movements on the screen and will be best for competitive players who grind in games like CS2, Valorant, and similar games. Even though the RTX 3070 Ti won’t be able to provide over 300 fps in modern titles, eSports games can go beyond this point, making the 360Hz display highly advantageous.

The laptop is not only excellent for professional gaming but is also easily portable due to its thin and lightweight construction. Weighing just 4.4 lbs, it’s easier to carry it to places. The anodized aluminum unibody is responsible for its sturdy yet lightweight build that helps to fit high-end components without going over 0.67 inches in thickness. As for other areas, it is more than satisfactory whether users consider its display quality, connectivity, cooling, keyboard, and speakers.

The Razer Blade 16, the successor to the Razer Blade 15, received major upgrades this generation, including the switch to fast DDR5 RAM, an upgrade from the NVIDIA 3000 series to the 4000 series, and an extra inch added to the display for even more sweet, sweet gaming. It comes bundled with a slightly higher price tag, a faster 13th-generation processor, and a more polished design at work to justify the extra inch of screen size it takes up. Razer fans looking for their next gaming laptop from the company won’t be disappointed.

The Razer Blade lineup has been considered as one of the most premium laptop series by many quarters, and the Blade 16 seems determined to keep up with that reputation. Offering an excellent generational upgrade in all tech it can across the board, the Blade 16 delivers excellent performance versus its predecessor, unfortunately at a price tag that makes it something of an afterthought for users on a budget.

While Alienware is already known as a pricey, but established gaming laptop brand in the gaming community, the new M16 laptop is one of the best pieces of technology they’ve ever released when talking about price-to-performance. Combining the i9-13900HX, a full-sized RTX 4080, as well as a QHD+ display makes this laptop one of the best-performing laptops on the market. One can regularly find this laptop competing with high-end desktop setups on benchmarks as it aims to be a desktop replacement instead of a portable gaming machine.

At just above seven pounds of weight, the Alienware is heavier than most of its competitors while also being relatively deficient in the battery department. This makes it perfect for users looking to save space with a desktop replacement for portable use. The M16 is a powerful gaming laptop and should be treated as such. It does push boundaries, although not always in a good way, as it packs a powerful punch, but one does make a few compromises along the way.

How To Pick The Best Gaming Laptop?

It can be a hard task to pick out a new gaming laptop. There is a wide range of features that one has to consider when choosing a new laptop, from hardware specs to the display, form factor, battery life, and those special features that can make or break laptops for most users. Breaking down each of those factors individually makes choices significantly easier.

Display

The display size, resolution, refresh rate, and display technology are all things that need to consider while making a choice when it comes to laptops. The display is of paramount importance here since it is more often than not, the primary output device and given that gamers might end up playing on the laptop itself more often than external displays, getting this right is crucial for their experience.

One also needs hardware to match their display needs and vice versa. Getting an FHD 144Hz display with an RTX 4080/4090 laptop might not be a wise option given that one is limited by the resolution and refresh rate in terms of visual fidelity. Similarly, slapping on a 300Hz screen with an RTX 3050TI or 3060 might not be the wisest course of action either; finding the right balance means gamers get the maximum amount of value out of their gaming laptop without making compromises.

Form Factor

Form factor and display size go hand in hand. If one wants a lightweight small laptop, one with a 17-inch display is generally not an option. Laptops can range from slim machines users can easily slip into any backpack to desktop replacement laptops which are absolutely huge. Checking out the specs like the weight and dimensions of the overall laptop will give prospective buyers a good idea of what kind of form factor and use case they target.

At the same time, do consider that modern laptops are considerably lighter than they used to be. If one hasn’t been in the market of late, it is always a good idea to check out some display models in-store to get the right fit for user needs.

CPU and GPU

CPUs and GPUs are the two main specs that usually determine a laptop’s speed (or potential speed if other bottlenecks persist). Mobile GPUs generally are slower than their desktop components.

For example, a laptop RTX 4090 is comparable to a desktop RTX 4080 while its power limitations mean it performs considerably slower than the latter. The same restrictions apply to laptop CPUs which means that one might have to go a step further in terms of specs to get desktop-esque performance on a laptop, even if it is billed as a desktop replacement.

Memory and Storage

Most high-performance gaming laptops nowadays use NVME SSDs which offer excellent speed and for the most part larger storage options. With games requiring more and more storage, we recommend looking at least 500 GB of storage, but if gamers don’t want to upgrade the storage for a while a 1 or 2 TB SSD might be the way to go. Given that modern SSDS continue getting cheaper, this might be a no-brainer to get inside, instead of alongside a brand-new gaming laptop.

Memory or RAM is similar to storage but considerably faster and more volatile compared to more permanent storage options such as PC SSDs. For most gamers, 16 GB of RAM is going to be enough for now. But as modern game specifications creep up on us, it might be wise for the occasional power user to grab as much as 32GB of laptop memory simply for future-proofing their gaming laptop.

We also recommend looking at laptops that have easily upgradable RAM and storage, so one doesn’t need to pay a small fortune to upgrade or simply not have that option altogether due to soldered memory or storage on the motherboard, limiting repair potential as well as upgrades down the line.

FAQ

Q: Are gaming laptops good for multiplayer games?

Gaming laptops can definitely hold their own when gamers try out multiplayer titles, even if the laptop isn’t as robust an option as a full PC. Just make sure you have a good mouse, because FPS titles demand precision that a trackpad can’t keep up with.

Q: What should I consider before buying a gaming laptop?

There are a few things that you may want to think about when getting your first gaming laptop. Are you going to use it for more than just gaming? If you’re considering using your laptop for school or work as well, you may want to consider getting a slimmer laptop build, something that looks professional and appealing to the eye. If you just want to use the laptop for gaming and gaming alone, a bulkier, bigger laptop may be more appropriate.

Q: What are some good accessories to buy for gaming laptops?

There are all kinds of add-ons you can get to help your laptop thrive. A fan, for example, one that attaches at the base, can help keep the laptop cool in addition to its own internal methods. Getting a good mouse can also help you game more effectively, especially if you have a dedicated desk for your gaming space.