Every year, the top gaming laptops change. Early mobile gaming devices tended to be desktop substitutes, with bulky chassis, numerous power bricks, and a tonne of RGB lighting. The current front-runners, though, are distinct. Finally, manufacturers are incorporating potent components into more svelte, portable, and professional models. They offer amazing screens with quick refresh rates, which are essential for an enjoyable gaming experience. These laptops function well for both regular work and video games.
MSI GE76 Raider
The MSI GE76 Raider is as near as you’re going to come to a laptop with desktop-level capability, but you might have to shell out a lot of cash to get it. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti and Intel Core i9-12900HK are two of its top-of-the-line components.
The Raider boasts a sizable RGB light bar on the front, which when combined with per-key lighting creates a striking effect in the dark. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention this (or you can turn it all off if you prefer something a bit less showy). For esports players, the 17.3-inch, 1080p display has a maximum refresh rate of 360 Hz, but everyone else may want to think about a 1440p or 4K display instead, depending on their needs.
Razer’s Blade 15
The “Advanced” and “Base” models from Razer’s Blade 15 portfolio have been eliminated, but the remaining model is still a very good, thin, and fashionable gaming laptop. The Blade 15 is still a fan favourite because of its thin design and powerful performance (the model we evaluated had a Core i7-127800H and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti).
There are still a number of connectors available, including Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-C and Type-A, as well as an SD card reader, allowing for lots of peripheral extensions and additional game storage. Even though we discovered other competitive gaming laptops performed better in non-gaming evaluations, it would still be fantastic for productivity.
Acer Nitro 5
Our go-to budget-friendly gaming laptop for years has been the Acer Nitro 5. If you’re prepared to lower the settings on some games, the most recent model we tested with an Intel Core i5-12500H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti provides respectable performance for the price.
The Nitro 5 now has a fresh, more mature design thanks to Acer. Because it is less angular and has fewer red highlights, it doesn’t advertise its status as a gaming notebook as loudly. It’s nice to see a more restrained look on a gaming laptop that costs $899.99 because we’ve seen that aesthetic become popular on premium notebooks. ( Not to worry, individuals who enjoy that sort of thing can still use an RGB illuminated keyboard.
Alienware x17 R2
The Alienware x17 R2 is equipped with the most potent components currently available, including an Intel Core i9-12900HK and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The laptop performed well in our assessment, both for productivity and gaming. The design of Alienware, which debuted last year, is beautiful. The laptop appears modern and minimalist, but it is still unmistakably a gaming notebook. Nevertheless, it is a little heavier than other rivals, weighing in at 6.82 pounds, so you won’t want to tote it around too frequently. We heartily recommend the optional $50 Cherry MX mechanical keyboard if you have a little additional cash because it feels great and everyone on our crew who has used it has appreciated it.
HP’s Victus 15
By skillfully balancing what is available at the very low end of gaming laptops, HP’s Victus 15 earns a spot on this list. We conducted our testing using a laptop that cost $799.99 and had an Intel Core i5-12450H and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650.
You can’t expect brilliance for $800. The majority of games will run at least on medium settings, while some must be set to low from the moment you purchase them. However, you get a 1080p, 144 Hz display for games that the GTX 1650 can push to high frame rates. When you need to use the Victus for productivity tasks, such as those at work or school, that 12th Gen H-series Intel processor is no wimp.
