I tested gaming laptops for over a decade, and I’ve seen an immense evolution over those years. Gaming laptops used to be expensive, thick, and completely impractical, not to mention pathetic in performance compared to a desktop. In almost all cases, it just made more sense buy or build a desktop computer.
It couldn’t be more different in 2026. Not only are gaming laptops solid alternatives to a gaming tower, they don’t come much bigger than their non-gaming laptop cousins. From budget-friendly to powerful, I’ve reviewed over a dozen models over the past year to bring you the best options for all your gaming needs.
If any of the options below don’t work for you, check out my complete guide to How to Buy a Gaming Laptop for more information.
Powerful, fine and magnificent
The PC gaming aesthetic of the past was loud and visible: bright lights, harsh angles, and oversized air vents. These days, it’s all about adopting a clean, modern style. A thinner, less bulky format is preferable, and if possible, a more subtle approach to RGB and branding. The Razer Blade has always been a supporter of this new generation of PC gaming, and the latest Blade 16 embodies it best. Aside from the green snake logo on the lid, there’s little here that screams “gamer.”
There’s a reason it’s often considered the MacBook of gaming laptops. It sports a machined aluminum construction, thin bezels, very few vents, and simple straight edges. In 2025, the Blade 16 has gotten even thinner, although it still stretches up to an RTX 5090, which is currently the most powerful laptop graphics card. However, it is very expensive and only available on Razer.com.
If you like the design but want something cheaper and more accessible, the smaller Razer Blade 14 is also really impressive. Your GPU options with the 14-inch model fall solely between the RTX 5060 and RTX 5070, but you’ll be surprised by the performance it offers. The compact nature of the Blade 14 makes it the best choice if you plan to take it to campus or on a business trip.
For years, Razer Blade laptops stood alone in their quest to become the ultimate minimalist gaming laptop. Then Asus came along with its ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16. Once relegated to cheaper knockoffs of the Blades, they’ve evolved into unique devices that are just as premium as Razer’s laptops. They are just as thin, powerful and high-end. Like the Blades, the G14 and G16 also use a high-resolution OLED display. These laptops are just as expensive as the Blades these days, but I mention them because they are still interesting alternatives to the Razer Blades.
Lenovo
Legion 7i Gen 10 (16-inch, Intel)
Now there’s another class of premium gaming laptop that focuses more on performance than thinness or portability. THE Lenovo Legion 7i generation 10 is one of my favorites in this category, with a beautiful white chassis and brilliant OLED display. Unlike some OLED displays, the Legion 7i’s screen can reach brightness above 1,000 nits. The result is truly splendid HDR performance that brings games to life. HDR is a powerful way to improve the visuals of your games without impacting performance. The Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of the best in this regard.
It’s also quite thin at 0.7 inches thick, while plenty of ports are found on the back. This is the definition of a “clean” gaming laptop. It’s no slouch when it comes to performance either, offering either the RTX 5070 Ti or the RTX 5080 for graphics.
Cheap gaming laptops that are worth it
No gaming laptop worth buying is actually cheap. High refresh rate displays and discrete graphics will always make them more expensive than standard laptops. But as you get closer to $1,000, there’s one laptop I always come back to: the Lenovo LQ 15. Pronounced “Lock,” this sub-brand of Lenovo is known for cutting down on fluff and striving to give gamers the performance they need at an affordable price. No laptop does it better than the LOQ 15. Many laptop makers sell their RTX 5060 configurations for hundreds of dollars more. In reality, if you’re shopping around $1,000, there’s no reason not to buy the LOQ 15. Do it.
If you want to save some extra money, there is another cheaper option than the LOQ 15 with some compromises in key areas. THE Acer Nitro V16 is this laptop, which comes with an RTX 5050. It was as affordable as $600 at one point last year, before laptop prices increased due to the lack of memory– but it remains the only laptop cheaper than the Lenovo LOQ 15 that is actually worth it. It’s pretty powerful for the RTX 5050, and even though the screen is low quality, it’s not a low quality laptop. The only big downside is that the included 135-watt power supply doesn’t provide enough power to keep it charged in Performance mode. Learn more about this issue in my review because it’s important to know if you’re considering purchasing it.
There are others cheap gaming laptops there, I tested, like the MSI Cyborg A15but the Acer Nitro V 16 or Lenovo LOQ 15 are better and cheaper options. You’ll also find many gaming laptops under $1,000 that use older graphics cards, such as the RTX 4050 or 3050. In general, I would recommend staying away from these. They’re only a generation or two old, but remember: Nvidia only releases new laptop graphics cards every two years. So an RTX 4050 laptop might already be over two years old, and an RTX 3050 is over five years old. Not only is graphics performance worse, but these laptops are much more likely to need replacing sooner.
Experimental stuff
Experimentation is one of the most exciting things in the world of gaming laptops right now. While clamshell gaming laptops with a conventional Nvidia GPU are the most standard solution, there are different ways to take your PC games on the go that push the limits. You might consider a gaming handheldfor example, like the Steam Deck or Xbox Ally. These handhelds have their fans, and while you can’t do your homework on these devices, they’re great on couches, trains, and planes.
But beyond handhelds, there are also more interesting gaming laptops that play around with different form factors that I’ve really enjoyed testing over the past year. My favorite is the Asus ROG Flux Z13. It is a 2-in-1 gaming laptopwhich means it’s essentially a Windows tablet with a removable keyboard cover. All the innards of the device are behind the display, which, in the case of the 2025 model, includes the AMD Ryzen Max+ chip. In other words, it is a Surface Pro designed for playing games.
Since it’s a tablet, your hands are always kept away from air vents and hot surfaces. Almost every gaming laptop I’ve ever used heats up on the palm rests and keyboard while gaming, leaving you with sweaty hands after a few gaming missions. Arc Raiders. But not the Flow Z13. Due to its design, the ROG Flow Z13 is also one of the smallest and most compact gaming devices you can buy. Asus has also been experimenting with dual-screen gaming laptops for years, and the most interesting one will be released later this year, the ROG Zephyrus Duo. I saw him at CES a few months agoand it was one of the most exciting new gaming devices I’ve seen in a while.
There are plenty of laptops capable of playing games that aren’t necessarily marketed solely as gaming products. There are laptops geared more toward content creators with discrete GPUs like the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Or Asus ProArt P16. I like both of these options, and since they’re over six months old at this point, you can find some great deals on them, like this one. RTX 5050 version of the Yoga Pro 9i.
For something a little more concrete, I’d take a look at the Dell XPS 14. Although it doesn’t have a discrete graphics card, there is a configuration that uses Intel’s latest X7 integrated graphics, which are surprisingly powerful. Don’t buy the XPS 14 primarily as a gaming device, but as a a MacBook Proit is fully capable of running AAA games in parallel. I was able to record an average of 56 frames per second in Cyberpunk 2077 with settings on Medium. For a laptop without a discrete graphics card, that’s pretty mind-blowing. When you need it, Intel offers both low latency mode and XeSS scaling. When used together, you get faster frame rates without too much visual distortion or input lag. The battery is also beneficial if you opt for a non-gaming laptop. Unlike most gaming laptops on this list, it offers fantastic battery life, competitive with the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Other good gaming laptops I’ve tested
Photography: Luke Larsen
Asus TUF Gaming A14 for $2,200: I tested this laptop recently and was impressed by the quality of the design, screen and touchpad. The AMD Strix Point processor used inside is also convincing, delivering the best gaming performance ever seen on integrated graphics. That being said, its price is much higher than last year. more conventional RTX 5060 versionwhich is even more powerful.
Asus ROG Strix G16 for $1,400: It doesn’t have the design finesse of the Razer Blade 16, Lenovo Legion 7i or Alienware 16 Aurora. But the Strix G16 offers excellent performance at lower prices than its competitors, and the RTX 5060 currently costs $1,300. The Lenovo LOQ 15, however, remains the best value for money.
Alienware 16X Aurora for $1,600: Alienware has recently lost focus on its gaming laptops, but its latest refresh is coming back looks like a return to form. THE Alienware 16X Aurora (7/10, WIRED recommends) sits in the middle of the range, trying to offer the right balance between performance, premium features and price. At its current price, it’s the highlight. And while there are cheaper ways to get RTX 5060-level performance, the bright, color-accurate IPS display is a great upgrade, as is the premium touchpad. Overall, the Alienware 16X Aurora has become my favorite Alienware gaming laptop in years. It’s too expensive at street price, so wait for a discount on this one.
MSI Titan 18 HX for $4,999: Power. That’s what PC gamers want the most, right? Well, if this is your case and you don’t have a budget, get it MSI Titan 18 HX (7/10, WIRED recommends). It defines the definition of “big and responsible.” This machine comes with tons of advanced features like a mechanical keyboard, an invisible haptic feedback touchpad, and plenty of RGB lighting. The touchpad wasn’t my favorite, but typing and playing on the mechanical keyboard is an absolute pleasure. There are a few other 18-inch laptops to consider, like the updated model. Alienware 18 Area-51 or the Razer Blade 18. But the incredible 4K+ mini-LED display is something you can’t get on any other 18-inch laptop. Games look beautiful and thanks to the RTX 5090 you can play AAA games at this native resolution at decent frame rates. This MSI is a beast of a laptop, so don’t try to take it with you on a work trip. Trust me.
What makes a great gaming laptop?
Choosing the right gaming laptop can be a delicate balance. The raw power you typically find in gaming desktops uses up a lot of power, and when you put it into a laptop, it can drain the battery quickly. Likewise, the ultra-fast refresh rates of gaming monitors can lead to even greater power consumption. If you plan to keep your laptop plugged in most of the time, you may want to look into more powerful hardware. If you want to play more on the battery, balancing power and efficiency should be a priority.
Size is also a factor to consider. When you’re gaming at home, you might want the biggest, brightest screen you can find, but when you have to carry that screen around, the bulk and weight can be a (pretty literal) drag. If you plan to travel with your laptop, you may want to think about how much weight you are willing to carry.
Either way, you should expect to make sacrifices that aren’t as common with more conventional laptops. It’s not uncommon for a gaming laptop to last less than two hours when you start playing on it. Unless you have a lot of (usually expensive) power under the hood, you may not be able to play some modern AAA games at their highest level like you would on a desktop without spending a little time tweaking the game’s graphics settings.
Specs to look for in a gaming laptop
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by specs and numbers when shopping for a gaming laptop, but there are a few key specs you can focus on to get the best value for your money. For further help with all the different specifications on offer, check out our Guide How to Buy a Gaming Laptop.
RAM: Aim for a machine with at least 16 GB of RAM. While 8GB of RAM is still usable for those who play less demanding games or have little desire for fancy graphics, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one these days. The new minimum is 16GB of RAM, and if you intend to play new AAA games, upgrading to 32GB of RAM is a very good idea. The speed of your RAM may also be a factor. Currently, DDR5 is the best you can find, but you will start to see DDR6 replace it over the next few years.
Processor: When you want the fastest processor, a newer processor is usually better. Right now, you’ll still find Intel’s 14th generation of gaming processors in the wild, although its latest Core Ultra 200HX Plus (Arrow Lake Refresh) series is currently rolling out. Meanwhile, AMD Ryzen now belongs to the 9000 series. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, CPU Benchmarks can help you get an idea of how powerful a processor is, but the best indicator is real-world testing (which we run on every laptop we offer).
Discrete GPU: As with the processor, there are many models that can be difficult to keep track of. In most cases, you’ll want to make sure the gaming laptop you’re buying has a discrete GPU. Some of the latest integrated graphics have changed this advice slightly, but you need to be careful which model you buy. These days, Nvidia is the main option, whether it’s the previous generation RTX 40 GPUs or the latest RTX 50 series. The full line of RTX 50 series graphics cards for laptops includes the RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, 5070, 5060, and 5050. You will be able to find a few gaming laptops equipped with AMD GPUs, competing with its Radeon generation 7000. These often share similar names to their desktop counterparts, but most technically run the “laptop” version of the GPU, like the RTX5090 Or 5080. Again, real-world testing is the best indicator of performance.
Storage: Most laptops these days come with SSDs, which are blazing fast and significantly reduce loading times compared to the days of hard drives. Games can get massive, so we recommend at least a 1TB internal drive, but if you can use 2TB you’ll have a lot more room for multiple AAA games. Fortunately, many gaming laptops still allow you to install more internal storage, so you may be able to expand it later for less money.
Display: Most gaming laptop displays are 16:10 aspect ratio and start with a resolution of at least 1920 x 1200 with at least one 120Hz refresh rate. You want something that matches the performance of the laptop’s GPU and the types of games you play. Competitive multiplayer players will want a higher refresh rate, while single player players will benefit more from higher resolutions. There’s even next-generation display technology, like mini-LED or OLED displays that enable impressive HDR visuals and improved response times.
Which laptop brand is best for gaming laptops?
Nowadays, all major laptop manufacturers have gaming sub-brands. To name a few, Lenovo offers Legion and LOQ, Asus offers ROG and TUF Gaming, Acer offers Predator and Nitro, and Dell offers Alienware. HP previously offered the Victus and Omen brands, but will now sell under its HyperX sub-brand starting this year. This is a good place to start, especially if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly.
Asus offers the most comprehensive lineup, from high-powered heavyweights to beautiful, slim models. Asus also offers some of the cheapest models with its TUF brand and a few hyper-portable options in the ROG Flow line. MSI is another notable brand, with dozens of models under different names indicating price and performance: Titan, Raider, Stealth, and Crosshair.
Beyond these sub-brands, let’s not forget Razer. The company has earned its reputation by producing the most premium and well-built gaming laptops, often called the MacBook of gaming laptops.
You’ll find plenty of unknown brands if you’re shopping for gaming laptops on Amazon, though. Most are easy to write off based on specs alone, since they rarely have a discrete GPU. Avoid them at all costsregardless of the attractive price.
How much should I spend on a gaming laptop?
For years, I didn’t recommend spending less than $1,000 on a gaming laptop. Today, there are some good options, as you can see in our picks above (and our list of best cheap gaming laptops). If you find a good discount, there are some great options under $1,000. You can find cheaper RTX 5050 laptops, but be careful as serious compromises can be made on these budget-conscious devices.
On the other hand, you can spend almost $5,000 for a high-end model, boasting the latest RTX 5090 and plenty of premium features and specs. It’s also possible to purchase a previous generation gaming laptop with an integrated RTX 40 series GPU if you’re strapped for cash, although I’d be wary as these laptops are already almost three years old at this point.
What size gaming laptop should you buy?
Gaming laptops mainly come in three screen sizes: 14-inch, 16-inch, and 18-inch. There are also old-school 15.6-inch 16:9 aspect ratio displays, like the Lenovo LOQ 15 listed above. The difference between these three sizes is quite dramatic, both in terms of overall footprint and portability. Most people should buy a 16-inch gaming laptop, which tends to be the sweet spot. Many 16-inch gaming laptops still give you the full range of performance, right up to the latest CPUs and GPUs (including the RTX 5090), and even come with a wider range of display options, including OLED. 18-inch gaming laptops tend to be gargantuan, not the kind of device you want to move around a lot. The larger screen is ideal if you never plan to connect it to an external display or leave your house with it.
Meanwhile, 14-inch gaming laptops have become popular in recent years and work best as a hybrid device. They tend to be sleek and minimalist, downplaying the gamer aesthetic for something more professional and buttoned-down. GPU options tend to be more limited at this size, but you can still get surprisingly solid performance from these laptops, depending on the configuration. They also tend to have better battery life.
Is OLED on gaming laptops worth it?
In a word, yes. OLED has many advantages for PC gaming. The extreme contrast of OLED allows the screen to excel in HDR performance. HDR really brings games to life, brightening highlights and deepening shadows. Now it is worth mentioning that henceforth t All OLED panels currently used in gaming laptops are as bright as the best OLED gaming monitorswhich can achieve over 1,000 nits of peak HDR brightness. Laptops like the Legion 7i Gen 10 can match this brightness though, which is when you get the biggest and most visible HDR effect in games.
We see OLED available for 14- and 16-inch gaming laptops, but not yet on 18-inch laptops. OLED offers help for more competitive gamers, offering less input lag than on IPS or Mini-LED. It’s definitely worth it. Increasingly, it’s becoming more standard on high-end gaming laptops, meaning you won’t always need to make the difficult choice between a faster GPU and a better screen.
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