The best gaming laptops provide the power of a high-end desktop with the portability of a much smaller, lighter machine - that much is obvious. However, truly great gaming laptops manage to do all this while remaining cool and comfortable enough to run for long periods of time, all while packing high quality graphics, displays, and performance into a fair price tag.
Thankfully, those on the hunt for the best gaming laptop in 2023 have plenty to choose from. With 16-inch and 18-inch form factors taking over from the previous 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch mainstream, we're getting bigger screens, boosted graphics power, and the latest generation of blindingly fast processors. That means PC gaming on the go has never felt so good - and we're bringing you all the top models right here.
We run each gaming laptop we get our hands on through a series of tests across gaming and productivity performance. Of these scores, we're listing two with each of our favorite machines below; Fire Strike and Time Spy. Both tests stress both the graphics and processing of a laptop, returning one final score once completed. The higher the score, the better the performance.
The best gaming laptop of 2023 is the Razer Blade 15, but plenty of our favorite machines balance raw power with value for money. That means some of these top models won't run the most impressive graphics cards or pack bags of RAM - they will simply outperform their price tag. After all, if you don't need an all singing rig, why pay for one.
We've put a wide range of gaming laptops through their paces to find the best machines in the business, testing performance relative to the specs on offer, efficiency in design and temperature, and overall value for money. We run each machine through a series of performance benchmarks, and live, play, and work with the models we review for an extended period of time - you can check out exactly how we test gaming laptops in our dedicated guide. You'll find all our recommendations for the best gaming laptop on the market just below, and more information on choosing the right configuration for you and your budget as well.
The best gaming laptops available now
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Our favorite configuration:
Fire Strike: 20,171
Time Spy: 9,690
We got our hands on a beast of a Razer Blade 15, but it showed us just how powerful gaming laptops can be these days. The RTX 3080 Ti / i9-12900H configuration I had on my desk was a true monster in its performance. However, this rig's ability to offer such performance while keeping the slimline chassis we've all come to know and love really cemented its top spot among the best gaming laptops on the market.
Of course, this is no cheap machine. The 2022 Razer Blade 15 starts at $2,499.99 for an RTX 3060 configuration. You're certainly paying for this luxury name here, but if you're on the hunt for one of the most technically capable machines in one of the most portable form factors, the cash is well invested.
That does mean this isn't necessarily the best gaming laptop for everyone - those playing lighter games won't need the horsepower on offer here, and if you're just after a machine you can sign into every now and then you won't get solid value by going all out. However, if you're interested in a top of the range rig (and have the budget to throw at it), our testing speaks for itself.
"In 2022, the Razer Blade 15 is still doing exactly what its ancestors did - leading in high-end components and luxury performance."
Razer Blade 15 review
I managed to run Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 74fps in 4K with everything turned up to 11 here. While more demanding titles still struggled in that UHD resolution, though, I was still impressed with the 60+ fps in 1440p on Red Dead Redemption 2 as well as the 78fps in the same resolution on The Division 2. I only needed to drop some more taxing visual effects to hit higher framerates in 4K, and everything looked incredible while doing so.
You can't beat the Razer Blade 15 for performance, component horsepower, and portability. After all, the only other machines offering RTX 3080 Ti graphics cards at the time of writing still can't compete with that 4K 144Hz display for the price.
Note: The 2023 Razer Blade 15 is on its way, and once we've had our hands on the newer device we'll update this guide accordingly.
Read more: Razer Blade 15 review
Benchmark Test | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
---|---|---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High: 101fps / Highest: 97fps | High: 94fps / Highest: 67fps | High: 66fps / Highest: 74fps |
Total War: Three Kingdoms | High: 107fps / Ultra: 79fps | High: 67fps / Ultra: 49fps | High: 33fps / Ultra: 23fps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Balanced: 84fps / Highest: 67fps | Balanced: 69fps / Highest: 52fps | Balanced: 43fps / Highest: 26fps |
Metro Exodus | High: 87fps / Ultra: 67fps | High: 69fps / Ultra: 53fps | High: 42fps / Ultra: 25fps |
The Division 2 | High: 107fps / Ultra: 86fps | High: 78fps / Ultra: 61fps | High: 45fps / Ultra: 35fps |
Buy the Razer Blade 15 if you:
- Prefer a more subtle aesthetic
- Are looking for a playable 4K display
- Travel with your laptop regularly
- Need a machine for work, content creation, and play
Our favorite configuration:
The Dell G15 isn’t going to light the world of the best gaming laptops on fire, but it is at least a dependable choice of gaming companion. Performance in both gaming and general tasks is good considering the price point, and all the features we’ve come to expect from gaming laptops are present and accounted for - apart from that bank-busting price tag. You'll often find these models on sale with RTX 3050 / RTX 3050 Ti graphics cards for well under $1,000 - sometimes as low as $699.99.
The appearance of this laptop could be a point of contention, though, as we found the chassis to feel a bit old-fashioned for 2022. A dark iridescent finish and thick central hinge feel like throwbacks to a forgotten age of tech design that should perhaps have stayed in the past.
The G15 also runs fairly hot when playing more graphically demanding titles, although not to a worrying extent; we’ve certainly reviewed laptops with noisier fans than this. As it stands, the G15 is a great all-rounder, ideal as a gift for a kid looking to break into PC gaming or the office employee consigned to remote working - and playing.
Buy the Dell G15 if you:
- Want to stay firmly in the three-figure price range
- Don't need the latest and greatest components
- Play less graphically demanding games
- Don't prioritize aesthetics
Our favorite configuration:
Fire Strike: 24,894
Time Spy: 10,722
The Alienware M15 R7 is here to bring the now mid-range line of luxury laptops into 2022's standards. With Intel's new 12th generation processors and Nvidia's Ti GPUs at the helm, there's some serious power up for grabs here. While prices are looking a little higher than those of the predecessor (especially now that discounts abound on the outdated model), you're getting enough new tech under the hood to warrant the splurge.
We were blown away by the performance of this machine. Our test unit featured an i7-12700H processor and an RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, and was easily sailing through our benchmarks and stress tests. This beast didn't even flinch at heavier titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Metro Exodus - offering up 76fps in RDR2's Ultra settings, and 72fps with all RTX set to max in Metro Exodus. Those are settings that would make the uber expensive RTX 3080 Ti Razer Blade 15 sweat.
Faster action titles ran without a hitch, with that 360Hz refresh rate display acting as the cherry on the stunningly powerful cake.
Alienware M15 R7 review
However, it's worth noting that this machine is built purely for power. It's a stocky design, and a particularly heavy one at that - the charging brick alone nearly runs the full length of the keyboard. So no, this isn't going to be a gaming laptop you'll easily throw into a backpack - and those fans can certainly scream - but if you're looking for an all-rounder that can level with machines far pricier than itself, these are easy sacrifices to make.
Alienware is, after all, a luxury brand. With its M-series now falling to the middle of its range (thanks to the advent of the X-series last year), the Alienware M15 R7 is affordable by the brand's standards. That means you'll find far cheaper machines out there, but without that Alienware pedigree to speak of. Still, with performance to rival some of the best gaming laptops in the business, and only a few sacrifices to get there for a great price, this is an excellent option for most players. You could consider the X15 technically the best Alienware gaming laptop on paper alone, but when it comes down to price and the wider market, this is the winner.
Read more: Alienware M15 R7 review
Benchmark Test | 1080p |
---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High - 148fps / Highest - 129fps |
Total War: Three Kingdoms | High - 120fps / Ultra - 83fps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Balanced - 79fps / Highest - 76fps |
Metro Exodus | High - 98fps / Ultra - 72fps |
The Division 2 | High: 124fps / Ultra: 97fps |
Buy the Alienware M15 R7 if you:
- Need solid all-round power across a range of genres
- Would like a super-fast display
- Want an Ethernet port
- Don't travel with your machine often
Our favorite configuration
Fire Strike: 17,365
Fire Strike Extreme: 9,870
If you're looking to grab an RTX 30-Series card but don't want to break too far past $1,000 / £1,000, the Asus TUF Dash F15 is going to be your best bet. In our testing, we found this budget-friendly machine to charge through even some of the more demanding titles as if it sat in a much higher price bracket - despite the weaker 4-core i7-11370H processor at the helm. Plus, you're still getting the super slimline form factor that has proven so popular over the last couple of years.
You'll be hitting 60fps+ in most games as long as you're happy not playing everything maxed out.
Asus TUF Dash F15 review
The key here is that you can outfit it with the full 11th generation i7 / 1TB / 32GB RAM suite of turbo power - or you can pick up a more conservative spec for a little less cash. That means you won't need to spend on high-end gear that you might not even get to use if you're running less demanding titles.
We were particularly impressed by how well those more power-hungry components played together in a cheaper chassis. We didn't notice any over-heating issues here, and while we did have to make some sacrifices to more demanding titles, we still managed to hit 60fps+ on an RTX 3070 with consistency. We also tested an RTX 3060 unit and found similar performance levels when dropping a few sliders down a fraction as well, which means you're sorted at all ends of the budget here.
Read more: Asus TUF Dash F15 review
Benchmark Test | 1080p | 1440p |
---|---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High: 79fps / Highest: 60fps | High: 72fps / Highest: 57fps |
Total War: Warhammer II | High: 82fps / Ultra: 63fps | High: 76fps / Ultra: 53fps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Balanced: 63fps / Highest: 57fps | Balanced: 54fps / Highest: 51fps |
Metro Exodus | High: 72fps / Ultra: 51fps | High: 64fps / Ultra: 46fps |
The Division 2 | High: 86fps / Ultra: 54fps | High: 76fps / Ultra: 47fps |
Buy the Asus TUF Dash F15 if you:
- Want to pack a mid-range 1440p spec into a three figure price point
- Don't mind sacrificing a little CPU power for a better GPU
- Travel regularly with your laptop
- Don't need a webcam
Our favorite configuration:
Fire Strike: 21,728
Time Spy: 8,644
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 long reigned over the slimline gaming laptop world. It was one of the first easily portable machines, built with a form factor that respected your backpack and your desk top. 2022 heralds in a new AMD future for this fan favorite, and despite some thermal concerns and ray tracing throttling, the G14 is all the more impressive for it.
That's a serious amount of power to pack into this super small form factor after all, and we managed to squeeze some impressive numbers out of this compact design as well. While it does feel built for 1080p (framerates do cliff-dive at the native QHD+ resolution), we were getting some excellent scores in Fire Strike and in-game benchmarking considering the stress this machine is under. Metro Exodus was flying at High settings, hitting 82fps consistently, and The Division 2 managed to hold onto 78fps in Ultra settings as well.
Whether trundling through Red Dead Redemption 2's snowy landscapes or skimming webpages, everything feels sharp and snappy
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review
Not only that, but the new 16:10 display was a sight to behold. Crisp and clean, the extra height offered in the display was easily welcomed over the cramped feeling Alienware and Razer offerings. You'll also find an improved LED display running along the back, with sharper customizable animations for an extra personal edge.
We did notice those temperatures creeping under intense workloads, though, so this will be one to keep on a desk rather than a lap. That said, not many 14-inch rigs can keep up with these specs, and even fewer can do so with the extra screen space afforded to you here. The G14 is the best 14-inch gaming laptop we've had our hands on so far.
Read more: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review
Benchmark Test | 1080p | 1440p+ |
---|---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High: 108fps / Highest: 100fps | High: 82fps / Highest: 66fps |
Total War: Three Kingdoms | High: 95fps / Ultra: 66fps | High: 51fps / Ultra: 36fps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Balanced: 81fps / Highest: 73fps | Balanced: 62fps / Highest: 48fps |
Metro Exodus | High: 82fps / Ultra: 36fps | High: 57fps / Ultra: 25fps |
The Division 2 | High: 100fps / Ultra: 78fps | High: 73fps / Ultra: 51fps |
Buy the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 if you:
- Travel regularly with your laptop
- Need a machine for everyday work and play
- Prioritize high quality display and speakers
- Don't value ray tracing in graphically demanding games
- Don't mind a little heat
Our favorite configuration:
Fire Strike: 25,484
Time Spy: 12,244
2022's Razer Blade 17 is here, which means there's a new beast in town - and this one's looking particularly flashy. Don't get us wrong, this is a pricey piece of kit. The i7-12800H / RTX 3080 Ti model we tested runs in at nearly $3,999 / £4,099 - but if you're investing in a gaming and content creation powerhouse, this is the best 17.3-incher in the business. Yes, there's a Razer tax here. You'll find budget machines packing similar specs for slightly less (though not by dramatic amounts) out there, but in return you are investing in a durable, quality piece of kit with some excellent engineering under the hood.
Shocking exactly nobody, the 2022 Razer Blade 17 eats benchmarks for breakfast and powers through the latest games at 1440p, even without the assistance of Nvidia’s nifty DLSS tech.
Razer Blade 17 review
For example, we were particularly impressed with the eight-speaker array - there's some serious power behind these grills, so much so that we didn't feel the need to slap on a gaming headset during our time. Similarly, the expansive display doesn't drop its clarity or color reproduction like many wider models. In fact, we found the screen so impressive that we would happily recommend it for more artistic purposes. Add a wide range of all the latest ports, that classic Razer suave aesthetic, and a clean, tactile glass touchpad and the Razer Blade 17 feels like it could handle anything.
And it can. This machine ripped through benchmarks like they were calculators, spitting out an impressive 25,484 Fire Strike score and a blitzing 12,244 Time Spy result when placed under stress. Results in real-world play were similarly breathtaking - Total War: Three Kingdoms ran buttery smooth at 98fps in High settings and Red Dead Redemption 2 continued to clock 90fps when cranked up to Ultra.
The only issues we faced in our testing were those standard of larger gaming laptops - namely the poor battery life and lack of portability. Of course, if you're in the market for a bigger machine you've already reconciled these facts of life - making the Razer Blade 17 the best 17-inch gaming laptop on the market.
Read more: Razer Blade 17 review
Benchmark Test | 1440p |
---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High: 146fps / Highest: 134fps |
Total War: Three Kingdoms | High: 98fps / Ultra: 69fps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Balanced: 104fps / Highest: 90fps |
Metro Exodus | High: 90fps / Ultra: 75fps |
The Division 2 | High: 101fps / Ultra: 73fps |
Buy the Razer Blade 17 if you:
- Want the big screen experience without the bulk
- Use your laptop for both gaming and content creation
- Don't need to run off battery alone
- Don't travel with your laptop often
- Would like a fast 4K display
Our favorite configuration:
Fire Strike: 32,876
Time Spy: 17,611
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 sailed through our performance tests, coming out with the largest Fire Strike and Time Spy scores we've seen so far. Not only that, but with a PC Mark 10 score of 7,590 this is a seriously speedy rig. If you're after performance alone, this is the best gaming laptop of the next generation that we've tested so far, packing some heavy numbers and the internal cooling system to cope with them. Our in-game benchmarks were hitting three figures even on the highest settings in Shadow of the Tomb Raider and The Division 2 with more demanding titles only just nestling under that threshold. That's stunning performance built for anyone looking to draw the best out of their libraries.
Of course, there's a whole chassis system built around those internal components. We weren't massive fans of the translucent plastic housing the main deck and the sides, especially considering fingerprints were particularly stubborn on this particular material. However, the robust build and bright RGB LEDs certainly won us over.
I was marvelling at not only the detail and vividity of The Division 2's landscapes, but also the three-figure framerates even in Ultra settings in the screen's native 2560 x 1600 resolution.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 review
While we enjoyed the placement of the IO ports on the back of previous ROG Strix Scar 16 iterations, though, this year's model has brought them back to the sides. In their place you'll find a massive (still RGB-heavy) grill to help with the additional cooling features required for new generation components. That's a little disappointing, as it's much easier to keep a gaming laptop on a desk when all the cables can be neatly hidden away.
While the keyboard certainly feels excellent to type on, with a nice travel distance and a slightly taller profile than others we've tested, the trackpad does let us down. It's mushier than it really ought to be at this price point, with a clunky feel to awkward presses.
All of that can't detract from the beauty of the display, though. Asus's new Nebula HDR panel sits atop the Strix Scar 16 and is well worth the $100 upgrade. It's the best we've seen on a gaming laptop so far, with 1,024 dimming zones for stunning contrast, and up to 1,100+ nits of peak brightness in HDR content. All of that makes for an incredibly rich display, offering vivid color without straying into blaring territory. A 240Hz refresh rate keeps everything silky smooth as well.
All in all, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 is one for the specialists. While it does actually represent excellent value for money (especially when compared to the more expensive, slightly weaker Asus ROG Zephyrus M16), it's still going to be a machine for those who want to invest in the latest and greatest tech. Still, if you're looking to splash some cash this is going to do the job for years to come.
Read more: Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 review
Benchmark Test | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 |
---|---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High: 201fps / Highest: 191fps | High: 179fps / Highest: 173fps |
Total War: Three Kingdoms | High: 193fps / Ultra: 148fps | High: 121fps / Ultra: 87fps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Balanced: 118fps / Highest: 107fps | Balanced: 95fps / Highest: 94fps |
Metro Exodus | High: 134fps / Ultra: 115fps | High: 101fps / Ultra: 93fps |
The Division 2 | High: 167fps / Ultra: 138fps | High: 140fps / Ultra: 108fps |
Buy the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 if you:
- Want next-generation hardware
- Are looking to invest in a gaming laptop for years to come
- Love RGB
- Play particularly graphics-heavy games
- Won't be travelling with your machine very often
Our favorite configuration:
Fire Strike: 17,408
Time Spy: 7,807
The Alienware x14 is the thinnest laptop we've had on our desks, and it delights in its performance relative to the lower mid-range components under the hood. Of course, Intel's latest 12th generation processors are helping those RTX 3050 / RTX 3060 graphics cards (as is that DDR5 RAM), but all together these specs are working particularly hard to offer silky smooth framerates in even more demanding titles.
We found that the overall build quality was particularly impressive here, with the x14 shrinking exactly what makes the Alienware x17 feel so solid and premium down into a super flexible form factor. This thing is only 14.4mm thick, and if it weren't for the glowing RGB alien head on the top panel you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a slick business ultrabook.
The Alienware X14 earns its place on the mid-range shelf but will appeal more to those after a premium feel than those chasing framerates.
Alienware x14 review
In fact, there's some serious gaming chops under the hood. Of course, we didn't get numbers to threaten RTX 3070 or RTX 3080-toting machines in our testing, but with the Nvidia optimised Shadow of the Tomb Raider hitting an average of 108fps on Highest settings, there's plenty we shouldn't take for granted here. The Alienware x14 did struggle under heavier titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, but we could still draw 55fps in High settings. With a little tweaking, these more humble configurations can easily soar thanks to the engineering under the hood.
During our testing, though, it quickly became obvious that the RTX 3050 / RTX 3050 Ti configurations would offer the best value for money here. We were a little disappointed by the 1080p 144Hz display considering the fact that our test unit was just knocking on the $2,000 price point. By contrast, this is a more than passable screen when placed on a $1,499 RTX 3050 rig. It feels like there's diminishing returns heading up the price scale here.
Still, if you're looking for a super slimline, easily portable machine, the Alienware x14 is an excellent premium option. Not only are you getting that backpack-friendly form factor, but the USB-C charging makes it particularly easy to juice up on the go as well.
Read more: Alienware x14 review
Benchmark Test | 1080p |
---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High: 116fps / Highest: 108fps |
Total War: Three Kingdoms | High: 83fps / Ultra: 58fps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Balanced: 55fps / Highest: 52fps |
Metro Exodus | High: 65fps / Ultra: 47fps |
The Division 2 | High: 90fps / Ultra: 68fps |
Buy the Alienware x14 if you:
- Prioritize aesthetic and build quality over heavy components
- Travel regularly with your laptop
- Play lighter, less graphically demanding games
- Don't want to spend conventional Alienware prices
- Want a slimline build
Our favorite configuration:
Firestrike: 17,524
Timespy: 7,456
It’s not about to blow anyone away with flashy features or top-tier performance, but the Acer Nitro 5 is a very respectable choice of gaming laptop for the busy gamer who doesn’t want to break the bank. A good full-scale keyboard with numpad makes this laptop appropriate for both work and play. That means it's a great replacement for a full-tower desktop PC at home that also offers portability thanks to its relatively low weight as gaming laptops go.
All but the most demanding games should run comfortably above 60fps at maximum graphical settings
Acer Nitro 5 review
The RTX 3060 GPU paired with a Ryzen 5800H processor offered up strong performance in our testing, hitting 86fps in High settings on The Division 2, and only dropping to 77fps in Ultra. While the SSD could be a bit speedier, it’s not going to cause any major headaches. Most games will run above 60fps at maximum settings, and ray-tracing is also an option, though it does come with an associated performance hit.
We found the screen to be somewhat dull compared to other laptops in the same price range, and the battery life is decidedly unimpressive, but given the budget cost, these do feel like fair tradeoffs. Especially since the display does retain an excellent 144Hz refresh rate. At $1,129 (with other models varying from $700 to $2,100), the RTX 3060 Nitro 5 manages to pack some impressive components into a budget price tag by dropping nice-to-have features. That makes it perfect for anyone after raw power without all the fancy extras that can sometimes bloat gaming laptop costs.
Read more: Acer Nitro 5 review
Benchmark Test | 1080p |
---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High: 118fps / Highest: 107fps |
Total War: Three Kingdoms | High: 81fps / Ultra: 58fps |
Metro Exodus | High: 79fps / Ultra: 39fps |
The Division 2 | High: 86fps / Ultra: 77fps |
Buy the Acer Nitro 5 if you:
- Want high-end components without breaking the bank
- Don't need the latest and greatest display
- Play while plugged in to an outlet
- Don't prioritize aesthetics
Our favorite configuration:
Fire Strike: 26,542
Time Spy: 12,049
High end gaming laptops pack the latest and greatest specs into sleek, slimline chassis', but if you're in the UK we'd recommend looking to the traditionally budget-oriented Medion Beast line. We were impressed when we got our hands on the Beast X30 model, packed out with an RTX 3080 Ti GPU, i9-12900HK processor, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. Yes, this machine will run you £2,699 at the time of writing - but you'd usually be paying far more for such luxurious specs at this.
This is a gaming laptop for the budget-minded among high-end users
Medion Erazer Beast X30 review
As it stands, then, this is incredible value relative to today's market. The matte black coating and skinny design feels more like the Razer Blade 15 than the similarly budget-minded Acer Nitro 5, with a gorgeous overall form factor. Underneath that getup sits a solid spec list. It's rare to find all those components sitting under a 17.3-inch 240Hz QHD display - ticking all the boxes will usually see you cross the £3,000 threshold. The fact is not many machines can offer such a complete package at this price point - while pricey, anyone on the hunt for a luxury machine should certainly consider investing.
In practice, we found the Medion Erazer X30 to be more than capable of anything we decided to throw at it. With Fire Strike scores that almost caught up with that of i9 Razer and Alienware models and benchmarks running in at well over 60fps in High settings across 1080p and 1440p, there's plenty to love here. The only times we saw the Beast X30 drop below 60fps was in heavier titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Total War: Three Kingdoms, running both on Highest / Ultra settings at 1440p. Even then we only dipped to 58 / 59fps.
Unfortunately, the Medion Erazer Beast X30 is only available in the UK.
Read more: Medion Erazer Beast X30 review
Benchmark Test | 1080p | 1440p |
---|---|---|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | High: 156fps / Highest: 93fps | High: 87fps / Highest: 82fps |
Total War: Three Kingdoms | High: 132fps / Ultra: 84fps | High: 82fps / Ultra: 59fps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Balanced: 132fps / Highest: 110fps | Balanced: 65fps / Highest: 58fps |
Metro Exodus | High: 97fps / Ultra: 82fps | High: 83fps / Ultra: 67fps |
The Division 2 | High: 159fps / Ultra: 126fps | High: 84fps / Ultra: 68fps |
Buy the Medion Erazer Beast X30 if you:
- Are in the UK
- Want high-end components at a mid-range price
- Don't mind wearing a headset
- Prioritize a high quality display
How we test gaming laptops
Every gaming laptop that we review is stress-tested against a series of benchmarking processes and everyday use. We run a standardised series of performance tests on each rig, benchmarking on both High and Ultra / Highest across:
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Total War: Three Kingdoms (Battle)
- Metro Exodus
- The Division 2
- Red Dead Redemption 2
We carry out these benchmarks at both 1080p and other native resolutions offered by each individual system.
We then test the GPUs inside these gaming laptops against 3DMark Firestrike and Firestrike Extreme (for 1440p rigs), using Firestrike Ultra for our 4K machines. We also use PC Mark 10 tests (including battery performance), as well as Sky Diver, Cinebench, and Crystal Disk Mark.
Of course, we also live with these machines. We find the best gaming laptops by playing, binge-watching, and working with them for as long as we can, using them as we would our own machines (while pushing them a little further for the sake of science).
Read more about how we find the best tech with our full Hardware Policy and find out exactly how we test gaming laptops.
How to find the best gaming laptop for you
Not sure what screen size you'd ideally want and what minimum spec you'd ultimately like to get in your search for the best gaming laptop? If you need help working that out, we're here to help.
In our opinion, the key is to opt for something with a balance between performance, budget, and components – you want something that will play your favorite games now, but still have enough bandwidth to help you find a new favorite in the future.
So what's your first step when you start browsing for the best gaming laptop? You can start by having a budget or total price ceiling in mind, but generally (and somewhat predictably), you'll want to prioritize the hardware in the machine. As you've made it to this page, you're looking for a gaming-focused portable powerhouse and, as a result, want to aim high in the graphics card department, like a GPU from the RTX family of cards from Nvidia.
This can be an excellent starting point to refine your search - but don't forget to look at laptops with a 16-series card in too as they offer incredible value when complemented by other, well-balanced components. A quick note on components: availability, as everyone knows, has been incredibly unreliable and volatile in recent months. As a result, it might be that when you visit retailers or makers of these machines, only some configurations are available at the time.
If you're unsure of which components you need, it's wise to consider the CPUs and GPUs on offer in tiers. If you only play lighter games that aren't too demanding, you might fall into the entry level tier, if you're looking to hit High settings with a few tweaks and still hit 60fps, it's worth looking in the mid-range. However, if you're going all-in on Ultra settings for the most demanding titles, the best gaming laptop for you might be a more premium option.
Entry level | Mid-range | Premium |
---|---|---|
11th / 12th generation i5 | Ryzen 5 | 12th / 13th generation i7 | Ryzen 7 | 12th / 13th generation i9 | Ryzen 9 |
Nvidia GTX 1650Ti / RTX 3050 RTX 3050Ti | RTX 3060 / RTX 3070 / RTX 3070 Ti | RTX 3080 / RTX 3080 Ti / RTX 4080 / RTX 4090 |
8GB - 16GB RAM | 16GB - 32GB RAM | 32GB RAM |
256GB - 512GB SSD | 1TB SSD | 1TB - 4TB SSD |
60-120Hz | 144-240Hz | 240Hz - 300Hz |
$500 - $800 | $800 - $1,800 | $1,800 - $3,000+ |
Best gaming laptops: FAQs
What new gaming laptops are coming for 2023?
CES 2023 gave us a first look into the next class of gaming laptop, and with everyone from Razer to MSI getting involved, we've got a pretty good idea of where this year is taking us. You'll find the biggest announcements from the biggest brands just below.
Razer
Razer Blade 16
Razer Blade 18
Dell
Alienware M16
Alienware M18
Alienware x14
Alienware x16
Dell G15
Dell G16
Acer
Acer Predator Helios 16
Acer Predator Helios 18
Acer Nitro 16
Acer Nitro 17
Asus
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 / 18
Asus ROG Strix G16 / G18
Asus ROG Scar 17
Asus ROG Strix G17
Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16
Asus ROG Zephyrus M16
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Asus ROG Flow Z13
Asus ROG X13 / X16
Asus TUF F15 / F17
Asus TUF A15 / A17
Which brand is best for gaming laptops?
Overall, the best gaming laptop brands include Razer, Alienware, MSI, Asus and Acer. However, there are a number of companies all competing for the title right now, from budget-oriented developers to high-end industry staples. Finding the best gaming laptop brand, however, may come down to how much you're willing to pay and how much you value extra features like mechanical keyboards and RGB lighting in your chassis. Alienware, for example, produces some incredible machines with these features built in, but at a significant premium - whereas Acer's machines tend to be more conservative in their builds but offer reduced prices.
Can you spend under $1000 on a gaming laptop?
It's absolutely possible to spend less than $1,000 and still pick up one of the best gaming laptops on the market. Our favorite models under this price range are the Dell G15 and the Asus TUF Dash F15, though the Acer Nitro 5 also offers plenty of value in its cheaper configurations as well. You might be dropping down to 8GB of RAM or a cheaper version of an Intel processor, but if you're playing lighter titles or you're not fussed about the latest and greatest in performance there are plenty of options out there.
Do you need a gaming laptop with an RTX GPU?
Picking up one of the latest Nvidia GPUs in your gaming laptop doesn't need to be a costly affair - RTX 3050 machines have been spotted at prices that would previously have sat on older GTX models. Nvidia's RTX chips are currently in their 30-Series, one up from the 20-Series launched last year, and you'll find the vast majority of gaming laptops on the shelves are sporting them. That doesn't necessarily mean you need one if you're just playing smaller games on a budget, in which case a GTX 1650 is still a worthy consideration. However, the bottom line is if you're buying a gaming laptop today, the choices on offer will revolve around the RTX 30-Series line.
If you're looking to save some cash, though, you'll find plenty of RTX 3050 laptop deals and RTX 3060 laptop deals if you're looking for something with a little more power. However, if you're going big, it's worth checking out all the RTX 3070 laptops on offer, as well as the serious savings on RTX 3080 laptop deals as well.
Gaming laptops glossary
If you've managed to find the right rig for you, it's worth investing some thought into the best laptop backpacks to get you out and about. Or, check out our guide to the latest cheap gaming laptop deals if you're looking for more savings. Or, check out all the cheap Alienware laptop deals and Razer laptop deals currently on sale for some serious discounts.