The Best Gaming Laptops for 2024

Why We Picked It

Given the Legion Slim 5 Gen 8's reasonable $1,299 starting price, wealth of configuration options, and sturdy build, we can comfortably recommend this model to the average gamer. Our configuration (at $1,549) is a little pricier than the base model, which gives you an idea of how it can scale up without coming close to high-end pricing. With an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU for speedy midrange gaming performance—alongside a sharp 165Hz display, a comfortable keyboard, and efficient cooling—this Legion is a worthy selection.

Who It's For

While the starting price is a bit beyond budget class (we have other picks for that purpose), most of you will find the performance more than acceptable at a reasonable cost. This model has a 16-inch screen, and you can find plenty more portable laptops if that's your priority. Still, know that 16 inches is rapidly becoming the "standard" size among gaming machines. If you have money to spend, but not that kind of money, come first to the Legion Slim 5 Gen 8.

Why We Picked It

You'll find plenty of powerful and pricey systems on our list, but we're thinking of the many shoppers on tight budgets, too. The Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51-59MT) starts at the low price of $699.99, and even our upgraded $849.99 review model sits comfortably under $1,000. For that, you get an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and an Intel 13th Gen Core i5 CPU, which posted comfortable 1080p gaming numbers in our testing. The 512GB drive is a bit restrictive for gaming, but that's normal in this price range, and crucially the battery life and port offerings are broad enough to balance out the package. The Nitro focuses on gaming performance per dollar, costing as little as possible for a smooth experience in the modern market.

Who It's For

If $1,000 is pushing your wallet too far, you'll find no better pick at retail price than this laptop. The last thing you want to concede on for a gaming laptop is graphics and gaming performance, and in that regard, the Nitro hangs with more expensive machines. This laptop can run all of the most popular games, including the more demanding big-budget games, at 1080p without issue. Only the most cutting-edge titles will require you to turn down some visual settings at that resolution, too, making for a generally plug-and-play experience. If you're a parent buying your child a first or college laptop, or a mainstream gamer on a strict budget, this is the best option for as little as possible.

Why We Picked It

If you can extend your budget up from the Nitro, this is one of the better $1,000 deals available. The entry-level parts won't set any records, but an RTX 4050 GPU and particularly a 13th Gen Core i7 processor at this price are a reasonable package. You'll always have to make concessions (a dim display and a graphics performance are top of mind here), but it's easy to recommend this laptop to mainstream gamers on a budget. You should note, though, that despite the lower price, Acer's Nitro can push superior gaming performance to this machine. You're largely paying more for a slightly snappier processor and double the RAM, while the design is a more subjective preference.

Who It's For

If the Nitro isn't available or you find this laptop on sale, it's another smart pick for budget-bound shoppers, young gamers getting their first gaming laptop, and anyone in those groups who especially wants a quick processor. The Nitro is a better deal, punching above its weight on performance, but you may prefer the Cyborg's build, or have your eye on the superior CPU and memory for other uses. Outside of that comparison, this remains one of the best ways to spend your money in this category.

Why We Picked It

While relatively new sizes such as 16-inch and 18-inch machines are becoming the norm for midrange and high-end laptops, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 bucks the norm at 14.5 inches. It does so without dropping the ball on the performance side: Our AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS- and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060-equipped review unit can keep up with larger, similarly outfitted systems. It's got more tricks up its sleeve beyond the performance and portable size, too, chiefly a brilliant OLED screen and a long battery life. It's well made, long lasting, and a good performer, all at a very reasonable price.

Who It's For

Aspirational gamers are the heart of the target market for this unit. True high-end systems cost $2,000 and up, out of reach for many budgets, but the starting price here is more reasonable for those who can spend a bit above entry-level. The size and portability are also uncommon advantages. There are some 14-inch machines that really specialize in mobility, but this is a nice middle ground, and there are plenty of larger machines if you prefer a bigger screen.

Why We Picked It

The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 is a pretty tough value to top, but not every gamer prioritizes portability or wants to play on a 14.5-inch screen. The Alienware m16 R2 sits toward the upper end of midrange pricing, but it's still a compelling deal given the performance and design. An Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU drive steady high-end gaming and productivity performance in our $1,849.99 test model. The QHD+ screen resolution strains the system in the most cutting-edge games, but only super-expensive laptops can handle it better, and you can always tune down the settings. The build is trim for the power, the keyboard feels comfortable, and the battery lasts long for a gaming laptop, making this a smart buy overall.

Who It's For

Aspirational gamers are the heart of the target market for this unit. True high-end systems cost $2,000 and up, out of reach for many budgets, but the starting price here is more reasonable for those who can spend a bit above entry-level. While it may not be a 14.5-inch machine, it's pretty slim for the power profile, leaving a place for it as a travel companion. Mainstream and hardcore gamers who want a quality-made laptop and higher-end performance will be satisfied with the Alienware m16 R2.

Why We Picked It

Simply put, this laptop is the best of both worlds in performance and price. Bargains aren't the primary consideration once you're in this price tier, but it doesn't hurt that the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 delivers top-end performance for less than its competition. The build lacks the flash of some rivals, but the subtle design may also be preferable for many shoppers.

Its $2,299 starting price is appealing, and our $2,749 test model includes an Intel Core i9-13900HX and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, which delivered performance in line with more expensive laptops.

Who It's For

You'll find much to love here if you are shopping in this laptop's mid-$2K price range. This Legion Pro's performance rivals pricier and heavier systems, which is alone reason enough to give it a glance; anyone seeking the best deal in the high-end range should look no further.

Why We Picked It

The relatively new 18-inch laptop market is home to some of the most powerful gaming laptops available, allowing manufacturers to pack the best parts and robust thermal hardware into larger frames. This is the second edition of Dell's Alienware m18, carrying over a lot of what we liked from the first. Namely, this machine goes right to the top end of the power stack, complemented by high-end style and premium features like an advanced display. You can pick from a 1600p 165Hz or 1080p 480Hz panel, and our review unit was loaded with an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. Unsurprisingly, this meant extreme performance as configured, and extra options like a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard elevated the experience even further.

Who It's For

This is undoubtedly a big and bulky system, but if you're considering an 18-inch laptop, you're looking at a powerful desktop replacement first and foremost—not a super-mobile option. And it's not just size: We mean it when we say this is our "high-end" option in terms of cost. Its $1,899.99 starting price is rather reasonable for the category, but our $3,599.99 review configuration requires deep pockets.

Why We Picked It

The G14 is our current favorite 14-inch option for its combination of performance, style, and price. Our $1,999.99 review configuration is not cheap, but compact gaming laptops are an inherently expensive category, and this is a fine deal for what you get. Its $1,599.99 base model can get you in the door for less. Our model packs an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU into its compact frame, delivering all you need and then some.

Frame rates easily cruised into the hundreds at 1080p and stayed well over 60fps even at native "3K" resolution. This performance comes in a stylish, high-quality chassis that weighs only 3.3 pounds, and it's realized through a 120Hz OLED panel with G-Sync support. Battery life is long, and you'll find plenty of ports despite its small frame. It's difficult to find much fault with the system, adding up to a capable, chic, and portable gaming machine.

Who It's For

PC gamers seeking a portable travel companion should look no further. You'll see some worthy alternatives, especially the Blade 14 (for those with even bigger budgets), but this ROG Zephyrus is the best mix of the most critical factors. The less-expensive base model can give you a lot of design advantages for hundreds less if our review configuration stretches your budget too far. If you are looking for a primary gaming PC that you can travel with over short or long distances, or if you want a mobile partner for your home desktop, the Zephyrus is your best bet.

Why We Picked It

Making high-performance gaming systems compact and portable is never cheap, but Razer's Blade 14 goes for an especially premium package. This machine starts at $2,399, and our review unit rang up at $2,699, making it a luxury alternative to the Asus model above. A mix of portability, performance, and build quality emerges for that Razer money. The all-metal Blade line always impresses with a premium look and feel, which is even easier to appreciate at this size. Being a high-end machine, our review model works in an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU (which delivers plenty of wattage despite the system size), ensuring top-notch gaming performance from a tiny package.

Who It's For

Prioritizing portability over power is part of the deal if you're considering a 14-inch gaming laptop. That's not to say the Blade 14 isn't a capable gaming machine. (It is!) But you can get superior performance out of a larger system (and often for less money) if you don't plan to travel with your laptop frequently. That's especially true for the extra-pricey Blade 14, but if you do want the sleekest, most luxe 14-inch laptop around and have a big budget, this will check all the boxes.

Why We Picked It

If money is no object, your best bet is the MSI Titan 18 HX, which goes all-in for power. As the name suggests, this is a sizable 18-inch laptop, with virtually no concern for portability at 7.93 pounds. The latest Intel and Nvidia components are a chart-topping combination for gaming performance, with a supporting feature set that will make any shopper with a big budget happy. Its 4K mini LED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate is a major highlight, as well, but the performance is the obvious draw: The Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU in our review configuration made mincemeat of our benchmark tests, posting some unmatched raw 3D and gaming results.

Who It's For

Deep-pocketed gamers who are all about speed and want the latest parts with the most power should consider this beast. This is just about the best-performing gaming laptop you can buy, especially if frame rates and performance in the latest titles are your primary concern. It isn't travel-friendly, so shoppers should know this is a desktop replacement in the purest sense, luggable along with its adapter only when you need it to be. But for that sacrifice, you'll be rewarded with desktop-like performance.

Why We Picked It

As you shop, you'll see clearly defined gaming laptops alongside obvious content-creation machines (see Acer's ConceptD or Asus' ProArt notebooks). Then the crossovers arrived, much like those automobiles of the same name. The 2023 Gigabyte Aero 16 is one of the best such hybrids, amping the power up even further from past iterations, with options for a 4K OLED screen, a high-powered Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, and the latest Intel Core i9 CPU—in a slim package. It's meant as a content-creation machine, able to muscle through everything from graphic design to video editing and animation, but its GPU is ready for high-end gaming, too. The stellar OLED panel is what really sets it apart from most bulked-up builds, though the 60Hz refresh rate is a miss for gaming purposes.

Who It's For

Video editors and graphic designers will come for the panel, wrap up their workday, and stay for the gaming-ready GPU (just probably not many esports games). It’s not a perfect answer for every creator or gamer, but if you want one of the best laptops for video editing or media work with gaming on the side, it’s a powerful (if pricey) option. Few media makers wouldn't lust after one.