Gaming laptops are not only some of the most attractive portable computers out there, but they’re also an area where computer manufacturers can venture into. You’ll find some that feature rotating hinges, blazingly fast refresh rates, near-desktop-like customization, and more, many of which will help you get your work done quickly during your 9-to-5 and complete rounds of Apex Legends with ease. . Given all the announcements made at CES 2024, we expect more reliable gaming laptops to be launched this year. For now, though, if you’re looking for a new portable device, we’ve tested some of the best gaming laptops on the market to help you decide which one is right for you.
What we look for in a gaming laptop
price
Your laptop buying journey begins and ends with how much you’re willing to spend. This is not surprising. The good news: There are plenty of options for gamers of all budgets. In particular, we’ve seen some entry-level PC gaming options under $1,000, such as Dell’s G15 series. Budget gaming laptops in this price range will definitely feel more flimsy than pricier models, and they’ll likely have less RAM, storage, and overall power. But the cheapest laptops should be able to handle most 1080p video games running at 60 frames per second, which is your minimum requirement for any system.
Things get interesting when you start looking at the best gaming laptops in the mid-range segment priced at $1,000 and above. That’s when you’ll start looking for a computer like the Asus Zephyrus ROG G14, one of our favorite gaming laptops. Generally speaking, you can expect better build quality than a budget laptop (metal casing!), improved graphics, and enough RAM and storage to handle the most demanding games. These are the consoles we recommend to most people, as they’ll let you play games and work for a few years before you need to worry about upgrading.
If you’re willing to spend around $1,800 or more, you can start looking at more premium options, like the Razer’s Blade. A perfectly polished case, the fastest hardware on the market, and an ultra-thin design. The sky’s the limit: Alienware’s ultra-customizable Area 51m is a massive beast, priced at a whopping $4,700. Few people will need such a high-end machine, but if you’re a gamer with some extra cash to burn, it might be worth taking a closer look at some of these pricier systems.
CPU and GPU
The answer to this question used to be relatively simple: Just buy an Intel chip with an NVIDIA GPU. But in the past few years, AMD has introduced Ryzen laptop processors that are better suited for multitasking (such as breaking news while streaming to Twitch in Fortress Heroes). Intel has launched impressive 12th and 13th generation chips, but it’s nice to have decent Ryzen AMD alternatives, especially since they’re generally cheaper than comparable Intel models.
AMD is still playing catch-up when it comes to graphics cards, though. Its Radeon RX 6000M GPU excels in laptops like the Asus ROG Strix G15, but lags behind NVIDIA in new features like ray tracing. (We’re still waiting to test AMD’s new Radeon 7000 series mobile graphics cards.) At least Radeon-powered laptops can come close to the average gaming performance of NVIDIA RTX 3070 and 3080 GPUs.
If you’re looking to future-proof your purchase, or you’re just eager to see how good ray tracing can make your games look, then you’re better off opting for an NVIDIA graphics card. They exist in more systems, and they clearly have better optimized ray tracing technology. NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs also feature the company’s DLSS technology, which uses AI to upscale games to higher resolutions.This will let you play games like this Destiny 2 4K format with faster frame rates. This is useful if you want to take advantage of a high update rate display.
You’ll still find plenty of laptops today with NVIDIA’s older RTX 30-series GPUs, and they’ll still provide you with great performance. But to be on the safe side, it might be worth opting for the newer RTX 40 series systems, as they support the newer DLSS 3 technology and offer a wealth of performance upgrades. (If you’re looking for the best deal, you might be able to find some killer RTX 3070 laptops out there.) The entry-level RTX 4050 is a solid start, but if you need one, we recommend picking up the 4060 or 4070. Our goal is to maximize your frame rate on faster screens. The RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are both very powerful, but they often make the system too expensive for most users.
It’s worth noting that NVIDIA’s mobile graphics cards can’t be directly compared to its more powerful desktop hardware. PC makers can also adjust the voltage to improve gaming performance while being thinner. Basically, these laptops may not be desktop replacements – don’t be surprised if you see huge differences in laptop performance, even if they all come with the same GPU.
Screen and update rate
Screen size is a great starting point when judging a gaming laptop. Generally speaking, a 15-inch laptop will provide the best balance of immersion and portability, while the larger 17-inch model, while heavier, will naturally give you more screen real estate. There are some 13-inch gaming laptops, such as the Razer Blade Stealth, but paradoxically, you’ll typically pay more for these than for the slightly larger 15-inch option. We’re also seeing plenty of 14-inch laptop options, such as the Zephyrus G14 and Blade 14, which are generally more powerful than 13-inch laptops while still being relatively portable.
But these days, there’s a lot more to consider besides screen size. One: refresh rate. Most monitors refresh the screen vertically 60 times per second, or 60Hz. This is the standard that has been used since black and white NTSC television. But monitors have changed a lot in the past few years. Now, a 120Hz 1080p screen is the minimum you need for any gaming laptop – and there are faster 144Hz, 240Hz and even 360Hz panels too. All of this is for one thing: making everything on your display look as smooth as possible.
For games, a higher update rate also helps eliminate screen tearing and other artifacts that can hinder the fragmentation extravaganza. As with everything else, it just makes for a better viewing experience. Even scrolling through web pages on a 120Hz or faster monitor is completely different than on a 60Hz screen. Everything moves seamlessly, rather than seeing a shaky wall of text and images, like you’re unfolding a glossy paper magazine. Going above 120Hz makes gameplay appear more responsive, which has a slight advantage for some players.
Not to make things more complicated, but you should also look at NVIDIA’s G-SYNC and AMD’s FreeSync. They are both adaptive sync technologies that match the screen’s update rate to the game’s frame rate. This also helps reduce screen tearing and makes gaming smoother. They’re a nice bonus in addition to high refresh rate displays; they’re not required, but they can still provide a slight visual improvement.
See also:
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The best laptops of 2023
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The cheapest Windows laptops
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The best 2-in-1 laptops of 2023
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The best Chromebooks
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Best laptops for college students
One more thing: most of these suggestions have to do with LCD screens, not OLED. While OLED is a great choice for TVs, when it comes to gaming laptops, things are a little more complicated. Most of them are limited to 60Hz, but some models offer 90Hz. Still, you won’t see the smoothness of a 120Hz or 144Hz screen. OLED also usually comes in the form of 4K or 3.5K panels – you’ll need a lot of GPU power to run games at that resolution. They look incredible, with some of the best black levels and contrast on the market, but we think most gamers will be better off with an LCD.
Other things to remember when buying a gaming laptop:
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Get at least 16GB of RAM. If you plan on doing a lot of multitasking while streaming, the 32GB is worth considering.
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Storage remains a huge problem. These days, I recommend opting for a 1TB M.2 SSD, which should have enough space to handle some big games like Destiny 2. (If you can afford to upgrade to a 2TB SSD, do so.) The laptop can also accommodate standard SATA hard drives, which are much cheaper than M.2 and can hold more data.
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Try the system before buying. I recommend buying the best gaming laptops from retailers like Amazon or Best Buy that have simple return policies. If you don’t like it, you can always return it easily.
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Don’t forget the accessories! For optimal performance, you need a good mouse, keyboard, and headphones.
This article was originally published on Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/best-gaming-laptops-172033838.html?src=rss
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