Your Guide to Buying the Best Gaming Laptops in 2024

Gaming laptops offer a blend of powerful performance and portability, unlike traditional desktop PCs, allowing you to play the latest games anywhere. With numerous models available from various brands, each with a range of features, choosing the best gaming laptop can be a challenging task.

This guide will help you understand the essential factors to consider when buying a gaming laptop to ensure you find the best option that fits your needs and budget. You’ll also find some recommendations for top gaming laptops currently available on the market, based on reviews and ratings from global tech sites.

How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop

Unlike regular laptops, gaming laptops are equipped with dedicated graphics cards, advanced cooling systems, and robust internal components to handle the high demands of modern games. These features enable the laptop to deliver a gaming experience similar to that of a desktop PC, with the added benefit of portability.

Here are some key factors to consider when looking for a gaming laptop:

1. Graphics Card The graphics card (GPU) is fundamental to any gaming laptop and directly affects performance quality and gaming experience. It processes images, videos, and animations and is essential for running modern games at high resolutions and detail levels.

• Entry-Level: Cards like the NVIDIA GTX 1650 or AMD RX 6500M are suitable for basic gaming with lower settings and resolutions. They can handle older or less graphics-intensive games.
• Mid-Range: Cards like the NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6700M offer strong performance at 1080p resolution and can handle most games at high settings. They also support ray tracing, which enhances lighting effects for a more realistic experience.
• High-End: Cards such as the NVIDIA RTX 4090 or AMD RX 7900M can handle 1440p or 4K gaming with the highest settings, and they are future-proofed to run upcoming games for years to come.

1. Processing Power The processor (CPU) and RAM are the next most important factors after the graphics card. The CPU handles all the computations and operations required to run games and other applications. Modern CPUs typically have 4 to 16 cores, with more cores providing better performance in multitasking and handling complex tasks like gaming while streaming or running background applications. Quad-core processors are sufficient for basic gaming and everyday tasks, while six-core and eight-core processors provide a good balance for most games. High-performance CPUs with 10 or more cores are best for demanding games and multitasking, ensuring future-readiness for upcoming titles. Popular CPUs include Intel’s Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 series, and AMD’s Ryzen 5, 7, and 9 series. For RAM, a minimum of 8 GB is required to run most games, allowing you to play with low settings. However, 16 GB is recommended for a smoother experience and better multitasking capabilities. For high-performance gaming, content creation, or heavy multitasking, 32 GB is preferred.
2. Display Choosing a screen that complements the graphics card and processor is crucial. The most common resolution for gaming laptops is 1080p, which provides a good balance between performance and visual clarity and is suitable for mid-range graphics cards, offering high frame rates. A higher resolution like 1440p provides clearer images and more detail, ideal for those looking to enhance graphics without significantly impacting performance.

• Standard Refresh Rates: Most screens have a 60 Hz refresh rate, suitable for regular gaming.
• Higher Refresh Rates: 120 Hz to 144 Hz are ideal for competitive gaming, offering smoother motion and reduced input lag.
• High Refresh Rates: 240 Hz or higher are best for esports and fast-paced games, providing extremely smooth motion but requiring a powerful graphics card to fully utilize.

Top Gaming Laptops

Here are some recommendations for the best gaming laptops:

1. Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 This laptop offers a good balance between performance and value, making it suitable for gamers who enjoy gaming but don’t necessarily need the highest specs. It features an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and an NVIDIA RTX 4060 graphics card, capable of handling most modern games with ease. The 16-inch display with a 165 Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth gaming experience.

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7
• RAM: 16 GB
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Screen Size: 16 inches
• Screen Resolution: 2560 x 1600
• Screen Technology: IPS
• Refresh Rate: 165 Hz
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 4060
• Graphics Memory: 8 GB

1. Alienware M18 R2 Ideal for those seeking top-notch performance and don’t mind a larger, bulkier device. With an 18-inch display and some of the strongest internal components available in a laptop, including Intel’s latest Core i9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics card, it can handle any game at the highest settings.

• Processor: Intel Core i9 – 14900HX
• RAM: 32 GB
• Storage: 2 TB SSD
• Screen Size: 18 inches
• Screen Resolution: 2560 x 1600
• Screen Technology: IPS
• Refresh Rate: 165 Hz
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 4090
• Graphics Memory: 16 GB

1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Combining performance and portability, weighing just 1.5 kg with a 14-inch display, it’s an excellent choice for those needing a laptop that’s easy to carry without sacrificing much in terms of performance. It features an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4070 graphics card for smooth gaming.

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9
• RAM: 32 GB
• Storage: 1 TB SSD
• Screen Size: 14 inches
• Screen Resolution: 2880 x 1800
• Screen Technology: OLED
• Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 4070
• Graphics Memory: 8 GB

1. Acer Nitro V 15 For those on a budget, this laptop provides decent performance at a mid-range price. It features an Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4050 graphics card. The 15.6-inch screen with a 144 Hz refresh rate ensures smooth gameplay. The laptop is relatively lightweight and includes various ports, making it a versatile option for both gaming and everyday use.

• Processor: Intel Core i5 – 13420H
• RAM: 8 GB
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Screen Technology: IPS
• Refresh Rate: 144 Hz
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 4050
• Graphics Memory: 6 GB