The Best Gaming Laptops for 2026

Some PC enthusiasts swear by their hulky desktops, but in reality, a gaming laptop can be a more practical choice. Now, how do you make sense of all the screen sizes (14 to 18 inches!) and component options (Core, Ryzen, Radeon, GeForce!) you face when shopping? Our experts can help. Gaming laptops are all about tested CPU and graphics performance, and our analysts are aces at benchmarking and evaluating these laptops to find the best values. (They also assess design, usability, connectivity, and display quality in every model.) Our favorites are organized into budget (under about $1,200), midrange (between $1,200 and $2,000), and high-end ($2,000 and up) categories. Our top basic gaming laptop for most shoppers is the MSI Katana 15 HX, but we've compiled a list of additional tested options, along with shopping advice and critical specs for pinpointing the best gaming laptop for you.

Best Gaming Laptop for Most People

MSI Katana 15 HX

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Capable everyday productivity performance

• + RTX 5050 stands up to demanding games with DLSS 4

• + Comfortable keyboard with RGB lighting

• + Varied connectivity

• - Capable everyday productivity performance

• - RTX 5050 stands up to demanding games with DLSS 4

• - Comfortable keyboard with RGB lighting

• - Varied connectivity

Why We Picked It

Since most customers are looking for the best value and are not hard-core frame rate hounds, the affordable MSI Katana 15 HX has the widest appeal for most gamers. The RTX 5050 GPU proved to be a steady 1080p performer, and that's before considering DLSS 4, which enables more demanding titles and higher frame rates if desired. A ho-hum display and a limited 512GB SSD are the main concessions to keep the price down.

Who It's For

Budget-conscious gamers:The MSI Katana 15 HX is the top choice if you're a gamer looking for an affordable laptop. It meets most mainstream needs without deal-breaking compromises, thanks to its RTX 5050 GPU and DLSS 4 technology. The Katana will get you playing the most popular games for less.

Gamers in college:If you're a college student who likes to game, then this Katana budget laptop is an excellent fit. Its processor is faster than you usually see in this tier, so it will power your schoolwork more than adequately when you're not gaming. When you are, it's capable of running new PC games smoothly with the help of DLSS.

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming

Processor: Intel Core i7-14650HX

RAM (as Tested): 16 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 512 GB

Screen Size: 15.6 inches

Native Display Resolution: 1920 by 1080

Touch Screen: False

Panel Technology: IPS

Variable Refresh Support: None

Screen Refresh Rate: 144 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory: 8 GB

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi 6E,Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD): 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches

Weight: 5.29 lbs

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 8:11

Best Gaming Laptop for Sleek Design

Alienware 16X Aurora

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Slim and sturdy design with aluminum lid

• + Fast Intel processor and capable RTX 5060 GPU

• + Bright and sharp 240Hz 1600p display

• + Wide port selection

• - Slim and sturdy design with aluminum lid

• - Fast Intel processor and capable RTX 5060 GPU

• - Bright and sharp 240Hz 1600p display

• - Wide port selection

Why We Picked It

This redesigned Alienware laptop is the latest effort from the king of gaming in style. Its build quality, aesthetics, feature set, and performance all add up to a compelling mainstream machine. The Aurora's highlight design feature is its anodized metal frame with a bluish iridescent color scheme. (Softer edges and quality materials set it apart as a toned-down version of Alienware's audacious Area-51.)

As for what's inside: Alienware offers many configuration options, but our test model featured an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, both midrange gaming essentials. The laptop comes with a bright, sharp 1600p screen and lots of useful ports. Additionally, Dell often runs deals on its web store, so look out for hundreds of dollars off this high-style Alienware machine.

Who It's For

Gamers looking to make a statement:This laptop is the best fit for you if you're looking to show off your gaming gear. The Aurora comes in an attention-grabbing yet sleek all-metal design with the gaming performance to back up its flashy appearance. It won't be mistaken for anything but an Alienware.

Gamers replacing a desktop:If you're looking to replace your desktop with a laptop, then the 16X Aurora is a fitting option. The 16-inch 1600p display is a 240Hz panel that delivers a monitor-like experience, making it a high-quality primary or secondary screen. Plus, the aluminum build makes using it that much more satisfying.

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX

RAM (as Tested): 16 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 1 TB

Screen Size: 16 inches

Native Display Resolution: 2560 by 1600

Touch Screen: False

Panel Technology: IPS

Variable Refresh Support: G-Sync

Screen Refresh Rate: 240 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory: 8 GB

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi 7,Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD): 0.92 by 14.1 by 10.5 inches

Weight: 5.66 lbs

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 5:39

Best Midrange Gaming Laptop

Gigabyte Gaming A18

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Respectable gaming performance for the money

• + Cheap for an 18-inch gaming laptop

• + Huge, colorful 165Hz IPS LCD

• + Lengthy battery life in its class

• - Respectable gaming performance for the money

• - Cheap for an 18-inch gaming laptop

• - Huge, colorful 165Hz IPS LCD

• - Lengthy battery life in its class

Why We Picked It

While it leaves the budget range, Gigabyte's big-screen laptop still lands well short of premium systems in price. Its Ryzen 7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU make for a steady midrange system (even if its GPU, as configured, doesn't deliver quite as much power as some other RTX 5070 laptops do). Moreover, it's less expensive than most 18-inch gaming laptops we see, which usually occupy the high-end space and include all the top-end components. This is an attractive mix of price, power, and features. If you're seeking a more desktop-monitor-like experience, the Gigabyte Gaming A18 is a smart choice.

Who It's For

Gamers who want a large screen:If you're envious of people who own one of those big-screen powerhouse gaming behemoths, the Gigabyte Gaming A18 is here to save you. It's one of the few truly huge gaming laptops you'll find for less than $2,000.

PC owners looking to replace their desktop:This 18-incher from Gigabyte is a fine fit if you're not necessarily a big-time gamer, but you still want as big a screen for as little money as possible when it's time to play. (Maybe you're a content creator or an amateur photographer replacing your editing desktop, for example.) Such a large screen can be a boon for a lot more than just gaming.

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming,Desktop Replacement

Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 260

RAM (as Tested): 32 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 1 TB

Screen Size: 18 inches

Native Display Resolution: 2560 by 1600

Touch Screen: True

Panel Technology: IPS

Variable Refresh Support: None

Screen Refresh Rate: 165 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory: 8 GB

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi 6E,Bluetooth 5.3

Dimensions (HWD): 0.98 by 15.9 by 11.6 inches

Weight: 6.17 lbs

Operating System: Windows 11

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 9:49

Best High-End Gaming Laptop

Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (G635LW)

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Blazing performance and gameplay

• + Sharp, fast Mini LED 240Hz display

• + Longer battery life than expected

• + Effective cooling

• + Tool-free RAM, SSD upgrades

• - Blazing performance and gameplay

• - Sharp, fast Mini LED 240Hz display

• - Longer battery life than expected

• - Effective cooling

• - Tool-free RAM, SSD upgrades

Why We Picked It

Our high-end pick is free from the budget restraints of other categories, and in this fiercely competitive tier, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 stands out. It manages to remain a decent value despite its price, and the performance, design, and feature set make it a winner for enthusiasts. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 in our test model made light work of our benchmark tests, and it's up to the task for any real-world title. Additionally, it features a brilliant 240Hz 1600p mini LED display, long battery life, and tool-free RAM and storage upgradability.

Who It's For

Hard-core gamers with deep pockets:This ROG Strix laptop works if you're a gamer willing to spend $3,000 or more. It's expensive but maximizes that value with top-end parts and materials. Any modern game will run smoothly on this machine, and it has a boatload of memory, storage, and processing power.

Creatives and power users:If you're a creative professional with high demands, then you should look to this laptop for those tasks. You'll find plenty of overlap between creators and gamers today. This laptop has as much muscle for crunching through media editing and data as it does for handling the latest games.

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX

RAM (as Tested): 32 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 2 TB

Screen Size: 16 inches

Native Display Resolution: 2560 by 1600

Touch Screen: False

Panel Technology: Mini LED

Variable Refresh Support: G-Sync

Screen Refresh Rate: 240 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory: 16 GB

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi 7,Bluetooth 5.4

Dimensions (HWD): 1.21 by 13.9 by 10.6 inches

Weight: 6.28 pounds

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 8:23

Best Giant-Screen Gaming Laptop

MSI Raider 18 HX AI

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Exceptional performance

• + Dazzling mini-LED screen

• + Potent audio

• + Decent battery life

• - Exceptional performance

• - Dazzling mini-LED screen

• - Potent audio

• - Decent battery life

Why We Picked It

Want the best big-screen experience that money can buy? Your best bet today is MSI's Raider 18 HX AI, which goes all in for processing and graphics muscle. Our test model packs an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX CPU, 64GB of memory, and an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU, which unsurprisingly made mincemeat of our benchmark tests, posting staggering 3D and gaming results. The downside? It's big, loud, and expensive, but that's more or less table stakes at this size and power tier. A sharp mini LED screen and acceptable battery life for the size round out the system.

Who It's For

Power seekers:This laptop is designed for you if you're a gamer with deep pockets who demands maximum performance. The Raider is one of the most potent gaming laptops available, especially if frame rates and performance in the latest titles are your primary concerns. Even without an RTX 5090, it's enough for virtually any current-day gaming scenario.

Gamers replacing a desktop:This gaming laptop is a nearly perfect desktop replacement. Whether you are replacing an old tower or deciding between a new desktop or a laptop, the Raider will please. Its big display is like a desktop monitor, and its power level is about as potent as it gets in the mobile space.

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming,Desktop Replacement

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX

RAM (as Tested): 64 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 2 TB

Secondary Drive Type: SSD

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested): 2 TB

Screen Size: 18 inches

Native Display Resolution: 3840 by 2400

Touch Screen: False

Panel Technology: IPS

Variable Refresh Support: None

Screen Refresh Rate: 120 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory: 16 GB

Wireless Networking: Bluetooth 5.4,Wi-Fi 7

Dimensions (HWD): 1.26 by 15.9 by 12.1 inches

Weight: 7.94 lbs

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 5:37

Best Budget Big-Screen Gaming Laptop (16 Inches or Up)

Acer Nitro V 16 AI

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Aggressive price for the components

• + Plays AAA games at high settings

• + Bright 180Hz screen

• + Comfortable keyboard

• + Long battery life

• - Aggressive price for the components

• - Plays AAA games at high settings

• - Bright 180Hz screen

• - Comfortable keyboard

• - Long battery life

Why We Picked It

Acer has long been the king of affordable gaming laptops, and its reign endures with its latest 16-inch Nitro V system. This laptop delivers reliable 1200p gaming performance for as low as $750 on sale, making it the most affordable gaming laptop we've tested recently. Of course, it helps that the Nitro earns its keep with a fast screen that its entry-level GPU can keep up with, buoyed by reasonably long battery life and a keyboard you can actually game on.

Who It's For

Cash-strapped PC gamers:If you have a minimal entertainment budget or just enough dosh for one PC, then this is the best gaming laptop right now. Let's say you can't muster more than $900 and would love to spend even less, for example. That's when the Nitro V becomes the gaming laptop to pick.

First-time PC gamers:This is a worthy choice if you're just getting into PC gaming or if it's your kid's first gaming PC. The Nitro's rock-bottom price allows for minimum investment while delivering a smooth basic PC gaming experience

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 240

RAM (as Tested): 16 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 512 GB

Screen Size: 16 inches

Native Display Resolution: 1920 by 1200

Touch Screen: False

Panel Technology: IPS

Variable Refresh Support: None

Screen Refresh Rate: 180 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi 6,Bluetooth 5.3

Dimensions (HWD): 0.96 by 14.2 by 10.9 inches

Weight: 5.38 lbs

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 12:07

Best Portable Gaming Laptop

Razer Blade 14 (2025)

Score: 4.5

Pros & Cons

• + Unparalleled build quality at its size

• + Powerful enough for modern 60fps-plus gaming

• + Sharp 120Hz 3K OLED screen

• + Long battery life

• + User-upgradable SSD

• - Unparalleled build quality at its size

• - Powerful enough for modern 60fps-plus gaming

• - Sharp 120Hz 3K OLED screen

• - Long battery life

• - User-upgradable SSD

Why We Picked It

The Blade 14 is our current favorite ultraportable gaming laptop, thanks to its exceptional combination of performance, style, and price. It costs a pretty penny—cheap laptops at this size are uncommon, and Razer leans premium to begin with—but it's worth it if you can afford it. The high-quality chassis and slick style are unmatched in the gaming space, and the 120Hz 3K OLED panel only sweetens the pot. Its battery life is long, you can upgrade the SSD after purchase, and, of course, the laptop's gaming performance meets expectations. Aside from the cost, it's difficult to find much fault with the system, resulting in a fast, chic, and portable gaming machine.

Who It's For

Gamers on the go:If you're a gaming enthusiast who travels a lot, then this gaming laptop will fit like a glove. The Blade 14 is not exactly a value play, but it is a device you'll love if you frequently take your laptop with you. If you need a primary gaming PC that you can travel with over short or long distances, the Blade 14 is your best bet.

Frequent-traveling content creators:This is a top portable option if you're an editor or other kind of media maker. You already often work on the road or frequently change location, so this mobile and premium laptop is a suitable fit. Razer has long courted people like you, and this edition seems to seal the deal.

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming,Ultraportable

Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365

RAM (as Tested): 32 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 1 TB

Screen Size: 14 inches

Native Display Resolution: 2880 by 1800

Touch Screen: False

Panel Technology: OLED

Variable Refresh Support: G-Sync

Screen Refresh Rate: 120 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory: 8 GB

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi 7,Bluetooth 5.4

Dimensions (HWD): 0.64 by 12.2 by 8.8 inches

Weight: 3.6 lbs

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 11:37

Best Gaming/Content Creation Laptop Crossover

Razer Blade 18 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX)

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Remarkable power-to-profile ratio

• + Slim and (relatively) portable design

• + Unique dual-mode 4K/FHD display

• + Superb battery life for its size

• - Remarkable power-to-profile ratio

• - Slim and (relatively) portable design

• - Unique dual-mode 4K/FHD display

• - Superb battery life for its size

Why We Picked It

The Blade 18 is a dream laptop for demanding content creators, gamers, and people who are both. It's a premium affair with a steep starting price, thanks to its best-in-class build and high-end parts. This laptop's loadout is easily capable of powering any gaming scenario and potent enough to drive strenuous creative workloads. Add a slim all-metal build, and an advanced dual-mode display supporting both sharp 4K (for high-detail play) or full HD (for high-speed play) resolutions, and you have an exceptional laptop. For some time now, Razer has been targeting gamers who are also media editors, and this laptop is the ideal solution if you're seeking a sleek, desktop-like experience rather than a portability-first machine.

Who It's For

Content creators moonlighting as PC gamers: Razer's 18-inch gaming laptop is an excellent fit if you're a creative professional who also enjoys PC gaming. You'll come for the roomy 4K display and speedy processor, wrap up your workday, and stay for the gaming-ready GPU. The Blade 18's power, memory, and sharp display make it a smart, albeit steeply priced, gaming-laptop choice if you need more than just fast frame rates from your hardware.

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX

RAM (as Tested): 64 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 2 TB

Secondary Drive Type: SSD

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested): 2 TB

Screen Size: 18 inches

Native Display Resolution: 3840 by 2400

Touch Screen: False

Panel Technology: IPS

Variable Refresh Support: G-Sync

Screen Refresh Rate: 240 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory: 24 GB

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi 7,Bluetooth 5.4

Dimensions (HWD): 1.1 by 15.7 by 10.8 inches

Weight: 7.06 pounds

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 5:43

Best OLED Gaming Laptop

Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10

Score: 4.0

Pros & Cons

• + Well-priced entry-level models

• + Effective gaming performance for the money

• + Vivid OLED screen

• + Multi-zone RGB keyboard

• + Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4

• - Well-priced entry-level models

• - Effective gaming performance for the money

• - Vivid OLED screen

• - Multi-zone RGB keyboard

• - Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4

Why We Picked It

When OLED panels first hit the notebook market, they appeared in all kinds of laptops. Once that initial enthusiasm waned, OLED screens stuck around in some categories but retreated from others (including gaming laptops). They are making a resurgence again, and Lenovo's Legion 5i is one of the best options around, and it's not egregiously high-priced. Its 15.1-inch OLED 1600p display is a treat, and the laptop pushes potent enough performance to back up that colorful panel, which features a 165Hz refresh rate. This is a complete package for gamers looking to upgrade their current gaming laptop while maximizing value, or those replacing their gaming desktop with a mobile solution. It's well-priced to start, and, as configured for our review, the system includes the latest connectivity standards and a fantastic-feeling keyboard with robust backlighting regardless of configuration.

Who It's For

Gamers who prioritize their display:OLED monitors and TVs are highly attractive right now, so the Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 is the leading pick for such gaming laptops. This laptop is built around a gaming-ready (high-refresh and high-resolution) panel and muscular components to back it up, without the whole package soaring into enthusiast-level pricing. Many OLED laptops are premium-tier picks, so it's refreshing to have a midrange option.

Specs & Configurations

Class: Gaming

Processor: Intel Core i7-14700HX

RAM (as Tested): 32 GB

Boot Drive Type: SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested): 1 TB

Screen Size: 15.1 inches

Native Display Resolution: 2560 by 1600

Touch Screen: False

Panel Technology: OLED

Variable Refresh Support: None

Screen Refresh Rate: 165 Hz

Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory: 8 GB

Wireless Networking: Wi-Fi 7,Bluetooth 5.4

Dimensions (HWD): 0.85 by 13.6 by 10.1 inches

Weight: 4.19 lbs

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes): 5:22

How to Choose a Gaming Laptop: Start With Your Budget

No surprise here: The ultimate factor in your gaming laptop purchase decision will be how much money you have to spend. Gaming systems have higher-end components than run-of-the-mill consumer laptops, so their prices will be higher, but the range across the category is huge, from under a grand to nearly $5,000. Budget gaming laptops start at around $900 and can go up to about $1,300 with current pricing trends due to memory and storage shortages. For that, you get a system that can play games at full HD resolution (1080p) with the settings turned down in demanding titles, or at maximum quality settings in simpler and/or older games. Storage will likely be a modest-capacity solid-state drive (SSD); a hard drive indicates an older model best avoided. An SSD as the boot drive is always preferable.

Want something better? Midrange systems give you smoother gameplay at high or maximum settings on a better-quality 1080p or 1440p screen (which will support high refresh rates; more on that in a moment). These models will range in price from around $1,500 to $2,500.

High-end systems, meanwhile, should guarantee you smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p with graphics details maxed out, invariably on a high-refresh screen. They may even let you play at 4K resolution, if the screen and GPU support it. A high-end model should also power additional external monitors. These machines tend to come with capacious PCI Express SSDs , and they are priced above $2,500, often closer to $3,000 and beyond.

Still, you can easily spend more than $3,000 on a gaming laptop, with some models (particularly the 18-inchers, when fully kitted out) approaching $5,000. A big, beautiful screen often comes with a high price tag and is paired with the highest-end components.

Some laptops in this class support QHD (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) and QHD-equivalent (2,560-by-1,600-pixel in 16:10 aspect ratio) screens, 4K screens, and unseen extras like ultra-efficient cooling fans to power top-end parts. Thanks to modern advancements, an increasing number of systems are even relatively thin and portable. With laptops in this tier, you'll either pay a premium for high-end performance in a thin chassis or pay for maximum power in a chunkier build.

Of course, these prices are just rough guidelines based on what we've seen in the recent past. Between swirling tariffs and a memory and storage crunch , the market is experiencing more turmoil than ever, driving up prices. Increasingly, laptop makers are keeping product pricing close to the chest until launch due to that uncertainty, and everything is subject to change. We'll do our best to keep on top of these changing prices, but always browse the latest deals and availability when considering a system.

Which Component Matters Most for Gaming Laptops?

While your budget will be the ultimate deciding factor, knowing which components to prioritize can be challenging. Unless you have no spending limit, you must choose where to compromise and where to double down between the graphics processing unit (GPU), central processing unit (CPU or processor), memory, storage, and display. We'll run through the different components below, in the order you should spend your cash.

1. GPU

It's natural to ask, "What is the best GPU for a gaming laptop?" But that's not quite the right question for your shopping search. The "best" GPU overall will always be the fastest, most expensive AMD or Nvidia has to sell, so you should ask: "What's the best GPU for my gaming goals and budget?" We consider a laptop a gaming laptop only if it has a discrete graphics chip from Nvidia or AMD (or, much less commonly, an Intel Arc GPU).

A quick crash course for the uninitiated: The higher the suffix number in a given GPU series, the more powerful it is. For example, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 will generally produce faster frame rates and higher-quality graphics than an RTX 5070, and so on down the stack. Also, the leading "50" denotes the generation, so the latest GeForce RTX 50 series is preferable to the older RTX 40 series. For example, the GeForce RTX 5080 is the successor to the RTX 4080, and so on.

Nvidia dominates the field of GPUs in the gaming laptops right now, currently producing discrete GeForce RTX 50-series mobile GPUs based on its "Blackwell" microarchitecture. You may still see some lower-end RTX 40-series ("Ada Lovelace") GPUs offered, especially if you come across a deal for an older laptop still in stock. But almost all new gaming models have moved on to the RTX 50 series.

Nvidia's current GeForce GPUs carry an RTX designation (rather than the GTX name of old), a nod to the ray-tracing lighting technology that provides enhanced visuals with compatible games. This fancy real-time lighting effect looks impressive, but it is very demanding to run. ( See our primer on PC ray-tracing .) Nvidia did not launch any new gaming GPUs at this year's CES or Computex shows, so the laptop-GPU hierarchy is frozen as is for the foreseeable future. Even though it's expected that you will be able to play games well on the upcoming, highly anticipated Arm-based RTX Spark chips , these won't supplant the mainstream GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs in gaming machines.

As for the model hierarchy, high-priced notebooks with RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs are exceptional performers at all resolutions (more on 4K and scaling technologies in a moment). Moving down the stack, Nvidia has RTX 5070 Ti, 5070, 5060, and 5050 GPUs. Laptops like the Acer Nitro V 16 AI and MSI Katana 15 HX have shown that even the entry-level RTX 5050 can deliver fast frame rates at full HD resolutions, a big win for price-conscious shoppers. The RTX 5070 Ti occupies the upper-midrange tier below true premium RTX 5080 and 5090, while the RTX 5070 has proved to be Nvidia's true midrange GPU.

Meanwhile, like the RTX 4060 before it, the RTX 5060 lives in less expensive machines that define the top end of "entry-level" or the lower end of midrange. Think of the RTX 5060 as a reliable, steady pick for full HD laptops that can stretch to 1400p or 1600p at times. These are your bread-and-butter laptops, just above bargain-priced systems. (The RTX 5050 dominates the budget territory.)

Combined with an AI-based rendering and upscaling technique called DLSS , Nvidia GPUs can enable ray tracing at higher resolutions in the latest titles. Nvidia is continuously working on this technology, and the improvements in the latest edition, DLSS 4.5 , are a major factor in the effectiveness of its current GPUs. DLSS 4 was originally exclusive to RTX 50-series GPUs, but the launch of DLSS 4.5 at CES 2026 added new features and support for older RTX GPUs. That brings superior performance and quality to older RTX GPUs, too, though only the RTX 50-series GPUs can use Nvidia's more advanced transformer model. (Meanwhile, DLSS 5 is on the way, with some controversy in tow.)

Depending on the laptop, demanding games may not hit the usual agreed-upon smoothness target of 60 frames per second (fps) at 4K resolution, especially with ray tracing enabled. It's much more feasible for a laptop to deliver a high frame rate at a high resolution like 4K with a top-end GPU leaning on DLSS 4.5 and its "frame generation" feature. The latter stitches AI-generated frames between GPU-rendered frames to boost frame rates. With DLSS 4 and onward, Nvidia's biggest GPU frame-rate gains are likely to come from DLSS rather than pure horsepower.

This technology can help powerful laptops squeeze out extra performance at the highest detail and resolution settings, and, conversely, enable budget laptops to run cutting-edge games smoothly. We recommend DLSS for running ray tracing at higher resolutions, particularly 4K. The top-end RTX 50 series GPUs are much more capable than lower-tier chips (with or without DLSS), but even these mighty GPUs greatly benefit from DLSS at 4K.

Laptop GPUs do not perform 1:1 in line with their same-numbered desktop counterparts, even if based on the same architecture, but their performance is still respectable. Also know: We've found some sizable real-world performance variance between the same laptop-class GPU in one laptop versus the same silicon in another, depending mostly on the power or wattage limits that laptop manufacturers impose on the GPU due to thermal considerations in the design. To see why this is, read our article comparing the laptop versus desktop GeForce RTX 4090 , and pay attention to the listed TGP on any given laptop GPU. This makes laptop shopping a bit more complicated than simply finding the GPU model in the spec sheet. Our hands on testing is more important than ever.

Nvidia is still the leading player in laptop graphics, and while its rival, AMD, does have some discrete graphics chips designed for laptops, it's mostly ceded the ground to Nvidia. AMD's most recent mobile generation is the Radeon RX 7000M line, but we've seen those chips in few laptops since launch, and they're almost a non-factor. One interesting wrinkle you may have heard about: Intel and Nvidia are joining forces on new chips that, while not discrete GPUs, will leverage system memory and Nvidia graphics chiplets to deliver better-than-integrated-graphics performance. These likely won't launch for some time, but they may be a factor in the lower end of the gaming market in the next year or two.

Even given all the above complexity, we can still draw some basic conclusions about graphics performance. Today, a single midrange or high-end discrete GPU will let you play the latest AAA gaming titles at 1080p with high-quality settings enabled. Where the GeForce RTX 4070 and 4080 were capable 1440p gaming GPUs, the RTX 50 series raised the baseline and made high-resolution gaming on laptops more plausible. Add in DLSS, and even lower-end gaming laptops can run most titles smoothly, though you may need to tweak the settings.

2. CPU

As you may have surmised from the GPU section, we have no single answer to the question, "What CPU do I need for a gaming laptop?" There are even more options than GPUs, but you'll likely find a select few processor series from Intel and AMD in most of today's new gaming laptops. Intel's high-performance 14th Gen "Raptor Lake Refresh" H processors are some of the most common. If you see an H in the suffix of a processor, for both Intel and AMD chips, it denotes high performance.

Intel's more AI-focused Core Ultra line wasn't seen in too many gaming laptops across its first two generations, until the Core Ultra 200H (" Arrow Lake ") and 200HX Plus (" Arrow Lake Refresh ") chips hit the market. You'll see these processors in a few of our high-end selections here, delivering the power of 14th Gen Core chips with the efficiency of the Core Ultra line.

Intel's most recent generation of processors is the Core Ultra Series 3 " Panther Lake " and Core Series 3 " Wildcat Lake " lines, and while you may spot the former in a gaming laptop here and there, these are less of a factor for the category. You can spot these by their Core Ultra 300 or Core 300 product names. Panther Lake's superpower is its efficiency and (in some flavors of the chip) its highly capable Arc B390 integrated graphics chiplet. The Arc B390 is wasted in gaming laptops that already tout a stronger discrete GPU, so Panther Lake chips used in gaming laptops tend not to have that GPU. Wildcat Lake chips, meanwhile, are low-power processors for budget laptops, and not a great fit for gaming.

As for AMD, the last couple of years were a bit of a silicon onslaught , bringing us the Ryzen 9000 HX ("Fire Range"), Ryzen AI 300 (" Strix Point "), and Ryzen 200 processors we still see in new laptops today. AMD also launched Ryzen 400 CPUs in early 2026, but we haven't spotted these in gaming PCs. Compared with Intel options, gaming laptops with these chips are less common, but you will find a few among our picks. The Ryzen 200 processors appear in less expensive gaming options, while Ryzen AI 300 chips appear in premium and highly portable machines.

Within each of those series lineups, AMD and Intel produce processors in ascending 5-, 7-, and 9-tiers. (A "3" tier exists, but you'll seldom see it in a gaming laptop.) Within each tier of a chip family are multiple additional models. Though higher numbers are generally better when you're comparing CPUs within a given family, to make cross-brand or cross-family comparisons, you really need to rely on benchmark test numbers. For example, Intel's Panther Lake laptop chip line might have processors like the Core Ultra 7 356H and the Core Ultra 9 386H, and you can reasonably infer that the Ultra 9 will outpace the Ultra 7. Likewise, AMD's Ryzen AI 300 series might have a Ryzen AI 7 350 and a more powerful Ryzen AI 9 365. But comparing, say, the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 really requires looking at test numbers, not just chip names and number tiers.

Try to make sense of the chip names' suffixes, and you may need a decoder ring. But generally, you can glean some useful insights from processor names. The first portion includes the series name (Core i, Core Ultra, Ryzen, or Ryzen AI), the 5, 7, or 9 power level, and a generation number (like 300 or 14000), with specific numbers and suffixes that denote placement within that family (such as 365 versus 375, or 14700H versus 14900HX). If nothing else, remember that higher likely means better, and the most basic tier of power is the 5, 7, or 9.

Many entry-level and midrange gaming systems house 7-class processors, while the most expensive models flaunt 9-class chips. The most affordable systems settle for 5-class chips. In general, more cores and higher clock speeds improve overall efficiency and performance. This can be especially helpful for multithreaded tasks such as media-edit projects, though games will take any additional resources they can get, too. However, always look at benchmarks if this kind of multithreaded performance matters to you. Why? Having a higher core count isn't always "better," since not all core types are equal, especially in this age of high-performance, efficiency-minded cores mixed into some CPUs.

If you have to choose between a deluxe CPU and a high-end GPU, however, go for the graphics. For example, we'd recommend getting a Core 5-class processor over a 7 if the money saved could go, say, toward an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU instead of an RTX 5050. Most CPUs sold in gaming laptops are fast enough these days, and graphics will be the bottleneck for gaming. Spending your money on the GPU makes more sense if gaming is your chief concern.

You can largely follow the same 5-, 7-, and 9-tier logic when shopping for AMD. Any Ryzen 9000, Ryzen AI 300 (with their own H and HX designations), or Intel 14th Gen Intel H-class chip should be capable enough for gaming under most circumstances.

In short: The potent H and HX processors from AMD and Intel alike are the ones to look for, especially in pricier models. 5- and 7-tier chips are the best bets for most shoppers regardless of which processor brand you're eyeing, with 9-tier chips only for the biggest budgets and highest power demands (such as for serious content creation work alongside your gaming).

3. RAM

How much memory should you get? If you want a rundown of needs for different scenarios (including gaming), check out our RAM buying guide . In short, for gaming on Windows, 8GB of memory is the absolute minimum (you won't see a true gaming laptop with any less), but we recommend at least 16GB. Many new PC games list 16GB as the recommended amount, if not the outright requirement. This much memory will give you some breathing room when switching back and forth between your gameplay and some browser windows or other side tasks. It can even support streaming video simultaneously.

Even more RAM, like 32GB, is more common than it used to be; many enthusiast gamers are power users who are constantly multitasking, and this capacity helps. On the other hand, a budget gaming laptop should function OK with 8GB of RAM, but it's not recommended. You should be aware that some gaming laptops are not upgradable, and you may be stuck with the amount of memory you order.

Beware, however, that RAM is more expensive than ever. A memory supply crunch has driven up prices due to an insatiable demand for memory in AI infrastructure, and laptop (and other computer) costs are rising as a result. This may lead you to lean toward a lower capacity when shopping, but the price increases are beyond just ordering more RAM—you'll likely notice higher costs across PCs as a whole.

4. Screen

This aspect has become increasingly complicated for gaming laptops, really boiling down to two questions: "What is the best size for a laptop screen?" and "What is the best refresh rate?"

First, regarding display size, we're always talking about the diagonal distance from corner to corner. A 15.6-inch screen was the traditional sweet spot for a gaming laptop, but 16-inch screens are replacing that size as the new standard. You can buy models with larger displays, but this will almost certainly increase the weight to well beyond five pounds and put portability in question.

Larger 18-inch laptops began arriving in force in early 2023, and they've stuck around. These have all but replaced 17-inch laptops as the largest laptop screens you'll find, offering a monitor-like experience that can permanently replace a desktop or serve as one when you're away from home.

Smaller, super-portable gaming laptops, usually around 14 inches, are also mildly popular. These are for gamers who know they'll be on the go frequently, but make sure you're OK with this smaller size if it will be your primary gaming PC.

In terms of resolution, the default minimum has changed slightly as many laptop screens have shifted from a 16:9 to a 16:10 aspect ratio—screens that are just as wide but a little taller. This changes the exact pixel count, but the resolutions are nearly functionally identical: You'll find either a "full HD" 1080p screen (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) in a 16:9 aspect ratio, or a full HD-equivalent 1200p (1,920 by 1,200 pixels) in a 16:10 aspect ratio.

Those are generally the lowest resolutions you'll see, and for gaming laptops, this HD picture both looks sharp enough and is less taxing on your hardware. Higher resolutions have more pixels, making it more strenuous to run games, which in turn means you'll need more powerful laptop hardware. For this reason, many budget and mainstream laptops stick to 1080p (or 1200p) to ensure higher frame rates.

More expensive laptops can give you those higher-than-full-HD resolutions, but choose wisely, as a resolution of 1440p/1600p (QHD) or 4K (UHD) can boost the real-world cost twice: first for the more advanced panel and second, for that higher-quality graphics chip you'll need to drive it to its full potential. As mentioned, look for a high-refresh-rate screen (as discussed earlier) for smoother visuals; they are now standard on gaming laptops, but the peak possible refresh rates do vary.

Because they require the most potent GPUs for smooth gameplay at native resolution, gaming laptops with 4K screens (3,840 by 2,160 pixels in 16:9) are still an exception, and still expensive. Only the most powerful and pricey GPUs can render complex game animations at playable frame rates at 4K, so a 1080p or 1440p screen may be a better use of your money if all you do is play games.

Even though the RTX 4080, 4090, 5080, and 5090 can handle 4K gaming much more ably than any laptop GPUs before them, we still don't generally think it's worth the cost to seek out 4K gaming in laptops unless you can spend big. Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR can greatly improve frame rates at high resolutions, making 4K play more attainable than ever. However, these resolutions are still generally recommended with more powerful desktop GPUs. The screens do look excellent, though, especially when paired with OLED technology . QHD is often a better resolution pairing for modern high-end GPUs on laptops.

Now, to address the refresh rate question. Refresh rate is the number of times a screen refreshes its image per second, and thus how "fast" it can display images in succession. This will always be a relatively large number measured in hertz (Hz). Refresh rate functions alongside a video game's frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps); the Hz limit of your screen is the maximum number of frames per second the display can render. Together, these determine how smooth a game looks in practice: The computer's CPU and GPU can power a game at a specific frame rate, and your screen needs to support at least that many refreshes per second (Hz) to display the images at the same rate.

As with GPUs, you should consider what your target refresh rate is for your gaming goals. In the past, the power of a GPU like the RTX 5070 would have looked like overkill for gaming at "just" 1080p, but several new factors can harness that extra potential. A high-refresh-rate screen is now the norm in new gaming laptops, allowing for a full display of lofty frame rates to smooth out the perceived gameplay. You'll need a powerful graphics chip to leverage the benefits of a high-refresh panel with demanding games. You can identify machines like these by marketing lingo about, say, a 144Hz, 240Hz, or even 300Hz-plus screen. (A typical display on a laptop is a 60Hz panel, but gaming models all have 144Hz-plus screens now.)

A 144Hz panel is emerging as the most common, but we're also seeing some 240Hz and even 360Hz options in pricey models, all capable of displaying more than 60 frames per second (for example, up to 144fps on 144Hz screens). This makes gameplay look smoother, but in many cases, only high-end GPUs can push those limits. Additionally, the aforementioned ray-tracing techniques (real-time lighting and reflection effects) are resource-intensive, but as more video games implement them, you will want to keep them on. They add to the experience.

Because of that, you have multiple reasons to opt for a high-end GPU, even if playing games at full HD (1080p) resolution doesn't look too demanding to you on paper. On the lower end, DLSS can also help less powerful hardware like the RTX 4050 or 5050 run ray tracing with limited downsides, so you're not totally out of luck if you can't afford the top-end chips. DLSS support is far from universal, but it's increasingly appearing in more games.

Nvidia's G-Sync and AMD's FreeSync technologies are more down-to-earth. They help improve the gaming experience and smooth frame rates by letting the laptop screen refresh the on-screen image at a variable rate that matches the GPU's output (rather than the screen's fixed refresh rate). Look for support for one of those technologies if you're a stickler for perfectly rendered visuals. These technologies, collectively known as "adaptive sync," tend to appear in pricier machines, with G-Sync being much more common on laptops.

5. Storage

How much storage space should you get in a gaming laptop SSD? These days, virtually every laptop comes with an SSD as the boot drive, and most have eliminated spinning hard drives entirely.

SSDs speed up boot time, wake-from-sleep time, and game launch and level load times, and essentially every laptop benefits from these factors now. Only older laptops will still have a hard drive as the boot drive. The bad news? Like with RAM, SSD prices are rising, too. (AI infrastructure demands are hitting storage just as hard.) You'll likely see increased costs for SSD capacity upgrades as the year goes on, as well as higher baked-in prices overall.

On large gaming laptops, it was previously common to see a small-capacity (256GB) SSD as the boot drive, paired with a roomy (1TB or greater) secondary drive to store the bulk of your library. This kind of combination is rare now, only seen on older models; as higher-capacity SSDs have become more affordable, a single large SSD has become the norm. A 512GB SSD is the new default, even on budget gaming laptops, with 1TB the mainstream capacity. High-end systems will include a 2TB or larger SSD. Almost all new gaming laptops implement their boot SSDs in the M.2 gumstick format.

Adding greater SSD capacity will increase the price, but it may be necessary, given how large modern game installations can be, so shop accordingly. We recommend at least a 512GB SSD if you can afford it; even then, your library will fill up your drive fast. If you see 256GB sold, that suggests an older model; bump up the capacity if you can, unless you know you only want to play smaller indie titles, perhaps. A too-small SSD can mean you're forever shuffling games on and off the drive.

One workaround: Some larger gaming laptops include an extra M.2 SSD slot or two, in addition to the slot holding the boot drive. It may be possible to add an aftermarket M.2 drive and designate that as your secondary "game" drive, if space runs low.

6. Battery

Given that high-end components tend to drain battery life, don't plan on taking any of these gaming rigs too far from a wall socket. Gaming laptops have improved, on average, in battery life, but it's generally not a long-lasting category. While many will now get you five, six, or seven hours, we still see more powerful laptops last only two to three hours in our rundown test. It's also something you can't tell just by shopping for a laptop without looking at our reviews.

This is, of course, before even playing games on battery. Doing so will drain your laptop's battery quickly, so you'll need to plug in soon if you're playing on battery power. Between the fact that you're going to buy this laptop to play games mostly and a battery run time that's short, even when you're not gaming, battery power just is not one of the priorities when buying a gaming laptop. Longer is still better than shorter, and we include at least one gaming pick on our guide to the laptops with the best battery life , but it's not a strength of gaming machines.

Buying the Best Cheap Gaming Laptop

If you're shopping for a gaming system on a limited budget (roughly $800 to $1,300), you must make some sacrifices. Maximizing power while staying within a limited price range is the goal, but you'll have to accept that some components won't be as potent as those in more expensive laptops you'll see while browsing. That said, $1,200 is a reasonable ceiling for what some buyers are ready to spend on a gaming laptop, and you can still get an effective system for that much. (Check out our side roundup of the best cheap gaming laptops .)

The main drop-off will be in the graphics since the dedicated graphics chip is one of the most expensive components in a machine and the primary factor in a laptop's gaming prowess. The graphics chip almost single-handedly defines the class of laptop you're dealing with, so pay attention to that part. Fortunately, even the less powerful GPU options these days are pretty capable.

Past budget systems were equipped almost exclusively with those wallet-friendly Nvidia GeForce GTX GPUs we mentioned earlier. The RTX 4050 has been the go-to budget GPU of the past few years, with the rare RTX 4060 system sometimes found at budget pricing.

The RTX 4050 was the budget baseline for some time, but the mobile RTX 5060 and RTX 5050 are now available. You'll be able to play smoothly at 1080p with an RTX 4050, just not at high settings in newer games; the RTX 5050 raises the bar, making even demanding titles playable with DLSS 4. All should be able to provide at least a decent level of VR play if that's your thing. An RTX 4060 is much more capable than an RTX 4050, so especially as the 50 series successors take over, look out for sales on older systems.

Processors are the next most significant difference. In a budget model, you'll likely get a capable Core 5 instead of a faster Core 7. Still, some of the benefits of a Core 7 machine aren't major for gaming; they're more significant for video editing and other creative uses. A Core 5-class chip will usually do the job for basic budget gaming. Over the past few years, we saw more AMD Ryzen CPUs in cheap, general-use laptops than in affordable gaming laptops, despite their adoption in some higher-end or ultraportable gaming systems. AMD GPUs are much less common in gaming laptops than Nvidia ones. You'll probably be sussing out Intel CPUs and Nvidia GPUs when shopping in the gaming budget zone.

Aside from the graphics card and processor, the other components should be closer to those of more expensive machines than you'd expect. SSD boot drives are the norm in all new gaming laptops, though they may be small in capacity. The display will almost certainly be 1080p; grainy 1,366-by-768-pixel panels are now reserved only for the very cheapest non-gaming systems, while sharp 1440p isn't a budget resolution. The very cheapest gaming laptops will likely include 8GB of memory, but you will find plenty of entry-level 16GB laptops these days.

What Else Do You Need to Up Your Game?

Cutting-edge ports like USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 4 are beneficial now and will only be more so down the road, but look for at least two ordinary-shaped (aka, "Type-A") USB 3.0 ports so you can plug in an external mouse and a hard drive for your saved media files. Then you have a load of extras like RGB key and chassis lighting, software performance modes, and Ethernet ports for wired downloads or online gaming.

If you want to attach a wired VR headset to your rig, look for a loadout with the right ports to accommodate it. You'll need a well-placed HDMI or DisplayPort video-out port (depending on the headset) and enough USB ports for a possible hydra-head of cabling. Other video ports, like DisplayPort or mini-DisplayPort (sometimes implemented over a USB-C port), will be helpful if you want to play games on an external display, but they aren't necessary if your laptop's screen is large enough.

Which Brand Is Best to Buy a Gaming Laptop From?

Our picks span many brands, though we often see the same names rate highly on our lists. Some of these are gaming specialists, and others are not. At any given time, you should expect to see some systems from the biggest manufacturers, which always sell multiple models and configurations at various price points. These primarily include Acer, Asus, Dell, and Lenovo. The last, in particular, has been serving up impressive value in the gaming category recently.

Some of the more specialist brands that consistently produce high-quality gaming rigs are Alienware (a Dell subsidiary), Gigabyte, MSI, and Razer. Some of these, particularly Razer machines, come with hefty price premiums but emphasize superior build quality.

Ready to Buy the Right Gaming Laptop for You?

Feeling more prepared now to buy than before? We hope so. Our detailed spec breakdown of the top-pick machines we have laid out should help you settle on the best gaming laptop that fits your budget and gaming aspirations. Game on!

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