gaming laptop best

"Best" is subjective and changes every few months with new releases. However, as of mid-2024, the market is dominated by Intel 13th/14th Gen and AMD Ryzen 7000/8000 series CPUs paired with NVIDIA RTX 40-series GPUs. Here is the breakdown of the best gaming laptops for different needs and budgets. The Overall Best (The "No Compromises" Pick) ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) Why it wins: It shrinks a high-performance gaming laptop into a 14-inch, ultra-premium chassis that looks like a MacBook Pro but plays like a beast. It has an incredible OLED screen, great battery life, and a build quality that nothing else touches. Specs: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, RTX 4070/4080, 16-32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 14" OLED 120Hz. Best for: People who want a laptop for gaming, school, and professional work without looking like a "gamer." The Best Performance (The Desktop Replacement) Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (16", Gen 9) Why it wins: Raw power. This is the best "full-fat" gaming laptop. It runs cooler and quieter than the competition (like the Razer Blade or Alienware) while offering the highest possible performance for the price. The keyboard is also best-in-class. Specs: Intel i9-14900HX, RTX 4080/4090, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 16" IPS 240Hz. Best for: Hardcore gamers who want maximum FPS and don't care about portability. The Best Value / Best for Most People ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) Why it wins: It offers 90% of the performance of the 3,000+ laptops for around 1,500-1,800. It has a great screen, solid build, and excellent cooling. Its the "sweet spot" of price vs. performance. Specs: Intel i7-13650HX / i9-13980HX, RTX 4060/4070, 16GB RAM, 512GB-1TB SSD, 16" FHD/QHD 240Hz. Best for: Gamers who want high performance without spending 2,500+. The Best Budget (Under 1,000) Lenovo LOQ 15 Why it wins: This has replaced the Dell G15 as the budget king. It uses a full-power CPU and GPU (not the lower-powered "Max-Q" versions found in cheaper laptops). Its a true gaming laptop, not just a "multimedia" laptop with a weak GPU. Specs: AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS / Intel i5-13420H, RTX 3050/4050, 8-16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6" FHD 144Hz. Best for: Gamers on a strict budget who still want to play modern games at medium settings. The Best for Portability & Battery Life ASUS ROG Flow X13 (2024) Why it wins: Its a 2-in-1 (touchscreen, folds into a tablet) that is extremely light (2.87 lbs) but can still play games. It offers unique versatility for artists or students who also game. Specs: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, RTX 4060/4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 13.4" FHD+ 165Hz. Best for: Travelers, students, or artists who need a laptop for work and gaming. The Best for "eSports" (High Refresh Rate / Competitive Gaming) Alienware m16 R2 Why it wins: While expensive, Alienware offers the most advanced cooling (Vapor Chamber) and the highest possible refresh rate screens (up to 240Hz or 480Hz QD-OLED). Its overkill for most, but if you play Valorant, CS2, or Overwatch at 400+ FPS, this is the tool. Specs: Intel Core Ultra 7/9, RTX 4060-4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 16" QHD+ (240Hz) or FHD+ (480Hz). Quick Decision Guide If you want... Buy this... Why? : : : Premium & Portable ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Best build, best screen, good battery. Maximum FPS Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Cools better than Alienware, same power, cheaper. Best Bang for Buck ASUS ROG Strix G16 Great power, good screen, fair price. Under 1,000 Lenovo LOQ 15 Full-power components, not "gimped" budget parts. Ultra-Light Gaming ASUS ROG Flow X13 2-in-1, touchscreen, light, but still plays games. Critical Buying Tip for 2024 DO NOT buy a laptop with an RTX 4060 or 4070 unless it is priced right (1,200 or less). The performance jump from RTX 4060 to RTX 4070 in laptops is very small (only 10-15%). The RTX 4080 is a massive 40%+ jump over the 4070 and is worth the extra money if you can afford it. Avoid 8GB VRAM GPUs (like the RTX 4060/4070) if you plan to play new AAA games (like Alan Wake 2, Cyberpunk on max settings) for the next 3 years. You will run out of video memory. The RTX 4080 has 12GB+. Final Recommendation: Most people should buy the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (high value) or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (if they have a higher budget and want portability).