Laptop gaming brands

The best gaming laptops combine powerful components, speedy displays, high quality build design, and - of course - value for money. These rigs can help even the oldest titles in your Steam collection shine thanks to boosted processors, newer graphics cards, more RAM, and faster SSDs.

Since the move towards more slimline form factors, though, competition for the best gaming laptop mantle has been heating up - quite literally in some cases. There has never been so many brands, models, and configurations available, which can make it tricky to find out which one will suit you best.Not only that, but we're on the cusp of a shift to Intel's 12th generation Alder Lake and AMD's 6000-Series processors, so there are plenty of new models to keep track of.

That's where we come in. We're rounding up all the best gaming laptops on the market right now [as well as all the lowest prices from around the web]. Whether you're after an RTX 3080 beast or a cheaper sub-$1,000 / £1,000 rig, you'll find plenty of options from this who's who in portable PC gaming.

Not only are the best gaming laptop brands offering some truly dazzling benchmarks, but these portable rigs are one of the only ways to get your hands on the latest generation of Nvidia GPUs [alongside the best gaming PCs]. Stock has been difficult to find for a year now, and third party prices are soaring. If you're looking to run your games with as much graphical horsepower as possible, then, it might be time to take a look at some all-in-one options.

The best gaming laptops available now

The Razer Blade 14 sold the idea of smaller, 14-inch gaming powerhouses to us in our testing last year. With some of the most powerful components on the market and an almost impossibly slim form factor, this is a rig to be reckoned with, and easily a contender for the best gaming laptop.

You're blending the best of both worlds here, with an AMD CPU and Nvidia GPU playing nicely together to create an incredible final experience. The 1440p display and RTX 3080 GPU sung in our testing, blowing us away with impressive handling of High and Ultra settings across a range of games. You're paying a little more for some of the most in-demand components on the market right now, but - after a bit of tinkering in heavier titles - you'll certainly get your money's worth.

That's especially true when you take the whole Razer Blade 14 as one package. There's a lot to be said for the fact that you're not just getting some high-performing components under the hood, but also in a machine that would still leave plenty of wiggle room in a backpack. The 14-inch form factor makes the power on offer all the more impressive, but we did notice ourselves wanting a slightly larger screen during certain moments, and having all that gear packed in did get a little warm at times.

Read more: Razer Blade 14 review

We got our hands on the Alienware M15 R6 and were blown away by the way it handled the RTX 3080 GPU sat inside. Not only are you getting premium components under the hood, but this machine knows how to draw out the best of them - even if you opt for a more budget-friendly configuration.

Previously Alienware's flagship range, the M15 line has been stripped back a little with the launch of the new X15. However, the price discrepancy between the two [you're paying significantly less for this model] means that this particular gaming laptop can't be beaten for value overall. You could consider the X15 technically the best Alienware gaming laptop on paper alone, but when it comes down to price and the wider market, this is the winner.

You'll find two model names on the shelves right now, the Intel-based R6 and the AMD-based R5. That means you'll find the perfect spec for your library regardless of which camp you find yourself in right now.

All of that power does come with a drawback when it comes to temperature; our testing unit ran particularly hot during intense moments, but considering the slimline body and sleek design it's easy to forgive here. Plus, there are some seriously potent configurations up for grabs, so if you're willing to put the cash into your machine you'll certainly reap the rewards.

A mechanical laptop keyboard, complete with configurable RGB, N-Key rollover and anti-ghosting feels par for the course on the best gaming laptop, but it's worth noting this is a particularly premium feature hiding in a fairly affordable machine. We rarely see these keyboards in even the most high-end rigs, so the additional attention to detail here is particularly strong.

Read more: Alienware M15 R6 review

If you're looking to grab an RTX 30-Series card but don't want to break $1,000 / £1,000, the Asus TUF Dash F15 is going to be your best bet. In our testing, we found this budget-friendly machine to charge through even some of the more demanding titles as if it sat in a much higher price bracket. Plus, you're still getting the super slimline form factor that has proven so popular over the last couple of years.

The key here is that you can outfit it with the full 11th generation i7 / 1TB / 32GB RAM suite of turbo power - or you can pick up a more conservative spec for a little less cash. That means you won't need to spend on high-end gear that you might not even get to use if you're running less demanding titles, but you can still comfortably pick up some of the best specs in the business without breaking the bank.

We were particularly impressed by how well those more power-hungry components played together in a cheaper chassis. We didn't notice any over-heating issues here, and while we did have to make some sacrifices to more demanding titles, we still managed to hit 60fps+ on an RTX 3070 with consistency.

As of CES 2022, there is a new Asus TUF Dash F15 on the way, featuring a larger touchpad, 12th generation Alder Lake processor, and a new cooling system. However, pricing and release date information is still unknown.

Read more: Asus TUF Dash F15 review

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 long reigned over the slimline gaming laptop world. It was one of the first easily portable machines, built with a form factor that respected your backpack and your desk top. The 2021 release is a little graphically limited compared to its peers - offering a maximum RTX 3060 GPU - but if you don't want to break the bank on a top-tier graphics card there's plenty of power and efficiency under the hood here.

With the step to a Ryzen 500-series chip and Nvidia's 3000-series GPUs also comes the jump to WQHD resolution, so 2021's G14 will also give you access to a super clear display running at a max 144Hz refresh rate. Again, this isn't a spec designed to compete with the top dogs like the Alienware x-series or the Razer Blade but for the cash - and the fact that you're getting everything in a dinky 14-inch case - there's plenty of value under the hood.

Things can get a little hot under here, as is the case with many compact machines, but all in there's little out there that can compete with this 14-inch price point.

The Dell G15 isnt going to light the world of the best gaming laptops on fire, but it is at least a dependable choice of gaming companion. Performance in both gaming and general tasks is good considering the price point, and all the features weve come to expect from gaming laptops are present and accounted for.

The appearance of this laptop could be a point of contention, though, as we found the chassis to feel a bit old-fashioned for 2021. A dark iridescent finish and thick central hinge feel like throwbacks to a forgotten age of tech design that should perhaps have stayed in the past.

The G15 also runs fairly hot when playing more graphically demanding titles, although not to a worrying extent; weve certainly reviewed laptops with noisier fans than this. As it stands, the G15 is a great all-rounder, ideal as a gift for a kid looking to break into PC gaming or the office employee consigned to remote working - and playing.

Although it might start at an already-whopping price and comes in models that go above the $3,000 / £3,000 mark, the Alienware x17 R1 works hard to earn its price tag and is one of the best gaming laptops to come out of 2021. The X-Series is Alienware's latest and greatest selection of laptops, designed to appeal to the brand's more premium customers looking for the very best gaming laptop money can buy. If you're after a larger display panel, the merits of the 17.3-inch Alienware X17 are obvious, but under the surface there's plenty more going on here.

A choice of 1080p or 4K display, a variety of RAM and storage specs, and either a membrane or compact mechanical keyboard makes it easy to tailor this laptop to your personal needs. With the ability to move up to an Intel i9 processor, 64GB RAM, 4TB of SSD storage and a 120Hz 4K display, it's possible to create a real beast out of this machine. Even more entry level configurations will still set you back a bit of cash, but that's because of the premium additional features that make this one of the best rigs on the market.

With a redesigned chassis and an excellent array of physical ports, the Alienware x17 R1 is the new standard for Dells flagship gaming laptops. Naturally, weve also got more RGB than you can shake a stick at, from the iconic rear light ring to the new RGB-lit trackpad. This laptop looks and feels great, a statement piece for those who take their gaming seriously.

A slimline design works nicely in this size, especially considering the additional bulk that a larger display usually brings with it. However, you're also picking up a mechanical keyboard, plenty of ports, and a gorgeous display panel up top. If you're looking to splash the cash on something that's truly going to make a statement, the Alienware X17 is an excellent option.

Read more: Alienware X17 review

This is our favorite, and the very best gaming laptop you can buy right now. Razer is absolute stalwarts in the gaming laptops business now, offering a refined and powerful selection of gaming-focused Razer laptops. Its sheer excellence is plentiful and comes in many areas, the first and instantly noticeable one is the design. It's a sleek machine, oozing elegance and lacking any garish or questionable design motifs, sporting only some traditional Razer green in its ports and a Razer serpent as the machine's emblem. It's also pretty light and very thin which is astonishing considering the powerful components found within.

Yes, the Pro 17 model will bag you some extra screen space and a slightly heftier machine, but, on balance, this is probably the best laptop you could buy right now for gaming. Team this with a Razer headset, Razer controller, or some of the best Razer streaming gear going and you'll be racing toward an ideal gaming setup based on performance - but built around a machine that still offers portability.

It's worth noting, though, that the new 2022 Razer Blade 15 will be releasing very shortly, boasting up to i9-12900H processors and an RTX 3080Ti GPU.

At just below the four-figure mark, [or less!], the Acer Nitro 5 has everything the budding gamer needs, working effectively to replace a beefy gaming desktop PC at a fraction of the price. You're getting some excellent spec value here, with these units pushing the budget category hard.

11th generation Intel and AMD 5000-Series processors lead the charge, with up to RTX 3080 graphics cards - those are specs it's particularly difficult to argue with. Sure, the chassis design is a little outdated and you're not picking up the slimmest machine on the market - but if you're looking to maximise your power output while spending as little as possible, the Acer Nitro 5 is likely the best gaming laptop for you.

The Nitro 5 is a bit on the hefty side, so its not the most portable of gaming machines, but nor are most laptops with 17-inch screens. Overall, this is an excellent choice of entry-level gaming system, with the flexibility needed for work as well [provided your co-workers wont judge you for that red-and-black paint job]

This great laptop shows that the best gaming laptops aren't just going to cost you an arm and a leg. The 2021 model goes a step further than the Asus ROG Zephyrus GA502 did, offering up Ryzen 5000-series processors and Nvidia 3000-series graphics cards to compete with today's offerings. These front line specs are not mind-blowing by any means but the performance they combine to create is incredibly solid and will have you beaming if you're happy to be in the middle of the pack. We've also got a far sleeker design that builds on the original slimline, though blocky, aesthetic.

It offers a more affordable, but still quality, way into PC gaming and will have you playing any AAA game you desire [like The Division 2 or Shadow of the Tomb Raider], steadily and confidently, just on graphical settings turned down a notch or two. Turning down the graphics is really no big deal now as today's mediums are still great, matching the highs and ultras of a few years ago.

Elsewhere, it will absolutely fly with more 'lightweight' games however, like Rocket League, Fortnite and Overwatch. All in this will play everything you want, bag you a stylish and modern gaming laptop and won't totally ruin your bank balance doing so.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is a well-performing entry- to mid-level portable machine that knows what it is and is comfortable in its own limitations and capabilities.

The latest in a burgeoning line of super-portable best gaming laptop contenders, the MSI Stealth 15M manages to pack some top line specs into a compact chassis and still pulls off some incredible performance in the process. You'll be pushing 1080p titles at between 50 and 60fps reliably here, with a little leeway in more and less demanding titles as well. With Nvidia's next-gen GPU at the helm, albeit the entry level model, you're getting buttery smooth gameplay across a range of titles, though those framerates won't quite be pushing the 144Hz display to its full potential.

All that power must come with a drawback, though, and with so much crammed in under the hood here, cooling and battery certainly suffers the consequences. This machine can get particularly hot, especially underneath the main body. If placed on a desktop you won't tend to notice this issue too much - it'll be the constant hum and random whirrs of the fans that will take some getting used to instead.

If you're after a machine that will sit as well in a backpack as it would on a full gaming desk setup this is certainly an interesting choice. Performance remains smooth and excellent though don't expect to be hitting Ultra settings with wild abandon.

Read more: MSI Stealth 15M review

The Razer Blade Pro 17 is the choice for gamers-on-the-go who demand the absolute best from their portable hardware and are looking for a desktop experience they can carry in their bag. The Pro combines the latest in the component department with options on graphics cards going right up to the latest Nvidia RTX 3080, and the newest Intel processors, with a superb 4K touch screen, or 360Hz 1080p screen to create an absolute beast of a gaming laptop - and one that will comfortably replace a creative workstation desktop pc.

It also features one of the best keyboards to be found in gaming laptops that's comfortable and looks and feels great, with Razers proprietary ultra-low-profile mechanical switches. In a nod to desktop users, the trackpad is positioned to the right of the keyboard where a mouse might normally sit, and just like the pad on the other models, its a very precise and comfortable pointer.

If you're after the biggest and best Razer gaming laptop where budget is no constraint, then this is it. Its a beautiful, incredibly powerful piece of portable computing that could easily replace your desktop as your go-to PC for gaming and more mundane applications.

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How to find the best gaming laptop for you

Not sure what screen size you'd ideally want and what minimum spec you'd ultimately like to get in your search for the best gaming laptop? If you need help working that out, we're here to help.

In our opinion, the key is to opt for something with a balance between performance, budget, and components you want something that will play your favorite games now, but still have enough bandwidth to help you find a new favorite in the future.

So what's your first step when you start browsing for the best gaming laptop? You can start by having a budget or total price ceiling in mind, but generally [and somewhat predictably], you'll want to prioritize the hardware in the machine. As you've made it to this page, you're looking for a gaming-focused portable powerhouse and, as a result, want to aim high in the graphics card department, like a GPU from the RTX family of cards from Nvidia.

This can be an excellent starting point to refine your search - but don't forget to look at laptops with a 16-series card in too as they offer incredible value when complemented by other, well-balanced components. A quick note on components: availability, as everyone knows, has been incredibly unreliable and volatile in recent months. As a result, it might be that when you visit retailers or makers of these machines, only some configurations are available at the time.

If you're unsure of which components you need, it's wise to consider the CPUs and GPUs on offer in tiers. If you only play lighter games that aren't too demanding, you might fall into the entry level tier, if you're looking to hit High settings with a few tweaks and still hit 60fps, it's worth looking in the mid-range. However, if you're going all-in on Ultra settings for the most demanding titles, the best gaming laptop for you might be a more premium option.

Where to buy gaming laptops

You'll find plenty of gaming laptops up for grabs at a range of retailers in both the US and UK, though some do specialize in certain price ranges and brands. However, in general, you should be able to find RTX 3060 laptops, RTX 3070 laptops, and RTX 3080 laptops readily available on the shelves.

US: Amazon | Best Buy | Dell | Newegg | B&H Photo | Adorama
UK: Amazon UK | Currys | Argos | Overclockers UK | Laptopsdirect

If you've managed to find the right rig for you, it's worth investing some thought into the best laptop backpacks to get you out and about. Or, check out our guide to the latest cheap gaming laptop deals if you're looking for more savings. Or, check out all the cheap Alienware laptop deals and Razer laptop deals currently on sale for some serious discounts.