When it comes to potent, playable portables, there’s more to choose from than ever. (So read our list of the best gaming laptop options right now.)
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There’s never been so much to consider when it comes to hunting down your ideal gaming desktop replacement either. On the outside, you’ve got to think about the screen, the build quality, the keyboard and the trackpad – and the weight and the dimensions if you want to carry your machine around. And then, on the inside, there’s your graphics – the GeForce GTX’s and RTX’s to your AMD Radeon RX’s – along with the processor and the battery. And, all are important factors. There’s a wide range of competitive manufacturers too at both the reasonably-priced and high-end – with Asus, Razer and Lenovo leading the way. Even, Samsung is set to get in on the mobile gaming PC action soon.
Gaming laptops have been making big moves over recent years, with Intel, AMD and Nvidia enabling improved performance in thinner and lighter form-factors and ever more appealing prices. This is set to continue with Intel recently announced its new Tiger Lake-H series processors and Nvidia revealing its budget-friendly RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti graphics cards – successors to the popular cheap GTX 1660, GTX 1660 Ti, GTX 1650 Ti and GTX 1650 mobile GPUs. We’ll be testing the new devices that manufacturers choose to equip with these exciting new components and consider them for this list. The gaming laptops on this list remain top drawer but do bear in mind that some new models are incoming when mulling your next purchase.
While it’s tempting to search for a machine to tick every box, though, buying a gaming laptop usually involves compromise – which is why it’s worth examining every aspect before taking the plunge. And, in case you were wondering, it’s just not possible to get a good gaming laptop for under £500. If that’s your budget, we recommend saving up more as our budget options starts at around £900. You may also be interested in our guides to the best laptops and gaming headsets useful.
What’s the best gaming laptop in 2021?
The best gaming laptop we’ve tested is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 (from £1,899). The G14 launched last year to significant critical acclaim and the new 15-inch version takes things to another level. A powerhouse.
View the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 from £1,892 on Amazon
Looking to spend under £1,000? The best cheap gaming laptop you can buy right now is the Asus TUF Dash F15 (from £679). It’s a well-built device that’s fairly portable and perfect for 1080p single-player games and esports titles.
View the Asus TUF Dash F15 from £679 on Currys
When it comes to specs, there’s a ton of crossover between being great for gaming and creative tasks like video editing. The best laptop for creators (that is a dab hand at gaming too) is the Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR (£2,700). The price may be high but it can handle the daily workloads of professional creators with ease.
View the Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR for £2,700 on Amazon [Low Stock]
WIRED Recommends is your definitive guide to the best technology. Every product featured has been properly tested by WIRED reviewers. Read our list of the best headphones for our favourite picks in every category.
WIRED Recommends: The best gaming laptop around is a focused and speedy powerhouse
Weight: 1.9kg | Size: 19.9mm | Screen: 15.6in QHD 165Hz | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD | CPU: Up to Ryzen 9 5900HS | GPU: Up to RTX 3080 | OS: Windows 10 Home
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 (from £1,892) builds on the good work of the Zephyrus G14 – removing a hint of its smaller sibling’s portability to go all-in on performance. The results are spectacular, offering top drawer gaming performance, impressive battery life and it’s a dream for creative tasks too.
Before we get into the meat of what you can achieve with this laptop, let’s talk about the design of this machine. Asus has found a perfect middle ground between the traditional – and often garish – gamer aesthetic and the sleeker – but somewhat boring – designs of the Razer Blade 15 and MSI GS66 Stealth. The latter may be right for many who don’t want to stand out but the G15 is a good-looking laptop that is also clearly made for getting stuff done – particularly on the gaming front of course.
The design is best described as machine-like, with angular vents and blocky but slightly rounded edges – it feels purposeful. The lid comes with the same cacophony of dots across half of it – a simple touch that catches the eye without overdoing it. The design philosophy feels akin to a games console – you know it’s for gaming but it’s got to look good wherever you place it too. But the Zephyrus G15 has the added bonus of a ton more horsepower.
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This power firmly came to the fore in our testing, smashing it out of the park across the board. As is expected with AMD, the multi-core capabilities of this laptop are off the charts – making this a great option for portable creative work as well as games. The Zephyrus G15 represents the latest front in laptop gaming too – the rising popularity of QHD panels. You’ll get a QHD 165Hz panel here and it’s gorgeous to look at. You get all the benefits of that higher refresh rate, making gameplay look luxurious and swift alongside the added details the higher resolution brings. The panel isn’t quite as vibrant as the latest offering from the Razer Blade 15 but it runs it close.
For the RTX 3080, in games like Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint you’ll be able to get between 80-100fps with all settings turned up. Some simple tweaks to graphical quality settings or resolution will let you push up closer to the 165Hz refresh rate should you so choose. For titles where the refresh rate is a higher priority, like Apex Legends, you can still get that 165Hz on 1440p by prioritising FPS-friendly settings and it looks great. Expect similar results to above to apply to the RTX 3070 model but at 1080p resolution – which is represented in our Asus TUF Dash F15 testing – so you’ll have to sacrifice more graphical quality or frames to hit the 165Hz refresh rate or max resolution respectively.
The stellar experience of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 isn’t just about the raw power of Nvidia’s latest RTX 30-series cards and Ryzen 5000-series combination though. The keyboard is easily one of the best around for gaming – offering bags of travel and a remarkable level of feedback for a relatively portable device. While serious gamers won’t be taking advantage of it all that, the trackpad is delightfully large and responsive too – making working on this laptop a joy.
Much about this laptop is refreshing, you’ll often find the odd quirk in gaming laptops that can spoil the end result but the keyboard, strong performance and self-assured looks allow no room for such folly. The convenience of this laptop is only enhanced by its impressive laptop, where you’ll get around 8 to 9 hours when used for productivity tasking. While gaming on battery will last you around 2 hours depending on the title.
A couple of quirks of the Zephyrus G14 do carry over to this 15-inch laptop – including the lack of a webcam and no Thunderbolt 4 support. However, neither prevent this laptop from standing atop the mountain of gaming laptops in 2021. Whether you’re a gamer, creative or a mix of both, this laptop provides the perfect blend of performance, portability and convenience every time you boot up.
Pros: A showcase for the new era of QHD gaming; near faultless keyboard; robust and confident design; good selection of ports; best-in-class long battery life
Cons: No Thunderbolt; no webcam
Price: From £1,892 | Check price on Amazon | Currys | Overclockers
A potent combination of performance, value and build quality
Weight: 2.54kg | Size: 26.85mm | Screen: 16in QHD 165Hz | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: Up to 2TB SSD | CPU: Up to Ryzen 7 5800HS | GPU: Up to RTX 3070 | OS: Windows 10 Home
Lenovo played a smart game when designing the Legion 5 Pro. It’s not an entirely no-compromise laptop in all areas, but does seem like one if you approach it the way most probably should. The result? You pay a couple of hundred pounds less for one of the best gaming laptops of 2021.
Let’s deal with the highlights first. The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (from £1,100) has an excellent 165Hz 2560 x 1600 pixel screen with unusually high 500-nit brightness and well-saturated colour. With smart use of Nvidia’s revolutionary DLSS resolution upscaling feature you can play AAA games like Control, with ray tracing enabled, at the display’s native resolution.
We reviewed the Nvidia RTX 3070 version of the Legion 5 Pro, and Lenovo really maxes out its potential. This performance of this card line, in particular, varies wildly depending on how much power it is fed, and the chunky 300W charger gives it 140W, more than the standard 125W.
It doesn’t instantly sound like a biplane when maxed either, which is why you should probably want a “thin and light” gaming laptop less than some of you do right now. Fans and heatsinks need room and the mid-size Legion 5 Pro provides it.
The keyboard has a reasonable amount of travel, and the combination of aluminium on the outside of the lid/underside, soft-touch plastic inside, is a winning one too.
Let’s talk compromises. The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro has a so-so plastic touchpad, not the textured glass kind that would match the high standards shown elsewhere. There’s no RGB lighting to the keyboard in our test model, which might seem a relief to gamers of a certain vintage. And while the speakers sound OK for a quick session or YouTube video, they don’t have any real bass. Match up the Legion 5 Pro up with a gaming headset or some speakers, and a good-quality mouse, and you are set.
Confused by the AMD and Intel variants? The Lenovo 5 Pro has an AMD CPU, the Lenovo 5i Pro the Intel kind. We recommend AMD models for the best per-pound performance.
Pros: Good value; great performance; excellent screen; rear ports handy for cable management
Cons: Basic plastic touchpad; no RGB lighting (some models)
Price: From £1,100 | Check price on Lenovo | Currys
A gaming laptop you can take anywhere
Weight: 1.7kg | Size: 17.9mm | Screen: 14in Full HD 144Hz | RAM: Up to 24GB | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD | CPU: Intel Core i7-11375H | GPU: RTX 3060 | OS: Windows 10 Home
The Triton 300 SE (£1,399) is Acer’s answer to the much-admired Asus Zephyrus G14. It’s a powerful gaming laptop that’s small and light enough to be used as an ultraportable. At 1.7kg it is around 400g heavier than a 14in portable laptop that’s not made for games. But if you really want its RTX 3060 graphics card, you should be able to suck that up.
It takes a few cues from Acer’s top lifestyle laptops too. The casing is magnesium alloy, not the “basic” plastic or heavier aluminium. Its touchpad has a lovely textured glass surface and the screen folds back 180 degrees, and can be lifted from a closed position with a single finger.
The Acer Triton 300 SE offers Ultrabook charms merged with gaming laptop power. But price is the real draw here. It costs £200 less than the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (£1,500), with the load-out of 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. This also means it’s cheaper than some style rivals that can barely play The Witcher 3.
So, case closed, buy an Acer Triton 300 SE? We don’t think you should get one if portable use isn’t essential. This thing runs pretty hot and to get the full 75W of power flowing into the RTX 3060 graphics card you have to let the fans run at a speed that all but drowns out the internal speakers. You lose around 15% power if you use the fan mode with more manageable noise levels, and chunky laptops are likely to offer a punchier version of this card. No surprise there.
The big blank silver border below the screen isn’t a great look in 2021 either. However, the screen itself is sound, a Full HD LCD with solid colour just shy of 100% sRGB coverage. Brightness is not class-leading, but we used it outdoors — for work, not gaming — happily enough thanks to its matt finish.
You can certainly approach the Triton 300 SE as a true portable hybrid and gaming laptop too. The battery lasts a little over nine hours performing light tasks, or eight hours with the brightness maxed.
Pros: True portable gaming power; Ultrabook style magnesium construction; solid battery life
Cons: Large lower screen border; runs hot; loud fans required for peak performance
Price: £1,399 | Check price on Currys
A top performer with best-in-class style
Weight: 2.09/2.01kg | Size: 19.9/16.99mm | Screen: 15.6in FHD/QHD 165Hz/240Hz/360Hz | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD | CPU: Up to i7-10875H | GPU: Up to RTX 3080 | OS: Windows 10 Home
The Razer Blade 15 (from £1,400) may have slipped from our top spot but it isn’t through any distinct errors, rather Asus massively stepped up its game and Razer slightly resting on its laurels. Nevertheless, the Blade 15 will still be the choice for many who want both powerful gaming performance and an ultra-premium design.
For the Advanced model of the latest Razer Blade 15 – sporting the Intel Core i7-10875H – you get similar gaming performance to what’s on offer from the AMD/Nvidia combo. However, Razer does go beyond the 165Hz on offer from the Zephyrus G15. With Full HD 360Hz and QHD 240Hz models. When shooting for the high refresh rate at QHD in Apex Legends, you’ll be able to get up to around 190fps – meaning you’ll need to dive down to lower resolutions to close in on the max 240Hz rate. This option does the Blade 15 the edge over its close Asus rival for the high refresh rate hungry – but, for many, 165Hz is either great already or new ground for many who’ve not even experienced that level yet.
Aside from refresh rate, the Blade 15 display is one of the prettiest gaming displays around – bringing bright and vivid colours that can often be lost in devices that prioritise refresh rate. Not so here, the QHD resolution and colours make this an attractive proposition for movie watching as well as playing awe-inducing AAA games.
While much of the Razer’s gaming performance matches up to what you’ll get on the Zephyrus G15. The AMD Ryzen 5000-series processor has remarkable multi-core capabilities – making it one of the better options for those who like to dabble in significant creative tasking too. The design of the Blade 15, while stylish, is also feeling a little tired now – having been around for several years. Razer has remained stagnant here while the Asus feels proactive and focused.
The keyboard and trackpad of the Blade 15 are among the best around in the gaming laptop market, with the keys offering decent travel – especially for a relatively thin device. But, neither stuns in the same way the Zephyrus G15 does. However it is far from a clean sweep, the Razer also resolves two of the Zephyrus G15’s key flaws – featuring a webcam and a Thunderbolt 3 port.
Pros: Gorgeous display; still great for gaming; decent keyboard; same sleek design
Cons: Same sleek design
Price: From £1,400 | Check price on Amazon | Razer
The best gaming laptop under £1,000
Weight: 2.1kg | Size: 19.9mm | Screen: 15.6in FHD 144Hz | RAM: 8GB/16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H | GPU: RTX 3060/3070 | OS: Windows 10 Home
While the ROG Zephyrus G-series has been Asus’ jewel in the crown of late, the company hasn’t forgotten to cater to the £1,000 gaming laptop market either. The Asus TUF Dash F15 (from £679) brings almost everything you’d want from a modern gaming laptop at a more affordable price.
The TUF Dash F15 takes many cues from its more powerful Zephyrus G14 and G15 stablemates, with the same design language that firmly says “gaming” without shouting it in your face. The materials may not be too fancy and it doesn’t have any distinct design decisions but it looks great. The F15 is even able to get a slight leg up on those pricier models and, even, the Razer Blade 15 too.
Intel is yet to release its all-singing, all-dancing successor to its higher-powered 10th Gen mobile chips, hence why the Blade 15 has stuck to the last-gen, but the TUF Dash F15 – at its lower price – isn’t shooting for as lofty goals. This means we get an 11th Gen Intel processor here and, with that, comes Thunderbolt 4 – enabling supremely speedy data transfer and outputting to dual 4K displays.
For your £999, you’ll get an RTX 3060, Intel i7-11370H and 8GB RAM combo – with a £400 step up required to get 16GB RAM and the RTX 3070. The latter is still an interesting proposition but it isn’t getting dangerously close to stronger rivals. In our testing of the £1,400 model, we were able to get around 80fps in both Borderland 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint at Full HD while in Apex Legends we set up for higher FPS and managed around the 110 mark. For those high FPS games, you could obviously achieve more at a lower 720p resolution. While light to medium level editing is certainly an option on this machine, it doesn’t reach the multi-core heights of the Ryzen 5000-series chips – limiting its capabilities.
Asus has maintained its impressive keyboard capabilities from the Zephyrus G-range on this laptop too – offering one of the best gaming laptop keyboards around despite its more affordable price. It isn’t quite as good as its more expensive brethren but it certainly runs the less feedback on offer from the Razer Blade 15 close.
The display is possibly the one feature in which it feels some corners have been cut to keep the price down. While we’ve no complaints on the high refresh rate front, the colours are a tad washed out and it doesn’t get all that bright – ruling this machine out for much work or gaming out and about. This lack of convenience is contrasted with the ability to charge the Asus TUF Dash F15 over USB-C. You won’t be able to game on full tilt like you can when plugged in with the bundled charger but it’s handy for keeping it topped up. Like other Asus gaming laptops right now, this laptop also ditches the webcam – which could be a dealbreaker for some.
Pros: Great value gaming; portability and convenience; surprisingly good keyboard
Cons: Not the brightest or most colourful screen; no webcam
Price: From £679 | Check price on Currys | John Lewis
A portable marvel that’s a true all-rounder
Weight: 1.78kg | Size: 16.8mm | Screen: 14in QHD 165Hz | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | GPU: Up to RTX 3080 | OS: Windows 10 Home
Razer has sat atop the gaming laptop tree for several years now, combining its surprisingly thin and stylish hardware with performance that often beats unsightly competitors. Then, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 came along. Asus managed to usurp Razer with an even smaller device with some enhanced gaming features. Now, the Razer Blade 14 (from £2000) is here to try and help the gaming lifestyle brand dominate the market once again.
What Razer has produced here is truly remarkable. The Blade 15 (above) has long been impressive in its own right, so to enhance its portability even further and stick to its design principles is deserving of praise. Design-wise, this is a Blade 15 in a smaller 14-inch form factor – so, don’t expect a big refresh of the signature Blade look. Nevertheless, it’s as good looking as ever, with its stealthy black finish. The Blade 14 still manages to cram in two USB-C ports, two USB-A, an HDMI and a headphone jack – no room for an Ethernet port, unfortunately.
Another impressive feat here is Razer managing to include the higher-spec AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX as well as RTX 3070 and 3080 GPUs, topping the 5900HS and RTX 3060 combo onboard devices like the ROG Zephyrus G14. You can then pair it with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, 3070 or 3080 alongside a QHD 165Hz display. Asus does manage to offer a cheaper model, down at £1,200, for an RTX 3060 and Full HD combo – if you aren’t looking to spend upwards of £1,500 on a pint-sized gaming laptop. These differences don’t mean the new Razer isn’t focused on usurping its competitor though, with its RTX 3060 model being priced almost exactly the same as the Asus equivalent – even if it is restricted to being a Razer.com exclusive.
Our test model was the highest spec on offer, featuring the RTX 3080 and the results are stunning when compared with many 15-inch gaming laptops you can buy today. The Blade 14 tops the Alienware m15 R4 and MSI GS66 Stealth in what it can achieve, reaching 60fps in Ultra settings in titles like Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. For fps-craving titles like Apex Legends, you can max out this 165Hz display at very low settings on 1440p or dip down to 1080p if you want some added detail. The higher-spec options on offer here mean it can’t be directly compared to the G14, providing you with more powerful options that Asus simply doesn’t. However, compared to the larger G15 which does offer RTX 3070 and 3080 models, the Blade 14 does fall behind by about 20 to 30 fps – giving you a choice between gaming power and stylish portability.
And that’s where the central question of the Razer Blade 14 lies. If you are a fan of Razer’s stunning design language – giving you the ability to game on the go without standing out like a sore thumb or breaking your back when lugging around – this might be the laptop of your dreams. However, it isn’t quite the best gaming laptop around – with that title still falling to the Asus Zephyrus G15. The Asus gives you a better gaming keyboard, with stunning amounts of travel and feedback along with an industrial design that isn’t garish and looks purpose-built for gaming.
The Razer Blade 14 is much more of an all-rounder, one of the best all-round laptops you can buy – gaming, creation, productivity, playing games at a desk, working at a coffee shop… it can do the lot. Unlike its strong Asus rivals, you get a webcam too – quite a barrier in this WFH age – however, it’s pretty pants. Battery life is the only thing that holds it back here, managing just over 7 hours for productivity workloads – still, it’ll be enough for more workdays.
Pros: Great display for gaming; remarkable performance in slim chassis; signature Razer style; decent keyboard
Cons: Lack of choice; below-average battery life; poor webcam
Price: From £2,000 | Check price on Amazon | Razer | Ebuyer
One of the best bang-for-your-buck gaming laptops
Weight: 1.7kg | Size: 1.99mm | Screen: 14in FHD/QHD 144Hz/120Hz | RAM: Up to 16GB | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD | CPU: Up to Ryzen 9 5900HS | GPU: Up to RTX 3060 | OS: Windows 10 Home
When Asus launched the ROG Zephyrus G14 (from £880), it was a sea-change for gaming laptops – offering a true alternative to portable gaming fans who didn’t want an overbearing machine or to fork out that bit extra for the quality design of a Razer. A year on, not a whole lot has changed, with the G14 still nailing its brief as a device focused on delivering quality gaming on-the-go at a reasonable price.
What stands out, if you’re tackling the big decision of Asus ROG Zephyrus vs a Razer Blade, is how much the G14 feels focused on a quality gaming experience. The Razer Blade’s sleek design limits its keyboard capabilities, while the still trim Asus packs in a much more clicky and responsive keyboard – something regular PC gamers will greatly appreciate. The lack of a webcam really tells you this device isn’t shooting to be as much of an all-rounder as a Razer Blade too, also matched by the more angular and vent-laden design. It doesn’t seem entirely fair to categorise the Razer vs Asus as one of style vs function as both are pretty stellar in both areas. The G14 may not have the ultrabook-like finesse of a Razer but it’s still one of the best looking gaming laptops around.
The nitty-gritty of this extremely portable gaming machine is pretty impressive too. The top-spec AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS and RTX 3060 combo we tested comfortably sits about 60fps at 1440p Ultra settings in titles like Ghost Recon: Breakpoint and Borderlands 3. While, as an esports-friendly machine, you can max out this 120Hz panel on Low settings and drop down to Full HD if you want to bring some added detail and features in Apex Legends.
The battle between Asus and Razer highlights the benefits of consumer choice as there’s no right choice really and it comes down to personal taste. If you’re looking for a device with more traditional and industrial gaming looks and a great keyboard to match, this G14 is the one to go for and you’ll be hugely satisfied with the performance and build you get for your cash.
Pros: Portable gaming power; gaming looks that aren’t garish; best-in-class gaming keyboard
Cons: Tops out at RTX 3060; no webcam
Price: From £880 | Check price on Amazon | Argos | Ebuyer
One of the best keyboards on any laptop in a super-slim chassis
Weight: 2.36kg | Size: 15.9mm | Screen: 15.6in QHD 240Hz | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD | CPU: Up to Intel Core i9 11900H | GPU: Up to RTX 3080 | OS: Windows 10 Home
Dell’s recent Alienware laptops have started to go toe-to-toe with Razer, Asus and Lenovo, from adding AMD Ryzen chip and specialised Cherry MX keyboard options to its M range of laptops to, now, the new Alienware X15 (from £1,949). The new X-series aims to slim down the M-series, aided by a new suped-up cooling system. The end result is a mixed bag but still one worth considering.
Alienware’s latest is unmistakably a gaming laptop but the X15’s super-slim design, rounded edges and pearly white paint job make it stylish in its own right – if still very loud. A lot about the new Alienware X15 is hugely promising, the 15.9mm thickness sails close to what Razer offers, making it much more bag friendly than the M-series.
You’ll notice the quality of its keyboard as soon as you get typing – its thinness hasn’t hampered the decent travel on offer here. From gaming to long typing sessions, this keyboard is an absolute dream, with pleasing feedback. This is all without the Cherry MX tinkering that Alienware attempted on its previous M-series devices too. The 240Hz QHD display we tested is simply stunning, with brightness to spare, fluid graphics and luxurious colour.
Our review model, the £2,999-priced Intel Core i7-11800H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 produced the best synthetic benchmark scores (PC Mark 10, GeekBench 5 and Cinebench) we’ve seen on any gaming laptops over the past year. However, this didn’t play out in real-world use. In Borderlands 3, the X15 averaged 21fps at 1440p Ultra – a score that trails an RTX 3060-sporting Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – dropping down to High settings got the average above the 60fps mark. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint was a similar story with 11fps at 1440p Ultra and topping 60fps at High settings. While in Apex Legends, you could get 135fps at 1440p Ultra and, to utilise this 240Hz display to its fullest, you’d need to venture down to 1080p Medium settings.
These slightly disappointing results were accompanied by the chassis getting very hot above the keyboard and on the portion of the machine behind the display where the ports lie and much of the hot air is extracted. However, unlike Alienware’s most recent M15 (which missed out on inclusion on this list due to its extremely hot temperatures) the warmth of the X15 doesn’t get to a level that’s unacceptable – particularly, the underside doesn’t get all that hot.
The Alienware X15 isn’t an all-out value-for-money laptop as it has compromised quite a bit on performance to get into this slim chassis. Dell hasn’t been able to catch up with Razer in this department despite its new cooling tech. Nevertheless, if the Alienware look and thinness appeals as well as the keyboard – which certainly tops the Razer Blade 15 and tussles with the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 – it remains worth your consideration.
Pros: Gaming looks that are stylish too; ultra-slim; phenomenal keyboard; decent selection of ports
Cons: Verges on uncomfortably hot; starting price very high
Price: From £1,949 | Check price on Dell
A stylish Razer Blade 15 alternative
Weight: 2.1kg | Size: 19.8mm | Screen: 15.6in QHD/FHD 240Hz/300Hz | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: Up to 2TB SSD | CPU: Up to i7-10870H | GPU: Up to RTX 3080 | OS: Windows 10 Home
If the Razer Blade 15 doesn’t hit right for you, whether it’s the green logo or specific blocky design, the MSI GS66 Stealth (from £1,949) is a remarkably similar machine with a few differences that’ll give you pause for thought.
The design of MSI’s trim powerhouse sits between the more edged and industrial look of the Zephyrus and the Blade 15 but definitely leaning closer to the latter. When closed, you would be forgiven for mistaking it for Razer’s flagship but the absence of the green Sneki Snek (yes, this is the official Razer name for it) and the hinge being significantly more visible distinguish the two. The stealth metal finish is the key point of comparison, and the absence of the green adds to this effect on the MSI even further – truly living up to its name.
On the inside, the story is slightly different. The laptop’s style is somewhat ruined by the Spider-Man (2002)-esque font and the trackpad is rather large but only horizontally, which is quite a strange look. There’s a speaker grille higher up which would definitely be a prime candidate for the chop if it could make for a larger, squarer trackpad.
The similar designs aren’t where the comparisons end between this and the Blade 15, with the models on offer mirroring each other – dividing models up into QHD 240Hz and Full HD 300Hz with varying Nvidia 30-series cards. For our RTX 3080 and QHD 240Hz device, the results of the similar specs did fall short of its rival. While the Blade 15 Advanced could hit between 80-100fps on high settings at 1440p in Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, the GS66 Stealth settled around the 60-70fps mark.
We also found these differences when aiming for high FPS in Apex Legends where the MSI hit around 160fps compared to Razer’s 190fps. For improved frame rate, you can drop the resolution down to 1080p where you should get around 220fps or, even, venture down to 720p if you’re wanting to try and take as much advantage as possible of this 240Hz panel.
The performance difference is significant enough that the Razer Blade 15 is a clear winner on that front but the small variances in design may be particularly to your taste. Another deciding factor could be the keyboard. The keyboard once again sits between what the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 offers and the Razer – with it feeling like it offers a tad more travel and feedback than the Razer but still lacking in these areas compared to the Asus.
Pros: Impressive high refresh rate display; sleek stealthy design; decent keyboard
Cons: Underperforms compared to key rivals
Price: From £1,949 | Check price on Amazon | Overclockers
A capable budget option with a great keyboard
Weight: 2.3kg | Size: 23.9mm thick | Screen: 15.6in Full HD 144Hz IPS | RAM: Up to 16GB | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD | CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 | OS: Windows 10 Pro
The Acer Nitro 5 (from £800) has been a go-to budget gaming laptop for some years now and, even with the addition of the mighty Nvidia RTX 30-series range, Acer has managed to keep its prices down – only enhancing its appeal.
From the outside, with the lid closed, the Nitro 5 isn’t rolling anyone’s socks up and down – with a red accent to the rear for a pop of colours. It’s functional. Once open, it’s surprisingly pleasing to look at – thanks to one simple addition. The general look is basic but the keyboard caps have white around the edges and change colour according to your keyboard lighting options. The result is something a bit different from the bland black keys of most laptops when not backlit. When lit, the default red is also delightfully understated – dodging typical gaming laptop garishness, that is unless you tweak the settings yourself to amp up the colour.
The performance of the keyboard neatly matches the functional and sturdy nature of the rest of the Acer Nitro 5’s build. There’s a solid amount of travel and a decent amount of tactile feedback. The latter won’t wow but, at this price, it isn’t that far behind rivals priced about £1,500. Great for gaming and general use tasks alike.
Getting to the meat of things, this is an extremely capable device – music to the ears of anyone who doesn’t fancy spending more than £1,000 on a gaming laptop. Our test unit featured the RTX 3060 GPU and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, which comes in at a price of £1,100 – the lower-priced model opts for the Ryzen 5 5600H equivalent. The results are mightily impressive at this price – once again showcased the strength of a red and green (AMD and Nvidia) combo. You’ll get just over 60fps in titles like Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. Both look great in-game, with decent levels of detail and colour, although there is a general lack of contrast with this panel. If you’re looking for some high refresh rate goodness, this budget laptop delivers too. You may have to venture to fairly low graphical settings to use this display to its max capabilities but you can get 1080p 144fps out of this device. If you want a bit more graphical quality then you’ll have to dip into 720p.
This device is laser-focused on budget gaming and, as such, the SSD has been neglected here – offering rather poor speeds. That, alongside the lack of contrast, stops this from being a more well-rounded device but, for basic 1080p gaming at a great price, it remains a winner.
Pros: Capable gaming performance; impressive keyboard; functional design with neat touches
Cons: Low contrast display; poor SSD speeds
Price: From £800 | Check price on Amazon | Acer
The best option for creators
Weight: 2.5kg | Size: 21.4mm | Screen: 17.3in 4K HDR400 | RAM: 32/64GB | Storage: 1/2TB SSD | CPU: i7-10870H/i9-10980HK | GPU: i7-10870H/i9-10980HK | OS: Windows 10 Pro
Best-in-class gaming specs often line up nicely with another high performance-demanding workload – creative industry work. The Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR (from £2,700) lines up the best mobile components from Intel and Nvidia to produce a (somewhat) portable titan that’s a nice combo for creative professionals.
Let’s kick off with the headline feature in the name of this spec behemoth, the Aero 17 HDR offers an absolutely gorgeous 17.3-inch 4K HDR panel. The purpose of this laptop is content creation and it’ll bring out all those wonderful bright colours of your photos, videos or artwork. The panel isn’t OLED, so that may sway some who like to see vibrant colour turned up to the maximum but such panels can often err on the side of oversaturation – this display gets the balance right when accuracy is a key factor.
The performance of this laptop is absolutely remarkable but you really wouldn’t expect anything less, with the model we tested sporting the i9-10980HK processor and RTX 3080 – the best on offer for a laptop right now. If anything, the key point of this device is deciding whether you need this much horsepower, as it’s a high price and is really aimed at creative professionals – not even intermediate users need to fork out for this ultra-premium workstation. The cheaper i7/RTX 3070 model is more (sort of) modestly priced but many beginner to intermediate will still be able to get what they need for less – under the £2,000 mark.
Performance only falls short for the Aero 17 HDR in two potentially key areas, the SSD and speakers. The read speeds were lower than the majority of entries on this list – which isn’t ideal for a laptop aimed at creative professionals who regularly rely on data transfers. While the speakers are certainly better than most gaming laptops but fall well short of the impactful sound on the likes of the MacBook Pro 16.
While this laptop isn’t made for gaming and even features Nvidia’s specific Studio drivers for creative work (you can switch to Game Ready Drivers if you so choose), it completes modern games then shifts to New Game+ mode and beats it again with ease – owing quite a bit to the 60Hz limit of the 4K panel. 4K, high settings and 60fps on the latest games – no problem. For creatives who like to dabble in games, the option is here for you.
The design of the Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR is relatively unremarkable, taking some queues from the likes of the MSI GS66 Stealth and Razer Blade 15 with some added bulk. The lid does sport some diagonal lines that remove some of the style of this otherwise relatively classy design. Unlike those smaller laptops and their black finishes, the Gigabyte does seem to deal much better with fingerprints – for the others, you’ll often need a cloth handy. The webcam is also situated in quite a strange place, pointing upwards 45-degrees from the rear of the keyboard. Thankfully, there’s a fingerprint scanner on the trackpad to help you sign in a different way.
The keyboard is more akin to an ultrabook than a gaming laptop, which is the right move. It doesn’t offer a ton of feedback but for typing away or clicking those all-important shortcuts, it does as good of a job as is needed. The keys are also well spread out, making for a comfy typing experience overall. As a creator laptop, it would certainly be nice to have a larger trackpad as this one is rather small – but it functions just fine.
Pros: Peak laptop performance for creative pros; a stunning display; good keyboard
Cons: Average speakers; hard drive-worthy SSD read speeds
Price: From £2,700 | Check price on Amazon | Overclockers
The money-no-object gaming laptop
Weight: 2.48kg | Size: 20.9mm thick | Screen: 15.6in 4K 120Hz IPS | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: 2TB SSD | CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 | OS: Windows 10 Pro
In 2021, many gaming laptops are sold on the promise of their portability rather than their horsepower. That is absolutely not the case for the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE (£3,300) behemoth – a gaming laptop that is designed to wow onlookers and dominate games.
Before we even get to the radical design of this gaming tank, the internal specs are something to admire. The Zephyrus Duo 15 SE can wield the best mobile processor AMD has to offer, in the form of the Ryzen 9 5900HX, as well as Nvidia’s best too – the RTX 3080 mobile GPU. This is the top of the range combo offered by our test unit and the results were stunning to behold. Blockbuster games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and more are all playable in 4K, managing above 30 frames per second and with all graphical settings turned up. If you’re looking to take advantage of that 120Hz refresh rate then you’ll have to venture down to 1080p, where you’ll be able to get between 60fps and 100fps depending on the game.
If you’re looking to go beyond games and extend this impressive laptop’s graphical chops to image and video work then that’s well within its capabilities too. Aided by the GPU, the top-of-the-line AMD processor will gobble up most photo and video-editing workloads while intense multitasking won’t trouble the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE either.
Gaming, productivity, media consumption and editing all get a boost from this laptops unique design – offering up a second 14-inch display. Unlike some secondary displays, including some from Asus themselves, this large take on the formula actually feels pretty useful. First off, the resolution matches the main display and the “ScreenPad” is also raised up at an angle to more easily accommodate your eye line. Its substantial space allows for things like chat windows, additional in-game UI, editing timelines and more to sit comfortably within the screen, at a size that allows it to provide plenty of information at a glance.
The Zephyrus Duo 15 SE’s Achilles heel is the layout of the keyboard and trackpad. The outlandish design, including that sizeable second screen, means the keyboard is pushed to the front of the base. The positioning means your wrists have no support, making an extra wrist-rest a necessity. The keyboard and trackpad layout is also a little cramped – making the whole experience a tad uncomfortable.
From the price to the unique design, this laptop will certainly only appeal to the chosen few. Those with plenty of money to spare and a desire for a second screen won’t be disappointed with the performance of this specced-out beast. However, an uncomfortable typing experience might turn some away.
Pros: Heavy-duty gaming performance; impressive AMD processor; gorgeous 4K panel; actually useful secondary display
Cons: Poor battery life; flawed keyboard and trackpad
Price: £3,300 | Check price on Amazon | Asus
Gaming laptops: what to consider
Your first port of call should be to identify which graphics card you’re going to need. New Nvidia cards are now firmly entrenched in the majority of laptops, and top of the laptop stack is the RTX 3080. It’s always tempting to want the best hardware, and it’s worth seeking this if you want to play at top graphics settings, at 4K or at high frame-rates. However, if you’re an e-sports gamer or want to play older titles then it’s going to be overpowered, and not worth the cash.
The RTX 3070 is a great, balanced option that will handle virtually everything, while the RTX 3060 is a capable chip for 1080p gaming at the highest quality levels. You’ll also find cheaper laptops with last year’s Nvidia chips – ideal for esports and modest 1080p games.
If you’re going to be running tough games or want to do some work on your machine, you’ll also need a Core i7 CPU. It’s always worth getting 16GB of memory if you can afford it, and you should find a laptop with an SSD unless you’re on a very tight budget.
There’s a lot to think about on the outside. You’ll need to consider the screen: a 1080p panel won’t be as sharp as a 4K display, but it’ll be easier to run games at the former resolution. Similarly, it’s only really worth opting for a high-refresh-rate panel if you have a GPU that can run games at beyond 100fps.
Take a close look at the dimensions and weight if you’re going to take the machine on the road, and if you want to connect a mouse and other peripherals make sure you’ve got plenty of USB connections. Also examine the display outputs, because only certain connections will properly output to high-resolution screens or VR headsets.
There’s a stunningly broad selection of gaming laptops out there, at price points that range from as low as £600 to upwards of £2500, and many are fantastic. As such, not all of them make our recommended list, but some are worth highlighting for their unique features. Here’s a gaming laptop that might catch your eye but just slightly missed the mark.
Alienware m15 R4 Cherry (from £3,049): Dell’s Alienware brand caught a ton of attention when it announced a partnership with famed keyboard switch maker Cherry. Many gaming laptop fans have longed for an experience closer to a desktop mechanical keyboard. The m15 R4 with Cherry RGB keyboard almost delivers. The keyboard itself is in the top tier of gaming laptop keyboards, with bags of travel and unrivalled amounts of feedback. A small metallic clang as you type away is its only downside.
Unfortunately, the rest of the laptop just doesn’t provide enough value. The price is higher than most competitors and, while you do get stylish hardware, the performance results are disappointed. Aside from an immensely fast SSD, our testing showed the Intel 10th Gen Core i9 and RTX 3080 combo to fall below that team-up’s usual standards. This could be forgiven if you love the idea of the keyboard and this laptop’s design but we can’t fully recommend it due to just how warm it gets. The keyboard and, in particular, the black area towards the rear of the base of the device get uncomfortably warm under load. There are good ideas here and Alienware has already announced its next-gen X-series laptops so it’s worth keeping an eye on what’s to come from Dell’s gaming brand.
How much should you spend on a gaming laptop?
The category of gaming laptops offers a stunningly broad range of pricing – from as low as £600 all the way up to a few thousand pounds for some kitted out behemoths. Deciding how much you should spend really comes down to your budget and what you’re looking for performance-wise.
If AAA gaming at low to medium settings is your priority and you don’t care much for style or high-quality materials, you can pick up a machine for between £600-£800. While stylishness and added performance will see you spending upwards of £900. Medium to high settings and/or a decent 60fps will cost you at least £1,100. If you want the top games around looking near to their very best then it’ll be £1,500 and upwards – with the very best specs available taking you above £2,000 and it’ll likely be a large machine too.
Are gaming laptops good for video editing?
Absolutely, but you need to be mindful and reorganise your priorities regarding certain specifications. For example, you should focus more on laptops with higher refresh rates if gaming is your primary focus. However, for creative work, you should consider the quality of the panel itself. OLED, HDR and, even, 4K options may be more suitable when gaming isn’t your top priority.
Are gaming laptops are upgradeable?
Whether a gaming laptop is upgradeable will completely depend on the device you are buying. Many models are as they recognise users may want to add RAM or further storage – however, being able to replace a CPU or GPU is extremely rate. Definitely check this before you make a purchase if you’re hoping to upgrade at some point.
What screen size is best for gaming?
The best screen size for gaming is, for the most part, as big as possible. However, when you’re talking about a gaming laptop you’re likely thinking about portability and affordability too.
15.6in displays are very popular for gaming laptops and you can expect to find both 1080p and 1440p models. Some will notice the benefits of 1440p at this size but, at this size, it may be best to prioritise a higher frame rate instead – that’ll come down to personal preference though. 14in laptops are becoming more popular too, with Razer recently dipping back into the space. At an even smaller size, 1080p and a frame rate of 120fps and above is a great combo.
If you do want to go all-in on an immersive display, you can get 17.3in gaming laptops – with some at 4K resolution. These will make for impressive viewing but you won’t be moving them from place to place very often as they’ll likely be pretty heavy.
Are high refresh rate panels worth it for gaming laptops?
You should definitely be looking for a higher refresh rate panel on a gaming laptop these days, as they become more readily available and more affordable. Higher refresh rates provide smoother gameplay and truly come into their own in more competitive esports titles. More casual gamers should look to 120/144/165Hz panels, which are on offer at most gaming laptop manufacturers. If esports games take up a big chunk of your playtime and you’re an avid player, 240 and, even, 360Hz panels are available – with the former being a bit of a sweet spot and the latter remaining a tad bit overkill for now.
Should I get a gaming laptop with a 4K screen?
In all most all cases, the answer to this is no. Laptop displays are simply not large enough to warrant a 4K display and, with 1440p displays becoming more popular, making the big leap up to UHD from Full HD is even less necessary. It’s also better to prioritise refresh rate over resolution for most gamers.
The only argument for a 4K display on a gaming device is either that you have a laptop with a very large display – but even 17.3in laptops really don’t need 4K – and also if you plan to use the machine for quite a bit of creative work and a high resolution will benefit you there.
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