The best gaming laptop is about getting the best gaming performance on the go, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be all about power.
Portability, style, and price all play a part in most gamers’ decisions, and it’s striking this perfect balance that makes the Razer Blade 14 (2024) my top pick for the best gaming laptop of 2024. Featuring powerful new hardware, classic Razer style, and the lightweight portability of a 14-inch form factor, you really can’t go wrong.
If you’re on a tighter budget, however, both the MSI Katana 15 and Acer Nitro 16 offer fantastic gaming performance for the price. And if you’re after a true desktop replacement, then the MSI GT77 Titan has you covered with absolutely mind-numbing performance thanks to its RTX 4090 GPU, though it’s so heavy it’s really better off left on your desk.
I’ve been reviewing laptops for years now, and I’ve extensively tested all the best gaming laptops on the market over the years, I’m here to help you find the right gaming laptop whatever your needs or budget.
The Quick List
The Razer Blade 14 offers the perfect balance of performance, price, and portability with an iconic design that’s made the Blade 14 one of the most popular gaming laptops in the world. It won’t give you desktop replacement-level performance, but for gaming on the go, it’s as good as it gets.
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The best midrange gaming laptop
While it might not pack the same kind of hardware found in more expensive gaming laptops, the Lenovo Legion 5 Slim showed powerful gaming performance in our tests, and for the price, you really can’t do better if you’re looking to spend less than two grand.
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The best budget gaming laptop
For less than a grand, we were surprised by how strong the Katana 15’s 1080p performance was in our testing, making it a fantastic gaming laptop for those on a tighter budget. It’s not perfect, especially when it comes to battery life, but it will play the latest AAA titles at 1080p on high settings with ease.
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The best custom-design gaming laptop
In addition to getting some high-end hardware like an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, this gaming laptop from Origin PC lets you pick from more than a dozen different lid designs and they’ll even work with you to include your own custom design for the lid.
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The best affordable midrange laptop
Midrange laptops generally keep things between one to two grand, and this Acer Nitro 16 gets you some great midrange configuration options for slightly more than you’d pay for the best budget gaming laptops, though it does come at the price of upgradability down the road.
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The best desktop replacement
If you’re looking for a gaming laptop that will outperform many of the best gaming PCs, then look no further. The Titan is an absolute monster with 4K display and an RTX 4090 GPU to power the best PC games at 4K with few compromises — other than its obscenely high price.
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May 2, 2024
I added the updated MSI Titan 18 HX as my pick for the best desktop replacement.
John Loeffler
John (He/Him) is TechRadar’s Components Editor and has been reviewing computer hardware with TechRadar for several years. As our component lead, he is responsible for testing any and all components that hit the market, including GPUs, CPUs, storage drives, and more. He has extensively tested all of the external hard drives on this list, and chose each based on these test results as the best in their category.
How to choose the best gaming laptop for you
Suggested GPU for 60 fps per resolution
1080p: Nvidia RTX 4050/4060 GPU
1440p: Nvidia RTX 4070/4080 GPU
2160p: Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU
Selecting the best gaming laptop is straightforward if you have a substantial budget, but finding a high-quality gaming laptop becomes more challenging with limited funds. Fortunately, the market now offers more budget-friendly CPUs and GPUs that don’t skimp on power.
For all resolutions, 16GB RAM and at least 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD storage is recommended. 8GB RAM isn’t going to be enough for gaming, and many modern PC titles can use up 100GB of storage, so 512GB might not be enough for your game library. You’ll also need an Intel Core i5 or Core 5 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, at minimum, but an Intel Core i7/Core 7/Core 7 Ultra processor or the AMD Ryzen 7 equivalent is recommended.
For 1080p gaming, to get 60 fps on most games at their highest settings, you’ll need at least an Nvidia RTX 4050 or AMD Radeon RX 7600M GPU, though an Nvidia RTX 4060 or AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT is preferred.
For 1440p gaming, to get 60 fps on most games on max graphical settings, you’ll need to make sure you have at least an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, though an RTX 4080 is better, and for AMD, a Radeon RX 7900M will be enough for 1440p gaming.
For 2160p (4K) gaming, you’ll need a bare minimum of an Nvidia RTX 4080 or AMD RX 7900M GPU, but to ensure that you’re getting consistent 60 fps on most modern PC titles, you’re going to need an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU.
Which component matters most for gaming laptops?
While all components play their part in your gaming experience, the GPU is the one component most directly tied to how many frames per second you’ll be able to get for a given resolution, so this should be your focus, with RAM and CPU following after, then storage. You won’t need more than a 1440p display for the most part, and a 1080p display on a laptop is more than enough for a great gaming experience.
Is it worth it to get a gaming laptop?
Definitely. The gap between gaming PCs and mobile devices has significantly narrowed, as laptops have become both more compact and more powerful. If you’re looking for a device that saves space and offers portability, yet still packs enough power to handle everything from less demanding games to the most graphically-intensive titles, one of the top gaming laptops should be on your list.
How we tested these gaming laptops
Why you can trust TechRadar
☑️ 100s of gaming laptops reviewed
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Evaluating a gaming laptop is more complex than it might seem, much like the process of choosing the right one. We approach this task with the utmost seriousness, even if it involves extensive gaming – a necessary sacrifice, of course.
In our rigorous testing process, every gaming laptop undergoes thorough evaluation to ensure it lives up to its promises and justifies your investment. This involves not only playing the latest and most popular games to assess gaming and thermal performance but also conducting synthetic benchmarks like PCMark 10, 3DMark, and Geekbench 5, along with battery life tests.
We also scrutinize the laptop’s peripherals. This includes checking the display’s quality and response time, the comfort and responsiveness of the keyboard, the availability and variety of ports, the overall design, and the webcam’s performance for potential game streaming use.
Finally, we weigh all these factors against the laptop’s price. We assess if its performance and features justify the cost and whether it offers the best value to customers.
The best gaming laptop in 2024: In-depth
The best gaming laptops in 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best gaming laptop in our list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best gaming laptop overall
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Buy it if:
✅ You want the best 14-inch gaming laptop: The Blade 14 (2024) continues to be the best laptop for gaming on the go.
✅ You want a stylish gaming laptop: This gaming laptop eschews all the gamer RGB for a more elegant gamer aesthetic.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’re on a budget: The Blade 14 (2024) starts off more expensive than its predecessor, and the 2023 model wasn’t cheap either.
❌ You want better battery life: The overall battery life on the Blade 14 (2024) manages to underperform its predecessor.
The Razer Blade 14 is back for 2024 with a new CPU and the same classic style that makes this laptop such a hit with gamers. Machined from a single block of CNC aluminum, this is easily one of the most well-built gaming laptops on the market, and the fact that it’s as lightweight and portable as it is immediately draws comparisons to a MacBook Pro.
While the latest hardware refresh in this year’s Blade 14 doesn’t completely outpace its predecessor, it does beat it by a respectable margin — as well as outperforming every other 14-inch gaming laptop we’ve tested so far this year. Given Razer’s pedigree, it’s safe to say that I expect Razer’s lead here to be secure for many months to come.
In terms of the laptop’s actual performance, the RTX 4070 GPU in the unit I tested was capable of running at an average of 73 FPS during Assassin’s Creed Mirage on its highest settings and at the Blade 14’s native 2560x1600p resolution. It stumbled a bit on Cyberpunk 2077 at native resolution, coming in with 23 FPS on average, but this is still way more than its competitors and DLSS 3 will be more than able to get you a playable framerate at native resolution.
The only major disappointment here is its battery life, which is expected given that this is a gaming laptop. The Blade 14 (2023) managed to grind out just over eight hours of battery life with light use, while the Blade 14 (2024) only managed about six and a half. It is a gaming laptop, though, so battery life was never going to be its strongest category, and its outstanding performance everywhere else makes this a very easy gaming laptop to recommend — assuming you’re willing to pay the premium price.
Read the full Razer Blade 14 (2024) review
The best thin and light gaming laptop
Buy it if:
✅ You want an easy-to-carry laptop: The 14-inch screen and uncumbersome weight makes this laptop extremely easy to carry around.
✅ You want great performance: For its size, the performance is great, scoring well on every benchmark an offering solid frame rates at even the highest settings.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a better webcam: The webcam in this is pretty average, especially if you plan on using it to livestream.
❌ You want ray tracing: Though general performance is quite good, it doesn’t play nice with ray tracing options.
For those who want it all, the Lenovo Legion 5 Slim 14 delivers in nearly every category including size, price, performance, and aesthetic. The Legion 5 Slim 14 is an excellent budget laptop that’s ridiculously portable thanks to its 14-inch display and lightweight form factor. The pricing is especially affordable compared to most other gaming laptops on the market this generation.
The Legion 5 Slim 14 already starts with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU that can be upgraded to a Ryzen 9, and the GPU goes up to the RTX 4060, meaning that both productivity and gaming performance are high. The latter especially, as both benchmark scores and general framerate are excellent, and we found that we could max out settings in any AAA title we tested it with. It also performed well in non-gaming benchmarks, meaning it can handle creative and editing projects just fine. Its gorgeous display supports both gaming and creative work thanks to its excellent resolution, 100%DCI-P3 color gamut, HDR support, up to 500 nits of brightness, and 120Hz refresh rate.
However, there are a few caveats to keep in mind. One is its less-than-stellar ray tracing performance – as soon as you enable it the framerate on any title plummets. Its battery life is another oddity, as it tends to be wildly inconsistent depending on what tasks are performed on the laptop. And finally, despite it being lightweight and small, it’s a little on the thicker side.
Read the full Lenovo Legion 5 Slim 14 review
The best budget gaming laptop
Buy it if:
✅ You want good 1080p performance: This laptop is more than capable of playing the latest PC games at full HD.
✅ You’re looking for your first gaming laptop: While not the most stylish, its performance is ideal for first-time buyers.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want the best of the best: With the entry-level specs, don’t expect to get top-tier performance.
❌ You care about portability: This laptop is a bit on the heavy side, so don’t expect to carry it around much.
The MSI Katana 15 (2023) brings accessible 1080p gaming in a laptop, especially for those not keen on spending over $1,000 for a gaming device. Resembling the bold designs of pre-pandemic gaming laptops, it focuses on essential gaming performance. It’s a top choice for budget gamers, despite some style and battery compromises. Priced starting at $999, it features a 13th-Gen Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, and a 1TB SSD, outperforming similarly priced laptops with older specs.
Alternatives like the Acer Nitro 5, with slightly older components, offer cheaper but less powerful options. The MSI Katana 15 also has pricier versions, with the highest model at $1,899, offering an Intel Core i9, 32GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 4070, though still limited to a 1080p display. Configurations vary by region, with different processor generations and price points.
Despite its bulk and dated design, the Katana 15 prioritizes gaming performance. Its thermal design effectively cools both CPU and GPU. Performance-wise, it impresses, handling demanding games like Control and Far Cry 6 smoothly, with minor adjustments needed for games like Cyberpunk 2077. The Katana 15, while not without its limitations, offers a balanced gaming experience, showcasing how it effectively blends power and affordability.
Read the full MSI Katana 15 (2023) review
The best custom-design gaming laptop
Buy it if:
✅ You want a thin and light gaming laptop: It weighs surprisingly little for its specs and can easily carry around.
✅ You want great performance: Performance scores high on every benchmark with high frame rates at highest settings.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a better webcam: The webcam is pretty average, so not great for livestreaming.
❌ You want a better ventilation system: It mostly warm, but it will run hot under stress.
There aren’t many build-to-order gaming laptops out there, but the Origin EON 16SL is easily the best of them, with a strong balance between performance, form factor, and reasonable pricing, all of which are competitive or superior to similar laptops on the market. Its aesthetics also set it apart from other gaming laptops, as its front plate can be completely customized to your liking.
Our review unit performed incredibly well thanks to its solid specs, which got us to hit more than 90 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 on high settings at 1080p, and well over 60fps with ‘Ray Tracing Overdrive.’ The 16-inch display is QHD+ with an incredible 240Hz refresh rate, ensuring that gameplay is smooth and stutter-free.
As excellent as the Origin EON 16SL is, it does have two issues. The first is an absolutely average webcam, which requires great lighting for decent image quality, and the ventilation, while solid for normal gaming sessions, isn’t perfect and can rapidly heat up on the underside during intense and long sessions.
Read the full Origin EON 16SL review
The best lower-midrange gaming laptop
Buy it if:
✅ You’re a competitive gamer: The RTX 4050 GPU and 165Hz refresh rate are great for eSports.
✅ You’re on a tight-ish budget: You won’t spend a lot to get decent gaming performance, especially at 1080p.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You value portability: This is one very bulky gaming laptop.
❌ You’re tired of the ‘gamer’ aesthetic: A lot of great laptops have dated, ‘gamer’ designs, but this one is a bit more dated than some others.
With an outstanding mix of specs, speedy display, and fantastic price for its midrange configuration, the Acer Nitro 16 is one of the best laptops for gaming for those with enough money to do a midrange machine, but only just barely.
The Nitro 16 will get you excellent 1080p gaming performance, especially thanks to a speedy 165Hz display that makes it perfect for esports and other competitive titles. Not a lot of gaming laptops for under $1,500/£1,500/AU$2,100 can say that.
Still, there are trade-offs, and the more aggressive ‘gamer’ design on the Nitro 16 really could have used more innovation rather than stick with what gaming laptops have been doing for the past several years. It’s webcam isn’t great either, and it’s a rather bulky machine to the point where it might have been a desktop replacement if it had better specs. Still, if you’re looking just past the ‘budget’ horizon for your next gaming laptop, this is an excellent choice.
Read the full Acer Nitro 16 review
The best desktop replacement gaming laptop
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Buy it if:
✅ You want the best gaming performance around: The Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia RTX 4090, and 2400p mini LED display make this a gaming powerhouse.
✅ You want lots of future-proofing: With this level of specs plus a PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD slot and 4K+ display, you’ll be gaming on this laptop for a very long time.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want something affordable: Even the starting price of this laptop will put it out of range for all but a small handful of people.
❌ You want something portable: This laptop isn’t just heavy, it’s 18-inch display means it won’t fit in just about any backpack.
The MSI Titan 18 HX is an absolute monster of a gaming laptop, easily outperforming any of its competition by the numbers, and with a gorgeous 4K+ mini LED display, it’s easily the best 18-inch gaming laptop I’ve ever tested.
All those top-tier specs and performance come at a cost though, as the MSI Titan 18 HX starts at almost $5,000/£5,000/AU$7,000, easily making it the most expensive gaming laptop I’ve seen all year. Is it worth it? That’s entirely your call, but if what you’re after is gaming performance that can surpass many of the best gaming PCs out there right now, this really is as good as it gets.
In my testing, the Titan 18 HX was able to easily achieve 60 FPS at 4K in many of the best PC games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and with DLSS 3, you’ll even be able to close to or surpass 60 FPS on games like Cyberpunk 2077 and F1 2023 when ray tracing is set to max.
Understandably, its battery life is terrible, but that really shouldn’t be a concern since you’re rarely going to take this beast off your desk and onto battery power unless you’re going into another room in your house.
But, if you’re looking for the best desktop replacement on the market, there’s really no competition.
Read the full MSI Titan 18 HX review
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