Choosing the best gaming laptops used to be a case because it was full of tradeoffs. You can get a lightweight laptop with an anemic performance or a powerful machine that pushes the boundaries of what you can call a laptop.
But gaming laptops have improved dramatically in recent years, mostly thanks to the GeForce graphics card from Nvidia, which brought graphics performance over laptops that didn’t leave gaming laptops in the dust.
Thanks to Nvidia’s Max-Q technology, one can even get laptops almost as thin and modern as the Dellin XPS 15 or 16-inch MacBook Pro 2020, and can still run modern triple-A games at high settings.
Of course, suppose you still want a super powerful gaming laptop designed more like a portable gaming station than the laptop. In that case, they’re still available only with seriously upgraded components.
In short, choosing one of the best gaming laptops is now easier than ever. Of course, there are still a few things to weigh, but take a look at our write-up below, and you are sure to find a machine that will meet your needs.
1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
- Display: 14-inches, 1920 x 1080
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9-4900HS
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
Meet the new king of gaming laptops. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has set a new benchmark for gaming laptops, an incredibly sleek design complemented by the best battery life we’ve ever seen in a laptop.
The battery lasted an incredible 11 hours and 32 minutes in our battery test; Not only is it exponentially better than the weak 3-4 hours we see on many gaming devices, but it also tracks some of the best gaming laptops.
But Zephyrus battery life is just one of the many reasons this is the best gaming laptop you can now buy. Its slim design is one of the smallest and lightest around.
It all includes an AMD Ryzen 9-49000HS processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q graphics processor capable of handling the latest 1080p PC games with settings improved.
Consider a wide range of attractive options for customizing RGB, a vivid display, and powerful speakers, and the ROG Zephyrus G14 is the ultimate gaming laptop you can buy.
Strength
- Excellent performance for gaming
- Super portable design
- Excellent 11-hour battery life
- Great display and audio
Weakness
- No webcam
- Keyboard has backlighting issues
- Fans could get loud
2. Alienware Area 51m
- Display: 17.3 inches, 1,920×1,080
- CPU: 9th Generation Intel Core i7- i9, 3.6-5 GHz
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060-2080
- RAM: 16-64GB
- Storage: 1TB-2x1TB SSDs+1TB SSHD
- Weight: 8.5 pounds
For gamers who need the highest graphics settings for any game on the market today, the Alienware Area 51m is designed to impress. It has several different settings, and they are all designed to run games smoothly.
The “weakest” GPU it offers is the GeForce RTX 2060, which is already overkill for modern games. The most powerful model of this machine is RTX 2080, which will last for a long time.
The Alienware Area 51m processor range goes from the robust Intel Core i7 processors to the even more powerful Core i9s, the lowest clocks reaching 3.6GHz and the highest clocks reaching 5GHz.
Likewise, the base system model includes an incredible 16GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to a preposterous 64GB.
This update capability is what sets the Alienware Area 51m apart. Unlike most laptops, you can upgrade this device’s working memory, storage, CPU, and GPU over time, giving this monster high mileage.
It’s not that you have to update soon; The specs of this machine are designed to keep you gaming at maximum settings for many years. Buy on amazon.com
Strength
- More horsepower than a horse
- Speedy SSDs
- Upgradeable
Weakness
- Expensive
- Fans could get loud
- Gets hot
3. Lenovo Legion Y7000
- Display: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080
- CPU: 2.2-GHz Intel Core i7-8750H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Weight: 5.3 pounds
The Lenovo Legion Y7000 is among the best gaming laptops for die-hard gamers who don’t want to break into the bank.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX GPU on this machine will ensure that you can play most modern games in maximum settings with a silky smooth frame rate.
You will be able to play nearly every game in a combination of medium and high. The machine also packs enough RAM (16GB) to make the system indispensable for several years.
Tiny storage space (256GB) is a huge drawback, especially since some modern games consume 100GB on their own. But the Y7000 offers decent overall value, making it one of the best laptop options for techs on a budget.
Strength
- Decent value
- Solid specs
- Comfy keyboard
Weakness
- Subpar audio
- Little storage
4. Acer Predator Triton 500
- Display: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080
- CPU: 10th gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super
- RAM: 32 GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Weight: 4.6 pounds
If you seek a high-end gaming laptop with excellent performance and a particularly good screen, the Acer Predator Triton 500 is among the best gaming laptops you can buy.
The latest Triton 500 stands out with a 15.6-inch 1080p display that looks great and has an incredible 300Hz refresh rate for playing the best PC games at frame rate.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Super GPU can carry the latest AAA titles at high graphics settings, and its tenth-generation i7 processor easily outperforms everyday productivity tasks.
There’s also its sleek black design, which includes plenty of connectors for connecting external monitors and peripherals. While its performance comes with the price of battery life and heat, the Triton 500 is an excellent high-end buy for exceptional performance and an even better screen.Buy on amazon.com
Strength
- Excellent screen
- Good gaming performance
- Lots of ports
Weakness
- Short battery life
- Keyboard gets hot
5. MSI GS65 Stealth slim
- Display: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080
- CPU: Intel Core i7-i9
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060-2080 Max-Q
- RAM: 16-32GB
- Storage: 512GB-1TB SSD
- Weight: 4.2 pounds
MSI has gotten pretty good at making super powerful gaming laptops, just look at the GS65 Stealth Thin. It weighs less than 5 pounds and less than an inch, and it all includes GPUs like Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2080. It is an exploit.
The downsides to this shabby but slim design are twofold: Not only is the Stealth Thin more expensive due to its compact nature (with only a 1080p display, no less), but the machine also heats up so much that it can inflame your skin naked.
So, put the laptop on your desk, or use a fire blanket on your lap before you start using it. Buy on amazon.com
Strength
- Slick and slim design
- Powerful hardware
Weakness
- 1080p display maximum
- Runs very hot
6. Razer Blade Pro 17
- Display: 17.3 inches, 1920 x 1080
- CPU: 2.6-GHz Intel Core i7-9750H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060-2080 Max-Q
- RAM: 16-64GB
- Storage: Dual 512GB SSDs
- Weight: 6.1 pounds
The Razer Blade Pro 17 answers the question, “What can you get if you upgrade your MacBook Pro to a gaming laptop?” With a slim design, the 17-inch laptop combines portability and power so that few laptops with a screen of this size can.
Although it’s only 0.8 inches thick, it still manages to accommodate the GeForce RTX graphics card’s capabilities, as well as powerful Intel processors and plenty of RAM.
Powerful hardware and sleek design support solid sound and build quality. It gets a little hot when you run at full throttle, hitting 115 degrees Fahrenheit on the low during high-intensity games.
This means that it is better to leave it on the table while playing demanding games than to leave it on your lap. It’s also far from cheap, and you can also pay for design and portability as much as you pay for power. So it’s hard to beat the Razer Blade Pro 17 for this. Buy on amazon.com
Strength
- Powerful hardware
- Slim design
- Good audio
Weakness
- Bad battery life
- Expensive
- Runs hot
7. Dell G5 15 SE
- Display: 15.6 inches, 1920×1080, 60Hz/144Hz
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H/Ryzen 5 4800H
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5600M
- RAM: 8-16GB
- Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
If you seek an affordable gaming laptop with good specs, it’s worth considering the Dell G5 15 SE, its understated name hides a high-performance machine, clad in a reasonably clean but modest chassis, for less than $1,000.
And despite its price, this machine can keep up with some more expensive gaming laptops, especially at 1080p. You can expect very playful frame rates like Shadow of the Tomb Raider when running at max settings.
Dell went for the AMD setup, with the Ryzen 5 4600H or 4800H for processing CPU tasks and the Radeon RX 5600M for graphics. The Dell G5 15 SE 2020 has up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD space, a high-performance gaming laptop.
The plastic’s performance may not scream ‘premium,’ but it still looks pretty crisp and could even be used twice as much as a powerful working machine if needed. Buy on amazon.com
Strength
- Great overall performance
- Impressive battery life
- Colorful display
- Very affordable
Weakness
- So-so speakers
- Keyboard can get cramped
- Poor plastic build
- Runs hot
8. Alienware m17 R2
- Display: 17.3 inches, 1920 x 1080
- CPU: Intel Core i5-i9, 2.4-2.6 GHz
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti-RTX 2080 Max-Q
- RAM: 8-16GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD-4TB
- Weight: 5.7 pounds
Like all Alienware gaming laptops, the Alienware m17 R2 is expensive. But for the price of the more fantastic m17 R2 models, you’ll get premium GeForce RTX GPUs, Core i9 processors, and more storage space than U-Haul settings.
What differentiates this laptop from the others we’ve listed, is the best-in-class battery life, which lasts around 4 hours. For gaming laptops with RTX technology, hitting the 4-hour mark is a success.
Plus, at less than 6 pounds, the m17 R2 isn’t impossible to pack in a backpack, making it worthwhile for on-the-go gamers who need ultra-high graphics on the go.
Strength
- Lightweight
- Strong battery life
- Strong hardware
Weakness
- Expensive
9. Acer Nitro 5
- Display: 15.6 inches or 17.3 inches, 1920 x 1080
- CPU: 2.4-GHz 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H or AMD Quad Core 2.1-GHz Ryzen 5 3550H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 560X
- RAM: 8GB-32GB
- Storage: 256GB-512GB SSD
- Weight: 5.7 pounds
A uniqueness in the gaming laptop scene, the Acer Nitro 5 offers excellent performance at a reasonable price for the masses: less than $900 for a model with Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU and less than $700 for a model with weaker AMD parts.
Any model can handle most modern games at maximum settings, frame rates similar to the magic mark of 60 fps, and they do so at a ridiculously small fraction of the cost of other laptops on this list.
For laptop gamers in support of AMD, the Nitro 5 is also a rare opportunity to ditch Nvidia and Intel together. Whether you’re a frugal customer who demands good value in their technology or an AMD fanatic who refuses to become the opposition, the Acer Nitro 5 can offer you something. Buy on amazon.com
Strength
- Affordable
- Offers an AMD option
- Stays cool while gaming
Weakness
- Bulky
- Weak audio
10. MSI GT75VR Titan
- Display: 17.3 inches, 1920×1080, 3840×2160
- CPU: 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7 – 7700HQ, 2.9-GHz Intel Core i7 – 7820HK
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080, Dual GeForce GTX 1070
- RAM: 16-64GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD, two 256GB SSDs+1TB HDD
- Weight: 10.1 pounds
While its specs don’t compare to the wallet equipped with the GeForce RTX 2080, which nibbles this list, and while it’s not even a “budget tweak,” there are some unique advantages that give the MSI GT75VR Titan an edge over the market that would otherwise be crowded.
This is a laptop with a setup that can give you a 4K display with Nvidia G-Sync enabled, which means tearing the screen will be a thing of the past when you enjoy the best resolutions in modern games.
Another significant advantage of the Titan is its comfortable keyboard. With this machine’s 2.6 millimeter start and 81 grams of cranking force, your fingers move around the keyboard with just enough touch resistance to make you feel content.
So if you want the best gaming laptop, Titan might just scratch you. Buy on amazon.com
Strength
- G-Sync display
- 4K available
- Great keyboard
Weakness
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Weak battery life
Conclusion
When selecting the best gaming laptop for yourself, keep a few things in mind.
First of all, the most important thing to consider in the best gaming laptops is how well the latest games run. In creating this list, we not only buried each laptop’s specs to check if it measured, but we also set benchmarks on each one to check raw performance.
The screen, sound quality, keyboard, touchpad, and laptop’s overall look are also important, so you should check all of these before you hit the buy button.
All the machines mentioned above made it on our list of the best gaming laptops in 2020. That means you can buy any one of the laptops on the list with confidence that you are acquiring one of the best gaming laptops that will last for years.
