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If you’re a PC gamer, then you know that having a good gaming laptop is essential. But what makes a good gaming laptop? Well, there are a few things to consider.
First and foremost, you need to make sure that the laptop has enough power to handle the games you want to play. That means getting a machine with a powerful processor and graphics card.
Second, you’ll want to make sure that the laptop has a good screen. After all, you’re going to be staring at it for hours at a time. So get one with a high resolution and good color reproduction.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure that the laptop is comfortable to use. That means getting one with a good keyboard and trackpad.
In the sea of various tech brands today, it’s pretty hard to choose which laptop is the best for you. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best laptops for gaming for 2022. No matter what features you’re looking for or what budget you’re on, here are the best ones in the market that you might want to consider.
The MSI GE76 Raider is as near as you’re going to come to a laptop with desktop-level capability, but you might have to shell out a lot of cash to get it. What makes it great is that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX3060 and Intel Core i7-11800H 8 Core are two of its top-of-the-line components. The Raider boasts a sizable RGB light bar on the front, which – when combined with per-key lighting – creates a striking effect in the dark.
Depending on configuration options, you may want to think about a 1440p or 4K display instead of the 17.3-inch, 1080p display that can go up to 360 Hz, which is fantastic for esports players. Its price, however, is something that’ll make you want to tear up. That’s a lot of money to spend on a laptop, but it also has some of the best performance we’ve seen.
Strong CPU and GPU performanceHas plenty of portsStriking RGB light bar
Display is dimmer than prior modelExpensive
The “Advanced” and “Base” models from Razer’s Blade 15 portfolio have been eliminated, but the remaining model is still a very good, thin, and fashionable gaming laptop. The Blade 15 is still a fan favorite because of its thin design and powerful performance (the model we evaluated had an Intel Core i7 12800H and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti). There are still a number of connectors available, including Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-C, and Type-A, as well as an SD card reader, allowing for lots of peripheral extensions and additional game storage.
Even though we discovered other competitive gaming laptops performed better in non-gaming evaluations, it would still be fantastic for productivity. You do have to pay more to achieve Razer’s high-end appearance and feel. Although expensive, it has long had a place among our top gaming laptops for a reason.
Excellent build qualityGreat webcam and ports
Competitors have better screensPricey
The Alienware x17 R2 is equipped with the most potent components currently available, including an Intel Core i9-12900HK and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The laptop performed well in our assessment, both for productivity and gaming. The design of Alienware, which debuted last year, is beautiful. The laptop appears modern and minimalist, but it is still unmistakably a gaming notebook. Nevertheless, it is a little heavier than other rivals, weighing in at 6.82 pounds, so you may not want to carry it around much.
Excellent productivity and gaming performanceStunning design
ExpensiveA bit larger and heavier than the competition
For those on a low budget, the Acer Nitro 5 has long been our favorite gaming laptop. As long as you’re willing to play some games at lower settings, the most recent model we tested with an Intel Core i5 8300H and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 gives respectable performance for the price. The Nitro 5 now features a new, more mature design from Acer. It doesn’t shout as loudly that it is a gaming notebook because it is less angular and has fewer red accents.
It’s good to see a more restrained look on a gaming laptop that costs $799.99 because that aesthetic has grown in popularity with high-end laptops. Those who like that sort of thing may still use the RGB-illuminated keyboard, don’t worry. Inside, there is also some potential for improvement. For those who want to open the laptop and add a 2.5-inch hard drive or SSD, Acer supplies a SATA connector in the box. Additionally, the Wi-Fi card, NVMe SSD, and RAM are all easily accessible. The substantial quantity of bloatware that Acer placed on this item is a major drawback for budget buyers. You might want to take your time getting rid of some of the frills.
AffordableClean designDecent performance for the price
Way too much bloatwareDisplay is a little washed out
By skillfully balancing what is available at the very low end of gaming laptops, HP’s Victus 15 earns a spot on this list. We conducted our testing using a laptop that cost $799.99 and had an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050. You can’t expect brilliance for about $840.00, though. The majority of games will run at least on medium settings, while some must be set to low from the moment you purchase them. However, you get a 1080p, 144 Hz display for games that the RTX 3050 can push to high frame rates.
When you need to use the Victus for productivity tasks, such as those at work or school, that 12th Gen H-series Intel processor is no wimp. You may get the most value out of the Victus if you want to spend as little money as possible. While you won’t get the greatest display or webcam available, you will spend far less than $1,000. Make sure your purchase has dual-channel RAM, if at all possible. This may be customized in some retailers, like HP’s, and should slightly enhance performance.
Strong entry-level gamingSolid performanceStarts relatively inexpensive
Could use a better display and webcamLots of pre-installed software
A tiny PC like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 can be perfect for you if you’re a mobile PC gamer. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 in the Zephyrus are in addition to the company’s exclusive features like SmartShift (which switches power between the CPU and GPU) and SmartAccess Memory. In the most recent upgrade, Asus included a webcam, which was conspicuously absent from earlier models.
This, of course, is a huge plus, particularly to those who stream their games. The 16:10 aspect ratio has also been adopted by the all-AMD model. As for its battery, Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 can run for more than 10.5 hours. This means that when you aren’t playing games, you can use this laptop all day. However, the pricing is a little high, which makes it unideal for PC gamers who are on a budget. But it sure is worth its price.
Long battery lifeSleek, portable designHas webcam
Some keyboard touchpoints run uncomfortably warmPricey
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE is the ideal choice if you want top-tier esports performance. Yes, it’s pricey, but with its Intel Core i9-12950HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, this laptop can handle the demanding visuals of high-end games while also pushing the boundaries of esports. With this laptop, you can play video games at high resolution, high frame rate, or a combination of the two on a 2560 x 1440, 240 Hz monitor.
Despite having many gamer-oriented features, including a lot of RGB, some see-through plastic, and certain designs that glow when exposed to UV light, the design is functional. The only drawback is that there isn’t a webcam; you’ll need to purchase it separately if you need one, especially if you plan to stream. The abundance of connectors, including Thunderbolt 4, many USB Type-A ports, USB Type-C, HDMI 2.1, and an Ethernet socket, was another feature we enjoyed.
Powerful componentsFunctional designPlenty of ports
No webcam
With a screen that can flip between high resolution for more cinematic games and a fast refresh rate for esports, the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro provides outstanding performance. It has a 16-inch, 2560 x 1600 panel with a maximum frequency of 165 Hz. Although it’s not the quickest performance we’ve seen on a gaming laptop, it strikes a good balance. Intel is indicated by the I in 5i Pro. An Intel Core i7-12700H and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti were used for testing.
A 512 GB SSD and 16 GB DDR5 RAM were also included in our setup. The battery life of the Legion pleasantly impressed us as it can last up to seven and a half hours, which is longer than most gaming PCs. That implies that you might utilize it for a variety of purposes as a productivity tool (especially in conjunction with the tall 16:10 screen to see your work). You could desire a set of the best gaming headsets because the audio wasn’t particularly good, especially if you plan to stream your gaming experience. Other than that, this system is a master in all things gaming, hence its inclusion on this list.
Strong gaming performance165 Hz display is nice and brightLong battery life for non-gaming uses
Weak audioComes with a lot of bloatware
Asus’ most recent ROG Zephyrus Duo features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 and AMD’s top-tier RYzen 9 5900HX processor for strong results, along with a second screen that rises up to increase ventilation and enhance cooling. The two displays are both vibrant and colorful, and it has a good battery life of a little over 4 hours and 52 minutes. This is quite impressive for a gaming notebook. Like the majority of dual-screen laptops on the market, the keyboard and mouse are in an uncomfortable position (most people will likely use an external mouse for gaming). So you’ll have to weigh the benefits of a more challenging typing experience vs. that second screen, which is wonderful for chat programs, gaming guides, or music apps. However, if you plan to stream or you need a webcam, the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE GX551 might not be the one for you as it doesn’t have one. But, overall, it’s a decent gaming laptop that you can use for a good PC gaming experience.
Excellent productivity performanceBright, colorful displaysGood battery life
No webcamInput devices are awkward
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