The best gaming laptop brands diligently craft machines with key features in mind: performance, design, durability, and portability. If you have the budget, a Razer gaming laptop is a solid choice, but the configurations can get expensive. Lenovo and MSI, on the other hand, offer a broader range of laptops that cater to a wider range of budgets if you’re looking for a cheaper gaming laptop. With Microsoft recently announcing its line of Copilot+ laptops, there’s even more choice when it comes to deciding on your gaming laptop.
The top gaming laptop brands:
1. Razer
The MacBook of gaming laptops
Razer Blade 14
8
The Razer Blade 14 is the perfect example of where Razer excels: luxurious design.
Pros:
- Excellent performance and portability
- Gorgeous designs
Cons:
- Every Razer gaming laptop is quite expensive
If you can handle the price of its laptops, Razer is the best gaming laptop brand, period. Razer’s most affordable series, the Razer Blade 14, starts from $1,599.99, with some models easily exceeding $2,999.99.
Built with aluminum unibody frames, Razer’s gaming laptops are incredibly durable, yet still look stylish and deliver incredible performance. Razer is traditionally known for gaming peripherals, like gaming keyboards, gaming mice, and gaming headsets; as you might expect, Razer’s laptops are built with high-quality gaming keyboards, generous trackpads, and eye-popping displays.
Razer is a solid choice for creatives too. The Razer Blade 18, for example, can be specced up to include a GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, QHD+ 240Hz display, 13th-Gen Intel Core i9 CPU, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM.
Everything you need, from clean audio to powerful performance, is available across its range of laptops. To keep things simple, Razer makes just three laptops: Razer Blade 14, 16, and 18, each corresponding to the screen size.
Portable performance comes in the shape of the Razer Blade 14; despite its smaller size, it isn’t the cheapest of Razer’s gaming laptops. If you’re not worried about size and portability, however, the Razer Blade 18 is our favorite Razer laptop. Dubbed the “ultimate desktop replacement,” you can configure the device with beastly specs.
2. Asus
It’s called the Republic of Gaming for a reason
ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024)
5
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is an extremely powerful laptop, and it’s gorgeous to boot.
Pros:
- Plenty of variety
- High performance
Cons:
- ROG laptops can get expensive
From computer components to handheld consoles like the ROG Ally, Asus offers almost everything you’d need to create an entire gaming setup. ASUS offers three ranges of gaming laptops: ROG Flow, ROG Zephyrus, and ROG Strix. The Flow laptops are perfect if you value portability. These thin and lightweight laptops can travel with you wherever you go and can be specced to your liking, whether you’re looking for a high-end 4K display or a more affordable FHD display.
Asus’ Zephyrus range of laptops boasts incredible performance; there are literally hundreds of different combinations you can choose from, ensuring you find the right laptop for your needs. But if you want the best of the best, then the Strix series is a no-brainer. You can expect powerful CPU/GPU combos, next-gen hardware, and Asus’ classic gaming design.
Since Asus offers such a large range of gaming laptops, they are suitable for most people. Whether you’re in the market for a cheaper laptop to play casual games or you can afford to invest in a future-proof gaming laptop, the options are almost endless.
Asus’ best gaming laptop has to be the ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024). These laptops come pre-installed with Windows 11, Intel Core i9 14th-Gen processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs, and seriously sexy 18-inch 2.5K Nebula HDR displays.
3. Alienware/Dell
Alienware is still great, even in 2024
Alienware m18 R2
3
If you want a desktop replacement gaming laptop that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, the Alienware m18 is it.
Pros:
- Unique designs
- Generally high performance
Cons:
Alienware, owned by Dell, has produced desktops, laptops, monitors, and accessories over the years. Starting at $1,399.99, Alienware’s range of gaming laptops is nowhere near as vast as Asus, but slightly more affordable if you want a high-end machine.
Alienware’s gaming laptops are split between the X and M series. If you want a lightweight yet powerful laptop, the X series is a must-have. Built with aluminum shells like the Razer Blade laptops, a similar Alienware laptop is a bit cheaper.
If you’re not too fussed about looks, Alienware’s M series delivers solid high-performance laptops with RTX 4060 to 4090 configurations starting from $1,899.99. Of course, you can absolutely splurge if you really want to, with an Intel Core i9 14th-Gen CPU, Windows 11 Pro, RTX 4090 GPU, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, 8TB NVMe, and an 18-inch QHD+ display. But this will cost you upwards of $4,300. That’s a lot for a laptop, but it is a powerful desktop replacement.
To play AAA PC games and set you firmly in the realm of gaming laptop territory, the Alienware x16 is a solid option. You get the thinness of the X series with high-performance specs, and a decent-sized display. But if you want the best gaming laptop Alienware has to offer, then the Alienware m18 R2 is our top pick.
4. Lenovo
The underdog pick
Legion Pro 7i
4
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is a sleek gaming laptop that has performance chops, despite its low-key exterior.
Pros:
- Better performance for the money
- Incredible keyboards
Cons:
If you want a great value laptop, Lenovo is a hard brand to beat. Its LOQ range starts from around $650 which will net you a Ryzen 5 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 15.6-inch FHD display. No, you might not be able to play the latest AAA titles on ultra or high settings, but you’ll definitely be able to enjoy a good range of games. And at that price, it’s really hard to say no.
However, it is Lenovo’s Legion range that turns heads in terms of quality and performance. This range is largely split into two: the Pro and Slim lines. The Pro laptops are designed for performance, whereas the Slim laptops are designed to be more portable. Even so, Lenovo’s Legion Pro gaming laptops aren’t going to burn as large a hole in your wallet as you might think.
The cheapest Legion Pro laptop comes in at just under $1,000. For this, you can get an Intel Core i5 13th-Gen CPU, Windows 11, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB of RAM, and a 16-inch WQXGA display. If you can stretch your budget by around $300, you’ll be surprised at how much more is on offer compared to the LOQ range. But that’s what Lenovo does so well, it considers a wide range of users and cater to them all.
If you want the best of what Lenovo has to offer, then the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 is where we’d spend our money. On top of the high-end specs, Lenovo packs these laptops with Legion Coldfront 5.0; ultimate cooling that’s capable of powerful performance. The per-key RGB backlit keyboard is absolutely stunning, and somewhat a priority if you’re a gaming enthusiast. The 240Hz refresh rate screen coupled with Lenovo’s AI Engine+ ensures optimized gaming performance for maximum FPS.
5. MSI
Embracing the ‘gamer’ aesthetic
MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
5
If you want to get in on the AI PC revolution, but still want to get some gaming in during your downtime, check out the new Stealth 18.
Pros:
- Excellent performance on average
- Wide variety of laptops
Cons:
- Some MSI laptops feel plasticky
While it might not be as popular as Razer or Asus, MSI can certainly give these brands a run for their money when it comes to the best gaming laptops. If you’re into esports, then MSI, which bills itself as the “most trusted name in esports,” might tip the scales.
Now, if you’re looking for choice, MSI might offer even more than Asus. There are eight different series of laptops, as well as limited edition machines. The Cyborg 15 for instance starts at around $789, whereas the Titan 18 exceeds $5,300. Whatever you choose, you can rest safe in the knowledge that MSI laptops come with some pretty neat features.
Its innovative cooling system includes two fans and six heat pipes to offer optimal performance. This is further backed by the dedicated vapor chamber that cools the CPU and GPU, reducing temperature and noise.
In terms of display, MSI’s latest laptops come with the world’s first 18-inch 4K Mini LED 120Hz display. It offers DisplayHDR 1000, 1,000 nits of brightness, 100% DCI P3, and local dimming. For some, audio isn’t everything, but if you don’t have a gaming headset or would prefer not to be tethered to yet another accessory, MSI’s Stealth 14 AI Studio A1V comes with two speakers and two woofers for immersive surround sound.
If you’re ready to go all out and invest in one of MSI’s best laptops, our recommendation would be the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio. These laptops can be configured up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 18-inch 4K Mini LED display, magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis, and MSI’s AI engine.
How to choose the best gaming laptop brand
Once you know what you want from your gaming laptop (next-gen hardware, RGB lighting, etc.), choosing becomes a lot easier to narrow down. Try looking at your favorite games on Steam and see what the minimum and recommended requirements are — that’s a great place to understand how powerful your gaming laptop needs to be.
On paper, Razer is one of the most popular brands, but it might not be right for everyone, especially on a tighter budget. Asus and Lenovo are both gaming laptop brands that offer a range of different models, catering to wider audiences. You can still get a decent gaming laptop under both brands, while sticking to a budget of or around $1,000.
Gaming laptop brands FAQs
Which brand is best for gaming laptops?
Razer is well known for its powerful peripherals and computer accessories, so it’s no wonder its laptops are high-performance machines. Razer doesn’t compromise on quality, but for this reason, its laptops tend to be more expensive.
Are gaming laptops worth it?
If you specifically want a laptop that can handle certain games — because perhaps you have limited space or you enjoy gaming without being tied down to a computer desk — then a gaming laptop is absolutely worth it. They can easily rival desktop PCs in terms of their components; you just need to find the right one for your requirements.
What is the lifespan of a gaming laptop?
Gaming laptops generally last for about five years. Really, though, it depends on how you use it, the latest hardware that gets released, and the requirements of the most recent AAA titles.
Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.
