Gaming laptops have gone from being ugly bricks to sleek machines that can match the power of desktops. If you’re looking to get crazy high framerates, or if you just want to revel in the glory of real-time ray tracing, you’ll definitely be able to find a gaming laptop that suits your needs. And it’s also easier than ever to connect them to TVs and monitors for big-screen gaming.
One of the biggest advantages of a gaming laptop is its flexibility. You don’t need to worry about bulky setups or being tethered to one spot. Plus, with features like high refresh rate displays, powerful GPUs and cutting-edge processors, these machines are more than capable of handling AAA titles, eSports and even VR gaming. Many gaming laptops now come equipped with RGB-lit keyboards, advanced cooling systems and next-gen SSD storage to keep up with your gaming needs, too. We’ve tested a number of the latest gaming laptops to see which are worth your money.
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Best gaming laptops for 2025
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget 91 100 Expert Score Best gaming laptop overall ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Read our full ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 review CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX | GPU: Up to NVIDIA RTX 5080 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: 1TB | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Display: 14-inch 3K OLED | Weight: 3.3lb | Battery life: Up to 10 hours Since its debut, the ASUS Zephyrus G14 has delivered the best balance of power, design and affordability we’ve seen in the gaming laptop arena. This year, ASUS has continued that trend, delivering a gorgeous notebook that can be equipped with NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 or 5070 Ti GPUs, as well as AMD’s modern AI CPUs. That’s enough power to play modern AAA titles at the G14’s full 3K resolution. The G14’s build quality now feels as solid as Apple’s MacBooks, thanks to its premium aluminum case, and its OLED screen is one of the best available for notebooks. And while the Zephyrus G14’s price has risen over time, so has its competition. It may not be quite the steal it was before, for most people the Zephyrus G14 will offer a ton of gaming value. Pros Tons of power
Premium design
Gorgeous OLED display Cons More expensive than earlier models $1,449+ at Best Buy
acer Best budget gaming laptop Acer Nitro V CPU: Intel Core i7-13620H | GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Display: 15.6-inch 1080p LCD | Weight: 4.6 pounds The Acer Nitro V is a solid budget notebook with a 13th-gen Intel CPU, 16GB of RAM and NVIDIA’s still solid RTX 4050 GPU. It also comes with 1TB of storage, so you can actually install a few massive games all at once. Acer has plenty of experience building PC gaming machines, so this will likely survive years of extreme play. The Nitro V's multi-colored RGB backlit keyboard and rear red accents give off a strong gamer vibe, but overall its design is fairly restrained.(Acer's Nitro 16 may also be worth considering when it’s on sale below $1,000. It has a larger screen and newer RTX 5050 GPU.) $950 at Amazon
Dell Best budget gaming laptop - runner up Dell Alienware 16 Aurora CPU: Up to Intel Core 9-270H | GPU: Up to NVIDIA RTX 5070 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: Up to 1TB | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Display: 16-inch Quad HD+ (1440 by 2600) LCD | Weight: Up to 5.7lb The Alienware 16 Aurora is the most basic notebook from Dell’s gaming brand, but it’s no slouch if you’re trying to save a few bucks. It features a simple sci-fi-inspired design, as well as the latest CPUs from Intel and NVIDIA’s latest GPUs. While it could use a brighter screen with more impressive specs, the 16 Aurora still has enough power to play most games beyond 60Hz. At the moment, it’s one of the best gaming laptops you can find under $1,000. Pros Low base price
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