Gaming laptop that will last 5 years

When it comes to potent, playable portables, there's more to choose from than ever. [So read our list of the best gaming laptops available right now.]

There's never been so much to consider when it comes to hunting down your ideal gaming desktop replacement either. On the outside, youve got to think about the screen, the build quality, the keyboard and the trackpad and the weight and the dimensions if you want to carry your machine around. And then, on the inside, theres your graphics the GeForce GTX's and RTX's to your AMD Radeon RX's along with the processor and the battery. And, all are important factors. There's a wide range of competitive manufacturers too at both the reasonably-priced and high-end with Asus, Razer and Lenovo leading the way. Even, Samsung is set to get in on the mobile gaming PC action soon.

Gaming laptops have been making big moves over recent years, with Intel, AMD and Nvidia enabling improved performance in thinner and lighter form-factors and ever more appealing prices. This is set to continue with Intel recently announced its new Tiger Lake-H series processors and Nvidia revealing its budget-friendly RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti graphics cards successors to the popular cheap GTX 1660, GTX 1660 Ti, GTX 1650 Ti and GTX 1650 mobile GPUs. We'll be testing the new devices that manufacturers choose to equip with these exciting new components and consider them for this list. The gaming laptops on this list remain top drawer but do bear in mind that some new models are incoming when mulling your next purchase.

While its tempting to search for a machine to tick every box, though, buying a gaming laptop usually involves compromise which is why its worth examining every aspect before taking the plunge. And, in case you were wondering, it's just not possible to get a good gaming laptop for under £500. If that's your budget, we recommend saving up more as our budget options starts at around £900. You may also be interested in our guides to the best laptops and gaming headsets useful.

What's the best gaming laptop in 2022?

The best gaming laptop we've tested is the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 [from £1,800]. The M16 hits every note, from a stunning display and great gaming keyboard to high-end performance. If you'd prefer to prioritise an RTX 3080 over a 16:10 slim bezel display, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 [from £1,700] is another impressive laptop.

View the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 from £1,800 on Amazon

Looking to spend under £1,000? The best cheap gaming laptop you can buy right now is the Asus TUF Dash F15 [from £679]. It's a well-built device thats fairly portable and perfect for 1080p single-player games and esports titles.

View the Asus TUF Dash F15 from £679 on Currys

The best 14in gaming laptop is the Razer Blade 14 [from £2,200]. Razer set the PC gaming world abuzz when it announced AMD was finally returning to the Blade range. This pocket marvel offers up high-end performance, decent keyboard and a stunning display in a supremely portable package. Alternatively, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 [£941] is excellent and is available for a lower price.

View the Razer Blade 14 from £2,200 on Amazon

WIRED Recommends is your definitive guide to the best technology. Every product featured has been properly tested by WIRED reviewers. Read our list of the best headphones for our favourite picks in every category.

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16

WIRED Recommends: The best gaming laptop around is a joy to use, with its classy looks, best-in-class keyboard and versatile performance

In a year in which AMD Ryzen mobile gaming CPUs have dominated many of the best and most exciting laptops, from the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 and G14 to the Razer Blade 14, the ROG Zephyrus M16 [from £1,800] has brought together Asuss gaming expertise with a bit of Intel finesse to make the best gaming laptop you can buy today.

The ROG Zephyrus M16 is a true no compromises device with one notable exception. If youve looked at the top two gaming laptops on the market the ROG Zephyrus G15 and Razer Blade 15 then youll see both have hang-ups. The G15 has less than slim bezels around its display and, despite this, theres still no webcam. The Blade 15, meanwhile, makes compromises for its thin chassis and looks too much like an ultrabook. The M16 oozes power and purpose without screaming at you, its got a muted style that doesnt bore but impresses.

About that singular exception, though. The Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 doesnt offer a model with Nvidias top mobile graphics card the RTX 3080 meaning youll have to opt for the, still great, AMD-powered ROG Zephyrus G15 [below] if you want the most gaming horsepower a laptop can offer.

Nevertheless, the M16 still has high specs on offer with an RTX 3070 and Intel Core i9-11900H being its top options. Even up against gaming laptops that do sport the RTX 3080, the M16 tops it across holistic, processor-based and creative benchmarks it really isnt all that held back. A special hat tip must go to the SSD speeds too, with astounding 7,098Mb/s read and 5177Mb/s write many rivals sit around the 3,500Mb/s and 3,000Mb/s respectively a stunning result for habitual big file transferrers. However, it does fall slightly behind the G15 and Razer Blade 15 when you get to its meat and potatoes actual gaming performance. With this top-spec, youll get just below 60fps at 1440p Ultra settings in Borderlands 3, 77fps at the same settings in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint and, to hit the 165Hz this machines display is capable of, youll have to go to very low settings at 1440p in Apex Legends or drop down to 1080p. Solid results all around, but no shocks when it comes to not matching up to the RTX 3080.

What sets this gaming laptop apart from its key competition is versatility. The ROG Zephyrus G15 was our previous top pick for the best gaming laptop around and, put simply, the M16 takes that device and enhances it with a larger 16in 16:10 display, enhanced capabilities outside of gaming and a handy webcam. The G15 has the best gaming laptop keyboard around and a stylish angular design, all of which are present here. But, the slim bezels mature and modernise the M16, feeling like you are truly getting your monies worth like the Blade 15, this feels like an immensely high-quality machine.

The display is fast, vibrant and detailed while the overall performance is right up there with the very best and its RTX 3070 performs just as expected in AAA titles. Combine these with stealthy style, an amazing keyboard, productivity-friendly 16:10 display and accompanying webcam, you get the ROG Zephyrus M16 a gaming laptop that ticks all the boxes.

Pros: Slim bezels [with webcam]; confident design; unrivalled laptop keyboard; 16:10 display; strong RTX 3070 performance; great port selection; confident design
Cons: No RTX 3080 option

Price: From £1,670 | Check price on Amazon | Currys

Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

A focused and speedy gaming powerhouse

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 [from £1,700] builds on the good work of the Zephyrus G14 removing a hint of its smaller sibling's portability to go all-in on performance. The results are spectacular, offering top drawer gaming performance, impressive battery life and it's a dream for creative tasks too.

Before we get into the meat of what you can achieve with this laptop, let's talk about the design of this machine. Asus has found a perfect middle ground between the traditional and often garish gamer aesthetic and the sleeker but somewhat boring designs of the Razer Blade 15 and MSI GS66 Stealth. The latter may be right for many who dont want to stand out but the G15 is a good-looking laptop that is also clearly made for getting stuff done particularly on the gaming front of course.

The design is best described as machine-like, with angular vents and blocky but slightly rounded edges it feels purposeful. The lid comes with the same cacophony of dots across half of it a simple touch that catches the eye without overdoing it. The design philosophy feels akin to a games console you know its for gaming but its got to look good wherever you place it too. But the Zephyrus G15 has the added bonus of a ton more horsepower.

This power firmly came to the fore in our testing, smashing it out of the park across the board. As is expected with AMD, the multi-core capabilities of this laptop are off the charts making this a great option for portable creative work as well as games. The Zephyrus G15 represents the latest front in laptop gaming too the rising popularity of QHD panels. Youll get a QHD 165Hz panel here and its gorgeous to look at. You get all the benefits of that higher refresh rate, making gameplay look luxurious and swift alongside the added details the higher resolution brings. The panel isnt quite as vibrant as the latest offering from the Razer Blade 15 but it runs it close.

For the RTX 3080, in games like Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint youll be able to get between 80-100fps with all settings turned up. Some simple tweaks to graphical quality settings or resolution will let you push up closer to the 165Hz refresh rate should you so choose. For titles where the refresh rate is a higher priority, like Apex Legends, you can still get that 165Hz on 1440p by prioritising FPS-friendly settings and it looks great. Expect similar results to above to apply to the RTX 3070 model but at 1080p resolution which is represented in our Asus TUF Dash F15 testing so youll have to sacrifice more graphical quality or frames to hit the 165Hz refresh rate or max resolution respectively.

The stellar experience of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 isnt just about the raw power of Nvidias latest RTX 30-series cards and Ryzen 5000-series combination though. The keyboard is easily one of the best around for gaming offering bags of travel and a remarkable level of feedback for a relatively portable device. While serious gamers wont be taking advantage of it all that, the trackpad is delightfully large and responsive too making working on this laptop a joy.

Much about this laptop is refreshing, youll often find the odd quirk in gaming laptops that can spoil the end result but the keyboard, strong performance and self-assured looks allow no room for such folly. The convenience of this laptop is only enhanced by its impressive laptop, where youll get around 8 to 9 hours when used for productivity tasking. While gaming on battery will last you around 2 hours depending on the title.

A couple of quirks of the Zephyrus G14 do carry over to this 15-inch laptop including the lack of a webcam and no Thunderbolt 4 support. However, neither prevent this laptop from standing near the top the mountain of gaming laptops. Whether youre a gamer, creative or a mix of both, this laptop provides the perfect blend of performance, portability and convenience every time you boot up.

Pros: A showcase for the new era of QHD gaming; near faultless keyboard; robust and confident design; good selection of ports; best-in-class long battery life
Cons: No Thunderbolt; no webcam

Price: From £1,700 | Check price on Amazon | Currys | Overclockers

Razer Blade 15

Ultrabook looks combine with supreme gaming power

For several years, the Razer Blade 15 [from £1,950] has sat atop the gaming laptop tree. Its been the obvious go-to pick for those with a big budget who want a powerful machine that manages to keep slimline and stylish looks too. However, it faces tougher competition than ever now, with Asus and Lenovo in particular, taking it to task. The latest Blade 15 doesnt necessarily rise to the challenge. Instead, it sticks to its gleaming, tried-and-tested formula.

This tried-and-tested package delivers once again, if falling short of wowingfor this year, Razer reserved its innovation for the AMD-powered Blade 14 and an elaborate LED face mask. As with previous Blades, the keyboard is one of the best around. The travel isnt as good as the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15/M16 but, for that lower travel, it does manage to offer satisfying feedback. The trackpad isnt huge but is clicky enough. While the overall design is typical Razer Blade 15 stealth, being surprisingly thin and not all that heavy given whats under the hood.

Theres a set of display options for this 2021 Blade 15 but, true-to-form, the QHD 165Hz model we tested is extremely detailed and colours are luxuriously vibrant no matter the game youre tackling.

The performance remains relatively in line with competitors with similar specs, if a tad behind. The RTX 3070 and i7-11800H model will see you achieve just under 60fps at 1440p Ultra setting on Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, 51fps on Borderlands 3 and 120fps on Apex Legends. If you want to get all the fps-friendly goodness of this 165Hz display on titles like Apex, you get close at 1440p on Low settings but will have to go to 1080p to get steady results.

You wont be disappointed if you shell out the cash on a Blade 15, especially if a thin and classy design is the priority for you. However, the 15in is a tad stagnant and it wouldnt be a surprise to see an AMD Razer Blade 15 or, even, a Razer Blade 16 on the horizon.

Pros: Slim and stylish design; lightweight; crisp display; comfortable keyboard
Cons: Uncompetitive price; performance slightly behind close rivals; gets warm

Price: From £1,950 | Check price on Amazon | Razer

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

A potent combination of performance, value and build quality

Lenovo played a smart game when designing the Legion 5 Pro. Its not an entirely no-compromise laptop in all areas, but does seem like one if you approach it the way most probably should. The result? You pay a couple of hundred pounds less for one of the best gaming laptops available right now.

Lets deal with the highlights first. The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro [from £1,000] has an excellent 165Hz 2560 x 1600 pixel screen with unusually high 500-nit brightness and well-saturated colour. With smart use of Nvidias revolutionary DLSS resolution upscaling feature you can play AAA games like Control, with ray tracing enabled, at the displays native resolution.

We reviewed the Nvidia RTX 3070 version of the Legion 5 Pro, and Lenovo really maxes out its potential. This performance of this card line, in particular, varies wildly depending on how much power it is fed, and the chunky 300W charger gives it 140W, more than the standard 125W.

It doesnt instantly sound like a biplane when maxed either, which is why you should probably want a thin and light gaming laptop less than some of you do right now. Fans and heatsinks need room and the mid-size Legion 5 Pro provides it.

The keyboard has a reasonable amount of travel, and the combination of aluminium on the outside of the lid/underside, soft-touch plastic inside, is a winning one too.

Lets talk compromises. The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro has a so-so plastic touchpad, not the textured glass kind that would match the high standards shown elsewhere. Theres no RGB lighting to the keyboard in our test model, which might seem a relief to gamers of a certain vintage. And while the speakers sound OK for a quick session or YouTube video, they dont have any real bass. Match up the Legion 5 Pro up with a gaming headset or some speakers, and a good-quality mouse, and you are set.

Confused by the AMD and Intel variants? The Lenovo 5 Pro has an AMD CPU, the Lenovo 5i Pro the Intel kind. We recommend AMD models for the best per-pound performance.

Pros: Good value; great performance; excellent screen; rear ports handy for cable management
Cons: Basic plastic touchpad; no RGB lighting [some models]

Price: From £1,000 | Check price on Lenovo | Currys

Asus TUF Dash F15

The best gaming laptop under £1,000

While the ROG Zephyrus G-series has been Asus' jewel in the crown of late, the company hasnt forgotten to cater to the £1,000 gaming laptop market either. The Asus TUF Dash F15 [from £679] brings almost everything youd want from a modern gaming laptop at a more affordable price.

The TUF Dash F15 takes many cues from its more powerful Zephyrus G14 and G15 stablemates, with the same design language that firmly says gaming without shouting it in your face. The materials may not be too fancy and it doesnt have any distinct design decisions but it looks great. The F15 is even able to get a slight leg up on those pricier models and, even, the Razer Blade 15 too.

Intel is yet to release its all-singing, all-dancing successor to its higher-powered 10th Gen mobile chips, hence why the Blade 15 has stuck to the last-gen, but the TUF Dash F15 at its lower price isnt shooting for as lofty goals. This means we get an 11th Gen Intel processor here and, with that, comes Thunderbolt 4 enabling supremely speedy data transfer and outputting to dual 4K displays.

For your £999, youll get an RTX 3060, Intel i7-11370H, 8GB RAM and 1080p display combo with a £400 step up required to get 16GB of RAM and the RTX 3070. The latter is still an interesting proposition but it isnt getting dangerously close to stronger rivals. In our testing of the £1,400 model, we were able to get around 80fps in demanding games like Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint at Full HD while in Apex Legends we set up for higher FPS and managed around the 110 mark. For those high FPS games, you could obviously achieve more at a lower 720p resolution. While light to medium level editing is certainly an option on this machine, it doesnt reach the multi-core heights of the Ryzen 5000-series chips limiting its capabilities.

Asus has maintained its impressive keyboard capabilities from the Zephyrus G-range on this laptop too offering one of the best gaming laptop keyboards around despite its more affordable price. It isnt quite as good as its pricey brethren but it certainly runs the less feedback on offer from the Razer Blade 15 close.

The display is possibly the one feature in which it feels some corners have been cut to keep the price down. While weve no complaints on the high refresh rate front, the colours are a tad washed out and it doesnt get all that bright ruling this machine out for much work or gaming out and about. This lack of convenience is contrasted with the ability to charge the Asus TUF Dash F15 over USB-C. You wont be able to game on full tilt like you can when plugged in with the bundled charger but its handy for keeping it topped up. Like other Asus gaming laptops right now, this laptop also ditches the webcam which could be a dealbreaker for some.

Pros: Great value gaming; portability and convenience; surprisingly good keyboard
Cons: Not the brightest or most colourful screen; no webcam

Price: From £679 | Check price on Currys | John Lewis

Razer Blade 14

A portable marvel thats a true all-rounder

Razer has sat atop the gaming laptop tree for several years now, combining its surprisingly thin and stylish hardware with performance that often beats unsightly competitors. Then, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 came along. Asus managed to usurp Razer with an even smaller device with some enhanced gaming features. Now, the Razer Blade 14 [from £2000] is here to try and help the gaming lifestyle brand dominate the market once again.

What Razer has produced here is truly remarkable. The Blade 15 [above] has long been impressive in its own right, so to enhance its portability even further and stick to its design principles is deserving of praise. Design-wise, this is a Blade 15 in a smaller 14-inch form factor so, dont expect a big refresh of the signature Blade look. Nevertheless, it's as good looking as ever, with its stealthy black finish. The Blade 14 still manages to cram in two USB-C ports, two USB-A, an HDMI and a headphone jack no room for an Ethernet port, unfortunately.

Another impressive feat here is Razer managing to include the higher-spec AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX as well as RTX 3070 and 3080 GPUs, topping the 5900HS and RTX 3060 combo onboard devices like the ROG Zephyrus G14. You can then pair it with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, 3070 or 3080 alongside a QHD 165Hz display. Asus does manage to offer a cheaper model, down at £1,200, for an RTX 3060 and Full HD combo if you arent looking to spend upwards of £1,500 on a pint-sized gaming laptop. These differences dont mean the new Razer isnt focused on usurping its competitor though, with its RTX 3060 model being priced almost exactly the same as the Asus equivalent even if it is restricted to being a Razer.com exclusive.

Our test model was the highest spec on offer, featuring the RTX 3080 and the results are stunning visuals when compared with many 15-inch gaming laptops you can buy today. The Blade 14 tops the Alienware m15 R4 and MSI GS66 Stealth in what it can achieve, reaching 60fps in Ultra settings in titles like Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. For fps-craving titles like Apex Legends, you can max out this 165Hz display at very low settings on 1440p or dip down to 1080p if you want some added detail. The higher-spec options on offer here mean it cant be directly compared to the G14, providing you with more powerful options that Asus simply doesnt. However, compared to the larger G15 which does offer RTX 3070 and 3080 models, the Blade 14 does fall behind by about 20 to 30 fps giving you a choice between gaming power and stylish portability.

And thats where the central question of the Razer Blade 14 lies. If you are a fan of Razers stunning design language giving you the ability to game on the go without standing out like a sore thumb or breaking your back when lugging around this might be the laptop of your dreams. However, it isnt quite the best gaming laptop around with that title still falling to the Asus Zephyrus M16. The Asus gives you a better gaming keyboard, with stunning amounts of travel and feedback along with an industrial design that isnt garish and looks purpose-built for gaming.

The Razer Blade 14 is much more of an all-rounder, one of the best all-around laptops you can buy gaming, creation, productivity, playing games at a desk, working at a coffee shop it can do the lot. Unlike its strong Asus rivals, you get a webcam too quite a barrier in this WFH age however, its pretty pants. Battery life is the only thing that holds it back here, managing just over 7 hours for productivity workloads still, itll be enough for more workdays.

Pros: Great display for gaming; remarkable performance in slim chassis; signature Razer style; decent keyboard
Cons: Lack of choice; below-average battery life; poor webcam

Price: From £2,000 | Check price on Amazon | Razer | Ebuyer

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

One of the best bang-for-your-buck gaming laptops

When Asus launched the ROG Zephyrus G14 [from £941], it was a sea-change for gaming laptops offering a true alternative to portable gaming fans who didnt want an overbearing machine or to fork out that bit extra for the quality design of a Razer. A year on, not a whole lot has changed, with the G14 still nailing its brief as a device focused on delivering quality gaming on-the-go at a reasonable price.

What stands out, if youre tackling the big decision of Asus ROG Zephyrus vs a Razer Blade, is how much the G14 feels focused on a quality gaming experience. The Razer Blades sleek design limits its keyboard capabilities, while the still trim Asus packs in a much more clicky and responsive keyboard something regular PC gamers will greatly appreciate. The lack of a webcam really tells you this device isnt shooting to be as much of an all-rounder as a Razer Blade too, also matched by the more angular and vent-laden design. It doesnt seem entirely fair to categorise the Razer vs Asus as one of style vs function as both are pretty stellar in both areas. The G14 may not have the ultrabook-like finesse of a Razer but it's still one of the best looking gaming laptops around.

The nitty-gritty of this extremely portable gaming machine is pretty impressive too. The top-spec AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS and RTX 3060 combo we tested comfortably sits about 60fps at 1440p Ultra settings in titles like Ghost Recon: Breakpoint and Borderlands 3. While, as an esports-friendly machine, you can max out this 120Hz panel on Low settings and drop down to Full HD if you want to bring some added detail and features in Apex Legends.

The battle between Asus and Razer highlights the benefits of consumer choice as theres no right choice really and it comes down to personal taste. If youre looking for a device with more traditional and industrial gaming looks and a great keyboard to match, this G14 is the one to go for and youll be hugely satisfied with the performance and build you get for your cash.

Pros: Portable gaming power; gaming looks that arent garish; best-in-class gaming keyboard
Cons: Tops out at RTX 3060; no webcam

Price: From £941 | Check price on Amazon | Argos | Ebuyer

Lenovo Legion 7

An impressive AMD, 16:10 aspect ratio and QHD resolution team-up

The Lenovo Legion 7 [from £1,800], and its Legion 5 Pro, are a peculiar pair offering many similarities but, also, a few key differences. The Legion 7 is the powerhouse pick.

Unlike the Legion 5 Pro that tops out with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070, you can go all-in with an RTX 3080 with the Legion 7 making it the only option for Lenovo fans that want raw power over all else. Gamers may also be enticed by the advanced RGB offering you get with the Legion 7 with per-key RGB lighting. Where the Legion 7 lets itself down is with the keyboard, even if its by no means bad. The keyboard falls short of key rivals like the Asus ROG range and the Razer Blade laptops with average levels of travel and feedback. The placement of the keyboard and trackpad to the left side due to the inclusion of a number pad, also feels a tad cumbersome to navigate.

The performance stands up though. Our RTX 3080 and AMD Ryzen 7 5800H hit all the right notes topping most similarly specced rivals, with Lenovo doing a good job of taking advantage of this larger 16in display-wielding chassis. Youll get around 71fps on Borderlands 3 and 92fps on Ghost Recon: Breakpoint both at 1440p Ultra. While fps fans will have to drop down to Medium settings make full use of this laptops 165Hz panel in Apex Legends at 1440p or, alternatively, shaving down the resolution to keep more graphical effects.

With a simple Legion logo on one side of the lid and a basic grey colour, its a bit dull but turn the RGB lighting on and the keys and the accents feel a tad much. You can probably find a happy medium if you tweak the lighting settings - and it is a high, quality, all-metal build. The Asus ROG Zephyrus range really nails what Lenovo is missing here, if youre looking for a stylish device with a gamer-friendly design that also doesnt scare people off with aggressive lighting.

What the Legion 7 does have over the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 and M16 is a potent combination of an AMD Ryzen processor paired with a 16:10 display. As with the M16 which sports an Intel CPU the 16:10 panel is a gamechanger, turning a gaming-focused device into a still gaming titan with creative and productivity-friendly tendencies. The display itself is pretty great too, with that fast 165Hz refresh rate and plenty of detail via the QHD resolution. If youre going to be using it frequently for movies and videos then a Razer Blade 15 may provide more vibrant colour, however.

Pros: Top-drawer performance; impressive QHD 165Hz panel; sturdy all-metal design
Cons: Mediocre keyboard; no Ethernet; plain looks; aggressive RGB

Price: From £1,800 | Check price on Amazon

Acer Triton 300 SE

A gaming laptop you can take anywhere

The Triton 300 SE [£1,399] is Acers answer to the much-admired Asus Zephyrus G14. Its a powerful gaming laptop that's small and light enough to be used as an ultraportable. At 1.7kg it is around 400g heavier than a 14in portable laptop that's not made for games. But if you really want its RTX 3060 graphics card, you should be able to suck that up.

It takes a few cues from Acers top lifestyle laptops too. The casing is magnesium alloy, not the basic plastic or heavier aluminium. Its touchpad has a lovely textured glass surface and the screen folds back 180 degrees, and can be lifted from a closed position with a single finger.

The Acer Triton 300 SE offers Ultrabook charms merged with gaming laptop power. But price is the real draw here. It costs £200 less than the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 [£1,500], with the load-out of 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. This also means its cheaper than some style rivals that can barely play The Witcher 3.

So, case closed, buy an Acer Triton 300 SE? We dont think you should get one if portable use isnt essential. This thing runs pretty hot and to get the full 75W of power flowing into the RTX 3060 graphics card you have to let the fans run at a speed that all but drowns out the internal speakers. You lose around 15% power if you use the fan mode with more manageable noise levels, and chunky laptops are likely to offer a punchier version of this card. No surprise there.

The big blank silver border below the screen isn't a great look either. However, the screen itself is sound, a Full HD LCD with solid colour just shy of 100% sRGB coverage. Brightness is not class-leading, but we used it outdoors for work, not gaming happily enough thanks to its matt finish.

You can certainly approach the Triton 300 SE as a true portable hybrid and gaming laptop too. The battery lasts a little over nine hours performing light tasks, or eight hours with the brightness maxed.

Pros: True portable gaming power; Ultrabook style magnesium construction; solid battery life
Cons: Large lower screen border; runs hot; loud fans required for peak performance

Price: £1,399 | Check price on Currys

Alienware X15

One of the best keyboards on any laptop in a super-slim chassis

Dell's recent Alienware laptops have started to go toe-to-toe with Razer, Asus and Lenovo, from adding AMD Ryzen chip and specialised Cherry MX keyboard options to its M range of laptops to, now, the new Alienware X15 [from £1,949]. The new X-series aims to slim down the M-series, aided by a new suped-up cooling system. The end result is a mixed bag but still one worth considering.

Alienwares latest is unmistakably a gaming laptop but the X15s super-slim design, rounded edges and pearly white paint job make it stylish in its own right if still very loud. A lot about the new Alienware X15 is hugely promising, the 15.9mm thickness sails close to what Razer offers, making it much more bag friendly than the M-series.

Youll notice the quality of its keyboard as soon as you get typing its thinness hasnt hampered the decent travel on offer here. From gaming to long typing sessions, this keyboard is an absolute dream, with pleasing feedback. This is all without the Cherry MX tinkering that Alienware attempted on its previous M-series devices too. The 240Hz QHD display we tested is simply stunning, with brightness to spare, fluid graphics and luxurious colour.

Our review model, the £2,999-priced Intel Core i7-11800H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 produced the best synthetic benchmark scores [PC Mark 10, GeekBench 5 and Cinebench] weve seen on any gaming laptops over the past year. However, this didnt play out in real-world use. In Borderlands 3, the X15 averaged 21fps at 1440p Ultra a score that trails an RTX 3060-sporting Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 dropping down to High settings got the average above the 60fps mark. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint was a similar story with 11fps at 1440p Ultra and topping 60fps at High settings. While in Apex Legends, you could get 135fps at 1440p Ultra and, to utilise this 240Hz display to its fullest, youd need to venture down to 1080p Medium settings.

These slightly disappointing results were accompanied by the chassis getting very hot above the keyboard and on the portion of the machine behind the display where the ports lie and much of the hot air is extracted. However, unlike Alienware's most recent M15 [which missed out on inclusion on this list due to its extremely hot temperatures] the warmth of the X15 doesnt get to a level thats unacceptable particularly, the underside doesnt get all that hot.

The Alienware X15 isnt an all-out value-for-money laptop as it has compromised quite a bit on performance to get into this slim chassis. Dell hasnt been able to catch up with Razer in this department despite its new cooling tech. Nevertheless, if the Alienware look and thinness appeals as well as the keyboard which certainly tops the Razer Blade 15 and tussles with the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 and M16 it remains worth your consideration.

Pros: Gaming looks that are stylish too; ultra-slim; phenomenal keyboard; decent selection of ports
Cons: Verges on uncomfortably hot; starting price very high

Price: From £1,949 | Check price on Dell

MSI GS66 Stealth

A stylish Razer Blade 15 alternative

If the Razer Blade 15 doesnt hit right for you, whether its the green logo or specific blocky design, the MSI GS66 Stealth [from £1,899] is a remarkably similar machine with a few differences thatll give you pause for thought.

The design of MSIs trim powerhouse sits between the more edged and industrial look of the Zephyrus and the Blade 15 but definitely leaning closer to the latter. When closed, you would be forgiven for mistaking it for Razers flagship but the absence of the green Sneki Snek [yes, this is the official Razer name for it] and the hinge being significantly more visible distinguish the two. The stealth metal finish is the key point of comparison, and the absence of the green adds to this effect on the MSI even further truly living up to its name.

On the inside, the story is slightly different. The laptops style is somewhat ruined by the Spider-Man [2002]-esque font and the trackpad is rather large but only horizontally, which is quite a strange look. Theres a speaker grille higher up which would definitely be a prime candidate for the chop if it could make for a larger, squarer trackpad.

The similar designs arent where the comparisons end between this and the Blade 15, with the models on offer mirroring each other dividing models up into QHD 240Hz and Full HD 300Hz with varying Nvidia 30-series cards. For our RTX 3080 and QHD 240Hz device, the results of the similar specs did fall short of its rival. While the Blade 15 Advanced could hit between 80-100fps on high settings at 1440p in Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, the GS66 Stealth settled around the 60-70fps mark.

We also found these differences when aiming for high FPS in Apex Legends where the MSI hit around 160fps compared to Razers 190fps. For improved frame rate, you can drop the resolution down to 1080p where you should get around 220fps or, even, venture down to 720p if youre wanting to try and take as much advantage as possible of this 240Hz panel.

The performance difference is significant enough that the Razer Blade 15 is a clear winner on that front but the small variances in design may be particularly to your taste. Another deciding factor could be the keyboard. The keyboard once again sits between what the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 offers and the Razer with it feeling like it offers a tad more travel and feedback than the Razer but still lacking in these areas compared to the Asus.

Pros: Impressive high refresh rate display; sleek stealthy design; decent keyboard
Cons: Underperforms compared to key rivals

Price: From £1,899 | Check price on Amazon | Overclockers

Acer Nitro 5

A capable budget option with a great keyboard

The Acer Nitro 5 [from £1000] has been a go-to budget gaming laptop for some years now and, even with the addition of the mighty Nvidia RTX 30-series range, Acer has managed to keep its prices down only enhancing its appeal.

From the outside, with the lid closed, the Nitro 5 isnt rolling anyones socks up and down with a red accent to the rear for a pop of colours. Its functional. Once open, its surprisingly pleasing to look at thanks to one simple addition. The general look is basic but the keyboard caps have white around the edges and change colour according to your keyboard lighting options. The result is something a bit different from the bland black keys of most laptops when not backlit. When lit, the default red is also delightfully understated dodging typical gaming laptop garishness, that is unless you tweak the settings yourself to amp up the colour.

The performance of the keyboard neatly matches the functional and sturdy nature of the rest of the Acer Nitro 5s build. Theres a solid amount of travel and a decent amount of tactile feedback. The latter wont wow but, at this price, it isnt that far behind rivals priced about £1,500. Great for gaming and general use tasks alike.

Getting to the meat of things, this is an extremely capable device music to the ears of anyone who doesnt fancy spending more than £1,000 on a gaming laptop. Our test unit featured the RTX 3060 GPU and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, which comes in at a price of £1,100 the lower-priced model opts for the Ryzen 5 5600H equivalent. The results are mightily impressive at this price once again showcased the strength of a red and green [AMD and Nvidia] combo. Youll get just over 60fps in titles like Borderlands 3 and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. Both look great in-game, with decent levels of detail and colour, although there is a general lack of contrast with this panel. If youre looking for some high refresh rate goodness, this budget laptop delivers too. You may have to venture to fairly low graphical settings to use this display to its max capabilities but you can get 1080p 144fps out of this device. If you want a bit more graphical quality then youll have to dip into 720p.

This device is laser-focused on budget gaming and, as such, the SSD has been neglected here offering rather poor speeds. That, alongside the lack of contrast, stops this from being a more well-rounded device but, for basic 1080p gaming at a great price, it remains a winner.

Pros: Capable gaming performance; impressive keyboard; functional design with neat touches
Cons: Low contrast display; poor SSD speeds

Price: From £1000 | Check price on Amazon | Acer

Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR

The best option for creators

Best-in-class gaming specs often line up nicely with another high performance-demanding workload creative industry work. The Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR [from £2,700] lines up the best mobile components from Intel and Nvidia to produce a [somewhat] portable titan thats a nice combo for creative professionals.

Lets kick off with the headline feature in the name of this spec behemoth, the Aero 17 HDR offers an absolutely gorgeous 17.3-inch 4K HDR panel. The purpose of this laptop is content creation and itll bring out all those wonderful bright colours of your photos, videos or artwork. The panel isnt OLED, so that may sway some who like to see vibrant colour turned up to the maximum but such panels can often err on the side of oversaturation this display gets the balance right when accuracy is a key factor.

The performance of this laptop is absolutely remarkable but you really wouldnt expect anything less, with the model we tested sporting the i9-10980HK processor and RTX 3080 the best on offer for a laptop right now. If anything, the key point of this device is deciding whether you need this much horsepower, as its a high price and is really aimed at creative professionals not even intermediate users need to fork out for this ultra-premium workstation. The cheaper i7/RTX 3070 model is more [sort of] modestly priced but many beginner to intermediate will still be able to get what they need for less under the £2,000 mark.

Performance only falls short for the Aero 17 HDR in two potentially key areas, the SSD and speakers. The read speeds were lower than the majority of entries on this list which isnt ideal for a laptop aimed at creative professionals who regularly rely on data transfers. While the speakers are certainly better than most gaming laptops but fall well short of the impactful sound on the likes of the MacBook Pro 16.

While this laptop isnt made for gaming and even features Nvidias specific Studio drivers for creative work [you can switch to Game Ready Drivers if you so choose], it completes modern games then shifts to New Game+ mode and beats it again with ease owing quite a bit to the 60Hz limit of the 4K panel. 4K, high settings and 60fps on the latest games no problem. For creatives who like to dabble in games, the option is here for you.

The design of the Gigabyte Aero 17 HDR is relatively unremarkable, taking some queues from the likes of the MSI GS66 Stealth and Razer Blade 15 with some added bulk. The lid does sport some diagonal lines that remove some of the style of this otherwise relatively classy design. Unlike those smaller laptops and their black finishes, the Gigabyte does seem to deal much better with fingerprints for the others, youll often need a cloth handy. The webcam is also situated in quite a strange place, pointing upwards 45-degrees from the rear of the keyboard. Thankfully, theres a fingerprint scanner on the trackpad to help you sign in a different way.

The keyboard is more akin to an ultrabook than a gaming laptop, which is the right move. It doesnt offer a ton of feedback but for typing away or clicking those all-important shortcuts, it does as good of a job as is needed. The keys are also well spread out, making for a comfy typing experience overall. As a creator laptop, it would certainly be nice to have a larger trackpad as this one is rather small but it functions just fine.

Pros: Peak laptop performance for creative pros; a stunning display; good keyboard
Cons: Average speakers; hard drive-worthy SSD read speeds

Price: From £2,700 | Check price on Amazon | Overclockers

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE

The money-no-object gaming laptop

Now, many gaming laptops are sold on the promise of their portability rather than their horsepower. That is absolutely not the case for the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE [£3,600] behemoth a gaming laptop that is designed to wow onlookers and dominate games.

Before we even get to the radical design of this gaming tank, the internal specs are something to admire. The Zephyrus Duo 15 SE can wield the best mobile processor AMD has to offer, in the form of the Ryzen 9 5900HX, as well as Nvidias best too the RTX 3080 mobile GPU. This is the top of the range combo offered by our test unit and the results were stunning to behold. Blockbuster games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassins Creed Valhalla and more are all playable in 4K, managing above 30 frames per second and with all graphical settings turned up. If youre looking to take advantage of that 120Hz refresh rate then youll have to venture down to 1080p, where youll be able to get between 60fps and 100fps depending on the game.

If youre looking to go beyond games and extend this impressive laptops graphical chops to image and video work then thats well within its capabilities too. Aided by the GPU, the top-of-the-line AMD processor will gobble up most photo and video-editing workloads while intense multitasking wont trouble the Zephyrus Duo 15 SE either.

Gaming, productivity, media consumption and editing all get a boost from this laptops unique design offering up a second 14-inch display. Unlike some secondary displays, including some from Asus themselves, this large take on the formula actually feels pretty useful. First off, the resolution matches the main display and the ScreenPad is also raised up at an angle to more easily accommodate your eye line. Its substantial space allows for things like chat windows, additional in-game UI, editing timelines and more to sit comfortably within the screen, at a size that allows it to provide plenty of information at a glance.

The Zephyrus Duo 15 SEs Achilles heel is the layout of the keyboard and trackpad. The outlandish design, including that sizeable second screen, means the keyboard is pushed to the front of the base. The positioning means your wrists have no support, making an extra wrist-rest a necessity. The keyboard and trackpad layout is also a little cramped making the whole experience a tad uncomfortable.

From the price to the unique design, this laptop will certainly only appeal to the chosen few. Those with plenty of money to spare and a desire for a second screen wont be disappointed with the performance of this specced-out beast. However, an uncomfortable typing experience might turn some away.

Pros: Heavy-duty gaming performance; impressive AMD processor; gorgeous 4K panel; actually useful secondary display
Cons: Poor battery life; flawed keyboard and trackpad

Price: £3,600 | Check price on Amazon | Asus

Also consider

Theres a stunningly broad selection of gaming laptops out there, at price points that range from as low as £600 to upwards of £2,500, and many are fantastic. As such, not all of them make our recommended list, but some are worth highlighting for their unique features. Heres a gaming laptop that might catch your eye but just slightly missed the mark.

Alienware m15 R4 Cherry [from £3,049]: Dells Alienware brand caught a ton of attention when it announced a partnership with famed keyboard switch maker Cherry. Many gaming laptop fans have longed for an experience closer to a desktop mechanical keyboard. The m15 R4 with Cherry RGB keyboard almost delivers. The keyboard itself is in the top tier of gaming laptop keyboards, with bags of travel and unrivalled amounts of feedback. A small metallic clang as you type away is its only downside.

Unfortunately, the rest of the laptop just doesnt provide enough value. The price is higher than most competitors and, while you do get stylish hardware, the performance results are disappointed. Aside from an immensely fast SSD, our testing showed the Intel 10th Gen Core i9 and RTX 3080 combo to fall below that team-ups usual standards. This could be forgiven if you love the idea of the keyboard and this laptops design but we cant fully recommend it due to just how warm it gets. The keyboard and, in particular, the black area towards the rear of the base of the device get uncomfortably warm under load. There are good ideas here and Alienware has already announced its next-gen X-series laptops so its worth keeping an eye on whats to come from Dells gaming brand.

Gaming laptops: what to consider

Your first port of call should be to identify which graphics card youre going to need. New Nvidia cards are now firmly entrenched in the majority of laptops, and top of the laptop stack is the RTX 3080. Its always tempting to want the best hardware, and its worth seeking this if you want to play at top graphics settings, at 4K or at high frame-rates. However, if youre an e-sports gamer or want to play older titles then its going to be overpowered, and not worth the cash.

The RTX 3070 is a great, balanced option that will handle virtually everything, while the RTX 3060 is a capable chip for 1080p gaming at the highest quality levels. Youll also find cheaper laptops with last years Nvidia chips ideal for esports and modest 1080p games.

If youre going to be running tough games or want to do some work on your machine, youll also need a Core i7 CPU. Its always worth getting 16GB of memory if you can afford it, and you should find a laptop with an SSD unless youre on a very tight budget.

Theres a lot to think about on the outside. Youll need to consider the screen: a 1080p panel wont be as sharp as a 4K display, but itll be easier to run games at the former resolution. Similarly, its only really worth opting for a high-refresh-rate panel if you have a GPU that can run games at beyond 100fps.

Take a close look at the dimensions and weight if youre going to take the machine on the road, and if you want to connect a mouse and other peripherals make sure youve got plenty of USB connections. Also examine the display outputs, because only certain connections will properly output to high-resolution screens or VR headsets.

How much should you spend on a gaming laptop?

The category of gaming laptops offers a stunningly broad range of pricing from as low as £600 all the way up to a few thousand pounds for some kitted out behemoths. There's always gaming laptop deals floating around too. Deciding how much you should spend really comes down to your budget and what youre looking for performance-wise.

If AAA gaming at low to medium settings is your priority and you dont care much for style or high-quality materials, you can pick up a machine for between £600-£800. While stylishness and added performance will see you spending upwards of £900. Medium to high settings and/or a decent 60fps will cost you at least £1,100. If you want the top games around looking near to their very best then itll be £1,500 and upwards with the very best specs available taking you above £2,000 and itll likely be a large machine too.

Are gaming laptops good for video editing?

Absolutely, but you need to be mindful and reorganise your priorities regarding certain specifications. For example, you should focus more on laptops with higher refresh rates if gaming is your primary focus. However, for creative work, you should consider the quality of the panel itself. OLED, HDR and, even, 4K options may be more suitable when gaming isnt your top priority.

Are gaming laptops are upgradeable?

Whether a gaming laptop is upgradeable will completely depend on the device you are buying. Many models are as they recognise users may want to add RAM or further storage however, being able to replace a CPU or GPU is extremely rate. Definitely check this before you make a purchase if youre hoping to upgrade at some point.

What screen size is best for gaming?

The best screen size for gaming is, for the most part, as big as possible. However, when youre talking about a gaming laptop youre likely thinking about portability and affordability too.

15.6in displays are very popular for gaming laptops and you can expect to find both 1080p and 1440p models. Some will notice the benefits of 1440p at this size but, at this size, it may be best to prioritise a higher frame rate instead thatll come down to personal preference though. 14in laptops are becoming more popular too, with Razer recently dipping back into the space. At an even smaller size, 1080p and a frame rate of 120fps and above is a great combo.

If you do want to go all-in on an immersive display, you can get 17.3in gaming laptops with some at 4K resolution. These will make for impressive viewing but you wont be moving them from place to place very often as theyll likely be pretty heavy.

Are high refresh rate panels worth it for gaming laptops?

You should definitely be looking for a higher refresh rate panel on a gaming laptop these days, as they become more readily available and more affordable. Higher refresh rates provide smoother gameplay and truly come into their own in more competitive esports titles. More casual gamers should look to 120/144/165Hz panels, which are on offer at most gaming laptop manufacturers. If esports games take up a big chunk of your playtime and youre an avid player, 240 and, even, 360Hz panels are available with the former being a bit of a sweet spot and the latter remaining a tad bit overkill for now.

Should I get a gaming laptop with a 4K screen?

In all most all cases, the answer to this is no. Laptop displays are simply not large enough to warrant a 4K display and, with 1440p displays becoming more popular, making the big leap up to UHD from Full HD is even less necessary. Its also better to prioritise refresh rate over resolution for most gamers.

The only argument for a 4K display on a gaming device is either that you have a laptop with a very large display but even 17.3in laptops really dont need 4K and also if you plan to use the machine for quite a bit of creative work and a high resolution will benefit you there.

What's the best gaming laptop in 2022?

Also consider

Gaming laptops: what to consider

How much should you spend on a gaming laptop?

Are gaming laptops good for video editing?

Are gaming laptops are upgradeable?

What screen size is best for gaming?

Are high refresh rate panels worth it for gaming laptops?

Should I get a gaming laptop with a 4K screen?

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