Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Best gaming laptops 2021: top laptops to game on

Take into account your gaming needs and budget when choosing from the best gaming laptops 2021 has to offer. More important than any cool design, funky RGB lighting and the newest features are just how much power you need and how much you can stretch your budget, after all. Especially because these days, you need not have the priciest and most powerful internals to see you through an immersive gaming experience.

In fact, thanks to this ongoing battle amongst component manufacturers, processors and graphics cards are getting more powerful while also getting cheaper. That means that the best gaming laptop for you could mean a laptop under $1000, something that has the greatest innards and all the trimmings, or one that sits somewhere in between.

So, first thing’s first: figure out what kind of gaming experience you want and how much you can afford to spend. The rest, you can leave up to us as we gathered a short list of the best laptops for gaming right here for every need and budget, alongside tips on how to choose the right one for you. Guaranteed, you’ll find something here that ticks off most, if not all, of the things on your checklist. 

How to choose the best gaming laptop for you?

Choosing the best gaming laptop is easy when you’ve got deep pockets or have a couple of thousand dollars to spare. It’s when your budget is more limited that getting a great gaming laptop becomes trickier.

Lucky for us, we’re getting plenty of more affordably-priced CPUs and GPUs that don’t compromise on power. The latest internals like the Intel Comet Lake, AMD Big Navi and the Nvidia RTX 3000 series are more capable yet also cheaper than ever. That means that gaming notebooks under $1000 can be just as capable as any gaming PC while keeping things portable and space-saving like the best Ultrabooks

Still, some components are more powerful or cheaper than others. While it’s no longer a hard and fast rule, AMD’s offerings are generally more affordable, which means that AMD Ryzen-powered laptops tend to be slightly cheaper. 

In terms of graphics cards, Nvidia is still king when it comes to performance, although which RTX card you should go for depends on the type of gaming experience you want. The RTX 3060, for example, is a terrific mid-range contender with lots of power for 1080p gaming. However, if you want that 4K goodness, an RTX 3070 or higher is the way to go.

Consider the RAM as well. There are many gaming laptops that start you off with an 8GB  DDR4 memory, which is the minimum these days. However, if you play a lot of demanding AAA titles, at least 16GB is recommended for the smoothest experience.

Other things to look at are the amount of storage, type of display, and type and variety of ports. Take a look at the battery life as well, especially if you plan on gaming on the go. Know that just because something is premium doesn’t automatically mean it’ll deliver a long battery life – the Alienware laptops are a cautionary tale. And, of course, since you do have to like how your gaming notebook looks, think about the design and whether or not you want RGB lighting.

Whichever one you pick however, we guarantee one of our picks below will let you dive into your favorite games, from the free PC games and the best free games on Steam to the best laptop games and the best PC games – all without tethering you to a desk.

Best gaming laptops 2021

Asus Zephyrus G15 on a white background, with the ROG logo on the display. The gaming laptop is at an angle.

(Image credit: Asus)

1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

Desktop-replacement performance

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H – 9 5900HS | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 – 3080 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Screen: 15.6-inch QHD (1440p), 165Hz, 3ms, 300 nits | Storage: 1TB

Outstanding performance, especially for the price
Incredible battery life
Lack of webcam might disappoint streamers

The Asus ROG Zephyrus line has produced some of the best gaming laptops out there, and the new ROG Zephyrus G15 is no exception. Fitted with the latest and most powerful AMD Ryzen and Nvidia RTX 3000 series, they’re incredibly powerful and able to see you through the most demanding games. Of course, that legendary battery life has made an appearance, as well as that stylish chassis. If you want a high performing gaming laptop that’s affordably-priced to boot, nothing beats this one.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

The Asus TUF Dash F15 from the side, where you can see the gaming laptop's left-side ports. There's an Asus TUF logo on the display.

(Image credit: Asus)

2. Asus TUF Dash F15

Affordable CAN mean sheer power

CPU: Up to Intel Core i7-11375H | Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 | RAM: Up to 16GB DDR4-3200 | Screen: Up to 15.6-inch WQHD anti-glare 165Hz IPS-level display with Adaptive Sync | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD

Battery life up to 10 hours
Strong gaming performance in a thin chassis
Keyboard lighting color can't be changed

The Asus TUF line is no stranger to affordable great performers. Last year’s Asus TUF A15, for instance, was simply brilliant while keeping things accessible to budget-conscious gamers. The Asus TUF Dash F15 is back to preserve that affordability while also delivering brute strength. It brings in Intel Tiger Lake processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 mobile GPUs, and up to a 240Hz 1080p display without costing a fortune while also keeping things light, thin, and military-grade durable.

Read the full review: Asus TUF Dash F15

The Gigabyte Aorus 17G on a white background. The gaming laptop is open and has the Aorus 17G logo, along with a badge advertising its Omron switches.

(Image credit: Gigabyte)

3. Gigabyte Aorus 17G (2021)

New age hardware, old school vibes

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 Series | RAM: Up to 64GB | Display: 17.3-inch FHD 300Hz NTSC 72% IPS panel | Storage: 512 GB PCIe SSD

Incredible mechanical keyboard
Powerful gaming performance
Heavy weight calls into question its portability

A tactile mechanical keyboard and a 300Hz refresh rate display are just the beginning. The Gigabyte Aorus 17G (2021) touts an incredible gaming performance that might just be worthy of desktop gaming PCs. With one of the RTX 3000 GPUs under the hood, this will see you through the most graphics-intensive games, including competitive ones. And, because of its impressive battery life, you can do so away from a power source.

Read the full review: Gigabyte Aorus 17G (2021)

Alienware m17 R4 at an angle on a white background. The gaming laptop is open, with a screenshot of Halo: The Master Chief Collection. You can see the right-side ports, along with some ventilation.

(Image credit: Dell)

4. Alienware m17 R4 (2021)

Big. Powerful. Beautiful.

CPU: Up to 10th Generation Intel Core i9-10980HK | Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | RAM: Up to 32GB DDR4 2933MHz | Screen: 17.3" UHD 60Hz 25ms 500-nits display | Storage: Up to 4TB SSD + 512GB SSD

Blazing fast performance
Stylish chassis with plenty of ports
Battery life of less than 3 hours

It’s not always going to be substance over style. The Alienware m17 series continues to prove this with the new Alienware m17 R4, an extremely powerful gaming laptop with plenty of ports and an extremely stylish chassis that lights up like a Christmas tree. That way, you can play all the latest AAA games smoothing and in style. Of course, this being one of the fastest gaming laptops in 2021, it won’t be cheap. However, if you have the money, you’ll be glad you chose this.

Read the full review: Alienware m17 R4 (2021)

Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition. The gaming laptop is shot from the back, showing the Asus ROG logo and the red accent on the back of the device.

(Image credit: Asus)

5. Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition

AMD's swing at the high-end

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800M | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1080pp), 300Hz | Storage: 512GB SSD

Excellent performance
Jaw-dropping battery life of more than 11 hours
Has some kinks and bugs that need to be worked out

Powerful great-value laptops aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, so when one does come out every now and then, we’re only too happy to test it out. The Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition, one of the latest best value laptops to hit the streets, is AMD’s successful swing at the high-end, boasting AMD’s top processor and GPU. But, it isn’t just its performance that takes center stage here. That battery life is astounding as well, especially considering those powerful specs.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition

Razer Blade 17 on a white background. The gaming laptop is open, and there's a colorful background with the Razer Logo in the center. It's very colorful.

(Image credit: Razer)

6. Razer Blade Pro 17 (2021)

RTX 3000 gaming goodness

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 – 3080 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Screen: 17.3" Full HD 360Hz – 17.3" 4K Touch 120Hz | Storage: 512GB – 1TB SSD

Gorgeous, speedy display
Great performance at 1080p
Gaming at 4K needs tweaking

If you’re looking for an absolute beast, the best gaming laptop for you might just be this follow-up to Razer’s 17-inch leviathan. More than just a gaming portable, it makes for an excellent mobile workstation for creators as well – although gamers who have the cash will appreciate the RTX 3000 GPU, up to 64GB of memory, and display with fast refresh rates. It’s pretty expensive, though, so unless you need all that power or you just have the money to throw away, you really have to make sure you’ll make the most of it.

Read the full review: Razer Blade Pro 17 (2021)

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733 on a white background. The gaming laptop is open, and there's a pink and purple background on the screen with the Asus ROG logo.

(Image credit: Asus)

7. Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733

The best of AMD and Nvidia

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | RAM: 16GB – 64GB | Screen: 17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 anti-glare – 17.3-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) 16:9 anti-glare display | Storage: 1TB + 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0

Excellent performance especially at 1080p
Brilliant mechanical keyboard
Poor battery life of less than 5 hours

One of the most powerful gaming laptops that money can buy in 2021, the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733 barely breaks a sweat. That excellent performance is due to the impressive specs it’s kitted out with, which also sadly put out of most people’s reach, price-wise. If you can afford it, however, there are a few other things you’ll love about it, including that unapologetic design that lights up like Christmas due to its resplendent RGB lighting and that optical mechanical keyboard that’s simply one of the best we've experienced on a laptop. This is among the best of the best out there, and a worthy consideration if you’re not limited by your budget.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro on a white background. The laptop is open, and there's a colorful background on the display with the Legion logo and what looks like black rocks surrounding it.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

8. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

Nearly perfect

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 – 3070 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz | Screen: 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS 500 nits, 165Hz | Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD

Incredible gaming performance
Excellent hardware controls
Fairly generic chassis that's on the heavy side

Hands down one of the best gaming laptops we’ve tested, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro comes with all the makings of a nearly perfect portable for gaming. Its incredible performance is matched only by that gorgeous QHD IPS screen with up to 500 nits of brightness, Dolby Vision, and up to a 165Hz refresh rate. It also boasts excellent hardware controls, admirable battery life, and a full-sized keyboard. Budget-minded gamers will also appreciate the fact that while it’s among the best in its class, it’s also reasonably priced, making it a better value than its peers.

Read the full review: Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

MSI Pulse GL66 with its backlit keyboard lit up red on a white background

(Image credit: MSI)

9. MSI Pulse GL66

A powerful midrange gaming laptop

CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 – 3060 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: Up to 15.6" QHD (2560x1440) 165Hz IPS-Level | Storage: From 512GB NVMe SSD

Great gaming performance to match older gaming rigs
The full-sized keyboard is a nice touch
Battery life is only at a little over 3 hours

If a powerful mid-range gaming laptop that does the job and doesn’t burn a big hole in your pocket is what you had in mind, the MSI Pulse GL66 might prove to be an appealing option. This affordable prospect still boasts some of the latest and greatest components without stepping into the premium sphere, giving those who’ve been wanting an RTX 3000 GPU an easier way in. Naturally, sacrifices had to be made, as is always the case. That battery life, for example, is sad by today’s standards – but considering the pricey Alienware line is plagued with the same issue, it’s not a deal-breaker here. Just remember to pack that charger.

Read the full review: MSI Pulse GL66

The Razer Blade 14 on a white background with its display, keyboard and trackpad visible.

(Image credit: Razer)

10. Razer Blade 14

Portability and performance

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 – 3080 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 14-inch 144Hz Full HD – 14-inch 165Hz QHD | Storage: 1TB SSD

Beautiful yet robust chassis
Thin and light
Lower performance than other laptops

A luxurious portable option comes in the form of a Razer, naturally. The manufacturer’s latest gaming laptop release, the Razer Blade 14, comes with lots of power with a Ryzen 9 from the 5000 series as well as the most powerful Nvidia 3000 graphics. That means you can pretty much play the latest AAA game on it without lugging around a heavy device around with you. At 0.66 inches thick and just under 4lb, that thin and light chassis is definitely a boon to gamers who often travel. Luckily, it also boasts a luxe design so you won’t hesitate to pull it out at a cafe or on a train. Of course, things are still solid, from performance to build.

Read the full review: Razer Blade 14

How we test gaming laptops

Testing a gaming laptop isn’t as easy as you might think. But, then again, neither is narrowing down your options and choosing the best one for you, which is why we take our job seriously. Even if that means gaming for hours on end – hey, someone’s gotta make the sacrifice, right?

In all seriousness, we put every gaming laptop we test through its paces to make sure it delivers as promised and is worth your hard-earned case. That means that on top of playing the latest and hottest games on it, noting things like gaming and thermal performance, we also run synthetic benchmarks like PCMark 10, 3DMark and Geekbench 5 as well as battery tests.

Because a gaming laptop is only as good as its peripherals, we take a look at how smooth and fast the display is, how comfortable and responsive its keyboard is, whether or not there are enough ports on hand, and how good its overall design is. We also test its webcam, in case users want to utilize it for game streaming. 

We then take everything we’ve learned about the gaming laptop and compare it to its price – whether or not it’s performance and features are worth that price tag, and whether or not it offers the best value to customers.



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