As game have gotten more impressive, so have the machines that run them.
It wasn’t long ago that gaming laptops were mostly fantasy. If you were willing to spend enough you could buy a laptop that could maybe play all of the latest games, but you still still had to make some significant compromises, whether dialing down the guality or putting up with terrible battery life. Now a gaming laptop will still cost you a sizeable chunk of change, but the trade-offs are considerably less.
These are the best six options worth buying, whether you're looking for a gaming rig or something for work and play.
Asus ROG Strix GL502VS
ASUS
$1,700
If you’re looking for something a bit more portable than a 17-inch laptop, Asus’ 15-inch ROG Strix GL502VS is another consistently well-reviewed option, and PC Gamer’s pick for best overall gaming laptop. Not surprisingly, the laptop’s combination of performance and a somewhat more portable form factor does come with one big trade-off: battery life. PC Gamer says you can expect only an hour or two even when you’re not gaming.
Acer Predator 17
$1,857
Another gaming laptop that won’t be mistaken for anything else, Acer’s red-accented Predator 17 is a top pick of The Wirecutter, which says it has the “best performance for the price without any major flaws.” It’s not exactly cheap in any configuration, but it will buy you a great 17.3-inch display and gamer-minded features, including a fully programmable backlit keyboard and ample cooling (which The Wirecutter notes is unfortunately due in part to some fairly loud fans).
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
$900 (and up)
Dell’s Alienware laptops may not be the most well-suited for work or school use, but it’s no surprise that Dell’s own Inspiron-branded laptops are. The newest iteration of its Inspiron 15 7000, in particular, has been a favorite of many (including CNET and The Wirecutter) for its hard-to-beat value. You can get a solid configuration for under $1,000 and, while it won’t compete with bulkier systems when it comes to all-out performance, you will get a more well-rounded laptop that offers both portability and great battery life.
Razer Blade
$1,900 (and up)
While most gamers may gladly trade a bit of portability for better performance, there are also some options for those who want to keep things as slim and light as possible. The 14-inch Razer Blaze is a standout in that group, with CNET calling it the “MacBook Pro of gaming laptops.” That comparison also of course extends to the laptop’s premium price, as well as a relative lack of configuration options compared to most gaming laptops. But if those aren’t drawbacks for you, expect to get solid performance in an all-around high-end package.
MSI GT83VR Titan SLI
$4,105 (and up)
It may be closer in size and weight to the luggable “laptops” of yesteryear than most of today’s offerings, but if its a real desktop replacement you’re after, MSI’s sorta portable GT83VR gaming rig won't disappoint. In addition to high-end internals like dual GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs, the system’s sky-high asking price also buys you a huge 18.4-inch display (albeit one without a 4K option) and even a full-size mechanical keyboard. Just don’t plan on taking it too far from a power outlet.
Alienware 17 R4
$1,400 (and up)
Alienware (now a subsidiary of Dell) has been a go-to choice for gamers for more than twenty years, and the company’s current lineup continues to hold up that reputation. The Alienware 17 R4 laptop is a consistently well-reviewed choice and a favorite of Laptop, PCMag, CNET, and others. It’s relatively affordable in its more basic configurations but, like most such laptops, it can get considerably more costly once you start adding more high-end options, like full VR compatibility.
It wasn’t long ago that gaming laptops were mostly fantasy. If you were willing to spend enough you could buy a laptop that could maybe play all of the latest games, but you still still had to make some significant compromises, whether dialing down the guality or putting up with terrible battery life. Now a gaming laptop will still cost you a sizeable chunk of change, but the trade-offs are considerably less.
These are the best six options worth buying, whether you're looking for a gaming rig or something for work and play.
Asus ROG Strix GL502VS
ASUS
$1,700
If you’re looking for something a bit more portable than a 17-inch laptop, Asus’ 15-inch ROG Strix GL502VS is another consistently well-reviewed option, and PC Gamer’s pick for best overall gaming laptop. Not surprisingly, the laptop’s combination of performance and a somewhat more portable form factor does come with one big trade-off: battery life. PC Gamer says you can expect only an hour or two even when you’re not gaming.
Acer Predator 17
$1,857
Another gaming laptop that won’t be mistaken for anything else, Acer’s red-accented Predator 17 is a top pick of The Wirecutter, which says it has the “best performance for the price without any major flaws.” It’s not exactly cheap in any configuration, but it will buy you a great 17.3-inch display and gamer-minded features, including a fully programmable backlit keyboard and ample cooling (which The Wirecutter notes is unfortunately due in part to some fairly loud fans).
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
$900 (and up)
Dell’s Alienware laptops may not be the most well-suited for work or school use, but it’s no surprise that Dell’s own Inspiron-branded laptops are. The newest iteration of its Inspiron 15 7000, in particular, has been a favorite of many (including CNET and The Wirecutter) for its hard-to-beat value. You can get a solid configuration for under $1,000 and, while it won’t compete with bulkier systems when it comes to all-out performance, you will get a more well-rounded laptop that offers both portability and great battery life.
Razer Blade
$1,900 (and up)
While most gamers may gladly trade a bit of portability for better performance, there are also some options for those who want to keep things as slim and light as possible. The 14-inch Razer Blaze is a standout in that group, with CNET calling it the “MacBook Pro of gaming laptops.” That comparison also of course extends to the laptop’s premium price, as well as a relative lack of configuration options compared to most gaming laptops. But if those aren’t drawbacks for you, expect to get solid performance in an all-around high-end package.
MSI GT83VR Titan SLI
$4,105 (and up)
It may be closer in size and weight to the luggable “laptops” of yesteryear than most of today’s offerings, but if its a real desktop replacement you’re after, MSI’s sorta portable GT83VR gaming rig won't disappoint. In addition to high-end internals like dual GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs, the system’s sky-high asking price also buys you a huge 18.4-inch display (albeit one without a 4K option) and even a full-size mechanical keyboard. Just don’t plan on taking it too far from a power outlet.
Alienware 17 R4
$1,400 (and up)
Alienware (now a subsidiary of Dell) has been a go-to choice for gamers for more than twenty years, and the company’s current lineup continues to hold up that reputation. The Alienware 17 R4 laptop is a consistently well-reviewed choice and a favorite of Laptop, PCMag, CNET, and others. It’s relatively affordable in its more basic configurations but, like most such laptops, it can get considerably more costly once you start adding more high-end options, like full VR compatibility.
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