The 6 Best Gaming Laptops of 2025

The best gaming laptop we've tested is the Razer Blade 18 (2024). This is the one to get if you're willing to splurge on a premium model or have money burning a hole in your pocket. Sporting an 18-inch display, this laptop delivers an incredibly immersive gaming experience. The build quality is remarkable; its all-aluminum chassis feels incredibly sturdy, similar to premium laptops like Apple MacBook Pros. It's a chunky beast, though, so it isn't the best option for on-the-go use. You get an amazingly tactile keyboard, Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, and tons of ports, including a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port to ensure you have a stable internet connection with the lowest latency when gaming online. 

Unfortunately, the configuration is a little complicated. Although Razer had offered two display (QHD+ or 4k+) and multiple GPU options (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 to 4090), only the top-end RTX 4090 with a 4k+ panel remains available, as Razer has already announced the RTX 50-series models. So, it might be worth waiting a bit to see the price difference between the older and newer models to figure out which is the best bang for your buck. While we don't know how the new models will perform, we do know that the 50-series GPUs bring Multi Frame Generation (MFG), which can dramatically improve frame rates in supported titles. The number of games with MFG support isn't extensive right now, but will likely grow quickly.

If you want something a little less expensive than the Razer Blade 18 (2024), check out the Dell Alienware m18 R2 (2024). It's also an 18-inch model available with Intel 14th Gen CPUs and discrete NVIDIA GPUs, up to a Core i9-14900HX and an RTX 4090, respectively. Display options include a 480Hz FHD+ and 165Hz QHD+ IPS panel; both have a fast response time and VRR support. What's unique about this laptop is that you can customize the keyboard with ultra low-profile Cherry MX switches instead of scissor switches, giving you better tactile feedback. 

This model performs just as well as the Blade 18, so you aren't losing anything performance-wise; however, its overall build doesn't feel as premium, and its displays are dimmer, so glare may be an issue in well-lit settings. Also, the top of the keyboard deck gets uncomfortably hot under load, reaching 50 °C (122 °F), and the fans are only slightly quieter than the Blade 18 at 55 dBA. This model isn't well suited for on-the-go use—it's even bulkier and heavier than the Razer. 

Our best mid-range pick is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605, a sleek 16-inch model that can also double as a creator laptop. Available with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, it delivers a great gaming experience overall with high, consistent frame rates. However, it won't be as good as the models above because its Intel Metoer Lake CPUs aren't quite as fast as the 14th Gen processors, and the GPUs run at a lower wattage of 115W due to the slimmer chassis' thermal constraints. 

You can get up to 32GB of RAM, which is likely enough for most people, but these memory modules are soldered, meaning you can't upgrade them yourself later. As for the display, you can choose between an IPS or OLED panel; both are 240Hz QHD+ panels with G-SYNC support. Unfortunately, there's no Ethernet port. The RTX 4070 model we tested doesn't get very loud, reaching only 45.5 dBA under load, and we expect the RTX 4080 and 4090 models will be even quieter, as they have a vapor chamber instead of a third fan.

The best budget gaming laptop we've tested is the MSI Katana A15 AI (2024). There isn't anything particularly special about this 15-inch model, but it gets the job done. Configurable with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, it delivers smooth gameplay in highly demanding AAA titles. The build quality, as well as the overall user experience, is where the compromises are: its plastic chassis flexes in some areas, especially the display, and the hinges are a tad loose. The laptop also gets fairly hot and loud under load, with a hot spot right in the middle of the keyboard.

You can choose between a 144Hz FHD or 165Hz QHD display. The latter will provide a better gaming experience, as it has a faster response time to deliver a cleaner image with less ghosting in fast-moving scenes. It also has better color reproduction, producing more vibrant colors than the FHD panel, which looks highly inaccurate and washed out. Unfortunately, there's Wi-Fi 6E onboard but no Ethernet port.

Note: at the time of writing, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605 above is on sale, making it a much better value. That said, if you're on a very tight budget, you can likely find cheaper configurations of the MSI Katana for around $1,100 to $1,200 USD.

For those on a really tight budget, we recommend the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023). This 16-inch model has been on the market for a little over a year now, so prices have come down considerably. You can get this laptop with an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS or Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU, which are both last-gen processors paired with an AMD Radeon RX 6700S or Radeon RX 7700S GPU. Every configuration can deliver high, consistent frame rates in demanding AAA games at 1080p or 1440p—you just have to tweak the settings a bit. Display options include a 165Hz FHD+ or a 240Hz QHD+ panel; both support variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing.

This laptop sports a solid port selection for peripherals and external displays, including an Ethernet and HDMI 2.1 port. The RAM and storage are user-replaceable, providing a clear upgrade path down the line. Thermal throttling is minimal under load, but the laptop does get hot and loud. Thankfully, there's no hot spot around the WASD keys. This laptop also isn't particularly portable as it's relatively bulky, and you'll need to carry along its fairly beefy charger for use on the go, as its battery life lasts a little over an hour when gaming.

The best gaming Chromebook we've tested is the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024). Unlike our picks above, this device runs Chrome OS, an operating system that isn't typically associated with gaming since most games lack Chrome OS support. Besides, this laptop only has low-power integrated graphics that aren't powerful enough to handle demanding games. The main focus of this device is on cloud gaming through services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta). The laptop comes with a three-month trial of GeForce Now—you can continue to play for free afterward, but you'll have to pay if you want higher frame rates and longer play sessions.

So, what about games from the Google Play Store? Will they run? The answer is that it depends. Some will work just fine, but some might not, as these are titles designed for Android smartphones and tablets, with many lacking keyboard, mouse, or controller support. As for the laptop itself, it feels pretty sturdy overall, and it's relatively portable for a 16-inch model. Its 120Hz QHD+ display looks very sharp, and while its response time is a bit slow, it's still better than most productivity laptops, so there isn't too much ghosting behind fast-moving objects. You get Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity and an Ethernet port, which will help provide a better experience, as cloud gaming performance depends a lot on your internet connection.