Are gaming laptops worth it 2021

Game on the go with the best gaming laptop. Gaming notebooks keep things portable while boasting enough power to deliver an excellent gaming performance, even with the best PC games. Some of the top gaming laptops are more powerful than others, with the premium ones fitted with higher-end specs for 4K gaming and the budget to mid-range ones best suited for 1080p and 1440p experiences. However, they all have one thing in common: theyll deliver the kind of immersion you wont have on lesser-quality options.

Being the best gaming laptop doesnt just mean having all the latest and best hardware like RTX 3080 mobile GPUs and large displays with blazing fast refresh rates. While some excellent candidates aren't necessarily the flashiest or most feature-filled, they still offer a great value with solid performance at an unbeatable price. Meanwhile, slimmer gaming laptops out there that can easily fit in some of the best backpacks might not be the most powerful, but they keep things lightweight, which is an advantage if you travel often.

No matter your need or budget, you certainly have options when it comes to the best gaming laptops. To help you, weve not only gathered the best of the best below, but also included foolproof tips on how you can make the right choice. Take a look, and be sure to check out our price comparison tool as well so you can also find an excellent gaming laptop deal.

How to choose the best gaming laptop for you?

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

Lucky for us, were getting plenty of more affordably-priced CPUs and GPUs that dont 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 its no longer a hard and fast rule, AMDs 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 doesnt automatically mean itll 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, free Steam games, and even the best cheap PC games to the best laptop games and the best PC games all without tethering you to a desk.

Best gaming laptops 2021

1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

Desktop-replacement performance

Specifications

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

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Reasons to buy

+Outstanding performance, especially for the price+Incredible battery life

Reasons to avoid

-Lack of webcam might disappoint streamers

Our favorite Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 config:

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, theyre 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 thats affordably-priced to boot, nothing beats this one.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

2. Asus TUF Dash F15

Affordable CAN mean sheer power

Specifications

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

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Reasons to buy

+Battery life up to 10 hours+Strong gaming performance in a thin chassis

Reasons to avoid

-Keyboard lighting color can't be changed

Our favorite Asus TUF Dash F15 config:

The Asus TUF line is no stranger to affordable great performers. Last years 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

3. Gigabyte Aorus 17G (2021)

New age hardware, old school vibes

Specifications

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

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Reasons to buy

+Incredible mechanical keyboard+Powerful gaming performance

Reasons to avoid

-Heavy weight calls into question its portability

Our favorite Gigabyte Aorus 17G config:

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)

4. Lenovo Legion 7 (Gen 6)

Unrivaled gaming performance at a price

Specifications

CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX

Graphics: Up to Nvidia RTX 3080

RAM: Up to 32GB DDR4 3200MHz

Screen: 16" QHD (2560 x 1600) IPS HDR 400, 500 nits, 165Hz

Storage: Up to 2 TB PCIe SSD

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Reasons to buy

+Superb performance+Sleek design with plenty of ports

Reasons to avoid

-Battery life is lacking

Our favorite Lenovo Legion 7 (Gen 6) config:

A fantastic laptop that delivered astounding performance across the board, the Lenovo Legion 7 (Gen 6) has proven itself already worth its steep price tag even if its not exactly something most people can afford. This is a pricey behemoth with only about three hours of battery life, but if youre ok with something you wouldnt want to travel with, this is a winner. Apart from its unrivalled gaming performance, youre also getting a bunch of RGB lighting options and a bunch of ports three USBs, three USB-C, an HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 1.4 ports so youll never need a separate hub for your peripherals.

Read the full review: Lenovo Legion 7 (Gen 6)

Our favorite Alienware m17 R4 config:

Its 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 wont be cheap. However, if you have the money, youll be glad you chose this.

Read the full review: Alienware m17 R4 (2021)

6. Asus ROG Strix G15 AMD Advantage Edition

AMD's swing at the high-end

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX

Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800M

RAM: 16GB

Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1080pp), 300Hz

Storage: 512GB SSD

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Reasons to buy

+Excellent performance+Jaw-dropping battery life of more than 11 hours

Reasons to avoid

-Has some kinks and bugs that need to be worked out

Our favorite Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition config

Powerful great-value laptops arent exactly a dime a dozen, so when one does come out every now and then, were 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 AMDs successful swing at the high-end, boasting AMDs top processor and GPU. But, it isnt 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

Our favorite Razer Blade 15 config

The 2021 follow-up to the Razer Blade 15 line doesnt fall far from the tree. Its just as gorgeous and glamorous as ever, wearing its luxurious, thin and light design like its reputation depends on it. But, it isnt just a beautiful piece of kit; its a powerful one too. Its 11th-gen chips and Series 3000 GPUs ensure that it delivers an excellent performance worthy of gamers. Razer then rounds it all out with a comfortable keyboard and among the best trackpad in a Windows laptop. If youre looking for a gaming laptop thats just as powerful as it is beautiful, this ones a win.

Read the full review: Razer Blade 15 (2021)

8. Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733

The best of AMD and Nvidia

Specifications

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

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Reasons to buy

+Excellent performance especially at 1080p+Brilliant mechanical keyboard

Reasons to avoid

-Poor battery life of less than 5 hours

Our favorite Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733 config

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 its kitted out with, which also sadly put out of most peoples reach, price-wise. If you can afford it, however, there are a few other things youll love about it, including that unapologetic design that lights up like Christmas due to its resplendent RGB lighting and that optical mechanical keyboard thats 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 youre not limited by your budget.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733

9. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

Nearly perfect

Specifications

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

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Reasons to buy

+Incredible gaming performance+Excellent hardware controls

Reasons to avoid

-Fairly generic chassis that's on the heavy side

Our favorite Lenovo Legion 5 Pro config

Hands down one of the best gaming laptops weve 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 its among the best in its class, its also reasonably priced, making it a better value than its peers.

Read the full review: Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

Our favorite Razer Blade 14 config

A luxurious portable option comes in the form of a Razer, naturally. The manufacturers 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 wont 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 isnt 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, someones 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 weve learned about the gaming laptop and compare it to its price whether or not its performance and features are worth that price tag, and whether or not it offers the best value to customers.

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