Best gaming laptops in 2025: Our testing will help change the way you play

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It’s hardly theonlygaming laptop worth looking at, though not by a longshot.

It’s brimming with features, and it’s ready to fully replace your desktop gaming PC.

The Alienware m16 R2 on a desk running Cyberpunk 2077.

Best for creators

Razer’s Blade 18 for 2024 remains a premium oversized laptop for work and for play.

It’s not very portable, but it’s an effective desktop replacement.

It lacks some high-end features, but it’ll handle your favorite games.

Best overall gaming laptop

1.

There’s no OLED panel available, but the IPS display is impressive.

The RAM and SSD are both upgradeable after purchase.

They’re definitely worth a look, though we haven’t reviewed them just yet.

Read our fullAlienware m16 R2 review

Best premium gaming laptop

2.

RAM and SSD can be upgraded after purchase to save you money at checkout.

Not long after, we got our hands on the eighth-gen model for testing.

We tested nearly 700 nits brightness in SDR mode, making it one of thebest laptops with bright screens.

Read our fullLenovo Legion 9i (Gen 8) review

Best compact gaming laptop

3.

Best Buy frequently has this model discounted by hundreds of dollars.

That’s high praise from someone who tests and reviews so many laptops every year.

There’s even an IR sensor to go along with the 1080p webcam.

It’s practically everything you want in a gaming display.

Read our fullASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) review

4.

A QHD+ mini-LED display at 300Hz is outstanding.

The Alienware m16 R2 on a desk running Cyberpunk 2077.

Its 18-inch display is a certain highlight.

It’s the right choice for creators.

Read our fullRazer Blade 18 (2024) review

Best 18-inch gaming laptop

5.

RAM and SSD are upgradeable after purchase if you’d like to save some money at checkout.

This isn’t a laptop you want to buy if you often game while on the go.

The QHD+ option has a 3ms response time, variable 165Hz refresh rate, and NVIDIA G-Sync support.

The oversized chassis allows for some impressive performance hardware.

Like its smaller sibling, the Alienware m18 R2 isn’t expected to get a refresh.

Instead, it succeeded by an 18-inch Area-51 gaming laptop late last month.

Lenovo’s Legion 9i (Gen 8) pictured here received only a performance upgrade for the ninth generation.

Read our fullAlienware m18 R2 review

Best value gaming laptop

6.

The storage and memory can be upgraded after purchase.

The CPU/GPU combo here is a great match for the 15.6-inch display.

Choosing the best gaming laptop

Buying a gaming laptop makes a lot of sense.

A desktop PC is glued to one location, while a gaming laptop can go anywhere you go.

While it usually starts at about $1,500, frequent discounts drop it often toas low as $1,200.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is a compact gaming laptop with impressive performance and features.

Dell also has theAlienware x16 R2 that we reviewedif you’d like something with a more premium appeal.

Want to spend less than $1,000?

This gaming handheld runs Windows 11 Home and can be used to access several gaming services and storefronts.

The ROG Ally isn’t extortionately expensive and it’s also a strong performer.

It uses AMD’s new Z1 Extreme APU which is designed specifically for this jot down of rig.

It isn’t perfect, but as a package, it’s extremely compelling.

Razer’s Blade 18 for 2024 is a sleek powerhouse packing a ton of power and high-end features for creators and gamers.

All-in-all, it offers an ideal balance of performance, size, and cost.

Have a look at ourASUS ROG Ally reviewfor a lot more information.

But the Steam Deck has captured the imagination of gamers worldwide.

It doesn’t run Windows, instead using SteamOS, a customized version of Linux built by Valve.

Be sure to read ourSteam Deck reviewfor much more information about the rig.

The Alienware m18 R2 on a desk with the huge display showing some Tekken 8 gameplay.

The Acer Nitro V 15 is one of the sleeker budget gaming laptops out there.

The Razer Blade 16, another excellent gaming laptop worthy of consideration.

The ASUS ROG Ally and the ASUS ROG Ally X gaming handhelds.