Best gaming laptops of 2023

Our picks for the best gaming laptops, from affordable models to high-end gaming beasts.
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Best gaming laptops of 2023 - W3Tekno

Choosing one of the best gaming laptops can be a bit tricky, as there are so many great-looking possibilities. Especially since both gaming laptop and PC hardware are constantly evolving, it's not always easy to know if a particular laptop is a smart investment if you're not up on the latest specifications and terminology.

In response, we're here. Some of the best gaming laptops currently available on the market have been selected for this list by our team of experts, many of whom have reviewed them for Creative Bloq. This list consists of a mix of contemporary models and a few slightly older models that are still quite affordable. You won't have too many alternatives to sort through before you decide which gaming laptop is perfect for you.

Yes, we at CB are artists, but we're also passionate and experienced gamers. We've used this knowledge to test, review and live with some of the most exciting gaming laptops available to determine which ones really fulfil our need for excitement. We examine each laptop's capabilities by running a series of games on it to determine its processing power, graphics performance and overall enjoyment (or sometimes weight) of use. This goes beyond benchmark tests using Geekbench, Cinebench and similar tests.

Spending a month's salary on a gaming laptop isn't necessary, but it is an option if you want a beastly machine that can run the newest AAA games in 4K or QHD. But there are several good lower-cost solutions that will still perform well if all you need is a laptop for gaming while you're out and about and you're not the type to put all the detail options up to maximum. You can pick the best gaming laptop for you in our recommendations below, no matter what your budget is.

Razer Blade 14 - The best 14-inch gaming laptop

Razer Blade 14

The best 14-inch gaming laptop
Specifications
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
  • Graphics: Up to Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Screen: 14-inch 1080p FHD at 144Hz or 1440p QHD at 165 Hz
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Slick design
  • Powerful gaming components
  • Compact design
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Expensive
  • The sleek-looking Razer Blade 14 is a great option if you're looking for an ultraportable laptop. While this laptop has a little more power than the Dash F15, its price will increase due to its superior specs. If you can afford the price, this gaming laptop is impressive.

    The Razer Blade 14 has Razor's famously sleek aesthetic and is significantly smaller than the other Razer Blade laptops on our list. With an AMD CPU and Nvidia 30-series GPU, you can have the best of both worlds. This 14-inch laptop is undoubtedly a powerhouse. The Razer Blade 14 is a great, mid-range gaming laptop in our opinion.

    Corsair Voyager a1600 - The best gaming laptop with a mechanical keyboard

    Corsair Voyager a1600

    The best gaming laptop with a mechanical keyboard
    Specifications
  • CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800M
  • RAM: 16GB or 32GB DDR5-4800
  • Screen: 16-inch QHD (2560x1600), 240Hz
  • Storage: 1TB or 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Big, fast display
  • Impressive mechanical keyboard
  • Touch bar
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Not many ports
  • Rather expensive
  • Noisy fans
  • Even if a mechanical keyboard isn't your main concern when looking for one of the best gaming laptops, there are still plenty of excellent reasons to choose the Corsair Voyager a1600. Although Corsair has been around for a while, this model is its first gaming laptop and it has a lot going for it.

    Start with the mechanical keyboard, which uses Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile switches and feels really good and responsive. Mechanical keyboards are rare in gaming laptops. The touch bar above the keyboard is another surprising bonus, but you may not use it too much as it's mostly designed for streamers.

    While the fans are a little noisy at full throttle, the big, fast 16:10 display is pleasing to the eye and gaming performance is impressive. There's also a nice bonus in the form of 'Slipstream' connectivity, which lets you connect compatible wireless peripherals without a plug-in dongle. For Corsair's first attempt at a laptop, this is a really good effort, but its price is sure to raise some questions.

    Razer Blade 17 - If you don't mind paying a premium, this is the greatest gaming laptop.

    Razer Blade 17

    If you don't mind paying a premium, this is the greatest gaming laptop.
    Specifications
  • CPU: Up to Intel 11th-gen
  • Graphics: Up to Nvidia RTX 3080
  • RAM: Up to 32GB
  • Screen: 17.3-inch 4K-touch screen
  • Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Powerful build in a slim frame
  • 4k touchscreen display
  • Sufficient storage
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Incredibly expensive
  • The Razer Blade 17 is the best Razer laptop if you want a laptop with no limitations and technological problems. Its cost may seem high, but if you're prepared to spend that money, you really will get the best of the best. Although it's a powerful laptop for gaming, we warn that power comes at a price.

    According to our Razer Blade 17 review, the power of this laptop makes it an ideal workstation for designers and 3D artists, and it's really only recommended as a gaming laptop if you really want to enjoy life and don't mind the price.

    The Razer Blade laptop is the laptop for today, thanks to its high-end components and sleek looks. During our testing, we discovered that the 4K touchscreen display is excellent but probably a little overkill. The Razer Blade 17 is one of the best gaming laptops, but all that good stuff comes at a price, a rather expensive price, so if money is no object and you want a high-spec, blockbuster laptop that will run anything and everything.

    MSI GE76 Raider - The best MSI laptop for gaming

    MSI GE76 Raider

    The best MSI laptop for gaming
    Specifications
  • CPU: Intel Core i9-11980HK
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
  • RAM: Up to 32GB
  • Screen: 17.3-inch UHD
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Colourful RPG bar
  • Powerful CPU and GPU performance
  • 17-inch display
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Heavy
  • Expensive configs
  • A powerful gaming rig, the MSI GE76 Raider features high-end components such as Intel Core i9-12900HK and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. With its powerful processor and 17-inch display, this device can handle additional demanding tasks like shooting and editing videos.

    There are some nice design details, too. For example, if you want some flair, you'll love the RGB light bar that complements the vibrant backlit keys. It's one of the aspects of this gaming laptop that we really appreciate.

    The MSI GE76 Raider is so heavy that it can be used as the best desktop replacement, or as a piece of equipment you'd consider connecting to a better TV or monitor. All this technology and capability comes at a price.

    Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 - The most stylish gaming laptop available

    Asus ROG Strix Scar 15

    The most stylish gaming laptop available
    Specifications
  • CPU: Intel Core i9-12900H (14-core)
  • Graphics: Intel Iris Xe, Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti 8GB
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Screen: 15.6-inch, 2,560 x 1,440, 240Hz, IPS LCD
  • Storage: 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Solid chassis build
  • Really strong performance
  • Good battery life
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Screen quality is a bit disappointing
  • When switched on, the RGB LEDs on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 flash in various colours. This laptop is one of the best for gaming, and if nothing else, it's an open love letter to gamer culture.

    Thanks to the new Intel 12th Gen CPUs and the latest Nvidia RTX graphics, this updated 2022 model is just as incredibly powerful. Our reviewer found the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 to be a well-made, reliable gaming laptop, boasting considerable battery life and an elegant design. Outside of the LEDs surrounding the chassis, there's not much else that's exciting.

    The main drawbacks are the 1440p display, which despite having a 240Hz refresh rate, looks a bit flat and unimpressive compared to some of the others on this list, and the fact that it is neither the lightest nor the thinnest gaming laptop, weighing 2.3kg.

    Alienware X15 R2 - The best Alienware gaming laptop

    Alienware X15 R2

    The best Alienware gaming laptop
    Specifications
  • CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080Ti
  • RAM: 32GB DDR5
  • Screen: 15.6in
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Fairly thin
  • Powerful
  • Good connectivity
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Small trackpad
  • More expensive than some competitors
  • Poor battery life
  • If you can tolerate the RGB lighting, Alienware's new 15-inch X15 R2 gaming laptop is a powerful and adaptable PC that's also well-made and attractive. Games and other intensive tasks can be handled smartly thanks to the component selection and ample RAM, but limited battery life makes this laptop best used as an indoor laptop.

    Although it's quite expensive compared to similarly specced competitors, the Alienware X15 R2 delivers performance that's very close to the most expensive Alienware machines, as our comprehensive review shows. The good news is that you can count on Alienware's long-lasting PCs and Dell's renowned build quality.

    ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 - The best gaming laptop for creatives who also like unwinding

    ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16

    The best gaming laptop for creatives who also like unwinding
    Specifications
  • CPU: Intel Core i9-13900H
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 16GB
  • RAM: 32GB DDR5
  • Screen: 16in WQXGA 240Hz, 2560x1600
  • Storage: 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Immense power
  • Cool LED display
  • Amazing screen
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Battery life isn't great
  • Is the LED display needed?
  • Louder fans than advertised
  • ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very powerful, stylish and fashionable. It has the latest, best Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, a powerful processor, a dazzling LED display on top and a high price tag, but that last one is expected. If you can afford it, you can use this as a powerful gaming and creativity tool (just make sure you're near an outlet).

    Our Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur thoroughly enjoyed his time with it, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to quantify the extent of this beast's disturbing power. Check out our detailed review of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 to learn all about this beast.

     Razer Blade 15 - The best looking laptop for gaming

    Razer Blade 15

    The best looking laptop for gaming
    Specifications
  • CPU: Up to 12th-gen Intel Core H series
  • Graphics: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
  • RAM: Up to 16 GB or 32GB
  • Screen: 15.6-inch 1080p FHD at 360Hz, 1440p QHD at 240Hz, 2160p 4K at 144Hz
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Excellent performance
  • Slick, minimal design
  • Wide range of configs
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Short battery life
  • Some models can be pricey
  • Continuing to look as stylish as ever, the Razer Blade 15 series continues to impress as one of the best gaming laptops available. With a black, minimalist aluminium design that eschews overt "gamer" elements, it's one of the best looking laptops around. Considering the premium, powerful components inside, it's also incredibly lightweight and portable.

    While this laptop may be outdated (and the latest Razer 16 model is also available), it's still one of the best all-round gaming laptops. In our Razer 15 review, we highlighted how great this PC is, but we also noted how expensive it is. The Razer Blade 15's quality hasn't changed, but its price has. Our reviewer owns a Razer Blade 15 for being so excellent.

    If you opt for the most powerful configuration, the Nvidia 3080 series GPU and 12th-gen CPUs make it a powerful piece of equipment, but if you're looking to save some cash the Intel Core i7 with 3070 GPU is a good compromise. While reasonable compared to some of the models on our list, the Razer Blade 15 still leans towards the more expensive end of the laptop spectrum. However, by looking at the various configurations of the series, you can pick the exact configuration you want and save money.

    Alienware m17 R5 - The best AMD-powered laptop for gaming

    Alienware m17 R5

    The best AMD-powered laptop for gaming
    Specifications
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT 12GB
  • RAM: 32GB DDR6
  • Screen: 17.3in UHD 120Hz
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • AMD graphics card overperforms
  • Stylish
  • Fantastic UHD screen
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Too bulky for mobile work
  • Trackpad is small
  • Battery life pedestrian
  • The Alienware m17 R5 is a stylish, sophisticated and functional upgrade to a well-known gaming performer. In our tests, it easily handled multitasking while tackling games and creative tasks thanks to its AMD Ryzen 6000 series processor and Radeon graphics. Although it may not appeal to everyone and is relatively heavy and bulky for working on the go, as our comprehensive review shows, the Alienware m17 R5 is one of the best sub-£2,000 alternatives you can find right now.

    Asus ROG Flow Z13 - The best gaming tablet

    Asus ROG Flow Z13

    The best gaming tablet
    Specifications
  • CPU: Up to 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H 14 cores
  • Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU
  • RAM: Up to 16GB
  • Screen: Up to 13.4-inch UHD+ touch screen
  • Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
  • Reasons To Buy
  • Fantastic build and features
  • Super versatile and portable
  • Makes gaming tablets a reality
  • Reasons To Avoid
  • Expensive for the specs
  • ROG XG Mobile connection feels fragile
  • With this product, Asus improves the 2-in-1 model and elevates gaming tablets to serious consideration. The endeavour to compete with the best gaming laptops while providing the flexibility and mobility of a tablet is an exciting invention and a new form factor that opens up a world of possibilities. The build quality and design of the Asus ROG Flow Z13 is excellent, despite being bulkier than other tablets.

    However, its performance has some drawbacks, making the high price more difficult to defend. Although it is undoubtedly quite powerful when we evaluate it, its performance still lagged behind laptops with comparable parts. We'd also prefer an external display for gaming whenever possible due to the low response time of the 13.4-inch screen, which Asus claims is 30ms and manifests itself in blur and fuzziness in games and videos. For more information, read our comprehensive Asus ROG Flow Z13 review.

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