The days of massive gaming PCs reigning supreme are feeling like a thing of the past. More and more gaming laptops are showing up with components that can rival their desktop counterparts while fitting into a compact design. Some gaming laptops even go as far as including the actual desktop variant of components, like the CPU, with extra cooling solutions to keep up.
There are also many gaming laptops with some of the most impressive displays you'll see around. From dazzling 4K resolutions to the brilliant contrast ratios of OLED panels, and from 1ms response times to the 300Hz refresh rates recently introduced, you'll find gaming laptops with displays that are nearly unmatched in the desktop space. After ample testing and research, we've narrowed down our picks so you can be sure the gaming laptops you're looking at are the best of the best and click here to find them in the UK.
TL;DR These are the Best Gaming Laptops
- Asus TUF Dash 15
- HP OMEN 16
- HP Victus 16
- Asus ROG Zephyrus G15
- Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model
- Asus ROG Strix Scar 17
- Alienware x15
- Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo SE
- Asus ROG Flow X13
1. Asus TUF Dash 15
Best Gaming Laptop
Display: 15.6 FHD [1,920 x 1,080] IPS-level 240Hz | CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 [8GB GDDR6 VRAM] | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD | Weight: 4.41 pounds | Size: 14.17" x 9.92" x 0.78"
Whether you want a ton of power or a ton of style from your gaming laptop, youre going to get it from the Asus TUF Dash 15, and youre going to get it for under $2,000. Inside, it's packing an Intel Core i7-11370H quad-core processor that can clock up to 4.8GHz when you need the speed, and it pairs that with an Nvidia RTX 3070. That's a potent pairing that'll do an excellent job delivering high frame rates to feed the 1080p/240Hz display for a competitive edge in games.
This laptop comes with a pretty comprehensive set of ports, so you can easily set it up to serve as a desktop replacement at home and then just bring a mouse and headset for gaming on the go. And this is definitely a laptop you can take on the go, as it weighs under 4.5 pounds and is only 0.78 inches thick.
2. HP Omen 16
Best Budget Gaming Laptop
Display: 16.1 FHD [1,920 x 1,080] IPS 144Hz | CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 [6GB GDDR6 VRAM] | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD | Weight: 5.11 pounds | Size: 14.54" x 9.76" x 0.91"
The HP OMEN 16 will get you gaming for a fraction of the price compared to some the picks on our list. Its not the cheapest gaming laptop you can find, but this mid-range option strikes a great balance of CPU and GPU performance. Therefore, you wont be paying too much for one part of the system that is going to get consistently bottlenecked by another. It also has a few upgrades from the OMEN 15 model including longer battery life and a slightly larger screen. This sleek and powerful laptop is the best you can find on a budget.
The Intel Core i7-11800H inside provides high performance and the instant responsiveness youll need for some solid 1080p gaming. Then theres the 144hz display and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics processor that will ensure you can enjoy that 1080p gaming at high speeds without having to dial back graphics settings. With a convenient four zone RGB keyboard, USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and WiFi 6 connection, all you'll need is a mouse and maybe a headset to get up and running in your favorite games.
3. HP Victus 16
Best Ultra Cheap Gaming Laptop
Display: 16.1 FHD [1,920 x 1,080] IPS | CPU: Intel Core i5-11400H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 [4GB GDDR6 VRAM] | RAM: 8GB DDR4 | Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD | Weight: 5.44 pounds | Size: 14.57" x 10.24" x 0.93"
Its almost unbelievable what you can get for under $900 when looking at the HP Victus 16. This system runs on an RTX 3050, which is plenty for playing games at Full HD and even better if you can take advantage of Nvidia DLSS. Not too shabby for such a modest price point. This laptop pairs that with its Intel Core i5-11400H processor to squeeze out the best out of your games.
The 8GB of RAM may be on the light side, but it should be relatively easy to upgrade up to 32GB if you need it. The system also comes running on an NVMe SSD instead of a hard drive or SATA SSD like you might expect at this budget price making for faster than expected performance. The larger 16.1-inch screen size, backlit keyboard with integrated numeric pad, and upgraded cooling system are a few added bonuses for this super-affordable laptop that gets you gaming anywhere.
4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15
Best Gaming Laptop for Everyday Life
Display: 15.6 QHD [2,560 x 1,440] 165Hz | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 [8GB GDDR6 VRAM] | RAM: 16GB DDR4 [3,200MHz] | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD | Weight: 4.21 pounds | Size: 13.97" x 9.59" x 0.78"
A gaming laptop doesn't have to be some over-the-top machine that you can't take around in your normal life or get decent battery life from. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 proves that well enough. This laptop goes straight stealth mode with its muted magnesium-aluminum exterior until you get around to the back and see the colorful dot-matrix design that's stylish yet still subtle.
You can expect to get a considerable battery life out of the ROG Zephyris G15 thanks to its 90WHr battery and the Zen 3 architecture its CPU is built on. Now let's talk about that CPU. This laptop comes packing an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS for some desktop-level horsepower, and that's well paired with an RTX 3070 graphics processor. That's all there to push the 1440p display to its full potential since it supports up to a 165Hz refresh rate. And, somehow, Asus managed to make this thing weigh just 4.21 pounds and measure only 0.78 inches thick.
5. Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model
Best 15-inch Gaming Laptop
Display: 15.6 QHD [2,560 x 1,440] 165Hz | CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 [8GB GDDR6 VRAM] | RAM: 16GB DDR4 [3,200MHz] | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD | Weight: 4.4 pounds | Size: 13.98" x 9.25" x 0.67"
Razer is packing some seriously shocking stuff into its Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model, and that makes it the best 15-inch gaming laptop youll find. The 15.6-inch display alone is a wonder, with a 1440p panel that can run at a zany 240Hz refresh rate. Razer even has that display supporting G-Sync, and it comes factory calibrated with 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space for exceptional visuals. Thatll let you get into some video and photo work, which is only made easier by the UHS-III SD card reader built into the laptop.
This gaming laptop comes powered by an Intel Core i7-11800H and Nvidia RTX 3070, giving you plenty of performance to take advantage of the display, though you can just as easily connect the laptop to external displays with its multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports and its full-size HDMI 2.1 output. With five extra USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports [two Type-C and three Type-A] you can also hook up plenty of peripherals for all your gaming needs.
6. Asus ROG Strix Scar 17
Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop
Display: 17.3" FHD [2,560 x 1,440] 165Hz | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 [16GB GDDR6 VRAM] | RAM: 32GB DDR4 [3,200MHz] | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD | Weight: 5.95 pounds | Size: 15.55" x 11.1" x 1.08"
Going for a 17-inch laptop means you can get a real beast of a machine because theres all that extra room for cooling the hungriest components. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 takes it to the max with some beefy parts thatll make plenty of desktop gaming PCs jealous. This laptop comes packing an AMD Ryzen 9 5900X for enough performance to game and stream at the same time.
The gaming experience youll get out of the RTX 3080 inside will also be superb. All that power wont be wasted when youre gaming on the go, either, as the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 features a 1440p display with a 165Hz refresh rate, so youll get sharp and smooth visuals for competitive gaming. Even the keyboard is ready for competition with optical-mechanical switches. If youll use a desk setup often, youll enjoy the rear-mounted Ethernet, HDMI, and DisplayPort 1.4-capable USB-C ports on the back, offering you a tidy setup.
7. Alienware x15
Sleek and Powerful
Display: 15.6 FHD [1,920 x 1,080] 360Hz G-Sync | CPU: Intel Core i9-11900H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 [8GB GDDR6 VRAM] | RAM: 32GB DDR4 [3,200MHz] | Storage: 4TB [2 x 2TB RAID0] NVMe SSD | Weight: 5.2 pounds | Size: 14.16" x 10.92" x 0.64"
Just how much do you think can get packed into a laptop frame measuring just 0.64 inches thick? Well, in the case of the Alienware x15, its quite a lot. Dell has managed to pack in an Intel Core i9-11900H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, giving you about as much power as you could reasonably want from a system right now. Its even juiced up with an 87Wh battery.
Dell even packs in 32GB of RAM so you wont run short if youre gaming, streaming, and happen to leave Chrome open in the background. Storage isnt lacking either thanks to a pair of 2TB NVMe SSDs running in RAID0. Heck, there are even four cooling fans packed in here to keep the system running cool. Lets not forget the 360Hz G-Sync display.
8. Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo SE
Best Dual-Screen Gaming Laptop
Display: 15.6" FHD [1,920 x 1,080] IPS 300Hz + 14.09" [3840x1100] touchscreen | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 [8GB GDDR6 VRAM] | RAM: 32GB DDR4 [3,200MHz] | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD | Weight: 5.47 pounds | Size: 14.2" x 10.6" x 0.82"
There aren't a lot of options for dual-screen gaming laptops [or really any type of laptops], but the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo pulls it off quite well. We liked it when we first saw it, and the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo SE brings even more to the table.
This special model offers an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and 32GB of RAM. That's plenty of power for work and play. And, there's also an RTX 3070 under the hood to make sure your playtime is up to snuff. Better yet, you can decide your priorities with this one. If competition is what you're about, you'll enjoy the 300Hz Full HD display available. But, if you like it extra sharp, you can also pick up a model with a 4K/120Hz panel. Of course, either version includes that extra 14-inch touchscreen display for that extra little something.
9. Asus ROG Flow X13
Best Gaming Laptop With an eGPU
Display: 13.4 4K [3,840 x 2,400] IPS 120Hz Touchscreen | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 [4GB GDDR6 VRAM] Internal; Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 [10GB GDDR6X] External | RAM: 32GB LPDDR4X | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Size: 11.8" x 8.7" x 0.6"
In most cases, powerful laptops are going to be stuck hovering near a desk and a power outlet because of the juice it takes to run them. So, even when they're lightweight, their portable use can be hampered. The Asus ROG Flow X13 cracks that by using an eGPU, so you can have a high-performance gaming experience while you're docked to the eGPU or you can enjoy its portability without an ultra-powerful graphics processor gulping down the battery. In fact, it got over nine hours in our battery test no small feat for a gaming laptop.
The Asus ROG Flow X13 on its own is a more-than-capable machine. It's not only packing an octa-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor but also an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, so you can still do some lighter gaming while you're on the go. The eGPU this laptop pairs with is none other than the RTX 3080, so when it's plugged in, it blows past last year's top gaming laptops with 2080 Super chips inside. The Asus ROG Flow X13 even has a display that's well suited to both work and play. The 13.4-inch display is also Pantone validated for accurate colors, and it features a crisp 4K touch panel refresh rate with adaptive sync. It even has a 360-degree hinge, so you can flip it over to free up space for a gaming keyboard.
Where to Get the Best Gaming Laptops in the UK
We've managed to find the vast majority of very best gaming laptops available in the UK, with all our favourites including the MSI ME66 Raider ready and available to buy from retailers such as Amazon, while other brands can be found elsewhere such as Dell, Currys PC World, or Scan.
What to look for in a Gaming Laptop
The best gaming laptops have come a long way in relatively little time. Power, portability, and price have all seen dramatic improvements in just the last 5 years, and somehow gaming laptops are getting thinner and adding even more features.
The newest gaming laptops are cramming RTX 2080 graphics cards inside of them. These ray-tracing capable cards from Nvidia are among our picks for the best graphics cards, at least the desktop versions. Fitting them inside of a gaming laptop, like the Asus ROG Zephyrus S, is no easy feat. Nvidia's Max-Q tech makes it possible to run a powerhouse GPU inside a thin laptop frame without the whole thing becoming boiling hot.
Choosing the latest processor isn't quite as necessary, but it's a nice to have. When shopping for a gaming laptop be sure the Intel processor has a model number of Intel Core ix-9xxxH [i.e. Intel Core i7-9750H or Intel Core i9-9900k], this denotes that it's one of Team Blue's latest Coffee Lake H-series processors. If the gaming laptop you're eying has an AMD processor, ensure it's model number has a three at the start of itsuch as AMD Ryzen 7 3750Has it lets you know its one of AMD's latest 3rd Generation processors.
The portability is a huge advantage, as is a ready-to-go display, often equipped with variable refresh rate technology or better-than-HD resolutions. The disadvantage is most gaming laptops are only as portable as the nearest electrical outlet. All that power comes at a price, after all, and while there are a few exceptions, the general rule of gaming laptops is battery life stinks.
Another big disadvantage a gaming laptop has compared to a gaming desktop is price. It costs quite a lot more to stuff all those components [i.e. the built-in trackpad, keyboard, speakers, and display] into an easy-to-carry shell. When considering a gaming laptop over a gaming desktop, ask yourself, is the premium in price worth it over and would it be cheaper to buy these all separately?
From our experience, it's always better to stick with the least amount of memory and storage on checkout, and then upgrading it yourself with higher capacity components that are much cheaper to buy on their own. A 1TB SSD might sound tempting as it'll help get your system booted in an instant and store all your games, but a high-end upgrade like that can often cost half or a quarter as much as the whole machine.
However, upgrading leads directly to another consideration, how easy it to swap out components. Whereas it's usually a snap to add or replace a component in your desktop rig, upgrading anything in your gaming laptop, other than RAM, will often mean having to buy a whole new computer.
One thing a powerful gaming laptop has over a comparably equipped desktop is a certain "wow" factor. Since it's portable, it's a whole lot easier to show it off. Manufacturers realize how important looking cool is, so gaming laptops are some of the coolest and most aggressively styled computers around. They borrow lines from modern supercars and high-tech jet fighters, and many have flashy LED lights to let everyone around you know how serious you are.
Some gaming laptops like the Asus ROG Mothership and Acer Predator 900 shake up the traditional clamshell laptop formula by introducing innovative 2-in-1 laptop designs. But these gimmick models are rarely worth the extra premium they demand.
For more helpful guides, be sure to check out our guide to the best gaming chairs, gaming desks, and the best gaming headsets.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark