Top 5 Best Gaming Laptops in 2025

The best gaming laptops available provide an unmistakable combination of performance and portability, and many on this list do so at very reasonable prices for the hardware inside.

However, some gamers prefer a desktop replacement that can deliver serious power while sacrificing portability. Whether you want a beefy top-of-the-line system or something thin and light to throw in your bag and go, we have something for everyone on this list.

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Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Gaming Laptops in 2025

1.Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

In terms of design, Lenovo’s Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 does not stand out: It looks and feels similar to the previous generation, but why mess with a good thing? In fact, you can’t do much with the system because the company only sells it in two hardware configurations (Windows 11 Home or Pro).

Don’t confuse the Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 with Lenovo’s Legion 7i Gen 9, which has the same CPU and screen but only a GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. Starting at with 16GB of RAM, it’s thinner and lighter (4.93 pounds versus 6.17) and has a different port layout, including the Thunderbolt 4 port, which this Pro counterpart surprisingly lacks.

Like the Gen 8, the Pro 7i Gen 9 is large but well-built, with an aluminum and magnesium platform. It has thick rubber feet, a 180-degree display hinge, and extensive ventilation, with ports taking up roughly half of each side and the rear edge. The shroud around the vents has a rougher texture than the rest of the system, adding to the overall brutalist aesthetic.

By “brutalist,” I don’t mean “over-the-top gamer”; while RGB lighting is included, it can be turned off to make the Legion look like a productivity or workstation laptop. I could fit its 1.01-by-14.3-by-10.3-inch chassis into a carrying case designed for 15.6-inch laptops, but not easily.

Per-key RGB lighting on the keyboard is complemented by front-edge lighting around the base. The lighting shines effectively through the keycaps, fully illuminating the legends. Lenovo provides a tight numeric keypad next to the keyboard, and cleverly provides arrow keys to avoid squishing any other keys. Like many new Windows laptops, the Legion Pro 7i also sees the right Control key replaced with a Windows Copilot key, though its processor lacks a neural processing unit (NPU) so most interactions with Windows’ AI will rely on cloud servers.What Lenovo calls a TrueStrike keyboard offers a snappy 1.5mm of key travel. It also supports swappable keycaps, though finding fitting caps might be challenging.

One of the Legion’s highlights is its screen. The 16-inch IPS panel has a resolution of 2,560-by-1,600 pixels and a refresh rate of 240Hz. The bezels are relatively thin for a gaming laptop. The screen is DisplayHDR 400 certified, supports Dolby Vision and Nvidia G-Sync, and is Pantone validated. It also provides 100% coverage of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces.

2.Asus TUF A15

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

In the Asus TUF A15, we discovered one of the most compelling gaming laptops in recent memory. It isn’t exciting for the usual reasons that come with a new gaming device, though.

It does not include the high-end flagship components found in the best gaming PCs. And it lacks the flashiness of Asus’ Zephyrus gaming laptops, which are also quite powerful. In fact, the Asus TUF A15 is a fairly standard-looking gaming laptop.

The Asus TUF A15 (also known as the Asus F506IV) distinguishes itself by providing excellent performance, powered by the solid Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU and AMD Ryzen 4000 mobile CPUs that have seriously impressed us, in a gaming laptop with a very reasonable price tag.

The Asus TUF A15, like other gaming laptops in the TUF series, is a large, chunky device that differs significantly from Asus’ Zephyrus line – but that’s part of the appeal. The Asus TUF A15 prioritizes build quality and durability, as the ‘TUF’ moniker implies.

This isn’t a rugged laptop that you could drop from a height without concern, but it is a gaming laptop that you’d happily pack in a backpack and bring to friends’ houses and LAN parties. Some ultra-thin and light gaming laptops feel so fragile that you’d be afraid to take them out of the house; not so with the Asus TUF A15.

It’s a design that doesn’t hide the fact that this is a gaming machine, but it’s not overly flashy – and if you want to add some gamer cred, the Asus TUF A15 comes with a sheet of stickers to cover the laptop with.

It’s certainly a design that doesn’t shy away from the fact that this is a gaming machine, but it’s not completely overboard either – and if you’d like to give it some more gamer cred, the Asus TUF A15 comes with a sheet of stickers to cover the laptop with. The chassis comes in two colors: Fortress Gray (the color of our review model, as pictured) and Bonfire Black.

On opening the laptop, there are even more design choices to appeal to gamers. There’s the almost obligatory RGB lighting for the keys, and the all-important WASD keys are further highlighted with a translucent coloring, leaving you in no doubt that this is a laptop for gaming on.

3.Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a stunning combination of design and performance, but this model reaches new heights. A super-compact form and metal exterior work well with an 1800p, 120Hz OLED display, a variety of ports, and a long battery life. This laptop is powered by a new AMD Ryzen 9 8000-series processor that delivers fast performance, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU provides quick gaming prowess, completing the high-performance package.The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 is perhaps a better value given its lower price for similar speeds, but it won’t be for sale for much longer. Regardless, the premium details and powerful processing make the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 our new Editors’ Choice award winner for portable gaming laptops in this price range.

I first tried out this year’s new model at Asus’ CES 2024 preview event, and now that I’ve had it for a longer period of time to review it, I like it even more. It’s even slightly smaller than before, and the difference is noticeable even on a system this compact. It’s difficult to overstate how small the laptop’s footprint is for a gaming system, measuring only 0.64 by 12.2 by 8.7 inches (HWD) and weighing 3.3 pounds.

Handling this slim laptop feels incredibly satisfying, similar to holding and using an Apple MacBook Air, but even more impressive knowing that it’s ready to game at any time. It feels high-quality in your hands due to its silver metal exterior and relatively light weight, as well as its rounded edges and clean appearance. The lid has been updated from the previous LED dot matrix to a chic diagonal metallic slash design.

This has customizable lighting, too, but it’s limited to white lighting only. The customization comes in patterns and effects, of which you’ll find several preset options, including syncing with your music and other devices. No laptop needs this, but it’s a neat flash of style on an otherwise plain laptop.

The build quality extends to the keyboard and touchpad. Despite its thin chassis, the keyboard is comfortable to use. It lacks a tactile click or feedback, but you’ll feel a lot of movement and typing is comfortable. Unlike the lid, the keys are backlit with RGB lighting, albeit in only one zone. The touchpad isn’t huge, but it’s adequate (especially given the size of the laptop), and it’s especially smooth and responsive.

4.Razer Blade 16

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Razer’s second Blade 16 laptop, one of the line’s newer additions, is all about sharpening the edges. This year’s updates for the 2024 Blade 16 include advanced display options and Intel’s 14th Generation “Raptor Lake Refresh” processors. Our high-end model includes a 240Hz OLED screen—a dream for gamers, as fast-refresh OLED has only recently entered the laptop market—a Core i9 CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, and plenty of memory and storage.

The best-in-class metal build remains, adding to the cost with support for high-end features; if you can afford this object of envy, you’ll be satisfied on all fronts. It’s blazing fast, but it’s not the fastest, as the 16-inch Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 and larger Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 are, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 remains our Editors’ Choice for the best overall value in high-end gaming laptops.

The general Blade design has not changed significantly over the years; it’s a cliche to say that if you’ve seen one before, you know what to expect here, but it’s also accurate. The screen sizes vary with industry trends (as previously stated, the 2023 Blade 16 was the first at this size), but the style and design features remain consistent. That’s not a bad thing—these are among the most premium-feeling Windows laptops, from the metal build and sleek shape to the best-in-class touchpad.

More than anything, this simply means that there isn’t much new to explain or comment on in terms of design, but it’s easy to appreciate. The display has extremely thin bezels, the metal chassis feels high-quality, and the touchpad is large and responsive. Handling the laptop reveals that, in addition to the components, much of the high price is spent on the design and build, which is what you expect from a luxury purchase.

The new Blade 16 measures 0.87 by 14 by 9.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.4 pounds, which is identical to the 2023 model. When I pick it up, it doesn’t feel particularly light, but the footprint is manageable for packing in a bag, and the weight is appropriate for a 16-inch gaming laptop. Also important for travel, Razer made an effort to reduce the size of the charging adapter on this laptop, making it more manageable for a laptop with so much power. This slimmer 330W power brick, a gallium nitride model capable of pushing maximum TGP systems, is only available in RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 configurations.

5.Alienware M18

Last update on 2025-03-26 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Alienware m18, like previous models, has a distinctive chassis design that accommodates mostly rear-facing ports and includes customizable RGB lighting for both that and the Alienware logo on the top cover. Despite this, the extremely heavy and bulky form factor, combined with the rather dull all-black color palette, nearly completely negates the effect, making it appear noticeably less visually appealing. Given that this laptop is designed primarily for performance and ventilation, the decision to compromise on aesthetics is understandable.

However, it cannot be overstated how heavy and large this laptop is. It weighs nearly nine pounds, and you can feel every single one of them. It wouldn’t even fit in my Lo & Sons O.G. 2 overnight bag, which has previously accommodated 17 and 18-inch laptops. With this big boy, I had to leave my bag open while traveling home. If you buy it, keep it at home or just pack it in your travel luggage.

The 18-inch display is incredible, and in the US and UK, you can choose between a QHD+ 165Hz panel like my review model or a ridiculous FHD+ 480Hz panel for the truly serious. I wish the webcam was as good, but it’s a fairly standard 1080p HD camera found in most gaming laptops, which works well in good lighting but suffers in dimmer settings. If you’re serious about livestreaming, you should upgrade; otherwise, it’s fine for conference calls.

What I like most about its design is the keyboard, which can be upgraded to Alienware CherryMX ultra-low profile mechanical keys with N-key rollover technology. This is by far the best keyboard I’ve ever used, combining the satisfying click and feedback of mechanical switches with the slimmer keys that are typical of any laptop. Its touchpad is smooth, large, and responsive, making it ideal for frequent users like me. The speakers are also very good, producing a nice robust sound with solid bass that effectively conveys both music and sound effects in your games.

Its port selection is absolutely fantastic, featuring every type of port you could possibly want including four USB 3.2 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 Type-C ports with DisplayPort Alt Mode/USB4, one Ethernet port, one audio port, one HDMI 2.1 port, one power-adapter port, one mini-Display port, and one SD card slot.

best gaming laptop: FAQs

Which component matters most for gaming laptops?

While all components play their part in your gaming experience, the GPU is the one component most directly tied to how many frames per second you’ll be able to get for a given resolution, so this should be your focus, with RAM and CPU following after, then storage. You won’t need more than a 1440p display for the most part, and a 1080p display on a laptop is more than enough for a great gaming experience.

Is it worth it to get a gaming laptop?

Definitely. The gap between gaming PCs and mobile devices has significantly narrowed, as laptops have become both more compact and more powerful. If you’re looking for a device that saves space and offers portability, yet still packs enough power to handle everything from less demanding games to the most graphically-intensive titles, one of the top gaming laptops should be on your list.