Best gaming laptops of 2024: Asus, Razer, MSI & more

❘ Published: 2024-03-04T17:04:49

Dexerto

An image showing some of the best gaming laptops

Looking for the best gaming laptop in 2024? We’ve rounded up our top picks across budgets right here.

Gone are the days when laptops capable of running games had to be bulky, ungainly things with internal components that could barely run games from two years ago. Modern gaming laptops are sleek, efficient beasts that have specs almost as good as a similarly priced desktop PC.

As with any PC, choosing a laptop means balancing a lot of considerations. What sort of display do you want? Do you need something ultra-lightweight, or are you after a desktop replacement? What about the CPU, GPU, and RAM?

To help you answer all these questions, we present our selection of the top gaming laptops.

1. Razer Blade 14 (2023)

The Razer Blade 14 on a colourful background

Buy Razer Blade 14 at Amazon

Key Specs

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (8 core, 16 thread, up to 5.2GHz)
RAM: 16GB DDR5-5600MHz
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 (8GB GDDR6, 140W)
Display: 14-inch 16:10 Mini LED (QHD 240Hz)
Battery: 68.1 Whr (230W power adapter)
Storage: 2x 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Operating System: Windows 11 Home
IO: 2x USB 4 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 3.5mm combo jack
Features: Anodized Aluminum unibody chassis, vapor chamber cooling, glass trackpad.
Price: $2,699.99

The Razer Blade 14 is a very impressive machine. It sports high-end specifications stuffed into a very small and lightweight chassis. Parts such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 and 16GB of DDR5 RAM ensure that this little laptop can take on any AAA game thrown at it, offering high FPS and a vivid screen.

Thanks to the vapor chamber cooling, it can even keep all those high-end components nice and frosty during intense gaming sessions, and the machined aluminum chassis ensures that it is durable enough and light enough to be taken on long journeys without fear of damage.

The main downside for this laptop is the price. It is certainly not cheap, which along with the poor battery life might put some customers off.

2. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

Buy ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 at Best Buy

Key Specs

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7940 HS or AMD 7735HS
GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
RAM: Up to 32GB DDR5
Screen size: 14-inches
Screen resolution: 2560 x 1600
Refresh rate: 165Hz
Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2
Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
Connectivity: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort, 1x Type C USB 4 support DisplayPort / power delivery, card reader, HDMI 2.1 port, 3.5mm headphone jack
Features: AniMe Matrix, Backlit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB,1080P FHD IR Camera, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Aura Sync, 1.72 Kg
Price: Starting at $1430

What the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 lacks in raw specifications it makes up for in its flexibility. The current version of this laptop is available with either an AMD or Intel processor, and customers can also specify other points of the build, even up to the powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, the most powerful graphics card currently on the market.

Similar to the Razer Blade 14, The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 has a 14-inch screen with a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600, though with only a 165Hz refresh rate. Most users will find this to be perfectly adequate, and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 display uses a Mini LED panel that supports HDR output, making it a great choice for gaming.

3. MSI Katana 15

Buy MSI Katana 15 at Amazon

Key Specs

Processor: Up to Intel Core i9-13900H
GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
RAM: up to 32GB DDR5
Screen size: 15.6-inches
Screen resolution: 1920×1080
Refresh rate: 144Hz
Storage: Up to 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2
Operating system: Windows 11
Connectivity: 2x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 w/DP 1.4, HDMI v 2.1
Features: Anti-glare coating, lightweight plastic body, FHD display
Price: $1298.00

If you want value for money, then the 2023 model of the MSI Katana 15 is a great option. Despite being last year’s model, it sports some great specs, going right up to an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU.

Though the screen only supports 1080p resolution, it has a 144Hz refresh rate to ensure the graphics remain smooth and crisp.

This laptop was already a budget option, but with the 2024 models now available, you will likely see these older versions with heavy discounts, making them an excellent bargain.

4. Asus ROG Strix Scar 17

Buy Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 at Amazon

Key Specs

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D (16 core, 32 thread, up to 5.4GHz, 128MB L3 cache)
RAM: 32GB DDR5-4800MHz
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (16GB GDDR6, 175W)
Display: 17-inch 16:9 LCD (WQHD 240Hz)
Battery: 68.1 Whr (230W power adapter)
Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Operating System: Windows 11 Home
IO: 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 3.5mm combo jack, LAN port
Weight: 3.0KG
Features: Liquid metal vapor chamber cooling, 225W max power draw, Dolby Atmos speakers
Price: $3,699.99

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 is a premium product and accordingly costs a premium price. This laptop is best suited to being a desktop replacement, as its size and weight make it an unlikely candidate for extensive travel, but a good choice for users who want desktop power in a smaller space.

The standout component in the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 is the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, which is probably the fastest and most capable laptop CPU currently on the market when it comes to gaming. This is thanks to the 3D V-cache, which has been designed specifically with modern 3D gaming in mind.

5. Acer Predator Helios 16

Buy Acer Predator Helios 16 at Best Buy

Key specs

CPU: Intel i9-13900HX
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
RAM: 16GB DDR5
Display: 16″ WQXGA 240Hz LCD
Battery: 90Wh
Storage: 1x 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Operating System: Windows 11 Home
IO: 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x RJ45 LAN port, 1x microSD card slot
Weight: 5.73 lbs
Features: Mini LED display, per-key programmable RGB keyboard, PredatorSense management suite
Price: $2,299.99

With a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU and Intel i9-13900HX processor on board, the Acer Predator Helios 16 is certainly ready for anything that modern AAA gaming can throw at it. However, it is the screen that is the stand-out feature of this laptop.

The 16-inch display uses MiniLED technology, which uses clusters of tiny LEDs in 1000 zones across the display, which allows for brighter peaks without washing out other parts of the display. The Acer Predator Helios 16 also has an impressive 240Hz refresh rate, which combines with the display to produce smooth and vivid graphics.

Laptop alternative: Asus ROG Ally

Buy Asus ROG Ally Best Buy

Key specs:

APU: AMD Z1 Extreme
RAM: 16GB DDR5 (6400MHz)
Display: 7-inch 16:9 (120Hz display)
Storage: 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Operating System: Windows 11
IO: USB-C (DisplayPort), PCIe XG, UHS-II MicroSD Slot
Features: Embedded controller, three performance modes, dual speakers

A handheld gaming console is the best solution for the modern gamer who prefers gaming on the go but doesn’t want to carry a laptop everywhere.

We reviewed Asus’s new ROG Ally portable gaming console and were impressed by the raw power of the new AMD Z1 Extreme APU, which is more powerful than the one that powers its competitors.

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