How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop Reviews

Gaming laptops come in many shapes and sizes, from compact 14-inch machines to desktop-replacing 18-inch powerhouses. They can be stacked with the latest processors and graphics cards, but they’re also likely to run up in price. Choosing the best one for your needs involves prioritizing what’s most important to you.

You’ll want to decide whether you’re after a lightweight design that’s easy to carry on-the-go, or if you need a desktop replacement with a larger screen. You’ll want to consider whether you want a high-resolution display or more ports for connecting peripherals and accessories. You’ll also need to decide what kind of CPU and GPU you need. For example, if you plan on running demanding games at home, a quad-core CPU might be more important than the latest mobile GPU architecture.

A good gaming laptop should be able to play most modern AAA games at high settings or higher, but you’ll probably need to upgrade the components over time if you plan to keep playing at the same settings. Identifying the games you’ll play is a great place to start when making your decision. You’ll want to prioritize a CPU and GPU that will be powerful enough to run the games you play, and ensure that you have enough RAM to handle the highest frame rates and resolutions you’re planning on.

Most modern laptops support a range of GPUs, including Nvidia’s RTX and AMD’s Radeon RDNA. The differences between these GPUs lie mainly in their performance and cost. The more expensive GPUs are usually a good choice for gamers, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll be better than cheaper options. You should also consider the display and form factor when deciding on what kind of gaming laptop to buy.

If you want to enjoy the best possible gaming experience, choose a display with a high refresh rate and G-Sync or FreeSync support. If you want to use your laptop for other tasks like photo editing, look for a IPS or TN panel with wide color coverage and fast response times. VA panels have more variance, and while they typically deliver great color accuracy they don’t always have the fastest response times.

The size of the screen will affect the weight of your laptop, as you’ll need to balance portability and performance. You may also find that some laptops offer more ports than others, and if you’re planning on using your gaming laptop for other kinds of work or entertainment, it might be worth paying more for extra functionality.

The keyboard and trackpad on a gaming laptop are another key consideration. If you want a responsive keyboard and trackpad, opt for a laptop with an ergonomic layout and quality materials. Look for a laptop with a large mouse pad as well, to give you plenty of room for clicking and mousing. A laptop with a backlit keyboard is also a nice option for gamers who want to play in dim lighting.