How to Make a Good Gaming Laptop Comparison

Gaming laptops are great if you want to play PC games on the go but don’t have room for or can’t afford a full desktop rig. But they aren’t the same as a normal computer, and it’s important to consider more than just a laptop’s raw specs when choosing one.

While gaming laptops are able to keep up with PC games at lower settings, they still struggle to match the power of a full desktop rig, especially when playing high-end titles. This is because the components inside a laptop are designed to be lighter and more portable, which can limit their power and performance. Fortunately, that’s been changing over the past few years as Intel and AMD improve their CPUs and GPUs to deliver more performance per dollar.

A gaming laptop must have a good display to be able to show the details of a game, but it also needs to have a fast refresh rate so that you can see the action clearly and without unsightly graphical tears or ghosting. This is why many laptops feature panels that support Nvidia’s G-Sync or AMD’s FreeSync technologies, which eliminate screen tearing and stuttering at high frame rates.

You can also look for a panel with a higher resolution, such as 1080p or 4K, which can add to the image quality. However, a high-resolution panel requires a strong GPU and will be more expensive than a standard laptop.

The keyboard is another important aspect to consider, as you’ll need to be able to type and play for long periods. Look for a keyboard with a variety of keystrokes and layouts, from fully mechanical options that are indistinguishable from a desktop setup to more portable and slimline options that maximize form factor and weight.

Another important feature is the battery life, which must be able to last for at least six hours when using light programs or an hour of gaming. You also want the battery to charge quickly and be durable enough to withstand heavy use.

There are a lot of different options for gaming laptops, from budget-friendly to premium systems. Asus’ Republic of Gamers lineup offers sleek designs and impressive specs for an affordable price, while Dell’s Alienware models offer customizable options that let you build the exact system you want.

Other manufacturers, such as Lenovo and Gigabyte, also have gaming laptops to fit any budget. Look for a model with a durable case, a large trackpad and plenty of ports, and a battery that holds up to an hour of gaming. Many of these laptops include an app, such as Asus’ Vantage or Lenovo’s ThinkPad Command Center, that lets you view CPU, GPU, RAM and HDD info at a glance. These apps can also be used to tweak system settings and optimize performance. For example, you can disable the fan control software on a budget-friendly model to quiet down the fans and save energy. You can also choose to add an SSD for faster game installs and load times.