Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just over a week away, so if you’re looking to buy a new gaming laptop, now is the time to narrow down your choices.
I’ve put together a list of the best gaming laptops at every price point, starting from below $500 to $3,999 and up. You’ll see a variety of brands, models, and specifications, all for different needs and budgets.
When possible, prices in this article have been taken directly from the manufacturers’ online stores. Many of the prices I’ve included are sales prices and are indicated as such.
Before you read this list, you might want to check out my Black Friday preview. It contains a list of 5 gaming laptops to keep an eye on for Black Friday—a few of which appear here—as well as some holiday shopping tips.
Below $500
HP Victus 15 – $449.99 (Sale)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 (30W)
Display: 1080p, 144hz, 300 nits
Memory: 8 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: No
Advanced Optimus: No
G-Sync: Yes
If you’re looking to buy an entry-level gaming laptop for yourself or as a gift, or perhaps a personal laptop for home, the Victus could be a great option. For less than $500, you get a hexa-core Ryzen processor, a high refresh rate display, and DDR5 memory. However, the RTX 2050 is only capable of light gaming.
Below $800
Lenovo LOQ – $737.99 (Sale)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (95W)
Display: 16″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 144hz, 350nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The LOQ is Lenovo’s newest budget gaming laptop model—first launched in May—and it’s already a solid choice. For about $40 more, you can get the LOQ with the Intel i5-13500H. Its performance is slightly better than the Ryzen 7640HS in gaming and multi-core tasks.
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 – $749.99 (Sale)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
GPU: AMD Radeon RX7600S (95W)
Display: 16″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 165hz, 250 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Smart Access Graphics: Yes
FreeSync: Yes
I would argue that the A16’s value is the best among budget gaming laptops. Being one of just the handful of “AMD Advantage” devices on the market, the A16 offers a competitive price and the specs to match. The lesser-known RX7600S’ performance sits between that of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 and RTX 4060. The A16 is also the only device offering a 165hz display at this price point.
Below $1,000
HP OMEN 16 – $849.99 (Sale)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 (120W)
Display: 16″ 1080p, 144hz, 250 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The Omen 16 is positioned in the grey area between budget and mid-range gaming laptops, so its appeal is limited to a somewhat smaller crowd. Regardless, it offers solid performance thanks to its RTX 4050 with a maximum power draw of 120W. The Omen 16 is an ideal choice if you want a gaming laptop that’s a step above the lowest budget options, while still being under $1,000.
Below $1,500
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 – $1,099.99 (Sale)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (120W)
Display: 14″ 1440p, 165hz, 500 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
Weighing just 3.64 lb., the G14 is the lightest 14-inch gaming laptop available. And even with its size, the G14 manages to pack a 120W RTX 4050. It’s a capable, lightweight gaming device that you can easily bring to work or school.
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 16″ (AMD) – $1,149.99 (Sale)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (140W)
Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 165hz, 350 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
Despite being slightly thinner and lighter than its Legion Pro 5 counterpart, the Legion Slim 5 has the same RTX 4060 with 140W TGP. The Slim 5’s display is brighter as well.
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 14.5″ – $1,279.99 (Sale)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (105W)
Display: 14.5″ WQXGA+ (2880 x 1800), 120hz, 400 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: No
G-Sync: No
This is Lenovo’s first 14-inch gaming laptop within the Legion lineup as well as their first gaming laptop with an OLED display. The 14.5″ display is brighter, more color accurate, and has higher resolution than the display on the 16″ Slim 5, albeit with a lower refresh rate and no NVIDIA G-Sync support. And as a smaller laptop, the 14-inch Slim 5’s RTX 4060 has a lower 105W TGP.
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 – $1,299.99 (Sale)
CPU: Intel i7-13700HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (140W)
Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 165hz, 300 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: No
G-Sync: Yes
If you’re looking purely for better gaming performance, the Legion Pro 5i is a better option than the Legion Slim 5.
Below $2,000
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 (RTX 4070) – Starting at $1,904.40 (Sale)
CPU: Intel i9-13900HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (140W)
Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 165hz, 300 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 512 GB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 is the most powerful gaming laptop with an RTX 4070 below $2,000. Additional included storage and memory can be configured on Lenovo.com.
Below $3,000
Alienware m16 (RTX 4080) – Starting at $2,099.99 (Sale)
CPU: Intel i9-13900HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (175W)
Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 240hz, 300 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 1 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
Unless there’s a sale, I would never recommend buying an Alienware laptop. They’re all great devices with exceptional designs and build quality, but they come with a premium. Luckily, Alienware’s current sale undercuts competitors’ prices for equivalently specced gaming laptops by about $100-$200.
ASUS ROG Strix G18 – $2,499.99
CPU: Intel i9-13980HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (145W)
Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 240hz, 500 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 1 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The ROG Strix G18 is the least expensive 18″ gaming laptop with an RTX 4080. Despite this, it contains Intel’s fastest mobile processor, the i9-13980HX.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 – $2,699.99
CPU: Intel i9-13900H
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (145W)
Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), Mini LED, 240hz, 1100 nits
Memory: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 2 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The Zephyrus M16 is essentially a thinner, lighter version of the SCAR 16, weighing over 1 lb. less. To accommodate the difference in size, the M16 has a 145W RTX 4080 and i9-13900H. Choosing between the M16 and the SCAR 16 comes down to whether you’re willing to sacrifice performance for greater portability.
Alienware m16 (RTX 4090) – $2,799.99 (Sale)
CPU: Intel i9-13900HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (175W)
Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 340hz, 300 nits
Memory: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 1 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
It’ll be next to impossible to find a better laptop for the same price.
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (RTX 4080) – $2,899.99
CPU: Intel i9-13980HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (175W)
Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), Mini LED, 240hz, 1,100 nits
Memory: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 1 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The SCAR 16 contains a beautiful and incredibly bright mini LED display alongside an Intel i9-13980HX and full-power RTX 4080.
Above $3,000
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (RTX 4090) – $3,299.99
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (125W)
Display: 14″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), Mini LED, 165hz, 1100 nits
Memory: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 1 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
This is the only 14″ gaming laptop with an RTX 4090. It is also the only model of the Zephyrus G14 with a mini LED display.
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 17 X3D – $3,699.99
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (175W)
Display: 17″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 240hz, 300 nits
Memory: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 2 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The SCAR 17 X3D is the most powerful gaming laptop ever made. It’s the only gaming laptop to feature the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, the fastest mobile processor. However, users and reviewers have noted the SCAR 17 X3D’s dimmer display and its “cheap” appearance.
ASUS Strix SCAR 16 (RTX 4090)- $3,699.99
CPU: Intel i9-13980HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (175W)
Primary Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), Mini LED, 240hz, 1100 nits
Memory: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 2 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The SCAR 16 is one of two 16″ gaming laptop models that pair an RTX 4090 with an Intel i9-13980HX. The other model is the Lenovo Legion 9i, which I don’t recommend.
Although the SCAR 16 isn’t the most powerful gaming laptop available, I believe it’s the best gaming laptop overall. Its performance still ranks near the top, the 16-inch form factor makes it more portable than 17″ and 18″ models, and its mini LED display is simply the best out there.
$3,999 and up
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 – $3,999.99
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (175W)
Primary Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), Mini LED, 240hz, 1100 nits
Secondary Display: 14″ 4K (3840 x 1100)
Memory: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 2 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The Zephyrus Duo is the only gaming laptop with two displays. There isn’t much reason otherwise to buy it over other premium offerings, but the Zephyrus Duo is an exceptional device nonetheless.
Razer Blade 18 – $4,499.99
CPU: Intel i9-13950HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (175W)
Display: 18″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 240hz, 500 nits
Memory: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 2 TB SSD
MUX Switch: Yes
Advanced Optimus: Yes
G-Sync: Yes
The Razer Blade 18 is the most expensive laptop on this list, and although it isn’t the most powerful, its design and build quality are unmatched. The Blade 18 boasts an all-metal build and is less than 1″ thick. If you’re looking for the most premium gaming laptop out there—one that is still capable of running AAA titles at the highest settings—the Razer Blade 18 stands alone.
Conclusion
There’s a fairly wide range of prices for gaming laptops nowadays, enabling the product category to appeal to a greater number of consumers than ever before. Unfortunately, you’ve likely noticed that there’s a larger selection of gaming laptops at the upper end of the price range. Regardless, my goal for this list is to show the best options available for every budget. I hope you’ve found the list helpful, if not intriguing.
Stay tuned to the LaptopWorld social media pages for Black Friday and Cyber Monday news and updates.