Best Gaming Laptops Of 2023

If you're interested in buying the best laptops for gaming, we've got you covered with all sorts of options!

The gaming industry constantly pushes the boundaries of graphic-intensive scenarios and immersive gameplay, which means that you have to be on your toes to keep up with the best hardware. Which is why we curated the most comprehensive guide to the best gaming laptops that you can go for in 2023.

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With selections ranging from the sleek and portable MSI GF65 to impressive gaming beasts like the Asus Scar 18, each of these laptops is a testament to the amazing advancements in gaming technology, offering the best processors, fastest GPUs and lightning-fast refresh rates.

More Money. Max Power

This high-performance powerhouse from ASUS is THE laptop to go for if you have more than a few dollars to burn and want the perfect combination of speed and graphics.

The Scar 18 makes it a point to give you the best in the game when it comes to graphics. It houses the formidable GeForce RTX 4090 that can handle high-end games without breaking a sweat. One of the coolest (brace yourself for the incoming pun) features about this laptop is the ROG Intelligent Cooling System.

For a laptop that is so jam-packed with tech, it’s important to ensure there’s no overloading, and the Scar 18 steps up to the challenge with integrating liquid metal on both the CPU and the GPU while adding a third intake fan, designed to sustain optimum performance during long gaming sessions.

Asus also integrates a switch feature between the iGPU and the dGPU to ensure that the battery life doesn’t take a hit. Asus has put in every effort to make sure that this laptop is nothing short of pure gaming luxury.

Power. Performance. Sustainability

Unleash the pro gamer within you with enhanced gameplay and top-tier graphics at the reach of your fingertips.

The Legion Pro 7i is a brilliant attempt by Lenovo to rewrite the narrative of power and performance in gaming laptops. Right out the box, you get a 3.9 GHz i9 processor with a 16GB DD45 RAM which is great for both gaming and efficient multitasking. Boot times and file retrieval get way quicker with the 1TB SSD. Coming to graphics, you get the impressive NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 that’s bundled with a dedicated 12GB. This makes it the ideal choice for not just gamers, but also graphic designers, and video editors.

With a 15.6 PureSight Gaming display with clear visuals at a 2560x1600 resolution, the Legion Pro does not leave much room for complaints in the display section. Plus, it’s also very easy on the eyes with the really sleek Onyx Gray color scheme. The most noteworthy feature of this laptop is the Lenovo AI Engine+ which employs artificial intelligence to tune up the laptop’s performance by optimizing the processing power.

It seems like Lenovo has also given some thought about the sustainability of the laptop itself, considering that it's crafted from organic polymers and recycled aluminum, making it a great choice for the environmentally conscious. Combined with the ColdFront 5.0 cooling system, and the very generous offer of three free months of Xbox Game Pass, this is probably one of the coolest and most potent gaming machines that you can get right out of the box.

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Innovation Meets Practicality

With incredible specs at an affordable price, this is the laptop you need to bring your ideas to life when inspiration strikes.

If you are someone who is contemplating getting into gaming, doesn't want to make too much of an investment, and still needs something to meet your everyday creative requirements, then the MSI Creator 17 may just be your new best friend. A slightly specific niche for sure, but hear us out. The 17.3 UHD display on this laptop offers a stunning 120Hz refresh rate and a whopping 3840 x 2160 resolution. That means you get a buttery smooth experience whether you’re rendering a video or just playing some Fortnite to chill.

The 8-core i7 processor clocked at 4.9 GHz combined with a solid 16GB DDR4 RAM makes multitasking an effortless dream.

Worried about the graphics? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 that comes along with a dedicated 8GB memory has got you covered. One of the most appealing features about this laptop is that it balances power with portability while offering a great battery life.

It also comes equipped with MSI’s Cooler Boost Technology that’s designed to keep your system cool even during intense work or gaming sessions. Whether you’re an avid gamer, designer, illustrator, or even a producer, the Creator 17 is a worthy contender.

Gaming On A Budget

Supercharge your gaming experience with this budget laptop that's designed to handle anything you throw its way.

What if there was a gaming laptop that was designed to deliver high-performance gameplay without emptying your bank? Sounds too good to be true? The Acer Nitro 5 is all about that gaming life while on a budget. It comes with a respectable Intel i5 12th Gen processor that clocks an impressive 4.5 GHz processor. The main attraction would be the GeForce RTX 3050 Ti which comes equipped with a 4GB GDDR6 VRAM.

The 144Hz refresh rate on a 15.6 FHD IPS display doesn’t make it seem like a lower-end gaming laptop at all. In fact, the pixel quality is so sharp and vibrant that you might just mistake it for a more-expensive model. Memory-wise, you get a 16GB DDR4 with a 512GB storage, which may be a tad bit disappointing considering 1TB is the standard now.

A dual-fan cooling system is set in place to support the powerful components, and the connectivity is an absolute dream on this one. You get an awesome Ethernet E2600 and a Wi-Fi 6 that are great for gaming. Additionally, there are plenty of ports to support your cables, including HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4, and even USB-C (a feature that’s not available even in some higher-end laptops)

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Style. Power. Flexibility

Designed specifically for the gamer on the go, this laptop is light in weight and heavy on the specs.

A problem with gaming laptops is that more often than not, they are significantly heavy. That makes it difficult for people who are constantly on the move to indulge in some quality gaming. It looks like Asus has come up with a brilliant solution in the form of the ROG Zephyrus G15.

This laptop comes packed with a Ryzen 9 CPU clocked at an impressive 4.6 GHz that’s going to give you a smooth performance all across. You also get a mind-blowing 40GB DDR4 RAM that guarantees fast processing and an exceptional multitasking experience. The dedicated GeForce RTX 3060 handles high-end, graphic-intensive games with a charming ease.

Motion blur is nonexistent considering the WQHD 165Hz refresh rate with a 3ms response time. You’re also sorted for storage as this laptop houses a massive 2TB SSD that’s perfect for storing all your files. The self-cleaning thermal module combined with the dual Aero Wave fans is a great choice from Asus to minimize noise while maximizing airflow.

The availability of a USB-C port is definitely an added comfort to the existing versatile connectivity options on this rig. But the most impressive thing about this laptop has to be the fact that it weighs just under 4.5 pounds and is only 0.55 inches thick, making it the perfect choice for traveling gamers.

Seamlessly Compact

Whether it's high-octane gaming or seamless multitasking, this gaming laptop has got you covered.

The MSI GF65 has been designed keeping the average budget of a gamer in mind. Someone who doesn’t necessarily want to spend thousands of dollars, but does not want to compromise with a lower-end laptop either. Being a perfect mid-range laptop, the GF65 comes with a 6-core 10th Gen i7 processor clocked at 2.6 GHz that gets the job done without any hiccups. The GeForce RTX 3060 combined with a dedicated 6GB VRAM ensures that running graphic intensive gameplay won’t be a problem.

Coming to the display, you get a standard FHD of 1920 x 1080 which is honestly not the sharpest considering the price range and the competitors. However, the laptop does compensate with a 144Hz refresh rate that offers tear free gaming. The 512GB SSD is ample for storage, but it does leave a little something to be desired, but having a cool 16GB RAM doesn’t hurt. All in all, this is a great mid-range laptop for those who want quality gaming.

Unlike desktop computers, laptops are generally less flexible when it comes to upgrades.

While some of these laptops allow you to upgrade the storage and the RAM, the CPU and GPU are almost always soldered to the motherboard, which means that you cannot modify them. It is important that you consider your long-term needs while buying the laptop because you’re going to be stuck with it for a while.

Most definitely. Gaming laptops are generally equipped with some serious high-performance hardware that is designed to handle a lot of intensive work. An average gaming laptop is also an excellent choice for video editing, 3D rendering, photo editing, etc. However, gaming laptops do tend to have a less efficient battery life due to heavy specs and cooling systems so keep that in mind.

Extremely important. The GPU is one of the most crucial components in your rig and is in charge of rendering the gameplay graphics. A more powerful GPU means higher resolution, better texture, and advanced graphical settings.

Next: The Best Games To Play On A Laptop

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Sai is a singer-songwriter from India with a passion for gaming and tech. His music has been featured on Rolling Stone, Rock Street Journal, Indie Music Diaries, and such. Sai's favourite game of all time is Assasin's Creed 2.