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Get Your Game On With The Best Gaming Laptops

Gaming can be just as expensive as it is exhilarating. But you can kill two birds with one stone by investing in a laptop that can function as both a work PC and a gaming device.

The work part is simple: anything with a decent CPU can run most office tasks, such as Word, Email and Excel. But for gaming, you'll need something with a dedicated GPU. Strong CPUs mean you can blitz through most spreadsheets and emails with ease, while a strong graphics card means you can shoot your way through "Call of Duty" zombies on your laptop in enhanced clarity.

Read on as we break down the most complicated laptop-related terms and teach you exactly how to buy the most advanced gaming laptops of 2022.

Reviewing Our Favorite Gaming Laptops Of 2022

1. Acer Gaming Laptop — Best Overall

Acer Gaming Laptop
Courtesy of Amazon

Finding a gaming laptop that excels in all departments can be tough, but the Acer Gaming Laptop fits the bill. This spectacular machine supports high-end gaming without buffering. Its Intel 11th Generation Core-i7 CPU features eight cores and 16 threads that are ideal for a smooth performance.

Gaming laptops overheat pretty fast, but that's not the case with this product, thanks to its 5th Generation Aeroblade fan. Unlike other cooling fans, the Aeroblade keeps the temperature in check and supports the product's durability.

The Acer Gaming Laptop comes with a top-notch 16GB of RAM that is upgradable to 32 GBs, and its 512GB SSD and 144 Hertz refresh rate contribute to faster processing and low storage consumption. Unlike other laptops, this one is equipped with the advanced NVIDIA 2nd Generation RTX dedicated graphics card that targets intense games with its multiprocessors and enhanced cores.

The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch HD IPS-backlit display for wider viewing angles, color accuracy and screen consistency. This product made it to the top of our list due to its overall quality and high-end features, but also because of its compatibility with Alexa Show Mode, which allows you to experience virtual assistant technology while gaming.

Pros
  • Equipped with a long-lasting battery
  • Features a rainbow-backlit keyboard
  • Trackpad is quite responsive
  • Sound quality is pretty good
Cons
  • Keys make considerable noise

2. MSI Gaming Laptop — Silent Performance

MSI Gaming Laptop
Courtesy of Amazon

Gaming laptops can make a lot of noise because of the loud fan, but that's not the case with the MSI Gaming Laptop. This product made it to our list mainly because of its noiseless performance that avoids distracting users while they're gaming.

The device features the Intel 11th Generation Core-i5 CPU with six cores and twelve threads that can boost your gaming with their turbo technology and 4.5 GHz dual cores. The CPU allows multitasking as well as a super-fast gaming experience. This gaming laptop also comes with a licensed Windows 11, which is by far the best Windows OS for professional gaming.

The MSI Gaming Laptop features 8GB RAM that you can upgrade up to 64GB for maximum storage and a 256GB NVMe SSD. It generates exceptional graphics with its NVIDIA GTX Turing 156 Series graphic card. The graphics card offers great performance per watt and is pretty quiet, too.

This gaming laptop has a 15.6-inch full HD display with a high IPS level and a 144 Hertz refresh rate for a responsive game time. You can always benefit from the multiple connectivity ports to connect wired gaming gadgets. The best part about this device is its cooling fan, which keeps it cooler than most gaming laptops.

Pros
  • Offers value for the price
  • Sturdy build
  • Features a matte finish
  • Keys are quite soft
Cons
  • Low storage capacity

3. Lenovo Gaming Laptop — Superior Sound Quality

Lenovo Gaming Laptop
Courtesy of Amazon

Most gaming laptops have average speakers, but the Lenovo Gaming Laptop isn't the one to compromise sound quality. It's known for its HD audio speakers that deliver clear sounds and the noiseless fan that supports them. This device is equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, which consists of eight cores and 16 threads for a power-packed performance that lasts for longer hours.

The 2nd Generation AMD offers multitasking and high-speed performance with heavy workloads. This laptop comes with Windows 10 significant gaming performance and avoids lagging. It also has 67 polymer-coated fan blades that ensure a cool temperature.

The Lenovo Gaming Laptop has 32GB RAM, which is ideal for gaming with the 2TB NVME SSD. It also enables exclusive AI visuals owing to its NVIDIA RTX 3050 dedicated graphics card that produces vibrant images and colors.

This gaming laptop has a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display with a whopping 240 Hertz refresh rate for a potentially higher FPS and disturbance-free gaming. The device also has large, soft-landing key switches that put less stress on your fingertips. Its RGB backlit keyboard has four customizable colors that you set according to your mood or preference.

Pros
  • Boots up within seconds
  • Features excellent Bluetooth connectivity
  • Sleek design
  • Features a vibrant screen display
Cons
  • Unimpressive  battery life

4. Razer Blade Gaming Laptop — Smart Design

Razer Blade Gaming Laptop
Courtesy of Amazon

The Razer Blade Gaming Laptop is a must-try if you're looking for a gaming laptop that has a sleek and smart design. This laptop is one of our favorites mainly because of its lightweight and compact build that doesn't affect its durability.

The device has an Intel 10th Generation Core-i7 processor with 12 cores and 20 threads, which features a 5.0GHz turbo boost that increases the processing speed within safe power limits. The turbo booster pairs with the Intel wireless AC to increase the data processing speed and elevate your gaming experience.

The Razer Blade Gaming Laptop has an upgradeable 16GB dual-channel RAM chipset that efficiently enables higher data transfer speed for gaming. The 256GB SSD also enables lag-free gameplay and is also expandable. With the state-of-the-art NVIDIA GTX 1660 dedicated graphic card, you can enjoy better visuals than a regular laptop while avoiding frame rate issues.

This aluminum frame laptop has a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a 120 Hertz refresh rate that can support heavy-graphic games without lagging. It also offers decent connectivity with over four ports, an excellent Bluetooth connection and a wireless webcam, which is helpful for group gaming.

Pros
  • Equipped with Windows Hello Facial Recognition
  • Features a 0.78-inch thickness
  • Touchpad is quite large
  • Scratch-resistant surface
Cons
  • Poor cooling system

5. ASUS Gaming Laptop — Value For Money

ASUS Gaming Laptop
Courtesy of Amazon

Quality gaming laptops are usually expensive, but not the ASUS Gaming Laptop. This product promises quality, specs, durability and user experience at an affordable price. It features an Intel Core-i5 CPU with four cores and four threads suitable for casual gaming. It's also equipped with an 8M cache that offers high data transfer at a decent speed.

The device's 2933MHz DDR4 is comparatively better than HDD and supports fast data transfer. It also comes withWindows 11 Home, which offers superior graphics and bright visuals for gaming.

The ASUS Gaming Laptop has 8GB expandable RAM and a 512GB SSD, enabling fast downloading and multi-streaming. It also has a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 4GB graphics card, which increases the 3D and HD experience and offers better drive support. The graphic card can affect your overall system performance and free up some RAM while sharing some of the processor's load.

This device has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144 Hertz refresh rate. The best part about the ASUS Gaming Laptop is its durability, which protects it against humidity, extreme temperatures and vibrations.

Pros
  • Cooling fans are dust-resistant
  • Pretty lightweight
  • Equipped with tactile keys
Cons
  • Display brightness is inconsistent

6. Dell Gaming Laptop — Ample Storage

Dell Gaming Laptop
Courtesy of Amazon

Gaming laptops consume more storage space than regular ones, which is why you should consider the Dell Gaming Laptop. This product features advanced components, like the Intel Core-i9 processor, which is optimal for hardcore gaming. The processor has eight cores and sixteen threads that enable fast processing speed.

This laptop is equipped with advanced DDR4 RAM for faster data transfer rates, larger capacities and lower voltage than regular RAM. The dual-channel memory is highly beneficial for gaming and increases the overall speed of your system. It also allows you to access multiple applications and tabs simultaneously without affecting your memory much.

The 32GB RAM of the Dell Gaming Laptop is quite effective when combined with the 256GB SSD, which is upgradable up to a solid 2TB. As for the visuals, it comes with the 4GB NVIDIA RTX 3050 dedicated graphics card. This graphics card contributes to low battery consumption by displaying brighter and more accurate colors at low voltage.

The laptop has a large 16-inch Full HD display with a 165 Hertz refresh rate for excellent performance. Lastly, it also comes with Windows 11 OS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and maximum port utilization.

Pros
  • Long battery life
  • Features a compact build
  • Equipped with an HD webcam
  • Great heat distribution system
Cons
  • Somewhat expensive

Buying Guide: Gaming Laptops

Buying something as technical as a gaming laptop can be confusing for even the best of us. Our buying guide will take you through a complete 101 of these devices and teach you exactly how to go about purchasing one.

What To Look For In A Gaming Laptop

Processor

The CPU or processor is the brain of the laptop. Intel processors are the most popular CPUs. Look for a laptop with a Core-i7 or Core-i9 processor; avoid Core-i3 and Core-i5 as they are old and lack in performance. AMD Ryzen processors are also a good option for gaming, as they offer single-threaded performance.

Storage

Gaming laptops require a large amount of storage to process graphics, downloads and constant streaming. For this reason, we recommend opting for both SSD and a powerful HDD. You can skip the HDD for the DDR4, which is more powerful and efficient. Whatever you choose, make sure the capacity is expandable for future convenience.

RAM

If you're a casual player, you can easily go with 8GB RAM with no memory issues. However, this probably won't be enough for a dedicated gamer. Depending on your needs, you can opt for 16GB or 32GB for hardcore gaming, but you might need to upgrade it in the future.

Screen Display

We recommend a full HD display to gamers because of the visual quality it projects on the screen. Also, look for an IPS display than LED because it produces sharper, brighter and more color-accurate images with unlimited viewing angles. The refresh rate of your display also determines the responsiveness of your screen. Also, avoid touchscreen displays because they kill battery life.

Graphics Card

A graphics card is a game-changing factor in gaming laptops. The better your laptop's graphics card, the more immersive visuals you can enjoy. We recommend a 16GB NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, as both are good options in terms of performance.

Size

Most gaming keyboards have a sturdy body and are heavy, which can be quite irritating if you have to carry them. Search for lightweight laptops with bigger screen sizes to avoid unnecessary strain on the eyes. You can also look for a thin frame for a stylish and sleek design.

Benefits Of Gaming Laptops

Professional Compatibility

Gaming laptops may be a bit out of budget for some people, but they can be a solid investment, whether or not you're a professional gamer. The high-end GPU in gaming laptops makes them a perfect pick for graphic designing, coding and programming. YouTubers also prefer gaming laptops for professional video editing because of the similar hardware requirements.

Durability

Gaming laptops are extremely durable, not just body-wise, but battery-wise as well. They also don't get outdated quickly, unlike other devices and gadgets. If you buy a gaming laptop, you can easily spend over two years without upgrading it.

Better Output

Gaming laptops offer better gaming output, which is why dedicated gamers prefer them. They have better display and refresh rates, which allows for disturbance-free gaming. The processors are also powerful, enabling gamers to zip, unzip files and download large games.

Difference Between Gaming Laptops And Regular Laptops

Appearance

Regular laptops have a more muted appearance than most gaming laptops, as gaming laptops tend to incorporate many colors. Almost all gaming laptops have multi-colored backlit keyboards and colored logos, while regular ones have a solid theme for everything. Gaming laptops are also quite bulky and heavier than regular laptops. Their screens are also quite large, around 15 to 16 inches.

Cooling System

Gaming laptops get overheated pretty easily. A lot is going on inside the gaming laptop at one time, which causes it to overheat. To prevent damage, gaming laptops have better-performing cooling fans to distribute the heat inside equally and prevent damage to the hardware.

Price

Regardless of the appearance and portability of gaming laptops, they are a lot more expensive than regular laptops. The reason for these high prices is their specs, which outdo those of regular laptops. You can also perform regular functions on gaming laptops effortlessly, but can't play intense games on regular laptops.

Maintaining a Gaming Laptop

  1. Spray some computer-safe cleaning solution on a microfiber towel.
  2. Start from the center of your display and wipe in a circular motion.
  3. Gently wipe away all the dust and spots off the screen.
  4. Use a clean brush or toothbrush to remove the dust between the keys.
  5. Use the same solution and microfiber cloth to clean the keys and the surface of the gaming laptop.
  6. Use tissue paper to remove the product from the display, keyboard, and surface.

People Also Asked

How much RAM is enough in a gaming laptop?

RAM plays a major role in computers, laptops and smartphones, but most significantly in gaming laptops. Sufficient RAM can affect your overall system speed positively and boost responsiveness. A gaming laptop with more RAM can improve frame rates than those with low RAM. Although 8GB RAM is standard for AAA games, we recommend going for 16GB because it improves your gaming experiences and saves you from updates in the future.

Do gaming laptops consume more electricity than regular laptops?

Gaming laptops consume more electricity than regular laptops because of the intensive, simultaneous use of many components. While regular laptops consume 30 watts for normal tasks and a maximum of 200 watts for heavy tasks, a gaming laptop 35 watts normally and 350 watts for intense gaming. The intensity of power consumption often depends on the game, as high-end quality games require more power for the dedicated graphics card and might sometimes pressurize the GPU.

How do I preserve the battery of my gaming laptop?

Gaming laptops usually have a durable battery life, but it's always at risk with the system being overheated often. You can extend the battery of your gaming laptop by cooling down the system with an air circulation laptop stand. Also, try disconnecting Bluetooth and other connectivity measures to avoid extra power consumption that strains the battery.

Although decreasing the brightness does not make a huge difference, constantly keeping it low can at least help preserve the battery. You can also save your battery by customizing a power plan that meets your needs apart from the default settings. Close all the unused applications and tabs to prevent overheating and memory consumption.

Why are gaming laptops preferred for graphic designing?

Gaming laptops have a dedicated graphics card pre-installed that boosts their graphic performance. It also strengthens the laptop's visual quality and overall performance while cutting the memory slack. All these features and specs are mutual in gaming laptops and graphics designing laptops. For this reason, people avoid buying graphic design setups and choose the comparatively affordable option of gaming laptops.

What is thermal throttling in gaming laptops?

Overheating is pretty common in gaming laptops, and when they do, the CPU and GPU performance slows down purposefully because of thermal throttling. Since overheating can cause internal damage in the hardware as well as external damage,

Thermal throttling pauses or creates a stutter in the performance, causing the laptop to stop or shut down. It's a protection mechanism that protects the gaming laptop from any damage and protects the machine from fire or electric spark risks. Other reasons for thermal throttling may include a dirty fan, an inappropriate cooling system, dust exposure or performance mode switched on in the gaming laptop.

How to extend the life of a gaming laptop?

By keeping a gaming laptop healthy and well-maintained, you can increase the lifetime and durability of the components. The main reason behind the restricted lifelines of gaming laptops is poor battery or a bad cooling system. You can protect both by putting less strain on them. Overcharging or fully draining the batteries can put a lot of strain on them, leading to internal wear.

Similarly, putting strain on the cooling system by using the laptop in a hot environment can affect the longevity of the fans. By keeping the fans and batteries well-maintained, you can extend the life of your gaming laptop.