Best gaming laptop 2023

There is no other gaming laptop out there like the Razer Blade 16 (2023), and we can’t help but wish there were more like this portable PC, given how excellent it is. Naturally, it can pack all the performance you can get in a 16-inch chassis, but it’s the device’s dual-mode Mini LED display that helps it shine brighter than the competition.

The Blade 16 (2023) can be configured with every GeForce RTX 40 series graphics card, from the RTX 4090 down. Combine this with an Intel Core i9 13950HX and your frame rate’s assured to be sky-high, especially with Nvidia DLSS 3.0 added into the mix in supported games.

You can put this performance to work in one of two ways with Dual-Mode Mini LED display, either opting for a UHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate or FHD+ and 240Hz instead. This makes the Blade 16 perfect for gamers who enjoy both cinematic and competitive games.

Read our Razer Blade 16 (2023) review.

You don’t need to bend over backward to meet the prices of powerful gaming laptops to have a solid gaming experience, and the HP Omen 16 (2023) is proof of that. Costing just over $1,000 / £1,000 for its base spec, the amount of value it offers budget-conscious gamers is stark.

In order to hit this price point, HP has smartly focussed on what matters most about a laptop (its performance) but this does mean that the device isn’t the flashiest around. While its cooling solution is admirably sufficient, it can get a touch loud and hot if you push it hard enough.

All that said, it doesn’t skimp on connectivity or battery life, making it an ideal machine for both gaming and lightweight tasks such as office work or study.

Read our HP Omen 16 (2023) review.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 redefines what it means to truly be one of the best Asus gaming laptops, packing an Intel Core i9 12900H CPU and up to an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card. Being stacked up to the nines with this caliber of hardware means this beast makes short work of the best PC games, especially with Nvidia DLSS to help boost frame rates further.

The 1440p 17.3-inch IPS display on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 delivers wonderfully sharp images and boasts an ultra-responsive 240Hz refresh rate with response times of just 3ms. That might seem like a lot of numbers, but these specs essentially mean your games will both run fast and look good while you play.

Aesthetics aren’t as important as performance, of course, but the ROG Strix Scar 17 is also a treat for the eyes. Pushing the signature Asus two-tone style in black and grey, it’s the RGB backlit keyboard that threads everything together. Asus puts its stamp on the trackpad, too, hiding a full numpad as a secondary function.

Read our Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (2022) review.

Look, we get it, some of you like to stick with one company when it comes to PC parts. So, if you bat for the red team, the Alienware m17 R5 should check all the boxes in terms of performance and functionality.

In many ways, the M17 R5 is a stand-in for a full desktop setup, as its 17.3-inch 4K display trades blows with the best gaming monitor. Available in two configurations, you can choose between a Ryzen 7 6800H or Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, paired with either a Radeon RX 6700M or RX 6850M XT graphics card.

Both of the above options bring a lot to the portable table, but AMD Advantage laptop features are a performance cherry on top. Smart Shift, Smart Access Graphics, and Smart Access Memory enhance the hardware’s natural abilities, and the tech will ultimately help the laptop keep up with the latest games.

With great power, comes great batter caveats, as the M17 R5’s souped-up specs are ravenous for power. Sure, most laptop gamers are accustomed to dwelling near outlets, but it’s still worth keeping in mind if you’re an on-the-go player. This is undoubtedly a top Alienware gaming laptop, although availability is somewhat patchy at Dell.

Razer is renowned for the quality of its peripherals, and the same premium-level craftsmanship you’ll find with its best gaming keyboard options is readily apparent when using the Razer Blade 14. In addition to its high levels of performance, your cash feels well spent when using it thanks to its CNC aluminum chassis.

At 14 inches, the Razer Blade 14 is a dinky little powerhouse featuring a top-of-range AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. This size also makes the 1080p 144Hz IPS display sharper than you’d think, with a dense PPI (pixel per inch).

Modern games take up a lot of room, but the Blade 14’s 1TB storage has you covered. Better still, it’s actually a Gen4 NVMe drive, so you won’t have to trade away speed for capacity. Even still, there’s nothing stopping you from popping the best SSD for gaming later, as the M.2 slot isn’t hard to reach.

It’s worth noting that while the RTX 3060 is a capable graphics card, RTX 4060 mobile GPUs are now a thing. Features like DLSS 3.0 could make all the difference when it comes to entry-level performance, so you’ll want to think twice before investing in a $2,000 laptop with RTX 3000 innards. We’ve picked all the best Razer laptops if you’re set on this brand.