The best gaming laptops of 2025: Our top picks for PC gamers |...

Best gaming laptops for PC gamers: Tested and reviewed

Overview

Let's be real: PC gaming offers the best possible experience for gamers. We love consoles, too, but you just can't deny it.

High-end gaming computers pack more graphical and processing power than any home console, and they offer a level of freedom in terms of customization and game choice that you’re just not going to find anywhere else. Unfortunately, a desktop PC does force you to keep your gaming sessions tied to your desk.

While desktops deliver elite performance, the best gaming laptops fit into the modern lifestyle more smoothly thanks to their portability. It’s more convenient to take your gaming rig with you on the go, whether that’s to a friend’s place or just to another room. Whether you're looking for a powerhouse that supports eye-popping visuals, a lightweight notebook to fit snugly in your backpack, or hoping to find a gaming laptop on a budget, we promise there's a machine for you.

What are the best gaming laptops?

Finding the best laptop for your needs and budget can be tricky. They may be easier to parse than their desktop counterparts, but gaming laptops still require a fair bit of careful spec scrutiny. These are no consoles — you can’t just pick the latest generation system off the shelf and get playing. Choosing between the many graphics cards, processors, storage sizes, and screen types can be a real head-scratcher. Thankfully, you've got us to guide you through the process.

Read on to find our recommendations for the best gaming laptops of 2025.

Our Pick

Alienware m16 R2 laptop against red backdrop

The Good & The Bad

Mashable Choice Award winner
Performs well compared to other mid-level gaming laptops
Decent build quality
Keyboard has nice tactile feedback
Anti-fingerprint chassis
Strong port selection

No option for miniLED or OLED display
Can't upgrade GPU above an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
Tinny speakers, although volume is good

Our review

Read Mashable's full review of the Alienware m16 R2.

Who it's for

The Alienware m16 R2 gaming laptop is for gamers who don't need all the fancy bells and whistles but still value high performance. Quality over quantity, so to speak. It's not perfect, but we think it's the most impressive mid-budget gaming laptop. It's also going to be your best bet if you're new to the PC gaming realm.

Why we picked this

Mid-budget shoppers rejoice, because your dream gaming laptop has arrived on the scene in the Alienware m16 R2. Yes, it has some drawbacks, but the positives far outweigh the negatives, and it serves as our top pick for the time being.

The newly redesigned gaming machine is much more minimalist than its predecessor, ditching the thermal shelf that normally juts out the back of the laptop and adding a hotkey for "Stealth Mode," which turns off that RGB lighting that isn't everyone's cup of tea. The m16 R2 can be used as an everyday laptop or a gaming machine thanks to its MUX switch, which allows you to jump between integrated and dedicated GPUs at a moment's notice. (You can also use NVIDIA's Advanced Optimus feature to do this automatically.)

Former Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon applauded the laptop's performance at this price point, even running demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 without making a bunch of compromises in the settings menu. Framerates looked smooth on the 240Hz display, according to Gedeon, although the overall brightness could've used a boost. She also highlighted the machine's keyboard, which had clicky, tactile feedback and responsiveness.

Unfortunately, the Alienware m16 R2's speaker system isn't really up to par — volume is fine, but everything has a bit of a tinny sound that just isn't very pleasant. So, we recommend playing with headphones whenever you can. The webcam isn't the best quality, and battery life leaves much to be desired at just under an hour per charge (most will play plugged in anyway, though). But none of those setbacks could overshadow the best parts of the Alienware m16 R2 gaming laptop. It's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our top pick for the best gaming laptop you can get right now.

Details

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 sitting on a cafe table

The Good & The Bad

Familiar, MacBook-like design
Keyboard layout and feel are great
Decent audio
Stunning OLED display
High-end performance

Runs very hot
Display brightness is slightly lacking

Our review

Read Mashable's full review of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

Who it's for

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a great mid-budget gaming laptop that has a little bit of everything. From the MacBook-like design (which kind of reminds us of Razer's popular gaming laptops), to the gorgeous display, to the top-tier keyboard and impressive performance, this laptop is our overall top pick for anyone looking to get into PC gaming on a portable level.

Why we picked this

If you want a high-end gaming laptop that won't break the bank but also don't want to go the budget route, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a mid-point option that we think is a great value for the money. Gedeon, who reviewed the laptop, lauded the machine's MacBook-esque build. "The ROG Zephyrus G14 is perfect for those who want to bring a respectable, MacBook Pro-esque laptop to the office — before gaming at night with a beastly gaming rig," she wrote, referring to the computer's dual speaker grilles as CNC aluminum unibody chassis highlights that are similar to its Apple counterpart. Unlike a MacBook, though, the G14 actually has a decent variety of ports.

Gedeon also really enjoyed the laptop's OLED display, which produced extremely crisp visuals and colors. However, one knock against it is that the display just isn't bright enough overall — not a dealbreaker, though. The keyboard layout and feel are also high points, and the laptop's speakers sound good enough that we question if you even need a gaming headset while you play. As for performance, the ROG Zephyrus G14 easily passed our Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark tests with flying colors. Battery life is good, not great at one hour and 17 minutes.

When it comes to downsides, there aren't many. Aside from the display brightness, the most glaring issue with this laptop is that it tends to run extremely hot.

Details

Photo of the Razer Blade 14 on a window sill

The Good & The Bad

Above-average battery life for a gaming laptop
Thin and compact without sacrificing power
Runs relatively cool and quiet
Charges quickly
Beautiful display

Pricing feels a little too high
Touchpad click feels "off"

Who it's for

The Razer Blade 14 sits right at the intersection of gaming laptops and productivity laptops. The battery performs well in both departments, and we can definitely see it being a gamer's "do it all" machine. If you've got the budget and you want a gaming laptop that is both powerful and portable, the Razer Blade 14 might be your dream gaming laptop.

Why we picked this

In a world filled with chunky gaming laptops, the Razer Blade 14 stands out. It is, by far, the best thin and compact laptop we've tested. Now, you'd probably think that the Blade sacrifices some power to get it as portable as it is, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. This laptop is an absolute powerhouse, and not just for its size, but for any gaming laptop. During our testing period, it ran beautifully whether we were streaming via the cloud or playing demanding titles natively. It stayed relatively cool throughout gameplay, too.

Another big highlight of the Razer Blade 14 is the device's battery life. Gaming laptops are known to have extremely short battery lives, but the Blade is well above average in that department. We got around four hours of heavy gameplay (non-cloud) before needing to recharge, which might not sound like a lot, but when most other gaming laptops are putting up numbers in the one- to two-hour range, it's a very welcome upgrade. When you do end up needing a charge, the device re-ups quickly and gets you right back in the game.

With the Blade 14, you'll also get access to the Razer Synapse app, which is a great tool for tailoring your experience with the machine. You can use it to further optimize your battery and component usage, which may get you some extra juice, as well as customization for RGB lighting, key mapping, and more. We also thought that the display was totally stunning.

Our gripes with the Razer Blade 14 come down to just two points. One might deter you from picking one up at all, and it's the cost. The build we tested — which was decked out with all the highest possible specs — comes in at a steep $2,699. While we absolutely loved this laptop, we hope the next iteration isn't so overkill on the sticker price. You can opt to go for the lower-level specs, but that'll come out to a total of $2,199. The other point, though much smaller, is the laptop's touchpad. It felt just a little too tough to press down, but you may not have the same issue.

Details

acer nitro v 15 on wood table

The Good & The Bad

Great value for the price
Quiet keyboard
Impressive thermals
Now available via Amazon Prime

Display isn't bright enough

Our review

Read Mashable's full review of the Acer Nitro V 15.

Who it's for

There aren't many gaming laptops under $1,000 that are actually worth buying, but the Acer Nitro V 15 (formerly known as the Acer Nitro 5) is one of our favorites in this price range. (Plus, it recently dropped in price, and as of this writing, it's on sale for $799.99.) If you're looking to save some cash but still want a high-quality gaming laptop, this is the mid-range model you should buy.

Why we like it

The laptop's low price wouldn't mean anything if it wasn't also a rock-solid performer, which it totally is. In fact, it has a lot of the same inner components as a few of the more expensive options in this roundup, and it exceeded our expectations when running demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077. Gedeon praised the Nitro V 15's performance but also marked the laptop's thermals and quiet, balanced keyboards as highlights. We were also impressed with the device's wide variety of port options and enjoyed the overall design.

The Acer Nitro V 15 does come with some downsides, though. Most notably, the display doesn't get all that bright, which undercuts the laptop's great performance by hindering the visuals. It's also a bit of a fingerprint magnet, but a lot of laptops are these days. It runs pretty loud and the battery life isn't anything to write home about, but these cons are to be expected when picking up a budget-level device. All in all, the Acer Nitro V 15 is a fantastic choice for anyone who wants a high-performing laptop for under $1,000.

Details

Acer Chromebook 516 GE

The Good & The Bad

Great performance during cloud gaming and general use
Build quality is impressive for a budget laptop
Chromebook perks like NVIDIA GeForce Now and YouTube Premium
Gorgeous display with a 120Hz refresh rate
Nice selection of ports
RGB keyboard feels great and features anti-ghosting tech

Battery life is just OK
Some fidelity loss during gameplay, but this is common for cloud gaming

Our review

Read Mashable's full review of the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE.

Who it's for

The budget Acer Chromebook 516 GE promises its users a fantastic cloud-based PC gaming experience, and in our testing, it definitely delivers. At this price point, quality gaming laptops are hard to come by, but the Chromebook 516 GE breaks that mold by offering top-notch performance during gaming and general use, a beautiful display, killer perks, and more for $649. Thankfully, it regularly goes on sale for under $500 — especially at Best Buy, where it's currently sitting at only $419. If you're looking for the intersection of quality and value, you'll find it here.

Why we picked this

If you're not familiar with cloud gaming yet, it's the equivalent of watching content through an app like Netflix: You'll be streaming games rather than downloading them or owning a physical copy. That means no load times to start playing, no downloads, and no updates. Sometimes, this can result in poor game quality and choppy performance, but this laptop doesn't have those problems. We used Xbox Game Pass as our cloud platform of choice during testing, and we had an overall great experience (we also used an Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, which connected easily).

We played single-player games like Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Rollerdrome, and Cyberpunk 2077, as well as online multiplayer games like Sea of Thieves, Mortal Kombat 11, and Fortnite — all of which require fast and responsive performance to play as intended. We're happy to report that every game we booted up ran swimmingly, save for a slight loss in fidelity (which is extremely common with cloud gaming). We also experienced zero input lag or stuttering, an impressive feat.

Luckily, you won't be beholden to Game Pass. Along with your purchase, you can redeem three free months of NVIDIA GeForce Now at the Priority level, which grants you access to NVIDIA's high-end cloud servers with enhanced resolution and frame rate. You get other perks, too, including three months of YouTube Premium, a year's worth of Google One cloud storage, and a month of access to Boosteroid. As we said, the value for your money here is stellar.

Aside from the gaming-centric features, the Acer Chromebook 516GE is also a really solid laptop in general. The build quality feels durable and sturdy like a gaming laptop should, and it features a nice RGB keyboard with anti-ghosting tech that's incredible to type on. You'll also get a bevy of ports, including USB-C, HDMI, and Ethernet. The real showstopper is the laptop's display — the 16-inch, 1600p screen looks fantastic and boasts clear, bright, and vibrant colors. It also supports a 120Hz refresh rate, which is amazing for a budget gaming laptop (even though you can't drop it down to save some battery life).

Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry also enjoyed his time with the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, citing display and performance as highlights as well. He used NVIDIA's GeForce Now app mostly during testing and said it performed better than Game Pass, at least at the Ultimate subscription tier. We can't speak to the free tier, but it's probably closer to the base Game Pass experience. All in all, Perry also agrees that this gaming Chromebook is a great value for the price, especially on sale.

Details

Acer Predator Helios 16 on a tabletop

The Good & The Bad

Smooth performance, even at high settings
Diverse port variety
Thermal design keeps from overheating
Full-size keyboard feels great to use
Matte display with high refresh rate

Subpar battery life

Our review

Read Mashable's full review of the Acer Predator Helios 16.

Who it's for

The Acer Predator 16 is a pricey machine when configured with its top-of-the-line specs, but if you're looking to run AAA games at high settings, this gaming laptop will get you the mileage you need. It's also got lots of different ports, a top-tier thermal design that keeps things from getting too hot, and a really nice matte display.

Why we picked this

You probably saw the price tag of the Acer Predator Helios 16 and rolled your eyes into the back of your head. We don't blame you — it's a very pricey gaming laptop at $2,299 (unless you go for the lower-end specs, which start at $1,699.99), but after our testing, we came away with the opinion that it's worth the investment if you want to be running big-name titles at their highest settings.

The Helios 16 features a discrete RTX 4080 GPU that allows the machine to run pretty much any game you could think of at high settings. During her review period, Mashable Freelancer Sarah Chaney was able to get a consistent 80 frames per second while playing Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS turned off, which is pretty impressive for a laptop. What's more impressive is that the computer runs extremely cool, even when being pushed to its limits. The fans can get a bit loud, but it's a fair tradeoff for the great thermal design, and you can barely hear them over gameplay.

We also loved the 16-inch, 1600p display, which has a 240Hz refresh rate and a three milisecond response time. The bezels are actually pretty small for a gaming laptop, and the screen takes up a nice amount of real estate (especially with its 16:10 aspect ratio). While hi-res, stutter-free, and bright, we did wish the colors popped a little bit more, but overall, the display looked gorgeous throughout usage.

Another highlight is the laptop's port diversity, which includes nine separate ports. Those are as follows:

Ethernet (RJ-45) port
USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port
microSD card reader
Headset jack
Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports
Kensington lock slot
DC-in power port
HDMI 2.1 output port with HDCP support
Two USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) ports

We also enjoyed the full-size keyboard, which could've had better feedback, but still feels great to type on. Having the F row, arrow keys, and numpad came in handy on more than one occasion. The only downside that we experienced during testing was the laptop's subpar battery life. Three hours and 42 minutes isn't out of the ordinary for gaming laptops, but at this price, we had hoped for more.