The Acer Nitro 18 AI combines big-screen play with small-pocket prices, stepping away from leading Intel gaming processors and halving RAM compared to other RTX 5070 Ti systems, while undercutting most of the market in its launch RRP. That's an interesting proposition, especially when PC gaming prices are rapidly soaring to unobtainable levels.

With the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and 16GB RAM at the helm, the Nitro 18 AI isn't going to beat some of the best gaming laptops for those with a larger wad of cash to spend. However, for a sub-£2,000 rig with a sturdy display, relatively slimline form factor, and decent performance scores, it could well be a tasty pickup in 2026.

Acer Nitro 18 AI configurations

There are a limited number of Acer Nitro 18 AI configurations on the market, with the machine topping out at an RTX 5070 Ti. All of them use AMD's Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, paired up with a QHD+ display running at 165Hz, and the vast majority of the models you see will sport an RTX 5070 Ti GPU like my test device. RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 options are available, but they're far less widespread on the shelves. There are, however, more 32GB RAM options available via retailers and Acer's own store.

That AMD processor holds the Nitro back when compared with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX usually applied to an 18-inch upper mid-range machine, and the 16GB RAM is half that I would usually expect to see from a similar spec.

The 16GB RAM / RTX 5070 Ti model I've been looking at comes in at £1,749.99, a solid price for an upper mid-range graphics card in a chunkier 18-inch form factor. This is among the cheaper options for this card, though returns do diminish when you look at £1,659.99 RTX 5060 options. If you're interested in this machine, the spec I'm testing seems to offer the best value for money from a pure cost perspective.

Acer Nitro 18 AI performance

The Acer Nitro 18 AI has a pretty spotty performance record. While some figures seem decent for an RTX 5070 Ti machine with 16GB RAM behind it, others look a little off-mark. After running my initial round of tests, though, the machine was fully reset, updated, and all settings triple checked to match previous rigs. The next round produced the same results.

Overall, we're below what I'd expect to see from an RTX 5070 Ti machine with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor at the helm. Its main competition in this testing pool is its sibling; the RTX 5070 Ti Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI - admittedly one with a boosted Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and 32GB RAM.

These drawbacks, then, don't necessarily come from any thermal issues or even a problem with the 12GB RTX 5070 Ti itself. In Fire Strike's more CPU/RAM-testing benchmark, the weaker AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 snags that final score in the physics test. The graphics portion of the run looks decent, averaging at around 38,571, while the physics score averages at 15,814.

As Steel Nomad demonstrates, there's nothing going awry with the overall power of the RTX 5070 Ti here. Had there been space in the Nitro 18's budget for a CPU with a higher core and thread-count, these synthetic benchmarks could be a lot closer.

In-game, the Acer Nitro 18 AI struggles to keep up with the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI in lighter runs like Shadow of the Tomb Raider at FHD resolution, with more dense strategy action from Total War: Three Kingdoms also proving troublesome compared to other RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 systems. Taken in isolation, though, there's little to complain about. I was still well above 60fps in both High and Highest settings at 1080p, only faltering on that margin in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered.

Interestingly, the Acer Nitro 18 AI seems to pull ahead of some of its competitors with the resolution cranked up to its full native 1600p. Here it overtakes the Asus ROG Strix G16 in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, middles the pack in Total War: Three Kingdoms, and takes a steady lead in Cyberpunk 2077. Strangely, we fall off that podium in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, though, with the system struggling to hold its 60fps in High settings.

What I loved about the Acer Nitro 18 AI

A rare slimline design

18-inch gaming laptops come with a trade-off. You're sacrificing that portability that has defined the form factor for so long, while typically picking up a more immersive display, a wider array of ports, and a chunkier cooling system. The Acer Nitro 18 AI feels like it's meeting us half way.

Not that this is a magically backpackable gaming laptop - it's still a heavy, wide machine that's going to hurt your shoulders no matter how sturdy your bag is. However, it is noticeably slimmer than most of the market (most because that Razer Blade 18 is always lurking). Heavy-duty rigs like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 and MSI Raider A18 HX sit fat on a desk top, while this skinnier form factor perches neatly.

The simple aesthetic well-worn by this cheaper, no-nonsense Nitro line certainly helps as well. The tapered lips and clean lines are complimented by an all-black chassis, a simple glossy 'N' logo on the rear panel, and a much thinner wedge shape than I typically see from machines of this size. All that allows the vibrant RGB lighting under the keyboard to shine ever brighter. If you're after a desktop rig that won't scream its gaming intentions at you every time you look at it, this is a worthwhile offering.

Not OLED but still a solid display

You'll find far more sophisticated gaming laptop panels much further up the price scale, but for its relatively modest price tag the Acer Nitro 18 AI still sports a bright, bold, crisp display. The IPS pulls off a surprising level of vibrancy in its colors, offering a far better experience than previous Alienware gaming laptops.

You're not getting the high-contrast impact of an OLED or Mini LED here, but there's still plenty of energy in its colors, sharpness, and power.

Comfortable, snappy keyboard

The numpad-toting keyboard is one of the shining stars here, which is rare for a machine that typically de-prioritizes its chassis quality. Full-sized keys (including that number pad) and bold lighting cover a particularly satisfying tactile experience.

Yes, there's a little more flex in the main deck area than you'll typically see in a more expensive machine, but key action is crisp and snappy, with an energetic bounce and plenty of travel on the way down. It makes for a notably pleasing typing and gaming experience, never fatiguing over longer days either.

What to consider about the Acer Nitro 18 AI

There are higher performing RTX 5070 Ti rigs out there

While they will often, admittedly, come in higher than the Acer Nitro 18 AI's cost at RRP, there are RTX 5070 Ti machines out there that will give you better bang-for-buck performance. The Nitro isn't lacking - you'll still be smooth at 60fps in most games with a few graphical tweaks, but others can net you higher framerates in more competitive titles and hold their own across a wider range of more demanding games.

If you're not tied to this lower-end budget, it's worth exploring Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX options, or those with additional RAM budget.

USB-A ports mounted to the right

Like many 18-inch gaming laptops, the Acer Nitro 18 AI mounts a good deal of its ports on its rear. Excellent, big tick in my book - it's so much tidier for a machine that's likely going to be spending most of its life on a desk top. These rear ports are reserved for more permanent setup connections; power and HDMI, with both USB-C options mounted here as well.

Unfortunately, though, the USB-As are located on the sides, specifically two are to be found on the right side of the chassis. It's a small frustration, but one that will likely get in the way of right-handed use of the machine. Knocking a mouse hand against a cable or dongle every time action calls for a wider pan can get old (and cramped) pretty fast.

Trackpad feels much cheaper than the rest

While the keyboard certainly impressed with its quality, the trackpad feels a little less polished. There's a hollow spacey feel that never quite gets to 'mushy' status but certainly doesn't feel as sophisticated as the rest of your inputs.

Should you buy the Acer Nitro 18 AI?

At full price, you're going to struggle to find an 18-inch RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop under £2,000 these days, so the ball is in Acer's corner from a raw price perspective. The machine does enough with that GPU to hold its own in the performance arena, even if it's lagging behind other more expensive options further up the price scale. You're still going to be running your games smoothly and without hiccup.

Its screen, keyboard, and overall physical design also work hard in its favor as well. Despite its lower price, this is a system that still manages to delight in the hands and before the eyes. Build quality holds up with very little flexing and wobble, aesthetics remain measured but still flashy in that configurable lighting, and the overall profile has a nicely slimline appeal to it. Trackpad and port placement aside, the machine itself stands tall.

The problem is discounts. While cheaper gaming laptop deals are definitely getting harder to come by, there will be times when machines far better prepared for more demanding titles will be skirting around this RRP. While I can recommend the Acer Nitro 18 AI to those after a big-screen experience on a budget, I'd also urge you to look closely at sale prices on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI and Asus ROG Strix G16 when you're about to head to checkout. If they're matching (or within £100 of) the Nitro's price tag, they will likely boost you to higher framerate opportunities.

How I tested the Acer Nitro 18 AI

I used the Acer Nitro 18 AI as my main work and play device for a period of two weeks, while also running additional benchmark reps alongside separate devices.

I primarily tested the rig across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, testing at both 1080p and 1600p in each game's High and Highest settings (RT: Med and RT: Ultra for Cyberpunk).

I then used 3D Mark to test against Steel Nomad, Time Spy, and Fire Strike synthetic benchmarks. Each test was run in the system's highest power setting (Turbo) with benchmarks carried out three times each, averaging each for final results. For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for more slimline options. Or, check out the best gaming handhelds for premium portable play.

If last week's Prime Day offers have taught me anything it's that it's tough to find even the best gaming laptops with more than 16GB RAM on the discount shelves these days. Imagine my surprise, then, when one of my favorites turned up in Best Buy's 4th of July sales - with not only the full 32GB but an RTX 5070 Ti GPU in tow.

The machine in question is the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI, a jack-of-all-trades rig that just wants to run your games well and show them off on a premium OLED display, without bulking out your backpack or constricting its components with a super slimline design. At $300 off, we're looking at $1,899.99 for this configuration at Best Buy (was $2,199.99). These days, that's a pretty solid rate.

This is a particularly low price for an RTX 5070 Ti machine with 32GB RAM in 2026. Best Buy only has a handful of gaming laptops with that GPU for less cash on its shelves, and they all halve your memory. For $100 less you can pick up the Asus ROG Strix G16 (16GB RAM and a sacrifice in display resolution, panel type, and speed). The MSI Vector is slightly cheaper still, at $1,779.99 - again with only 16GB RAM and a drop down to a 144Hz FHD+ IPS panel.

The Acer Nitro Slim is the cheapest of the bunch (at $1,599.99), but drops you all the way down to 512GB of storage with that 16GB memory and display drop.

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Newegg's looking pretty similar, with only lesser-known brand Hasee offering an RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop with 32GB RAM for less than this Acer Predator price point.

Value's certainly on Best Buy's side in this week's cheap gaming laptop deals, then, but is the Helios Neo right for you?

I tested this exact RTX 5070 Ti configuration, albeit with a little extra storage, so my testing benchmarks provide plenty of insight into how this 16-incher will perform in the real world. Spoiler: It's pretty tasty.

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI keeps pace with slimmer RTX 5080 machines like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 from my testing pool. While it couldn't quite keep to 60fps in Cyberpunk 2077 across QHD+ benchmarks, you'll only need a few minor graphical tweaks to keep those numbers steady. Lighter titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, however, are rock solid. You'll have no problems in FHD resolution either, Cyberpunk is still well over 60fps here.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for those after something a little slimmer. Or check out the best Alienware laptops on the market.

Prime Day gaming laptop deals are here, and they have a tough task this year. 2026 has seen component prices (and therefore laptop prices) surge incredibly quickly, and the last few weeks have incurred a serious lack of credible discounts. That's all changed today, with early discounts hitting a number of our favorite models - just don't expect Amazon to have anything to do with it.

Both Newegg and Best Buy are running their own competing Prime Day gaming laptop deals this week, and they're offering far better discounts overall. In fact, out of some of my top picks, Amazon features only rarely.

While prices on some of the best gaming laptops aren't going to rival those of previous years, there are still RTX 5060s for the low $1,000s and RTX 5070s at the $1500 mark - and that's not something I've been able to celebrate for a few weeks now.

Quick links

• Amazon: starting from $499
• Dell: up to $2,580 off Alienware
• Best Buy: RTX 5070 from $1,232.99
• HP: up to $1,100 off Omen
• Lenovo: up to 32% off Legion
• Newegg: Acer from $949.99

Today's best gaming laptop deals

Why are gaming laptop prices higher in 2026?

The current component crisis and RAM shortages are to blame for increased gaming laptop prices. As AI manufacturers hoover up all the memory, consume-facing brands are being squeezed. With higher demand comes higher prices, and it's the final product that sees the biggest sacrifice.

I'm seeing a number of gaming laptop deals working to circumvent these issues; dropping their memory sizes from 32GB to 16GB, reverting back to cheaper graphics cards, or dropping display specs. However, most of the rigs that have already left the factories in 2026 are seeing a serious upcharge.

Thankfully, there are still a few 2025 machines still kicking around - and they haven't felt the same purse pinch. While I've noticed slightly higher rates even on these older rigs, their numbers are much easier to stomach. Indeed, most of my top picks up above are a year old now.

If you're after something more substantial, we're also getting you ready for this year's Prime Day gaming PC deals and Prime Day monitor deals. Or, take a look at the Prime Day tablet deals we're expecting for something lighter.

The Lenovo Legion 5 has been consistently ranked among the best gaming laptops I've tested since I reviewed it last year. It's only problem right now? It's been missing from the shelves for a good few weeks now, dropped from Best Buy's lineup in favor of the newer 2026 model. That was until Newegg stepped up today, with an offer I thought I'd have to wait until Prime Day gaming laptop deals to be able to shout about.

The OLED RTX 5060 configuration is back on the shelves for $1,249.99 right now. That's a modest $150 discount over the original listing of $1,399.99 - but that saving hides a value-packed final rig. With the way gaming laptop prices are going right now, it's incredibly difficult to find the kinds of rates I was seeing earlier in the year. Finding an RTX 5060 with 16GB RAM and an OLED panel at this price? That's rare these days.

The Legion 5 is the best value gaming laptop I've tested to date, combining that OLED panel otherwise only seen on high-end machines with a solid price tag and sturdy RTX 5060 performance. In truth, this is the deal I evaluate most other mid-range gaming laptop offers around, when it's available, that is.

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I had a similar spec on my test bench last year, though my model was running an older Intel i7-13650HX processor. There's not going to be a major departure from my benchmark scores, though - this is still going to keep up with far more expensive RTX 5060 configurations like the Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 and Alienware 16X Aurora.

In full native resolution, the Lenovo Legion 5 keeps pace with these beefier rigs, posting easily playable numbers in high settings across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered. This is a lower mid-range mobile GPU, though, so just note that you'll likely need to drop down to 1080p to maintain 60fps in more demanding runs like Cyberpunk 2077.

Elsewhere, the chassis keeps things low-key enough to slot nicely into a backpack without entering super-slim territory that could impact performance. That OLED screen plays out beautifully in low light conditions, but it's an understandably cheaper panel than the likes of the Razer Blade 16 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 - be prepared for a little extra glare in brighter environments.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Newegg

I'm also hunting down the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops on the market. If you're after something a little chunkier, though, check out the best Alienware laptops I've tested so far.

I hunt down cheap gaming laptop deals every month, and I've noticed a not-so-surprising trend. Well, what do you know? Everything's more expensive now.

I know, groundbreaking.

For most of the year, though, we've been somewhat buffered in the world of the best gaming laptops. Not by new releases, oh no. But older 2025 machines have stuck to their discounts pretty well, holding the line against the rising costs of new releases. The HP Omen Max 16 offered better value than the new HyperX Omen Max, and the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14's 2026 price tag flew over the previous generation's head. Something felt different about my most recent trawl, though. Where it's certainly been tougher to find decent gaming laptop deals this year so far, this month those numbers are looking slightly tougher.

Not only are fewer discounts available, not only are the savings that are live still far away from the kinds of prices we were seeing in January, but industry-wide price increases have pushed those 'previous' prices further up the scale, skewing the value of any discounts applied. Thankfully, there are some outliers here - one is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 that, I'll cut to the chase, is actually cheaper than it was in March at $1,574.99 (Best Buy).

Best Buy explains this on its site. Some of its gaming laptop deals are run alongside a 'Comparative Value Price', not an MSRP set out by the manufacturer. It's essentially a leeway should demand surge and prices follow accordingly. The retailer states "[their] 'Comparative Value' (Com. Value) prices are based on the price at which the product, or a comparable item, was (or in the future will be) offered for sale by Best Buy, marketplace sellers, manufacturers, suppliers, or other retailers, online or in-store." Newegg, however, doesn't offer an explanation - relying more on its marketplace system to set price trends.

It's a little get-out-of-jail free card for charging higher rates that's sometimes warranted but nevertheless fuelled by marketplace sellers. What's more interesting is where this 'comparative value' hasn't been applied to the listing, and 'MSRPs' are still standing tall.

It's unavoidable in the face of component shortages, sure, but it's more important than ever to check your price history if you're hunting down Prime Day gaming laptop deals this month.

I've been back through the gaming laptop deals I handpicked in January to see where they've ended up in June 2026. That means this sample size is more of a snapshot rather than an all-encompassing view of the market as a whole, and the fact that it's already limited to gaming laptops under $2,000 is another factor to consider. However, as a snapshot, it works to show us just how high those prices have jumped and what to look out for what shopping yourself.

*Price listed as MSRP, not comparative value price

It's easy to see why prices are surging - you don't need me to tell you that everything in and outside of the tech world is having a particularly hard time keeping its cost down right now. This isn't the fault of the retailer or the manufacturer, but it does mean I'd recommend taking extra steps to qualify the validity of any Prime Day gaming deals you encounter later this month.

The price difference between the actual cash you put down on a gaming laptop featured above, whether it's on sale or not, averages out at 51.62% in the examples above from January. That's not new information in the grand scheme of 2026. Where I'd urge you to take extra care is those 'comparative value prices' or MSRPs. A saving isn't always as good as it looks.

An example from May demonstrates my point. The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI was on sale for $1,199.99 last month, with a full price listed at $1,599.99. In June that's moved up to a $1,424.99 sales price with a 'comparative value price' sitting at $1,724.99. Put that $300 'saving' next to the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 ($1,574.99) and you've got two pretty good-looking discounts at first glance.

One is cheaper than it has been for most of the year, though, and one is more expensive than it was just a few weeks ago.

How to check your price history

I've used my own database of prices and discounts for this analysis, but the information is also freely available to you while you're shopping. Between tools like Waybackmachine (use it on both retailer sites and our gaming laptop deal roundups) and dedicated price tracking sites (a quick Google will point you to the right ones) it's pretty easy to see the rates from the last six to 12 months.

Obviously, we also have to acknowledge the time we're living in. There's no point in ignoring offers while holding out for a discount that's simply unrealistic in 2026. This is the lay of the land now. However, knowing how much you're actually saving compared to prices from the last few weeks or months can go a long way in determining the value of a discount.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

To see what other brands are up to, check out the best Alienware laptops and the best Asus gaming laptops on the market. I'm also rounding up all the best Razer laptops available.

The way Asus handles creativity, curiosity, and experimentation is why it's one of my favorite gaming laptop brands on the market. A dual-screened machine with two OLED panels, an RTX 5090 sandwiched between them, and a kickstand wouldn't have made it past concept-product status if it was in the hands of Razer or Lenovo. Asus has put the Zephyrus Duo on my desk (and on store shelves) for three weeks now.

Listen, I spend my days trying to find the best gaming laptops you should actually buy. A bi-product of that, though, is that every now and then I get sent a machine most of us absolutely shouldn't fork out for - but still leaves me grinning ear to ear.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is a tower of terror, a rip-roaring beast of over-indulgence and a beautiful machine to behold. But it's only ever going to make sense in the hands of ultra-wealthy power users.

Configurations

This stack of screens comes in two flavors; RTX 5090 and RTX 5070 Ti, ultra-premium and slightly... less... ultra-premium.

The top-shelf configuration I've been testing comes stacked with an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H CPU, 64GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD, running you $5,499.99 - about the same as the 4K MSI Raider A18 HX A9W. Should you shift gears slightly, you'll be paying $4,499.99 to swap out that graphics card for an RTX 5070 Ti.

Performance

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo isn't the most powerful RTX 5090 configuration I've tested, coming behind the far slimmer Razer Blade 16 in more demanding tests and understandably faltering behind larger 18-inch rigs like the MSI Raider A18 HX A9W and Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. It also drops back behind the 16-inch MSI Raider 16 Max, when the latter is set to its full 300W power capacity.

It's not exactly weedy, either. You're still covered for 60fps+ in Cyberpunk 2077 RT: Ultra at QHD+, with plenty of headroom in FHD in-game benchmarks as well.

Synthetic benchmarks, taken across 3D Mark Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad, match the same trajectory. In the more demanding (and realistic) Steel Nomad run, the Duo is at the bottom of my RTX 5090 pack, with its 5,285 score coming in lower than some RTX 5080 models (the HP Omen Max 16 and MSI Vector A18 HX A9W).

It's not a performance-first device, it's a true work / play hybrid, but if you're looking for something that's going to push your games as hard as it can I'd take that $5,500 and put it somewhere else.

What I loved about the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo

Feels fantastic to use

There's not a lot of room for gaming laptops to surprise us anymore, but the Zephyrus Duo managed to liven up my initial set up experience with a massive array of new controls, display widgets, and additional functions. Opening up the Duo for the first time, I'm taken on a tour around the second half of the screen. Underneath a slimline portable keyboard, held in place (and charged) by a set of pogo pins, the Duo yields an entire second panel. This isn't the keyboard-addition seen on the previous Duo 16 in 2023 - it's a full 16-inch OLED.

From creating Discord, YouTube, and system-level control schemes to keeping walkthroughs and streaming controls at eye level, this screen is brimming with potential. It's the potential for overkill, but it's certainly potential.

I didn't find this all-screen clamshell form factor too comfortable to work through. Reaching over the keyboard to hit a slightly raised touchscreen for tertiary widgets and controls never felt truly natural or smooth. However, with both screens propped up (using the attached kickstand), I had a full dual-display work and gaming station at my disposal at all times. Again, that's incredibly cool - and likely incredibly unnecessary.

The hinges and kickstand move with a confident tension, never feeling fragile in the hands (no matter how terrified I was when first unfurling them). There's a glide and pull to every movement that keeps the Zephyrus Duo feeling sturdy and stable, even if my laptop-trained brain was screaming whenever I moved it.

Asus hasn't skimped on that keyboard either. While it's not going to give you the depth of a traditional inbuilt deck from other premium models, the 1.7mm key travel still offers a surprising tactility under the fingertips. I could type on this all day and never know it was actually a 5mm add-on. Its lightly textured, soft-touch material supports the wrists and palms nicely, while an expansive (and buttery smooth) touchpad offers excellent controls during ad-hoc productivity tasks.

Overall, though, it's the sheer luxury of this build quality that's had me in its clutches over the last three weeks. It's clear Asus has poured everything it's got into making the Zephyrus Duo look and feel like a high-end rig with no sacrifices in its chassis, hinges, or inputs.

Still manages to keep things fairly low key

Fully extended into its two-screened behemoth state, it's obvious the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is something special. If I walked past it closed on a coffee shop table, though, I wouldn't think anything of it.

Lying dormant, this looks like pretty much any other gaming laptop you'll find on the market. Peering a little closer, it's obvious there's something going on (the side thickness is larger than you'd expect from a modern Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 or ROG Zephyrus G14). You'd also know pretty something was afoot pretty quickly if you picked it up - at 6.2lbs it's double the weight of many mainstream rigs.

It's still thinner than I expected it to be, even with that keyboard sitting in between its two screens, and its softly rounded corners, smooth matte finish, and subtle aesthetic work hard to keep the Duo from looking garish in use.

While its 2023 ancestor was a chunky unit, this is a machine that could look like any other gaming laptop.

All about those displays

As the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo's shining feature, you can bet the brand has outfitted its rig with two of its best panels. Both 16-inch screens run with Nebula HDR and a sturdy 1,100 nits of peak brightness, sticking with a high-end 2880 x 1800 resolution.

They are limited to 120Hz, which the RTX 5090's benchmark numbers can easily blow past in lighter games - but considering we're already at overkill in other areas, I'll forgive the step away from 240Hz.

What matters most is these screens absolutely sing in-game. I've spent most of my free time running Forza Horizon 6 on this rig and it's been glorious. Everything from the more nuanced cherry blossom trees to the gorgeous reflections on Japanese supercar glamor shots springs from the screen, with natural color handling and a vibrant, punchy tone.

Smart thermals

Popping a screen on the keyboard side of a gaming laptop presents a lot of challenges. Most rigs use extra airflow vents underneath the hinge while expelling heat out the sides - none of that can happen with a 16-inch OLED panel taking up all the space.

And yet, in all my stress tests and longer Forza stints, I never noticed a single skipped beat, or watched any throttled line graphs plunge down the range. The Duo manages to keep its cool when the heat is on (though you'll certainly hear about it), thanks to excellent airflow designs around the underside of the chassis with additional insulation underneath the OLED display itself. Neatly hidden vents and heatsinks around the back are working hard in this respect as well.

Not the battery hog you might think it is

Powering two OLED displays, a light bar on the back, and an RTX 5090 GPU is going to be a tall order for any battery, and while the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo won't beat any productivity-minded machines in endurance run it performed slightly better than I had expected. I managed to run a few Chrome tabs with Spotify in the background and both screens enabled for around four and a half hours before needing to plug in. Sticking with the one panel for some Forza, I was slogging along for around an hour and a half before my first battery warning.

Perhaps more impressive, though, I didn't even know I was on battery power for that Forza session. My connection between the outlet and the adapter had unknowingly slipped out over the course of the day, but nobody told my performance. While lesser gaming laptops will stutter to a halt as soon as that internal battery is unsupported, the Zephyrus Duo trucked along just fine.

What to consider about the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo

Lofty price point compared to other similar specs

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is a fantastic machine, there's no denying that. It's just stacked full of expensive features that simply won't be necessary for most players. As a result its price tag is wildly inflated over more traditional RTX 5090 rigs.

A top-end configuration of the MSI Raider 16 Max will set you back $4,299.99, while Lenovo's Legion Pro rigs stick to around $4,500 and Acer's 18-inch Predator Helios comes in at a similar rate. The Duo's outlandish feature set adds a grand to the final figure - and while the extra panel is certainly exciting, that kind of cash just isn't worth it for most players.

Should you buy the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo?

The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo made me giddy with excitement in a way gaming laptops rarely do these days. It's a phenomenal device, balancing its conservative (for an RTX 5090) power while running two OLED displays at once and still looking and feeling swish at the same time. It's obnoxiously stacked with features and style and yet it's almost never going to be pushed to its full potential by the majority of everyday users.

Having a dual-screened productivity laptop is a luxury in itself. Having an RTX 5090 gaming laptop is another. Pairing the two is a niche use case that simply won't make sense for $5.5K, especially when it's sitting towards the bottom of the RTX 5090 performance scale.

Don't get me wrong - anyone with the money to spend and a need for a multi-screen setup wherever they are should absolutely feel confident in placing this order. You'll need to really know you'll make the most of it though.

The competition

How I tested the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo

I used the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo over a period of three weeks, taking the laptop for all my daily work and play activity. I tested for two weeks with the laptop sitting solo on my desktop, in both dual-screen and single-screen mode, with another week spent connected to an external monitor setup.

I ran in-game benchmarks across both 1080p and 1600p resolutions in each title's high and highest settings, using Shadow of the Tomb Raider for a lighter run, Total War: Three Kingdoms for more on-screen effort, Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered for a step up in difficulty, and Cyberpunk 2077 as the final boss. I ran each test three times, taking final average framerates as my end result.

I tested synthetic performance across 3D Mark Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad, again running each benchmark three times and taking an average of each as my final score.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I'm also testing all the best Razer laptops and the best Alienware laptops. For more ROG, check out the bests Asus gaming laptops on the market.

The summer of 2024, the hottest on record, and Brat summer to you and me. Remember those heady days? Lenovo does. It might be two years late, but the brand is bringing its latest LOQ gaming laptop to market in "Surge" green attire, an all-out Brat assault that would have sent the venn diagram of Charlie XCX gamers off the rails back in the day.

It's a bold look for the brand's cheapest gaming laptop range, dropping the blacks, silvers, and whites of the rest of the market in favor of something that stands a little brighter on the shelves. The Lenovo LOQ 15AHP11 isn't killing its entry-level spec sheet, though, launching with a conservative AMD Ryzen 7 250 processor, RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. It's not going to trouble the best gaming laptops on the market, but it's a solid pick for student shoppers.

As a cheaper entry, the Lenovo LOQ is also geared around everyday versatility. Its 15.6-inch display keeps things simple with a 1200p resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and 300 nits of brightness, letting that Shrek aesthetic do the talking instead.

With an RTX 5050 under the hood you won't need to move past that FHD+ resolution either. The lightest mobile GPU on the market right now, this is the go-to for anyone after an everyday laptop first and foremost - with the ability to power through lighter games at will.

The Lenovo LOQ "Surge Green" officially launches in mid-June, currently slated to land at £1,579.99 in the UK. Like most gaming laptops released in 2026, that's a little higher than you'll find last year's models. Thanks to increased costs associated with the RAM shortage, I'd urge anyone who can live without such a bold aesthetic to look at previous releases instead.

Right now, for example, an Intel i5 configuration with double the storage is available for £949.99 (was £1,149.99) at Box. We also don't know whether the Brat LOQ will launch in the US, but will keep you updated.

Check out the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops for more options, or take a look at the best Razer laptops for more thin'n'light options.

Gaming laptop speakers have always been workable, but almost never preferable. Fans get in the way of footprints, and cranking the volume to overcome the whirr often creates some kind of post-punk distorted mess. That's not troubling Audioscenic, though, who has just announced a partnership with Lenovo to bring its 3D beamforming tech to the Legion 7a.

This spatial audio tech "creates a wide, three-dimensional soundstage that appears to extend beyond the physical boundaries of the device," according to Audioscenic. It's being touted as a full 3D sound experience without the need for the one of the best gaming headsets, but unless the Legion has found a magical method of reducing fan noise to zero, I still hold my reservations.

Even the best gaming laptops can still kick up a notable amount of noise when running games even in their lower power settings, so rev their engines to full TDP and those fans can easily overpower at full volume.

Still, as the years roll on these rigs are starting to run a little quieter (helped by more efficient CPUs and GPUs in the last 12 months). That could create a gap for Audioscenic's spatial audio software, even if it's just dipping its toe for now.

Lenovo has previously turned to Harman for virtual surround sound in its Legion gaming laptops, and with no word on that relationship we can only assume the new Legion 7a is a more isolated experiment. Should those fans leave a little more room for precise, directional audio this could be a machine worth investigating, especially if you struggle with 'headset fatigue.'

The Lenovo Legion 7a will ship with the brand's stamp from June 2026, though pricing is yet to hit the airwaves.

We're also rounding up the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops, or check out the best Alienware laptops for something a little chunkier.

After months of rumors and leaked listings, Nvidia has finally unveiled its Spark superchip at Computex 2026. The SoC (codenamed N1X) is due to launch in laptops from Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and MSI in Fall of this year, touted to hit over 100fps in 1440p across Triple-A titles.

Speculation has been rife that Nvidia's N1X machines could be coming for the best gaming laptops, ever since the chips most recently leaked in Lenovo Legion listings.

Now we know that the Arm-based chip has been developed alongside MediaTek, providing the 20-core Grace CPU that sits next to the Blackwell main event, a 6144 CUDA-core strong RTX GPU. Essentially, Nvidia's joining big guns like Intel and Qualcomm in the chiplet race, and it's confident in its Arm approach.

The project has a sturdy development force behind it, with Unreal, Xbox, Sega, Konami, Riot, and Remedy among listed developers working with Nvidia to sidestep the performance sacrifices previously inherent with gaming on Arm systems. Running Windows on Arm via the Microsoft Prism emulator has typically yielded framerate drops in the past - there's a whole extra layer of processing going on, after all. However, recent updates have yielded significant progress in this department over the last six months and now Nvidia is ready to dive in.

While the flagship chip (and likely the one Huang is referencing in that 100fps+ statement) will come stocked with 128GB LPDDR5X unified memory, the brand has been quick to point out that "RTX Spark is going to be a family products that are going to attack a lot of different price points." A 16GB option is also on the cards, a sigh of relief considering the current RAM crisis.

Six laptops were thrown up on stage in Taipei, representing the Fall cohort of new releases. These are all productivity powerhouses previously reserved for content creators and professionals - now they're taking aim at the mid-range gaming market as well.

Huang didn't share any concrete performance numbers, but stated that - depending on the game - Nvidia Spark laptops can pack the power of an RTX 5070 mobile equivalent. Salt needed, we all know Nvidia runs small with its sizes in these keynotes.

While pricing might not change between current RTX 5070 / RTX 5060 rates, form factors will. These are not cheaper gaming laptops for the entry level buyer - they're all-in-one (AI-focused) machines that can also run games just as well as a mid-range dedicated device. Nvidia's aiming for laptops running as little as 14mm thick, and as light as three pounds, offering "all-day battery life" and solid gaming performance without a power cable attached. This isn't a power upgrade, then, it's a quality of life upgrade. Just how many of those 100 frames will be generated, remains to be seen.

For now, we'll have to wait for further updates on actual performance (scheduled to come closer to that Fall launch). Huang made no comments about the Spark's viability for the gaming handheld market.

Check out the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops for more options, or take a look at the best Razer laptops for more thin'n'light options.

The HP Omen Max 16 is dead, long live the HyperX Omen Max 16 - or should it?

Name change aside, the 2026 refresh of the best gaming laptop I've tested so far has just hit the shelves, and that price tag is... not kind. Rather, it's the 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD that's looking a little awkward when standing next to this machine's predecessor this week. Priced up at $2,679.99 with an RTX 5070 Ti GPU and Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus processor, this is a classic example of just how far value is sliding away from us in the portable PC space.

The new release may feature a total 300W power level, a boost that provided a tangible uplift in the MSI Raider Max 16 I reviewed earlier this month, a redesigned cooling system, and a high-speed polling rate on its keyboard - but at $2,679.99 it's still miles behind that aging 2025 release. An RTX 5080 HP Omen Max 16, with double the RAM and storage, and the older (but beefier) Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX comes in at $2,499.99 at Best Buy this week. That's tough to battle with.

I'm not completely shocked, though. We've known that 2026 was going to be an expensive year for gaming laptops for a long time now, and HP isn't being shifty here. Unfortunately, it looks like it's got the tough end of the stick when negotiating around RAM shortages and rising SSD prices.

It still doesn't change the fact that buying a 2025 HP Omen Max 16 is going to present vastly better value than opting for the new release. The RTX 5080 GPU under the hood is more comparable to an RTX 5070 Ti than the RTX 5070 in the brand's mid-range option last year, sure, but it's still a class up, and the older machine is still cheaper with (I'll say it again) double the RAM and storage.

Even without that Best Buy discount (a saving that's been sticking around for a good while now), the previous generation is only $170 more expensive, with a boosted processor, the full component trimmings, and a higher-class GPU.

I'd expect to find a 512GB SSD in a $700 gaming laptop; I'd get squirmy about recommending it in a $1,000+ machine. At $2,679.99, it's a shocking sign of the times.

HP isn't alone in this battle, though Razer's latest Blade launch seems to have stayed level with last year's prices. While I'm not sure Dell can completely blame the component crisis for launching an RTX 4050 machine at $1,300 earlier this month, rates are certainly up, and components are down.

The new HyperX Omen Max 16 isn't limited to this RTX 5070 Ti configuration. Availability spans up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX, 64GB RAM, RTX 5090, and maintains that OLED display upgrade (note the model listed above uses the same IPS tech as the previous generation RTX 5080 version it's being compared with). AMD builds are also available - the same RTX 5070 Ti build sits at $2,699.99 with a Ryzen AI 7 450 CPU.

The moral of the story? HP isn't being sly here; the state of the industry right now means that the gaming laptops manufactured last year, with cheaper component prices, are always going to offer better value for money. The HyperX Omen Max launch is a symptom of the whole story rather than the greed of the individual brand, but it still demonstrates just how important it is not to fall into the 'newer=better' trap of 2026.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also rounding up the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops I've tested so far. Or take a look at the best Alienware laptops on the shelves right now.

Memorial Day gaming laptop deals are looking a little tougher to find this year, as supply chain issues keep a lot of the 2026 models out of reach and prices on last year's releases looking a little more stubborn than we'd like. That's not to say you can't find some offers that are genuinely worth taking - shopping around older releases, models that prioritize component value over fancy chassis features, and potentially making some sacrifices in your display can save you big bucks this Memorial Day and those are exactly the kind of smart moves I'm prioritizing this year.

I've been tracking discounts on the best gaming laptops for over six years now, and I go hands-on with the latest and greatest releases in between these major sales events. That means I know which specs to look for, in what models and where.

As is tradition, Best Buy is pulling out in front this year. While Lenovo, HP, and Dell would have previously been runner-ups in this race, all three brands are markedly more expensive right now. While Newegg works with a more limited supply of brands, Walmart is pretty plagued by a third party marketplace, and Amazon tends to throw out some bizarre rates, Best Buy is keeping its cool with a sturdy range of budget and premium machines and some solid discounts on them.

You'll find all my top Memorial Day gaming laptop deals just below.

Quick links

• Amazon: Lenovo from $799
• Best Buy: HP from $949
• BH Photo: Acer from $1,149.99
• Dell: Alienware from $1,559.97
• HP: up to $1,100 off Omen
• Lenovo: Legion from $1,479.27
• Newegg: Asus from $859.99

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Today's best Memorial Day gaming laptop deals

FAQ

We're also keeping you up to date on all of 2026's Memorial Day Nintendo Switch deals and Memorial Day TV deals. Or, take a look at the Memorial Day PS5 deals we expect to see.

I was pretty hard on the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo when it first hit the CES showfloor earlier this year. Now I've just spent my first weekend with the dual-screened gaming laptop and... my initial thoughts still stand. While this is certainly an impressive machine, I just can't see its value in the enthusiast market (and its likely price tag means this will be an enthusiast-only device). It's easy to see why.

The original roster of Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo (I've had the 2023 model on my desk) rigs hit the sweet spot. They were technically double-panelled, but that second screen simply sat just underneath the main display, a horizontal companion to your big-screen gameplay. For a long time, they sat among the best gaming laptops on the market.

2026 Duos offer two fully fledged displays, both stunning in their own right. As much as I can hold my own caveats around the usefulness of those two panels, there's no denying the luxury afforded to the peepers.

It does, however, mean that the second screen wants to be used for far more than quick Discord messages, system stats, or a walkthrough. It takes up just as much space in my eyeline, looks gorgeous, and can run steadily while gameplay takes place elsewhere.

It's by no means a bad time, and it still adds to the experience compared to a traditional gaming laptop, but arranging these displays vertically feels like a missed trick. Indeed, Lenovo had its own kind-of-dual-screened gaming laptop at CES this year. Instead of sitting one panel atop the other, though, it unfurls its extra display space from the sides. Granted, this is a concept product that likely won't see the light of day - but it's still trending in a better direction than Asus's vertical approach.

Right now, we're only in the pre-order stages of the 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo in the UK, while the US has no listings whatsoever. That makes the USD price a little tough to gauge, but we do know it ain't gonna be cheap.

In the UK, an RTX 5090 / Intel Core Ultra 9 386H configuration will set you back £5,799.99 at Asus's Store - when we're talking that kind of price, you need to know you'll be using all its features to the max.

So who fits that bill?

Streamers, content creators, and flush productivity powerhouses who also want top-tier gaming in the same device. This is a dual-screened laptop first and a gaming rig second, and happy customers will be the ones whose priorities also align.

Did I ooh and ahh when I got the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo out of the box? Absolutely. Was I showing it off to anyone who cared to see? You bet. It looks, feels, and runs like a true next-generation gaming laptop. You've got some real slick features in that second display, always-on monitoring, handy full-screen macros and keybinding options, and of course, your virtual keyboard. Even the stand is a vibe. Plus, with an RTX 5090 at the helm, you know you're not going to get shortchanged in the performance category.

But that luxury isn't going to swing value in its favor. I've run into some quirks around resolution, scaling, and windowed gameplay with a few games so far (which I hope to have ironed out before my review), but I have generally had a good time here. Playing High on Life 2 with a collectibles guide underneath is nice. I was using Spotify to add Mixtape's songs to a playlist while running through its minigames again - again, it was nice. Was it worth £5,000+? Not by a long shot.

After spending my first weekend with the Duo, I can see it being worthwhile for productivity and streaming purposes. That second screen can stand up to all your usual OBS and Discord controls without impacting performance up top, and that certainly has to be commended. If you're outside of the streaming or high-end productivity sphere, though, don't let these shining lights blind your wallet.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also testing all the best Asus gaming laptops and plenty more of the best Razer laptops and best Alienware laptops as well.

For a long time the trick to making one of the best gaming laptops was simply to pump more power into it. Then we hit the ceiling. There's only so many watts a portable rig can take, and only so much backpack space for power adapters.

The MSI Raider 16 Max made waves on announcement, promising a massive 300W experience in a 16-inch form factor. In my testing, that full 300W throttle does make a difference in raw framerates - pushing the 16-incher into benchmark territory usually reserved for far more cumbersome 18-inch devices. Without it, the MSI Raider 16 Max would struggle to differentiate itself from far cheaper RTX 5080 options.

That's not to say it's easy to recommend to everyone, though. We're still talking about a big, beefy gaming laptop that resists portability almost as much as the largest machines on the market. Its performance is there, and there are some nifty tricks to back it up, but this certainly isn't an everyday machine.

Configurations

The MSI Raider 16 Max is easiest to find in one of three configurations, all sporting the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor but with an RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, or RTX 5090 GPU difference between them. I say easiest to find, but there are only a few retailers carrying these rigs at the moment. In the US, you're limited to MicroCenter and Excaliber PC, while the UK is even lighter on the shelves.

The configuration I've been testing, with an IPS panel and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, is even harder to find again. Until these machines are a little more bedded into the market, then, availability is going to be a slight challenge.

From the spread, though, it looks like the Raider is once again targeting the enthusiasts among us. The cheapest configuration sits at an RTX 5070 Ti, but with Intel's new Plus CPU at the helm you're not going to be saving too many pennies here. The Raider 16 Max is a premium machine, cutting you close to $3,000 even for its cheapest options at the moment.

Performance

The MSI Raider 16 Max takes its Apex Mode and runs with it, scoring close to the larger 18-inch model from last year while still retaining a smaller 16-inch form factor.

The clearest picture comes from synthetic 3D Mark comparisons. Steel Nomad, UL's latest benchmark that looks to push GPU tasks like volumetric illumination and ambient occlusion in a non ray-traced 4K run, is the most representative of modern performance metrics, but Time Spy and Fire Strike still have their stories to tell as well.

I've put the MSI Raider 16 Max up against some big guns; the 18-inch MSI Raider A18 HX A9W (currently the most powerful gaming laptop I've tested so far) and the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (my go-to 18-inch model). The Raider 16 Max not only keeps pace with the A18 but actually overtakes it when pushed to 300W in Time Spy and outpaces the Scar 18 in every run.

That's the first time I've seen a 16-inch form factor brush past an 18-incher in this way, putting the 16 Max on the map in terms of raw performance.

The story continues in-game as well.

Once again, the Max is trading places with the Raider A18 across both FHD and QHD benchmarks, offering roughly level performance against larger 18-inch machines. At full 1600p resolution we're clearing Cyberpunk 2077 with an average of 83fps in RT: Ultra, while lighter runs like Shadow of the Tomb Raider can climb up to 222fps - higher than both the MSI Raider A18 HX A9W and Asus ROG Strix Scar 18.

These standings are particularly volatile, with both Raiders and the Scar dashing all over each other in numbers. We're pretty close together for the most part, which means the Max is making good on its promise of 18-inch power in a smaller form factor.

That 300W mode is pulling some weight here. Apex Mode adds, on average, 6% to synthetic 3D Mark benchmarks, but how well that translates into tangible everyday framerates is a mixed bag.

At the bottom end of the scale we have Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, which only sees a 0.92% benefit at QHD highest settings. Then again at the top we have Shadow of the Tomb Raider and its 5.21% performance increase.

That 300W mode isn't going to turn the dial in terms of your everyday experience, but it is the secret sauce to closing the gap with 18-inch machines. Without it, we're looking at performance that only slightly improves on the RTX 5080 HP Omen Max 16, a machine that can be found for significantly less cash.

What I love

The RTX 5090 has enough room to breathe

The benefits of a chunky gaming laptop can be felt in the boost in performance over the RTX 5090 Razer Blade 16. This is a machine that more closely resembles the price point of the MSI Raider 16 Max, and yet its slimline form factor holds it back considerably. That's no shade on the Blade - after all, plenty of players are happy to sacrifice a few frames to keep their machine backpack friendly. However, it does mean the Raider wins out on brute force within the wider 16-inch space.

As more gaming laptops seek to hit a hybrid two-in-one design, we're losing this chunky era of machines. Here, we've got enough space to let that RTX 5090 work its magic, but still with the cooling power to keep things sustainable. I was impressed with the relative quietness of the Raider in every day use - being able to play Indiana Jones on the couch while someone else watches TV isn't an option with a lot of rigs but that's exactly where we found ourselves last weekend.

Handy upgrade bay

I know I know, who's got spare RAM to shove in a gaming laptop anymore. While supply chain constraints might make this a feature you'll only be able to use in a couple of years, the MSI Raider 16 Max does have a trick up its sleeve. Modular SSD and RAM bays are easily accessible under a panel on the underside of the rig, allowing for simple upgrades whenever you need them. While RAM prices might make that a little unpalatable right now, it's a move that ensures your lofty investment now won't become defunct when you hit a memory or storage wall.

Bright, powerful display

I'm not testing the OLED option, but even the IPS panel in front of me is worth its own note. While you're not getting the deeper blacks and high contrast of the more vibrant technology, this is a particularly impressive IPS in its own right. Colors appear punchy and bold while the power of that back brightness keeps everything looking its best as well. That's not easy to do without more expensive display technologies, so those not quite ready to spend OLED prices are still going to be pleased.

What to consider

Jittery, hollow trackpad

My biggest concern with the MSI Raider 16 Max is something I rarely find myself writing two sentences about in a gaming laptop review. However, the trackpad on this machine is among the worst I've had my hands on so far. It's hollow, jittery, and only seems to accept tap gestures when it wants to, otherwise requiring a heavier forceful click that feels slow and cumbersome.

This isn't a mushy pad, but it feels like there's a gap in between the top panel of the trackpad itself and the mechanism underneath. I only need to push lightly with my finger to feel it bouncing around and wobbling. If I'd spent four figures on this machine I'd be seriously disappointed.

That's not going to matter too much for most players, of course. It stops the Raider from being considered a hybrid work / play machine, but those more likely to have one of the best gaming mouse models on hand aren't going to feel the pinch so much.

Chunky design feels a little old school

That larger footprint gives your components more space to let loose, but it also comes at a cost. These larger machines were necessary back in the day, but they can feel a little outdated in 2026. While the MSI Raider 16 Max neatly sidesteps the hard angular lines of cheaper options with its squared off chassis and rounded corners, the wobble of its screen hinge, thicker side walls, and RGB heavy front lip do date its aesthetic a little.

Should you buy the MSI Raider 16 Max?

At the time of writing, the RTX 5090 MSI Raider 16 Max goes for $4,300 at full MSRP (albeit with an OLED display). The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 in a similar configuration comes in at $4,499.99 (Best Buy) while the MSI Raider A18 HX is often discounted to between $3,700 and $4,500 (Best Buy). In general, that's good news for the Max. There's a slight luxury tag in getting that 18-inch-level power in a smaller chassis and with gaming laptop prices continuing to skyrocket there's nothing too out of the ordinary going on here.

That said, the MSI Raider 16 Max will still only make sense to a few players. While chunkier 16-inch machines with RTX 5090 power are harder to find these days (if not the Raider, you're looking at the similarly expensive Alienware 16 Area-51 or the more mainstream Asus ROG Strix G16), older 18-inchers have the discount factor on their side. Should an Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 drop further down the price scale (which it likely will on a good day), and you're not fussed about portability, it's going to give you better long-term performance that doesn't rely on fan-degrading boosts.

The Raider's upgradeability and OLED display option (though I've only been testing the IPS panel here) make for compelling arguments, especially if you're looking for a high vibrancy panel on a rig that can last longer than the competition.

How I tested the MSI Raider 16 Max

I spent two weeks putting the MSI Raider 16 Max through all its 3D Mark runs and in-game benchmarks, while also taking the time to enjoy some of my own games in the process. I tested the rig in 3D Mark Steel Nomad, Time Spy, and Fire Strike, running each GPU test three times and taking an average as my final score. Then I ran in-game benchmarks at both 1080p and 1600p in High and Highest settings across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered. All of these tests were also completed three times with a final average result, having been run on both Extreme Performance and Apex Mode.

Meanwhile, I've been using the Raider for all my daily work, spending one week working directly from the laptop itself and another with it connected to an external monitor setup. During that time, I also used it to play through High on Life 2 and start another Indiana Jones and the Great Circle run. For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

For more chunky options, take a look at the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops. For something skinnier, check out the best Razer laptops on the market.

The hybrid Alienware 15 has just hit the shelves, aiming for a budget friendly price point for a hybrid work / play device. With all that in mind, though, the only two configurations you'll find on Dell's store today are the RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 models - and the latter will run you up to $2,299.99.

So far, so confusing.

Dell is also rolling out RTX 4050 (and even RTX 3050, but only in select territories) options for its slimline machine, but even the 40-Series config starts at $1,299.99 for an AMD build. If you're dropping that far back in time, you're not spending more than $900 to stay comfortable.

It's certainly not the first time one of the best gaming laptop brands has dropped back a few generations to keep prices low, but right now you're spending $1,500 minimum to get yourself an RTX 5050 model.

The Alienware 15 is available in two flavors; AMD and Intel, with RTX 4050, RTX 5050, and RTX 5060 GPUs shared between them. AMD options come with either a Ryzen 7 260 or Ryzen 5 220, while Intel is supporting with Core 7 240H and Core 5 210H chips. RTX 50-series models will offer Alienware's Cyrotech cooling tech and weaker configurations will have slightly less junk in the trunk.

Base level Alienware 15 gaming laptops ship with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. That's roughly half the storage I tend to see in entry level gaming laptops, and we're not even starting off cheaper than the rest of the competition here. The MSI Katana (my current top budget gaming laptop) does offer 512GB options, but for between $1,100 and $1,200 when paired up with an RTX 5050 and 1080p display.

There are some nifty extra features in here - upgradable RAM and storage compartments (if you can find components), a 180 degree hinge, and up to 100W USB-C charging all keep things flexible enough to satisfy productivity and play. There's also some serious attention paid to the chassis itself, with a durable polycarbonate resin design, soft rounded corners, and up to 2oz liquid spill resistance. Whether or not that's going to be worth the extra spend compared to last year's budget-friendly alternatives will depend on how much gaming you'll do vs work.

Dell doesn't need its Alienware 15 to run the most demanding games at the highest graphical settings. This machine isn't sitting alongside the Alienware 16 Area-51. It's pitched as an everyday (albeit high-end) laptop that can also run more complex games than your standard ThinkPad. It takes what we used to turn to the Dell G-Series for and folds it into the realm of the best Alienware laptops. Does $1500 make sense even in this context? Maybe not, but it's getting closer.

I say that because, price aside, this actually looks like a neat little machine. Without component crises, it could have been an $800 - $1,000 rig with the same simple to-do list as Apple's MacBook Neo. $1,299 for an RTX 4050 machine in 2026 isn't a good deal, though, no matter how much cheaper it is compared to Alienware's premium rigs.

• See all Alienware laptops at Dell

I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for more options.

We always knew this generation of the best gaming laptops was going to be expensive, but some rigs have skirted current supply chain constraints better than others. I had my hopes up after testing the 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, but the longer those numbers stayed absent from the brand's store the more concerned I became. The wait is over now, and we have a price tag for the RTX 5070 Ti version I was so impressed with during testing. It's... a lot.

The latest iteration of one of my favorite 14-inch rigs comes in at $3,599.99 with that Ti GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor. That's $1,100 more than the $2,499.99 rate on the previous generation's AMD model. Perhaps even more damning, though, is last year's RTX 5080 prices.

Alongside a new anti-glare screen, that does actually get the job done by the way, the new G14 bumps up the power heading into that lower-class GPU. In my testing, that meant the RTX 5070 Ti 2026 iteration sometimes out-performed last year's 5080 rig.

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Asus ROG Zephyrus 2025 (RTX 5080) vs 2026 (RTX 5070 Ti)

3D Mark and QHD+ in-game performance

Versus Comparison Data

Attribute	RTX 5080 (2025)	RTX 5070 Ti (2026)
3DMark Steel Nomad	3863	3715
3DMark Time Spy	15133	16365
3DMark Fire Strike	31778	31825
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1600p, Highest)	155	165
Total War: Three Kingdoms (1600p, Ultra)	84	81
Cyberpunk 2077 (1600p, RT:Ultra)	55	57
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (1600p, Highest)	78	83

RTX 5080 (2025)RTX 5070 Ti (2026)

VS

RTX 5080 (2025)RTX 5070 Ti (2026)

3DMark Steel Nomad (Score)

+4% 3,863

3,715

3DMark Time Spy (Score)

15,133

16,365 +8%

3DMark Fire Strike (Score)

31,778

31,825 +0%

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1600p, Highest) (FPS)

155

165 +6%

Total War: Three Kingdoms (1600p, Ultra) (FPS)

+4% 84

81

Cyberpunk 2077 (1600p, RT:Ultra) (FPS)

55

57 +4%

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (1600p, Highest) (FPS)

78

83 +6%

Both rigs are fairly balanced, but the RTX 5070 Ti G14 just about scrapes a few wins in more demanding in-game benchmarks.

Compared to last year's, this is a real power upgrade - especially when you're looking to get closer to 60fps in Cyberpunk 2077. At slightly lower graphical settings you'll be nailing this baseline in a way that wouldn't be possible from a similarly-specced 2025 iteration.

If I was looking at both the 2025 RTX 5080 and 2026 RTX 5070 Ti configurations, though, I'd absolutely be choosing the former. You're dropping some fancy screen features, but the two are pretty evenly matched. There's just a four-figure price difference between the two.

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There's plenty of contention among the best Asus gaming laptops this year, then, but the best Razer laptops and the best Alienware laptops are still shooting their shot as well.

One look at RTX 5090 gaming laptop prices is enough to have anyone shimmying a few rungs down the power ladder, but B&H Photo's latest sale just dropped and it's offering one of the biggest discounts I've seen on a top-shelf rig.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has been shunted all the way down to $2,999 today, from an original $3,999 starting point. Even that before rate is looking good - I've spec matched this exact rig at the brand's own site and it'll cost you $4,279.99 without any discounts applied.

You'll need to know you're ready to invest in one of the best gaming laptops for that price tag to make sense, but if you've been hovering over these high-spec configurations for a while now's the time to take the leap. After all, I rarely see RTX 5090 machines anywhere close to $3,000.

If you haven't been keeping abreast of RTX 5090 prices, it's worth noting there's usually a serious jump from the GPU rung below. Right now, Best Buy's cheapest machine in this class is the MSI Raider 18 HX AI for $3,699.99.

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You're looking at about $500 more than an RTX 5080 machine with this offer, for performance that (as per my mobile GPU upgrade and Cyberpunk 2077-specific benchmark tests) averages out as around a 23.47% improvement in synthetic benchmarks (Steel Nomad) and an approximate 29.41% boost to in-game framerates (Cyberpunk 2077, RT: Ultra).

Considering you're spending roughly 20% more to get there, that's a price to performance ratio I can get behind.

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It's not just about Lenovo, I've been benchmarking all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for more options, or take a look at the best Alienware laptops that are just around the corner.

While many are expecting gaming laptops to cut back on their DRAM in 2026, Nvidia has snuck a VRAM upgrade for us in its latest patch notes. A new 12GB RTX 5070 variant will begin shipping alongside regular 8GB RTX 5070 gaming laptops this year.

The boosted GPU was first leaked last month, when Lenovo published listings with the 12GB version specced out. While lighter games aren't going to appreciate the extra headroom too much, the best gaming laptops running the 12GB card will feel the benefits across more demanding titles. This is where the current 8GB card falls short in QHD resolution, generally averaging between 45 and 50fps in Cyberpunk 2077 RT Ultra among the machines I've tested.

Nvidia slipped the news into its latest patch notes, confirming the new card will pack 24Gb G7 memory across four 3GB chips "to complement the 16Gb G7 supply that currently ships with most GeForce GPUs."

The question is whether Nvidia will also increase the current 128-bit memory interface. A move up to 192-bit bus would support that all-important QHD performance, but it's unlikely the brand will invest quite so much design energy into the new stick.

*Unconfirmed

So far, we only know that the new 12GB RTX 5070 card will increase capacity - there have been no announcements around bandwidth or clock rates. It's likely we're just getting a brute force upgrade here, rather than a faster memory transfer system overall. But hey, we're getting a RAM upgrade in a time of supply chain crisis - just how much the boost will add to the final price tags of new RTX 5070 gaming laptops remains to be seen, however.

When can we expect to see these cards out in the wild? Nvidia's initial rollout is expected to be pretty limited. We know Lenovo and Asus have rigs in production, both brands were spotted listing the new 12GB variants earlier in the year. That means we'll likely see more cards on the shelves as both manufacturers continue rolling out 2026's releases over the summer.

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For a look across the industry, I'm rounding up the best Asus gaming laptops as well as the best Razer laptops and best Alienware laptops for some premium offerings.

I've always thought the best gaming laptops should fade into the distance, not take up my whole desk or backpack. That's why I've championed 14-inch machines for this long. I've been through generations of Razer, Asus, Acer, and HP's slimline rigs, shouting the benefits of compact machines to anyone who would listen. Now I'm putting them all head to head.

The subjects of today's trial are three of the most popular 14-inch gaming laptops on the market; the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, Razer Blade 14, and Acer Predator Triton 14. Asus has held onto the crown for another year running, but it's last year's model doing that work - not the 2026 version I had on my test bench earlier in the month.

While the Zephyrus G14 is the best 14-inch gaming laptop I've tested so far, the new release is likely going to be significantly more expensive. The RTX 5070 Ti performance I benchmarked offered a real tangible boost in playable framerates (especially in more demanding runs), but we still don't know when these machines will hit the market and with supply chain difficulties, that all-important price tag is looking higher by the day. I've even spotted more budget machines retailing with just 8GB RAM, so there's no telling how high those luxury rates could climb. It may well be one of the best Asus gaming laptops, but if it's out of reach it's all for naught.

That means we're sticking to 2025's entry for the top performance slot, with Razer taking home the design award and the Predator proving best for those after a true hybrid work / play system.

The contenders

Full benchmark results

The best 14-inch gaming laptop performance

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 does something very few 14-inch gaming laptops can; take you all the way to the RTX 5080. While Razer and Acer tend to halt at the RTX 5070, Asus pushes further with two more GPU classes above its competition.

The RTX 5080 2025 model I tested last year handled QHD gameplay far better than the GPU-capped Razer Blade 14, with Shadow of the Tomb Raider running at 155fps in its highest settings and Cyberpunk 2077 holding its own at 55fps in RT Ultra. There's a new kid on the block, though.

The 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the latest in line, and the RTX 5070 Ti configuration I've had on the test bench managed to beat last year's numbers thanks to a higher overall wattage. With all that under its belt the latest model can handle 60fps Cyberpunk in full whack - something I haven't seen from a 14-incher before.

There's a caveat to that performance, though, and one that brings me back round to last year's release as my primary recommendation. The new Zeph still hasn't hit the shelves in the US, and looking at the eye-watering pricing across the rest of the world it doesn't look like this is going to be an easy upgrade. With the cost of the 2025 offering packing significantly higher value I'd stick with the older model right now.

The best 14-inch gaming laptop design

The latest Razer Blade 14 has been my ride or die for months now, and I previously ran the model before it as my daily driver. It can't quite match the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 for sheer performance (Razer can only get an RTX 5070 in this thing), but if look and feel are your primary concern this is an easy winner.

Razer hasn't changed the rulebook of its gaming laptop designs in some time, because it doesn't need to. Each machine is CNC milled aluminum with a supremely durable finish. That means this thing handles like a solid brick of luxury, but one that doesn't take up your entire backpack (or hurt your shoulders).

It's a super skinny 14-inch gaming laptop but there's no flex or creaking anywhere across the chassis. Not only that, but the premium feel continues inside with a gorgeous OLED panel and a particularly satisfying keyboard underneath.

This is no cheap alternative, though. While the Blade 14 can see its own price drops, that MSRP is pretty firm and an RTX 5060 build often comes in more expensive than RTX 5070 options elsewhere. If you need to balance looks with power, though, it's an excellent option.

The best 14-inch gaming laptop battery

If you're hunting down the best 14-inch gaming laptop for battery, you likely need an all-day workhorse that can run your favorite games later on. That's precisely what the Acer Predator Triton 14 wants to do. The strange Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor choice means you're not getting the full potential of the RTX 5070 (as tested) under the hood, but it does lend itself to a particularly power-economical device that can run your office for a full day before plugging in for some games.

The Predator Triton is a little confused in its use-case, but for those after a true two-in-one that could be a niche win. With a stylus included in the box, that slightly weedier processor (from a gaming perspective, anyway), and efficiency at its core, this is a real hybrid machine.

It's priced a little high for its benchmark results, I must say. Considering this rig can sometimes sit higher up the price scale than even the Razer Blade 14, its 2,593 Steel Nomad 3D Mark score raises some eyebrows and the fact it's just clinging on to 60fps in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered could give some pause for thought.

This isn't a framerate chaser, though, it's a jack of all trades for work and play. If you're happy bumping down to 1080p to get solid High-settings performance in more demanding games, all while benefitting from a slick and streamlined business machine, this is well worth investigating.

How we test 14-inch gaming laptops

I run all 14-inch gaming laptops through the same series of tests as any other machine, with each rig set to its highest preset performance profile. First up comes 3D Mark. This is a testing suite of benchmarks that put GPUs (and, to a lesser extent, CPUs) through their paces across demanding scenarios. I primarily use Steel Nomad, the most recent release, for the best real-world performance indication, but also run older tests Time Spy and Fire Strike to provide context around earlier releases.

Steel Nomad tests a system's graphical stability and speed across a non ray-traced scenario. Rendering techniques and devices like volume illumination, ambient occlusion, and depth of field are all core to this test, pushing a system's ability to maintain a smooth visual experience. Steel Nomad presents a score at the end of each benchmark - like all 3D Mark tests, higher is better.

I run each of these synthetic benchmarks three times, taking the final average score as my main result.

Then we're onto real-world performance. I benchmark in both 1080p and 1600p using each game's 'High' and 'Highest' settings, running each test three times and taking a final average score. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the easiest test, before moving up to Total War: Three Kingdoms, Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, and Cyberpunk 2077.

Outside of pure performance testing, I work, play, travel, and live with each 14-inch gaming laptop for a minimum of two weeks before finalizing my review.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Also consider

Should you buy a 14-inch gaming laptop?

I wouldn't recommend a 14-inch gaming laptop to everyone. After all, there are some performance sacrifices inherent in this more compact form factor. However, with SoC machines becoming a real possibility in the next few years, we could see a larger trend towards more portable power.

As it stands today, without the extra chassis space (read cooling space) of a 16-inch or 18-inch device, these rigs typically run hotter, have more trouble with thermal throttling, and cost you slightly more for the privilege. It's not easy to squeeze high-end components into a portable shell, after all.

I personally wouldn't buy anything else, though. I take my gaming laptop with me everywhere I go, working most of the time but also relying on it for gameplay when I'm away from home for a few nights. I don't want a chunky device that's going to take up all my bag space just for the sake of a few hours of gameplay. I don't want to have to lug a giant power adapter across the country. I'm happy to sacrifice a few frames to save my back, shoulders, and inventory space.

If that sounds like you, a 14-incher is absolutely the way to go. They're the best all-in-one gaming laptops for a hybrid work / play approach. If you know you're going to keep your machine at home for most of its life, a larger model is going to give you a more immersive display, generally better performance, and better cooling.

I'm also running through all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops on the market. Or, if you really want something a little chunkier, check out the best Alienware laptops I've tested.

Amazon's just launched a week long gaming sale and Best Buy's coming in hot with its own savings, but there's one spec you need to check if you're browsing through particularly cheap gaming laptops right now. If you've been anywhere near a store this year so far, you'll know RAM shortages are pushing prices of pretty much everything, including the best gaming laptops, which is why many retailers are listing an unusually high number of 8GB options this week. Rather than posting gaming laptops at ludicrous prices nobody would pay, they're simply prioritizing the ones with less memory inside them.

Filter a retailer to gaming laptops under $1,000 and you'll spot a few almost immediately. Best Buy has HP Victus and MSI A15 configurations with just 8GB RAM on the shelves for between $700 and $900. Amazon's even worse, without any filters the first gaming laptop that appears on my search (underneath the sponsored options) only offers the same 8GB - and that's $799.

I'll say it plainly now, 8GB is not enough RAM to run a gaming laptop - and they're not even significantly cheaper than 16GB options.

Yes, you'll be able to swing a through lightweight indie or older games, but if you're spending hundreds on a new device (more than the newly inflated MSRP of the PS5) I'd strongly urge you to avoid these cheaper options. Most Windows 11 laptops will struggle on 8GB RAM in a business setting, let alone gameplay.

I've gone through my own Steam library for some reference, comparing these kinds of specs to some of the most popular games of the last five years.

CS2, Baldurs Gate 3, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 can just about skim by on 8GB RAM, but need more to run reliably without drops in stability. More demanding titles like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 need at least 12GB RAM to start up. By contrast, Palworld needs 16GB RAM just to get going, as does Black Myth: Wukong, Monster Hunter Wilds, Marvel Rivals, and Battlefield 6.

You technically can play light games on an 8GB machine - but considering there's not much in it from a price perspective, you won't want to.

There are still 16GB gaming laptops available for under $1,000. You'll need to drop back to Nvidia's RTX 40-Series to get there, but I'd much rather that than halving my RAM.

Best Buy has an RTX 4050 Ryzen 7 7445HS build of the HP Victus 15 for $887 right now, while you can pick up an open-box MSI Stealth 14 with an RTX 4060 GPU for $933.99. If you're really looking to push that three-figure budget, the RTX 5050 Lenovo LOQ can also make use of newer DLSS features for $929 as well.

You're spending about $100 - $200 more on these rigs, but picking up the memory you need to run the vast majority of today's biggest games. An 8GB RAM gaming laptop isn't exactly a paper weight, but it's still to be avoided in 2026.

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops as well as the best Razer laptops and best Alienware laptops on the market right now.

I've just finished up testing the 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, but it's not quite made its way to my roundup of the best gaming laptops so far. That's because not only is it still waiting for a release date, but we don't even know the price point. With RAM shortages looming over the entire industry, and Asus itself pointing to a 50% increase in its MSRPs as a result, those final numbers could be problematic.

I've been saying it for some time now, but it's never been more true; last year's gaming laptops are going to give us far better value for money in 2026. The previous generation G14, for example, is available for just $1,399.99 at Best Buy today - that's a fraction of what the new release will likely cost.

Now I'm not saying those ready to invest in a high-end system should throw it all away on this deal just because it's there. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of players who would benefit from the boosted brightness of the new model's OLED and the tangible performance increase provided by the higher wattage.

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Not everyone is going to be able to fork out the likely $3,000+ price point of the RTX 5070 Ti version I tested, though, and if you're just looking to run your games on a work / play hybrid machine that still packs a punch in the looks department this is absolutely where I'd be looking.

The 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is still a fantastic machine, and that RTX 5060 can handle pretty much anything you throw at it with a few resolution and texture tweaks. Anyone upgrading from an RTX 3050, 3060, or 3070 is going to notice a boost here.

The core G14 proposition is still alive and well on the previous generation as well. Framerates are great, but if you need your laptop to function for both work and play during regular travel sessions you only have a few options open to you. With the Razer Blade 14 still running much higher up the price tag and the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI coming up short in performance, the 2025 G14 lives on to fight another day.

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I'm hunting down plenty more of the best Asus gaming laptops as well as the best Razer laptops and best Alienware laptops on the market.

Every year I get to spend a few weeks with the latest Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and, personal preferences very much on the table, I look forward to it all spring. This has long been my endgame laptop, a sleek and slimline 14-incher with a gorgeous OLED display and enough power to feel like I'm not missing out on higher-performance devices.

This year's iteration ups that total power to a 130W draw (compared to 2025's 110W), with a shift away from total AMD domination to Intel's new Panther Lake processors. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 has always been one of the best gaming laptops on the market, and it's still getting its glow-ups in 2026.

Of course, it's not a cheap glow up. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 only has one price tag associated with it right now, the RTX 5070 Ti version I've tested is up on the Asus store for $3,599.99. That's about $1,000 more than you'll pay for an RTX 5070 Ti version of the previous generation. With current estimates putting the base RTX 5060 model around $2,300-$2,500 (for an RTX 5060), this is likely to be a premium pick.

Performance

With a boost in total power and a move to Intel's Panther Lake processors, I was curious to see what the 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 could do with the already impressive numbers we saw on the previous generation. This line beat the Razer Blade 14 last year due to its RTX 5080 configuration options (Sneki taps out at an RTX 5070), but it looks like we don't even need to reach those heights in 2026.

The RTX 5070 Ti configuration I've been testing has beaten last year's top-end rig across both FHD and QHD+ in-game benchmarks.

Kicking off with Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the easiest test in my repertoire. The 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 nearly averages at 200fps in the lightest 1080p / High run, a framerate that would have been reserved for chunky 18-inchers just a few years ago. Things are rock solid in QHD+ land as well, with the most difficult run averaging at 165fps.

Total War: Three Kingdoms represents a slightly tougher test. This is still an older game but relies heavily on dense, highly populated objects on screen. We're still posting solid three-figure framerates in 1080p, though, only dropping to 81fps in Ultra settings at QHD+.

Onto the big'un. Cyberpunk 2077 represents the hardest test in my pool, and this is where we drop below 60fps for the first time. It's only when pushing the system at full QHD+ resolution at QHD+ that we break below that barrier, though, with a 57fps score - everything else is sailing above that threshold.

3D Mark's suite of GPU benchmarks is where the RTX 5070 Ti Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 of today falls slightly behind the RTX 5080 model of yesteryear. Steel Nomad is UL Solutions' most recent release, testing non-raytraced scenes and stressing the system's ability to render across demanding processes. The benchmark is run in 4K, stress-testing everything from surface illumination to particle effects, volumetric cloud rendering, and making the most of asynchronous computing workloads. At the end of it all, a final score is produced; higher is better.

Time Spy and Fire Strike test similar GPU metrics, though without some of these more demanding processes. They're still useful, especially if you're upgrading from a pre-2024 gaming laptop, but with Steel Nomad providing the clearest image of today's gaming laptop demands it's the benchmark I'll be focusing on most.

Synethetically, the 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 just nudges underneath the RTX 5080 configuration of the previous generation. That's not a knock on this machine - it's seriously impressive the lower-class GPU has managed to beat the flagship in previous entries across in-game benchmarks (and still does in Time Spy and Fire Strike). I'm taking this as a win for the cheaper GPU class.

What I loved

A tangible performance upgrade

There comes a point in many high-end gaming laptops where framerate boosts offer up limited returns. The 6.4% increase in Shadow of the Tomb Raider framerates at QHD+ Highest settings isn't going to make a material difference to your gameplay when we're already at 150+fps. However, that nudge up to 60fps+ in Cyberpunk 2077 certainly will.

It's this kind of bridging that makes the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 feel like a real power upgrade over the previous generation. I tested an RTX 5080 configuration of the 2025 model, so a lot of these comparisons are unfair. The fact that the 2026 G14 can stomp over my old laptop while running a cheaper GPU represents a step above the usual power upgrades I see year to year.

If that's what the RTX 5070 Ti can do, the RTX 5080 is going to be a beast. Considering that's all coming from a slimline 14-incher, there's a real sense of change here.

Last year's model proved that you don't need to sacrifice power for portability (provided you've got the budget to do so), 2026's release removes the need to opt for the topline configuration to do so.

Display goes the extra mile

It's not just those internals seeing a glow up in the 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. The OLED display up top feels like a cut above the rest.

Side by side with the Razer Blade 14 it feels just a little more elevated overall. Colors are incredibly punchy, and every image is cut with a beautiful sharpness that even makes the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 boot screen look like an experience in itself.

The ROG Nebula HDR panel has been treated to a brightness boost, measuring in at 1,100 nits at its peak, with an extra Gorilla Glass coating to reduce glare.

Keyboard stays comfortable all day

Do I take umbrage in half-sized arrow buttons and a skinny Enter key? Sure. Is this one of the most satisfying laptop keyboards I've laid my hands on so far? Absolutely.

It's a fairly simple deck by most measures, being 14 inches across, it can't accommodate additional number keys. However, the snap and bounce of these clackers are second only to the Razer Blade 16 and its own scissor switch design. Across a week of working full days on the keyboard alone, I never felt cramped or uncomfortable here.

That's no surprise - this is a premium deck, and I'd be confused if I found the mushier, heavier experience of a cheaper gaming laptop here. However, if you're after a true hybrid work / play device these keys (and the smooth, responsive trackpad underneath them) will easily keep up.

Surprisingly potent speakers

Fan noise is always going to be a distraction across gaming laptops, but the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 manages to pack a set of speakers that are both powerful and clear enough to cut through that sound. While I'm normally reaching for a gaming headset to cut through those whirs, I managed several hours of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on the machine's drivers alone.

That's a game that relies heavily on well-timed audio cues, a testament to how impactful the speakers on here really are. What's more, there's very little distortion at higher volumes. Everything sounds punchy, bassy, and clean.

What to consider

Not without its throttling moments

The G14 has posted an excellent set of benchmarks, but take it away from a sturdy desk setup and I did notice a little throttling. Temperatures were generally well maintained around the main chassis, low enough to comfortably rest my hand on the palm rest while playing and certainly nowhere near concerning. However, bringing the laptop to the arm of a couch did start to introduce some stutters.

I'd take this with a heavy pinch of salt. After all, it's pretty much sacrilege to run a gaming laptop directly on a soft surface - I'm sure the clamshell gods will be punishing me for my experiment soon. However, if you do tend to play on a softer surface it's worth investing in a riser.

Passable battery life

Many were looking to Intel's Panther Lake processors to improve running efficiency of gaming laptop batteries, but after a few days working and playing without a cable to hand I can pretty confidently say this isn't a revolutionary fix-all.

During a regular work day (Chrome tabs, a little light image editing, and using a 2.4GHz mouse), I managed to run for around three hours on Balanced Mode before hitting power saving settings. That's with brightness and power setting straight out the box. That battery saver took me for another hour and a half before I was getting imminent warnings of shutdown. All in across Balanced Mode I usually averaged about 4-5 hours of use in one charge.

That's pretty standard fare for a gaming laptop, if on the higher side compared to particularly power-hungry monsters. You'll get an extra hour or two out of the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI (though you're taking a performance hit to go with it).

Should you buy the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14?

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 does feel like a marked step up from the previous generation, in its power potential and display most notably. Are you going to suffer if you're still running a 2025 version? Not enough to warrant the four-figure upgrade. Could this be the move if you're running an RTX 30-Series 14-incher from before 2020? That depends.

On paper, the G14 is going to give you a better experience further down the GPU scale than its predecessor. That much is clear from my benchmarks, albeit they're limited to the top end of the configuration scale. However, we only know the (lofty) price of the RTX 5070 Ti version, and with RAM shortages showing no sign of slowing it's highly likely the new generation will be significantly more expensive than the old.

With 2025 G14s sitting at between $1,500 (on a good day) for an RTX 5060, $2,300 for an RTX 5070 Ti, and $3,100 for an RTX 5080, those hunting a lower-class graphics card aren't going to find enough benefits in the display and higher wattage to warrant the higher price tags.

An RTX 5080 configuration of the previous release comes in at $3,169.99 full price (but is regularly discounted). That's still cheaper than 2026's new release.

How I tested the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

I used the 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 as my daily driver for just over two weeks, while also testing directly against the Razer Blade 14 and Acer Predator Triton 14 AI. I spent most of that time with the laptop solo on my desk, while it spent a few days connected to an external monitor setup via a separate dock.

Synthetic benchmark tests were run across 3D Mark's suite of GPU and CPU processes; primarily focusing on Steel Nomad but also incorporating Time Spy and Fire Strike. Each test was run three times, with the final scores reflecting an average.

I carried out in-game benchmarks across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered at both 1080p and 1600p, in each game's 'high' and 'highest' settings. Again, each test was run three times, with final framerates taken as an average of all three runs.

All benchmarking was completed in the system's Turbo power mode.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops as well as the best Razer laptops and the best Alienware laptops on the market.

I've long been singing Lenovo's praises. The 10th generation Legion 5 offered an OLED display and excellent performance for a fantastic price point, but it looks like that rig might be on its way out. While it can sometimes be found on the shelves for a decent rate things seem to be shifting in the last few weeks and this gaming laptop deal from Best Buy is another nail in the Legion's coffin.

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI was always jostling with Lenovo's mid-ranger. At a similar price, and still sporting an impressive OLED display, it meets the same needs of the budget-conscious player while offering a slightly wider range of components. It just never managed to stay consistently cheaper on the shelves.

That's all changed this week. While the Legion 5 is in the awkward process of being replaced by a newer (more expensive) generation, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is taking a $400 discount at Best Buy, dropping it all the way down to $1,199.99 this week.

So how does the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI stack up against the best gaming laptops on the market? I tested an RTX 5070 Ti configuration in my review - a beefier configuration with more VRAM to play with. Still, it managed to perform better than RTX 5080 configurations of more compact machines like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and managed to post sturdy 60fps+ framerates in everything but Cyberpunk 2077 at QHD.

That's not going to be the case with this cheaper RTX 5060 model but, as I found when I tallied up exactly what the best mobile GPU is for a gaming laptop upgrade, the RTX 5060 can still hold its own across FHD benchmarks. This is a rig that's going to see you through a wide range of games with that resolution bumped down, and plenty of lighter titles in QHD with some settings tweaks.

That's just under the hood, though. It's rare to find an OLED panel on a gaming laptop this cheap - so far only this rig and the Legion 5 have pulled it off. Not only that, but this is a particularly strong example of inky blacks, high contrast, and powerful vibrancy. There's a little more glare than you'll find further up the price range, but if you typically play in darker environments you won't even notice.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I've also been testing all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops available. Or check out the best Razer laptops for something a little more compact.

Cyberpunk 2077 has turned into something of a benchmarking standard in itself. Its reliance on demanding graphical technologies, wide range of tweakable options, and easy DLSS support has made it a yardstick by which the performance of the best gaming laptops is easily compared. While Nvidia leans further into AI patches for its graphics cards and AMD stays out of the dedicated GPU race completely, though, those looking for the best native performance are being pushed between marketing pillar and eyebrow-raising presentation graph post.

I've been testing RTX 50-Series gaming laptops for well over a year now and have a whole bunch of stats sitting in a spreadsheet doing nothing. Let's put them to work. If 2026 is the year you upgrade your gaming laptop, but you want to make sure you can run the heaviest releases around, this is what you need to know.

We've got two sides to this performance coin; FHD and QHD. To put it simply, you'll need an RTX 5080 to stay above 60fps in RT Ultra at full 1600p resolution and an RTX 5070 if you're happy to bump down to 1200p.

Of course, each of these gaming laptops have their own processors, RAM amounts, cooling solutions, and chassis designs, all of which can ultimately affect those final framerates. While I've been careful to select a sample size that hits as many corners of the market and price range as possible, it's important to remember that there will be outliers. The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI, for example, is pretty hamstrung by its more efficiency-focused processor, while the Razer Blade 16 works with a much slimmer form factor than MSI's big'uns.

Still, taking averages of my testing pool, it's pretty clear you'll need at least a mid-ranger to even think about 60fps at top settings here.

The RTX 5060 isn't completely out of the game, but it's locked out of the RT Ultra race. With those setting dialled back, the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10, MSI Katana 15HX B14W, and Alienware 16X Aurora all keep their heads well above 60fps. The Acer Nitro V16 AI struggles to keep pace, and its FHD-only display bars it from the QHD bout.

What does that mean for you?

If you're trying to work out the best mobile GPU upgrade for your next gaming laptop, Cyberpunk 2077 offers a good frame of reference, but it's not your only concern.

On paper, it looks like you should be looking for an RTX 5080 gaming laptop - happy days, that's the GPU that I found offered the largest performance increase compared to the graphics card class below it. If you're really pushing the boat out you'd go for an RTX 5090, but I wouldn't recommend it.

While the 5090 is technically the best option out there, I found in previous testing that it offers (on average) a 14.79% increase in performance for a 54.27% increase in price (at MSRP, March 2026). You're spending a lot more for a little extra performance.

The other side of the equation is where the RTX 5070 starts to shine a little brighter.

Taking not just MSRPs into account, but actual on-sale rates across major retailers (Best Buy and Newegg, March 2026), an RTX 5080 gaming laptop is, on average, 48.03% more expensive than an RTX 5070 model. Considering most RTX 5070 machines are sitting at around $2,200 on a day to day basis, that's a considerable price tag.

This is the bottom line, the RTX 5080 offers the best performance and value overall from a cold, hard, framerate perspective. If you want a future-proofed gaming laptop that can run the heaviest games of today and tomorrow, there's no way to get around its cost.

Those machines just don't drop their prices though (a sub-$2,000 price tag is the absolute goal here, but I've only seen one offer drop this low and that was over Black Friday). If you're happy to drop back to FHD, the RTX 5070 is an excellent alternative and sees far more frequent gaming laptop deals. You can find these rigs for $1,300 to $1,500 if you're looking at the right time, after all.

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No nonsense 1080p gaming on a budget. That's what the MSI Cyborg has built its foundations on for years, and now the RTX 50-Series model looks to double down on that entry-level power with a balanced spec, low price point, and surprisingly sturdy design. Its display is a little behind competition only a rung or so higher up on the pricing ladder, and its soft trackpad is going to annoy the hell out of anyone who needs an everyday workhorse. For the bottom of the price bracket, though, this rig still holds up for casual gameplay.

The best gaming laptops these days will add more than a few multipliers onto this $1,199.99 base price, after all. While there might be better value further up the price scale this is one of the cheapest machines I've tested recently and I still had a blast with my favorite games.

Configurations

As is typical of these cheaper releases, the MSI Cyborg comes in a few of different flavors. In general, though, you're going to be choosing between Intel and AMD's budget processors and Nvidia's bottom-rung GPUs; the RTX 5050 and RTX 5060.

None of these configurations should run you more than $1,500 with 512GB or 1TB of SSD storage and 16GB RAM, but all come with a 15.6-inch 144Hz 1080p display. It's a decent budget-friendly roster of options, with the RTX 5050 offering a sturdy base for DLSS features and the RTX 5060 getting closer to 60fps in more demanding games with a few settings tweaks.

I've been testing an Intel Core 5 210H machine with that entry level RTX 5050 GPU, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. That spec has primarily been pitted against the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 / RTX 5060 Acer Nitro V 16 AI and Intel i7-14650HX / RTX 5060 MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (my current top budget pick, with the same $1,199 starting price) for value-reference in this price bracket.

Performance

The MSI Cyborg is up against some stiff competition from RTX 5060 machines that sit only slightly above it in the price pecking order. Its in-game and 3D Mark synthetic benchmarks place it at the bottom of the pack in this comparison pool, but the numbers themselves show that this is still a capable 1080p machine with the right game on its screen.

An RTX 5050 gaming laptop is never going to out-perform an RTX 5060 model, but that weaker Intel Core 5 210H processor from 2024 isn't going to help matters. In synthetic testing, the system isn't just at the bottom of the graph but it's around 32% slower than the next rig up in Steel Nomad. That's a slightly higher gap than I would expect to see from these two machines.

Steel Nomad is 3D Mark's most recent benchmark tool, designed to replace Fire Strike and Time Spy in its more intensive GPU and CPU tests. The latter tests both stress a system's ability to render particle effects and geometry in demanding 3D scenarios, but Steel Nomad is my primary concern. It's more inline with the current power level of gaming laptops, offering a better view of real-world performance in the face of more demanding programs.

The best way to see how the MSI Cyborg stacks up in gameplay is to run some games, though.

At 1080p, the MSI Cyborg can confidently run Shadow of the Tomb Raider (the lightest, most Nvidia-optimized test in my pool) and Total War: Three Kingdoms (a more challenging run with far more particle effects and big-picture screen demands) while still keeping its head above 60fps in ultra settings. That's nothing to sniff at, especially if you're after a cheaper gaming laptop to satisfy a backlog of older or lighter titles.

In fact, my next hardest run (Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered) still keeps the MSI Cyborg at over 60fps, as long as you steer clear of those highest graphical settings.

Things get a little squeaky in the hardest benchmark in my repertoire, though. Cyberpunk 2077 just about gets off the ground at 33fps in its highest settings. That's workable, provided you tone down some of the game's more power-intensive effects, but I'd expect to see numbers in the low or mid 40s here.

Still, the RTX 5050 was practically made to take advantage of Nvidia's DLSS tech. The good news is that, if you wish, you can switch that frame generation multiplier on for a much smoother picture. In my tests, the MSI Cyborg averaged 112fps with this feature enabled on RT:Ultra settings.

What I love

Decent build quality

I came to the MSI Cyborg expecting a screen that flexed at the slightest breeze and a main chassis that creaked with every nudge. That's not the case here.

While there's some give to that main display, more than you'll find further up the price scale, MSI has done well to keep this thing solid on the hinge. Of course, there's a little wobble when manoeuvring it up and down, but manipulating the screen from each corner reveals a surprisingly taut panel.

That comes with a main chassis that holds its own when lifted from a corner and only displays a little bowing when pushed from the top. At this price I wouldn't expect the CNC-milled designs of something like the Razer Blade 16, but this is still far from the soft, squeaky machines of yore.

Inside it's not quite as luxe as the slimmer Acer Nitro V 16 AI, matching more of the MSI Katana's vibe in look and feel.

Snappy keyboard

I wasn't expecting to be so welcomed onto these keys either. While cheaper gaming laptops often get away with lower quality decks to save cash space for those components, the MSI Cyborg manages to keep its switches snappy and its toppers clean. With a full number pad layout and a nicely spaced arrangement, I found trying on this deck to be more accurate and slightly more pleasant than the majority of budget rigs out there.

There's plenty of bounce to these keys, where I'd normally expect a softer, more mushy feel under the tips. Yes, it's annoying to have to deal with half-sized arrow buttons, but the overall typing and gaming experience is far more energetic than you'll typically see.

Budget price point

Of course, the MSI Cyborg's main draw is its low price. Gaming laptops have upped their rates with the advent of the RTX 50-Series. Where an RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 was easily found under the $1,000 price bracket in days of yore, these new generation machines are generally all four figures. That's not including sales, of course, and the Cyborg sees plenty of discounts.

This is still about as cheap as you'll find gaming laptops in 2026, though, and considering you'll still be running most games just fine in 1080p that's well worth a trophy.

What to consider

Lower quality display

Display resolution is often one of the first sacrifices you'll have to make when opting for an entry level gaming laptop. I'm used to seeing models, like the Acer Nitro V 16 AI, dropping those numbers down to 1200p to save some cash - it makes sense, especially when running an RTX 5050 or RTX 5060 graphics card.

The MSI Cyborg's 15.6-inch screen means you're running a 16:9, 1920 x 1080 resolution here. That's not a marked difference over the FHD+ models elsewhere on the market, but it is worth noting that you only need to move a little further than this $1,200 - $1,500 price range to secure a QHD+ panel. In the case of the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 (often found for a similar price as this Cyborg), you'll also find OLED screens making an appearance.

As it stands, the IPS display we've got here feels a little watered down compared even to other non-OLED rigs on the market. We're going right up to the other end of the price scale, but something like the HP Omen Max 16 (in the IPS version I tested) manages to still produce excellent colors and contrast without the boosted panel tech. Here we lose a lot of that definition, brightness, and vividity.

The Katana suffers in a similar way, but not quite to the same degree. Images on the Cyborg's sibling device still keep a little more vibrancy in their colors.

This lower quality display absolutely makes sense for those looking to spend as little as possible, but if there's wiggle room in that budget you don't need to drop too fat a wad extra to get a major boost. It's also worth keeping an eye on sales, especially around that Legion 5 and the Acer Predator Helios Neo S AI.

Soft trackpad

What might make a bigger difference to your everyday experience is that trackpad. Try as I might I could never fully trust this thing. It's hollow, spongey, and incredibly unpleasant to use. Yes, the Cyborg has had to cut some corners to keep its price low, but the Acer Nitro V 16 AI manages to keep a nicely tactile pad for a similar rate. The MSI Katana also uses a slightly better iteration, but swaps that too-deep feel for a too-shallow one that will satisfy tappers and gliders much better.

Should you buy the MSI Cyborg 15?

With the same RTX 5050 starting price as the MSI Katana, the MSI Cyborg doesn't quite do enough to knock its sibling off the top spot where budget rigs are concerned. While its keyboard and 1080p performance work hard in its favor, the Katana manages to punch above its price class in smaller quality of life features like the trackpad, streamlined design, and display quality. That's all with higher-class processor options and an RTX 5070 configuration on the table.

The Cyborg does tend to see a few more discounts than the Katana in every day retail, though. If you're looking for a three-figure steal this is likely where you'll find it. If you've got the tightest of budgets and you've found a price-bracket-breaking discount, it's still going to see you through 1080p adventures with ease.

How I tested the MSI Cyborg 15

I used 3D Mark's suite of GPU benchmarking tools to test the MSI Cyborg in synthetic runs, concentrating on Steel Nomad but with Time Spy and Fire Strike running as well. These three tests work different aspects of a GPU's rendering capabilities (and a CPU's stability) to produce a final score (higher is better) representative of overall performance. I ran each of these tests three times with the MSI Cyborg set to its highest power setting, taking final results as an average.

I also tested the MSI Cyborg 15 in-game across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered. Again, each benchmark was completed three times for an average final score. I ran each benchmark in both High and Highest available settings (RT:Med and RT:Ultra in Cyberpunk) at full 1080p while the Cyborg was in its highest power setting.

Beyond performance testing, I used the MSI Cyborg as my everyday laptop for both work and play over a period of two weeks, running it for one week as a solo device on the desk and another as part of a larger external monitor setup. Outside of dedicated testing, I was also using the machine for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Planet Coaster shenanigans.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

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I accidentally stumbled across the new Razer Blade 16. While price checking some other accessories, its brand new face flashed up on my screen. That wasn't there yesterday, and after weeks of waiting for any sign of new machines it seems Sneki is quietly sidling into the party rather than making a grand entrance.

The new Razer Blade 16 starts at $3,499.99 / £3,099.99 for an RTX 5080 / Intel Core Ultra 9 386H / 32GB RAM configuration, rising up to $4,999.99 / £4,399.99 for the top-spec RTX 5090 model. What's new? The update to one of the best gaming laptops on the market brings Intel's latest Panther Lake processor, a reportedly brighter OLED panel, and promises "significantly improved" battery life.

It's that LPDDR5-9600MHz RAM that had me worried in the first half. With component shortages igniting prices for both consumers and brands, storage and memory are hard to come by at the moment. Razer seems to have cut a deal, though. This year's Blade 16 launches at about the same MSRP as 2025's iteration.

No, there are no RTX 5070 Ti configurations just yet. The previous generation would have let you get the full luxury experience for $2,999.99 / £2,699.99 last year. These days, Razer is keeping its specs high to make sure those prices don't seem so crazy. For reference, the RTX 5090 / AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 model (32GB RAM and 2TB SSD) I tested last year came in at $4,499.99 / £3,899.99 new. That price is being matched by the new update in the US (it's £100 more expensive this year in the UK) even with the swap over to Intel and current RAM shortages.

That's no mean feat, but whether or not the power upgrade will make the tall asking price worthwhile is another matter.

Right now the only Razer Blade 16 I've been able to get into my cart at Razer's own store (these have been exclusives for just over a year now) is an RTX 5060 model with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 for $2,399.99. That's a seriously expensive 5060 device, coming in about $1,000 higher than I'd expect to see last year's lower mid-range configurations.

The power upgrades to an RTX 5080 / Intel Core Ultra 9 386H from that kind of rig are going to be immediately noticeable, but if you can still get your hands on an RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 2025 version the differences aren't going to be as tangible.

Intel's Panther Lake release is more of a refresh, offering a small step up in performance by all accounts so far. With no major GPU updates this is an iterative upgrade - surprisingly level in its pricing - but iterative nonetheless.

It's down to that battery improvement and display brightness to carry the new Blade 16 home, then. I'm optimistic. While Razer's charge has never burned the brightest, I'll take any extra minutes I can get my hands on. Meanwhile, the previous generation Blade 16 had one of the best screens I'd ever tested on a gaming laptop. I'm certainly excited to see what Sneki's been cooking up over the last year.

• See all Blade laptops at Razer
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It's always a little embarrassing when a retailer beats a brand on its own prices. That's exactly what's happening this week, though, and on the best gaming laptop I've tested so far, no less.

The HP Omen Max 16 is down to $2,449.99 at Best Buy this week, a $400 discount on the $2,849.99 MSRP for the RTX 5080 configuration. The only problem for HP is that its own web store currently has a $2,799.99 sales price on the exact same spec. Over there, the brand is touting a $1,000 saving pretty proudly - but it's far from the best deal on the web.

Best Buy is obviously the way to go if you're in the market for a high-end gaming laptop this week. Is the HP Omen Max 16 right for you though?

I tested this exact spec on review, and it easily took out the competition, even putting the (admittedly slimmer) RTX 5090 Razer Blade 16 on blast. That GPU gets revved up with 175W TDP, giving it plenty of space to handle more demanding games without breaking a sweat. It's a dark horse in this race, with a relatively slimline chassis, fantastic display (even at this IPS level), and a gorgeous design all propping up that excellent performance.

You'll be running Cyberpunk 2077 in top settings at full resolution without even nearing that 60fps threshold. I was at a solid 70fps in my testing under these conditions, with lighter games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider nearing 200fps.

The HP Omen Max 16 has been at the top of my gaming laptop recommendation list since it launched, and so far, very few gaming laptops have come close to knocking it off the top spot. If you're looking to sink some cash into a future-proofed system that can run all of today's games no problem, this is absolutely where I'd be looking first.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

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Rumors have been swirling around an RTX 5070 12GB VRAM refresh for a few weeks now, but new listings from Lenovo itself confirm the boosted card is heading our way. The upgraded GPU is set to replace the 8GB model inside some of the best gaming laptop contenders on the release slate this year, with models from Asus also seemingly supporting the new card.

That comes from reliable hawk-eye Huang514613, who posted some of the first sightings of this boosted RTX 5070 earlier in the year. Between Amazon listings and Lenovo's own product detailings, the refresh looks pretty guaranteed for 2026.

The refreshed board looks to take advantage of the uptake in 3GB chips, loading up the same buses with a total of 12GB RAM rather than the 8GB they could previously hold. Essentially, the slightly larger chip size (3GB vs 2GB used previously) means greater flexibility in how Nvidia squeezes its memory 'modules' onto the bus.

What will it mean in practice? If you're not currently struggling to run your games on an 8GB card, it's not going to mean too much in real life. The RTX 5070 gaming laptops I've tested average at around 133fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at max settings in QHD+ (the best mobile GPU upgrade for a gaming laptop and Acer Predator Triton 14 AI review). That's a lighter game that's not going to stress the 8GB card too much.

Something like Cyberpunk 2077, however, is set to put that extra VRAM to work in a far more tangible way. Using the same three machines from the above data set (the Triton, as well as the Razer Blade 14 and Asus ROG Strix G16), the RTX 5070 averages 48fps in this more demanding title. That's where the extra headroom up to 12GB will be able to provide a little more support.

This year's roster of new gaming laptops is facing challenges from all angles. SSDs are tough to find at a solid price, and RAM shortages are driving MSRPs even higher up the ladder. 2026's releases don't have too many new GPUs (aside from this refresh) to sing about, Intel's new processors are more of an iterative update, and OLED screens are holding firm in their specs.

Component shortages already seem to have delayed the full release of many of this year's rigs (I'm normally reviewing the first few machines in the new cohort by now), and we're yet to hear too much about launch prices. It's highly likely these gaming laptops will cost a considerable amount more than last year's, while only providing smaller upgrades from a performance perspective.

Yes, the 12GB upgrade is going to help those who are currently struggling to run more demanding games at 60fps but for those taking things a little slower, it's not going to make a material difference. At least, not enough to warrant the price tags we're expecting to see.

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The world of 14-inch gaming laptops is certainly a small one, with only Razer and Asus populating these ultra-portable shelves in recent years. There's one other rookie in the wings, though, and the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI wants a piece of the work-play pie. Going up against some of the best gaming laptops on the market is no easy feat, though.

With a price tag that rivals the very top end of this market, the Predator needs to work hard to justify its position. Unfortunately, with a weaker processor, awkward touchscreen display, and slightly more restrictive supply of components, Sneki wins this Razer Blade 14 vs Acer Predator Triton 14 AI matchup for the majority of gamers. That changes slightly if you're a professional content-creation powerhouse, but overall I'd point most players (and their ~$2,500) in Razer's direction.

Performance

The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI uses a weaker Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor, which keeps it restricted in overall performance. The larger L3 cache on the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 of the Razer Blade 14 is pulling its weight here, giving that RTX 5070 more space to get its engines revved even if Intel's performance cores can move a little faster than AMD (5.1GHz turbo vs. 5GHz).

We're not comparing apples with apples here, though. The Ryzen processor can multithread, running eight threads from its four performance cores - Intel's CPU keeps things like-for-like. The Predator Triton's processor is technically running at a higher clock speed, but Razer's is doing more with its 5GHz.

From my testing, it means a 17.16% performance decrease across PC Mark 10 benchmarks.

That drop makes its way over to more dedicated gaming tests. 3D Mark Steel Nomad represents the most up-to-date run for these systems, testing graphics card performance (and how well the CPU lines up those tasks) across a non ray-traced landscape, rendered internally at 4K.

From my entire testing pool, RTX 5070 gaming laptops typically fall around the 3,200 to 3,300 mark in this test. With their slimmer designs, both the Razer Blade 14 and Acer Predator Triton 14 AI fall below this average, but the Acer is trailing well behind. With a 2593 final score, there's a 17.28% performance disparity here.

Things are similar in-game. Lighter runs like Shadow of the Tomb Raider demonstrate a 19.17% performance decrease when the Acer's running at full QHD+ resolution in max settings. That gap is closed slightly in the more demanding Cyberpunk 2077, with both slimline rigs struggling to keep their heads close to 60fps. Acer's framerates trail by 10.2% in this benchmark.

What does that all mean for you? It means you're going to need to sacrifice more to run more demanding games at 60fps on the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI compared to the Razer Blade 14. That means dropping textures down, killing more advanced lighting effects like ray tracing and ambient occlusion, and possibly scaling back to 1080p in full-throttle titles.

• Winner: Razer Blade 14

Display

Both the Razer Blade 14 and Acer Predator Triton 14 AI use use 120Hz OLED panels with a 14-inch 2880 x 1800 display. Both are slightly over-specced in their resolutions, especially if you tend to only play more demanding titles, while both keep their refresh rates a little more conservative.

There's one key difference here. The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI has a touchscreen. If you're buying a productivity laptop first and a gaming machine second, that could well be a benefit. It's rare to find these kinds of panels on rigs with RTX 5070 grunt.

If you want your machine to primarily function as a gaming laptop I'd steer clear. That's because the touchscreen tech enforces a faintly visible series of pixels across the screen. It doesn't get in the way of gameplay too much, but it's certainly noticeable in brighter shots and everyday web browsing. At least, it would be enough to give me pause when considering dropping more than $2,000 on a gaming laptop.

Otherwise both panels match up nicely. There's perhaps a touch more glare on Acer's model, but nothing that's going to shift the dial too much.

• Winner: Razer Blade 14

Build quality

Acer has certainly been eyeing up the best Razer laptops from the design room. The Predator Triton 14 AI is almost like-for-like in its CNC-milled, matte black construction. The brand's Predator logo occupies the same spot on the main lid, with the same RGB backlighting. Meanwhile, the inside is similarly barren of stamps, iconography, and additional levelling details.

Acer includes a slightly alternative two-tone internal design, with a lighter gray panel around the keyboard and also adds another logo in the bottom right corner. Other than that, these are very similar machines to look at.

Razer has thickness on its side, but not by much. If you're going for ultimate portability, the discrepancy between the 0.68-inch Blade and 0.64-inch Triton might make for a new point of consideration, but the reality is these are both about as skinny as gaming laptops come. They travel well, sit tucked away on a desk, and both weigh around 1.6kg.

Razer uses a super-strong T6-grade block of aluminum for its main chassis and, while Acer's materials aren't specifically listed, it's ever-so-slightly harder to flex. Really the only difference, though, is when I hold the corner of each machine between my thumb and fingers and push up and down. There's more resistance in Razer's deck than Acer's, but it's an almost insignificant disparity.

• Winner: Razer Blade 14

Keyboard

This is where Acer might claw back some points. The keyboard on the Predator Triton 14 AI packs a slightly crisper feel than the Razer Blade 14. Combined with larger keycaps, it's taking the lead slightly for those who regularly type for long periods at a time.

Both decks offer a particularly snappy response reserved for high-end machines, but there's an extra sense of energy in Acer's clackers. By contrast, the Razer Blade 14 can feel a little softer under the fingertips.

• Winner: Acer Predator Triton 14 AI

Extra features

Both machines come with their own software packages, though Razer's is a little more intuitive in its layout and manages to stay less in-your-face than PredatorSense on the Triton. The latter feels a little outdated in its angular, science-fiction design but still gives you access to performance and fan settings as well as key machine metrics.

That Intel processor also means that the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI is able to take advantage of Thunderbolt 4. In short, it's better for high-speed external displays and data transfers, making it a point of note if you're leaning more into the content creation side of this value package.

I also won't be able to live with myself if I don't warn you about that boot up noise. Acer's entry has a particularly booming sound effect running out across its speakers as soon as it powers up. It's not pleasant.

• Winner: Tie

Razer Blade 14 vs Acer Predator Triton 14 AI

The Razer Blade 14 is a higher performing laptop than the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI, with a display better suited to gaming and a slightly improved build quality. It's easily the better buy for the majority of players, providing better bang-for-buck power value and a clearer screen to see it all on. It's still got the portable productivity chops most will need, but spans its work/play hybrid philosophy in a more balanced way.

I would only recommend the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI to those primarily buying a productivity machine, and you'd have to be a power user to make the most of it at that. Thunderbolt 4 is going to serve content creators better than USB4 and that touchscreen panel could well be on your hit list as a must-have.

• Winner: Razer Blade 14

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Acer has unveiled more details around its 2026 gaming laptop lineup, with Arrow Lake refreshes of its Predator Helios Neo 16S AI, Predator Helios Neo 16 AI, and Predator Helios Neo 18 AI slated to hit the shelves in July. That's a little later than we've seen new generation machines in previous years, but it's no secret as to why.

Just like the rest of the industry, even the best gaming laptops are facing uncertainty due to component shortages. RAM and SSDs are being hoovered up by AI manufacturers, squeezing demand and increasing costs for both brands and consumers. That's why it's a little quiet on the gaming laptop front this year.

It's March now, and Acer's announcement is one of the first tangible mentions I've received of new-gen hardware. In any other given year, I'd be snowed under with new releases, but in 2026? Nothing.

It certainly doesn't bode well for our wallets. Even Acer's comms are silent here as well, with no mention of an MSRP for any of its three new rigs. With the Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus models offering up to RTX 5080 GPUs and 240Hz OLED HDR displays, these machines aren't going to be easy on the bank balance.

I'll save you the marketing fluff. Like most of this year's gaming laptops, these are going to be incremental refreshes to the same Acer Predator Helios machines we've been enjoying all year.

That Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus CPU clocks slightly higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX headlining most of last year's gaming laptops (5,500MHz vs 5,400MHz) with the same 14 cores running at a slightly higher rate (5.4GHz vs 5.5GHz on P-Cores and 4.7GHz vs 4.6GHz on E-Cores). Both processors tap out at 160W of power.

All that to say, actual in-game performance upgrades are going to be minimal, but you're going to be paying a hell of a lot more for it.

I benched last year's RTX 5070 Ti Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI, and she's certainly going to hold her own in the years to come. While more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 will need a helping hand to stay over 60fps in full QHD resolution, this slimline machine is batting with RTX 5080 rigs in titles like Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

That's from a machine currently on sale for $1,549.99. I can confidently bet we won't see that kind of pricing on 2026's new releases anytime soon.

Last year's gaming laptops have already made it out of the factory; they're not subject to the same RAM shortages or SSD prices as their predecessors. While discounts like this are still around, it's going to take more than an incremental CPU update to convince me that new-generation rigs are going to be worth their inevitably high price tags.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

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RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptops are about the closest you'll get to 80-Class power at under $2,000, and Best Buy's latest sale has hit a true mid-range hero this week. The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is fairly unassuming on the shelves, but with $350 off the price of an RTX 5070 Ti configuration, it's being shunted into the limelight this week.

This gaming laptop deal comes courtesy of Best Buy's Tech Fest Sale, so the offer only stands until Sunday. What do you get? Only an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, 32GB RAM, and an OLED screen for $1,549.99. Considering that starting $1,899.99 rate, and the fact that most other RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop deals are over $1,700 right now, that's a fantastic saving.

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is perfect for those after a jack of all trades. It doesn't lean into performance as hard as some of the best gaming laptops on the market, but it does offer sturdy framerates, a gorgeous display, and a slick, slimline design for a price I don't see too much of these days.

• See all Tech Fest deals at Best Buy

I had a good time with the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI when I had it on my test bench back in October. Even at MSRP, you're getting better components inside the chassis than you normally would in this price range, and that display - while being a little glossy in practice - offers some fantastic contrast for more immersive gameplay moments.

A slimline design means it's good to go for both work and play, though it's not as compact as something like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (also on sale for $1,899.99 at Best Buy right now). If you're after an everyday laptop that will also run your Steam collection well, though, it's more than up to the job.

It's also one of the few mid-range options to offer the RTX 5070 Ti. You're far more likely to find an RTX 5070 or RTX 5060 GPU under the hood of a machine like this. The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 is going for the same value-packed OLED proposition and taps out much further down the GPU scale, while the more expensive Alienware 16X Aurora opts for a chunkier chassis that still maxes out at the 5070.

So what can you expect from this rig? This spec is pretty much identical to the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX / RTX 5070 Ti version I benchmarked last year.

At full 1600p (this version's native resolution), the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI beat even RTX 5080 machines in lighter games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, while managing to hold its head above 60fps in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered and Total War: Three Kingdoms at max settings. Cyberpunk 2077 is a 1080p affair if you're going for a crisp 60 as standard, though.

We've still got a good leap from RTX 5070 performance here. At QHD, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI offered up a 17.7% increase in Shadow of the Tomb Raider max settings compared to the chunkier Asus ROG Strix G16, with a 27% increase in performance across Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered.

That RTX 5070 G16 is tough to find for a decent price as well. An RTX 5070 model will currently set you back $2,199 at Newegg and $1,929 at Best Buy. Spending $380 less for a boost in performance, even as small as that of Cyberpunk 2077 (3.9%), seems like a no-brainer.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops as well as the best Razer laptops and the best Alienware laptops on the market.

The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI has a snake problem. This is a productivity-gaming laptop designed to bridge the gap between work and play much in the same way as any other 14-inch rig. With a fantastically bright OLED display, super suave aesthetic, slimline portable form factor, and surprisingly rich keyboard, there's plenty going for it. Unfortunately, its price tag pushes it into the big leagues, and it's not quite equipped to take on the competitors it finds there.

That's because this isn't just a gaming laptop. Acer has invested more into the productivity side of things (it's the first time I've been greeted by a stylus when unboxing a gaming laptop) with a touchscreen, pen support, and a far more efficient processor. If you're a pro looking for something that's gaming-ready, this could well be a good match, but things get a little muddy when coming from a pure PC gaming standpoint.

I've been using the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI for two weeks, comparing it against some of the best gaming laptops on the market, and while I've had a blast running it I just can't get the numbers to work.

Performance

The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI is working with slightly different internals than most 14-inch gaming laptops I've tested. The RTX 5070 sitting at the top of this configuration ladder only runs at 110W compared to the 115W version in the Razer Blade 14, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is more focused on efficiency and AI productivity power than it is raw gaming performance.

With all that said, the Triton's performance is a little more understandable. It's a way behind the Blade 14 with the same GPU, and its top RTX 5070 spec obviously can't keep up with the RTX 5080 Asus has managed to squeeze into the G14.

3D Mark's Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad are GPU and CPU intensive tests that stress a system and report a final score based on a combination of each system's performance. The higher the score the better the result. Here, the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI fell behind its main competition across each test.

Fire Strike and Time Spy test different elements of your graphics performance independently, with the former largely focusing on particle effects and geometry and the latter offering a newer benchmark that pulls more complex 3D rendering scenarios into consideration. In the older (read, easier) test, the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI comes in 20% behind the RTX 5070 Razer Blade 14 but more interestingly, that drop off is pretty much matched (a 19.16% decrease) in Time Spy.

Steel Nomad is the most up-to-date benchmark, putting rendering capabilities to the test. It's the best way to rank more modern systems, providing a more realistic image of real-world performance. The Triton is, once again, at the bottom of the pack, scoring 17.28% below the Razer Blade 14's RTX 5070 spec.

All of that means nothing without some actual games, but unfortunately the Triton struggles to keep up in the 1080p arena as well. Easier tests like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Total War: Three Kingdoms offer up some decent numbers - still behind the Blade, but three-figure nonetheless. You'd struggle to find an RTX 5070 machine that doesn't offer up such scores, though.

Cyberpunk 2077 struggles to stay over that 60fps threshold in RT Ultra even with the resolution bumped down. This is strictly a medium settings, 1080p game for the $2,500 laptop.

Overall, the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI drops an average of 14.4% in performance at 1080p, highest settings, compared to the Razer Blade 14, with that sacrifice most keenly felt in more demanding games where the Triton is shunted into sub-60fps territory.

Interestingly, the performance gap is closed in QHD+ tests. The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI manages to keep a tighter pace with the Razer Blade 14 in Cyberpunk 2077 - though it's straying a little further from that 60fps threshold, performance is only down 10.2% compared to Sneki. In fact, the Triton manages to post a slightly higher score in Highest settings on Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered. We're still slightly behind here, but the demanding pressures of that higher resolution seems to affect each machine similarly.

What I liked

A super streamlined design

You're going to struggle to find a chunky 14-inch gaming laptop. After all, these are devices designed to slot into your work life just as much as your gaming setup - they need to be low profile, portable, and slimline. The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI makes this look almost effortless.

It's not quite as thin as the Razer Blade 14 (0.64-inches), sitting at 0.68-inches tall, but there's really not much in it. It's also carrying the same brick-like density, simple matte black chassis, and rounded corners. Without the Predator branding, I'd be hard pressed to say whether I was looking at a Blade or not if it weren't for the different keyboard styles.

That means this is incredibly easy to transport and, should you tone down those LEDs, easy to slot into a more subdued environment. The main back panel holds a lit Predator logo that lets this more professional side down a little, but with that switched off this is a more reserved design than the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and that's a gaming laptop modelled after an ultrabook.

Bright OLED display

Set inside that slimline frame we have a particularly bright, vibrant OLED display. This face looks fantastic, rivalling that of the Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 14. The panel leans into cooler hues particularly well but still manages to retain its warmth when required, with crisp color contrast running throughout. It's not quite as sharp as Razer's more high-end screens, and lighter tones did draw some dot marks in regular browsing, but this is certainly a step above the more budget-focused options found on the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10.

Resolution runs just above the QHD+ 1600p I'm usually testing, extending into so-called "3K" territory at 2880 x 1800, though that bump in pixels means a reduction in speed. This panel only runs at 120Hz, whereas you'll find 240Hz options with QHD+ resolutions that will suit more competitive players better overall.

Fantastic controls

The Acer Predator Triton has been designed as a hybrid machine, there's a stylus in the box for crying out loud. That means there's a little more attention to the keyboard here. It's not quite up to the scissor switches of the Razer Blade 16, but there's definitely more snap and pop to these clackers than you'll find in similarly thin models.

That sense of energy makes for a fantastic typing experience, I was working all day from this device without a sense of fatigue or mush. It's also crisp in gameplay, where the shorter stops of a chiclet style keyboard often fall into the trap of feeling spongy under repeat presses.

The trackpad is similarly slick, with a smooth surface presenting absolutely no drag under the fingertips. Light tap inputs are picked up fast and heavier force clicks feel crisp and light as well. It's a large pad as well, matching the Blade 14's generous width. My only gripe here is the lack of definition to the lower lip. With no way to tell I was at the bottom of the track pad I often found myself falling off the edge, wondering why my inputs had been dropped.

What to consider

Performance is only so-so

This isn't a value-minded RTX 5070 that can get away with some framerate drops due to its lower price tag and weaker cooling. This is about as premium as it gets for the mid-range card, and it's not keeping up with similar systems. The Blade 14 wins out on nearly every benchmark, and Asus has managed to run a similarly compact form factor while extending its configuration range to an RTX 5080 for even better performance.

Not every gaming laptop can sit at the top of the pack, and 50fps - 60fps in the most demanding games at their highest resolutions and settings is expected from this graphics card. When comparing benchmark data across a whole bunch of RTX 50-Series machines to find the optimal mobile GPU upgrade, I found that an RTX 5070 machine will average out at 51fps in Cyberpunk 2077, 146fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and 61fps in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered. The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI falls well below those averages, and many are taken from far cheaper machines.

That slimmer design is playing its part. As gaming laptops squeeze their waistlines so too do they drop framerates. It's just a part of running components in more cramped conditions. Unfortunately for the Triton, though, the Blade 14 has a slightly slimmer shell and still posts higher numbers.

Which also means the display feels unbalanced

That higher resolution display is a little wasted here. I was struggling to maintain a steady 60fps even at a 1600p resolution, regularly bumping things down to 1080p during everyday play to maintain a steady stream of pixels. Adding extra headroom to this panel feels, at best, unnecessary and at worst counter-productive.

Dropping down to 1080p means faster framerates, but we're still met with that 120Hz cap. That's not going to make too much of a difference in more demanding games but competitive players driving those settings all the way down are going to be limited.

I jump every time I turn it on

It feels silly to be committing these thoughts to words at the end of a review, but it's testament to just how annoying the boot up sound is that I'm dedicating real time and page space to this gripe. Every time I turn on the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI, I'm met with the most obnoxious, loud, whooshing sound effect. It's ridiculous, and it's not even a pleasant wake up song. It just reminds me of a series of angry PC noises, kind of like a fan gasping through dust for its final breath, before a speaker-crackling jingle rings out across the room. Thanks, I hate it.

Should you buy the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI?

The only listing I've found that matches the spec I've been testing sits at Newegg, and it's an inflated $3,199.99 price tag. I know that's inflated because a configuration with double the storage sits at $2,599.99. Safe to say you're going to be spending Razer Blade prices to nab yourself this slimline rig. That's a serious problem if you're just investing in a gaming device.

Every tick box you'd need to check in order to end up with this machine in your cart has already been scribbled by Razer. It's a very similar slimline chassis with a subtle design, high-end OLED display, slick keyboard and trackpad and an uber portable form factor. Razer just posts better performance with it, it's as simple as that.

Things get a little muddier if you're a professional. After all, just as much as the Triton is a gaming laptop, it's also designed as a high-performance productivity machine. That's where the added benefits of that touchscreen display, stylus support, and boosted speakers come into play - and the more efficient processor is going to be a lot easier on your battery compared to the Blade 14. In this scenario, yes the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI edges out ahead of the Blade.

Should the Triton see significant discounts in the future, potentially to a $1,500-ish position that starts to threaten cheaper Lenovo Legion 5 offerings things might be different. At MSRP, however, this is a tough sell to the PC gaming crowd with both Razer and Asus in the limelight.

How I tested the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI

I spent the last two weeks running the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI as my main laptop for all work and play. That time was split between using the machine in a monitor setup via the Razer USB-4 dock and using the device straight on the desk. While I have used benchmarks obtained in previous reviews in my performance comparisons, I also tested the Triton directly against the Razer Blade 14 for a few play sessions as well.

In-game benchmarks were carried out across 1080p and 1600p resolutions, with Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered benchmark tools running at both high and highest settings three times each. Final scores were calculated from an average across all three runs.

Synthetic benchmarks were carried out in 3D Mark Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad. Again, these tests were run three times each, taking an average result at the end. All benchmarking was completed in the system's Turbo performance mode.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, take a look at the GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I'm also finding the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops for a deeper look at the competition. Or check out the best Alienware laptops for something a little chunkier.

CES was awash with the latest and greatest announcements this year, including sneak peaks at what could be some of the best gaming laptops of 2026. We weren't, however, treated to a glimpse at those final prices and if RAM shortages continue it looks like that might have been a mercy.

We're not exactly starting off from the best foundation either. The RTX 40-Series was more expensive than the generation before it, but I was regularly finding discounts on RTX 4080 machines for less than $2,000 and RTX 4060s were often in three-figures. You'd be lucky to find an RTX 5060 at the $1,000 mark in 2026, and high-end GPUs are far more stubborn this time around. What we certainly don't need is a global component shortage.

Why is the RAM-pocalypse upon us? Because manufacturers are a little tied up elsewhere right now. Essentially (but you can read far more in Duncan's guide to the current RAM shortages), AI data centers are getting their orders in and they've got a massive appetite. To keep iterating on their AI power, brands like Nvidia, AMD, and Google are looking to dial in to HBM4, a non-consumer memory standard due to arrive this year.

The problem is manufacturers only have enough factory space. They're dropping their consumer DRAM divisions in order to hit these more lucrative orders, making your Grandma's DDR5 stick harder to get and therefore far more expensive.

Here's the bottom line. Back in January, TrendForce forecasted a 70% uptick in DRAM prices over the course of 2026, which will ultimately impact the prices of everything from SSDs to graphics cards. These increases will directly impact end-user pricing, particularly at the entry-level.

Here's what you need to know if you're upgrading this year.

The mid-range is going to be more important than ever

Your middle-of-the-pack RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 systems? They're going to be more important than ever in 2026.

These are the kinds of gaming laptops that usually sit in the 'best value' category in my recommendation roster, machines that prioritize component value over fancy extras like OLED displays, slimline chassis', and high-end keyboards. They also tend to stick to 16GB sticks of RAM, looking to support slightly weaker internals with additional chassis space and better cooling to really squeeze as much as they can out of the guts they've got.

This is likely where the best value will remain when new gaming laptops launch over the next few months. Rigs like the Lenovo Legion 5, MSI Katana, and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are going to go straight under the microscope, especially with entry-level system prices rising up to meet them.

Crucially, these are the rigs and configurations that usually stick to 16GB sticks. Moving further up the GPU scale, the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 need 32GB RAM to be worthwhile, and that's going to hit your wallet even more than usual.

You'll need to upgrade for the right reasons

That means it might not be the best time to upgrade based on display quality, battery life, or portability. If you need more power to run the latest games you're going into battle in 2026, but if you've got enough juice to see you through the current generation I'd stick with it for now.

As those component prices rise, gaming laptops with high-end displays and other fancy features are going to need to add even more onto your final bill. If you've already got a suite of working internals, now's not the time for luxury quality-of-life upgrades.

Prices are going to be determined by supply chain strength more than ever

Some gaming laptop brands have better supply chain rates than others, which is why you'll find the exact same components in wildly different price tags between brands. That's not necessarily going to change too much in 2026 (everyone's paying more, after all), but some brands are going to be able to deal with it better than others.

Without a roster of 2026 gaming laptop prices available, it's impossible to say who's leading at the moment. Brands may, however, be shifting suppliers more often, opting for lower-capacity components, and experience more stock fluctuations. Grabbing a good price when it's available might be more crucial in 2026.

We won't see all the effects quite yet

There's some good news for prospective gaming laptop hunters, though. We won't see the full force of these RAM shortages for a few more months. Last year's roster is still alive and well on the shelves, having already been manufactured when prices were down they're not expected to see the same kinds of upticks.

With no new GPUs on the cards for 2026, and only a few iterative CPU upgrades, it doesn't look like there's going to be too much separating these generations out - at least from where we're standing today. So here's my biggest piece of advice:

If you see a 2025 release that ticks all the right boxes at a price you can afford, don't be afraid to dive in. New releases can dazzle with their shiny materials, boosted displays, and slight processing boosts, but the luxury of having a brand new device is going to cost you a hell of a lot more than it might be worth in 2026.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops on the market. For something a little more slimline, check out the best Razer laptops available.

I've been pitting the best gaming laptops against each other to find the best value mobile GPU this week, and the RTX 5070 had something to say. When taking actual retail prices into account the extra cost when moving up a GPU class from the RTX 5060 are vastly outweighed by performance gains. Considering RTX 5080 rigs seldom drop below $2,000 that means, when the deals hit, the RTX 5070 is the best value spec to aim for. Thankfully, Newegg has just proved my point.

The Acer Nitro V16 has dropped from an already-modest $1,399.99 MSRP down to $1,249.99 this week, for a full $150 saving (and a free copy of Resident Evil Requiem). I rarely see RTX 5070 machines at less than $1,400 - in fact, this is one of the few rigs that naturally sits under that threshold at its starting price. The average 'as sold today' price of an RTX 5070 machine sits at about $2,239.01 (March, 2026), saving you about a grand compared to the competition.

I completed my Acer Nitro V 16 review a couple of weeks ago, pitting it against the MSI Katana B14W for a spot in the 'best budget gaming laptop' category. It's a slightly slimmer, more streamlined chassis than the Katana and its performance dropped away from more expensive machines (when comparing an RTX 5060 spec across similar options). That meant it didn't quite pip MSI to the top spot.

Here's where it does win out, though.

The Nitro is a more geared towards hybrid work and play. It's a more understated design that does a better job of looking like a slick slimline device. It doesn't have that 'gamer' aesthetic that the Katana still tip-toes around, and with an RTX 5070 under the hood you'll be getting better framerates than I did in my RTX 5060 testing.

It's not a powerhouse, but it never claimed to be. While MSI has it beaten in raw numbers, anyone looking for 60fps in more demanding games will be set here (I was nearly pushing that threshold a whole rung down the GPU ladder).

It's also a lot cheaper than the Katana right now. The most comparable spec I've found currently has a $1,549 sales price at Best Buy - $300 more than the Nitro today.

The MSI Katana I tested stripped things back compared to this configuration, with a FHD+ display and an RTX 5060 GPU. Today's model bumps up your graphics and swaps out the lower resolution panel for a QHD experience. That means I don't have benchmarks for the particular display type, but taking a look at my performance gives us a good indication of where your RTX 5070 might be taking you.

• See more gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

If you're after something a little more powerful, check out the best Razer laptops and the best Alienware laptops. Or, for more slimline designs take a look at the best Asus gaming laptops available.

The best gaming laptops share five GPUs at the moment, ranging from the entry level RTX 5050 all the way up to the flagship RTX 5090. Sure, that top card will spit out the highest framerates, but that doesn't mean it's the best mobile GPU for most rigs. After all, there's that all-important price factor to consider.

I've had gaming laptops from HP, Asus, Acer, Alienware, Lenovo, Razer and more under the microscope over the last year, building a whole database of framerates, 3D Mark scores, and MSRPs. I'm putting that spreadsheet to work here, working out which mobile GPU is actually best for your gaming laptop.

More specifically, I'm interested in performance jumps compared to price increases. Not all of these mobile GPUs scale according to their costs, so I set out to crunch the numbers on which components will give you the biggest bang for your upgrade buck.

TL;DR: The RTX 5080 offers the best upgrade value while the RTX 5070 can offer a compelling alternative

The RTX 5080 comes out on top in this rundown, after all it's the best graphics card for most PCs as well. It offers the largest performance increases compared to the GPU class below it (the RTX 5070) with the smallest jump in price when upgrading. That's at MSRP, anyway. When you consider today's actual rates, the value of the RTX 5070 is a little easier to see.

My favorite RTX 5080 gaming laptops

• Jump to all featured gaming laptops

How I've been testing gaming laptops

I've been benchmarking gaming laptops while living, working, and playing with each one for a minimum of two weeks apiece. This particular comparison takes three machines from each GPU class, incorporating cheaper options, larger 18-inch models, and slimline devices where available. It's not a comprehensive view of the entire market, but it's a slice of action that seeks to provide a balanced testing pool with a representative range of different sizes, shapes, and price points.

In each laptop's initial test period, they were benchmarked across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered as well as 3D Mark's Time Spy, Fire Strike and Steel Nomad GPU tests. Each rig was tested in its highest power setting, with three runs of each benchmark giving a final average result. Tests are completed in both 1080p and 1600p for review, at both high and each game's highest graphical setting.

Read more: How we test gaming laptops

Performance

Synthetic Performance

It shouldn't be revolutionary to expect an RTX 5090 gaming laptop to top the pack in performance. These numbers are easily handed to the top-class GPU in the MSI Raider A18 HX A9W, with the RTX 5080 MSI Vector creeping in on easier tests thanks to its larger chassis.

But we're not concerned with who performs best, we're concerned with who gives us the biggest leap in performance.

To find that out a little easier, I crunched those scores down to averages for the GPU classes in my testing pool.

The RTX 5090 is ahead of the RTX 5080 here, with larger gap down to the RTX 5070 and a much smaller drop to the RTX 5060. In cold, hard numbers, synthetic tests show a 16.12% difference between the RTX 5060 and RTX 5070, a 33.07% performance boost from the RTX 5070 to the RTX 5080, and a 15.16% increase moving up from there to the RTX 5090.

Interestingly, this jump is at its most stark on the newer Steel Nomad benchmark. This harder run saw a 47.64% increase in performance across RTX 5080 gaming laptops (compared to RTX 5070), with the jump to the RTX 5090 also offering a slightly higher boost at 23.47%.

The RTX 5080 represents the biggest jump in performance compared to the RTX 5070 class, including an RTX 5070 Ti in the testing pool.

In-Game Performance (QHD+, highest settings)

Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider offer a good spread of difficulty for these gaming laptops. At the top end of the spectrum, Cyberpunk represents the biggest challenge, with Lara Croft offering an easier run and Horizon sitting in the middle.

At full QHD+ resolution, with each game set to its highest graphical setting, we see similar results to the synthetic benchmarks.

Cyberpunk 2077 requires an RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 to stay above 60fps, but can still drop below that threshold with a slimmer chassis like that of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. Chunkier RTX 5070 devices like the Asus ROG Strix G16 will still be able to keep their heads above that threshold in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered. Everyone is nicely comfortable in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, with RTX 5090 and larger RTX 5080 devices pushing past 200fps.

In terms of value, though, we need to know how much you actually gain by upgrading to an RTX 5070, RTX 5080, or RTX 5090 from the GPU class below them. That's where our old friend the average comes back into play.

On average, across all tests, framerates increase by around 14.79% when moving from an RTX 5080 to RTX 5090, with the smaller jump taking place in Horizon at 9%, and the largest benefits felt in Cyberpunk thanks to a 29.41% increase.

Moving from the RTX 5070 to the RTX 5080, however, still offers the largest gap. Framerates increase by an average of around 40.54% here, with performance jumping 62.29% in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered.

An upgrade from an RTX 5060 to RTX 5070 GPU only nets around 16.5% performance increase across in-game tests.

Price

Price - MSRP

Of course, all that means nothing without considering price, and that's where things get a little more interesting. At first glance, those numbers sit inline with performance. You're spending around $1,500 for an RTX 5060 machine, $2,000 - $2,700 for an RTX 5070, $3,000 - $3,300 for an RTX 5080 and $4,500+ for an RTX 5090. There are outliers - that Razer Blade 16 or Razer Blade 14 is going to cost a lot more than the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10.

Taking the MSRP of each gaming laptop in my testing pool, the RTX 5070 actually represents the largest difference in cost compared to the class below it.

On average, and at full price, you're spending 66.29% more on an RTX 5070 gaming laptop than you would an RTX 5060. That's followed just behind by the move from an RTX 5080 to RTX 5090, with its own 54.27% increase. The cheapest upgrade? Going from an RTX 5070 to an RTX 5080. You're only spending 27.97% more on this GPU class.

After years of chasing down cheap gaming laptop deals, that wasn't what I was expecting to see. RTX 5070 gaming laptops make up a good chunk of the daily discounts I see week to week, so there has to be more to this story.

Price - As sold today

Anecdotally, I see a lot of discounts on these cheaper GPU classes. RTX 5070 machines form the bedrock of major retailer sales, blending their value a lot more and knocking up against problematic RTX 5060 prices in terms of value.

Best Buy and Newegg are my go-to retailers for these discounts, and taking the first 20 listed gaming laptops for each GPU class reveals a slightly different set of numbers.

Put simply, RTX 5070 gaming laptops drop their MSRPs further day to day, while RTX 5060 machines are typically a little more expensive than the models in my testing pool.

Taking averages across both retailers, the jump from an RTX 5060 to RTX 5070 is now the smallest, at 36.03%, while moving up to an RTX 5080 will generally cost you around 48.03% more than its RTX 5070 underling. Opting for an RTX 5090 instead of an RTX 5080 will run up the price by an average of 43.03%.

Balancing the numbers

We're looking for the highest performance increase with the lowest price increase here, and taking only MSRPs into account that's exactly what you get from the RTX 5080. It offers the largest gains over the GPU class below it (the RTX 5070 in this case) while running up the smallest upgrade cost overall.

There's still room for that RTX 5070, though.

Taking current prices at the time of writing, the RTX 5070 actually offers the lowest price increase over the class below (our base RTX 5060). You don't get as much of an upgrade as you'd experience with the jump to an RTX 5080, and the performance improvements don't quite keep pace with the jump in price, though.

Featured gaming laptops

If you're more interested in sticking with a particular brand, I'm also finding all the best Asus gaming laptops and best Razer laptops on the market. Or, check out the best Alienware laptops.

Listen, I appreciate the Razer Blades as some of the best gaming laptops on the market right now, but battery is never a strong point. Now the brand wants you to use that precious juice to power its new wireless charging laptop sleeve, running two wireless charging spots from a USB-C connection to your rig.

The charmingly-named Razer Laptop Sleeve 16 with Wireless Charging for Devices comes in at a whopping $129.99, though if you don't need to keep your devices topped up there's also a charging-free version due to land later at $79.99. The main model supports wireless fast charging at up to 15W on one slot and 5W on another, with both Qi and MagSafe supported from the same pads.

What makes a laptop sleeve so special it costs $130 (other than the wireless charging, of course)?

In classic Sneki fashion, this is a matte black case with green stitching running down the side, a padded microfiber interior, and bumpered edges for extra protection. There's no easy way to say it, this is an incredibly expensive laptop sleeve. And its main feature still raises an eyebrow.

If you're using a Macbook or more battery-robust productivity laptop, that wireless charging feature is actually pretty solid. Simply throw the supplied USB-C cable into the side of your laptop and top up charges on two separate devices, neat. But you know Razer doesn't want you using this laptop sleeve with just any old machine, it's been primarily designed for the Razer Blade 16.

That's one of the best Razer laptops out there, but battery life isn't exactly its crowning achievement, giving up some of that juice to top up my phone is going to be a difficult decision if I'm out and about.

We're talking about relatively low battery drain for the sake of a 15W / 5W wireless charging pad here, but I've been working out of coffee shops and different offices for years now.

I know the stress of a low battery indicator without a plug point in sight. For those spending a few hours tapping away in lighter productivity tasks, this could well be an interesting investment, after all. That's no more cables in your bag, no more portable chargers to remember. Ultimately, though, spending $130 on a laptop sleeve is going to be tricky.

• See all Razer gadgets at Amazon

If you're after a slightly different flavor, check out the best Alienware laptops and the best Asus gaming laptops. Or cut that bag bulk even further with the best gaming handhelds.

The best gaming laptops on the market have welcomed a newcomer to their ranks. After weeks of testing the MSI Katana (specifically the RTX 5060 15 HX B14W model), and running benchmarks against the Asus TUF A15 and Acer Nitro V 16 AI this budget-minded giant has reclaimed its throne in February. That's no mean feat - this is a category Asus has been clinging onto for at least two years now.

Why? The MSI Katana has two key benefits that push it to the top of my recommendation list whenever anyone needs a budget gaming laptop. It's configurable with a QHD+ display, and its in-game benchmarks can see it beating rigs with slightly higher price tags. Considering display is often one of the first sacrifices one makes when hunting down cheap gaming laptops, the MSI Katana has plenty going for it right now.

There's just one problem. The RTX 5060 configuration I've been testing is currently inexplicably more expensive than the RTX 5070 options readily available. An RTX 5050 GPU will get you closer to $1,000 in this week's gaming laptop deals, but I'd recommend skipping the middle child right now.

That QHD display is pretty rare. The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 is the only other gaming laptop I've tested in this price point to match it (and it does up the ante with an OLED panel), but at a slightly higher MSRP, it's already sitting pretty in the 'best value' slot on our guide.

Otherwise, you're looking at FHD panels from the likes of the Lenovo LOQ, with 1200p picture from the Acer Nitro V 16 AI.

Then we get to the nitty gritty. The configuration I tested (Intel Core i7-14650HX / RTX 5060 / 16GB RAM) made short work of in-game QHD benchmarks, often scoring higher framerates than the Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 10 and even the Alienware 16X Aurora in this RTX 5060 testing pool. Dropping that resolution down put the Katana more inline with the rest of the pack, and it just managed to keep up with more premium rigs in 3D Mark tests as well.

It's those two pillars that have catapulted the MSI Katana into the second position on my top list this month, but a QHD display and excellent performance aren't the only features that impressed me in testing.

To keep that cost low while gaming laptop prices only ever seem to rise, MSI has opted for an all-plastic chassis - but this isn't like the shells of yore. Everything feels incredibly dense and well supported, even sporting a 180-degree hinge that won't make too much of a difference in gaming but gives you a little extra versatility compared to the competition.

This is still a Katana, so expect a chunkier, boxier feel than ultrabook-like luxury rigs. It's still only one inch thick, though, significantly thinner than the budget gaming laptops of yore.

Even the keyboard surprised me in testing. While I'm used to soft, mushy decks from the cheapest gaming laptops on the market, this is light, springy, and impressively tactile.

The rest of the best cheap gaming laptops

Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10

If the MSI Katana doesn't quite tick all the right boxes for you, the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 would be my very next recommendation. This OLED-toting speedster is currently down as the best value gaming laptop I've tested overall and only comes in a little more expensive than the Katana day to day. That's with an improved panel type, a more slimline feel, and still excellent RTX 5060 performance.

It's got a little less room to breathe compared to the chunkier chassis of the Katana, which means performance isn't quite up to the same par. You're still closing in on 60fps in Cyberpunk 2077 RT Medium at full QHD+ resolution, though - and that can easily be notched up with some tweaks here and there. This is a machine for those after a budget gaming laptop that doesn't sacrifice on more premium display features.

Acer Nitro V16 AI

The Acer Nitro V16 AI is a far more recent release with either an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070 GPU and AMD's range of AI processors at the helm. This is a 1200p display that drags behind MSI's in resolution and overall punch, but still does a solid job across the board. It's still an impressively sturdy all-plastic chassis that feels just a little more solid than the Katana, though. That's true everywhere except the main hinge which presented with some significant wobble and flex during my testing.

Unfortunately, the RTX 5060 / 32GB RAM configuration I tested couldn't keep pace with its competitors when the benchmark tests rolled out. While some lighter in-game tests recorded scores slightly higher than the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10, this rig was largely at the bottom of my RTX 5060 pack, just teetering under the 60fps position in more demanding runs. This is a budget gaming laptop I'd only recommend to those who prioritize a more compact shape over raw performance.

HP Victus

The HP Victus is still available with an RTX 40-Series graphics card, which one would assume would make it dirt cheap by now. Who knows, maybe by 2026's standards this $850-odd gaming laptop is sturdy value but if you can move closer to that $1,000 bracket the performance increases are easily tangible.

I reviewed the RTX 4050 HP Victus 16 and it's clear to see this is a line that prioritizes component performance over other luxuries like display brightness and keyboard snap. My benchmarks do trail behind the kinds of numbers we're seeing from RTX 5060 rigs these days, but if you're looking for 1080p gameplay across lighter games this is still a 60fps+ machine.

It looks and feels like a cheaper gaming laptop than the MSI Katana, doesn't offer the same kind of visual punch, and won't grant you those RTX 50-Series benchmark numbers (or the DLSS 5 to improve upon them).

Asus TUF A16

The Asus TUF A15 that I reviewed has now been replaced with a larger-screened version and the Asus TUF A16 still holds its own in the budget gaming laptop arena. I've always been a fan of the TUF chassis design (RIP my Asus TUF Dash F15), these machines typically use higher quality build materials than the likes of MSI and Acer. Still, you're more likely to find older RTX 40-Series configurations of these bad boys when considering a budget buy.

For less than $1,000 you're getting 1080p performance that can stick impressively close to 100fps in lighter games, even holding that position across Returnal and Hitman 3 in my testing. That's not easy to do, so while the MSI Katana will be better equipped to handle today's blockbusters those looking to catch up or kick back with some strategy or simulation titles will be well served here.

How much should you spend on a budget gaming laptop?

Cheap gaming laptops aren't what they used to be. I'll get that out of the way right up front. I remember buying an RTX 3060 Asus TUF rig for about $800 back when the RTX 30-Series was the current generation, that certainly wouldn't happen today.

Right now you can expect to pay between $700 and $1,000 for a previous generation RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 gaming laptop, with newer RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 rigs taking you from $1,000 to $1,300 when at their cheapest. Budget friendly RTX 5070 rigs do exist, but you'll be moving closer to $1,300 - $1,500 for this mid-range GPU.

Ultimately, your budget will be set by how much you can invest in a current-generation GPU or whether you're happy with an older model. The RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 can still get away with some solid framerates if you're more into lighter games. Catching up on the last five years of releases is certainly doable on these rigs, but their overall value doesn't quite hold up to the cheapest RTX 50-Series gaming laptops.

If you want to keep yourself future-proofed for the next few years of releases, I'd recommend spending between $1,000 and $1,400 on an RTX 5060 or particularly cheap RTX 5070 machine.

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops as well as the best Alienware laptops and the best Razer laptops of the current generation.

Is there ever a bad time to buy a gaming laptop? Well it depends. If the brand you're after is about to launch a new model that solves the biggest issue with its incredibly expensive predecessor? Yes, there certainly is.

Alienware has traditionally pumped out some of the best gaming laptops based on sheer performance value. These are chunky rigs designed to keep themselves cooler and smoother than the competition, but there's been a problem ever since I got my hands on my first Alienware rig. Their displays simply can't keep up with the rest of the pack.

Nowhere was that more apparent than last year. When Lenovo was releasing an OLED machine in the low $1,000s and the best Razer laptops were ruling the roost when it comes to high-contrast displays, Alienware stayed put with a dim IPS panel. 2025 was the year of the OLED, with even cheaper gaming laptops making the switch to a high-end display type. And yet the best Alienware laptops were asking for far more cash with a lesser screen.

That didn't hurt too much if you were in the market for a desk-based system, connected to an external monitor. For the ~$3,000 you'd be paying for an Alienware 16 Area-51, you'd be getting some seriously impressive performance in a slick chassis, no less. Still, it's difficult not to feel short-changed with such a glaring sacrifice.

That's the Alienware laptop you'll be buying today if you jump in now. Wait a few months, though, and Dell should have finally fixed its biggest issue.

Announced at CES 2026, the brand has new configurations of the Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 16X Aurora coming our way in 2026. They're set to feature the same performance benefits as the current generation models, but with an anti-glare OLED panel that should keep pace with the competition a lot easier. They're currently slated to launch in the first quarter of the year, so could potentially be just around the corner (barring any RAM shortage shenanigans).

It's such a big deal, in fact, that Alienware is probably the only brand I'd recommend waiting on at the moment. We're in between GPU refreshes this year, and components like memory and storage are only getting more expensive. Sure, this year's roster will feature newer Intel CPUs - but the performance increase isn't going to be on the same level we saw in 2025.

Instead, I'd argue that last year's gaming laptops (on the whole) could represent better value for money than this year's current slate of releases. Not only do we not know how much of an impact component shortages will have on new releases, but with incremental performance updates and falling prices on older models the dial generally tends to turn towards older models in these in-between years.

What does that mean for you? If it's just an OLED gaming laptop you're after - I'd stick to alternatives like the Lenovo Legion 5, Razer Blade 16, or HP Omen Max 16. If it's an Alienware you want, I'd definitely hold the line until new releases make their way to the shelves.

• See all gaming laptops at Best Buy

Check out the best Asus gaming laptops for a wider range of portable and chunky rigs, or take a look at the best gaming handhelds and best gaming PCs for more form factors.

OLED gaming laptops were once reserved for those with exponential budgets in their back pockets, but something changed last year. Machines available for as little as $1,299 started proudly sporting these high-contrast displays, running affordable mid-range or even entry level components while still offering panels only the best gaming laptops could have dreamed of a few years ago. These days, it's easy to find an OLED gaming laptop for well under $1,500, but two options stand taller than the rest right now.

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI are both available for between $1,100 and $1,500 with an RTX 5060 graphics card, offering some of the best bang-for-buck value on the market, especially if you can't part with that premium display.

The OLED gaming laptops to watch in 2026

Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10

I can't tell you how many times I've spotted the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 slimming down its price point and rushed to get a story out. Even at full price, this machine represents exceptional value for anyone after a high-contrast display. Where does it fall short? Well, its panel throws up considerably more glare than the two more expensive options on this list. If you're used to playing in a daylit room, you may well struggle with darker scenes. It certainly comes to life when the sun goes down, though.

Configurable up to an RTX 5070, I tested an RTX 5060 version and came away impressed with its FHD performance in both lighter and more demanding games. Yes, you'll need to employ a few DLSS tricks or dial some sliders back for full 60fps in heavier titles, but that's the norm for a GPU of this class.

This is the best value gaming laptop I've tested so far for a reason, and it's currently the cheapest machine I recommend with an OLED display.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI

In the middle we have the Acer Predator Helios Neo. This is a slightly more expensive model, but it compliments that higher price tag with an RTX 5070 Ti configuration option, a far less glossy display, and a slick design. I tested that top-end version, so my benchmarks will run a little high compared to the RTX 5060 configuration we're talking about today. Still, there are some translatable findings.

The Helios I tested managed to keep pace with far more expensive rigs, giving the admittedly slimmer Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 and its RTX 5080 GPU something to think about, while beating the chunkier Asus ROG Strix G16.

The crown jewel is that OLED panel, though. These machines start at around $1,600 at full price, $400-odd more than the Lenovo Legion 5 above. Both rigs offer excellent contrast and colors, but the Predator fares better in higher lighting conditions as well.

Do you need an OLED gaming laptop?

These two OLED gaming laptops are certainly cheaper than the rest of the market, but it's still only worth grabbing a high-contrast display if you know you'll make use of it. That's why you don't typically see too many 18-inch devices running these kinds of displays.

If you're buying a gaming laptop only to hook it up to an external display, there's no reason to invest so much in the panel. In that case I'd prioritize port speed, Thunderbolt 5, and a chunkier chassis for better performance. Dropping back down to an IPS display could well leave space in your budget to climb up a GPU class, offering far better returns when connected to one of the best gaming monitors.

Having spent the last year getting my hands on all the latest OLED gaming laptops, though, I'd generally recommend most players shoot for a high-contrast display. The difference in color handling and overall clarity is undeniable - just one look at the best Alienware laptops (a brand that hasn't quite jumped on the OLED bandwagon just yet) shows how much you can spend on an inferior screen.

I upgraded to an OLED Razer Blade 14 last year and haven't looked back.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops. Or, for something more portable check out the best gaming handhelds on the market. If you need the full tower power, take a look at the best gaming PCs we've been testing.

Anyone who has ever shopped around for a budget gaming laptop will recognize the Acer Nitro V 16 AI. This new generation of cheaper rigs is doing things a little differently, though. Gone are the harsh angular lines, chunky chassis' and internal design stamps, this is a slimline machine ready to take on bigger games with a subtle confidence.

In a market where some of the best gaming laptops will cost you well over $4,000, cheaper rigs are feeling the squeeze. The RTX 50-Series is an expensive generation, but the Nitro still manages to outpace sub-$1,000 models with its FHD+ display and low profile design. Value isn't always on its side, especially in its picture, but if you want a budget-friendly alternative to work / play hybrid luxury rigs it's well worth considering.

Configurations

This is a lower mid-range build that so wants to drop into the entry-level with a few discounts under its belt. In the US, you're most likely to find a $1,299.99 price tag associated, while the UK has a few more options spanning £1,199.99 to £1,499.99.

That means most configurations are centred around an RTX 5060 GPU with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. That's to be expected from this kind of rig, though the MSI Katana drops back to the RTX 5050 for even cheaper options as well. Both rigs can push up to an RTX 5070, though there are fewer of these on the shelves at the moment.

I'm testing a configuration that I'm yet to stumble across in the wild. That AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 CPU is tricky to find in off-the-shelf models, you're more likely to see an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at the top end of the market in the UK and the US's selection seems to be capped at the AMD Ryzen 7 350. If you can find one of these newer AI CPUs, it's well worth the upgrade over the red team's weaker processor options.

The rig I've had on the desk also sports 32GB RAM, another spec I haven't seen in the wild in the US. The UK has a couple of these models around, but you're looking at 16GB Stateside.

Design

With a sophisticated shiny black design, understated branding elements, and a slimline profile, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI is a far cry from its ancestors' loud, gaudy designs. Players no longer have to sacrifice slick aesthetics to keep that price low, though there are still some telltale signs that this is a cheaper rig.

An indented 'N' logo on the lower right corner of the main palm rest cheapens the look a little, despite blending into the main color of the deck itself. Similarly, a small hatched print underneath the arrow keys means the internal design is still slightly clinging onto the trends of yore.

Still, this is an understated design compared to the rest of the market.

It's an all-plastic build, but it's still extremely sturdy. The main area is a particularly solid brick, revealing absolutely no flexing in the palm rest area and zero creaks when lifted from the corner. It's a more steadfast build quality compared to the MSI Katana and feels sleeker than the Asus TUF A15.

The display panel is held by two smaller hinge joints on each edge of the laptop, providing it with a little less stability compared to previous generations. Opting for a gaming laptop that uses a hinge stretching across the full width of the deck is always going to give you the least wobble and the best chance at longevity.

Here, there's significant shaking of the display whenever it's manoeuvred. The top lid itself also displays a high level of flex when manipulated, a common feature among cheaper gaming laptops but one some rigs have managed to overcome. It's a necessary sacrifice to slim that waistline down, though, and if you're after a work / play device that weighs in significantly cheaper than the likes of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 your bank balance will certainly thank you.

Display

Looking at the rest of the $1,300-ish gaming laptop market, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI's display certainly stands above cheaper options, but moving just a little further up the price scale poses two problems. First there's the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 with its OLED display packed into its own comparative price tag. Then we have the MSI Katana with its jump up to QHD resolution in the same IPS package. While the Nitro's FHD+ resolution is still outpacing super budget options like the Lenovo LOQ (that stick to a 1080p panel) the best value still sits with these two competitors.

In isolation, though, this is as strong an IPS screen as I've seen. Even the best Alienware laptops have struggled with their screens in the last few years, offering dulled IPS panels with low brightness. At a fraction of the price, the Acer Nitro is out in front of older Alienware 16X Aurora models.

The picture itself is smart, crisp, and offers an excellent vibrancy for an IPS panel, with an anti-glare coating that keeps it in play in brighter environments. That's a benefit over the Legion's OLED screen, which struggles with reflections even on a gray day, but if you're going for high-contrast immersion with the lights off there are still other options out there.

Ports

Connections are split across both sides of the main deck area, with two USB-As and a 3.5mm audio out on the right flank, and a third USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, and USB-C connection on the left. That's a solid selection of ports, with space for all your usual gadgets and then some.

Keeping two USB-As on the right side does pose issues if you have larger receivers or wired accessories that could get in the way of the mouse hand, though. Many gaming laptops opt for rear-mounted ports to solve this problem, though admittedly this is rare in cheaper, slimline rigs.

Keyboard and trackpad

A full-sized keyboard is great to see on a slimmer machine, you're getting all your main keys as well as a number pad in here, with slightly larger keys on the latter compared to the MSI Katana. Switches themselves feel crisp and smooth, with a snappy return that avoids the mushy feel of cheaper decks. There is, however, more flex in the keyboard area than I've seen in other models. Natural typing force is still solid, but applying a little extra pressure than usual results in bowing.

In everyday life, it's no game-changer. I only really noticed it when mashing buttons closer to the middle of the keyboard in-game. There's just a hair less spring to each repeat press.

The trackpad, however, punches just above its weight for this price class. It's larger than most, providing generous landing and sweeping space for everyday productivity on the go. It's also got a much snappier force click than a lot of cheaper rigs, which instead opt for a soft, squishy feel. Both the surface and tracking response is super smooth with lighter taps easily registered.

Performance

My 32GB RAM / RTX 5060 configuration of the Acer Nitro V16 AI couldn't quite keep up with the competition in-game. At 1080p, the Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 10 still keeps the top spot in this testing pool, with the Nitro sitting either at the bottom of benchmark results or middling in easier runs like Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

There's something kneecapping performance here, though I'm testing with a clean system and settings set to Turbo mode. After all, it even notched just below an RTX 4060 Asus TUF A15 in Total War: Three Kingdoms. My best guess is that slimmer form factor is holding the Nitro back compared to its chunkier counterparts.

That means there's a degree of performance sacrifice in favor of portability here, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, I only strayed from the minimum of 60fps in Cyberpunk 2077 during my testing, and with DLSS 4's MFG switched on I was soaring at 143fps anyway. This feels like the kind of scenario the RTX 50-Series was made for.

Still, those lower numbers do mean the Acer Nitro V 16 AI may fare less well in a few years time compared to similarly priced alternatives from MSI and Lenovo.

Synthetic benchmarking told a similar story, though the Nitro maintained its generational lead over the RTX 4060 Asus TUF A15 in all tests this time. Fire Strike scores are closing the gap with the Lenovo Legion 7 here, one of the more expensive machines in my pool. Still, the very similarly priced MSI Katana has a solid lead.

Steel Nomad is the toughest of these synthetic tests, and it's where the Nitro fell furthest behind the rest of the pack. The rest of my RTX 5060 rigs kept well above 2,500 in their scores, whereas the Nitro dropped down to 2,382.

Should you buy the Acer Nitro V16 AI?

Whether or not the Acer Nitro V16 AI is right for you ultimately comes down to how much you want to pay and what you need a gaming laptop for. If it's going to spend 80% of its life on a desk or on your couch, and you want the most immersive gaming experience possible there are better value options in the QHD performance of the MSI Katana and the OLED panel of the Lenovo Legion 5.

If you're going for a slimline hybrid work / play gaming laptop at around $1,000 and you're happy to wait for sales, the Acer Nitro V16 AI should be on your consideration list. Its FHD+ performance keeps it competitive with cheaper options, while its subtle design allows it to keep a lower profile than the likes of MSI.

How I tested the Acer Nitro V16 AI

I've been using the Acer Nitro V16 AI as my main gaming and work laptop for a period of two weeks. That time has been split between using the laptop solo on a desk and connecting it to an external monitor setup. All gaming was completed on the laptop's own display itself, though. I benchmarked the Nitro in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, running each test at 1080p and full 1200p resolution across high and highest settings three times each. The final results are taken as an average of each of these three runs.

I also ran 3D Mark's Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad three times and took an average of all runs for each final score. Between benchmark runs, I also used the Acer Nitro V16 AI for my current Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 run, while also testing in CS2 and Planet Coaster.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I'm also testing all the best Razer laptops and the best Asus gaming laptops to find each brand's winner. Or, for something even more portable, check out the best gaming handhelds on the market.

Resident Evil Requiem is hurtling towards us with the speed of a well-timed zombie headshot. If you're in the market for a gaming laptop right now, you've caught your purchase at the right time. To celebrate the new release, a whole roster of the best gaming laptops are throwing in a free copy of Resident Evil Requiem.

You'll need to pick up a rig with at least an RTX 5070 GPU under the hood to be eligible for the freebie, and grab it from a participating retailer (Best Buy and Newegg have a strong selection at the moment). To redeem on purchase, you'll just need to head to the Nvidia app and enter an included bundle code - Resident Evil Requiem will then be added to your Steam account.

Nvidia Resident Evil Requiem bundle participating retailers

• Best Buy: Asus, Alienware, and Lenovo included
• Newegg: primarily PCs and GPUs included
• Antonline: HP, Acer, and Lenovo included

UK

• Scan: RTX 5070 from £1,299.99
• Currys: Limited to MSI laptops
• CCL: GPUs only
• Overclockers: Medion, Asus, and MSI included

Top Resident Evil Requiem gaming laptop deals

If you want to double down on your savings ($69.99 doesn't really touch the sides when we're talking about $2,000 rigs), it's worth taking a look at the gaming laptop deals already cutting those costs on eligible machines. Best Buy has the largest selection of discounts this week, stretching primarily across Lenovo, Asus, and MSI machines.

There's one problem. At the moment, it doesn't look like the retailer has updated its listing pages to reflect the freebie. All the machines below are included in the roundup page linked from Nvidia's blog post, so are taking part in the offer. If you're concerned, it's worth waiting a few days to see if Best Buy's site catches up.

For now, though, here are my three favorite gaming laptop deals that also net you a free copy of Resident Evil Requiem.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy
• See all gaming laptop deals at Dell

We're also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Razer laptops on the market. For something a little chunkier, check out the best Alienware laptops available.

It's a question I'm asked every time I tell someone I review gaming laptops for a living; are they worth it? Does that extra degree of portability maintain its value when up against more powerful, upgradeable gaming PC towers? My career so far has been spent finding the best gaming laptops for all kinds of use-cases, so of course I think they're worth it. But that might change in 2026.

Intel's Panther Lake laptops aren't going to wipe Razer, Asus, Lenovo, and MSI's top flagships off the shelves. They might not even trouble the mid-range. But for the everyday player who just wants to be able to play their favorite games at the end of a workday without investing in a second device? Things are starting to look far more interesting this year.

The CES showfloor had business laptops like the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 running Cyberpunk 2077, and doing pretty damn well. With Intel ARC B390 taking over the pictures, many came away impressed with the chip's 1080p handling. The B390 is equipped with full DirectX 12 Ultimate support for hardware-level ray tracing, with 1,536 shader cores and 48 TMUs. That ain't your mother's integrated graphics.

With Panther Lake, AMD's upcoming Gorgon Point, and rumors of Nvidia's N1X swirling, 2026 looks to be the year of the system-on-chip gaming laptop. And that means it doesn't need to be a gaming laptop at all.

After all, these demos are happening on workhorse business machines that traditionally cost far less than the best Alienware laptops or the best Razer laptops. At launch, it's likely these SoC machines are still going to cost a pretty penny - as all new tech tends to. As time goes on, Intel and AMD outfit cheaper machines with their fancy integrated graphics, and the tech underneath grows more efficient, things could change for this entry-level market. 2026 is the first year I've had a serious pause for thought when considering the value of a traditional, dedicated GPU-slogging gaming laptop.

The demand is there. Alienware itself is launching a new ultra-slimline gaming laptop this year, after generations of chunky monsters took over from the super premium X-range. Machines like the Razer Blade 14 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 have been slimming their waistlines with every new iteration. Gaming laptops that keep their portability without sacrificing current-gen gaming chops are growing in popularity, and the tech (whether that be the more efficient RTX 50-Series or new SoC systems) is supporting it.

The big guns have nothing to worry about

It's not going to be the MSI Raider A18 HX A9W or the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 that worries about the introduction of svelte SoC integrated graphics. These RTX 5090-toting powerhouses will laugh in the face of David. Instead, it's the MSI Katana or Lenovo LOQ that should be thinking about its pricing and positioning.

Chunky, budget-friendly gaming laptops that prioritize squeezing the latest RTX 50-class or 60-class into as cheap a chassis as possible are the ones on the back foot. When the Lenovo IdeaPad can perform at the same level with a brighter screen, slimmer chassis, and slicker design, things are going to get interesting.

A while to wait yet

These cheaper rigs aren't going to be wiped out overnight. It's going to be a slow burn - one likely slowed further by shortages in the market. In 2026, an Intel, AMD, or Nvidia SoC laptop is likely going to cost more than a comparable 'traditional' gaming laptop. That's just the way these things work.

But I expect the scales will tip at some point. Whether that's in two years, four years, or six years (or whether some other global shortage extends that wait time), there will come a day when we're using integrated graphics without a second thought. It won't be to run the heaviest games and their top settings, it might not even be to get the most reliable experience, but it will be possible and - dare I say it in this spec and benchmark-filled warzone - enjoyable.

Where does that leave gaming laptops? For the foreseeable future, these dedicated rigs are still going to be worth it. Once entry-level value tips in the favor of integrated options, though, dedicated GPUs might only make sense for the most discerning of PC players among us.

Or it could all fall flat on its face. It's 2026, after all.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy
• See all gaming laptop deals at Dell

I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops, but if you're after a new form factor check out the best gaming PCs and best gaming handhelds on the market.

HP is running a 72 hour flash sale this week, and we're coming up to the tail end of the event. That's not stopping the HP Omen Max 16, the best gaming laptop I've tested so far, from dropping a whole $1,000 down the price scale though. There's just one hitch. You'll have to be happy sacrificing an OLED display.

The RTX 5080 gaming laptop has sailed down from $3,099.99 to $2,099.99 at HP this week, a fantastic rate for this GPU and even better considering this rig sits at the top of my recommendation list. Instead of the OLED panel normally on the shelves, though, you're getting the same QHD+ 240Hz IPS screen I had on my test bench.

RTX 5080 gaming laptops don't get this close to $2,000 all too often, especially at this time of year. The closest you'll get to this kind of pricing at Best Buy is $2,399 on an MSI Vector 16 AI, and Newegg's cheapest RTX 5080 rigs are all open-box or refurbished - even then you're looking at $1,799.99 at the lowest end of the spectrum. If you're looking brand new, Newegg's cheapest offer matches HP's above - on the exact same configuration, of the exact same gaming laptop.

This is the cheapest RTX 5080 gaming laptop I've seen on the market this week, then, and it just so happens to be the rig I've recommended the most over the last year.

Should you buy the HP Omen Max 16?

Ok, so that OLED sacrifice might be a big one if you're upgrading your rig with the intention of improving overall image quality. The jump to OLED is a big one, and it's a leap I've greatly appreciated from my own Razer Blade 14. In a dark room, you'll benefit from far greater contrast for a particularly immersive, impactful experience.

At the same time, I had this same IPS screen when I first completed my HP Omen Max 16 review and was still impressed. With a good amount of energy behind ever frame and a surprising amount of power behind particularly vibrant scenes those coming from an IPS screen are still going to have a good time here. The Omen Max 16 also doesn't suffer from the same glossy glare that holds many rigs (like the Lenovo Legion 5) running OLED panels back. That means it's just as potent in a well-lit environment as it is a dark bedroom.

It's still a downgrade, but with the OLED option setting you back $2,979.99 at Best Buy this week, it's a sacrifice I'd urge you to consider.

For nearly a grand less, you're getting the same RTX 5080 graphics grunt while dropping a little in your CPU power. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 sits marginally behind the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX available in that Best Buy offer, and in the configuration I tested. Considering I use an even weaker AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor whenever I'm not testing a new gaming laptop, and still get along with both work and gameplay just fine, it's not going to be the end of the world.

For reference, the RTX 5080 HP Omen Max 16 I had on the bench posted some fantastic benchmark results. It's beaten the RTX 5080 Alienware 16 Area-51, Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, and even the RTX 5090 Razer Blade 16 in 3D Mark Fire Strike, while trading places throughout other tests.

Put simply, this is a machine that can handle the most demanding games at its top resolution in the highest graphical settings. There's not much more you can ask for than that.

If performance is at the top of your priority list, but you still want to keep that svelte, work-friendly, 16-inch form factor this is a no-brainer. The Omen Max 16 is among the more powerful gaming laptops I've had on my test bench and it's far from the most expensive.

However, if you're either coming from an OLED gaming laptop or expressly looking to upgrade your visuals it's worth holding out for a $2,500 sales price on the more premium model.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops on the market. For something a little more slimline, check out the best Razer laptops I've tested so far.

Just a week after Nvidia's N1 and N1X Arm processors were leaked to the gaming laptop world, eagle-eyed listing hunters may have found proof that Lenovo is jumping on the chiplet bandwagon. A series of 'supported' models listed on the Lenovo Legion Space support page points to at least one machine geared up with AMD's Strix Halo architecture, alongside previously rumored Nvidia N1X Arm models.

The spot comes from Twitter user Huang514613, who posted a screenshot of the supposed listing on January 23 before it was picked up by others. The 'ASH' portion of that Legion name is telling.

The best gaming laptops get their names in different ways, but Lenovo uses the same format for each release. It's why the previously spotted Legion 7 15N1X11 raised its own eyebrows. Lenovo goes 'model - class - size - processor' and it's the latter that we're concerned about here.

That N1X all but confirmed Nvidia's role in Lenovo's next batch of rigs and now AMD has been sighted in the same outfit.

The Legion 7 15ASH11 follows the same naming conventions; with 'A' representing AMD the same as 'I' counts as Intel elsewhere. That 'SH', though, is being taken to mean Strix Halo - the brand's x86 APU previously seen in the Asus ROG Flow Z13.

Strix Halo (and its rumored upcoming 'Gorgon Halo' refresh) runs differently to the Arm N1X and N1 from Nvidia, using an x86 architecture but still prioritizing its integrated graphics for slimline machines. It's been exclusive to Asus for some time now, running in the best gaming tablet on the market but it looks like Lenovo want to let this chiplet out of its cage.

These slimmer, lighter machines aren't going to be limited to Nvidia's own rumored drop later in the year, then. It looks like the chiplet style is here to stay and could well carve out its own sector of the market by this time next year.

That's better news for those after an all-in-one work and play device. After all, machines running dedicated graphics cards will always beat these SoC options in a footrace. However, as Arm and other integrated systems continue to mature, those putting portability and efficiency first could well have a much wider pool to choose from in the coming year.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops on the market. Or, for more slimline options, check out the best Razer laptops I've tested.

RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop deals have been a little difficult to come by in recent months. Not only are there fewer of these rigs out on the market compared to RTX 5070 configurations, but their in-between pricing can sometimes butt up against RTX 5080 configurations. Best Buy has your back this weekend, though, with a $400 saving on one of the more affordable RTX 5070 Ti models on the market.

The Asus ROG Strix G16 is down to $1,599.99 on these yellow-label shelves right now, down from its original $1,999.99 MSRP. Considering even the best gaming laptops will still happily charge you over $2,000 for an RTX 5070 Ti GPU, that's a fantastic offer. It's more in line with where I'd expect to see an RTX 5070 version these days, and even beats current sale prices on the weaker GPU.

Who else is about this weekend? The next best RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop deal I've found this weekend sits on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI. It's dropped all the way from $1,899.99 to $1,879 at Best Buy.

This is an upgrade to a QHD OLED display running at 240Hz, so you've got a little more room to push that GPU. Plus, that 32GB RAM is going to be a sigh of relief compared to the Strix. Still, we're only saving a little over $20 here and Best Buy has done better than that in the past.

After that, you're mostly looking at RTX 5070 options, with a significant drop down to 8GB VRAM compared to the Ti's 12GB. Even then, most of this weekend's gaming laptop deals have these weaker systems at higher prices than the ROG Strix. The Asus TUF A16, for example, does double your RAM again, but offers similar specs for $1,649 (was $1,699.99) at Best Buy. Meanwhile, the HP Omen Transcend 14 shrinks your screen size (though does come with an OLED panel and an Intel Core 9 285H processor) for $1,949.99 (was $2,039.99).

Should you buy the Asus ROG Strix G16?

I completed my Asus ROG Strix G16 review back in June and it went straight into my roster of the best Asus gaming laptops. I tested a vanilla RTX 5070 version of the system, with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, 32GB RAM, and a QHD display. That rig will set you back $2,399, though, nearly $1,000 more than today's offer.

Still, I was impressed with the generational jump in performance I noted from that RTX 5070 GPU, and your experience with the Ti will be even better. Not only that, but with a clean design and a satisfying keyboard it's been built to last.

I'd recommend this particular offer to anyone looking to play at high settings in QHD. My test rig struggled to hit 60fps under these conditions in more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered, but with the extra VRAM headroom this configuration is far more likely to make it.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also rounding up all the best Alienware laptops and the best Razer laptops on the market. For something a little more portable, though, check out the best gaming handhelds available.

Rumors of Nvidia's new Arm-based processors have been swirling around the web for years now, but a new report from DigiTimes suggests the debut of these gaming laptop SoCs could be just around the corner.

Suggested to land inside a currently unnamed Dell machine, Nvidia N1 and N1X machines would seek to compete with the best gaming laptops from an efficiency perspective, while still offering solid discrete graphics power.

The DigiTimes Taiwan report states that "the Windows on Arm (WoA) platform NB model using N1X will debut in the first quarter of 2026," with N1X machines set to hit retail shelves in Q2. If they do so, they'll be the brand's first Arm-based rigs, looking to take on Intel's Panther Lake and AMD's Strix Halo systems.

The latter proved the potency of Arm-flavored laptops in the Asus ROG Flow Z13 earlier last year, but with the Nvidia N1X reportedly offering the power of an RTX 5070, Nvidia has its sights set on far greater performance.

A full-fat RTX 5070 threw down a 3D Mark Steel Nomad score of 3,135 in my Razer Blade 14 testing, whereas the AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 inside the ROG Flow tapped out at 1,694.

The news comes just as Windows starts taking its own steps to welcome Arm-based gaming laptops into the fold. The Xbox app is now fully compatible with these systems, with over 85% of games running on the architecture.

Currently, only a Dell machine has been spotted with the Nvidia N1 / N1X chip inside and even that's still but a rumor. Still, the brand announced its new super slimline Alienware laptops at CES (with a promise of more information along the same timescale).

Call me optimistic, call me a dreamer, but Razer was also suspiciously silent on the topic of new Blade laptops at CES as well. Fine, you caught me - I have zero evidence for that, it's just a mustache-twirling coincidence so far.

What will Nvidia N1 / N1X chips mean for your next gaming laptop?

It's likely that Nvidia's arm-processors will take slow steps at the start, rolling out in a handful of slimline machines over the course of 2026. The new systems aren't going to impact those hunting down rip-roaring 18-inchers any time soon, but if you prefer a compact, portable machine that can be used for both work and play it's well worth keeping an eye on how these models perform.

If you're not quite caught up, Arm-based systems keep everything (CPU, GPU etc.) on one 'piece', like the SoCs you'll find in most smartphones and tablets.

That means they can drastically reduce the number of instructions the processor needs to run through, therefore making for a more power efficient system overall. Now they've grown powerful enough to move beyond mobile devices and into gaming laptops and the best gaming handhelds.

For you, though, it means a slimmer and lighter gaming laptop. It's unlikely we'll see too many battery advantages, as Nvidia could well opt instead to push as much power as it can (rather than leaning into the natural efficiency benefits). Essentially, your next gaming laptop could be thinner than a Razer Blade and more powerful than Asus's tablet.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm hunting down all the best Razer laptops and sniffing around the best Asus gaming laptops. Or, if you're after something more substantial check out the best gaming PCs on the market.

The MSI Katana isn't particularly assuming, but it could well be the best gaming laptop for those seeking a budget alternative to those lofty price tags. I've had an (approximately) $1,500 rig on the table, but cheaper RTX 5050 configurations come in just a hair over $1,000 these days. That's a rare price point in 2026, and considering the RTX 5060 model I've been testing gives some more expensive rigs something to think about, value is certainly on MSI's side right now.

It's not the flashiest, most luxurious machine on the market, but in terms of sheer value for money, the MSI Katana 15 HX B14W could well be one of the top gaming laptops available.

Configurations

The MSI Katana spans a solid range of mid-range and more affordable price points, kicking off at around $1,199.99 with an RTX 5050 / Intel Core i5-14450HX spec and moving all the way up to over $2,000 for an RTX 5070 / Intel Core i9-14900HX with all the RAM and storage trimmings.

That's a solid spread, though the build quality and display might not make much sense right at the top of that price range. Still, it leaves plenty of room for smaller budgets and a good amount of scaling as well. That's in theory.

In reality, it's difficult to actually come across the cheapest configuration options. The vast majority of retailers are sticking to RTX 5070 options, and I've seen very little of any processor that isn't the Intel i7-14650HX. I couldn't, for example, find the very spec I've been testing on the shelves - the closest I could get is an i7-14650HX / RTX 5060 / 16GB / 1TB version for $1,499.99.

It's a good thing that processor is a solid performer, then, especially in this mid-range position. Considering the state of current gaming laptop prices, this is a decent selection of components for your cash. Just watch out for those 512GB options - unless you're particularly economical with your storage the leap up to 1TB is going to be well worth it.

Design

The MSI Katana doesn't surprise me when I take it out the box for the first time. This is the kind of budget gaming laptop I'm used to testing; simple, angular, and chunky. Back in the day, this thing would have been covered in 'gamer' iconography, stamps, and cringeworthy text. Thankfully, MSI has left both the lid and internal deck mercifully free from all that. Instead, the Katana could even be considered subtle, with a simple black logo on the top panel and a bare palm rest.

For an all-plastic chassis, the Katana feels durable and solid under the hands. There's a little flex to the main lid, and the insides will bend under significant pressure, but I didn't notice any of that in regular everyday use. In fact, the wrist rest area barely moved at all during my 'squeeze' tests, the result being a nicely springy keyboard area.

This is often the first sign that a gaming laptop sits in a lower price bracket, but MSI has nailed its construction this time around. That's not even mentioning the full 180-degree hinge or the smoothness with which it operates. You're dropping the aluminum lid of the Asus TUF A15, but that only really presents itself when trying to manually flex the main topper.

It's bigger and boxier than more premium gaming laptops designed with portability at the forefront. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 will look futuristic compared to this and my Razer Blade 14 feels almost minuscule after weeks of testing.

Its one-inch thickness matches that of most budget-minded gaming laptops, in keeping with Asus's TUF range and cheaper Acer and Lenovo rigs. That means it's just about backpackable; it's not something I'd want to lug around the city all day, but I can easily fit it into a bag and forget about it for a little while.

Display

I'm testing a QHD / 165Hz configuration of the MSI Katana, a solid set of panel specs that sits well in the lower mid-range price category. Considering those are the kinds of numbers you'll find among the best Alienware laptops, you're getting a great deal here - on paper.

That's because, while colors are represented well and there's a nice punch to the more impactful moments of games, brightness and contrast levels do suffer for that lower price tag. This is an IPS panel, which is to be expected from a cheaper rig - though it's worth noting that the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 offers an OLED face for a similar price.

It's also worth noting that 15.6-inch size. Realistically, it's pretty similar to the 16-inch gaming laptops that line the shelves these days, but it is a slightly outdated 16:9 display ratio.

The screen is certainly workable, though darker moments of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were a little... obscured, but it's quite obviously been dropped down the priority list. I'm not mad, it means the MSI Katana can focus more on component value, but if you're going for an all-out visual smorgasbord, you'll want to move further up the price scale.

Ports

All your physical connections are split between the left and right panels, no rear-mounted ports here. That's generally to be expected from more budget-friendly rigs, but it would be nice to keep some connections out the way, especially as there's a lot going on on the right-hand side.

Typically, I prefer side-mounted ports to line the left flank. I see you lefties out there, but the right-handed among us will know the struggle of spiderweb wires knocking into the mouse hand during play. Thankfully, two USB-A connections on the left can keep most of your connections at bay. However, the single USB-C is a little awkwardly placed on the right, as is your third USB-A, RJ45 Ethernet connection, and 3.5mm audio out.

If that's a deal-breaker, the Acer Nitro 16 does right by cable management with largely rear-mounted ports.

Keyboard and trackpad

The main deck is consumed in RGB lighting. Four-zone lighting control is excellent to see here, though if you're coming from a more premium model, you may miss per-key options. As it stands, those LEDs shine particularly bright with excellent vibrancy. Slightly pudding-ed keycaps help them glow as well.

The actual keyboard delights in use as well. Whereas most cheap gaming laptops rely on spongey clackers, everything is impressively snappy here. A comfortable landing position, smooth travel, and absolutely no hint of mush make this one of the best keyboards I've used in a budget-minded device. The Razer Blade 16 doesn't have anything to worry about, but if you're typing for longer periods I'd personally opt for the MSI over the Asus TUF A15.

You're still keeping that number pad functionality as well, even if it is slightly squished into the corner. Smaller caps and a compacted layout are necessary to squeeze everything into a 15.6-inch form factor, though.

Underneath that sits a trackpad that will suit tappers but certainly not pushers. It's got a fantastic glide to it, and plenty of space to move about. Quick gestures are responsive and smooth, but harder presses feel sticky and stiff.

Performance

I've got a few RTX 5060 rigs in my testing pool these days, so I've been pitting the Katana against the more expensive Alienware 16X Aurora, slightly more expensive Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 10, and the similarly priced Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10. We've also got the previous generation Asus TUF A15 in the mix with its RTX 4060, to demonstrate the difference between the two GPU years and see how the Katana fares against my current budget pick.

First up it's synthetic 3D Mark tests. Steel Nomad, Time Spy, and Fire Strike all work to test a gaming laptop's GPU, with a higher number representing a better score.

MSI keeps its cool against these more expensive RTX 5060 competitors in synthetic 3D Mark tests, pacing against the more expensive Legion 7 and trading places with the Legion 5. The Alienware 16X Aurora is pretty consistent at the top, but considering the price it's impressive to see the Katana out-performing (or only just missing) the Legion 7.

In-game, things get even more interesting. I run four different benchmark tests, across both FHD and QHD resolutions. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a pretty easy run but allows that Nvidia GPU to fully fire up, while Total War: Three Kingdoms represents a moderate step up, Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered kicks things up again, and Cyberpunk 2077 represents the most graphically demanding title in my roster.

The MSI Katana mingles in the middle at FHD, but truly comes into its own at full 1440p resolution. It tops the pack in both Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Total War: Three Kingdoms, and even holds its position in High settings on Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered.

Bumping those settings up to Highest in the latter seems to represent the Katana's wall, though. Numbers start to dip below those of the Lenovo Legion 7 and Alienware 16X Aurora at this point. Cyberpunk 2077 sees the Katana finally knocked off pole position in RT Medium settings.

Still, that's seriously impressive considering this is the cheapest rig in the pool. It can handle anything in 1080p, and offers competitive rates in QHD at High settings.

Plus, this is the RTX 50-Series we're talking about, and it's these cheaper rigs that were made to take advantage of Nvidia's frame generation. In the same benchmark where the MSI Katana averaged 47fps in Cyberpunk 2077, it hit 133fps.

Should you buy the MSI Katana HX B14W?

With excellent QHD performance, a solid design, and affordable price point, the MSI Katana offers a compelling package. You're not getting the most immersive screen, but it's on par with the competition in this bracket and still packs some excellent colors. For the money, there's not much better value out there right now. The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 is going to be a better fit if you prioritize screen quality, but overall, this is the best budget rig I've tested so far. Just make sure you don't get burned by the configuration options.

How I tested the MSI Katana HX B14W

The MSI Katana became my everyday device for two weeks during testing, I used it for all work and play both in a monitor / hub setup and on its own on the desk. In that time, I primarily played across The Sims 4 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, while also booting up Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered for dedicated in-game benchmark runs.

Each of these tests was performed with the system set to its maximum power output, running three tests across both High and Highest settings in both QHD and FHD resolution. The final scores reflect the average of each of the three runs.

I also benched the Katana in 3D Mark Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad, again running each test three times and taking a final average.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I'm also hunting down all the best Razer laptops and the best Asus gaming laptops available. For something more portable, though, check out the best gaming handhelds we've tested so far.

The best gaming laptop I've tested so far remains the HP Omen Max 16, despite the newer HyperX model launching late last month and new dual-screened options and 300W releases from Asus and MSI hitting the shelves. Ultimately, though, all these new releases are pushing their price tags and feature sets above the budget and needs of most gamers.

After all, the Omen Max 16 is still a seriously impressive machine, beating out the recently-reviewed RTX 5090 Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo in its RTX 5080 performance (and putting several other flagship configurations in their place in the last year). It does that without a super chunky chassis or by sacrificing display and keyboard features. A fantastic all-rounder.

Of course, there are still spots open among the best gaming laptops for different uses-cases. The Lenovo Legion 5, for example, still offers the beset value overall with its excellently priced OLED display, while the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 retains its crown in the ultra-compact category.

With Nvidia's Spark SoC bringing gaming performance to high-end ultrabooks this year, and rising component prices putting new 2026 releases even further up the price scale, it's a big year for portable rigs.

I'm in a strange position where I go through gaming laptops faster than I do coffee pods, but with the door knocking with a fresh new machine every two weeks my office has been filling up with the latest and greatest rigs. With my trusty Steam library, years of experience with Intel, AMD, and Nvidia's generations of CPUs and GPUs, and a keen eye for design and value in hand, I keep my play to the small screen to find the best gaming laptops on the market.

The quick list

Recent updates

The best gaming laptop overall

The HP Omen Max 16 was a dark horse last year, and looks set to offer even better value in 2026. With a newer 'HyperX' branded model now on the shelves, the waters have been muddied slightly. The RTX 5070 Ti version of this new release, however, comes with half the RAM and storage of the RTX 5080 previous generation - all while costing a little more when discounts are taken into account.

That means I'm sticking with last year's release in the current market conditions. Component shortages are pushing new releases further up the price scale and while older models are still available for the taking there's better value elsewhere.

With better performance than the RTX 5080 Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 and even trading places with the RTX 5090 Razer Blade 16 in QHD settings, last year's HP Omen Max 16 has plenty of power under the hood while still keeping its cool up top.

The all-white model I tested packs a slick chassis aesthetic while still feeling luxuriously soft to the touch. If you're after something a little cheaper, the Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 also offers a similar design, and beats some of the keyboard flexing I found on the Omen - you do sacrifice power, though.

The HP Omen Max 16 is configurable with a wide range of components that span Intel, AMD, and Nvidia's mid and upper ranges, making for a comfortable set of choices. You will have to also choose your screen; I tested the IPS flavor and while I came away impressed I'd recommend opting for the OLED model instead.

Elsewhere, you'll find a strong selection of ports (including two Thunderbolt 4 options) split mainly across the left flank and rear panel. That's a rarity among 16-inchers, I often only see larger 18-inch models keeping permanent connections tucked away like this. It makes for a far tidier setup overall, though.

Overall, though, this is wild RTX 5080 performance, with the extra chassis space and smart cooling features to see the Omen Max 16 performing well above its station.

Read more: HP Omen Max 16 review

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The best cheap gaming laptop

I've had two machines going head to head in the battle for second place recently. The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W has beaten the Similarly priced Acer Nitro V 16 AI to become the best budget gaming laptop I've tested so far, though, finally knocking the RTX 40-Series Asus TUF A15 off its perch.

If you're after RTX 50-Series power in a solid, durable chassis that doesn't cost the earth this is going to be a delight. It's not quite as thin as the Acer Nitro, but it's a touch lighter and that extra chunk is never gaudy in its design. In fact, I was surprised by just how streamlined this budget machine looks, considering the Katanas of yore.

There's a secret weapon that just nudges MSI into the top spot here, though. While most cheap chassis are content with a 1200p or even 1080p screen, this rig is available in full QHD glory. That's rare for an RTX 50-Series machine that starts life this close to $1,000 and considering the RTX 5060 version I tested actually put that panel to work there's excellent value in here.

Ports are split across the left and right sides, as is usual on a cheaper machine there are no rear-mounted connections here. However, the keyboard surprised me with a particularly tight feel overall. While most budget gaming laptops cheap out here with mushy decks and flimsy keys, everything runs smoothly with a satisfying clack and an energetic feel.

When push comes to performance shove, the MSI Katana also manages to keep pace with more expensive rigs like the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 (below) and the Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 10. It's largely trailing behind the far more expensive Alienware 16X Aurora, but still manage to beat Lenovo's entry level rigs in several QHD benchmark tests. This is a cheaper chassis with performance at the forefront of its mind, only this time the display has managed to keep a foothold in quality as well.

Read more: MSI Katana 15 HX B14W review

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The best value gaming laptop

The Lenovo Legion 5 sneaks an OLED display into a price tag that sits well below the rest of the premium market. With a solid, durable chassis and well-balanced configurations, this is one of the more cost-effective options available. The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is the only machine that has threatened this value position recently, but its higher price ultimately keeps it out the way.

Of course, we have to discuss that OLED face. A lot of gaming laptops are sporting these high-vibrancy panels this generation, but the tech is usually reserved for flagships. If you don't want to spend $3,000+ on a new machine, this is where you want to be looking.

It's not going to give the Razer Blade 16 anything to worry about with its slightly glare-heavy appearance, but it's still a punchy, high-contrast panel with inky blacks, impressive detailing, and a color palette you'd expect from a luxury device.

Configurations are capped at an RTX 5070, though CPUs can run all the way up to Intel Core Ultra 9s with some AMD options in there as well. If you're looking for something a little further up the ladder, the Helios Neo 16S AI can bump you up to an RTX 5070 Ti for a boost in VRAM.

The Intel i7-13650HX / RTX 5060 configuration I tested scored well in synthetic benchmarks. It beats the RTX 4070 HP Omen 17, a machine that launched at over $2,000 back in the day, and even trades places with the Alienware 16X Aurora at times.

It's also worth noting that it can beat the more expensive RTX 5060 configuration of the Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 in some tests.

Read more: Lenovo Legion 5 (Gen 10) review

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The best 14-inch gaming laptop

The 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 finally has a price tag - an RTX 5070 Ti configuration will set you back $3,599.99, $1,100 more than the previous generation. That means the 2025 iteration is still my top pick, you can easily pick up an RTX 5080 configuration for less than the mid-range new-gen.

An RTX 5060 configuration can drop to between $1,300 and $1,400 on a good day, while RTX 5070 options can hover at around $1,800. Considering you're still getting an excellent 2880 x 1800 OLED display and that slimline feel that's easily workable if you need a gaming laptop right now.

That said, I tested an RTX 5070 Ti version of the newer model and it manages to beat the RTX 5080 inside last year's release. That's some serious horsepower, supported by a higher wattage and Intel's latest Panther Lake processor. The display has had a minor glow-up as well, with an extra coating that reduces glare and boosted brightness up to 1,100 nits.

Ultimately, this is going to be a pricey affair - as are all the best gaming laptops of 2026. Is it enough to warrant an upgrade from last year's release? No, but it's certainly going to offer a better experience for those who have been saving since the RTX 30-Series days. Ultimately, I'd point the majority of players towards last year's G14, swerving those who really want to dive in at the deep end towards the newer release.

The 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 kept up with larger RTX 4090 machines in my testing, blitzing through 1600p benchmarks at three-figure framerates in lighter titles, and staying well over 60fps in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered. Some graphical tweaks will need to be made to achieve those numbers in Cyperpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, though the Multi-frame Generation of the RTX 50-Series can step in when you need a hand.

It also sports the super sleek design of some of the best Asus gaming laptops, with an endlessly portable form factor (though I am still salty about that slash lighting on the rear lid). It's also ever so slightly thinner than the newer model.

Read more: 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review

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The best 16-inch gaming laptop

There's a new Razer Blade 16 in town - well, if you're after an RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 configuration anyway. Both the 2026 and 2025 iterations are coexisting at the moment; opting for cheaper specs will bump you down to the old model, while Razer's only selling high-end configurations of its latest release right now.

What's new? AMD is out and Intel's Core Ultra 9 386H processor is nesting inside this chassis, alongside reported improvements to battery life and display quality. If you're going for a premium GPU this is where you'll be looking - otherwise RTX 5060 enjoyers can hold onto the lower price of the previous generation I fell in love with. There are no RTX 5070 or RTX 5070 Ti options up on Razer's site right now.

Like all the best Razer laptops, this is one for those investing in the quality of life of their gaming laptop - if you want the best screen, keyboard, and form factor (with some DLSS help to reach high framerates) I've tested in a gaming laptop so far, it's a must-see. As you'll see above, the smaller form factor does impact performance, but this one's all about the style.

It's a surprisingly skinny machine, thinner than my everyday Razer Blade 14, which makes throwing it into a backpack incredibly easy. Even the USB-A ports barely fit on the side of this chassis, and we're still playing with flagship power under the hood.

The first thing you'll probably notice on the Razer Blade 16 is the OLED display. It was certainly my biggest takeaway from the 2024 model, and its implementation in later devices is nothing short of breathtaking. Its color accuracy, contrast, and eye-watering vibrancy make it the best gaming laptop display I've tested so far. If you're after something a little cheaper, the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 also offers an OLED panel at a much lower price, though this and the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI both suffer from more glare.

The scissor-switch keyboard has upped the key travel to 1.5mm for a particularly satisfying feel. These clickers are energetic, precise, and smooth, making for a comfortable and precise typing and gaming experience.

If you can find an open-box RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 configuration of the previous generation, you're going to have a much easier time justifying your purchase. The new model is an iteration on what came before - that Panther Lake processor is going to pull its weight but meaningful upgrades aren't going to be too tangible.

Read more: Razer Blade 16 (2025) review

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The best 18-inch gaming laptop

The 2025 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 strikes the best balance between power and chassis design. It's not quite performing the same as MSI's machines from a benchmark perspective, but the wide range of components available and the strength of that display make this the best 18-inch gaming laptop on the market right now.

This is a chunky machine and while its dimensions and weight aren't going to make it the perfect travel companion it was never designed for that. The extra chassis size allows for better cooling, keeping all those internal components running as best they can.

If you're between this and the MSI Vector A18 A9W, it's worth noting that Asus performs much better from a display perspective. We've got the same ROG Nebula HDR display we've come to know and love in all its Mini LED glory. Connections are plentiful as well, with two Thunderbolt 5 options for additional speed over the Thunderbolt 4s in last year's MSI rigs.

The RTX 5090 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 I tested blew the competition away when it came to easier 3D Mark tests like Fire Strike and Time Spy, and maintained its lead over the RTX 4090 MSI Titan and Raider in Steel Nomad as well. In-game, MSI was top dog across FHD and QHD+ benchmarks in all but Shadow of the Tomb Raider where the Raider just nudged it out the way. I managed to get Cyberpunk 2077 running at 212fps with Frame Generation on, while also bumping Super Resolution up to Quality.

Since I first reviewed this gaming laptop, the 2025 MSI Raider has overtaken it in sheer performance, and the RTX 5080 MSI Vector I tested also gave it something to consider. Still, the Scar 18 balances its power with additional features better than MSI's rigs.

Read more: Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) review

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The most powerful gaming laptop we've tested

The MSI Raider A18 A9W broke records as the most powerful gaming laptop I've tested yet. At launch it was the only gaming laptop to pair the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor with an RTX 5090, and it does so while also upgrading your SSD to a Gen 5 as well. That's all pretty rare, and it makes for a super-fast, if super-expensive, machine. There are some caveats to that hype, though.

The MSI Raider still packs a plastic chassis, despite charging more than last year's aluminum Titan model. That's a little disappointing, especially considering I experienced notable flexing in the main deck. Considering my test device would have cost well over $5,000, that's an oversight.

We've still got a gorgeous 4K Mini LED panel that makes everything from Doom: The Dark Ages to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle shine its brightest during my testing. MSI didn't opt for the dual-mode display you'll find on a Razer Blade 18, though, which means everyone is stuck on that 120Hz refresh rate - not great news for more competitive players.

If you're going solo, the size, depth, and detail in this screen are still a sight to behold - and the refresh rate isn't going to hold you back much at 4K anyway.

It more than makes up for its shortfalls once it gets going. I was able to benchmark at much higher rates than ever before. Even taking some odd Shadow of the Tomb Raider results out of the equation, the Raider's use of the RTX 5090 put it at the top of my testing pool across FHD and QHD benchmarks, and it blitzed the competition in 3D Mark's synthetic runs. Needless to say, that AMD processor sits proudly at the top of my PC Mark 10 data set as well.

Since the release of the MSI Raider A18 A9W, the MSI Raider 16 Max has shuffled onto the scene as well. This is a QHD option, leaving 4K to its larger sibling, but with a 300W power setting it gets pretty close to the A18's benchmarks in a smaller 16-inch form factor. That may well be a better option for those who still want the flexibility of travel.

Read more: MSI Raider A18 HX A9W review

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How I test gaming laptops

I live, work, play, stream, and browse on every gaming laptop that passes my desk for a minimum of two weeks. That allows me to assess its build quality, portability, display features, keyboard and trackpad, port selection, and form factor in a real-world setting as if it was being popped straight into your setup. For this reason, I use every laptop both by itself and as part of a larger monitor system (via a Razer USB 4 docking station).

I rate gaming laptops based on their design, features, and performance - and each section requires its own tests and real-world experiences.

The design of a laptop incorporates everything from its aesthetic (and how well it will blend into non-gaming scenarios) to build quality (its materials, any wobbles around the hinges, flexibility in the screen or base plate, and any creaking or rattling internally). In the world of gaming laptops, portability also plays a large role so I make sure to take each machine out with me for a series of coffee shop crawls, or a longer travel distance during my testing period.

The specific features I test are the display (brightness, clarity, color range, sharpness, speed), keyboard (size, balance, typing feel, placement), webcam, port selection (and placement), configuration options, trackpad, and onboard software options. All of these elements aren't just reviewed as a whole package, but directly compared against similarly priced competitors to understand each machine's value proposition as well.

Then we get to the all-important performance category. Every gaming laptop that I review is stress-tested against a series of benchmarking processes and everyday use. I run a standardised series of performance tests on each rig, benchmarking on both High and Ultra / Highest across:

• Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• Total War: Three Kingdoms (Battle)
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
• Cyberpunk 2077

Each of these benchmarks is carried out in FHD and QHD resolutions, as well as UHD where available, and run three times. The final score is reflective of the average of these runs.

I then test the GPUs inside these gaming laptops against 3DMark Fire Strike, Steel Nomad, and Time Spy.

Read more about how we find the best tech with the full Hardware Policy and find out exactly how we test gaming laptops.

Also tested

I'm always reviewing new gaming laptops, but only the very best make it to the top list above. You'll find all the most recent gaming laptop benchmark scores just below, and more information on each model further down.

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Latest news

The biggest gaming laptop story from the last month comes from Nvidia. The brand announced their long-rumored Spark SoC at Computex, looking to bring gaming performance to all-in-one integrated systems in the Fall of 2026. Nvidia states that the chip will have roughly the performance of an RTX 5070 mobile GPU, running games at 100fps in QHD (depending on the application). Of course, that's to be taken with a pinch of salt.

The Arm-based system uses 6,144 CUDA cores in its Blackwell GPU with a 20-core custom-built MediaTek CPU. It will begin shipping in Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and MSI laptops later this year.

What does it mean for your next gaming laptop? Right now, not much.

These chips are designed to turn productivity laptops into competent gaming machines, not improve upon existing high-end dedicated graphics. These rigs are also likely to be incredibly expensive at launch, though full pricing will depend on the brand and nothing has been announced.

In all likelihood, Nvidia's Spark will only impact your next gaming laptop if you've got the budget for a high-end ultrabook and the need for a true all-in-one hybrid.

How to find the best gaming laptop for you

Gaming laptops come in all shapes and sizes these days, with a massive range of configuration options, display technologies, and price tags to contend with. I've bought my fair share of machines over the years, and there are always three factors that make up the majority of my decision-making; size, specs, and display.

Size matters

Gaming laptops come in three sizes nowadays; 14-inch for those after a lightweight, portable design, 18-inch for a full desktop replacement, and 16-inch for a well-rounded performer that can still travel when needed. It's easy to see why 16-inch laptops reign supreme, taking over from the 15.6-inch models of yore to become the most popular gaming laptop form factor on the market.

In general, I'd recommend most players aim for this happy medium. An 18-inch device is a real strain on the back if you need to take it on the go (if it will even fit into a conventional backpack) and a 14-inch model can sacrifice power in the name of a slimmer form factor while carrying a similar price. However, if you know you're looking for a chunkier device that won't need to be moved or a work laptop that needs to keep up with you day to day, each extreme certainly has its place.

Under the hood

Your decision will mostly come down to your graphics card and processor - though, helpfully, finding the right GPU will often land you with the right CPU in the first place.

An RTX 4050 / RTX 5050 rig is designed for lighter players who might want to tinker through some less demanding games while primarily using their laptop for work or streaming. These rigs are likely to come with cheaper Ultra 5 or Ryzen 5 processors, but can also pack an Ultra 7 or Ryzen 7 punch as well. You'll usually find 16GB RAM and 512GB - 1TB of storage space included.

I would move up to an RTX 5060 if you're looking to play more demanding games, but don't necessarily need three-figure framerates - especially in QHD+ resolutions. This is the start of the mass market, most players will either find themselves with an RTX 5060 or 5070 rig - but sticking to the lower version might keep you from smooth rates on more demanding games in the years to come. You'll usually be opting for an Ultra 7 or Ryzen 7 processor here, with 16GB or 32GB RAM and 1TB of storage space.

The RTX 5070 is the most popular GPU range in a gaming laptop - and it's generally where I start my search when pricing up new machines. When I set out to find the best value GPU upgrade for a gaming laptop, the upgrade from the RTX 5060 to the RTX 5070 made the most sense from a price-performance perspective, especially when taking sales into account. While the RTX 5080 below offers a greater overall leap in performance class-to-class, these machines are stuck at a $2,000+ ground floor which means they don't offer as much value.

You're getting enough juice to bump things up to 1600p comfortably, though you might need to make some textural tweaks to run heavier games at Ultra settings. I'd recommend most players stick to an Intel Ultra 7 or 9 processor to keep the value right here, with 32GB RAM and 1TB - 2TB of storage space.

An RTX 5080 gaming laptop is going to see you through QHD+ gaming at ultra settings pretty comfortably - even in more demanding games. This is the start of high-end, and as high as I would recommend most casual players go. These machines are starting to drop their price tags a little now, but can still feel like a larger investment - especially if you take up the Ultra 9 / Ryzen 9 processors, 32 - 64GB RAM, and 2TB+ SSD opportunities that start opening up here.

I wouldn't recommend the majority of players concern themselves with RTX 5090 gaming laptops just yet. There's a performance jump for sure, you'll be outputting in 4K with much more ease, and QHD+ gameplay will feel like a breeze. However, these are premium machines, reserved for those with over $3,000 to spend. They're worth saving for if you want to future-proof yourself, but unless you're streaming or playing hardcore titles regularly you'll find better value further down the price range.

All about that display

The majority of mid-range gaming laptops ship with QLED+ resolutions in a 16:10 aspect ratio, with a 240Hz refresh rate. That's the gold standard for right now, but there are reasons to deviate from the norm. For example many rigs, particularly those from Alienware, can drop you resolution back down to FHD+ in exchange for faster panels (up to 480Hz in some cases).

That's a screen designed for competitive eSports-style gamers, rather than everyday adventurers, though. On the flip side, you'll find more OLED and 4K panels on the shelves these days - these give you a better viewing experience overall but at the cost of speed. While some brands like Razer have managed to bump their OLED screens up to 240Hz, you'll more likely find these screens at 120Hz max.

It's important to consider how you play when choosing your screen - whether you want to prioritize fidelity or speed. The QHD+ 240Hz option is so popular because it strikes the perfect balance between the two.

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Gaming laptops glossary

• AMD: AMD is a brand that develops a wide range of processors and graphics cards for business and gaming laptops.
• Chassis: The term chassis relates to the main body of the laptop, housing the components under the keyboard and the back of the lid.
• CPU / Processor: The CPU (Central Processing Unit) or Processor is the central component of a gaming laptop, completing instructions and operations across the machine. Intel and AMD are the leading manufacturers of processors, with Core and Ryzen product lines respectively.
• DisplayPort: DisplayPort is a port found on many gaming laptops, offering the ability to connect your machine to an external monitor. Unlike HDMI, DisplayPort allows for multiple displays to be connected through a single port, however is not compatible with anything other than monitors and computers. The latest version of DisplayPort is 2.1.
• Ethernet: Ethernet is the term given to both the port and cable used to connect your gaming laptop to the internet via a wire. Rather than using a less reliable WiFi connection, hardwiring your machine into your router can be faster and offer lower latencies.
• Fire Strike: Fire Strike is a graphics and physics test within the 3D Mark suite of benchmarks. We use Fire Strike to stress test the processor and graphics card, returning a figure as the result. The higher the number, the better the score.
• FPS (Frames Per Second): Frames per second refers to the number of frames that are displayed on a screen every second. This is a handy way to measure the speed and fluidity of the graphics on your gaming laptop. Most titles run smoothly at 30fps, however faster action titles are better enjoyed at 60fps and up. Competitive esports-level framerates are often over 100fps.
• GPU / Graphics Card: The GPU is responsible for the graphics your gaming laptop is capable of reproducing. AMD and Nvidia produce the majority of graphics cards found in today's gaming laptops, offering a range of different performance levels and prices.
• HDMI: HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, and is the primary connection method used to link a computer to an external monitor, TV, or projector. The latest HDMI version is 2.1.
• Intel: Intel is one of the leading producers of processors in both business and gaming laptops.
• Nvidia: Nvidia is a brand best known in the gaming laptop space for producing graphics cards. The company's GeForce RTX GPUs are the most popular on the market right now.
• Nvidia G-Sync: Nvidia G-Sync is similar to AMD FreeSync (see above), and used to reduce screen tearing and stuttering during fast moving games. G-Sync is designed for use with Nvidia graphics cards, however.
• OLED: OLED displays are gathering momentum in the world of gaming laptops, offering an alternative to traditional LED screens. An OLED panel is able to produce better color contrasts and higher brightness.
• PC Mark 10: PC Mark 10 is a benchmarking software designed to test the power of a PC in a productivity setting. The program runs a series of mock work scenarios to test efficiency and processing performance, resulting in a single number response. The higher the number, the better the result.
• RAM: RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and allows your computer to streamline its efficiency in running tasks. The more RAM you have, the more space your gaming laptop has to keep required data easily accessible (and therefore recalled faster).
• Refresh Rate: Refresh rate in the context of gaming laptops generally refers to the speed at which the display refreshes the picture. A higher refresh rate provides smoother motion, which is required for faster paced titles. Gaming laptops today generally offer at least 120Hz refresh rates, but can move up to 360Hz.
• Resolution: The resolution of your screen is the number of pixels on the display. This is usually split into HD (1920 x 1080 or 1080p), QHD (2560 x 1440 or 1440p), or UHD (3840 x 2160 or 4K), however different screen proportions can bend these definitions a little - you may see QHD+ resolutions listed on a screen that isn't exactly 16:9 in dimensions (the standard for displays that these resolution numbers were based off).
• RGB: RGB refers to the lighting often found on gaming laptops, particularly in the keyboard. The term RGB denotes a range of colors rather than limiting backlighting to a single color.
• SSD: An SSD (or Solid State Drive) is the primary format of storage used in today's gaming laptops. It's faster than an HDD but is more expensive, which means you'll generally find SSD space tapping out at 1TB if you're browsing under $2,000.
• Thunderbolt: A Thunderbolt port uses the same design as USB-C but a vastly different experience overall. Machines incorporate Thunderbolt to allow faster data transfer and charging speeds as well as connecting multiple devices via a single cable. The latest version is Thunderbolt 5.
• Time Spy: Time Spy is another DirectX test for the performance of a graphics card inside your gaming laptop, similar to Fire Strike.
• USB Type-A: USB Type-A ports are standard USB connections used by the majority of external devices and are characterized by their larger square shape compared to the smaller USB-C.
• USB Type-C: USB Type-C is a newer connection type for adding external devices, shaped in a smaller, more rounded port style. USB-C can be used for power delivery if the port on your laptop accepts this feature, but is generally used for the same inputs as USB-A.
• Vapor Chamber Cooling: Vapor Chamber Cooling is a relatively new method of keeping a gaming laptop's temperature down so that it can perform at its best. Rather than solely using air vents and fans, vapor chamber cooling relies on a liquid cooling system to distribute heat more effectively.

Best gaming laptops: FAQs

If you're after something more permanent, check out the best gaming PCs we've tested so far, or the best gaming handhelds to maximize portability.

January isn't typically the season for heavy gaming laptop deals, but Newegg's Winter Sale rages on regardless. I certainly wasn't expecting to see an RTX 5080 machine under $2,000 this early in the year (that's usually a Black Friday play), but there's no rest for Gigabyte fans.

The RTX 5080 A16 Pro is now sitting at $1,999.99 on Newegg's shelves, thanks to a hefty $500 discount. This isn't a high-end graphics card on the shoulders of a weedy system, though, you're still getting 32GB RAM and an Intel Core Ultra 7 240H processor under the hood. The only thing you might miss? The OLED screens of the best gaming laptops.

It's rare to find an RTX 5080 gaming laptop under $2,000. In fact, I can only picture one other offer that came close to this value. Back in November, an Acer Predator Helios Neo dropped its price tag below that threshold during the year's biggest sale. That one certainly didn't last, running off the shelves before Black Friday came to an end.

Should you buy the Gigabyte A16 Pro?

Gigabyte is known for providing excellent component value, often headlining these larger discounts. I track gaming laptop deals year-round and usually it's this brand offering the biggest bang for your buck.

How does it do it? Well, like the Acer Nitro and Asus TUF series' Gigabyte gaming laptops make smart sacrifices in other areas. There's no OLED panel up top here, and you're only picking up a 165Hz refresh rate overall. That's a step down from the high-end screens you'll find on the best Asus gaming laptops or best Razer laptops, but if you're going for framerates over immersion it's a solid trade-off.

Similarly, you won't find too many fancy chassis features here. Gigabyte cases are pretty simple, a few logos stamped here and there and a barebones keyboard underneath.

If you're after the best GPU value for your money right now, this is absolutely it. However, if luxury and style is more important it's worth noting that the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is also on sale at Best Buy.

You won't get the same kind of performance out of this more compact RTX 5070 Ti model, but if you regularly take your laptop out and about and would appreciate a more immersive display it's well worth considering. The 2025 G14 is currently down to $1,999.99 (was $2,399.99).

• See all gaming laptop deals at Newegg

I'm also hunting down all the best Alienware laptops, or if you're after a different form factor check out the best gaming PCs and best gaming handhelds on the market.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 was sitting proudly among the rest of this year's best gaming laptop contenders at CES last week. If you were early to the show, however, you might have snuck a peek at a very special model at the Intel booth. Teased late last year, a configuration of the 2026 G14 running (and only running) Intel Panther Lake processors was doing the rounds in the first few hours of the show, only to be shuffled away later on.

Asus was running its new G14 simply on the Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics system, rather than adding a separate Nvidia discrete card for full power. However, this looks to be a project cancelled at the last minute.

As first reported by Les Numeriques, the integrated graphics laptop was being proudly shown off at Intel's CES booth after Asus had already removed it from its own roster. The rig disappeared entirely shortly after. This was a machine first spotted on Geekbench halfway through last year, and then press-tested in December, so it definitely existed and certainly doesn't anymore.

It's not the first time Asus has experimented with integrated graphics. AMD's Ryzen AI Max 390, with Radeon 8050S graphics, sits front and center in the brand's Asus ROG Flow Z13 device. It's the best gaming tablet on the market because of this sheer power, and impressed with its punch and stability in testing.

Integrated graphics are coming our way, but the cancellation of the Intel Arc B390 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (however bungled it was at CES) shows we're not quite ready to say goodbye to discrete cards. Last year's Flow Z13 was the first time I had properly sat down with a modern integrated system and it took me by surprise.

This tablet was running everything from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to Avowed without breaking a sweat, though while costing up to $2,799.99. The tablet form factor certainly benefits from the move to integrated graphics, and the best gaming handhelds are showing us how far these chips can run.

Gaming laptops are going to take a little more time to catch on, though. While it's unclear why the Intel-only Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 was abandoned, it's easy to see a future where more affordable gaming laptops become a reality again.

I track all the latest gaming laptop deals week to week, and one thing has become clear from the last year; it's a lot harder to find a decent RTX 50-Series machine around the $1,000 price tag than it was the RTX 40-Series. If integrated graphics can keep up with weaker discrete GPUs for a lot less cash, I'm in.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm running through all the other Asus gaming laptops on the market right now, and finding the best Razer laptops and best Alienware laptops for some different flavorings.

Asus, Lenovo, MSI, and Alienware have all packed up the gaming laptops they've been displaying on the CES showfloor all week, but some machines have been suspiciously absent. The Razer Blade wasn't featured once at CES 2026, in either its 14-inch, 16-inch, or 18-inch form factor.

That's a bizarre twist. Vegas's January show is normally the gunshot at the start of the race, the CES showfloor acting as a starting line for the best gaming laptops of the year before they make their way to the shelves in the spring. And yet Razer's still in the locker room.

While the 2025 Razer Blade 16 was one of the more impressive machines from my personal testing pool, it didn't have an easy ride last year. Criticisms emerged in the summer, citing hardware faults around the trackpad and bugs continuing throughout Synapse software. Combine that with reports of poor customer service, and the tides started to turn against Sneki online.

If there was one year for Razer to miss it's going to be this one. Every few years we have a CES like this. No new GPUs to play with, incremental CPU upgrades, and no room for major chassis adjustments. You can see it across the new Zephyrus G14 and G16 from Asus and MSI's new Raider and Stealth lineup. These aren't massive updates, they're just new processors and slightly more power.

Only Lenovo's Legion Pro Rollable and the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo did anything particularly novel, experimenting with displays in new and thought-provoking ways. Alienware had a big OLED reveal, but it's still only playing catch-up.

It's easy to see why Razer wouldn't make a big song and dance about incremental upgrades in its 2026 machines, but to not even show them in the desert? That's a concerning bucking of the trend.

There are two possibilities here.

The first is 2026 won't see any new Razer laptops. That's hard to believe, but there's a thin string of logic to the theory. New machines need to balance their price tags with existing rigs, after all. Last year's roster of gaming laptops might be slightly weaker in the CPU department, but age brings price drops and value could well be on the side of previous generation rigs this year. Add in rising component prices and RAM shortages, and Razer might be facing an impossible MSRP that would undervalue its existing range too much.

That's highly unlikely, though. Sneki isn't giving his whole laptop department the year off. I'm expecting to see more from the Razer Blade army in the next few months, potentially launching via an event run by the brand itself. So they might just not be ready yet, or Razer wanted to focus on something else this year.

No prizes for guessing what that 'something else' is.

Razer didn't let up on its AI tools this year. Alongside its Project Ava copilot and AI development toys, the brand had a machine-learning headset and an entire AI development workstation on show at CES. 2026's show was unashamedly AI-focused, but Razer seems to have leaned in harder than most - potentially at the expense of its hardware.

Whatever the reasons, we didn't get a look at the new generation of Razer Blade gaming laptops at CES 2026. These are some of my favorite machines on the market, but last year's heat could have made the ground unsteady.

While I'm happy that Razer is experimenting with new ideas, developing on previous concepts, and exploring new areas, the love I have for these slimline form factors is fuelling concern. It's all eyes on Sneki for a sneak peek of its new luxury toys over the next few months and hey, if Razer wants the extra time to iron out its issues they can take it.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

I'm also hunting down all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops. Or, for a change in form factor, check out the best gaming handhelds on the market.