Best gaming laptops in 2024: Power and portability in one. The cream of the crop!

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen8)

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 is a powerhouse of a gaming laptop that aims to provide an exceptional gaming experience for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Featuring the 13th Generation Intel Core i9-13900HX processor, this machine packs a significant punch with its high-performance E-cores clocking up to 3.90 GHz and P-cores that can reach up to an impressive 5.40 GHz

From a graphics standpoint, the Legion Pro 7i doesn't disappoint. It houses an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 with 12GB GDDR6, a high-end graphics card that ensures smooth and immersive gameplay with real-time ray tracing capabilities. This, combined with a 16" WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS display that boasts HDR 400, a full 100% sRGB color gamut, and a peak brightness of 500 nits, means that gamers can experience sharp, vibrant visuals at breakneck speeds of up to 240Hz refresh rate. The anti-glare feature, narrow bezel, and low blue light emission ensure comfort during long gaming sessions

The laptop is fitted with 32 GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, providing ample headroom for demanding games and multitasking needs. Users will appreciate the 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC SSD that delivers lightning-fast load times and plenty of space for a large library of games and media files

In terms of design, the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 sports an onyx grey color and measures 12.92 x 8.72 x 0.63 inches. The construction is solid, which is reflected in its substantial yet portable weight of 6.2 pounds, suggesting that while this laptop is highly portable, it also stands up to the rigors of travel

Connectivity and interaction with the laptop are enhanced by the inclusion of a 1080P FHD camera with a dual microphone setup and an E-camera shutter for privacy. Wireless communication is handled by an 802.11ax Wi-Fi card, maintaining a stable and fast internet connection, essential for online gaming and streaming content.

The Legion Pro 7i includes several USB ports—two USB 2.0 and four USB 3.0—to cater to various peripheral and external storage needs. An important note for potential buyers is the average battery life that extends up to 13 hours, which is quite remarkable for a gaming laptop of this caliber, suggesting that it can double as a work machine when away from power outlets

Gigabyte G5 KD-52US123SO

The Gigabyte G5 (2023) offers exceptional value, which is quite surprising considering the usual price increase for new gaming laptops. However, this laptop doesn't come with any trendy features or unnecessary additions that would drive up the cost. Instead, it provides a straightforward, well-built, and thoughtfully equipped gaming experience for under $900 or £900, delivering impressive frame rates in games.

Now, let's talk about the highlight of this laptop, the RTX 4060. While we haven't seen Nvidia's RTX 40-series reach this level on desktops yet, this budget-friendly card still delivers outstanding 1080p performance that perfectly complements the G5's 1080p 144Hz display. This is partly due to the significant power that Gigabyte has allocated to the GPU inside this machine, with a total of 75W.

Although this may seem modest compared to the 175W RTX 4090 laptops we've reviewed, it's actually 30W more than what MSI is willing to provide for its own RTX 4060-powered gaming laptop, the Cyborg 15. And with every additional watt flowing through the G5's GPU, you'll notice an increase in frame rates. In fact, our testing shows that the Gigabyte G5 is up to 27% faster than the Cyborg 15, despite the latter having a better CPU for gaming.

Speaking of the CPU, the Gigabyte G5 is equipped with Intel's Core i5 12500H. It's a sensible choice, although it falls a bit short with only four Performance-cores (P-cores). This particular chip is part of Intel's hybrid Alder Lake lineup, which means it also includes eight Efficient-cores (E-cores) to assist with less demanding tasks and reduce the load on the gaming-focused silicon. In total, you get a 12-core chip.

Ideally, I would prefer to have a few more P-cores, preferably six, like the Core i7 12650H CPU found in the MSI Cyborg 15. The MSI laptop also boasts faster DDR5 memory compared to the older DDR4 in the Gigabyte machine. However, as shown in the benchmark results, the actual performance difference between these two CPUs is relatively small, even in CPU-intensive applications and tests.

If you ever need to access the internals of the Gigabyte G5, you can easily do so with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Razer Blade 15

The most recent iteration of the Razer Blade 15 once again enhances the already exceptional gaming laptop. It retains the stunning CNC-milled aluminum chassis from its predecessor, but now has the capability to accommodate Nvidia's latest RTX 40-series GPUs and an Intel 13th Gen Core i9 CPU.

When we had the opportunity to experience the Razer Blade 15 Advanced with a 10th Gen Intel chip and RTX 3080 (95W) GPU, we were captivated once more. The chassis remains unchanged, but it now comes equipped with even more powerful components. We also had the chance to test the larger Razer Blade 17, which housed an RTX 3080 Ti and one of the impressive 12th Gen chips. We were astounded by the compact and tidy chassis that could accommodate such high-performance hardware.

However, due to its slim design, there may be some throttling, and the battery life on the larger Blade 17 may be somewhat limited. Nevertheless, you can still expect outstanding performance from this exquisite machine.

Although the Blade 15 may not be the lightest gaming laptop available, weighing in at five pounds, it is still significantly better than many traditional gaming laptops while offering comparable performance and specifications. Its weight also contributes to a solid and sturdy feel, making it a suitable choice for travel in your backpack. It is an excellent option for gamers on the go or for those who lack the space for a full-fledged gaming desktop and monitor.

Keyboard enthusiasts will appreciate the larger shift and half-height arrow keys on the Blade 15 Advanced. In contrast to the Base Model's zonal lighting, the Advanced model offers per-key RGB lighting. Typing feels fantastic, and the Blade's keycaps have always provided a satisfying tactile experience. Although the trackpad can be frustrating at times, it is recommended to use a mouse with this stunning machine, so it is not a major drawback.

One of the standout features of the Blade 15 is the wide range of configurations offered by Razer. From the RTX 3060 Base Edition to the RTX 4070 Advanced with a 240Hz QHD panel, there is something available for nearly every user. It remains one of the most visually appealing gaming laptops on the market and continues to impress.