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Most people think of gaming computers as massive desktop towers with liquid cooling tanks and flashy rainbow LED lights. But there’s a lot to love about gaming laptops, too. The best gaming laptops can come close to rivaling some of the best gaming PCs, all while being light enough to carry from home to work or school.
There are dozens of gaming laptops out there, but few of them strike the perfect balance between price, great design, and premium performance. We’ve looked at models from nearly every top brand and picked out the four best gaming laptops on the market right now. Each of these laptops feature high-quality hardware that will let you play both modern and classic games with ease for years to come, along with other intensive apps like Adobe Premiere or Blender.
And each of these picks will work amazingly as the centerpiece of a PC gaming battlestation, alongside the best gaming headsets, best gaming mouse, and the best PC controller for gaming.
The best gaming laptops you can buy
Best for budget buyers: Acer Nitro 5 – See at Amazon
The Acer Nitro 5 is a budget gaming laptop that can play modern games with ease, and comes at a price that’s hard to beat. Despite some design flaws, it’s a solid choice for any gamer looking to save some cash.
Best high-end: Alienware M18 – See at Best Buy
The Alienware M18 is a great example of why Alienware is the name in the high-end PC laptop world. It offers the best GPUs, the best CPUs, and an unbelievable amount of storage.
Best for a thin design: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – See at Best Buy
The ROG Zephyrus G14 combines power and portability into one excellent package. It’s less than four pounds and less than an inch thick, meaning it’s easy to take wherever you go.
Best for battery life: Asus TUF Gaming A15 – See at Amazon
The Asus TUF is built with military-grade shock resistance, and its incredibly powerful battery can last for more than nine hours on a single charge.
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