Best Gaming Laptop to Buy in 2018

PC gamers know how challenging it is to find the best gaming laptop for their extensive needs and preferences. If you’re passionate about gaming, you’re always going to want to test the latest games that come out. The newer they are, the higher the requirements will be. Even more so, a high-performing laptop is a serious investment on anyone’s behalf, so you need to think it through wisely.

So what can help you decide on one model from the huge variety available on the market? Our broad guide will walk you through all the best options you have at hand, based on your tastes, budget, configuration desires and much more. Take some time to read through all of our favorites; we guarantee that the research will pay off when you get the gaming laptop of your dreams.

Best Gaming Laptops 2018

10. MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro – Best Portable Gaming Laptop

One of the main reasons we search for the best gaming laptop in the first place is to find a compact alternative to a desktop PC. In addition to the extensive costs that a full gaming PC comes with, it limits us to a single playing space. If you want to game on the go, you should look for a portable substitute, like the MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro gaming laptop.

Main Features

• 75 pound total weight
• Intel Core i7-7700HQ (2.8-3.8GHz) processor with 16GB RAM
• NVIDIA GTX 1060 6G GDDR5 graphics card
• 512GB M.2 SATA SSD
• 1TB 5400-rpm hard drive

Design & Usability

There’s no doubting that the Stealth Pro is a beautiful unit. Coated in slick black with red details, the laptop also features a custom SteelSeries RGB keyboard. The matte, 15.6-inch display is just what you need for concentrating on the visual aspect of any game or video. Oh, did we mention that the Stealth Pro weighs less than 4 pounds? That’s definitely a quality you don’t come across often.

As opposed to other portable gaming laptops, it also fits a full number pad in its 9.8 x 14.96 x 0.69 dimensions. The fact that it’s so compact from any point of view makes it ideal for traveling gamers, or those who just want to play in various environments. Nevertheless, a significant usability downside is the lack of an efficient battery – it lasts less than 3 hours.

Quality & Performance

Overall, we’re talking about a high quality laptop that most likely won’t disappoint even the pickiest of gamers. Still, there are some details that could be improved for future models. For instance, it’s great that you have a webcam incorporated in the design, but the image is quite pixelated. After that, the laptop will heat up significantly after 15 minutes of use.

However, this is nothing when you think about the hardware. The GTX 1060 6G GDDR5 graphics card provides stunning imagery, with the option of switching from the NVIDIA graphics to the CPU ones and back again. Plus, the i7-6700HQ processor and 16GB of RAM are more than enough to support games, HD video streaming and anything else you could want from your desktop computer.

9. Acer Aspire VX 15 – Best 15 Inch Gaming Laptop

Aside from state-of-the-art models like Alienware, most of the best gaming laptop options come in 15-inch varieties. As a result, it was quite the task for us to identify one as the best. Be that as it may, the Acer Aspire VX 15 (VX5-591G-75RM) stands out as an amazing value for hardcore gamers seeking a 15.6-inch screen size.

Main Features

• i7-7700HQ processor with 16GB DDR5 video memory
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / 4GB GDDR5 VRAM
• 256GB SSD
• 1920 x 1080p full HD 15.6-inch screen
• 6 total ports

Design & Usability

With a sharp-angled black and red design, the VX 15 looks super cool straight out the box. Despite the plastic case, users will be happy to find out that fingerprints won’t be an issue. It has two fans incorporated in the design, which actually prevent the laptop from heating up. The keyboard won’t make any annoying noise, allowing you to concentrate on the game.

We would have awarded the VX 15 with top usability points if it weren’t for the persistent HDD issue. Seeing as the 256GB SSD isn’t nearly enough for what avid gamers look for in a unit, they’ll probably want to replace theirs. Here’s where the problem kicks in – you don’t have any hardware to do so. To solve this issue, the folks at Acer let you request a free HDD installation kit by completing a form.

Quality & Performance

Don’t let the plastic casing fool you; the VX 15 is a serious gaming machine. The Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor is powerful and effective, while the IPS display comes to life and keeps speed up to par with the NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM graphics. We also want to give a shout out to Acer for offering prompt, patient and all-around terrific service to customers.

In most cases, it’s all smooth sailing with this Acer model. It’s reported to run like a gem, allowing you to play and listen to music without any problems. You’ll be able to run most modern games on medium at least. Although a few users complained about their screen flickering from time to time, it’s not an issue for all customers.

8. Razer Blade – Best Thin Gaming Laptop

Gaming laptops have their fair share of ups and downs, with heaviness being one of the major cons in the majority of models. The idea of getting a portable gaming device is so you can move it around with ease, which is why so many customers look for a slim device. Out of all the thin gaming laptops we’ve researched, the Razer Blade takes the win.

Main Features

• 7” thickness & 4.16-pound weight
• 8 GHz Intel Core i7 processor
• VR-ready
• GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card
• 14” display size

Design & Usability

It’s easy to understand why design is the Razer Blade’s strongest point of all. With 9.3 x 13.6 x 0.7 dimensions and a weight of just 4.16 pounds, it really is as close as you can get to an Ultrabook without losing quality. The black aluminum frame is gorgeous, even though it is prone to fingerprints. The specific model we’re reviewing has a 14-inch screen, but you can also get it in 17 inches.

We love how versatile the Razer Blade is. Naturally, it’s one of the best gaming laptop choices, but it’s also fantastic for businessmen in IT or even 3D artists. The laptop arrives with the colors accurately calibrated, also serving as one of the first mobile devices in the world certified by THX. Additionally, the Chroma lighting system by Razer lets you fully customize your keyboard colors.

Quality & Performance

Most of the time, the Razer Blade is such a piece of powerful eye candy that it almost seems too good to be true. Well, unfortunately, it appears that it is that way for some customers. We identified an alarming amount of complaints regarding backlight bleeding or dead pixels. Razer seems to have solved these issues, but not as fast as users would have liked.

Without a doubt, the 3.8GHZ Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU is up to par with industry standards for gaming laptops in this price range. You get the unit with a GTX 1060 graphics card, which is just what you need for basically any new game on the market. All in all, countless reports say that the Razer Blade has everything Apple should have considered for the MacBook Pro (which is saying something).

7. ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH74 – Best ASUS Gaming Laptop

With its ROG series, ASUS has put an impressive range of gaming laptops on the market. The company is known for designing fairly-priced units that work like a charm for gamers on a tight budget. Considering that most of their products have the above-mentioned qualities, it wasn’t easy proclaiming the ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH74 as the best gaming laptop under the ASUS brand.

Main Features

• 6^th gen Intel Core i7-6700HQ 2.6GHz processor with 16GB of RAM
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M with 4GB of VRAM graphics
• 1TB 7200RPM HDD and 128GB M.2 SSD
• Matte IPS display
• GameFirst III technology for lag reduction

Design & Usability

As ASUS explains, the design of the GL552 was inspired by an F-22 stealth fighter. A fusion of plastic and aluminum is used for the chassis, reducing potential fingerprints. Unfortunately, the nice design may be eclipsed by its bulky structure. It’s one of the beefier devices on our lists, measuring 15.1 x 10.1 x 1.3 inches and weighing 5.6 pounds.

All the same, it’s one of the friendliest gaming laptops for those seeking upgrades. While competitors like Acer make this a highly troublesome process for VX 15 customers, ASUS provides an easy slide-off upgrade panel for adding an M.2 SSD or HDD effortlessly. We also enjoy the 1-piece keyboard, which includes all the keys that are often omitted for gaming laptops.

Quality & Performance

We have mixed feelings when judging the overall quality of the GL552. We would have loved to focus only on its strong points, but there are too many discouraging consumer reports to ignore them. Quite a few customers complained about getting crashes after a few months’ use, with others receiving defective units from the very beginning.

Still, we whole-heartedly support it for its performance as a budget gaming laptop. It may not have the latest CPU and GPU, but they’re still top-notch: i7-6700HQ 2.6GHz processor & GTX 960M graphics. We’re thrilled that the start up is swift, and that lag won’t be a problem, thanks to the GameFirst III technology by ASUS.

6. Lenovo Y700 – Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop

Sure, there are some speed disadvantages, but it’s nothing that RAM and SSD upgrades can’t solve. This particular model is currently on sale for a dash above $900 on Amazon, but even if you don’t catch the promo you won’t have to pay more than $1,200 for it. All in all, it’s one of the best gaming laptop choices for a budget shopper.

Main Features

• Intel Core i7-6700HQ CPU (2.6GHz) with 8GB RAM
• 1TB 5400RPM hard drive
• 128GB SSD
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics card
• 6″ anti-glare display with 1920 x 1080 resolution

Design & Usability

With the Y700, we’re not only dealing with a visually pleasing laptop, but also with a durable one. The device has a metallic finish and a cool, red-backlit keyboard for night gaming. Furthermore, the 15.6” IPS delivers clear and bright images, all while preventing glare. It’s quite the stylish unit, especially for gamers who like sharp angles and edges in their design.

Sadly, it’s pretty big for a gaming laptop, with a weight of 5.7 pounds and 15.2 x 1 x 10.9 item dimensions. Consequently, it may not be the best buy for customers who have portability as a priority. Other than that, it’s easy to upgrade the SSD or add RAM, but with the slight disadvantage that you will need two 8GB sticks. The 8GB of RAM it comes with is actually two units of 4GB each.

Quality & Performance

The Lenovo Y700 has a particular quality benefit that makes it tower over competitors – outstanding audio quality. While plenty of gaming laptops lack proper sound, the Y700 comes with Dolby Audio Premium JBL speakers that sound phenomenal and don’t limit you to gaming with headphones. Add that to the design and hardware quality and you have a terrific value at hand.

Here’s where the main customer concern comes in: the Y700 may not meet your speed expectations. Although the processor and graphics card are adequate, the 128GB SSD most likely won’t be enough for your gaming requirements. The same goes for the RAM issue we covered earlier. However, rest assured that you can upgrade either of these without a problem.

5. HP 15-af131dx P1A95UA – Best Cheap Gaming Laptop under 300 Dollars

Before we dive into details about the cheapest laptop from our selection, we want to set the record straight. No <$300 laptop will allow you to play complex, modern games. Now that we have that settled, let’s talk about what you can expect from the HP 15-af131dx P1A95UA, the best gaming laptop for an extremely limited budget.

Main Features

• 0GHz AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU microprocessor
• AMD Radeon R4 graphics with up to 2048MB total memory
• 500GB 5400RPM HDD
• 4GB DDR3 SDRAM memory
• 6-inch LED display (1366 x 768p)

Design & Usability

As expected, this HP 15 model has a plastic chassis, but don’t let the cheaper material fool you. The manufacturer is known for designing sturdy laptops that usually withstand minor drops. For a unit in its price range, it has a surprisingly large screen, with the 15.6” diagonal that better gaming laptops come with. A nice touch for casual gamers is the full keyboard, complete with a number pad.

Novice gamers or users who aren’t exactly tech experts will appreciate the simple setup. Basically, it’s ready to use straight out of the box. However, you should know that it comes with tons of pre-installed software (bloatware). In essence, it’s a user-friendly laptop for all types of customers, from students to seniors and everyone in between.

Quality & Performance

As with all budget products, you will always get what you pay for. That being said, we were still surprised to find satisfactory results with the HP 15-af131dx. It is indeed a quality laptop for the money, provided you don’t set your expectations too high. HP has done a fine job of creating a product and marketing it accordingly, although their customer service is reported to be slow.

For a quick specs follow up, be aware that this laptop has an AMD A6-5200 microprocessor, with only 4GB of RAM. Clearly, you’ll want at least 8GB of RAM for anything more than light gaming. In addition to this, you may want to spend a few extra bucks on an SSD, regardless if you’ll be using it for games. Otherwise, you risk struggling with a slow laptop, no matter how affordable it is.

4. Lenovo G50 – Best Gaming Laptop under 500 Dollars

At less than $500, the Lenovo G50 80E30181US came in pretty close to the HP that won the slot for the cheapest laptop on our list. Be that as it may, the G50 has significant advantages that come with the extra minor investment. Still, don’t forget that this is a unit priced at less than $350, which makes it a fantastic value for the amount you spend on it.

Main Features

• AMD A8-6410 processor
• Integrated AMD Radeon R5 graphics
• 6GB DDR3L memory
• 500GB 5400 RPM hard drive
• LCD screen, with a 15.6″ diagonal

Design & Usability

Design-wise, the Lenovo G50 is nothing out of the ordinary. It has a classic frame made from plastic but shines through the large 15.6-inch display for a laptop in its class. The screen is an LCD with LED backlighting and 1366 x 768p resolution. There’s a webcam incorporated in the design, but it’s only 0.3MP. The G50 also has a sleek, all-black finish, allowing it to fit comfortably into any environment.

Like with most other low-budget laptops, the G50 provides a swift installation once you receive it. However, be aware that you’ll need to spend quite some time uninstalling all the malware and adware it comes with. You can easily use it to play older games, and even some modern ones with low settings. Gameplay won’t be a problem, but the frame rate for streaming isn’t the best.

Quality & Performance

If you’re one of the lucky users that make up the majority, you should enjoy an exceptional deal with the nice quality for the small investment. Nevertheless, we want to inform you that there are a handful of negative reports regarding the G50 keyboard. Not only do the keys feel cheaply made, but it’s also prone to falling out completely after a year or so of use.

Performance won’t be astounding for avid gamers, but it gets the job done for basic computing. If you ever want to step up its speed, consider replacing the 6GB of RAM it comes with. You have two slots available, which can support 8GB each. As a result, you’ll be able to upgrade to a total of 16GB of RAM. Throw in an SSD and you just may have one of the best deals you can get your hands on.

3. Dell Inspiron i7559 – Best Gaming Laptop under 1000 Dollars

Aside from being the best gaming laptop that you’ll pay far less than $1,000 for, the Dell Inspiron i7559 is one of the best deals you can enjoy. The 7559 is a powerful machine that boasts the configurations of many upper-end gaming laptops, all for somewhere around $700 on sites like Amazon. Plus, it’s a Dell model, the same company that owns the world-class Alienware brand.

Main Features

• 256GB SSD
• 6th generation Intel Core i5-6300HQ processor
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics card
• 8GB DDR3L memory
• 1920×1080 pixels display resolution

Design & Usability

The 7559 has a matte black finish with eye-catching red accents. It’s easy for anyone to appreciate that it’s an attractive unit, even if it is a bit on the heavy side (5.67 pounds). As much as we love how it looks on a desk, the 15.6-inch screen may have certain design issues. Even though the 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution is lovely, there are recurring complaints of backlight bleeding.

However, the product scores extra points for usability. You can start using the laptop the moment you unbox it, even having the display pre-calibrated. Compared to other manufacturers, Dell lays low on the bloatware and saves users time they would have spent uninstalling it. You can use the 7559 for playing the latest and greatest games at high settings, from Fallout 4 to Witcher 3.

Quality & Performance

There’s no doubt in the world regarding the quality of hardware put into the 7559. The GTX 960M GPU provides spectacular images, and the 6^th generation i5-6300HQ processor won’t disappoint. Nonetheless, we have pinpointed multiple reviews by discontent users that highlighted the poor quality of the hinges. To be more specific, the hinges on their units broke in just a few months.

The performance stats are stellar, owing to the awesome 256GB SSD it comes with. If that isn’t enough, you can always add another SSD to make your unit skyrocket. The memory is also upgradeable, allowing users to escalate to 16GB of RAM. Although the pros prominently outweigh the cons, we do have to mention that several users had their product die out after 1 year or so.

2. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Gaming Laptop under 1500 Dollars

We were extremely close to crowning it the best gaming laptop of 2018, if it weren’t for several persisting issues that Acer hasn’t succeeded in clearing up yet. But before we detail them, let’s take a moment to shine some light on the unbelievable value this laptop has. A 7^th generation Intel Core processor, 256GB SSD and GTX 1060 6GB graphics, all for well under $1,500. No, we’re not kidding.

Main Features

• Intel Quad Core i7-7700HQ processor
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB GDDR5 VRAM graphics card
• 16GB DDR4 memory
• 256GB SSD
• Full HD display with 15.6-inch diagonal

Design & Usability

We want to make it clear that the Predator Helios 300 is a laptop evidently designed for gamers. In this regard, you can’t expect a unit with a futuristic design and a huge “Predator” logo on the back to fit in with your school or office setting. The sleek metal chassis is paired with nice red backlighting for the keyboard, with the W / A / S / D keys accentuated for gaming purposes.

Furthermore, we don’t really recommend taking the Predator Helios 300 out for walks anyway, partly due to the weight. It is indeed a reliable desktop computer replacement for gamers, but at 5.95 pounds it’s quite heavy. As for actual gameplay, you should know that there aren’t any limits to the advanced games you can play with 60 fps+ and high or even ultra settings.

Quality & Performance

The processor, graphics card, SSD and distinctly large memory are all clear signs of quality with the Helios 300. Disappointingly, the area lacking quality is the screen. Sure, it’s full HD and with a 15.6” diagonal, but there are more screen bleeding reports than we can count. The quality of the battery is also lower than advertised – 2-3 hours for basic computing instead of the promised 7 hours.

Notwithstanding, the tech specs and exceptional performance of the Predator Helios 300 make it a lean mean gaming machine. Aside from amazing speed, you can also toy around with its VR features and take your playing experience to the next level. Just be prepared to update your firmware right when you take it out of the box though (BIOS 1.3 required).

1. Alienware 17 R4 – Best Gaming Laptop of 2018

The Alienware 17 is an undisputable workhorse, withstanding an overwhelming amount of state-of-the-art games and programs. As a matter of fact, it’s a premium choice for individuals working in video or image processing, thanks to the dazzling specs. It has more custom options than you could ever hope for, allowing you to truly make this gaming machine yours.

Main Features

• 3″ 1920 x 1080p IPS display, with anti-glare and Tobii IR eye-tracking technology
• Intel Quad Core i7-7700HQ processor (up to 3.8GHz)
• 1TB 7200RPM SATA hard drive
• NVIDIA GTX 1060 graphics
• 3 USB 3.0 ports

Design & Usability

The Alienware brand is known for designing some of the coolest-looking gaming laptops on the market. The 17 R4 model shines with an icy silver shell and all-around innovative design, with a fully customizable backlit keyboard and ports galore. The screen is a whopping 17.3 inches in diagonal, making it the largest display on our list. We regret that it’s incredibly heavy though, at almost 10lb.

Almost all customers purchase the Alienware 17 for gaming, obviously. However, its impressive graphics and processing make it more than suitable for content creators. You can also use the awesome Tobii eye-tracking software to enhance your gameplay and content creation. Use this beautiful beast for any game on the market, no matter how complex or demanding it is.

Quality & Performance

The 17 R4 model by Alienware is probably the only best gaming laptop we can think of without any major quality issues. Its case is well-built and super sturdy, and there’s no doubting the quality of the components Alienware invested in it. Also, it has solved the seemingly ubiquitous problem of overheating; the advanced ventilation keeps it cool even when gaming for hours on end.

Alienware 17 provides a 5-star performance with every gameplay. It’s a laptop you can genuinely rely on, designed by the top company in the game right now. Honestly, the mediocre battery life and potentially noisy fan system are really just nitpicking. On the whole, the Alienware 17 is the best gaming laptop of the year, from specs to budget, performance and any other aspect you can think of.

Final Verdict

In summary, the best gaming laptop of the year may be the Alienware 17, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the best option for you. Every gamer has their own conditions, and to each his own. There are quite a few details that you should always consider before buying your gaming laptop, especially if you don’t want to regret your purchase a month after unboxing.

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you go through this checklist and set your priorities in order before you’re tempted to checkout on the first unit you see:

• Processor – Will I stand for nothing less than a 7^th generation Intel Core processor? Or am I ok with an AMD Quad Core too?
• Graphics Card – How much do I value imagery as part of my gaming experience?
• Memory – Would I rather get a fast unit from the beginning, or upgrade as I go along?
• Size – Do I want to travel with my gaming laptop, or do I just want to keep it on my desk at home?
• Budget – How much am I willing to spend on the best gaming laptop for me? More than $1,000? Less than $500?

Once you have these specifics settled, the rest will be a breeze. Put the pieces of the puzzle together and see which gaming laptop will bring you the most long-term joy. Have fun!