Best Gaming Laptop to Buy in 2019

Gaming laptops are now a better deal than they have ever been, so here’s a list of the 10 best gaming laptops you can buy in 2019!

Gaming laptops are a grey area. Many gaming enthusiasts will be keen to point out that gaming can really only be done on PC’s, but laptops have advanced quite a bit in recent years. 

For many users, a laptop is the best option for computing, and when it comes to gaming, portability can add in so many new avenues, consider LAN parties for example!

If you’re still undecided, I wrote a full piece analyzing whether gaming laptops are worth it.

Best Gaming Laptops

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1. Razer Blade 15 Advanced  – Best Overall

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Specifications:

• Processor – Up to 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 
• Graphics Card – Up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 2080 Max-Q
• Display – 15.6”, Up to 240Hz Full HD or OLED 4K Touch
• Memory – 16GB DDR4, Dual channel
• Storage – 512GB NVMe SSD
• Keyboard – Per-key RGB Chroma
• Dimensions – 9.25” x 13.98” x 0.7”
• Weight : 2.19 kg (4.83 lb)

Design and Usability

Razer has always been dubbed as the Apple of gaming. So it’s no surprise that every major reviewer has dubbed the Razer Blade 15 as the go-to replacement for the MacBook Pro, which is a coveted honor.

In terms of design, it follows the classic black and green Razer styling, with RGB thrown in. The machine looks so sleep, one might mistake it for a MacBook Pro in brand matte black skin.

Quality & Performance

The Razer Blade 2019 Advanced Model is known as a great performer. It comes equipped with top of the line hardware, in a seriously good looking package.

There are no complaints, other than the fact that it has thermal issues, which seems to be a trade-off that is almost always guaranteed with slim laptops with powerful hardware.

The trackpad is also said to be the best on any Windows laptop, yet lacks palm rejection, which might be the one thing keeping it behind the MacBook Pro.

2. Alienware Area-51m – Best Gaming Design

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Specifications:

• Processor – Up to 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i9
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 2060/2070/2080
• Display – 17.3” IPS, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz
• Memory – Up to 64GB DDR4
• Storage – Up to 2TB RAID0 (2x 1TB PCIe M.2 SSDs) + 1TB (+8GB SSHD) Hybrid Drive
• Keyboard – TactX with per-key RGB AlienFX lighting
• Dimensions – 12.57” x 15.85” x 1.7”
• Weight : 2.35 kg (5.18 lb)

Design and Usability

The Alienware range is known for its very futuristic looking aesthetics, and with the name of Area 51, this one is no different. Like all others, it’s instantly recognizable as an Alienware laptop, and if you want to be identified as a gamer when on the go, this one is one heck of a way to make a statement.

It’s a slab, as it has to be, given the impressive spec sheet. However, it’s a gorgeously designed slab. To give you an analogy, think of the Alienware as more of a Buggati than a Lamborghini. It might be bigger, but it’s also more powerful. Despite that, it weighs in at a decent figure for a fully loaded gaming laptop.

Quality & Performance

With Alienware, performance has never been an issue. The Core i9 and the RTX GPUs mean that this machine is an absolute beast on paper, but the brand knows how to put powerful components and make them work together, so there will never be a dull moment with this one.

If that’s not enough, you have Dell’s amazing support backend, and Dell’s consistency, when it comes to delivering performance, and everything else.

3. HP Pavilion Gaming (15-cx0020nr) – Best Budget Choice

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Specifications:

• Processor – Intel® Core™ i5-8300H/i7-8750
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
• Display – 15.6” IPS, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz
• Memory – 8GB DDR4 2666Mhz, single channel
• Storage – 1TB HDD, Intel Optane
• Keyboard – Backlit
• Dimensions – 10.01” x 14.40” x 1”
• Weight : 2.35 kg (5.18 lb)

Design and Usability

HP’s Pavilion offering is for those looking for performance on a budget. Most laptops on this list offer top of the line specs with prices that match their pedigree, but the Pavilion is a class apart. Even on a budget, you get a great design, and this is an easy purchase for those that curb their spendings and want the most out of their money. 

There’s a running theme of green along the black body of the laptop, which is a relatively subtle way of screaming “This is a gaming laptop!” However, the pavilion never does too much of that and is easily passable as a normal laptop.

Quality & Performance

Performance is what you would expect from a budget offering. The 1050 Ti is not bad, at all, and will get you through most games at medium to high settings with 60 FPS.

Of course, it’s a last generation chipset, but those are the kind of compromises you make to save money. The display is far from the best, as well. All things considered, should you get the Pavilion? If you’re on a tight budget and want a decent laptop for gaming, then most definitely yes.

4. Acer Predator Triton 500 – Best Portable Gaming Laptop – 15”

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Specifications:

• Processor – Intel® Core™ i7-9750H 
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 6GB / 2080 8GB
• Display – 15.6” IPS, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz
• Memory – 16/32GB DDR4
• Storage – 512GB/1TB SSD
• Dimensions – 10” x 14.1” x 0.7”
• Weight : 2.1 kg (4.63 lb)

Design and Usability

A portable champ, the Predator Triton 500 is actually a very normal looking machine, with a few bits of ‘gaming design’ here and there.

It has one of the sleekest looking designs in a gaming laptop, and the teal adds a nice touch.

The Triton is a balanced offering and one you should definitely look at it, especially if you are an Acer fan.

Quality & Performance

Performance is good enough for the spec sheet but is bogged down by its portable design. The design results in poor thermal performance, which means the laptop will heat up if you up the load.

Another flaw is that the otherwise decent screen is bogged down by its poor brightness figures. The Triton, while among the best, thus becomes a choice that might make you put form over function.

5. Asus ROG Zephyrus S (GX531) – Sleek and Slim ROG Choice

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Specifications:

• Processor – Intel® Core™ i7-8750H (8th Gen, 6-Core, up to 3.9GHz)
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 6GB / 2070/2080 Max-Q 8GB
• Display – 15.6” IPS-Level, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz, 100% sRGB
• Memory – 16GB DDR4, 2666MHz
• Storage – M.2 NVMe PCIE 3.0 x2 512GB SSD
• Keyboard – 4 Zones RGB Backlit
• Dimensions – 10.55” x 14.17” x 0.64”
• Weight : 2.1 kg (4.63 lb)

Design and Usability

The Republic of Gamers brand is no stranger to any of us, and this particular laptop brings the best of ROG in a sleek and slim design. The Zephyrus S GX531 has the best of both worlds, a great spec sheet, coupled with a sexy design that will woo even the less willing buyers.

The laptop weighs only 2.1Kg (4.63 lbs) which is actually lighter than some budget/low-end laptops that are almost powerless in comparison to this machine. This alone makes it a serious contender to be your next laptop. 

Quality & Performance

Performance is what you would expect from the spec sheet, but not from the design.

Being a slim laptop, one would think that this laptop would have issues with thermals, but Asus has equipped the Zephyrus S with an innovative cooling system, which means that the slim profile isn’t making many compromises on the design.

6. MSI GS75 Stealth – Best Portable Gaming Laptop – 17”

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Specifications:

• Processor – Up to 8th Gen. Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 6GB / 2070/2080 Max-Q 8GB
• Display – 17.3” IPS-Level, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz
• Memory – Up to 32GB DDR4, 2666MHz
• Storage – Upto 2 M.2 SSD, 1 SATA HDD
• Keyboard – Per-Key RGB Backlit
• Dimensions – 10.21” x 15.59” x 0.74”
• Weight : 2.25 kg (4.96 lb)

Design and Usability

This 17” beast carries all the oomph of the GT75 Titan but in a much smaller package. The design of the GS75 Stealth is amazing, and the first time you look at it, you will not guess that it has such powerful hardware inside.

It definitely takes an A+ for design, and if you want form and function in a perfect mix, this is the way to go.

Quality & Performance

The design comes with only a couple of sacrifices. The performance is top notch, but the slim profile means that the battery is smaller, and battery life below average.

It also leaves less room for thermals, and the Stealth seems to run hot when on max load. Build quality is amazing as expected from MSI.

7. MSI GT75 Titan 2019 – Feature-rich Titan

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Specifications:

• Processor – Up to 8th Gen. Intel® Core™ i9 Processor 
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2070/2080 8GB
• Display – 17.3” IPS-Level, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz / IPS-Level 3840×2160
• Memory – Up to 128GB DDR4, 2x2666MHz / 4x2400Mhz
• Storage – Upto 2 M.2 SSD, 1 SATA HDD
• Keyboard – Per-Key RGB Backlit
• Dimensions – 12.36” x 16.85” x 2.28”
• Weight : 4.56 kg (10.05 lb)

Design and Usability

When MSI named this one Titan, they weren’t messing around. Make no mistake, this thing is a giant.

It has a fully packed spec-sheet, with literally nothing missing that you would want from a gaming laptop. With so much packed in, the design seems like it was the optimal choice.

Of course, there’s quite a bulk, and this is one of the heaviest laptops you can buy. However, this is aimed at users that want a solid desktop replacement with portability not being the top priority, which means the weight doesn’t take much away from the amazing laptop that this is.

Quality & Performance

The quality is what one has come to expect from MSI, and given the fact that the Titan is a very expensive machine, MSI has built a steady and strong machine, speaking in terms of build quality and performance, both. Top of the line stuff.

8. Gigabyte Aero 15X – Best Low-Profile Design

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Specifications:

• Processor – Intel® Core™ i7-8750H (8th Gen, 6-Core, up to 4.1GHz) 
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 8GB
• Display – 15.6” IPS, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz / Adobe RGB 100% 3840×2160
• Memory – Up to 32GB DDR4 at 2666MHz, dual channel
• Storage – 2 x M.2 SSD
• Keyboard – Fusion RGB Per-Key Backlit
• Dimensions – 9.8” x 14” x 0.74”
• Weight : 2.0 kg (4.49 lb)

Design and Usability

The Aero 15X takes the cake for the best low-profile design on a gaming laptop. It’s the kind of gaming laptop that looks normal until you look closely, and see all the gaming laptop design elements.

The sides have a neatly arranged I/O with an abundance of ports, which is always appreciated in a portable machine.

Despite all of that, the Aero 15X gets one thing terribly wrong, and that is its webcam placement. Not only is the webcam placed below the display, it’s not on the bottom bezel, but rather on the hinge! Poor adjustability of camera angle is definitely a strike against the otherwise great design.

Quality & Performance

The Aero 15X has a solid spec sheet, and despite the fact that the GPU is a last generation GTX GPU, it is still capable enough to be a great gaming machine.

The letdown, however, is the display, which is quite dim, and get difficult to use in outdoor lighting. If you’re a competitive gamer, this can be a significant disadvantage. 

Other than the display, the Aero 15X makes a compelling buy with its low profile design, but you might want to check out other options for a more wholesome choice.

9. Lenovo Legion Y740 – Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop

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Specifications:

• Processor – Intel® Core™ i7-8750H (8th Gen, 6-Core, up to 4.1GHz) 
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 (6 GB) / 2070 (8GB) with Max-Q
• Display – 15.6” IPS, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz
• Memory – Up to 32GB DDR4 at 2666MHz
• Storage – Up to 1TB HDD and/or up to 512GB SSD
• Keyboard – Backlit RGB
• Dimensions – 10.5” x 14.2” x 0.88”
• Weight : 2.2 kg (5.1 lb)

Design and Usability

This Lenovo is a beast of a gaming laptop and the best buy for Lenovo fans looking for a gaming machine. It has a design that looks like Thinkpad meets Alienware.

It’s a sleek design, but given that it has the typical gaming laptop design cues, the laptop looks quite bland from the front. Lenovo could have stuck to one look, as this amalgamation makes the Y740 look like a  master of none, instead of the jack of all trades, in terms of design.

Another little design annoyance is the webcam placement, which is below the screen, instead of above. Other than that, the Legion Y740 makes a great case as a well-rounded gaming laptop, if you don’t mind a couple of design issues.

Quality & Performance

The Y740 is as solid of a performer as it gets. The 144Hz display is a pleasure and coupled with the latest RTX GPUs, even in the base model, means that the Y740 does not lag behind. All that combined with the reliability of Lenovo makes this a no-nonsense purchase.

10. Dell G7 15 Gaming – Gaming Beast in Business Clothing

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Specifications:

• Processor – Intel® Core™ i7-8750H (8th Gen, 6-Core, up to 4.1GHz) 
• Graphics Card – NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050Ti 4GB or RTX™ 2060 6GB GDDR6
• Display – 15.6” IPS, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz
• Memory – 16GB DDR4 at 2666MHz, single channel
• Storage – 256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB SATA HDD
• Keyboard – Backlit with Blue Print
• Dimensions – 10.8” x 14.37” x 0.78”
• Weight : 2.498 kg (5.5 lb)

Design & Usability

The Dell G7 is a gaming laptop with a design that can pass off as a business laptop. Even though it’s an earlier model, and sports a last generation GPU, it can still rock any game that comes out right now. That’s mostly because of it’s powerful Intel Core i7 CPU which ages well.

However, I know from experience that yes, a current generation i5 could work well for the games that are currently coming out – but it will soon (2 years tops) become obsolete.

The best advantage to the Dell G7’s design is that not only is it good for clocking solid hours in-game, but you can take it into a meeting no questions asked. It does not look like a spaceship and if that’s what you’re going for, this is your best bet.

Quality & Performance

While the GPU and CPU are top of the line, the memory on this one might deter a few buyers. 16GB of RAM is great if it’s in dual channel (2x8GB).

However, with a single DDR4 slot, the G7 might turn out to be a bit slow. However, if you’re not into multitasking, like gaming while running music and checking Facebook on the side, this one’s great.

If you get a model that only has an SSD or an HDD, you can simply install a separate SSD to up your storage and performance.

The 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 check out 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 graphics 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!

This article has been rewritten in July 2019 by Palash Volvoikar to feature the absolute best gaming laptops available at the moment.