Best Gaming Laptops in 2022: 10 Hyper Performing Portable Gaming Rigs

Every year, the top gaming laptops change. Early mobile gaming devices tended to be desktop substitutes, with bulky chassis, numerous power bricks, and a tonne of RGB lighting. The current front-runners, though, are distinct. Finally, manufacturers are incorporating potent components into more svelte, portable, and professional models. They offer amazing screens with quick refresh rates, which are essential for an enjoyable gaming experience. These laptops function well for both regular work and video games.

The top 10 budget gaming laptops provide more than just the newest parts housed in a battery-saving design. Our top picks do all of these whiles also striking a balance between cost and value for money. Find our cheap gaming laptops right here, whether you’re looking for the most powerful machine or the greatest value option.

To identify the top gaming laptops, we put a wide range of laptops to the test, measuring performance concerning the specs offered, design and temperature efficiency, and overall cost-effectiveness. In short, we put each device through a battery of performance benchmarks and use it for extended periods while also living, playing, and working with it. Below are all of our suggestions for the best gaming laptops currently available, along with extra details on how to select the setup that will work best for you and your budget.

With Intel’s Alder Lake processors being used in some of the most popular models and attention being paid to new GPU possibilities, the world of gaming laptops (and gaming PCs in general) is evolving quickly. 

Model	Processor	Graphics	RAM	Storage	Price	Availability
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)	AMD Ryzen 7-5800HS	GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics	40GB RAM	2TB PCIe SSD	$1,399.00	Amazon
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (16″ AMD)	Ryzen 7 5800H	GeForce RTX 3060 6GB	16GB RAM	1TB PCIe SSD	$1,546.21	Amazon
Acer Predator Helios 300	10th Gen Intel 6-Core i7-10750H	RTX 2060	32GB RAM	PCIe SSD 2TB	$1,769.00	Amazon
Razer Blade 15	10th Gen Intel 8 Core i7 CPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070	16GB RAM	1TB SSD	$1,999.99	Amazon
Alienware m17 R5 AMD (2022)	8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6-Core	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max Q	16GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM	512GB SSD	$1,699.95	Amazon
MSI GE76 Raider	Intel 8-Core i7-11800H	RTX 3060	32GB RAM	2TB PCIe SSD	$1,999.99	Amazon
Alienware x17 R2	Core i7	8GB GDDR 6X Win 11 Pro (Renewed)	32GB RAM	1TB SSD	$2,599.99	Amazon
HP Victus 15	12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050	8 GB RAM	512 GB SSD	$699.99	Amazon
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE (2022)	Intel Core i9 Processor	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti	32GB DDR5	2TB SSD	$3,999.99	Amazon
MSI Vector GP76	Intel i7-12700H 14-Core	RTX 3080 8GB	32GB RAM	1TB PCIe SSD	$2,819.00	Amazon

10 Best Gaming Laptops

Here are 10 of our top picks that can give you a pleasant experience.

1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

Specifications

AMD Ryzen 7-5800HS 40GB RAM2TB PCIe SSD Backlit Keyboard GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics Win 11 Grey 32GB USB Card Buy on Amazon Price: $1,399.00

Overview

The updated Zephyrus G14 for 2022 continues to astound us with its well-balanced specifications and superior gaming performance. Since it has a 120Hz refresh rate, this device seriously rips through frames, and it’s great for much more than just gaming.

There is a cheaper RX 6700S option. It has 32GB of DDR5-4800 RAM, though we love having all that quick memory ready to take on everything you can throw at it.

AMD Ryzen 5800HS is its primary processor. Although you’re competing over boost clocks and not much else when it comes to the top of the red team’s mobile processors, it is one of AMD’s Ryzen 6000-series’ best and brightest chips. I find it more than adequate because it offers eight cores and 16 threads of the Zen 3+ architecture, which can accelerate to 4.9GHz (which it occasionally does).

GPU and CPU combination is excellent. It must be admitted that G14’s overall gaming performance is quite impressive. That’s even without using the Turbo option, which is more proficient. Everything is tested using the default Performance mode. It can generally overtake RTX 3080 and RTX 3070 mobile.

The G14 is a 14-inch laptop, which is one of the best aspects. A wonderful negotiation between the bigger 15- and 17-inch designs, the combination of screen size and the small form factor doesn’t feel as constrained as a 13-inch device. The primary difference between the 2022 model and earlier generations is that the 14-inch dimension now has a greater 16:10 aspect ratio than the earlier models’ 16:9 panels.

The fast refresh and high-resolution panel on the G14 also look amazing when everything is operating correctly. You can take in every detail of this model’s brilliant and vivid IPS display.

Pros	Cons
Newest CPU and GPU from AMD Excellent video game performance A sturdy and attractive chassis16:10, IPS panel, 2560 x 1440, 120 Hz	Not as inexpensive as I’d anticipate from the G14 Poor gaming battery life

Rating:

4.7/5

2. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (16″ AMD)

Specifications

16.0″ QHD IPS 165Hz Ryzen 7 5800H GeForce RTX 3060 6GB TGP 130W Win 10 Home 16GB RAM 1TB PCIe SSD HDMI Cable BundleBuy Buy On Amazon Price: $1,546.21

Overview

AMD is unquestionably a major competitor in the market for gaming laptops, as demonstrated by the Legion Pro 5. When the mobile Ryzen 7 5800H and RTX 3060 are combined, a computer is created that is not only capable of handling current games with ease but also more challenging adventures.

The QHD 16:10 165Hz screen is a real standout that makes gaming and using Windows enjoyable. You won’t be disappointed when playing games or watching movies, thanks to the IPS panel’s peak brightness of 500 nits.

The powerful RTX 3060 (with a peak delivery of 140W, faster than some 3070s) is a wonderful complement to that bright screen, making the Legion Pro 5 a true gaming beast. You won’t experience any lag when playing the great majority of games at their native 2560 x 1600 resolution on high settings. This is a really attractive package, made even more so because you can benefit from DLSS and some ray tracing enhancements for the price.

This laptop is nice to use for typing as well. Individuals have always praised Lenovo keyboards. The keycaps’ rounded bottoms provide a pleasant feel to them. You can combine that with the big 4.7 x 3-inch trackpad to create a beautiful work laptop that also performed admirably in video games. I wish more laptop manufacturers would exploit the extra room provided by 17-inch gaming laptops to improve the quality of our lives.

Pros	Cons
Great keyboard Excellent 165Hz QHD screen reasonably priced	Poor speakers and microphone webcam in 720p

Rating:

4.8/5

3. Acer Predator Helios 300

Specifications

15.6″ FHD IPS 144Hz 10th Gen Intel 6-Core i7-10750H 32GB RAM 512GBPCIe SSD 2TBHDD 6GB RTX 2060  RGB Backlit Win 10 +  HDMI Cable Buy on Amazon Price: $1,769.00

Overview

During the GTX 10-series era, we adored Acer’s Predator Helios 300, and the current-generation Helios continues to outperform comparable $1,500 laptops in its class. Although it might not be the finest gaming laptop, it is one of the most affordable budgeted laptops available.

The most recent Helios model features an RTX 2060 GPU and a more streamlined design without considerably increasing the cost. It is more in line with streamlined thin-and-lights than its bulkier brethren of the previous generation because it also boasts a 144Hz screen and reduced bezels.

The little SSD is the only true downside, but the laptop includes ports for two SSDs and an HDD, so adding more storage is as simple as grabbing a screwdriver. At this end of the price spectrum, you frequently need to be skilled with upgrades, and the Helios 300 is no exception.

The Turbo button is Acer’s one-touch GPU overclocking option. If you’re eager for just a little bit of extra gaming performance, you can use it to instantly increase the sensation, sound, or fury of your gaming experience. This straightforward function on the Predator laptops is intended to squeeze out as much gaming performance as possible.

Pros	Cons
Excellent performance for the money Respectable battery life space for 2x SSDs, 1x HDD	Average CPU performance

Rating:

4.5/5

4. Razer Blade 15

Specifications

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30701 0th Gen Intel 8 Core i7 CPU 15.6″ FHD 360Hz 16GB RAM 1TB SSDCNC AluminiumChroma RGBTHX Spatial AudioThunderbolt 3 Buy on Amazon Price: $1,999.99

Overview

One of the best gaming laptops ever created is once again improved with the Razer Blade 15’s most recent iteration. It boasts the same exquisite CNC-milled aluminum chassis as its predecessor. Still, this time it can accommodate an Intel Core i7 processor from the 10th generation and one of Nvidia’s most recent RTX 30-series GPUs.

We have experimented with the RTX 3070 (95W) GPU-equipped Razer Blade 15, which uses the 10th-generation Intel processor. And we once again fell in love. Since then, we’ve also tested out the larger Razer Blade 17 with an RTX 3080 Ti and one of those enjoyable 12th Gen chips inside, and we’re still astounded by what can fit into such a small and tidy chassis.

The slim line design will cause some throttling, and even on the larger Blade 17, the battery life may not last very long, but you’ll still get fantastic performance from a stunning device.

Although the Blade 15 isn’t the lightest gaming laptop you can buy, it weighs only five pounds. It is still significantly less than many other typical gaming laptops and provides comparable performance and capabilities. It also feels sturdy because of that weight. It also means that the Blade 15 may be carried comfortably in a backpack. A good option if you don’t have the space for a full-blown gaming workstation and monitor or are a player on the road.

The variety of options Razer offers for the Blade 15 is one of its best features. There is something for everyone, ranging from the RTX 3060 Base Edition to the RTX 3080 Ti Advanced with a 144Hz 4K panel. It is still one of the most powerful and gorgeous gaming laptops available.

Though you’ll pay more for the now-classic appearance, we believe the Razer Blade 15 is the finest gaming laptop available right now, regardless of the configuration you choose.

Pros	Cons
Excellent build quality Strong gaming performance Excellent webcam and ports	PriceyCompetitors have better screens Mixed productivity performance

Rating:

4.6/5

5. Alienware m17 R5 AMD (2022)

Specifications

8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6-Core  17.3 Inch FHD 1920×1080 60Hz IPS 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM 512GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max Q Buy on Amazon Price: $1,699.95

Alienware is always adored because it has unwavering faith in all of its new products. Whether that means announcing one of the sleekest OLED gaming monitors to date or bragging about a PC being a “Benchmark Bruiser.” How can I refuse the opportunity to test out the new Alienware m17 R5, which has been branded “the most powerful 17-inch AMD Advantage gaming laptop”?

On paper, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and Radeon RX 6850M XT combination that powers the Alienware m17 R5 appears to be a winner. I was excited to compare the laptops equipped with RTX 3070 Ti and even RTX 3080 Ti mobile GPUs because it is the first gaming laptop we’ve evaluated with an RX 6850M XT.

The Ryzen APU and Radeon GPU are switched automatically by Smart Access Graphics, and Smart shift Max intelligently adjusts your power depending on the app or game you’re running. This laptop also makes use of AMD’s suite of gaming-enhancing technologies. These functions have the advantage of functioning automatically without your intervention. These functions are nice, especially if you need to squeeze more power while switching between gaming and, say, video editing.

Pros	Cons
An exceptional gaming and productivity performance Stunning design	expensive little heavier and larger than the competitors Potentially greater battery life

Rating:

4.8/5

6. MSI GE76 Raider

Specifications

17.3″ 144Hz Display 32GB RAM 2TB PCIe SSD Intel 8-Core i7-11800H (Beat Ryzen 7 5800H) FHD Gaming Laptop Thunderbolt 4 Webcam RGB Backlit IST HDMI Windows 10 Buy on Amazon Price: $1,999.99

Overview

The MSI GE76 Raider is as near as you’ll come to a laptop with desktop-level capability, but you might have to shell out a lot of cash to get it. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti and Intel Core i9-12900 HK are two of its top-of-the-line components.

The Raider boasts a sizable RGB light bar on the front, which, combined with per-key lighting, creates a striking effect in the dark.

According to setup options, the 17.3-inch, 1080p display can run up to 144 Hz, which is ideal for gamers.

We priced the laptop we examined at $1,999.99, which will satisfy you when you check your bank balance. That’s a budget of money to spend on a laptop. It also has the best performance we’ve recently seen.

Pros	Cons
Excellent performance from the CPU and GPU Ample portsElegant RGB light bar	The loud fans display is less bright than the previous model Pricy in premium configurations

Rating:

4.9/5

7. Alienware x17 R2

Specifications

17.3″ FHD Core i7 1TB SSD 32GB RAM 3070 Ti  14 Cores @ 4.7 GHz 12th Gen CPU8GB GDDR 6X Win 11 Pro Buy on Amazon Price: $2,599.99

Overview

The Alienware x17 R2 is currently available with the most potent components, including an Intel Core i7 and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. The laptop performed well in our assessment, both for productivity and gaming.

The design of Alienware, which debuted last year, is beautiful. The laptop appears modern and minimalist, but it is still unmistakably a gaming notebook. Nevertheless, it is a little heavier than other rivals, so you won’t want to carry it around too frequently.

We recommend the optional $50 Cherry MX mechanical keyboard if you have a little additional cash because it feels great, and everyone on our crew who has used it has appreciated it.

Pros	Cons
An exceptional gaming and productivity performance with stunning design	Expensive -A little heavier and larger than the competitors -Potentially greater battery life

Rating:

4.9/5

8. HP Victus 15

Specifications

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H 8GB RAM 512 GB SSD Full HD Display Windows 11 Home Backlit Keyboard Enhanced Thermals (15-fa0025nr, 2022) Buy on Amazon Price: $699.99

Overview

By skillfully balancing what is available at the very low end of cheap gaming laptops, HP’s Victus 15 earns a spot on this list. You will have the best experience with this laptop that costs  $699.99 and has an Intel Core i5-1250H and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 3050.

You can’t expect brilliance for $700. Most games will run at least on medium settings, while some must be set to low from the moment you purchase them. However, you get a 1080p, 144 Hz display for games and its other features can push it to high-performance rates. When you need to use the Victus for productivity tasks, such as those at work or school, that 12th Gen H-series Intel processor is a great choice.

You may get the most value out of the Victus if you want to spend as little money as possible. While you won’t get the greatest display or webcam available, you will spend less than $1,000. Make sure your purchase has dual-channel RAM, if at all possible. This may be customized in some retailers, like HP’s, and should slightly enhance performance. We wished ours had this, but it didn’t.

Despite being mostly made of plastic; the design is fairly sophisticated. Your gaming laptop can fit anywhere, even on the cheap end.

Pros	Cons
Excellent entry-level gaming Sturdy for performance Starts reasonably priced	Might benefit from an improved display and webcam lot of installed software

Rating:

4.7/5

9. Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE (2022)

Specifications

Gaming Laptop 17.3″ 240Hz IPS QHD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Intel Core i9 Processor 32GB DDR52TB SSD Per-Key RGB Keyboard Windows 11 Pro G733CX-XS97 Buy on Amazon Price: $3,999.99

Overview

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE is ideal if you want top-tier esports performance. Yes, it’s pricey, but with its Intel Core i9 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, this laptop can handle the demanding visuals of high-end games while pushing the boundaries of esports.

You can play video games at high resolution, high frame rate, or a combination of the two on a 2560 x 1440, 240 Hz monitor.

Despite having many gamer-oriented features, including a lot of RGB, some see-through plastic, and certain designs that glow when exposed to UV light, the design is functional. The only drawback is that there isn’t a webcam; you’ll need to bring one.

Another feature we enjoyed was the abundance of connectors, including Thunderbolt 4, many USB Type-A ports, USB Type-C, HDMI 2.1, and an Ethernet socket.

Pros	Cons
Excellent entry-level gaming study for performance Begins at a reasonable price	Better webcam and display could be used Numerous pre-installed programs

Rating:

4.8/5

10. MSI Vector GP76

Specifications

GP76-17.3″ FHD 360Hz IPS Display Gaming Laptop Intel i7-12700H 14-Core 32GB RAM 1TB PCIe SSD RTX 3080 8GB RGB Backlit KYB WiFi 6BT 5.2HD WebcamWin11 Pro Buy on Amazon Price: $2,819.00

Overview

The MSI Vector GP76 is an advancement over the company’s previous Leopard line of less expensive (but still high-end) gaming laptops. The 17.3-inch, 1080p, 360 Hz-refresh Vector GP76 features an Intel Core i7-12700H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU with 8GB of VRAM, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It’s a tempting set of specifications for gamers thirsty for the best performance. It’s a formidable configuration that is not likely to let you down.

With a 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 display that offers a blisteringly fast 360Hz refresh rate, the MSI Vector GP76’s display prioritizes speed above resolution. This will appeal to gamers who prefer quick-twitch FPS games or racing games. The Vector GP76 is one of MSI’s cheaper laptops, but it didn’t skimp on the internals for gamers. With 8GB of VRAM, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU is more than capable of handling practically any gaming workload you can throw at it, especially on a 1080p display. The Vector GP76’s RGB-backlit keys provide strong key travel and a springy response that makes typing enjoyable and quick.

Pros	Cons
Near class-leading graphics and performance comfortable keyboard Bright, vivid display	Slower SSD speedsLoud fans and high temperaturesWeak battery life

Rating:

4.7/5

Benefits and Drawbacks of Gaming Laptops

A gaming laptop is an ideal choice if you enjoy playing video games. With the freedom to purchase from any digital store and get steep savings, you may desire to pick it from here.

Should you use a gaming laptop, though? Laptops made exclusively for gamers may include higher-end components than those available in conventional business laptops. You might be tempted to get one so you can play games while on the go. Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of gaming laptops so you can find the most suitable one easily.

Benefits	Drawbacks
Portable Gaming	Expensive
Not Limited by What You Can Play	Poor Battery Life
Stylish Design	Prone to Overheating and Noise
Functions Like a Regular Laptop	Difficult to Upgrade
Everything in a Single Machine	A Touchpad Is Bad to Game On

The Final Verdict

The top gaming laptop manufacturers include Razer, Alienware, MSI, Asus, HP, and Acer. However, various businesses, from high-end industry leaders to those on a tight budget, are currently competing for the title. However, deciding on the best gaming laptop may depend on your budget and your value of luxuries like mechanical keyboards and RGB lighting in the chassis. Asus’s laptops tend to be more conservative in their construction but offer lower costs, while Alienware creates some great machines with these technologies built in, HP is also at a hefty premium.

Conclusion

The trick, in our opinion, is to choose a system that strikes a balance between performance, price, and components. You want something that can play your current favorite games while still having enough processing power to allow you to discover a new one in the future.

Therefore, what do you do first while looking for the finest gaming laptop? The hardware in the computer should normally (and somewhat predictably) come first. You can start by having a budget or overall price ceiling in mind. You are searching for a portable powerhouse focused on gaming, so you want to aim high in the graphics card category. A GPU from the RTX family of cards from Nvidia would be a good choice.

This can be a great place to start narrowing your search, but don’t forget to look into laptops that include a 16-series card; they are incredibly affordable when combined with other well-balanced parts. A brief word about components: as is common knowledge, availability has been wildly unpredictable and erratic lately. As a result, just specific configurations may be offered when you visit shops or manufacturers of these devices.

It’s a good idea to consider the tiers of CPUs and GPUs available if you’re unsure of the required parts. If you mainly play less demanding, lighter games, you might fall into the entry-level tier, but if you want to hit High settings with a few modifications and maintain 60 frames per second, it’s worthwhile to check in the mid-range. The ideal gaming laptop can be a more expensive model if you’re going all-in on Ultra settings for the most demanding games.

Were you unsure of the optimal screen size and the minimum specifications that you ultimately like to find in the best gaming laptop?  We hope the article has assisted you with that if you need support.

Frequently Asked Questions