The digital realm is evolving at an exponential pace and along with it our view of the games is also changing. The boundaries of realism and immersion are no longer what they used to be.
Modern gaming really blurs the lines of reality and imagination, where you can dive into the virtual world and get lost in it completely. However, that is only possible when you have the best gaming laptop by your side.
Finding one is no easy task. It requires a journey through intricacies and complexities. You can’t just go and pick up the most expensive product and expect it to provide you with everything you need.
Finding the perfect companion that can truly fit the term “best” when it comes to gaming requires a deep understanding of core components, performance capabilities, and various other factors.
So, there is no one best laptop when it comes to gaming. Each person gets to define it for themselves.
On a budget? Check out our list of best gaming laptops under 600.
Contents
What To Consider? – Essential Features & Components
Let’s embark on a journey together and find the factors that define the pinnacle of portable gaming.
The Raw Horsepower: CPU
When you are in the market for a gaming laptop, the very first thing you must focus on is the raw components, the very foundation of gaming, CPU, and GPU.
These are the factors that you cannot compromise on. If you don’t focus on them, then it doesn’t matter how much money you spend, because it won’t do you any good.
For CPU, you should follow a general rule. The higher the generation the better. For example, a 13th Gen i5 will perform much better than an 11th Gen i7. The generations are the true upgrades, not the core.
Higher generation CPUs come with more cores and threads and also higher clock speeds that can be boosted. The choice of CPU will depend on what kind of games you want to play and what are their requirements. It also depends on your budget.
The Gaming Power: GPU
When you are considering gaming, then just getting the best CPU is not enough. You have to have a graphic processing unit, one that will be responsible for reworking the gaming graphics and providing you with the best visuals.
For advanced gaming, you cannot rely on integrated graphics. While the Radeon Vega and Intel Iris Xe do suffice for many average games, they won’t be able to provide you with advanced visuals for modern gaming.
Just interested in classic games? Check out our guide to the best gaming laptops under $300.
If you are on a budget and just want to find a good gaming laptop, then a GTX GPU should suffice. However, for the best gaming experience, you cannot settle for anything less than an RTX.
The RTX GPU has three series with the 40s being the latest. You also have to focus on the VRAM, which is the dedicated graphic memory that will be mainly responsible for all the gaming performance capabilities.
The more money you put into a laptop, the higher graphics you are going to get in it, and the better games it will be able to play.
The Speed Cache & Data Keeper: RAM & Storage
After the core components come the performance components. Unlike CPU and GPU, you can upgrade these components.
So, even if you cannot put money into them in the beginning, you can still upgrade them later on down the road. Just make sure you have an expansion slot available.
If you are on a strict budget, consider checking out our list of best cheap gaming laptops.
You have to make sure that the laptop you are purchasing doesn’t come with soldered memory and storage.
Going with higher generation is always better like DDR5 RAM and Gen 4 SSD. However, if you have a restricted budget go with DDR4 RAM and PCIe 3 storage. Do not settle for anything less.
For gaming, advanced gaming, the minimum threshold should be 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage.
The Display Unit: Screen
Now, to the most crucial components, the one you see results of your investment on and probably the most expensive component.
You might have thought that core components or performance components define what is the best laptop for gaming, but it is the display that brings out the true potential of games with their clarity, color depth, and details.
You have to focus on screen size, brightness nits, color space coverage, refresh rate, resolution, and various other factors. If you are on a budget, make sure you give priority to screen size, resolution, and refresh rate.
The Temperature Manager: Cooling Technology
You will have to keep the performance of your laptop consistent and to do so you will need a laptop that comes with advanced cooling technology.
Make sure that the laptop is equipped with an advanced thermal management system and features exclusive cooling techs to enhance thermal management.
The Connection Hub: Ports & Connectivity
These are mainly preferential. The ports depend on the kind of devices you will be connecting with the laptop. Some users prefer to do everything with USB Type-C while others still prefer having HDMI and DP ports.
For online gaming, make sure you have the latest Killer Ethernet LAN port, or the latest Killer Wi-Fi 6 port that provides faster connectivity and ensures that there is no lag in your gameplay.
The Aesthetics: RGB Lighting & Sync
Last but not least, the aesthetics. Your gaming laptop can work even without them, but a passionate gamer hardly lets them go.
If you are a streamer or like to show off your cool tech to friends, then you must go for the vibes. They are truly worth it.
Check out our guide to “Are Gaming Laptops Worth It?”
Wrapping Up!
So, that’s about it. The above factors, when thoroughly assessed, help you figure out what is the best gaming laptop.
If you need suggestions, I believe the ASUS ROG Zephyrus, ASUS TUF, Dell Alienware, HP Victus, HP Omen, MSI Titan, and MSI Stealth are some of the series you should definitely check out.
Once you know exactly what to look for, finding the right option will be much easier. That’s why I have provided you with everything you need to know.
Compare and contrast the gaming laptops you come across and you will find the best one for your needs and budget.