There are countless gaming laptops on the market, making it difficult to narrow down the top choices. However, when asked which gaming laptop to buy, I consistently recommend two models that excel in both performance and budget-friendliness.
The first recommendation is the Lenovo Legion Pro 5. In our review, this laptop received nearly perfect marks, primarily for its exceptional performance and reasonable price. The base configuration starts at $1,250, offering an RTX 4060 mobile graphics card, 1TB of storage, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and an AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX. With these specifications, the Legion Pro 5 provides outstanding value, surpassing many other gaming laptops in terms of performance and cost.
Besides its impressive performance, the Legion Pro 5 stands out due to its excellent port selection. The placement and number of ports play a crucial role in gaming laptops, and the Legion Pro 5 doesn’t disappoint. It features two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a full-size Ethernet port, a USB-C port supporting up to 140 watts of power, and an HDMI 2.1 port at the back of the machine, eliminating cable clutter. Additionally, there are USB-A ports on both sides and a USB-C port on the left side. The Legion Pro 5 also boasts a spacious trackpad and an outstanding keyboard known for its comfort and design, inspired by Lenovo’s renowned ThinkPad range.
Despite some minor drawbacks, such as its bulkiness and the weight of its power brick, the Legion Pro 5’s remarkable value and build quality outweigh these concerns.
The second recommended gaming laptop is the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17, designed for those seeking peak performance and are willing to pay a premium for it. Starting at $2,900, this high-end laptop features an AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX and an RTX 4080, delivering flagship performance. Opting for an RTX 4090 configuration takes the performance to another level, surpassing most high-end desktops. With its powerful hardware, the Scar 17 can effortlessly achieve above 100 frames per second (fps) at its native 1440p resolution, even in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2. The laptop’s raw power is further enhanced by Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling 3 (DLSS 3), enabling smooth ray tracing experiences.
Although the Scar 17’s primary strength lies in its performance, it still offers satisfactory features in other aspects. The screen, while not exceptional, comes with Nvidia G-Sync, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 1440p resolution. The keyboard stands out with its impressive key travel and per-key RGB lighting, as well as dedicated media keys for convenient volume adjustment. Port selection is solid, including dual USB-C and USB-A ports, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, and full-size HDMI 2.1.
The Scar 17 strikes a balance between desktop-replacement performance and an approachable price, making it a formidable gaming laptop.
While these two laptops are highly recommended, other options shouldn’t be overlooked. For gamers on the go, the Alienware x14 R2 is an excellent choice due to its portability, durability, and impressive battery life. Though performance might not be top-tier, it still offers enough power with an Intel Core i7-13620H processor and RTX 4060 GPU. Additionally, the Alienware x16 is worth considering as a portable desktop replacement.
Another noteworthy gaming laptop is the Razer Blade 1. Its high base price might deter some buyers, but the laptop’s RTX 4070 configuration and robust build quality make it a standout option for those willing to invest in premium features.
Overall, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 and Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 are the top recommendations, there are several other gaming laptops worth exploring.
