Best gaming laptops of 2024: Top picks for gamers

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is a sleek, powerful laptop that delivers top-tier gaming performance within a subtle, MacBook-like design. It boasts a stunning 2.5K OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, ensuring vibrant colours and smooth visuals for gaming, video editing, and streaming. Powered by the latest 14th-gen Intel i9 Ultra processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, this laptop is a powerhouse that rightfully earns its place at the top of this list.

Despite its power, the G16 is surprisingly portable, with a slim aluminium chassis that makes it easy to carry. However, users should be aware of its potential heat build-up and the limitations of its soldered RAM, which maxes out at 32GB. While the price point is high, the Zephyrus G16 offers a compelling combination of design, performance, and portability, making it a strong contender for those seeking a high-end, high-performance gaming laptop.

Olivia Sheed tested the 4090 GPU model of this laptop and had this to say about her experience: “The Zephyrus G16 impressed me with its design and performance. Its sleek, MacBook-like appearance hides an insane amount of power, and the 2.5K OLED display is a joy to use for everything from gaming to video editing. However, I did find that the heat build-up during intense gaming sessions made it necessary to use a cooling mat or stand, and the soldered RAM was a disappointment, especially at this price point.”

"While the RTX 4090 GPU is impressive, it feels slightly constrained by the laptop’s compact form factor, making me question if the 4080 model might be a better balance of power and performance for most users. The fan noise during gaming was also quite noticeable at times, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the Zephyrus G16 is still a standout option for those who need high-end gaming performance on the go."

For her full review, head here.

The ASUS TUF A15 is a standout budget-friendly gaming laptop that doesn't compromise on essential features. It features a robust metal lid paired with a black plastic interior, offering a durable build quality typically seen in higher-end models. The laptop is relatively lightweight, making it a good option for gamers on the go.

However, it's important to note that the lower price comes with a cut in overall storage (512GB) and a less-than-ideal GPU. However, for the price, its specs are excellent and well worth the money, especially if this is your first gaming rig or if you're especially tight on budget. It's also a perfect present for youngsters wanting to make the jump to a dedicated gaming laptop.

Under the hood, the TUF A15 is powered by the Ryzen 5, delivering impressive multi-core performance, ideal for gaming and multitasking. The cooling system – including dual fans and shared heat pipes – ensures sustained performance without excessive noise or heat, particularly in Turbo mode. This balance makes it a practical choice for users looking to game without dealing with the typical downsides of budget laptops, like throttling under load.

Regarding visuals, the TUF A15 offers a variety of display options, with the 165Hz variants being the most recommended for their smoother gameplay experience. The 1080p 144Hz display, while not the brightest or most colour-accurate, still provides a satisfactory experience for most gamers, though opting for the higher-end panel is advisable if your budget allows.

Port-wise, the TUF A15 is well-equipped, with multiple USB-C ports, including one supporting 100W charging and HDMI directly connected to the NVIDIA GPU for optimal performance. It's a great choice for budget-conscious gamers who prioritise performance and durability.

All in all, a versatile and well-rounded option for gamers looking for solid performance on a tight budget, making it a top pick among the best gaming laptops of 2024.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 stands out in the gaming laptop market, offering unmatched performance, sleek design, and great value.

With an excellent Intel Core i7 HX processor and Nvidia GeForce 4080 GPU, it's perfect for incredibly demanding gaming and content creation. The seriously stunning 16-inch IPS display features a 2560x1600 resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits of peak brightness, enhanced by Dolby Vision and Nvidia G-Sync support.

The laptop's design, while stylish, is also highly practical and durable. The premium aluminium and magnesium chassis and customisable RGB lighting make for a laptop that is visually appealing and easy to use. The responsive and durable keyboard ensures comfort during extended use, and the well-placed ports allow for easy connectivity, enhancing the laptop's overall user-friendliness.

The Legion Pro 7i shines in performance, delivering high-framerate gameplay on a high-refresh-rate display thanks to its high-end CPU and GPU and effective thermal management.

It offers a respectable though less-than-ideal battery life of around 4 to 4.5 hours for regular tasks. While it may not be the lightest or most portable, its power and display quality make it an excellent choice for those prioritising gaming performance.

Overall, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 is a top choice for gamers looking for an exceptionally high-performance laptop with incredible bang for your buck. With its unmatched performance, sleek design, and practical features, this laptop is a must-have should your budget accommodate its price point.

What makes the Helios Neo 14 stand out among many of its similarly priced competitors is its
Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, which promises swift performance under hefty loads. Paired with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, this laptop can easily handle graphically intense games, ensuring smooth, detailed visuals to bring your favourite titles to life.

Another highlight is its 14-inch display, which offers a QHD resolution and 165Hz refresh rate that minimises lag and screen tearing. So, whether you're tackling a fast-paced shooter or sprawling RPG, this display will give you the perfect immersion, all within a portable package.

Its advanced 5th Gen cooling system – yet another make-or-break aspect of the element to the success of a gaming laptop – keeps the system running efficiently during extended gaming sessions, allowing users to push performance without fear of hotspots or overheating.

As for design, the Helios strikes an impressive balance between functionality and style. Its sleek, compact chassis makes it the perfect rig for on-the-go gaming. Rest assured, however, that though it may be a slim build, it retains sturdy durability for everyday use.

So, with a robust set of features tailored for gaming, the Acer Helios Neo 14 is an excellent choice for anyone looking to get the most out of their gaming sessions without overspending. It's a well-rounded device that delivers the performance you need to stay competitive in today's gaming world.

The Alienware X16R2 is a sleek, powerful gaming laptop offering top-tier performance for gamers who demand high-quality visuals and rapid-fire response time. With the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and NVIDIA GPU, this laptop can effortlessly handle the most demanding games. The laptop's 16-inch display offers an irresistible 2560x1600 resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth gameplay and vivid colours, thanks to its incredible 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut.

However, the display's brightness maxes at around 300-350 nits – less than ideal for some environments. Battery life is another area where the X16R2 falls short, offering only around one hour of gaming on battery and five hours during lighter use.

Despite these drawbacks, the laptop excels in build quality, featuring a durable chassis with minimal flex and a unique cooling system that enhances thermal management. The optional Cherry MX ultra-low-profile mechanical keyboard is a standout feature, providing tactile feedback that many gamers will appreciate; however, this is only available in higher-spec models.

Another notable aspect of the X16R2 is its design, combining a slim profile with Alienware's signature aesthetic, including RGB lighting around the rear exhaust vent and the iconic Alienware logo.

An excellent choice for gamers who prioritise performance and are after the nostalgic design, though its high price point might make it less accessible. If you're looking for a gaming laptop that delivers on all fronts, the X16R2 is worth considering.

Note: we highly recommend you check out the upgradable specs for this model, which, while expensive, offers one of the best GPUs on the market.

The HP Omen 16 is a great choice for gamers who want a high-performance laptop at an affordable price. Competitively priced, this model offers exceptional gaming capabilities thanks to its AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and Radeon RX 6600M GPU. These components work seamlessly to ensure smooth gameplay, even in demanding titles like Doom Eternal and Forza Horizon.

The laptop's 16.1-inch IPS display is a standout feature. It offers Quad HD resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate, ensuring fluid motion and sharp visuals during fast-paced gaming. The screen's anti-glare finish enhances visibility; however, some may find the brightness level lacking. Nonetheless, the HP Omen 16 excels in build quality with its sturdy and sleek design, suitable for various settings and everyday use.

However, the laptop's over 2kg weight somewhat compromises its portability. While the Omen 16's cooling system effectively prevents overheating, it does come at the cost of fan noise during intense gaming sessions. The battery life is another area that falls short, providing only about two hours of gaming on a full charge, which is typical for laptops in this category but still worth considering.

Overall, the HP Omen 16 offers a well-balanced performance package, display quality, and build durability, making it one of the best options available in 2024 for gamers who prioritise gaming experience over mobility.

Kyle Purves tried and tested the RTX4060 model of this laptop. You can read their full review here.

HP's OMEN brand is a departure from the company's often office-centric machines, and that's a good thing. As a laptop with an excellent gaming specification, this doesn't skimp on memory or storage. The OMEN Gaming Laptop 17-ck2000na is clearly a gaming laptop, but the impressive processing and RAM included make it ideal for almost anything else too, packing a huge 32 GB of RAM, and a super-fast i9 CPU. And right at the top of the spec tree is the humongous 2TB internal SSD - you won't be struggling for space for quite a long time with this machine.

The design isn't an afterthought either, as everything is encased in a slim aluminium chassis. Connection wise you have plenty of options too, but the battery life is a little shorter than some others. However, we think that that's an acceptable downgrade considering the price and the core specifications for a gaming laptop. It's the best option here if you're all about taking your RAM and storage to the max.