PC gaming hardware is constantly evolving, with new hardware being introduced multiple times per year as companies make the best use of the latest technological advances which have witnessed significant growth in 2020 and beyond when the world had to rapidly adapt to an online world for work, rest and play. New laptop graphics hardware means that gamers can choose from modest upgrades like adding external GPUs and second screens, to enjoy the best on the market.
Players have a vast choice when it comes to gaming laptop options. These can be budget-friendly laptops to play online casino games like those found at Spin Palace online casino through to laptops all set up ready for Virtual Reality options. With so many options, vendors are now listing more detailed specifications to ensure buyers are clear about resolution, fidelity and much more.
The focus for new gaming laptops
Before looking at the best new laptops on the market, gamers should focus on the following points:
- Prioritisethe GPU since this cannot be upgraded. A powerful GPU will allow gaming on the laptop for five years or more, depending on the gaming.
- RAM and storage can be upgraded later, so these have a lower priority for a new gaming laptop. If your budget is tight, focus on the CPU and GPU now and add more memory and a bigger hard drive or SSD later.
- Few gaming laptops offering more than eight hours of battery life on a single charge, though the industry is working hard to improve these times for gamers.
Best overall gaming laptop
MSI GE66 Raider
This laptop is clearly a gaming laptop with its huge RGB light bar. It offers good performance and the option of a 300Hz display for those who enjoy eSports like League of Legends. The CPU is an Intel Core i9-10980HK and the GPU theNvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q. It weighs 5.3 pounds (2.4 kg) and whilst not the slimmest, it has a high-end build quality.
Slimmest, lightweight laptop
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
With a minimalist style to mirror the lightweight 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) laptop, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 offers strong gaming performance with the AMD Ryzen 4900HS CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU. The graphics are good value, though not the best on the market. In contrast, the battery life is one of the best. There is no built-in webcam.
Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop
Alienware m17 R4
If you are looking to replace your PC with a laptop, theAlienware m17 R4 offers great performance, as well as a significant weight of6.6 pounds (3 kg). The GPU is Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080with 165W TGP and the CPU an Intel Core i9-10980HK which is a high-end configuration.
Best Budget Gaming Laptop
Acer Nitro
For those on a tight budget, the Acer Nitro offers great value for a good webcam and keyboard, whilst not the brightest of displays. This laptop pairs an AMD Ryzen 5 4600U with an Nvidia GeForce 1650 and offers a decent battery life, with the Nitro 5 lasting more than 11 hours in some reviews. This is a good starter laptop with several options for later upgrades.
