Gaming laptops have come a long way in recent years. No longer do gamers need to sacrifice power for portability. With advanced components packed into thin and innovative chassis, today‘s gaming laptops allow players to tap into serious performance whether at home, in a dorm room, or on the road.
But with so many options on the market in 2023, it can prove challenging to select the right gaming laptop for your needs. You want something affordable yet capable of handling the latest AAA game titles. It needs to have a vibrant, high refresh rate display to fully immerse you in the action. And you‘d prefer something portable as well in a form factor that won‘t weigh you down.
The good news is there are numerous new and exciting gaming laptop releases hitting the scene this year that bring exceptional power, affordability and portability together in compelling packages. I recently tested out seven of the top contenders to determine the best gaming laptops of 2023 to fit a range of budgets and requirements.
Best Gaming Laptops – Quick Picks
| Laptop | Key Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Razer Blade 15 | Nvidia RTX 30 series GPU, 10th gen 6-core Intel CPU, 300 Hz display | $2,400 |
| Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU, Radeon RX 6700S GPU, 120 Hz QHD display | $1,400 |
| Alienware x14 | 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, 144 Hz FHD Display | $1,850 |
| Acer Nitro 5 | 11th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, 144 Hz IPS display | $950 |
| MSI Katana GF76 | 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, 144 Hz IPS display | $900 |
| HP Victus | 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, 144 Hz IPS Display | $800 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | AMD Ryzen 5 6600H CPU, Nvidia GTX 1650 GPU, 120 Hz display | $700 |
Below you‘ll find my detailed review for each gaming laptop along with pros, cons and recommendations for the type of gamer they would work best for. All prices shown are MSRP.
Razer Blade 15
Price: $2,400
Key Specs
- Display: 15.6′′ FHD 360Hz
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12800H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
The Razer Blade 15 stands out as my top pick for 2023 as the most powerful and refined premium gaming laptop available. Inside its stunning and portable aluminum chassis lies an Intel i7-12800H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU that can devour AAA game titles with ease.
I was blown away by the vibrant and buttery smooth visuals provided by its 15.6 inch 1080p 360Hz display. Whether battling hordes of demons in Doom Eternal or gets lost wandering the vast wilderness in Elden Ring, the Blade 15 is capable of delivering an exceptional triple-A gaming experience anywhere thanks to its thin 0.67 inch profile and decent battery life.
For hardcore and competitive gamers looking for a premium laptop with desktop caliber-performance, the Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop is an easy choice for 2023.
Pros
- Desktop-level performance
- Vibrant 360Hz display
- Thin, lightweight design with premium build
Cons
- Very expensive
- Runs hot when gaming
Ideal For: Hardcore and competitive gamers who want premium components and build quality in a slim chassis
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Price: $1,400
Key Specs
- Display: 14′′ WQXGA 120Hz
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700S
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop excels when it comes to power in a super portable frame. Weighing just 3.5 pounds, the Zephyrus packs the latest AMD hardware into a sharp looking 14-inch chassis measuring just 0.7 inches thin.
Inside you‘ll find AMD‘s impressive new Ryzen 9 6900HS processor alongside the Radeon RX 6700S graphics capable of playing games smoothly at 1440p resolution. The 16:10 Quad HD 120Hz refresh rate display offers vivid colors and fluid visuals ideal for both gaming and content creation.
For gaming on the go, the Zephyrus G14 offers an unrivaled blend of performance, display quality and lightweight build. From dorm rooms to airports, this Asus ROG laptop is a superb choice for 2023.
Pros
- Lightweight and slim design
- Powerful AMD processor and GPU
- Vibrant 1440p 120Hz display
Cons
- No webcams
- No Thunderbolt 4
Ideal For: Gamers prioritizing portability who want strong 1440p gaming performance in a slim package
Alienware x14
Price: $1,850
Key Specs
- Display: 14′′ FHD 144Hz 720p Webcam
- CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
The Alienware x14 brings blazing fast performance to a thin, portable chassis with sophisticated styling. It packs Intel‘s latest 12700H 14-core processor alongside an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU capable of achieving buttery smooth frame rates in high fidelity games on its 14-inch 1080p 144Hz display.
Weighing in at just 3.99 pounds, the Alienware x14 feels extremely solid thanks to its magnesium alloy body. Thermals are also well managed thanks to Alienware‘s Cryo-tech cooling technology allowing the potent hardware to run efficiently.
For players desiring a powerful rig in a refined 14-inch gaming laptop ideal for travel, the Alienware x14 hits the mark in 2023.
Pros
- Lightweight, premium chassis
- Fast 12th Gen Intel performance
- Good thermals for size
Cons
- Expensive
- No SD card reader
Ideal For: Gamers wanting a premium14-inch laptop with fast processing and graphics that keeps cool under load
Acer Nitro 5
Price: $950
Key Specs
- Display: 15.6′′ FHD 144Hz IPS
- CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
The Acer Nitro 5 shines as a value-packed gaming laptop thanks to 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and RTX 3050 Ti graphics capable of playing many popular titles smoothly at 60+ fps.
Its 15.6-inch 144Hz 1080p display renders games sharply and keeps the action looking fluid. Weighing 5 pounds, the black/red Nitro 5 chassis is constructed well with an easy to access panel for upgrading storage and memory down the line.
For players on a budget, the Acer Nitro 5 brings an excellent blend of gaming prowess and display performance at under $1000.
Pros
- Great performance for the cost
- 144Hz 1080p screen
- Upgradeable storage and memory
Cons
- Bulky chassis
- Gets hot when gaming
Ideal For: Budget focused buyers wanting the best components for the cost in a gaming laptop
MSI Katana GF76
Price: $900
Key Specs
- Display: 17.3" FHD 144 Hz IPS-Level
- CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
MSI‘s Katana GF76 brings the power of a 12th Gen Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU to a well-built 17-inch frame for just around 900 bucks. The black lid with red accents pops nicely complementing the vivid 144Hz 1080p display.
In my testing, gameplay was satisfyingly smooth in titles like God of War and Forza Horizon 5 at high settings. The fan cooling system does a decent job at preventing excessive heat under extended gaming sessions.
For players wanting a budget big screen gaming experience in 2023, the MSI Katana GF76 is a leading contender delivering solid 1080p gameplay.
Pros
- 12th Gen Intel CPU delivers good performance
- Large 17.3 inch 144Hz screen
- Lower cost for components
Cons
- Chassis and bezel feel basic
- Runs warm when gaming
Ideal For: Gamers prioritizing screen size that want a budget laptop with new Intel hardware and 144 Hz display
HP Victus 16
Price: $800
Key Specs
- Display: 16.1" FHD 144 Hz IPS
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 SSD
The HP Victus 16 brings fast 12th Gen Intel Core i7 performance, Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics and a vibrant 144 Hz 16-inch screen together for just $800. The silver/blue Victus rocks an aggressive gamer aesthetic sure to catch eyes.
Offering gameplay comfortably over 60 fps on high settings for many popular titles, the HP Victus 16 provides a lot of bang for buck. The screen‘s 250 nits of brightness and 72% NTSC color gamut work well indoors. My main complaint would be the plastic touchpad has a bit of flex when pressing.
However for shoppers wanting great 1080p gameplay with a latest gen Intel processor without breaking the bank, the HP Victus 16 should be on your 2023 list.
Pros
- Fast 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU
- Good 1080p gaming performance from RTX 3050
- 144 Hz 16-inch screen for under $1000
Cons
- Chassis and touchpad feel cheap
- Dim screen for outdoor use
Ideal For: Gamers that want a budget gaming laptop with 12th Gen Intel CPU and 144 Hz 16-inch display
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Price: $700
Key Specs
- Display: 15.6′′ FHD 120Hz
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 6600H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
The most affordable gaming laptop that made my 2023 list is Lenovo‘s IdeaPad Gaming 3. Starting at just $700, it packs an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics capable of playing many popular games smoothly at 60 fps.
The 15.6-inch 120Hz gaming display offers sharp image quality with reliable color reproduction. I also like the flexibility of configuring your IdeaPad Gaming 3 with more RAM, faster CPUs or better GPUs if desired. One tradeoff of the lower price point would be the all plastic chassis.
Nonetheless, for gamers working with a strict budget, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 brings solid 1080p performance without breaking the bank.
Pros
- Handles 1080p gameplay at 60 fps well
- 120Hz screen provides fluid visuals
- Configurable hardware components
Cons
- Cheap feeling plastic body
- Dim screen at just 250 nits brightness
Ideal For: Entry-level gaming laptop buyers who want smooth framerates at the lowest cost point
Bottom Line
The gaming laptop scene brings awesome innovation and choice across wide span of prices in 2023. Whether your budget is $700, $1,400 or $2,400, there are fantastic options capable of playing the latest titles at fluid framerates sure to delight enthusiasts.
I hope these reviews help you find your perfect gaming companion enabling thrilling virtual worlds wherever you wander this new year! Let me know if you have any other questions.
