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MagyarThe Best Gaming Notebooks
The high-end gaming segment does not allow for any compromises. Powered by the latest graphics chips and processors the following gaming notebooks will offer performance at a level similar to that of current desktop computers. Even current and particular demanding PC games will run smoothly in high resolutions and high details. In addition, displays with high refresh rates ensure the highest level of competitiveness possible.
In order to satisfy the increasing number of gaming notebooks we have outsourced the best high-end laptops weighing less than 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) with a maximum thickness of 2 cm (0.8 inches) as well as the best budget gaming notebooks that cost less than 1,500 Euros onto their separate dedicated lists:
- The Best Thin & Light Gaming Notebooks (lightweight and thin gaming laptops)
- The Best Budget Gaming Notebooks (affordable gaming laptops)
The Best Gaming Laptops
The table above contains an overview over the best gaming notebooks reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed
1st – Razer Blade 16 (i9-13950HX, RTX 4080)
With the Blade 16, gaming specialist Razer adds a completely new model to its lineup. A new 13th-gen CPU from Intel and the equally brand-new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU qualify the notebook for high-end gaming at the cutting edge of technology. In doing so, the Razer Blade 16 combines everything that sets the Blade 15 and Blade 17 apart in a new 16-inch form factor: maximum performance with minimal compromises.
The Razer Blade 16 strikes a better balance between performance and portability than any other 16-inch gaming notebook to date.
The Blade 15 sells through Razer’s own online shop as well as the usual retailers. A variant, which has the same configuration with the reviewed one, is listed on Amazon US for $3,599.99.
Pricecompare
2nd – Alienware m18 R1 (i9-13980HX, RTX 4090)
Dell tries to breathe new life into the 18-inch Alienware laptops with every conceivable feature. Up to four M.2 SSDs, a 480 Hz display, a 175 Watt GPU, liquid metal, Vapor Chamber, Advanced Optimus and optionally even a mechanical keyboard are used in the Alienware m18 R1.
The Alienware m18 R1 is the ideal notebook for those looking for maximum performance and functionality. But only if they accept the laptop's volume and weight.
Alienware m18 R1 is available on Dell's online shop with prices starting at $2,100 for the Core i7 / RTX 4060 model. The reviewed configuration retails for around $3,700.
Pricecompare
3rd – Legion 9i 16IRX8 Gen 8 (i9-13980HX, RTX 4090)
If you're looking for a Core i9 CPU, an RTX 4090 GPU, and a mini-LED display, the Legion 9i 16 may well be for you. Compared to other mini-LED gaming laptops like the HP Omen Transcend 16, the Razer Blade 16, or the Asus Zephyrus M16, the Lenovo offers a faster graphics card than the HP, lower pricing than the Razer, and a higher native resolution than the Asus. Both the specs and aesthetics are very well done and offer real value over the already excellent Legion Pro 7.
The Legion 9i 16 will definitely impress enthusiasts with its fancy specs and appealing new look, as long as you can forgive its short battery life and relatively large chassis.
At the time of writing, the Legion 9i Gen 8 is available in several configurations directly from Lenovo with prices starting around $3,180.
Pricecompare
4th – Lenovo Legion Slim 7i 16 (Gen 8, i9-13900H, RTX 4070)
Lenovo's latest Legion laptop looks sleek and doesn't compromise on case quality, connectivity or display options. The performance is also excellent.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7i 16 G8 sacrifices some performance for the slimmer dimensions and lighter weight. However, since the gaming laptop otherwise offers a very good compromise of performance and portability, most gamers should not complain about this.
In the US, the Legion Slim 7i 16 G8 is currently listed on Best Buy. Alternative, the manufacturer is now shipping its new model starting at $1,500.
Pricecompare
5th – Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (R9 7940HS, RTX 4090)
The 2023 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the first notebook to feature AMD's new Phoenix mobile processor, which is combined with the fast GeForce RTX 4090 laptop and a 165 Hz mini LED panel in a 14-inch chassis.
You can't get more performance in a 14-inch case: thanks to Ryzen 9 7940HS and the GeForce RTX 4090 laptop, the new ROG Zephyrus G14 offers extremely fast components in a compact case. The overall performance is outstanding and a great mini-LED panel with 165 Hz is also included. Actually, an almost perfect combination, but it also has its price.
In the US, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2023 with RTX 4090 is currently available on Amazon for around $3,800.
Pricecompare
6th – Razer Blade 16 (i9-13950HX, RTX 4090)
With the Intel Raptor Lake-HX Core i9-13950HX, a desktop-class CPU is installed in the Razer Blade 16, along with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 laptop with 175 W and the world's first dual-mode mini-LED display. Razer does a lot right here. A fast SD reader, stable WiFi 6E, decent 1,080p webcam, adequate connectivity, a larger touchpad are all good arguments for the Blade 16.
The Razer Blade 16 (early 2023) offers exciting prospects at a price that makes your eyes water. With a Core i9-13950HX, a 175 W strong RTX 4090, and a great dual-mode UHD Plus mini-LED display, the new Razer Blade 16 fulfills almost all wishes for a high-end gamer in 2023.
The Razer Blade 16 (early 2023) is currently available at Razer’s own webstore and at Amazon US.
Pricecompare
7th – Asus ROG Flow X16 (i9-13900H , RTX 4060)
The Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing above all - versatile! It's a slim, mobile work device, it's a convertible, a tablet, a powerful workstation and a gaming PC as well. What's even more surprising is that it does all of these things really well and hardly makes any major mistakes; it's anything but a lazy compromise.
The Asus ROG Flow X16 is an extremely versatile and powerful gaming workstation convertible with a good touch display.
Currently, users can keep tabs on stores like Amazon, newegg, and Best Buy and wait for the device to appear here.
Pricecompare
8th – MSI Stealth 16 Studio (i7-13700H, RTX 4070)
The MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG combines a 13th generation Intel and an Nvidia RTX 4070 laptop GPU. Visually, the Stealth 16 Studio is very dignified, which means that the device is not exclusively aimed at gamers. A demanding office routine in a discreet design and still playing the latest games in the evening are no problem.
The MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG is a very powerful and at the same time very light notebook for content creators and gamers.
In the US, a variant of the 16-inch MSI Stealth Studio is now available on Best Buy for around $2,550.
Pricecompare
9th – Acer Predator Helios 16 (i7-13700HX, RTX 4060)
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is a solid yet quiet gaming laptop with many high-end aspects. Thanks to the frugal RTX 4060 with its sophisticated cooling system and despite the potent 16-core CPU, you won't get an earache while gaming. The fast QHD display was also a positive surprise, although it is not the mini-LED version that is used for the keyboard illumination.
High performance, a colorful 240 Hz QHD display and quiet gaming sounds like the ideal recipe for a gaming laptop and creative workstation. However, plenty of deductions in the B score have to be accepted.
Currently, Amazon US lists various configurations of Predator Helios 16, for around $1,560 users can get a variant with a Core i7-13700HX, RTX 4060 and a 165 Hz display.
Pricecompare
10th – Asus ROG Flow Z13 ACRNM (i9-13900H, RTX 4070)
With the Asus ROG Flow Z13 special edition we have an unusual concept: gaming hardware, which is in a tablet, which is why the 13-inch convertible brings even demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 smoothly to the screen in the native WQHD resolution.
With the ACRNM special edition of the ROG Flow Z13, Asus offers an extremely powerful gaming convertible with an equally extreme design. Thanks to the new RTX 4070 laptop, even current games are displayed smoothly on the WQHD screen.
In the US, users can order a variant of ROG Flow Z13 2023, which is equipped with an i9-13900H and RTX 4050, via Amazon for about $1,750.
Pricecompare
Comparison of the Top 10 Gaming Laptops
Test Results
| Razer Blade 16 Early 2023 | Alienware m18 R1 | Lenovo Legion 9 16IRX8 | Lenovo Legion Slim 7i 16 Gen 8 | Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 GA402XY | Razer Blade 16 Early 2023 RTX 4090 | Asus ROG Flow X16 GV601V | MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | Acer Predator Helios 16 PH16-71-731Q | Asus ROG Flow Z13 ACRNM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | ||||||||||
| Display P3 Coverage | 98.5 | 97.7 | 97.2 | 70.4 | 99.6 | 99.9 | 96.61 | 96.4 | 97.1 | 96.94 |
| sRGB Coverage | 100 | 100 | 99.9 | 99.4 | 100 | 100 | 99.92 | 99.7 | 100 | 99.92 |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 89.7 | 89.8 | 87 | 72.5 | 93.4 | 90.9 | 84.63 | 84.8 | 84.7 | 85.17 |
| Response Times | ||||||||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 6.6 ? | 3 ? | 13.3 ? | 12 ? | 17.2 ? | 10.2 ? | 3.8 ? | 4.4 ? | 13.6 ? | 2.1 ? |
| Response Time Black / White * | 12 ? | 9.9 ? | 11.6 ? | 8.9 ? | 9.9 ? | 62.04 ? | 7.6 ? | 5.6 ? | 6.4 ? | 3 ? |
| PWM Frequency | 4742 | 5430 | 2420 ? | |||||||
| Screen | ||||||||||
| Brightness middle | 456.8 | 372.8 | 674.9 | 474.6 | 535 | 730 | 486 | 424 | 511 | 464 |
| Brightness | 437 | 367 | 682 | 445 | 563 | 729 | 469 | 411 | 498 | 455 |
| Brightness Distribution | 83 | 97 | 96 | 86 | 91 | 94 | 91 | 88 | 94 | 89 |
| Black Level * | 0.35 | 0.32 | 0.04 | 0.39 | 0.0045 | 0.39 | 0.37 | 0.36 | 0.4 | |
| Contrast | 1305 | 1165 | 16873 | 1217 | 162222 | 1246 | 1146 | 1419 | 1160 | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.7 | 1.92 | 2.56 | 2.12 | 1 | 5.65 | 2.27 | 3.04 | 1.76 | 2 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.42 | 3.65 | 4.16 | 4.73 | 2.8 | 10.11 | 5.73 | 7.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 0.66 | 0.51 | 2.47 | 0.57 | 1.85 | 0.6 | 3.04 | 1.56 | 1.2 | |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 8.1 | 3.36 | 4.34 | 3 | 2.7 |
| Gamma | 2.3 96% | 2.34 94% | 2.38 92% | 2.22 99% | 2.24 98% | 1.98 111% | 2.46 89% | 2.32 95% | 2.33 94% | 2.24 98% |
| CCT | 6108 106% | 6607 98% | 6799 96% | 6542 99% | 6337 103% | 5874 111% | 6625 98% | 6952 93% | 6341 103% | 6832 95% |
| Noise | ||||||||||
| off / environment * | 23 | 22.8 | 23.7 | 22.8 | 23.3 | 20.84 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Idle Minimum * | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23.6 | 23.6 | 23.65 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Idle Average * | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23.6 | 23.6 | 23.65 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Idle Maximum * | 23.6 | 23 | 30.4 | 25.7 | 33 | 23.65 | 24 | 24 | 32.32 | 36.5 |
| Load Average * | 39 | 35.6 | 30.4 | 27.6 | 49.5 | 43.35 | 36.71 | 34.81 | 36.66 | 41.3 |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 51.6 | 51.3 | 52.2 | 54.4 | 52.2 | 46.7 | 50.92 | 44.05 | 49.06 | 44.7 |
| Load Maximum * | 51.3 | 56.7 | 54.9 | 54.4 | 52.2 | 46.72 | 50.92 | 51.57 | 49.49 | 46.9 |
| Heat | ||||||||||
| Maximum Upper Side * | 40 | 39 | 49.6 | 49.8 | 47 | 52 | 46 | 60 | 41 | 42.5 |
| Maximum Bottom * | 37.6 | 36.4 | 48.6 | 48.8 | 46.5 | 47.6 | 41 | 61 | 66 | 42.6 |
| Idle Upper Side * | 32.4 | 29.2 | 33.2 | 29.4 | 25.9 | 33 | 36 | 38.2 | 36 | 26.2 |
| Idle Bottom * | 31.4 | 27.8 | 34.2 | 30 | 28 | 30.6 | 33 | 37.7 | 37 | 26 |
| Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
| Reader / Idle | 533 | 334 | 404 | 305 | 661 | |||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 365 | 260 | 159 | 261 | 448 | 345.5 | 474 | 466 | 338 | 398 |
| Load | 81 | 44 | 58 | 55 | 58 | 81 | 89 | 142 | 88 | 52 |
| Witcher 3 ultra | 95 | 87 | ||||||||
| Power Consumption | ||||||||||
| Idle Minimum * | 15.2 | 21.6 | 32.3 | 22 | 9.4 | 27.5 | 9.6 | 11 | 15.9 | 8.9 |
| Idle Average * | 22.8 | 25.2 | 42.6 | 29 | 14.2 | 34.4 | 16 | 18 | 20.5 | 12.6 |
| Idle Maximum * | 49.8 | 56.7 | 57.9 | 39.5 | 14.5 | 35.4 | 16.9 | 19 | 20.9 | 13 |
| Load Average * | 121.2 | 164.1 | 121 | 98.7 | 79 | 147.8 | 104 | 91 | 106 | 92.5 |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 242 | 311 | 254 | 171.8 | 172 | 256 | 142 | 130 | 175 | 104.4 |
| Load Maximum * | 273.7 | 338.9 | 297.7 | 213.2 | 220.8 | 286.7 | 214 | 228 | 276 | 133.6 |
* ... smaller is better
