Choosing the right gaming laptop can feel like navigating a labyrinth, with countless models, specs, and features to consider. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a professional aiming for the eSports leagues, finding your perfect gaming companion doesn’t have to be a tedious task.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key factors to consider when shopping for a gaming laptop. These tips will help ensure you pick a laptop that not only meets your gaming needs but also fits your lifestyle and budget. So let’s get to it.
But first, you may want to check out the following:
- Boost your connectivity by choosing the right Wi-Fi router.
- Prefer building a PC? Check out how to choose the right PC parts.
- Want to get the best audio experience? Learn how to choose the right soundbar for your TV.
Understanding Your Needs: Know Your Game
Before heading out to the store to shop for a gaming laptop, it’s crucial to identify your use case. Are you diving into the vast worlds of AAA titles that demand high-end specs, or do you prefer indie games that are less resource-intensive? For gamers, it’s important to identify your typical game genres and their system requirements. Your gaming preferences will greatly influence the type of laptop you should consider.
For instance, folks wanting to play the latest and greatest titles would largely benefit from high-end hardware. As for competitive eSports, a higher refresh rate display along with a GPU that doesn’t bottleneck it is needed.
For single-player adventures, most mid-range gaming laptops can suffice. Lastly, for fans of indie titles and retro game emulators, you’re better off spending money on general consumer laptops, or even a handheld device since you don’t need a lot of horsepower.
On the other hand, some users are shopping for a gaming laptop for their creative use cases. The good news is that brands know that, and already have dedicated laptops for graphics designing, or laptops that can be used for video editing. These are studio-grade machines, so you don’t need to spend your time browsing through all the different gaming laptops on the market.
Performance: Unleash the Power
Based on your needs, you can decide the kind of raw power you need from your system. The performance of a gaming laptop is primarily dictated by the processor (CPU), graphics card (GPU), RAM, and storage. For cutting-edge games, look for an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor, a latest-generation NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon RX GPU, a minimum of 16GB RAM, and an SSD for faster load times. On the flip side, for lightweight gaming or eSports gaming, the Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processors paired with older generation GPUs should also suffice.
It’s worth noting that as you go higher up the ladder, the prices will also increase. While it’s a good idea to spend money on future-proofing a laptop, a laptop isn’t as upgradable as a PC is. In most cases, a gaming laptop should continue to satisfy your needs for 3-4 years. As such, if you only need to play casual games, it’s better to spend on a mid-range system now and upgrade again after 4 years, rather than spending a ton on a high-end machine and still facing bottlenecks later on.
Portability: Strike a Balance
Another reason why it’s important to identify your use case is because it helps in figuring out whether you require a portable powerhouse or a desktop replacement. Generally, gaming laptops are quite heavy and feature shorter battery life. If you’re constantly on the move, investing in a lightweight gaming laptop seems like the clear option.
That said, lighter laptops often sacrifice raw power. If you’re only going to be sitting at a desk and using your machine, investing in a beefier gaming laptop makes more sense. The machines typically offer improved specs, with better cooling solutions, with some laptops like the MSI Titan offering desktop-grade power.
Display: Your Window To Gaming
Screen Size
Depending upon the size of your laptop, you can also determine the screen size of your gaming laptop. For most users, a 15 or 16-inch gaming laptop should suffice. However, If you prioritize visuals and have ample desk space, 17-inch screen gaming laptops provide a cinematic experience.
That said, do remember that higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K demand more powerful hardware. On the flip side, if you’re searching for a portable laptop, you can also find 13 or 14-inch gaming laptops.
Refresh Rate
Another specification to factor in is the display’s refresh rate. Most gaming laptops will come equipped with at least a 120Hz refresh rate panel. This ensures you have a balanced laptop that can handle both single-player visual heavy titles, as well as matching the action of the intensive titles. However, if you’re looking for a laptop to satisfy your eSports needs, you should look for laptops with a higher refresh rate display.
Panel Type
With the advancement of technology, there are multiple panels on the market too. While most laptops will be equipped with an LCD panel, you can find Mini-LED or OLED gaming laptops too. However, do keep in mind that while the latter will differ in improved visuals, they are also susceptible to screen burn-in. As such, an LCD IPS panel should suffice for most users, unless you’re craving that visual improvement, especially for HDR gaming
Other than that, it’s also worth noting that you don’t need to spend extra on a touchscreen panel. While it does have limited benefits, none of those apply to gamers, and you’d only be spending more money on something that’s a lot more fragile and doesn’t improve your experience in any way.
Input Devices and Connectivity
Keyboard and Touchpad
Most gaming laptops also come with dedicated gaming keyboards. While per-key RGB lighting is a personal preference, it’s important to ensure that the keyboard has a good key travel, typically between 1.5 and 2 millimeters. Add to that, some laptops also come with a dedicated numpad, should you desire that.
Also, different brands offer hotkeys with the option to create custom macros, which can come in handy. As for the touchpad, you’d barely be using it. We’d recommend picking up a dedicated gaming mouse for the best performance.
Connectivity
Your gaming laptop’s connectivity options are essential for peripherals like gaming mice, keyboards, and headsets. Ensure your laptop has enough USB ports, alongside HDMI or DisplayPort for external displays. If you’ve selected a bigger chassis laptop, it should most likely have an Ethernet port for a more stable internet connection.
If not, make sure that it supports Wi-Fi 6 or the latest standard for smooth online gaming and fast downloads. Finally, Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports are a plus for high-speed data transfer and connecting high-resolution external displays. That said, they are only available on Intel-based laptops, so keep that in mind.
Storage: Make Some Room
While this isn’t a major point of consideration since storage is mostly upgradable later on, you should still consider the kind of storage your laptop comes with. These days, most laptops already come with an SSD installed, so you should be good to go. You can select the capacity of it based on the amount of games you plan to store on it. As a starting point, 1TB of storage should be good enough for most users, since 512GB can be a bit limiting.
Cooling System: Say No to Heat
One thing we always assert when evaluating gaming laptops is that hardware is something that every brand can offer. What sets each gaming laptop apart is the kind of cooling system the company puts in. Gaming laptops generate heat, so an efficient cooling system is crucial. Look for laptops with multiple fans and vents for optimal airflow.
Additionally, some brands use liquid metal for even better cooling performance. Make sure to consider reviews that assess noise levels and thermal performance under load.
Budget: Reality Check
It’s easy to say that the more you spend, the better the machine you’ll get. However, the fact is that your budget plays a pivotal role in your decision. Gaming laptops range from affordable options around $800 to high-end models that can exceed $3000. As such, it’s important to determine your comfortable spending limit and prioritize components based on your use case.
A better tip is to not chase the latest specs if they exceed your budget. Instead, focus on components that directly impact your gaming experience. While it sounds nice to have the latest hardware, you can almost always snag a great deal on even a year-old machine which would still perform pretty well for the next couple of years.
Find the Right Gaming Laptop For Yourself
At the end of the day, choosing the right gaming laptop is a balance of performance, portability, screen size, connectivity, cooling system, and budget. By understanding your needs and prioritizing key features, you’ll find the perfect companion to dominate the digital battlefield.
So go ahead, apply your newly learned knowledge, and find a gaming laptop that suits your needs. Or better yet, just search for a laptop you like on our website, since we already have the best options covered for all sorts of users. Happy gaming!
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