Best 11 Laptops for Gaming 2021
This is the most comprehensive and relevant guide to help you choose the best laptop for gaming in 2021.
We’re going to compare and describe the best parts to look for in a laptop. Simultaneously, we’ll look into the specs and prices where a little sacrifice from you might be required. So, if you’re planning to boost your gaming experience, this is the blog to be bookmarked! Without waiting any longer, let’s get started!
The list is in no way a best-to-worst ranking ladder. So, be patient and pick the most suitable gadget for yourself after thorough reading.
Acer Nitro 5: Affordable traditionalist choice
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5-4600H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | Storage: 256GB SSD | Display: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz | RAM: 8GB | Weight: 5.14 pounds
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Affordable price
➕ Strong battery |
➖ Dull display
➖ Average graphics |
Acer locks our gaze with the most affordable laptop this year with killer looks and a strong CPU. But is all just too perfect? Let’s find out.
So the chassis has improved from last year’s designs but on second thought, the machine is dull and matte. Acer tries to lift the game by putting in a red keyboard and red lighting but only makes the design more cringeworthy. The keyboard is still pretty comfortable and provides quick feedback.
Placed in line with other budget gaming laptops, it falls short in enticing us with its graphics and gaming speed. Pity Acer didn’t satisfy us in this domain. Having said that, the prolonged battery life and AMD processors compensate for the setbacks in this affordable gadget.
Acer Nitro 7: Better display with a matte design
CPU: Core i7 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | Screen: 15.60-inch | Display: 1920×1080 pixels| RAM: 8GB | Weight: 5 pounds
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Bright display
➕ Polished design |
➖ Average performance |
Nitro 7 has pretty much the same features as its brother, Nitro 5. The only major difference comes in design and display. The black paint finish keeps smudges away, so no more fretting over enjoying snacks while gaming. The laptop offers color correction as a plus point while the rest of the display is similar to that of Nitro 5.
You’re about to gasp at the fact that Nitro 7 doesn’t offer an easy way to add up RAM. You’ll have to remove the complete base if there’s some work to be done there. Pretty exhausting, to be honest. The games run smoothly unless you go the extra mile to test highly demanding ones.
Razer Blade 15: Slaying the game like a pro!
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core | GPU: Up to Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q | RAM: Up to 16GB | Screen: Full HD 144Hz, 300Hz | Battery: 80Whr | Weight: 4.73 lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Sleek design
➕ Upgraded cooling system ➕ Individually colored keys |
With a design aesthetic to drool over, the new Razer Blade 15 is a laptop you cannot pass over so easily. We’ll discuss its core later but first, let’s talk about the design.
What wins our hearts with this design is the readjustment in the keyboard that has made the gaming experience a lot more smooth. The colors of the keys can be individually altered. Sounds magical.
Its 10th generation core and the latest graphic chips from Nvidia will rejuvenate your gaming for sure! Now, you don’t have to compromise on the gaming speed because this 2020 version has an upgraded cooling system with a vapor chamber. Pretty “cool”, huh?
With its relatively lower price – US$1,599.99, we pin this machine among the best ones on our list.
Dell G3 15: Low on budget. A total stellar.
CPU: Intel Core i7 9750H | GPU: Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q | RAM: 16GB | Battery: 51 Whatt | Screen: 15.6-inch Full HD IPS 144Hz | Weight: 5.2 lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Good on budget
➕ Great battery life |
We’ll stun you with the price tag later. First, you need to check out the specs that’ll fascinate you right away. Because Dell doesn’t invest much in its laptop designs and keypads, this slim version is pretty surprising to behold. This sleeker Dell machine launched this year comes with a decent 1080p gaming and a powerful battery to get your back.
Even for a traditionalist who believes in merely enjoying the game instead of the gadget aesthetics, this laptop does an extraordinary job. Priced at around $894, we can hardly not give it all our thoughts.
Acer Predator Triton 900: Moveable screen and a giant display. Is it a hit?
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H six-core processor | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card | RAM: 32GB DDR4 2666MHz | Storage: 2x 512GB NVMe SSD storage | Battery: 72Wh | Display: 17.3-inch 4K IPS touchscreen display
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Feasible key switches
➕ Moveable screen |
➖ Humongous size
➖ Too expensive |
Acer surprises its customers this year with something exciting but we would rather ask, was it necessary? With a moveable 4k screen, that can shift to 180 degrees angle, we can label it as the best new feature in the series. That’s more of a design flick.
Gaming laptops need to be handy and sleek. But the oversize beast is a no-no for modern gamers with an almost 17-inches wide display. The trackpad is located on the right side of the keyboard, making gaming a bit difficult for a few.
Acer’s concern for keeping the machine cool all the time is noteworthy. Don’t be scared if the fans roar a bit. The manufacturers have decided on a unique keyboard placement to adequately cool the processors and graphic cards. We won’t advise expecting much from its graphic card though. Graphically intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 will test the machine to its core.
Priced at almost $3,800, it delivers good performance at a great cost.
Acer Predator Helios 300: A stunning speed bolt at a reasonable price.
CPU: Intel Core i7 10750H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 with Max-Q | RAM:16GB DDR4-2666 | Screen: 15.6-inch Full HD IPS 240Hz | Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD | Battery: 3720 mAh
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Great RTX performance
➕ Upgraded cooling system |
➖ Hard keys |
Before jumping to the beefy stuff, let’s just talk about the design at the unusually reasonable price of US$1,045.99. Acer has added silver fins at the sides of the back. The barrel connector is located exactly at the center of the back to help organize the wires on your desk.
Now for some core specs. The keyboard isn’t sensitive enough and unless you press it down very hard, that too in the middle of your intense gaming trance, it just won’t work. It’s been three years and no major alterations in the keyboard have come in this series. We’re a bit disappointed.
Coming to the performance, it has the fastest tested RTX 2060 out of all the mid-range laptops launched in 2020. So a double thumbs up for the performance! Acer has done an incredible job in its positioning of fans and their capacity. Thermally, it’s job is running extremely smoothly!
Acer Predator Helios 500: Ready to replace your desktop laptop!
CPU: 2.90GHz Intel Core i9-8950HK | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5); Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 SDRAM | Storage: 512GB SSD, 2TB HDD
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Solid graphics
➕ Comfortable keyboard |
➖ Heavy
➖ Low battery life |
The mighty beast boasts a magnificent gothic-style design with a 17.3-inch display and edgy grey outlines. The keyboard celebrates the addition of 5 hotkeys, all set for customizable functions. Compared to Helios 300, it has more actuation and a deeper travel distance. So far, it’s winning our hearts.
The core is equally regal with an overclockable Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU with 8GB of VRAM. The GPU won’t stutter one bit in graphically taxing games. The only problem we see here is the low battery life i.e., 3 to 4 hours.
Dell G7 17: Slim but savage” Dell calls it!
CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (Laptop) | Display: 17.3”, Full HD (1920 x 1080) | IPS: HDD/SSD. 256GB NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD | RAM: 16GB DDR4, 2666 MHz
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Low price
➕ G key for boosting performance |
➖ Low battery life
➖ Mediocre cooling system |
With a price tag of around $1300, this is Dell’s best value laptop topping the game of mid-range machines in 2020. Let’s explore its design a bit. A lot of ports are placed at the back to avoid messy desks. The glass trackpad, cooler and prettier, will snatch your attention right away.
This year is all about going the extra mile on making the thermals of every gaming laptop better. Dell G7 17 introduces the G key at the top of the keyboard to boost performance and fan speed. The battery life is the biggest drawback of this machine. But at this price, we can make a deal with it.
Lenovo Legion Y545: Average cost, above-average performance
CPU: Intel Core i7-9750H | GPU: Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 128GB SSD | Display: 15.6 inches, 1080p | Weight: 5.3 pounds
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Elegant buildup | ➖ Below-average battery life
➖ Runs hot while gaming |
“Classy build” is our first comment. The light-up Lenovo logo and angular design with a metal top panel make it an aesthetic addition to your gaming profile. High five for the artistic geeks! The keys are nicely spaced. There’s no cramping as it seemed in its predecessor, Y540.
Talking about performance, it lies somewhere in the middle of the competition. Game-wise, it’s not lagging anywhere and will promise a smooth run. The thermal capacity again is a big letdown here. It’ll throttle pretty quick if you push it off-limits. Also, the 3-hour battery life will bug you at first but the price tag of around $1,200 will compel you to compromise.
Razer Blade Pro 17: More functional than attractive
CPU: Intel Core i7-10875H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Display: 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080, 144Hz
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Razor chroma keyboard
➕ Convenient upgradability ➕ Portable |
➖ Battery drains fast while heavy gaming |
Razer is one of the most recognized brands among gamers worldwide. And this year, Blade Pro 17 comes with a wholesome package of design and performance although the price may nag you a bit. We’ll bite into the juicer bits later. First, let’s raid the design specs.
This laptop will stupefy you with its keyboard – backlit with per-key RGB lighting. That’s the sight we’ve been waiting for in the 2020 gaming era. Don’t worry about the Numpad removed. It only ensures a wider resting space on the machine for your hands and a smooth gaming experience.
Speaking of gaming, with RTX 2080 and a new vapor chamber incorporated in this model, the machine outshines as a king. You’re in for smooth graphics and excellent display here.
Dell Alienware M15 R3: Head-turning look with upgraded features!
CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H 6 x 2.6 – 5 GHz | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 | Display: 15.6 inch | Storage: 2x Micron 2200S 512 GB (RAID 0), 1024 GB | Weight: 5 lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➕ Comfortable typing experience
➕ Excellent design |
➖ RAM cannot be upgraded |
Dell has recently launched an updated high-end laptop in its amazing Alienware series. This year’s model is worth all your thoughts. Its stain and smudge-resistant finesse and the trim around the panel make us want to sigh “eleganza”.
Now, for the gaming essentials, we’d say it does a pretty good job. It has an updated vapor chamber for its CPU but unfortunately, the GPU still doesn’t have one. This bias by Dell puts us off. The glass trackpad and smooth keyboard are on point to get you going glitch-free in your games. The latest 10th generation Core i7 and the power of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 come at a very fair price in this beautiful design.
With these 11 picks, we’d wrap up our 2020 list. These laptops are here to make your game stand out amongst the competitors. So, pick wisely and outshine with your gaming beast!
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