George Bernard Shaw once said: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”
Indeed, ‘play’ is a vital part of the healthy psychological development of all children everywhere and, as adults with fun-sponge jobs, ever-inflating bills, increasingly rapid personal entropy and the uncertainty of the world we live in to contend with, a continuation of ‘play’ in some form is vital to maintaining a thin veneer of sanity.
Some find this release in sports, some in dance, some through a mixed medium of alcohol and karaoke, others, meanwhile, prefer to get their play on by mentally travelling to otherworldly realms where the rules of reality take a back seat and almost anything becomes possible. I speak, of course, of computer games in all their many and varied genres.
Some skirmish from the sofa via a hardcore sole-goal console, while others prefer to ply their play on a powerful but more pliant desktop PC, but for the gamer on the go who needs both play and practicality in one portable package, the gaming laptop is the only solid solution.
What should you look for in a gaming laptop?
When it comes to grabbing a laptop with ample grunt to handle the most demanding new games a powerful CPU and GPU are essential. So is a high-def display featuring furiously fast refresh and response rates, the former being the frequency at which the screen updates images every second and the latter being the amount of time it takes pixels to change colour. Last but not least, you must look for ample on-board storage if you’re planning on loading up today’s hefty, high-octane AAA options.
Not sure where to start? Well take a chill pill, player, for having recently knocked off my shift on Best Laptops for Students and Best Affordable Laptops, it is now my pleasure to present to you, the beloved ES Best reader, with my personal picks for the Best Gaming Laptops of 2023.
So, grab a suitable supply of snacks, kiss your spouse goodbye and get set to game on…
Best gaming laptops at a glance:
- Best for gaming glory at an approachable price: HP Omen 16-xd0001na - £1,450, HP
- Best for the ultimate in ultra-portable play: LG gram SuperSlim - £1,399, LG
- Best for being the best: Alienware M18 - £2,098.99, Dell
- Best for an exquisite gaming experience: MSI Raider GE77HX 12UGS-009UK - £1,800, eBuyer
- Best for pure gaming grunt: ROG Strix SCAR 17 - £3,099.99, Asus
- Best for gaming laptop luxury: ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) - £3,599.99, Asus
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HP Omen 16-xd0001na
Best for: Gaming glory at an approachable price
Omens – they can be good or bad and, in the case of mid-70s psychological thrillers, even come in the format of a small boy with a ‘666’ tattoo and a propensity for doing bad. However, when it comes to HP, this Omen comes in the glorious satisfying shape of a slim and slick looking laptop that comes packed to the metaphorical rafters with gaming goodness.
First off, it’s got a 16.1-inch Full HD display (1920 x 1080-pixels), backed by a top-end refresh rate of 165Hz perfectly paired with a response time of 7ms, to assure you of stunningly sharp images and smooth play free from lag and all the delay that sucks the fun out of fast action play.
What’s more, it’s powerful too, boasting an 8 Core, 16 Thread AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor at its excitable heart, with a base clock of 3.8GHz and a boost clock up to 5.1GHz, which is power indeed. And this comes paired with an ultra-efficient NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (8GB) GPU to throw amazing, gratuitous graphics at you like an enraged digital gorilla.
Now, all of this effort creates heat, which calls upon extra effort from the cooling fan and, ultimately, more annoying noise. Which is why the HP Omen 16 comes armed with Tempest Cooling technology which, without getting all bogged down, facilitates real-time cooperation between the laptop’s IR thermopile sensor and OMEN Dynamic Power to monitor GPU and CPU capacity, thus allowing the laptop to optimise power usage while reducing fan noise and boosting speeds.
Completing the perfect gameplay puzzle is AMD FreeSync tech, which synchronises the refresh rate with your GPU to make the stuff of display stutter and screen tears things you only had to fear in the past.
Coming complete with 16GB RAM and a capacious 1TB of storage, there are ports aplenty for all peripherals, plus Realtek Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to keep you securely connected, while dual speakers with Audio by Bang & Olufsen and backed by DTS:X Ultra and HP Audio Boost elevate the sound (if you’re not using headphones, of course).
Finally, the Omen 16 features a full-size, 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard with 26-Key Rollover Anti-Ghosting Key technology and an HP Imagepad to keep your eyes firmly directed at the display at all action times.
Weighing a surprisingly light 2.36kg, the HP Omen 16 is not only particularly portable, it’s also oddly good looking too, with sleek minimalist lines and a ‘Shadow black’ finish that really makes that RGB keyboard pop.
A remarkable gaming laptop in all areas, at a price that brings it into the realm of ‘budget’ compared to most other options of its ilk, this is most definitely a damn good Omen.
OS: Windows 11 Home
Display: 16.1-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
Refresh rate: 165Hz
Response time: 7ms
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 8 GB
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB
Buy now £1450.00, HP
LG gram SuperSlim
Best for: the ultimate in ultra-portable play
Recently reduced from just under £1800 to just under £1600, 2023’s LG gram already represents incredible value, but it’s beyond being cut-price alone that makes this particular model stand out and, for once, it doesn’t begin and end with tech specs. Rather it’s the dimensions. Measuring just 10.9mm thick, the gram is ludicrously lithe, while its weight of 990g is mind boggling.
Yep, you’ve sussed it, the gram is laptop gaming reduced to the littlest it possibly can be before becoming utterly unplayable by having no space inside for ‘spec’. On which note, what it lacks in scale and heft, it compensates for with impressive insides, for beneath its super-sharp 15.6-inch OLED FHD display, complete with 60Hz refresh rate and remarkable 0.2ms response time, is a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1360P with 12 cores and 16 threads paired with an Intel Iris Xe Graphics GPU, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, all of which sounds absolutely spanky, but does it translate into performance?
The answer to that is that the LG gram is great for day-to-day office and internet productivity and more undemanding gaming, and the keyboard is surprisingly spacious feeling given the diminutive dimensions, but if you’re looking to get to grips with today’s most epic AAA games, you might want to look elsewhere as the 1080p screen resolution is not quite up to scratch, but casual gaming comes up aces.
Now, when it comes to smaller laptops, you expect a smaller battery, and that combined with an OLED display normally leads to less longevity, but the SuperSlim offers an impressive battery life of over 12 hours of average use, so you won’t have to worry about it conking out and leaving you high and dry on long journeys.
So, stunning looking, ridiculously light, supplied with plenty of ports, tough to MIL-STD-810H and even coming supplied with oddly decent speakers for a laptop of this size, if there is one problem with the LG gram SuperSlim, it lies in the price. Even reduced by £200, they’re asking a lot for a laptop of this spec, especially when you can get other options with higher res displays that are geared up for AAA gaming at around the same amount of moolah. However, if impossibly light, casual gaming on the go is what you seek, then the LG ticks all the tiny boxes.
OS: Windows 11 Home
Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Response time: 0.2ms
CPU: Intel Core i7-1360P
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB
Buy now £1399.00, LG
Alienware M18
Best for: being the best
Right, let’s get serious. Alienware, as you probably know, is the gaming arm of Dell and, as you probably also know, no prisoners are taken in the design and build of its machines. As a prime example of that, I offer you Exhibit A: the M18.
This laptop is a work of flaming fast madness that brings you the whole desktop gaming PC experience wherever you wander. With a simply stunning 18-inch LCD QHD+ display delivering 2560 x 1600 pixels, a refresh rate of 165Hz and a response time of 3ms, this thing is unstoppable, throwing up flawless graphics that rip across the screen with the ease of a freshly oiled otter, making AAA gaming as immersive as imaginable.
At the M18’s heart is a powerful, high-end Intel Core i9 13900HX processor with 24 Cores and 32 Threads, paired perfectly with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU to place absolutely rip-snorting stupefying gaming right in your palm.
Running on Windows 11 Home, the review model came packing 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, but the option to either half or double those depending on your dosh situation is also available. For me, I found this combination far more than ample and, frankly, stopped all thought of spec as I drifted off through the medium of the highly responsive AlienFX RGB backlit keyboard and multi-touch gesture touchpad into a reverie of utterly immersive play.
With stereo speakers doing a decent job of pumping a total of 4W, an impressive 1080p at 30fps FHD IR camera and dual-array microphones nailing communication, and a sizable battery for extended fun time, the M18 has the lot. Is it very, very expensive? You’re darn tootin’ it is. Is it an exceptional gaming laptop offering the pinnacle of performance for those who demand the very, very best? Without question.
OS: Windows 11 Home
Display: 18-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600)
Refresh rate: 165Hz
Response time: 3ms
CPU: Intel Core i9 13900HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 8 GB
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB
Buy now £2098.99, Dell
MSI Raider GE77HX 12UGS-009UK
Best for: An exquisite gaming experience
Can’t quite stretch to the Alienware above but still want a dazzling display with a fresh rate and speedy response time? Then you’ve come to the right place, my speed-hungry muchacho, for this is the Raider GE77HX (12UGS-009UK) from MSI. It comes with a whopping 17.3-inch brilliantly bright QHD display with a super-sharp 2560 x 1440-pixel count for truly eye-popping images, matched with a 240Hz refresh rate and a response time of 0.2ms. These screen stats come married to an Intel Core i7-12800HX processor packing 16 Cores and 24 Thread, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, all of which make a dream team for QHD gaming.
A bit of a bargain at under 2K, the Raider also comes with an ample 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and, wait for it, quality audio thanks to a Duo Wave Woofers + Speakers system designed by Dynaudio, consisting of 2x 1W speakers and 2x 2W woofers to bring the bass, combined with the inclusion of Nahimic 3 Audio Enhancer software to bring absolute clarity to audio and voice.
On the connection side, there’s 1x Thunderbolt 4 / DP/ USB Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C/DP, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, and 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1x RJ45, 1x SD Express Memory Card Reader, 1x HDMI 2.1 (8K @60Hz / 4K@120Hz), 1x Mini DisplayPort, and 1x audio combo jack, while Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E keep things firmly connected to the interweb. And, should you want to broadcast your gaming face, a Full HD (30fps@1080p) camera will have you looking your best as you return to the Forgotten Realms to batter down Baldur’s Gate.
Weighing in at 2.9kg, the MSI is a bit of a chunk, admittedly, but a heavyweight gaming laptop is gonna be a heavyweight, thanks to the splendid screen size and all that techie gaming goodness inside, so get building those biceps.
Without doubt, this is one beast of a machine, with all the power and performance you could currently ever ask for, leaving you (possibly) asking “How do they do it at such a price?” Well, there’s the trick, currently available at £1800 on the link below, that is a reduction of £1199 from the original asking price of £2999, so with a saving like that you’d be stupid not to snap it up!
OS: Windows 11 Home
Display: 17.3-inch QHD (2560x1440)
Refresh rate: 240Hz
Response time: 0.2ms
CPU: Intel Core i7-12800HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 8GB
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB
Buy now £1800.00, eBuyer
ROG Strix SCAR 17
Best for: Pure gaming grunt
Another name firmly lodged in the pantheon of truly great gaming machines, ROG laptops from Asus are legendary amongst players who want it all, and the Strix SCAR 17 is the epitome of AAA enjoying perfection.
With a striking 17.3-inch QHD display, complete with 240Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time, those fortunate enough to be able to afford the premium price will be rewarded with blisteringly fast performance, thanks to the combined efforts of the new AMD Ryzen9 7945HX 16 Core, 32 Thread CPU and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, and bright, superbly sharp and detailed graphics that flow with all the fluidity of digital water.
Running on Windows 11 Home, the SCAR 17 comes featuring 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage it is utterly awash with connector options, such as 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support display / power delivery, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort / G-SYNC, 1x 2.5G LAN port and, of course, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, alongside Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
And it’s not too shoddy when it comes to sound either, due to the stereo boasting Smart Amp tech and Audio by Dolby Atmos, so both elements of eyes and ears are more than catered for.
Naturally, there’s also a customisable backlit Chiclet Per-Key RGB keyboard with plenty of space for comfortable play, and a 720p camera with microphone array to keep you nice and clear on video calls.
In short, the ROG Strix SCAR 17 is an exceptional (if expensive) option that delivers glorious graphics at a breakneck rate and superb sound to match – there’s a lot to love here and, frankly, any negatives would be mere petty niggles.
OS: Windows 11 Home
Display: 17.3-inch QHD (2560x1440)
Refresh rate: 240Hz
Response time: 3ms
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, 12GB
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB
Buy now £3099.99, Asus
ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023)
Best for: Gaming laptop luxury
If the 17-inch Strix is stretching your limits of portable credulity, then let’s stick with top-notch spec and squeeze it all into a far more movable frame in the slick shape of the shiny new ROG Zephrus, a 14-inch option that is both small and mighty.
With a ROG Nebula HDR QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) display featuring a 165Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, your eyes will be held mesmerised as the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor (8 Core/16 Thread) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card work in incredible unison to feed you even the most oomph-demanding games with absolute seamless, lagless ease.
With 1TB of storage on board and 16GB of RAM (expandable to 32GB), port options are expansive with 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support display, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x Type C USB 4 support DisplayPort / power delivery, 1x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II) and a 3.5mm combo audio jack all on-hand. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 see to all your wireless needs, providing superb speed and stability, while sound comes courtesy of a four-speaker system with both Smart Amp technology and Audio by Dolby Atmos.
For the Zephyrus’s size, the backlit Chiclet RGB keyboard is surprisingly spacious, so you needn’t worry about hand cramp setting in mid-session, and for those wanting to loom large, a 1080p IR camera and three-microphone array conveys your countenance and dulcet tones with stunning clarity.
An ultra-portable, ultra-powerful gaming laptop at an – agreed – ultra-price, if your gaming desire is serious but your space small, this is THE model for you and, quite possibly, THE model of 2023.
OS: Windows 11 Home
Display: 14-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600)
Refresh rate: 165Hz
Response time: 3ms
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, 16MB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
RAM: 16GB (expandable to 32GB)
Storage: 1TB
Buy now £3599.99, Asus
