7 Gaming Laptops to Add to Your List This Christmas
Since the recently released Xbox One X and PS4 Pro consoles can run games in 4K, you may be reluctant about dropping several hundred or even over a couple thousand dollars on a gaming laptop. While we relate to this hesitance, a gaming laptop is a significantly more flexible piece of hardware than anything a console can give you. In spite of their name, gaming laptops can deal with more than the occasional League of Legends session. Games are for relaxation, yet when the time comes to write a research paper or make a deadline for work, you can’t depend on your Xbox to help out. Here’s some of the top Gaming Laptops to watch for this Christmas that can deal with everything gaming and work related.
Razer Blade
Processor: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-6700HQ | Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB GDDR5 VRAM) | Memory: 16GB | Display: 14-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800) IGZO (LED backlit, multi-touch) | Hard Drive: 256GB – 1TB PCIe SSD
It seems as if the Razer Blade is aimed at the MacBook Pro market where it slides in between the 13-inch and 15-inch models. The dividing line is software – if you need Mac OS, then fair enough, it’s a MacBook Pro you want. However, if Windows is your thing, or you are looking to switch from a Mac, the Razer Blade is an obvious choice.
The combination of gaming level GPU and CPU in an ultra slender chassis is remarkable. The sub 5lb weight is impressive when you consider that Razer has had to pack in a cooling system that keeps the GTX 1060 graphics under control. Complaints about the Razer Blade are pretty much non-existent which makes this laptop both memorable and a winner.
Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501
Processor: Intel Core i7 | Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 (8GB GDDR5X VRAM) | Memory: 16GB | Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) anti-glare, wide-view 120Hz panel with G-Sync | Hard Drive: 512GB M.2 PCIe x4 SSD
The verdict on the ROG Zephyrus GX501 depends primarily on two factors: 1) Does money matter? And: 2) How important is the transportability? Users who are ready to dig deep into their pockets for an extremely flat and powerful notebook will get an extremely smart and relatively lightweight case packed with great materials, a G-Sync-enabled 120 Hz display and a level of performance that – in this class – is unrivaled.
If, on the other hand, you you want to watch your wallet and every millimeter does not matter, the GX501 suddenly seems less attractive. The ultraslim concept comes at the expense of increased temperature (under load, the chassis gets very hot), but also at the expense of maintenance, the input devices, port selection (no card reader, no RJ45 LAN) and especially the battery life, which is disappointingly low with a maximum of 3 hours for a device designed for mobility.
All in all, the Zephyrus GX501 still gets a “good” rating and deserves a spot in the top list for slim and light gaming laptops.
Asus ROG Strix GL502
Processor: Intel Core i7 | Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 – 1070 | Memory: 16GB DDR4 | Display: 15.6-inch full HD 1,920 x 1,080 IPS | Hard Drive: 128GB – 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD
Overall, the new Asus ROG Strix GL502 leaves a convincing impression. In particular, the brutal performance of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 contributes to this. Gamers that are not too noise sensitive should get their money’s worth.
However, there are also a few minor weaknesses to report. The gliding properties of the touchpad could be better as well as the average color gamut of the otherwise very good IPS screen. Because 15-inch models with this performance can not be silently cooled, it comes off a little loud during gaming sessions.
On the plus side, there’s a lot more to tell: The fairly lightweight case is chic and should meet the design expectations of ROG buyers. Asus gets high praise for the generous and modern port selection. The performance is as expected given the specifications and the good impressions is rounded off with a good keyboard and the largely convincing display. Despite the mentioned limitations, we can definitely recommend this system.
Razer Blade Pro Gaming Laptop
Processor: Intel Core i7 | Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB GDDR5) – 1080 (8GB GDDR5X) | Memory: 16 – 32GB | Display: 17.3-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) 120Hz matte IPS – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) IGZO touchDisplay with G-Sync | Hard Drive: 512GB – 2TB PCIe SSD
There is some room for improvement when it comes to the sound of the integrated speakers, as well as the Razer Blade Pro’s energy consumption rates (which negatively impact its battery life). However, setting aside those issues, the Razer Blade Pro is a very well-designed high-end notebook. With its slim build, high-quality materials and classy design, it should catch the fancy of gamers who value quality, refinement and a reasonable degree of transportability. When you add the RGB backlit mechanical keyboard, this 17-inch laptop is one of the highest quality devices you’ve ever used, and thanks to the 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, the SSD RAID, and the GeForce GTX 1080, performance it top notch.
Gigabyte SabrePro 15
Processor: Intel Core i7 | Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 | Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS wide-viewing angle display | Hard Drive: 1TB HDD, 256GB SSD
In everyday life you will almost never hear the laptop running. Under high load it becomes noticeable, but not disturbing. The SaberPro 15 is a perfect compromise between everyday life and gaming as well as the portability that a laptop is supposed to provide. It is of high quality, tactile, visually appealing, and sports powerful equipment in a comparatively compact space. Sure, the battery life is only close to two hours, but performance losses would have to be compromised in order to have less power hungry hardware.
Alienware 17 R4
Processor: Intel Core i7 | Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (2GB GDDR5) – GTX 1080 (8GB GDDR5X) | Memory: 8GB – 32GB | Display: 17.3-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) IPS anti-glare 300-nits | Hard Drive: 128GB SSD, 1TB HDD – 2TB SSD, 1TB HDD
Alienware is known for their high standards in quality, and that remains true with the 17 series. The skeleton and design that holds the hardware is excellent just like the pieces powering it on the inside. The battery life is on par or better than the other laptops in the list at around 3 hours under load. Overall, the R4 is one of the better picks out there. It’s fast, runs quiet, and not very hot. Add an amazing screen, a very good keyboard and amazing hardware inside and you get unparalleled performance for a single-GPU laptop.
MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro
Processor: Intel Core i7 | Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 – 1070 | Memory: 16GB – 32GB | Display: 15.6-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) 120Hz, 3ms, HDR – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) wide-view IPS | Hard Drive: 256GB SSD; 2TB HDD – 512GB HDD; 2TB HDD
MSI’s GS63VR Stealth Pro is a good evolution of the predecessor the Ghost Pro. The chassis is slimmer than before, and the GPU performance has been increased dramatically thanks to Nvidia’s new generation of graphics cards. The MSI GS63VR is one of the slimmest 15-inch notebooks in the gaming segment, but can still keep up with the bulkier rivals in terms of performance. However, the fans produce a very unpleasant sound under load and the HDD is audible all the time while idling. The battery runtimes are mediocre as well, but if you are looking for a slim gaming laptop with a lot of performance and primarily play with a headset anyway, the GS63VR should be on your list.