Find the best laptop for gaming in 2026
To find the best gaming laptop we recommend to focus on these characteristics:
- Graphics card - look for latest offering from Nvidia and AMD, make sure it's discrete and has enough VRAM
- Thermal performance - rule of thumb: opt for thick and heavy laptop as they tend to handle workload better
- Display - 2K display with fast response (1ms) and high refresh rate (120Hz+) is optimal
Best Laptops under €500 for gaming
Lenovo IdeaPad 14" 81VS009GUS Platinum Gray 2021
Best Laptops under €900 for gaming
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 15.6 inch Blue
Great Alternatives
These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs
Acer Aspire 3 15.6" NX.JK8AA.001 Silver 2023
Best Laptops under €2,000 for gaming
ASUS TUF Gaming 14" A16 Black
Great Alternatives
These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs
Acer Predator 16" PT516-52s Steel Gray 2023
Why we recommend this ▼
The 2560x1600 240Hz G-SYNC display covers 100% DCI-P3 at 500 nits, backed by an Intel i7-12700H and GeForce RTX 3070 Ti with 8GB VRAM. Liquid metal cooling with 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans and Killer DoubleShot Pro networking sustain performance under combined workloads. Best for video editors and 3D artists who require a color-accurate high-refresh panel for grading and GPU-accelerated rendering while gaming competitively.
MSI Katana A15 AI 15.6" B8VF-448US Black
Why we recommend this ▼
The Ryzen 7-8845HS and RTX 4060 pair with a 144Hz display to deliver consistent high-FPS 1080p gaming, backed by 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD for ample multitasking headroom. Its Cooler Boost 5 thermal system and customizable RGB keyboard enhance sustained performance and comfort during long sessions, though the 4.13kg chassis limits portability. This laptop is best for competitive gamers who prioritize frame rates and thermal stability over a lightweight build.
Lenovo LOQ 15.6" 83JC00LYUS Luna Grey 2025
Why we recommend this ▼
The Ryzen 5 7235HS and RTX 4050 with 6GB VRAM handle 1080p gaming smoothly, backed by a 144Hz IPS display with G-SYNC and FreeSync Premium support. The dual-fan sealed chamber cooling keeps skin temperature low during long sessions, while the LA1 AI chip in Lenovo Vantage auto-tunes performance between gaming and schoolwork. Best for budget-conscious students who want a capable esports and AAA gaming machine at medium settings, though the 39Wh battery limits unplugged use.
ASUS ROG Strix 16" G615JHR-DS74 Eclipse Gray 2025
Why we recommend this ▼
A 16-core Intel Core i7-14650HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 8GB GDDR7 drive a 165Hz IPS display, with effective cooling maintaining performance under load. The solid, premium build houses a color-accurate 100% sRGB screen, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and Wi-Fi 7 for fast load times and connectivity. This laptop is ideal for gamers and graphic designers who need a powerful, stationary system for AAA titles and color-critical work with sustained cooling.
ASUS TUF A15 15.6" Black
Why we recommend this ▼
Equipped with a 144Hz Adaptive-Sync display and a self-cleaning cooling system with four heatpipes, this laptop prioritizes smooth, sustained gaming performance. The generous 32GB of DDR5 RAM and an open SSD slot for expansion offer strong multitasking headroom and storage flexibility beyond its RTX 3050 graphics. It is best for budget-conscious gamers who value high frame rates in esports titles and need a durable, upgradeable machine for everyday tasks.
MSI Crosshair 16" CROSSHAIRA16D8090 Gray
Why we recommend this ▼
The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and NVIDIA RTX 5060 with DLSS 4 drive high frame rates on the 16-inch 240Hz QHD+ display, making fast-paced games look sharp and fluid. Its dual-drive setup pairs a 1TB NVMe SSD with a 1TB HDD for ample storage, while Cooler Boost 5 and a 24-zone RGB keyboard add practical thermal management and customization. This laptop is best for gamers who want high-refresh 1440p performance and multitaskers needing substantial local storage without relying solely on external drives.
ASUS TUF 16" FA617 Black
Why we recommend this ▼
Its AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS and Radeon RX 7700S 8GB GPU power a 16-inch 165Hz 16:10 IPS panel with Thunderbolt 4, all housed in a military-grade durable chassis. The anti-glare display achieves a 90% screen-to-body ratio, and Windows 11 Pro provides enterprise security features unusual for a gaming laptop. It’s best for budget-minded creators and gamers who want a large, high-refresh display with Thunderbolt 4 and can forgive its bulk.
Lenovo Legion 15.3" Lenovo Black
Why we recommend this ▼
The RTX 5060 with 115W TGP and 572 AI TOPS drives smooth 165Hz gaming on a 16:10 IPS panel with full sRGB coverage and G-SYNC. The 15.3-inch display’s 1920x1200 resolution and Dolby Vision support provide a taller workspace and vivid contrast for both games and media. This laptop suits competitive gamers who prioritize high frame rates and color accuracy over 4K resolution or AI workloads.
Acer Nitro V 16 AI Black
Why we recommend this ▼
The RTX 5050 GPU with 8GB VRAM and a 180Hz IPS display drives smooth, high-frame-rate gaming on this 16-inch machine. Its 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD offer generous out-of-the-box capacity, with the retailer noting potential pre-shipment upgrades for immediate readiness. This laptop is best for budget-conscious gamers who prioritize high refresh rate performance and ample memory over 4K resolution or extreme portability.
Acer Nitro V 16 AI Black 2026
Why we recommend this ▼
Pairing an AMD Ryzen 5 240 6-core chip with GeForce RTX 5050 8GB graphics, this laptop pushes smooth frame rates on its 16-inch 180Hz IPS panel. Its 421 AI TOPS-capable GPU and Thunderbolt 4 port provide headroom for accelerating AI tasks and connecting high-speed peripherals. It’s a solid pick for esports gamers wanting high refresh rates on a budget and for entry-level creators who need CUDA cores for light rendering work.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" FA507NUR-AS73 Mecha Gray
Why we recommend this ▼
The Ryzen 7 7435HS and RTX 4050 deliver smooth 1080p gaming on a 144Hz display with full sRGB coverage, backed by MIL-STD-810H certified durability. Its MUX Switch with Advanced Optimus intelligently routes graphics to preserve battery life, while the dual Arc Flow Fans keep noise in check under load. This is a solid choice for students and entry-level gamers who prioritize a rugged, reliable chassis over maximum frame rates.
ASUS TUF Gaming F15 15.6" FX507ZC-ES53 Mecha Gray 2022
Why we recommend this ▼
A dedicated MUX Switch routes frames directly from the RTX 3050 to the 144Hz display, unlocking 5-10% more gaming performance from the 12-core Intel i5-12500H. Its military-grade chassis houses an upgraded dual-fan cooling system with 84-blade Arc Flow Fans to sustain high clock speeds under load. This machine is best for entry-level gamers who prioritize frame-rate smoothness and thermal stability over color-accurate visuals.