These days everyone wants things to be portable so that they can carry them around with them throughout their busy schedules. Whether it is a drone that you want to travel with or a laptop for gaming. Now gaming laptops are a wholly different creation, as most gamers prefer monitor screens when it comes to gaming.Â
But for people, who move around a lot and do not want to have a huge gaming setup, gaming laptops are an all-in-one solution to your problem. To solve this problem of yours, we will discuss all you need to look for when buying a laptop for gaming.
If you are looking for a perfect gaming laptop that matches all your requirements for a while now, I am sure that you have realized that it is not easy to find the best one. Companies like Dell, Asus, Alienware, and many more are introducing impressive gaming laptops frequently. Therefore the competition in the market is high, and you are not sure which one to choose.
Before moving forward, keep in mind that gaming laptops come in every price range, and to get the best experience, you will have to invest an adequate amount of money in them. You will also find affordable gaming laptops, but these entry-level laptops will lack some of the key features and might not be able to provide you with the best gaming experience compared to high-end gaming laptops.
There are certain things you need to make sure that the gaming laptop has, before buying it. Such of the main features are discussed below in detail to help you make up your mind and choose the best.
Suitable RAM
Your gaming experience depends on your RAM. The better the RAM, the better your gaming experience will be. The most recommended RAM size is 8GB, which you should consider before buying a laptop for gaming or for any other reason for that matter.
A lot of gaming laptops out there are now upgradeable, so if you have the money, directly invest it in a laptop that holds 16GB RAM. However, if you can’t afford it yet, go for 8GB and consider upgrading it in the near future.
Companies offer custom configurations at a specific price range therefore, upgrading, most of the time, is an option, and you should consider it from time to time to make your gaming experience better. However, even if updating is not on your to-do list, get yourself an 8GB RAM and do not settle for anything less.
CPU Configuration
Another most important thing you need to keep in mind before buying a laptop for gaming is its CPU configuration. Now the laptops come with different CPU configurations, and that does affect the overall performance of the laptop.
The settleable generation of CPU that you can go for is the 6th generation. Besides, you can always go up the hill but don’t settle for anything less than the 6th generation. If we start from the bottom and if you don’t have a lot of money to invest in your gaming laptop, get yourself a core i5 configured laptop.
It’s the slowest laptop you would want to buy for gaming, but it will get the job done. Although, if you want a better experience and can stretch your budget a little, go for the intel Quad-core Core i7. Now, if you are thinking: how will you know if the laptop is Quad-core?
Read the model number and if it ends with HQ or HK, go for it. HK chips allow you to have the fastest performance, and it provides you with a satisfactory experience.  Â
Clear And Sharp Display
Display plays a vital role in providing you with a top-notch gaming experience. Now, the screen resolution is not the only thing that needs to be taken care of while talking about display. It also covers the size of the panel, which also matters. Most of the laptops come with a 15-17 inch screen size. However, you could also find a much larger size or even smaller one.
But, the preferable sizes for you are 15-17 inches. Imagine if you go for a bigger panel, that will mean that the laptop will be a lot heavier. Moreover, a smaller screen size will not give the most satisfactory experience in gaming.
The screen resolution that you all should consider in a laptop is 1920 x 1080p. Anything less is of no use, as the quality of the screen will be below average, and no gamer wants that. However, you could always go the extra mile and get a better option, but for that, you will obviously have to spend more.
As there are laptops in the market that comes with 4K screen resolution, to get them, you will have to invest a lot. Besides, 1920 x 1080p is an adequate screen resolution that will be enough for you even if you are a pro gamer.  Â
Satisfactory GP
The Graphics Processing Unit or the GPU is a prime factor to take care of when buying a laptop for gaming. If you don’t know a lot about GPU, go for NVIDIA Geforce GTX. It is what will work fine for you doesn’t matter what you are playing. However, you could always upgrade to something better like GTX1080 or GTX1070 to get a much better experience.
Some laptops also support NVIDIA’s G-Sync or AMD’s free sync technology, which is an impressive option to look at. Both of these technologies are for eliminating input lag and for minimizing screen ghosting. What they do is provide you with the smoothest and fastest, most reliable gaming experience. These technologies synchronize the refresh rates of the display to the GPU of the system to give you the best results possible.
Reliable Storage Memory
Firstly, when it comes to storage memory, the question arises, which one is better to have SSD or HDD? So to answer you about that, SDD is always preferable over HDD. SDD or Solid State Drive enables the laptop to have a smooth, fast, and well-grounded experience.
As we all know, companies charge money for the experiences they provide you, therefore SSDs cost more compared to HDDs. If you have a limited budget and can’t get yourself SSD, then it is a fine option to go for a 1TB HDD or more. Â
Responsive Keyboard And Touchpad
When talking about gaming, we all know that specs are not the only thing that matters. The keyboard and the touchpad hold equal value as these two things are what you will use to make moves and input data. Therefore having a quality keyboard and
responsive touchpad is vital. For gaming, the preferable kind of keyboard is the mechanical keyboard that gives you a solid click sound while typing and also provides an impressive typing experience. Not all laptops feature a mechanical keyboard, but if you look into different options, you will find some laptops like Razer Blade 15, Asus TUF A15, and many more that come with mechanical keyboards.
Another thing that matters in a keyboard of a laptop for gaming is the Anti-ghosting feature.
ANTI-GHOSTING FEATURE: It enables different keys to get registered at the same time. While gaming, you tend to show some moves in the game by pressing different keys, simultaneously. It is a very important feature for gamers to have a fun experience.
And lastly, nothing gives the same vibe of being a gaming gadget as the backlighting in the device. The keyboards should support backlighting, not that you can’t have a great experience without that, but it is the vibe setter for gamers. The keyboards that have backlighting come with different lighting presets and software to manage them. This software also enables you to create macros therefore, the gaming experience only gets better.
Battery Life
Plug in the charger of your laptop while playing as most of the laptops that you can say have the best battery life can last without charging. But the reliable way is to plug in the charger to avoid sudden shutdowns during the match due to low battery. Besides, if you are looking for a laptop with some amazing battery life, let me warn you, the laptops that hold a solid battery life compromise the display quality. The battery life, they provide will be satisfactory, but the display will be dim and unpleasant. Â
Audio Quality
Audio quality in a laptop is something that you can overlook, as most of the time, you will use a headset while gaming. Gaming headsets provide you with the best experience, so focusing on the audio of the built-in speakers of the laptop is not something you should worry about.
Besides, if you really want an all-rounder laptop that can provide you with adequate audio quality. You should have a look at Lenovo notebooks that support Dolby Home Theater v4, Alienware’s audio software, or Nahimic audio software.
System Cooling
When you play games on a laptop it tends to put pressure on the system which results in heating up the entire system. The laptops start to lag and stop responding due to this, which is something you will not want to face while gaming. So before buying a laptop for gaming make sure that the laptop has a reliable cooling system in it.Â
Minimum Requirements To Play Games On Laptop
When we talk about the minimum requirements for playing a game on a laptop what we really want to know is how low can we go, budget-wise, and still get a reliable rig for gaming.
So to answer this question for you guys, the minimum requirements that you must go for including the RAM size of 8GB, anything less is not an option for gaming, a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080p, storage memory of 1TB HDD or better search for SSD at an affordable rate, and the CPU of at least 6th-generation Intel core i5 configuration.
For GPU settle for something between Nvidia GeForce 1050 or 1050 Ti GPU with around 2-4GB of VRAM. These all are the features that will provide you with an enjoyable, satisfactory gaming experience at an affordable rate.
Besides, what I find the most reliable is getting yourself an upgradable laptop so that you can update the configurations later on whenever you can afford it easily. With this, you won’t worry about getting yourself a completely new device just because you need a better configuration now.  Â
Configurations As Per Your Budget
Gaming laptops do cost more, and there is no doubt about that, but even in gaming laptops, there are different price ranges. The more the laptop costs, the higher and more reliable the configurations will be, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a well-rounded gaming laptop at a low price. You can go for the minimum requirements needed in a gaming laptop, which are discussed above, and you can undoubtedly get it for under $1000.
However, if you have a budget of around $1000-$2000, you can find an impressive laptop with a quad-core Intel Core i7 configuration of CPU. Laptops in this price range also offer both SSD and HDD when it comes to storage memory and 16 GB RAM. The screen resolution you can get is 1080p, and the GPU will be Nvidia GTX 1060 or 1070 along with around 6GB VRAM.
Lastly, if you really want to spend a fortune on your gaming laptops, by which I mean the price range of $2000 and above, you can get yourself an admirable rig with top-notch configurations and a high-end gaming experience.
At this price point, you will get a solid 16 to 64 GB RAM, 8GB VRAM, and a range of screen resolutions from 1080p to 4K, which will give you impressive display quality. Moreover, you can get the storage memory of around four SSDs, which will enable rapid loadings and installation.
The graphics will be mind-blowing, and you won’t have to worry about any lags during games or a low frame rate. Furthermore, if you invest above $3000, you can also get a laptop that supports a VR headset and can give you the best gaming experience.
Things You Need To Avoid While Buying A Laptop For Gaming
Now that we have discussed all the things you should get on a gaming laptop. I am now going to cover all the things you need to avoid. The things that you should stay away from while buying a laptop for gaming includes:
- Avoid touch screen laptops as touch screen makes the display look glossy and is not important for gaming.
- Never go below 1920 x 1080p screen resolution.
- Avoid buying a laptop that has a panel size bigger than 15-17 inches, as that will make the laptop a lot heavier and less portable.
- When it comes to CPU, do not go below 6th generation Intel core i5.
- Anything less than 8GB RAM is unacceptable.
One more question that is often asked by the people who are going to get themselves a gaming laptop is:
Are Gaming Laptops Good For Everyday Use?
Gaming laptops come with some impressive configurations, therefore, I don’t think you will find any difficulty in using the same laptop for everyday work. They are portable, fast, and hold a lot of storage memory, hence it is a great option to have. However, I agree that the battery life of a gaming laptop drops quite rapidly, but that is not that big of a problem as you can use it while its charger is plugged in.
Best Laptops For Gaming
Below are the reviews of some laptops that we think are worthy to be kept as an option for the best laptops for gaming.
Under $1000
LENOVO IDEAPAD L340
SPECIFICATIONS:
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage Memory: 512 GB SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- Display: 15.6 inches
- Weight: 4.8 pounds
- Processor: Intel Core i5
Lenovo Ideapad L340 is an admirable example of a gaming laptop under $1000. It has a weight of around 4.8 pounds and is relatively thin, thus it is very portable and easy to carry around. With a RAM of 16 GB, which is quite adequate, and the display size of 15.6 inches is pretty reliable.
It holds the GPU of Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, which will provide you with acceptable graphic quality. It features Windows 10 and a backlit keyboard.
The screen resolution that it comes with is 1920 x 1080p and has an average battery life of around 9 hours without charging. Although the battery dies a lot quicker when you are gaming or constantly browsing on the laptop.
Moreover, it comes with a CPU of Intel Core i5 and a storage memory of 512 GB SSD, which is not the best, and you might face some problems with large gaming files. Besides this, I think it is a reliable gaming laptop at a reasonable price that can provide you with a delightful gaming experience. Â
Between $1000-$2000
CUK MSI GF65 THIN
SPECIFICATIONS:
- RAM: 32 GB
- Storage Memory: 1TB NVMe SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
- Display: 15.6 inches
- Weight: 3.96 pounds
- Processor: Intel Core i7
CUK MSI GF65 is one of the best laptops for gaming that you can get for under $2000. It has a weight of 3.96 pounds and a display panel of 15.6 inches. It doesn’t weigh much, therefore you can carry it around without any problem.
Having a RAM of 32GB and a storage memory of 1TB NVMe SSD, it is quite a powerful laptop having a pretty sensible memory space. Additionally, it also comes with a 6GB video memory. It features Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, which will give you a delightful graphic quality while playing, making your gaming experience a lot better.
It has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080p and a battery life of 7 hours, which is acceptable. Furthermore, it features a 9th generation Intel Core i7 processor and a backlit keyboard. The keyboard has single backlighting and holds the Anti-Ghosting key as well as a silver lining. GF65 operates on windows-10 and comes with a 720p HD webcam. Overall the laptop is great, with an impressive storage memory and aesthetic looks.
ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300
SPECIFICATIONS:
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage Memory: 512 GB NVMe SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
- Display: 15.6 inches
- Weight: 5.29 pounds
- Processor: Intel Core i7
Another impressive laptop includes the Acer Predator Helios 300, which has a weight of 5.29 pounds, relatively heavy from other laptops. It has a display size of 15.6 inches and a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080p.
Helios 300 holds a RAM of 16 GB and a storage memory of 512 NVMe SSD, which is pretty sufficient. The laptop comes with the graphics of Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti giving a satisfying graphic quality. Moreover, it comes with a 6GB video memory and a backlit keyboard.
The laptop has a 9th generation Intel Core i7 processor and features windows 10 in it. It has quite an impressive look to it with angular edges and comes with a reliable 0.1 mm AeroBlade 3D fan cooling system to prevent the laptop from overheating while gaming.
Lastly, it has a low-battery life of around 3 hours while constant web browsing or gaming, but you can always use the laptop while it is charging, so it is not a big deal.   Â
From $2000 And Above
HP OMEN 15T
SPECIFICATIONS:
- RAM: 64 GB
- Storage Memory: 4TB SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
- Display: 15.6 inches
- Weight: 4.92 pounds
- Processor: Intel Core i9
As you go above $2000, there is a long way up, and you will have a lot of options from which you can choose. One such laptop is the HP OMEN 15T. It has a weight of 4.92 pounds, which is not very heavy thus, it is easy to carry around without being a burden for you. It has a screen panel of 15.6 inches and a solid screen resolution of 3840 x 2160p.
The display is anti-glare and has micro-edges. It also uses the graphics of Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 with a Max-Q design giving a top-notch display quality and making your gaming experience fantastic. It holds RAM of 64 GB and storage memory of 4TB SSD, which is impressive. Additionally, it comes with 8GB of video memory to give you a lot more space for your files.
The laptop comes with an Intel Core i9 processor and comes with windows 10. It features a backlit keyboard that has 4-zones RGB lighting along with a numeric keypad and 24-key rollover. The keyboard has a very smooth quality and gives a reliable typing experience.
Talking about the battery life, Omen 15T comes with an average battery life of around 4 hours and takes almost 45 minutes to charge up to 50%. It also features a satisfactory thermal layout to protect it from overheating and help it in remaining cool. It is considered one of the best professional gaming laptops that comes in a reasonable price range providing an amazing performance quality.  Â
CONCLUSION
There is a wide range of gaming laptops you can find on the market but choosing the best one out of them is a pretty difficult job, especially when you have a limited budget. Hence, we have covered all the points that you need to look for while buying a laptop for gaming. We have also discussed the things that you need to watch out for.
You can get a reliable gaming laptop even at an affordable rate, and for that, all you have to look for is that the configurations are satisfactory. Moreover, always try to go with a laptop that is upgradeable so that you don’t have to buy a new rig every time you think you need an update.