Best Gaming Laptop 2026: Top New Models for Gaming
December 11, 2025
The year 2026 is here, yet choosing a gaming laptop still feels like a headache. The 50 series GPUs are already on the market, new processors are out, displays now reach 360 to 480 Hz with mini LED backlighting, cooling systems have become quieter, but prices for some reason have not dropped much. On top of that, hybrid graphics models appeared, where integrated GPUs almost catch up with last year's discrete ones in terms of power efficiency.
The question remains the same: how to pick a machine that crushes new releases today and won't turn into a brick two years from now when the next Cyberpunk comes out. Below is a fresh overview of what is actually available right now, which configurations give the most fps for the money, and where you can save without losing too much performance. Everything is based on facts, without sponsored hype or pretty words about the "future of gaming". Just practical options for any budget and tasks.
1. GIGABYTE AORUS MASTER 16
GIGABYTE AORUS MASTER 16 is built on the new Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with 24 cores and boost speeds up to 5.4 GHz on the performance cores. The GPU here is an RTX 5080 with 16 GB of GDDR7, which immediately places the model in the upper segment for gaming and rendering. The 16 inch OLED display runs at 2560×1600 and refreshes at 240 Hz, reaches up to 500 nits of brightness, and fully covers the DCI-P3 color space.
The chassis is plastic but tightly assembled, weighing 2.5 kg, which is fairly compact for this kind of hardware. The cooling system handles a combined CPU and GPU power budget of up to 230 W, though the fans are still audible under full load. The 99 Wh battery offers a couple of hours of gaming away from the outlet and lasts noticeably longer in regular tasks.
Key specs:
Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor (24 cores, up to 5.4 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GDDR7 GPU
32 GB DDR5-5600, up to 64 GB
16" OLED 2560×1600, 240 Hz, 100% DCI-P3
2 TB SSD
Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1
Weight 2.5 kg, 330 W power adapter
Who it’s for:
Those who need strong performance in a relatively compact chassis and don’t mind fan noise in exchange for maximum output in new titles and graphics-heavy workloads.
2. Lenovo Legion 7 16IRX9
The Lenovo Legion 7 16IRX9 comes with an Intel Core i7-14700HX processor featuring 20 cores, including 8 performance cores that boost up to 5.5 GHz. The RTX 4060 with 8 GB and a 130 W power budget is not the strongest GPU in 2025, but the IPS display at 3200×2000 with 165 Hz and full DCI-P3 coverage looks very solid. The case is aluminum, weighs 2.24 kg, and feels well built.
The laptop ships without Windows, but includes a fingerprint reader and an electronic webcam shutter. The nearly 100 Wh battery allows for around one and a half to two hours of gaming at medium brightness. Overall, it is a balanced machine in the mid premium segment.
Key specs:
Intel Core i7-14700HX processor (20 cores, up to 5.5 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GPU
16 GB DDR5-5600, up to 32 GB
16" IPS 3200×2000, 165 Hz, 100% DCI-P3
1 TB SSD
Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6E
Weight 2.24 kg, 230 W power adapter
Who it’s for:
Those who play in Full HD or 1440p on high settings, value a quality display, and don’t aim for maximum fps in the most demanding new titles.
3. ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX
The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 is the biggest and heaviest laptop in this list - 18 inches and 3.48 kg. Inside is the top-end Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and an RTX 5090 with 24 GB of GDDR7, with a GPU power budget of 175 W. The Mini LED panel with over 2000 local dimming zones delivers 2560×1600 resolution, 240 Hz, and peak HDR brightness up to 1200 nits.
The chassis is partially aluminum, with per-key RGB backlighting and a dedicated numpad. The 380 W power adapter is almost a brick, but there is no other way to feed such hardware. The 90 Wh battery drains quickly in games but lasts decently in lighter tasks.
Key specs:
Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor (24 cores, up to 5.4 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GDDR7 GPU
64 GB DDR5-5600, up to 96 GB
18" Mini LED 2560×1600, 240 Hz, HDR 1000
2 TB SSD
Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5, Ethernet 2.5 Gbps
Weight 3.48 kg, 380 W power adapter
Who it’s for:
Those who want almost desktop-tier performance, play at high resolutions, or work with rendering and streaming, and do not carry their laptop around every day.
4. MSI Katana 17 HX B14WGK-026CZ
MSI Katana 17 HX is a budget friendly option by 2025 standards, running on the Intel Core i7-14650HX with 16 cores and boost up to 5.2 GHz. The RTX 5070 8 GB GDDR7 with a 115 W power limit provides a performance bump over the previous generation, but nothing dramatic. The 17.3 inch display is a simple Full HD 144 Hz IPS panel with 300 nits brightness.
The chassis is all plastic, weighs 2.7 kg, and build quality is average. The keyboard has four zone backlighting and a numpad. The 75 Wh battery lasts about an hour in games, but the power adapter is relatively light at 240 W.
Key specs:
Intel Core i7-14650HX processor (16 cores, up to 5.2 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 8 GB GDDR7 GPU
16 GB DDR5-5600, up to 96 GB
17.3" IPS 1920×1080, 144 Hz
1 TB SSD
Wi-Fi 6E, HDMI, USB-C with DP
Weight 2.7 kg, 240 W power adapter
Who it’s for:
Those who want a large display and decent performance for a reasonable price, mainly play in Full HD, and don’t chase maxed out graphics settings.
5. Lenovo LOQ 15IRX10
Lenovo LOQ 15IRX10 is the most affordable option in the top five. The Intel Core i7-13650HX offers 14 cores and boosts up to 4.9 GHz. The RTX 5060 8 GB GDDR7 has a 115 W power budget. The 15.6 inch IPS Full HD 144 Hz display has an anti glare coating and 300 nits brightness.
The grey plastic chassis weighs 2.4 kg. It comes with 32 GB DDR5-4800 out of the box, which is nice for this price. The 60 Wh battery is the most modest one here and rarely lasts more than an hour in games. On the bright side, the keyboard has RGB backlighting and all the necessary ports.
Key specs:
Intel Core i7-13650HX processor (14 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB GDDR7 GPU
32 GB DDR5-4800, max 32 GB
15.6" IPS 1920×1080, 144 Hz
1 TB SSD
Wi-Fi 6E, HDMI 2.1, USB-C with DP
Weight 2.4 kg, 245 W power adapter
Who it’s for:
Those entering the world of gaming laptops, playing in Full HD at medium to high settings, and looking for solid performance without a big budget.
6. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 GU605CX
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 turned out surprisingly thin for its hardware - only 1.95 kg and a thickness from 14.9 to 17 mm. Inside is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H with 16 cores, while the RTX 5090 runs at a 115 W power limit and comes with 24 GB of GDDR7. The 16 inch OLED display at 2560×1600 refreshes at 240 Hz, reaches up to 500 nits, and covers the full DCI-P3 range.
It ships with 64 GB of LPDDR5X-7467 RAM right out of the box, which is rare for gaming laptops, plus a 2 TB SSD. The chassis is partially aluminum, tightly built, with a backlit keyboard but no numpad - compact design tradeoff. The 240 W power adapter is relatively light, and USB-C charging is supported.
Key specs:
Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor (16 cores, up to 5.4 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GDDR7 GPU
64 GB LPDDR5X-7467
16" OLED 2560×1600, 240 Hz, 100% DCI-P3
2 TB SSD
Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1
Weight 1.95 kg, 90 Wh battery
Who it’s for:
For those who want maximum performance in a light and thin body, carry their laptop often, and are willing to pay for an OLED display and a large amount of fast memory.
7. GIGABYTE G6 KF
GIGABYTE G6 KF is a simple workhorse running on the Intel Core i7-13620H: 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz. The RTX 4060 with 8 GB and a 75 W power limit stays relatively cool. The 16 inch IPS screen with a 16:10 ratio offers 1920×1200 resolution and a 165 Hz refresh rate, with average brightness.
It comes with 16 GB of DDR5-4800, expandable to 32 GB, and a 1 TB SSD. The chassis is plastic, weighs 2.3 kg, and includes an RGB keyboard with a full numpad. Windows is not included, but the 150 W power adapter is light and easy to carry.
Key specs:
Intel Core i7-13620H processor (10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GPU
16 GB DDR5-4800, up to 32 GB
16" IPS 1920×1200, 165 Hz
1 TB SSD
Wi-Fi 6E, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort
Weight 2.3 kg, 150 W power adapter
Who it’s for:
Those who want an affordable laptop for Full HD gaming at medium to high settings, don’t want to overpay for extra refresh rates, and are ready to install the OS themselves.
8. ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA507NVR
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA507NVR is built on the AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS - 8 cores, up to 4.5 GHz, no integrated GPU, but the RTX 4060 delivers 140 W. The 15.6 inch IPS Full HD 144 Hz display has an anti glare coating and 250 nits brightness. The chassis meets MIL-STD-810H standards, meaning it handles drops and vibration reasonably well.
It comes with 16 GB DDR5-4800, and the SSD is only 512 GB - not much, so an upgrade will likely be needed. It weighs 2.2 kg, has a 90 Wh battery, and lasts about an hour and a half in games. USB-C charging is supported, and it offers a full set of ports, including Ethernet.
Key specs:
AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS processor (8 cores, up to 4.5 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GPU
16 GB DDR5-4800, up to 32 GB
15.6" IPS 1920×1080, 144 Hz
512 GB SSD
Wi-Fi 6E, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet
Weight 2.2 kg, MIL-STD-810H durability
Who it’s for:
Those who play on the go, occasionally drop their device, and want a sturdy chassis with good battery life for the price.
9. Acer Predator Helios 18 PH18-72-93VM
Acer Predator Helios 18 is a large 18 inch machine with an Intel Core i9-14900HX: 24 cores, up to 5.8 GHz. The RTX 4080 12 GB has a solid power limit, which is why the power adapter is 330 W. The IPS display runs at 2560×1600, 240 Hz, with good brightness and color reproduction.
It includes 32 GB DDR5-5600, a 1 TB SSD, and a plastic body that weighs 3.25 kg - fine for home use, but heavy to carry around. The keyboard has backlighting and a numpad, and the port selection is generous, including 2.5 Gbit Ethernet and Thunderbolt 4.
Key specs:
Intel Core i9-14900HX processor (24 cores, up to 5.8 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 12 GB GPU
32 GB DDR5-5600
18" IPS 2560×1600, 240 Hz
1 TB SSD
Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, 2.5 Gbit Ethernet
Weight 3.25 kg, 330 W power adapter
Who it’s for:
Those who rarely carry their laptop, play at resolutions above Full HD, and want enough performance headroom for the next few years.
10. Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9
Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 is a budget option built on the same AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS as the TUF, but with an RTX 4060 running at a 105 W power limit. The 15.6 inch IPS Full HD 144 Hz display offers 300 nits and 100% sRGB. The grey plastic chassis weighs 2.38 kg and has passed durability tests.
It comes with 16 GB DDR5-4800 and a 512 GB SSD. The battery is only 60 Wh, so it drains quickly in games. The keyboard has white backlighting, and the webcam has a privacy shutter. The 170 W power adapter is lightweight.
Key specs:
AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS processor (8 cores, up to 4,5 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GPU
16 GB DDR5-4800, up to 32 GB
15.6" IPS 1920×1080, 144 Hz, 100% sRGB
512 GB SSD
Wi-Fi 6E, HDMI 2.1, USB-C with DP
Weight 2.38 kg, 60 Wh battery
Who it’s for:
Those who are just starting out with gaming laptops, want a decent Full HD picture, and are not ready to pay extra for higher refresh rates or more storage.
11. Acer Nitro V 16 ANV16-61
The Acer Nitro V 16 runs on the new AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 - six cores with a base clock of 2.0 GHz and boost up to 4.8 GHz. The RTX 4050 with 6 GB has a modest power limit, so it runs cool. The 16 inch 16:10 display features 1920×1200 resolution, 165 Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness, and a matte coating.
The plastic chassis weighs 2.43 kg, and the keyboard includes a numpad and backlighting. It comes with 16 GB DDR5 and a 512 GB SSD, which is fine to start with but fills up quickly. The power adapter is only 135 W, and USB-C charging is supported. The 76 Wh battery does not last long during gaming.
Key specs:
AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 processor (6 cores, up to 4.8 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6 GB GPU
16 GB DDR5
16" IPS 1920×1200, 165 Hz
512 GB SSD
Wi-Fi 6E, Ethernet, USB-C with DP
Weight 2.43 kg, no Windows
Who it’s for:
Those who want a new AMD processor with an NPU, a large screen with a good refresh rate, and do not mind installing Windows themselves and upgrading storage later.
12. MSI Katana 15 B13VGK-484US
The MSI Katana 15 B13VGK-484US is equipped with the Intel Core i7-13620H: 10 cores, 6 of them performance cores, boosting up to 4.9 GHz. The RTX 4070 8 GB is noticeably more powerful than the 4060, especially at 1080p on high settings. The display is a standard 15.6 inch Full HD IPS 144 Hz panel without anything exceptional.
The plastic body weighs 2.25 kg, with simple but sturdy build quality. It includes 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD, which is more comfortable for modern games. Windows 11 Home comes preinstalled, the keyboard has backlighting, and the port selection is solid, including USB-C. Fans are audible under load but not overly loud.
Key specs:
Intel Core i7-13620H processor (10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8 GB GPU
16 GB DDR5
15.6" IPS 1920×1080, 144 Hz
1 TB SSD
Windows 11 Home
Weight 2.25 kg
Who it’s for:
Those who play in Full HD, want GPU headroom for the next few years, and do not plan to carry the laptop far from an outlet often.
13. Acer Nitro V 15 ANV15-51
Acer Nitro V 15 ANV15-51 is a compact 15 inch model with the same Intel Core i7-13620H as the Katana, but with an RTX 4050 6 GB GPU. The 15.6 inch Full HD 144 Hz matte display has average brightness. The plastic chassis weighs just 2.11 kg, making it one of the lightest in this category.
It includes 16 GB DDR5-5200 and a 1 TB SSD. There is a fingerprint scanner and Thunderbolt 4 - a rarity in budget gaming laptops. It comes without Windows, but the 135 W power adapter is light, and USB-C charging works. The 57 Wh battery drains quickly in gaming.
Key specs:
Intel Core i7-13620H processor (10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6 GB GPU
16 GB DDR5-5200, up to 32 GB
15.6" IPS 1920×1080, 144 Hz
1 TB SSD
Thunderbolt 4, fingerprint scanner
Weight 2.11 kg, no OS
Who it’s for:
Those who often carry their laptop, play on the go at medium settings, and value low weight with a good port selection.
14. Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9
Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9 is an affordable model running on the Intel Core i5-12450HX: 8 cores, up to 4.4 GHz. The RTX 4060 8 GB provides solid 1080p performance. The 15.6 inch IPS Full HD 144 Hz panel offers 300 nits and 100% sRGB, and the chassis meets MIL-STD-810H durability standards.
It comes with 24 GB DDR5-4800, which is rare at this price, and a 512 GB SSD. Weight is 2.38 kg, the battery is 60 Wh, and there is a webcam shutter and white backlit keyboard. No Windows included, and the adapter is 170 W.
Key specs:
Intel Core i5-12450HX processor (8 cores, up to 4.4 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB GPU
24 GB DDR5-4800
15.6" IPS 1920×1080, 144 Hz, 100% sRGB
512 GB SSD
G-Sync, MIL-STD-810H durability
Weight 2.38 kg, no Windows
Who it’s for:
Those looking for an affordable entry into RTX 4060 gaming laptops, with plenty of RAM out of the box and no issue installing Windows themselves.
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15. Acer Nitro V 17 AI ANV17-61-R3YH
The Acer Nitro V 17 AI ANV17-61-R3YH features the largest display in this list - a 17.3 inch Full HD 144 Hz panel. It runs on the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 with 8 cores, up to 5.0 GHz, and an integrated NPU. The RTX 4050 6 GB is enough for medium to high settings in 1080p. The plastic chassis weighs 2.71 kg.
It includes 16 GB DDR5 and a 1 TB SSD, and comes with Linux. The keyboard has a numpad and backlighting, and the ports include Ethernet. The 135 W adapter is light, and USB-C charging is available.
Key specs:
AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor (8 cores, up to 5.0 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6 GB GPU
16 GB DDR5
17.3" IPS 1920×1080, 144 Hz
1 TB SSD
Wi-Fi 6E, Ethernet
Weight 2.71 kg, Linux
Who it’s for:
Those who enjoy gaming on a large screen at home, do not carry their laptop often, and are ready to switch to Windows if needed.
Conclusion
In the end, 2026 still comes down to three things: how much you're ready to spend, where you'll be gaming, and how long you want your performance headroom to last.
If the budget allows and you want to forget about graphics settings for the next 3-4 years, look at models with 5080-5090 GPUs, 32-64 GB of RAM, and at least a 240 Hz display with a good panel. These laptops already handle 4K with ray tracing and DLSS 4 without issues, but they weigh a lot and their power adapters feel like carrying a second laptop.
When the budget is mid range or you simply do not want to pay the price of a used car for hardware, the 5060-5070 GPUs paired with a current CPU are more than enough. At 1440p on high-ultra with DLSS, they still deliver 100+ fps almost everywhere, and in a couple of years you will just switch to medium settings and keep playing comfortably.
The main rule: do not skimp on RAM and storage. 16 GB is already tight, 32 GB is the new baseline, and 64 GB is better if you edit video or stream. A SSD smaller than 1 TB also makes little sense - modern games often take 150-200 GB.
And lastly: if the laptop stays mostly at home, choose 17-18 inches for comfort. If you carry it often, go for 15-16 inches and no more than 2.3-2.5 kg. Everything else comes down to your specific tasks and budget. There is a model for any preference as long as you understand what you are paying for.