The best gaming laptops 2019

The Alienware 17 packs impressive raw gaming performance and a big honkin' 17-inch screen into a sexy intergalactic chassis that's perfect for fragging your enemies in virtual reality or watching movies with friends. The latest version of Alienware's flagship laptop sports more customizable lighting zones than ever, as well as quieter fans and louder speakers. Factor in up to a gorgeous 3840 x 2160 G-Sync display and Nvidia GTX 1060, 1070 and 1080 graphics options, and you've got a gaming laptop that's as powerful on the inside as it is stunning on the outside.

Most powerful: Alienware Area 51m

Meet the most powerful gaming laptop we've ever tested. The Alienware Area 51m's stunning, one-of-a-kind design houses a desktop grade Intel Core i9 CPU and a full Nvidia RTX 2080 GPU, allowing it to tear through demanding games without breaking a sweat while supporting every possible bell and whistle -- including ray tracing. Better yet, the Area 51m's arresting magnesium alloy chassis is fully future-proof, allowing you to swap out key components such as the GPU and CPU to keep the system fresh over time. Factor in a stunning 1080p G-Sync display, customizable RGB lighting and booming front-firing speakers, and you've got the ultimate battlestation for gamers willing to splurge on sheer power.

Pros: Stunning space station aesthetic | Excellent graphics and overall performance | Lightning-fast SSDs | All major components upgradable

Cons: Exorbitantly expensive

Best Under $1,000: Dell G7 15 Gaming

Who says that you can't get a stylish, moderately powerful gaming laptop for under $1,000? Pairing head-turning colors with sleek, sophisticated design, the G7 15 Gaming doesn't look like your typical gaming laptop. And outfitted with a Core i7 processor and an Nvidia 1060 Max-Q GPU, it doesn't perform like your typical budget gaming laptop either. The system consistently performed above expectations and is an emphatic step forward for the brand.

Pros: Strong overall and gaming performance | Striking design | Good battery life

Cons: Dim display | Shallow keyboard

Dell G7 15 Gaming Full Review

Best Under $1,500: Lenovo Legion Y7000

Getting quality gaming at an affordable price is not impossible. The Lenovo Legion Y7000 is proof that you can get an affordable gaming laptop with premium features. Selling for $1,099, the laptop features a strong Core i7 CPU and GTX 1060 GPU packed into a stylish chassis with a comfortable keyboard, a wildly colorful 15.6-inch display and above-average battery life.

Pros: Sleek, sports car design | Colorful display | Comfortable keyboard | Strong overall performance and graphics | Decent battery life

Cons: Poor audio | Nose cam

Best 15 inch: Acer Predator Triton 500

The Acer Predator Triton 500 impresses with its slim and light chassis and packs a serious punch with a slew of powerful components, including an 8th Gen Intel processor and one of Nvidia's new RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics. It offers a great mix of graphics and overall power. And thanks to the Turbo option, you can squeeze even more power out of the GPU. If you want serious power in a nice portable design, the Acer Predator Triton should be at the top of your list.

Pros: Slim, portable design | Good overall and graphics performance | Comfortable keyboard | Seriously-fast file transfer speeds

Cons: Dim display | Runs hot with loud fans | Weak audio

Best 17 inch: HP Omen 17

Instead of playing it safe, the Omen 17 sports a daring, futuristic look that's sure to turn heads. And the shock and awe don't stop there: The company has added Nvidia's powerful GTX 1070 GPU and paired it with an equally robust Intel Core i7 processor and a crazy-fast SSD. The laptop also serves up an enticing 4K display with a nice pair of speakers. The result is a rig capable of delivering showstopping performance, whether you're playing games or crunching numbers.

Pros: Avant-garde design | Powerful overall and excellent graphics performance | Fast transfer speeds | Vivid display; Upgradable specs

Cons: Below-average battery life | Plastic, instead of aluminum lid

Best Design: MSI GS65 Stealth Thin

Say hello to my skinny friend. At a mere 4.1 pounds and 0.7 inches thick, MSI's GS65 Stealth Thin is one of the company's slimmest gaming laptops to date. The laptop features Intel's new 8th gen, six-core Coffee Lake processor, which promises 20 percent more performance than its predecessor. But since this is a gaming laptop at its core, MSI squeezed an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q GPU into that slim frame. It's a true jack-of-all-trades system that should be at the top of your list.

Pros: Great overall and graphics performance | Barely-there bezels | Excellent audio quality | Slim, beautiful design | Impressive battery life

Cons: Gets hot while gaming

Best Convertible: Acer Nitro 5 Spin

Twist it, turn it, anyway you want it. The Acer Nitro 5 Spin is a cornucopia of versatility, able to transform at the drop of a hat. In addition to its bendy antics, the notebook offers solid multitasking power, good battery life, a comfortable keyboard and an easily convertible design. An Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU means that you'll get good frame rates while gaming — just not at the highest game settings.

Pros: Stylish, versatile design | Comfortable keyboard | Bright, vibrant display | Good keyboard

Cons: Graphics could be better for price | Gets toasty while gaming

Best Max-Q Design: Razer Blade 15

Starting at $1,599, the Blade is one of the lightest gaming laptops around, delivering strong performance and over 6 hours of battery life. This is also the first system in the Blade line to offer dual storage. And if that's not enough for you, Razer's also offering the notebook in a stunning Mercury White aluminum chassis that's sure to have all eyes on you when you make the winning play.

You can also check out our face off between the Razer Blade 15 and the Aero 15 Classic.

Pros: Beautiful, head-turning design | Powerful graphics and overall performance | Solid battery life | Fast transfer speeds

Cons: Dim display | Weak audio | Runs hot when gaming

Best Display: Alienware m15 OLED

The Alienware m15 proves that everything is better than OLED. The 15.6-inch 4K panel is simply gorgeous. It's extremely vivid without relying on oversaturation and offers rich blacks and true contrasts. And whenever you manage to pull your gaze away from that lovely panel, don’t forget to appreciate the high-powered components underneath the hood including an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 and an Nvidia RTX Graphics. The laptop is a serious contender in the gaming space.

Pros: Beautiful OLED display | Good overall and gaming performance | Comfortable keyboard | Sleek, lightweight design

Cons: OLED severely impacts battery life | Bottom runs hot

Best Keyboard: MSI GT75VR Titan

MSI's latest Titan, the GT75 is here to prove that bigger is definitely better. Housed beneath its massive frame sits a Core i9 processor and one of Nvidia's new RTX GPUs. That means there's very little that this laptop can't handle. Measuring an unbelievable 2.5 millimeters of key travel with 80 grams of actuation force, the keys feel better than any laptop keyboard laden with scissor-membrane switches.

Sunday, June 30, 2019