Buzz
Gaming laptops are evolving into the standard for laptop development. These portable powerhouses are slimmer than ever imagined, yet pack enough GPU prowess for virtual reality, six-core Intel Core processors, and high-refresh-rate displays.
1. Top Gaming Laptops of 2018
Gaming laptops are gradually becoming the benchmark for laptop development. These mobile machines are sleeker than anticipated, yet still equipped with GPUs capable of handling virtual reality, six-core Intel Core processors, and high-refresh-rate displays.
While the prices may still be steep for many, it's understandable given the demand for a mobile device capable of running the most demanding games at the highest settings. This article will compile the best-reviewed gaming laptops on the current market.
Razer Blade 15
The Blade 15 is acclaimed as the top gaming laptop today for two reasons. First, it boasts the necessary configuration and processing power for gaming. Second, unlike other gaming laptops, it features a compact form factor and premium design quality.
Alongside the Intel Core i7 8750H processor, RAM up to 32 GB DDR4 2667 MHz, Chroma RGB keyboard, 80 WHr battery, available configuration options range from $1899 to $2899 USD. The Blade 15 excels in handling the most demanding games, but what truly satisfies users is its design quality.
The entirely black unibody aluminum frame of the machine feels reminiscent of previous Blade models and the MacBook Pro. The structural design's transparency allows for a flat machine lid, palm rest, and keyboard, providing a sturdy grip and satisfaction to users.
Razer has also perfected various minor details. Among gaming laptops, the Blade series generally boasts the best hardware and software synchronization. The Razer Synapse application controls overclocking effects, displays, and lighting effects perfectly on the pre-installed Windows 10 operating system.
Of course, the machine also has some drawbacks that need to be addressed. For instance, when operating at high power, both above and below the keyboard will become very hot. This phenomenon occurs in models using both the 1060 and 1070 graphics cards. This is the biggest downside of the Blade 15, but not too serious as the heat does not radiate to the user's hand placement.
MSI GS65 Stealth Thin
If the MSI GS65 boasts a robust metal frame with no flex, then it's certainly a superior choice compared to the Blade 15. Unfortunately, while the machine's design is fairly clean and minimalistic, the build quality is a drawback for the MSI GS65.
Setting aside exterior design issues, the MSI GS65 can match the Blade 15 in any aspect. This is the thinnest and lightest laptop in this segment. It features a 144Hz ultra-thin bezel display, excellent contrast, and vibrant colors, satisfying even the most demanding gamers.
The GS65 performs exceptionally well, averaging over 100 fps in popular games. Additionally, this gaming laptop is equipped with plenty of ports, decent battery life (around five hours), a sturdy Precision touchpad, and virtually no overheating.
The highest-spec model is still cheaper than the Blade 15 by a bit, priced at $1,999. The speakers are good but not on par with those integrated into Asus and Razer laptops.
Other Options to Consider:
Asus ROG Strix Scar II
The Asus ROG Strix Scar II features a 15.6-inch ultra-thin bezel display with a 144Hz/3ms refresh rate. It comes equipped with an 8th generation Intel i7 8750H CPU, the highest-end Geforce GTX 1070 graphics card, upgradable up to 32GB RAM DDR4-2666, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. The laptop measures 2.33cm thick and weighs 2.4kg.
Asus Zephyrus GM501
Compared to its predecessor, the Zephyrus M's processor is upgraded to the Intel Core i7 8750H 6-core, 12-thread CPU with speeds up to 2.2GHz (Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz). The GPU used is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 standard edition, not the Max Q GTX 1080 like the original Zephyrus series.
The Zephyrus M variant sold in Vietnam will come with 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM, either a 512GB or 256GB PCIe SSD, and a 1TB SSHD.
Gigabyte Aero 15x
The Aero 15 boasts a powerful configuration with a quad-core Kaby Lake Core i7 CPU, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 discrete graphics card, enabling VR-ready gaming. The keyboard backlight can be customized with 16.8 million different colors individually for each key.
The machine is equipped with 2 PCIe M.2 SSD slots, Thunderbolt 3 port, HDMI, and mini DisplayPort supporting 4K output to two screens simultaneously. The Aero 15's battery life can reach up to 10 hours continuously with light tasks such as web browsing and document editing. The starting price for the product is $1,899 with 3 color options: black, green, and orange.
