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10 Best Gaming Laptops 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

9.9 score

MSI Katana 15 HX 15.6” 165Hz QHD+ Gaming Laptop: Intel Core i9-14900HX, NVIDIA Geforce RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD, RGB Keyboard, Win 11 Home: Black B14WGK-016US

The MSI Katana 15 HX is a strong choice for gamers looking for a high-performance laptop. It features a powerful Intel Core i9 14th generation processor that handles demanding games smoothly and multitasks well. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card with 8GB VRAM delivers impressive visuals and supports high settings in most modern games. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB NVMe SSD offer fast performance and plenty of space for games and files.

Rating
9.9
Chosen by1,390
Graphics Card (GPU)
Storage (HDD/SSD)
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution)

Most important from
41 reviews

Graphics Card (GPU)
Delivers exceptional gaming performance straight out of the box with no overclocking needed.
Storage (HDD/SSD)
1TB SSD storage might be insufficient for serious gamers who require more space for large game libraries.
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution)
The 165Hz QHD+ display makes gameplay sharp and fluid, enhancing competitive gaming experiences.
Portability (Weight and Battery Life)
Battery life is limited, lasting around 2 to 4 hours under light use, making it best suited for plugged-in gaming.
Keyboard and Build Quality
Build quality feels solid with a clean, sleek design and a metal-like finish despite a plastic chassis.
Cooling System
MSI’s Cooler Boost 5 system keeps temperatures manageable, preventing thermal throttling during long sessions.
#2
9.8 score

Lenovo Legion 5i – Gaming Laptop - Intel® Core™ i7-14700HX - 15" 2.5K WQXGA PureSight OLED Display–165Hz Refresh Rate–NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 – 16 GB Memory – 1 TB Storage – 3 Months of PC GamePass

The Lenovo Legion 5i is a strong contender for gamers looking for a powerful yet portable laptop. At its heart is the Intel Core i7-14700HX processor, which provides plenty of power not just for gaming but also for multitasking and creative work. Paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card, this laptop delivers smooth gameplay and impressive visuals, even in demanding modern games. The 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and 1 TB SSD storage mean you’ll have fast loading times and enough space for games and files.

Rating
9.8
Graphics Card (GPU)
Processor (CPU)
RAM (Memory)

Most important from
15 reviews

Graphics Card (GPU)
This laptop offers impressive specs at a surprisingly affordable price, delivering strong CPU and GPU performance that satisfies both gaming and video editing needs.
Processor (CPU)
This laptop offers impressive specs at a surprisingly affordable price, delivering strong CPU and GPU performance that satisfies both gaming and video editing needs.
RAM (Memory)
Equipped with only a single 16GB RAM stick, the single-channel memory limits performance and bottlenecks the system, making a RAM upgrade highly recommended for optimal gaming.
Storage (HDD/SSD)
Fast SSD speeds contribute to quick load times, enhancing overall responsiveness and gaming experience.
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution)
The OLED display truly stands out with vibrant colors and sharp visuals, enhancing both gaming and media consumption experiences.
Portability (Weight and Battery Life)
Despite its solid build and performance, the laptop's weight may feel a bit heavy for all-day portability, but it balances power and mobility reasonably well.
Keyboard and Build Quality
Despite its solid build and performance, the laptop's weight may feel a bit heavy for all-day portability, but it balances power and mobility reasonably well.
Cooling System
Maintains good thermals during extended gaming sessions, thanks to an effective cooling system that keeps the laptop quiet and cool.
#3
9.6 score

Alienware 18 Area-51 Gaming Laptop AA18250-18.0" WQXGA 300Hz 3ms Display, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Graphics, 32GB 2x16GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen5 SSD, 2MP FHD IR Camera

The Alienware 18 Area-51 is a high-end gaming laptop built to deliver powerful performance for serious gamers. It features a top-tier NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU with 16GB of dedicated memory, which means it can handle the latest games with excellent graphics quality and smooth frame rates. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor offers strong processing speed and AI acceleration, making gaming and multitasking fluid and responsive. With 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM and a spacious 2TB NVMe SSD, this laptop provides plenty of memory and storage for games, applications, and files without slowing down.

Rating
9.6
Graphics Card (GPU)
Processor (CPU)
Storage

Most important from
23 reviews

Graphics Card (GPU)
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 delivers a significant leap ahead of previous GPUs, ensuring excellent graphics quality and smooth frame rates.
Processor (CPU)
The blazing fast CPU handles gaming and multitasking with impressive speed and responsiveness.
Storage
Expandable RAM and the option to install up to three SSDs provide great flexibility for storage and memory upgrades.
Cooling System
The transition from older Alienware models to this one feels like a night and day difference in performance and cooling.

Top 10 Best Gaming Laptops 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

9.9  score

MSI Katana 15 HX 15.6” 165Hz QHD+ Gaming Laptop: Intel Core i9-14900HX, NVIDIA Geforce RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD, RGB Keyboard, Win 11 Home: Black B14WGK-016US

Graphics Card (GPU): RTX 5070, 8 GB VRAM
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i9, 1.6 GHz
RAM (Memory): 32 GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1 TB SSD
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution): 15.6 inch, 2560x1600, 165Hz
Portability (Weight and Battery Life): 4.96 lbs, 2 hours battery
Keyboard and Build Quality: Backlit keyboard, solid build
Cooling System: Cooler Boost 5

Chosen by 1390 this week

Lenovo Legion 5i – Gaming Laptop - Intel® Core™ i7-14700HX - 15" 2.5K WQXGA PureSight OLED Display–165Hz Refresh Rate–NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 – 16 GB Memory – 1 TB Storage – 3 Months of PC GamePass

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-14700HX
RAM (Memory): 16 GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1 TB SSD
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution): 15.1-inch 2.5K 165Hz
Portability (Weight and Battery Life): 4.4 lbs, fast charging battery
Keyboard and Build Quality: Sleek Eclipse Black finish
Cooling System: Legion Coldfront with stealth fans

MSI Titan 18 HX AI 18" 120Hz MiniLED UHD+ Gaming Laptop: Intel Ultra 9-285HX, NVIDIA Geforce RTX 5090, 64GB DDR5, 6TB NVMe SSD, Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, Win 11 Pro: Black A2XWJG-614US

Graphics Card (GPU): RTX 5090
Processor (CPU): Intel Core Ultra 9-285HX
RAM (Memory): 64GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 6TB NVMe SSD
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution): 120Hz, 3840x2160 pixels
Portability (Weight and Battery Life): 7.93 pounds, limited battery
Keyboard and Build Quality: Backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader
Cooling System: Manages heat from powerful hardware

Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop | Intel Core i7-13620H Processor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU | 15.6" FHD IPS 165Hz Display | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB Gen 4 SSD | Wi-Fi 6 | Backlit KB | ANV15-52-76NK

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-13620H
RAM (Memory): 16GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution): 15.6-inch, 1920x1080, 165Hz
Portability (Weight and Battery Life): 4.7 pounds, battery life unknown
Keyboard and Build Quality: Backlit keyboard, sturdy build
Cooling System: Dual fans, exhaust system

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i – Gaming Laptop - Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX – 16" 2.5K WQXGA OLED Display – 240Hz Refresh Rate – GeForce RTX™ 5070 Ti GPU – 32 GB Memory – 1 TB Storage – 3-month PC GamePass

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070Ti
Processor (CPU): Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 2.7GHz
RAM: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 1 TB SSD
Display: 16-inch OLED 2560x1600 240Hz
Battery Life: 99.9Wh capacity, fast charging
Cooling System: Legion Coldfront vapor chamber, quiet fans
Keyboard and Build Quality: Comfortable keyboard, solid Eclipse Black build

Alienware 16 Aurora Laptop AC16250-16-inch 16:10 WQXGA Display, Intel Core 7-240H Series 2, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7, Windows 11 Home, Onsite Service - Blue

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 8GB GDDR7
Processor (CPU): 10-core Intel Core i7, 2.5 GHz
RAM (Memory): 16GB DDR5, 5600 MHz
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1TB SSD
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution): 2560x1600, 16-inch, 16:10 WQXGA
Portability (Weight and Battery Life): 5.5 pounds, battery life null
Keyboard and Build Quality: Backlit keyboard, numeric keypad, solid
Cooling System: Redesigned Cryo-Chamber

NIMO 15.6" IPS FHD-Gaming-Laptop, 8 Cores AMD Ryzen 7 6800H 32GB DDR5 RAM 1TB SSD (Beat i7-12700H, Up to 4.7GHz) AMD Radeon 680M GPU-Computer with 100W GaN Type-C Backlit Keyboard Fingerprint

Graphics Card (GPU): Integrated AMD Radeon 680M
Processor (CPU): AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, 4.7 GHz
RAM (Memory): 32 GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1 TB SSD
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution): 15.6 inch, 1920x1080, 60 Hz
Portability (Weight and Battery Life): 3.8 pounds, 5 hours
Keyboard and Build Quality: Backlit keyboard, fingerprint, metal shell
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Buying Guide for the Best Gaming Laptops

Choosing the right gaming laptop can greatly affect your overall gaming experience. The process involves considering several key features that impact performance, display quality, portability, and comfort. Start by thinking about what games you want to play, whether you also need the laptop for work or school, and how often you'll be moving it around. Each gaming laptop has a set of specifications that make it better suited to certain types of games and users. Learning what each spec means and how it relates to your needs will help you make a more informed and satisfying choice.
Graphics Card (GPU)The graphics card, or GPU, handles all the visuals in games. It's the most important part for gaming, affecting how smooth and sharp your games look. Basic GPUs are good for casual and older games, while mid-range GPUs can handle most modern titles at medium settings. High-end GPUs deliver stunning graphics on the newest games and support high frame rates and special effects. If you want to play the latest games on high settings, prioritize a strong GPU. For lighter gaming or older titles, a modest GPU is sufficient.
Processor (CPU)The processor, or CPU, is the brain of your laptop and affects how quickly your games and other tasks run. A basic quad-core processor works for less demanding games and multitasking, while a six-core or higher CPU gives you better performance in new, complex games and when streaming or editing video. Choose a CPU based on both your gaming habits and whether you’ll use the laptop for tasks like video work or multitasking.
RAM (Memory)RAM determines how many things your laptop can do at once. For gaming, 8GB is usually the minimum, letting you run most games and background applications. 16GB is ideal for demanding games and future-proofs your laptop a bit longer. Heavy multitaskers or content creators might want even more. Consider how many programs you keep open at once—if it’s just a game and a browser, you can get by with less, but for streaming or creative work, aim higher.
Storage (HDD/SSD)Storage is where your games, files, and programs live. Solid State Drives (SSDs) are much faster than traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), making games load quicker and your system more responsive. Some laptops have both: an SSD for the operating system and a larger HDD for extra storage. If you play just a few games and value speed, a smaller SSD is fine. If you want to install lots of big games, look for a larger SSD or a combination of SSD and HDD.
Display (Refresh Rate and Resolution)The display is what you look at for hours at a time, so its quality matters. Resolution is the number of pixels—higher (like 1080p or 1440p) means sharper visuals. Refresh rate is how many times the screen updates per second; 60Hz is standard, 120–144Hz is smoother for fast games, and 240Hz+ is preferred by serious competitive gamers. If you care most about visual detail, focus on higher resolution. If you play fast-paced games like shooters, a higher refresh rate gives you a smoother, more responsive experience.
Portability (Weight and Battery Life)Gaming laptops can be heavy and have shorter battery lives compared to regular laptops. If you’ll mostly use your laptop at home, weight and battery might not matter much. But if you need to take it to school, work, or travel, lighter models and longer battery life will be important, though you might compromise some performance to gain portability.
Keyboard and Build QualityA sturdy build protects your laptop and a comfortable keyboard makes long gaming sessions more enjoyable. Gaming laptops often have backlit keyboards, sometimes customizable, which can help in dim environments. If you type or game a lot, look for a laptop with good keyboard feedback and build materials that feel solid. Think about whether you prefer a softer or firmer key press—this can impact your comfort over time.
Cooling SystemStrong gaming laptops generate heat; efficient cooling is crucial to keep performance high and avoid discomfort. Good cooling means the laptop stays quiet and doesn’t get too hot during intense gaming sessions. Pay attention to user reviews or specifications about fans and cooling tech. If you plan to game for hours or in warmer environments, prioritize better cooling.

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