Notebookcheck's Top 10 Gaming Laptops

Displays with slim bezels are not only sexy to look at, but they are also very trendy among gaming laptops. Besides the Gigabyte Aero 15, Acer Predator Triton 500, and Asus ROG Strix GL504, the 2019 model of the Razer Blade 15 features an edge-to-edge screen as well. The stylish metal body is one of the most noble, high-quality and best assembled chassis you can get. Keyboard, touchpad, and display (144 Hz) do not have to hide behind the competition, either.

The 15-inch laptop is packed with high-end components, despite its compact dimensions. This includes the Core i7-8750H, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q and NVMe-SSD storage. You can adjust both the software and hardware (like RGB illumination) comprehensively via Razer Synapse. Thanks to the good cooling solution, the notebook does not get very loud or warm, either. The port selection (no card reader, no RJ45 Ethernet) on the other hand could be better. Gamers with a focus on design and ambitions to travel cannot go wrong, though.

Contrary to the ROG G701, which just missed the Top 10 ranking, the Turing version of the ROG G703 secures the second spot. The 17-inch laptop is pretty bulky, but the gaming system is still one of the best high-end notebooks.

For about 4000 Euros, you get a Core i7-8750H, the GeForce GeForce RTX 2080 GPU and an NVMe-SSD. You can even overclock the GPU via Turbo Gear to increase the performance. The highlight is certainly the very responsive 144 Hz panel with G-Sync support. The speaker sound, the input devices as well as the port selection deserve praise, too. The high system noise when you run 3D applications is an issue, just like the limited maintenance and the two power adapters.

The XMG Ultra 17 from Schenker Technologies is the best example for a full-fledged desktop replacement. Despite its high weight (4.4 kg) and high construction (4.1 cm), we were mostly convinced by the 17-inch chassis. The manufacturer deserves respect for the upgrade possibilities and the screen. The 4K in our test model does not only feature a high resolution, but also covers a surprisingly wide color gamut (88 % AdobeRGB), but you will have to get used to it.

The GPU performance is also remarkable – Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1080 manages a level of performance that was not possible so far. You also get a real desktop processor. The XMG Ultra 17 does not last long without the power adapter, but the sound is great. This is also the case for the connectivity (Thunderbolt 3) and the input devices. However, we were disappointed by the fan behavior.

While the Predator Helios 300 is designed for more price-conscious gamers, the much thicker, heavier, and more expensive Predator Helios 500 targets gamers with high requirements. We tested the SKU PH517-93LS, which is equipped with Intels most powerful notebook CPU right now, the hexa-core Core i9-8950HK. It is supported by 32 GB DDR4-RAM as well as 512 GB PCIe-SSD storage.

Graphics calculations are handled by Nvidia's Pascal chip GeForce GTX 1070 with 8 GB GDDR5-VRAM, but it still struggles with the native UHD resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) from time to time - at least in very demanding titles. The Helios 500 with its wide gamut panel (88 % AdobeRGB) manages a 3% higher score compared to the 1080p model with the Core i7-8750H, which is enough for the top spot in the ranking.

The wolf in sheep's clothing: This is a good description for the Gigabyte Aero 15 X9. While typical gaming notebooks are pretty bulky and/or heavy with playful designs, Gigabyte uses a slim, light, and sturdy case with an understated design for its 15-inch laptop. Only the RGB illumination of the keyboard hints at the gaming ambitions.

Under the hood, you get high-end hardware like the Intel Core i7-8750H and Nvidia's GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, which results in high temperatures under 3D load. You once again get the accurate and responsive 144 Hz panel we already know from the previous model. Gigabyte still ignores G-Sync and supports Optimus for longer battery runtimes instead. We think this is a good decision considering the mobility aspect.

While the 2017 Predator Triton 700 could not fully convince us due to its unusual placement of the input devices and the thick bezels, the Triton 500 leaves a much better impression. With the exception of the limited maintenance and the missing graphics switching, which would be a great fit for such a mobile device, Acer did not make any major mistakes.

We do not only like the metal surfaces of the 15-inch chassis, but also the Thunderbolt 3 port as well as the 144 Hz panel with G-Sync support. The necessary gaming performance is provided by the six-core CPU and a GeForce RTX 2080 in the efficient Max-Q design.

Alienware is a bit late when it comes to slim-bezel gaming laptops, even though the lower and upper display frame of the brand-new m15 are once again comparatively thick. As per usual for Alienware laptops, the design is very striking – whether you like that or not is a matter of taste.

Dell offers numerous hardware options for the m15. Besides a 1080p/144 Hz screen, the manufacturer also offers a 4K-UHD panel. The battery capacity varies between 60 and 90 Wh depending on the SKU, and the 15-inch laptop lasts surprisingly long with the big battery option. Also great: Thanks to the improved maintenance, access to the components is much easier compared to the previous model. We are also surprised by the good Turbo utilization of the CPU considering the slim chassis (2.1 cm). The biggest issues are the sound quality as well as the lack of a card reader.

Even though the quality control suffered a bit after the acquisition by Dell (customers often report build quality and cooling issues), and we can confirm is by the AW 15 R3, Alienware laptops are still among the most noble and best high-end laptops you can get.

The 17-inch series was recently updated with Intel Coffee Lake CPUs. Our test model for about 2400 Euros offers plenty of gaming performance thanks to Core i7-8750H and GeForce GTX 1070. You also get 16 GB DDR4-RAm and an NVMe-SSD. The chassis also leaves a great impression except for the high weight and the thickness. In addition to good input devices, there are numerous ports, many lighting options, and a 120 Hz QHD panel (2560 x 1440 pixels). Dell should improve the noise development. The temperatures of our test model under load would allow for lower fan noise.

While HP focused on office and multimedia laptops in the past, we now get more and more gaming systems from the manufacturer. The current 17-inch notebook is called Omen 17t and can easily keep up with the renowned high-end competition in terms of performance, features, and quality.

There are some advantages like the G-Sync display with 144 Hz, numerous ports, moderate noise development and the stable and easy to maintain chassis. However, the Omen 17t also suffers from typical DTR issues like the high weight, bulky design, and short runtimes. The sound could be better as well.

The Asus ROG Strix GL504 is between slim competitors and typical desktop replacements in terms of weight and thickness. Depending on the model you either get a GeForce GTX 1060(GL504GM) or a GeForce GTX 1070 (GL504CS) under the hood, even though the latter lacks Nvidia's switchable graphics technology Optimus, which has a massive effect on the battery runtime. G-Sync is not supported, either, so we cannot really understand Asus' decision.

Otherwise, the 15-inch gamer leaves a good impression except fr the high noise development while gaming and the missing Thunderbolt 3 port. We like the responsive 144 Hz display with slim bezel. The input devices and the sound performance are not bad, either, and you get comprehensive lighting options.

Note: There are two different versions of the GL504. While the Hero edition is designed for MOBA fans with specifically marked QWER keys, Asus wants to attract 1st person shooter enthusiasts with the Scar-Edition (camouflage pattern, highlighted WASD area).