Ranking: Best thin-and-light gaming laptops

The 2026 ROG Zephyrus G16 finally features a brighter 240-Hz OLED display and is also equipped with a new Intel Panther Lake processor. The result is one of the best slim gaming laptops on the market, even though the price is higher than ever.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is significantly improved for 2026: a brighter OLED display, a more efficient Intel Panther Lake processor, longer battery life, and a higher GPU power limit.

Computeruniverse lists the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606AW-TB009W with a Core Ultra 9 386H, 32 GB of RAM, a 1-TB SSD, and a GeForce RTX 5080 for 4,436 euros, while the 2-TB version costs 5,444 euros.

Asus has switched to Intel CPUs for the new ROG Zephyrus G14. Equipped with the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, it remains one of the most powerful 14-inch laptops on the market. In addition, the 120 Hz OLED display now reaches brightness levels of over 1,000 nits.

The only 14-inch gaming laptop to combine the powerful GeForce RTX 5070 Ti with the new OLED panel renders games on screen in stunning quality.

You can purchase the 2026 version of the ROG Zephyrus G14 with the RTX 5070 Ti and Intel Core Ultra 9 from Computeruniverse for €3,300.

With the Fusion 16, XMG offers a slightly more powerful version of the familiar Core 16. The highlight here is the new OLED panel, which offers outstanding picture quality and even more vivid images compared to the IPS model.

Overall, the new XMG Fusion 16 is a very good system. The OLED screen is worth it if you want the best picture quality obtainable today.

The Fusion 16 can be ordered from XMG for 1,899 euros or more. Our test unit with its numerous upgrades, as compared to the base SKU, costs around 2,700 euros.

The previously AMD-exclusive Razer Blade 16 can now be configured with Intel CPUs, and the differences are sometimes striking. Faster RAM, better HDR support, slightly lower core temperatures, and a more efficient CPU deliver improved gaming performance while retaining the same GeForce RTX 5090 GPU and unchanged chassis design. The battery deserves particular mention, as it now lasts much longer.

Fundamentally, little has changed in the 2026 model. Numerous minor improvements and longer battery life make for a better overall system, albeit at an even higher price than before.

The Razer Blade 16 (2026) with a Core Ultra 9 386H, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and a GeForce RTX 5090 is currently available from Alternate or from Computeruniverse for just under 5,400 euros.

Compared with last year’s Legion 5 15IRX10, the Legion 5 15IAX11 features a slightly larger display with a higher resolution (15.3 inches versus 15.1 inches), up to 30 percent faster CPU performance, and revised connectivity options. Particularly noteworthy is that the larger screen does not result in greater dimensions or increased weight.

The 2026 Legion 5 15 offers a slightly larger screen than the previous generation without being heavier or larger, as well as more ports and features. 

For €3,099, the Lenovo Legion 5 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 251HX processor is available directly from the manufacturer.

The Legion 7 16IAX10 is one of the lightest 16-inch gaming laptops on the market that comes with Arrow Lake HX processor options. Its performance is impressive for the weight, and enough for Notebookcheck to call it an impressive competitor to the Razer Blade 16.

For gamers or power users on the go, the Legion 7 16 Gen 10 is a lighter and cheaper alternative to the RTX 5060-powered Razer Blade 16.

Amazon.de has the Lenovo Legion 7 16 listed for €1,999. The model is also available directly from Lenovo for €1,956 with a 5% discount vs the original price.

Lenovo introduces its new Legion 7a 16, a 16-inch gaming laptop featuring AMD Ryzen 400-series CPUs and the mobile GeForce RTX 5060 in a lightweight 1.8 kg chassis. It also comes with Nvidia’s Advanced Optimus GPU switching and an outstanding 1,100-nit OLED display with a 240 Hz refresh rate.

Lenovo’s new Legion 7a 16 Gen 11 is an elegant and surprisingly lightweight 16-inch gaming laptop with a gorgeous OLED screen.

The Legion 7a 16 G11 is available from Lenovo starting at €2,979.

The mid-2025 Core 16 is a mid-range gaming laptop that looks about as modest and unassuming as an office machine. Its 300-Hz display is driven by a GeForce RTX 5070 laptop GPU alongside a Zen 5-architecture CPU, and up to 128 GB of RAM.

The Core 16 is a good 16-inch gamer with an unobtrusive design. Those who plan on both gaming and doing some work might be in luck.

The Core is available straight from the laptop maker (Bestware) starting from 1,579 euros.

The Core 16 VE wants to compete with both budget gaming systems and more premium products such as the Lenovo Legion 7. Its elegant and structurally stable metal casing is one of the things it has going for it, and so are the good input devices and wide range of connectivity options. Its IPS display is fairly bright; maintenance and upgrade options are not bad, either.

The XMG Core 16 VE is an RTX 5060 gamer that can compete with some premium laptops thanks to its metal case, numerous connections and bright display.

The Core 16 VE Middle 2025 is available directly from the manufacturer starting from 1,699 euros.

With the Predator Triton 14 AI, Acer offers a compact gaming laptop that stands out primarily for its high-quality chassis and comfortable input devices.

Acer's Predator Triton 14 is a slim 14-inch gaming laptop with an OLED touchscreen aimed at creative users and gamers.

The Acer Predator Triton 14 AI is available online at an MSRP of €2,999.