The best laptops for gaming and schoolwork offer the best of both worlds, so you don’t have to make the tough decision of choosing one over the other. With gaming laptop prices much cheaper than before, it’s possible to find a powerful laptop with a decent CPU to make multitasking a breeze, and a GPU that can play the latest AAA titles without fail. Whether you’re looking for a laptop with a larger screen size and high refresh rate, or something more portable and lightweight, there are plenty of great laptops out there to choose from. These are our top picks for the best laptops for gaming and school work – but if you’re looking for a dedicated gaming laptop rather than an all-in-one machine, check us out. The best list of best gaming laptop for our recommendations.
Are gaming laptops good for school?
As we mentioned, gaming laptops are especially useful if you do any demanding work. Their big promise is strong graphics performance, which is not limited to PC gaming. Video editing and 3D rendering applications can also tap into their GPUs to handle labor-intensive tasks. While you can find decent GPUs in some productivity machines like Dell’s XPS 15, you can sometimes find better deals on gaming laptops. My general advice for any new employee: Focus on specifics; get at least 16GB of RAM and the biggest hard drive you can find (ideally 1TB or more). Both of these components are usually difficult to upgrade, so it’s worth investing in what you can to get the most out of your long-term PC gaming experience. Also, don’t forget the basics like a webcam, which you’ll likely need for your activity’s school work.
One big downside to choosing a gaming notebook is portability. For the best balance of size and price, we recommend the 15-inch models in most cases. These typically weigh around 4.5 pounds, which is significantly more than a three-pound ultraportable. Today’s gaming laptops are still lighter than older models, so at least you won’t be lugging around a 10-pound brick. If you’re looking for something lighter, there are plenty of 14-inch options these days. If you’re not into LED lights and other gamer-centric bling, look for simpler models that include basic features like a webcam (or make sure you know how to turn those lights off).
The best laptops for gaming and school in 2024
Photo: Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Screen size: 14-inch OLED | Screen resolution: 2560 x 1440 (QHD) | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5X | Memory: 1TB SSD | Weight: £3.31 | Maximum battery life: 10 hours
Read in full ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 review
The ASUS ROG Zephryus G14 it may be a little more expensive than when it was originally released, but it remains a fantastic all-purpose 14-inch laptop. The beauty of the latest model is that it features an all-new unibody aluminum chassis, a vibrant 120Hz OLED display, solid performance and tons of ports – all for hundreds less than the equivalent Razer Blade 14. It even has a built-in microSD. it has a card reader and presets for several color gamuts, so it can easily pull double duty as a photo/video editing machine. Its sound is also above average thanks to powerful stereo speakers. Battery life is also solid, with the Zepyrus clocking in at just shy of eight hours in our overall test. What’s more, the G14 weighs almost half a pound less than competing laptops with similar designs. The main drawbacks are that its GPU is locked in an RTX 4070 (instead of a 4080 as in the previous model) and that its RAM is soldered. But if you want a really great all-rounder that offers a lot of power in a portable package, this system should be at the top of your list. – Sam Rutherford, Senior Writer, Reviews
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Screen size: 15.6 inches | Screen resolution: 2560 x 1440 (QHD) | CPU: Intel Core i7-12800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti | RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X | Memory: 1TB SSD | Weight: 4.4 pounds | Maximum battery life: 80 Whr
For years, Razer has built a reputation for making gaming laptops that look as good as MacBooks. And this is still true. Razer’s Blade 15 it’s got a sleek and sturdy metal body, a capable 15.6-inch laptop screen, a simple design (unless you really turn on those RGB keyboard lights), and pretty much all the power you’d want in a portable gaming powerhouse. If money is no object, you can equip the Blade 15 with Intel’s latest 13th generation processors, NVIDIA’s powerful RTX 4070 and a 1440p OLED display running at a 240Hz refresh rate.
While you’ll pay a bit more for the Blade 15 than some other models, you’ve got a few different price points to work with. The entry-level model starts at $1,999 with an RTX 3070 GPU and a 360Hz 1080p display. That’s certainly enough power for most games and creative applications. If you’re looking for something a little smaller, Razer’s new AMD Ryzen-powered Blade 14 appears. compelling also with multiple connectivity options and Wi-Fi 7 support. Razer recently debuted a new one. Blade 16 and 18 modelsit costs (and weighs!) a lot more than the Blade 15, but could be useful if you need a bigger screen.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Screen size: 15.6 inches | Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | CPU: Intel Core i5-13450HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 | RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X | Memory: 512 GB SSD | Weight: £6.19 | Maximum battery life: 6.5 hours
While Alienware has established itself as a solid premium brand, Dell’s cheaper G series laptops are worth a look for anyone on a budget. In particular, G15 The trend continues to bring more capable hardware under $1,000, including Intel’s latest 13th generation CPUs and NVIDIA’s RTX 30 and 40-series GPUs. Sure, the body is mostly plastic and the laptop screen doesn’t offer the latest refinements, but it’s hard to find anything more powerful for the price.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Screen size: 16 inches | Screen resolution: 2560 x 1600 (QHD+) | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 | RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X | Memory: 1TB SSD | Weight: £5.89 | Maximum battery life: 90 Whr
taking the idea of a gaming laptop Latest version from ASUS Zephyrus Duo 16 combines the latest AMD Ryzen mobile processors with NVIDIA’s stunning RTX 40 series hardware. And true to its name, it has two screens: a gorgeous 16-inch main display (with optional Mini-LED backlighting) and a very wide 14-inch secondary panel below. You also get a number of additional connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi 6E and G-Sync support, plus HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.2 ports. This opens up near-desktop-level multitasking as you can have windows spread across both screens. This can help you watch an online lecture using a 1080p FHD webcam, for example, while tuning in to a Halo Infinite match on your home screen. Don’t worry, we won’t tell.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Screen size: 18 inches | Screen resolution: 2560 x 1600 (QHD+) | CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 | RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5X | Memory: 1TB SSD | Weight: £9.32 | Maximum battery life: 97 Whr
The biggest and most powerful Alienware laptop ever m18 it’s the ideal gaming laptop for someone who values screen size above all else. It can be equipped with Intel’s fastest 13th generation CPUs, NVIDIA’s RTX 4090, or a 165Hz QuadHD+ display, or a 1080p display that supports a fast 480Hz refresh rate. It’s a beast of a game, but it’ll also be a great choice for students editing audio or videos, and it comes with a decent webcam for video calling. A bigger screen means a bigger timeline view – exactly what you want for huge projects.
