Getting the right gaming laptop can be a stressful affair. If you don’t choose your laptops properly, you might end up getting one that sounds like a hovercraft when you switch over to high resolution and turns your lap medium-rare.
Here, our focus is on future-proof gaming laptops that can deliver heavy-duty gaming, has the right screen resolution and refresh rates for rendering high-frame-rate gameplay, and have a sturdy keypad that can endure brutal taps & clips for a few years at least.
We are listing laptops that can be used for playing hardware and graphically demanding games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Cyberpunk 2077.
So, after doing some serious digging, here are the 7 most powerful gaming laptops in 2021.
| Product Name | Product Tag | Price |
| Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | Best Looking Gaming Laptop | Check Price |
| Razer Blade Pro 17 | Best Gaming Laptop for Display | Check Price |
| Dell G5 15 5510 | Best Budget Gaming Laptop | Check Price |
| Razer Blade 15 2021 | Best Gaming Laptop Range | Check Price |
| MSI GS66 Stealth | Best Gaming Laptop Design | Check Price |
| Alienware Area 51M R2 | Ultimate Gaming Laptop | Check Price |
| Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 (GA502IV-AZ040T) | Overall Best Gaming Laptop | Check Price |
Most Powerful Gaming Laptops in 2021
7. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA401IU-HE138TS)
Best Looking Gaming Laptop
Pros
- Strong Battery
- Stunning AMD performance
- Lightning speed SSD
- Powerful Speakers
Cons
- No Webcam
The ROG Zephyrus G14 is yet another top gaming laptop contender from Asus’s manufacturing line. The laptop comes with a 1440p 60Hz high-resolution panel display.
It has a Back LED, and the keyboard comes with fingerprint sensors. After G15, Asus G14 is the second-best of Asus’s whole pie.
Technical Specifications
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 on Board 8GB 3200MHz SO-DIMM Slot24GB Expandable |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660Ti Max Q Design6GB GDDR6 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS Processor 2.9GHz |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos with Smart AMP Technology |
| Storage | 1TB NVME 3.0 SSDSlot Supports Up to 1TB PCIe NVME SSDM.2 2280 slot |
| Operating system | WINDOWS 10 HOME |
| Display | 14inch FHD (1920×1080) 16:9 anti-glare display ,Refresh Rate: 120Hz |
| Keyboard | Backlit Chiclet Keyboard |
| Battery | 76WHrs,4S1P, 4 cell Li-ion |
The most attractive thing about the Asus G14 is the Back LED array which comes with Enemy Matrix Screen for easy customization.
Unlike other bulky counterparts, it is visually appealing and quite sleek. The laptop derives its awesome power from its AMD Ryzen 4000 series chip.
Thanks to its 1440p 60Hz panel display, with a high refresh rate of 120Hz, FHD 16:9 anti-glare screen, you can bid adieu to pixelated graphics.
Its Ryzen 4800HS processor is super-fast while playing high-resolution games with ultra-FPS settings. So, you can launch and play Witcher 3, Overwatch, or Doom Eternal with minimum delay and loading times.
G14 comes with a stylish backlit keyboard, a fingerprint sensor, and hardware buttons for controlling the ROG app. Overall, the functions are great, and the magnesium alloy built assures its structural integrity while keeping it cool.
Pricing: Above $1200
Verdict: It comes loaded with classy specifications perfect for round-the-clock gaming and serious devops if need be – a strong contender for the most powerful gaming laptop.
6. Razer Blade Pro 17
Best Gaming Laptop for Display
Pros
- 360 Hz capable display
- Durable Build
- Programmable keyboard
- Powerful gaming performance
Cons
- Low Default Storage
The Razer Blade Pro 17 is the sole gaming laptop that comes with a gigantic 17.3-inch IPS display. It’s well set up with a powerful Intel processor, good battery support, decent GPU, and thermal cooling fans to quench your thirst for gaming.
Technical Specifications
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 2933MHz |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Max Q Design6GB GDDR6 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 10th Gen 10875 Processor |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos |
| Storage | 512GB PCIE NVME SSD With M2 slot |
| Operating system | WINDOWS 10 HOME |
| Display | 17.3inch IPS (2560×1440)Refresh Rate: 165Hz |
| Keyboard | RGB Backlit Keyboard with Glass Touch |
| Battery | 70.5WHrs Li-Po |
The Razer Blade Pro 17 has a minimalistic look. Its USP would be the giant 17.3 inches IPS display with three resolution options.
You can choose between 1080p at 360Hz, 1440p at 165Hz, or 4K at 120Hz. The 1440p display at a 165Hz refresh rate is simply breathtaking.
This laptop is best for rendering high frame-rate gaming content and can be considered future-proof.
It is packed with a bunch of different SKU hardware with an Intel i7 10875 processor. Its powerful 100-Watt 3070 Max Q GPU makes sure that your gameplays are devoid of any lag.
The storage section has a secondary SSD option that allows fast read-write access to the CPU, unlike other HDD counterparts.
The keyboard has RGB backlit and super crisp keys with a glass touchpad that is simply exceptional for finger glide. The speakers are good with large resonance chambers that produce stunning sound while playing an immersive role-playing game.
Games like Battlefield 5, RDR2, Overwatch, and DOOM Eternal Nightmare can be played on ultra-settings. That means the Razer Blade Pro 17 can cater to your regular work and step up to demanding games without breaking a sweat.
Pricing: Around $3500.
Verdict: A 17-inch plus display that can churn 360 Hz at 1080p, need we say more? If you have the bank, this is the most powerful gaming laptop you should buy.
5. Dell G5 15 5510
Best Budget Gaming Laptop
Pros
- Stylish Keyboard
- Fairly good Gaming features
- Insane cooling fans
Cons
- No C-Type USB
We found the Dell G5 15 5510 as probably the smartest gaming laptop build around, offering substantial value for money along with multiple outstanding specs and configurations.
This laptop can effortlessly juggle between demanding gameplay and process-intensive programming and designing tasks. From an aesthetics point of view, it looks cool and does not feel heavy at all. It packs decent battery life along with proper cooling.
Technical Specifications
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 2993MHz (8GBx2) |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 10th Gen 10870H Processor |
| Audio | Realtek ALC3254 |
| Storage | 512TB PCIe SSD |
| Operating system | WINDOWS 10 HOME |
| Display | 15.6inch IPS FHDRefresh Rate: 165Hz |
| Keyboard | 4 Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard |
| Battery | 86 WHrs Li-Ion |
The Dell G5 15 5510 is a premium gaming laptop that comes with a Phantom Grey finish. The 15.6-inch IPS display comes with native 120 Hz refresh rates and is one of the highlights of this gaming laptop.
The keyboard provides you 4 RGB backlighting options. Its keypad has a scissor mechanism resulting in less travel.
G5 15 comes with an Intel Core i7 10th Gen processor, incorporating thermal cooling techniques to support optimal processing power for longer durations without the laptop getting hot.
Worth mentioning, the speakers have great clarity and don’t create any crackling when audio output is set to medium or high.
The gaming experience is easily above average with the RTX 3060 6GB DDR6, which excellently adds to the overall value. This is apart from the 16GB DDR4 RAM.
In short, you can play Cyberpunk 2077, Watchdogs Legion, The Division 2, Borderlands 3, and Gears 5 on mid to high settings on this laptop.
Pricing: Under $2000
Verdict: For gamers who want a gaming laptop that can play the latest AAA titles at high enough settings, this is the best budget gaming laptop that comes with an RTX 3060 inside.
4. Razer Blade 15 2021
Best NVIDIA Gaming Laptop
Pros
- Aesthetic.
- Expandable memory & storage
- NVIDIA Advanced Optimus Tech
Cons
- Below par Webcam
The Razer Blade 15 2021 is a gem of a laptop with multiple configuration options, great battery life, nice audio, and a nifty display all clumped together for a mouth-watering price-to-performance ratio.
Technical Specifications
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 Dual Channel 3200MHz Expandable up to 64GB |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 8GB V RAM |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 10th Gen 10750H up to 5.0 GHz |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos |
| Storage | 1 TB PCIE 4.0 NVME SSD With M2 slot |
| Operating system | WINDOWS 10 HOME |
| Display | 15.7-inch QHDRefresh Rate: Up to 360 Hz |
| Keyboard | Chroma Backlit Keyboard |
| Battery | 80WHrs |
The Razer Blade 15 Advance comes with an anodized aluminum chassis. The display is a 15-inch QHD screen which gives more real estate to work and makes your gameplay much more vivid.
The 240Hz refresh rate is wonderfully detailed and fast, best suited for gaming, perhaps some video editing or multimedia content creation on the sides.
The catchy thing about the device is its Chroma Lighting backlit keyboard with a smooth touchpad.
Moreover, this gaming laptop has Nvidia’s advanced Optimus technology. The company added more specs like CPU and GPU modifications for balancing between acoustics and temperature.
If you ask me about its audio, the speakers come with tweaked drivers which generate good sound with the least feedback. The device has 4 models with some changes, the top-of-the-line being the FHD 360 Hz IPS, 32GB Dual RAM, and the latest NVIDIA RTX 3080 GPU configuration powered by a 10th gen Intel i7 octa-core.
Of course, that’s expensive, priced at least $1000 more.
Lastly, an 80 watt-hour battery can ensure decent battery life. Overall, the device is good going for gamers and content editors.
Pricing: Starting from around $1,700 for the base 144 Hz model to almost twice, at more than $3,500 for the RTX 3080 and 360 Hz panel.
Verdict: At the base configurations, you can get your hands on an RTX 3070 for some seriously high-end gaming. If you can stretch your budget, the Razer Blade Advanced can end up being the most powerful gaming laptop you can buy today.
3. MSI GS66 Stealth
Best Gaming Laptop Design
Pros
- Ultra-thin & Ultra-Lightweight at 5 lbs.
- FHD Wide angle Anti-Glare screen
- RAM Expandable up to 64GB
Cons
- 512GB storage seems less given the hefty price tag.
The MSI GS666 Stealth is one of the most powerful gaming laptops around and it looks the part too with its matte black finish, ultra-thin and light design, almost the sexiest laptop you’ve laid eyes on in a long time.
Technical Specifications:
| RAM | 32 GB DDR4 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce® RTX2070 Super Max-Q8GB GDDR6 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-10875H 2.3 – 5.1GHz |
| Audio | Dynaudio Speakers 2W*2 |
| Storage | 512 GB Flash Memory Solid State |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Pro |
| Display | 15.6″ FHD, Anti-Glare Wide View Angle 300Hz |
| Keyboard | Steel Series per-Key RGB with Anti-Ghost key (84 Key) |
| Battery | 99.9WHrs |
The beautifully crafted 15.6″ FHD screen coupled with 300 Hz refresh rates is great for playing fast-paced racing games or shooters like Valorant.
The wide-angle anti-glare screen is VR-ready, while the matte finish shuns out any unwanted reflection from any lighting source.
It is powered by a 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 10th gen processor that can be overclocked to 5.0 GHz. The 32GB DDR4 RAM is adequate for meeting almost all gaming demands and you can expand it to 64GB just to be sure it does.
To ensure optimal thermal dissipation, the GS66 Stealth uses MSI’s exclusive Cooler Boost Technology. This gaming laptop is equipped with 3 fans with 7 cooling pipes for better airflow and swift heat exchange.
Its steel series per-Key RGB lets you customize the lighting of each key. This allows you to receive real-time in-game status through keyboard lighting.
Pricing: Around $2,000
Verdict: It was difficult to find any genuine flaw in it. Given its price, configuration, and edgy looks, it would be a strong contender for the most powerful gaming laptop category.
2. Alienware Area 51M R2
Ultimate Gaming Laptop
Pros
- Effective thermal management
- Strong Internals
- 300Hz Panel
Cons
- Expensive
- Bulky
The Alienware Area 51M R2 has top-of-the-line specs and is powered by an Intel processor, top-of-the-line NVIDIA graphics, dedicated high-performance storage, and a stunning display.
The Area 51M R2 is one of the most powerful gaming laptops, targeted towards professional gamers and game developers.
Technical Specifications
| RAM | 64GB Dual Channel DDR4 at 2933MHz |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER8GB GDDR6 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 10700 10th Gen Processor 2.9 |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos |
| Storage | 4TB RAID O SSD (2x 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSDs) |
| Operating system | WINDOWS 10 HOME |
| Display | 17.3inchFHD (1920×1080)Refresh Rate: 360Hz |
| Keyboard | Alienware mSeries per-key AlienFX RGB keyboard with numeric keypad |
| Battery | 90WHrs Li-Ion |
The Area 51M R2 is a robust machine equipped with a powerful Core i9 10th Gen processor. If you ask me what is the gaming laptop with the most powerful processor, this is what I would point to.
Its architecture comprises GeForce RTX 2070 Super GPU and DDR4 RAM of 32000 MHz. You also have the option to get the RTX 3080 instead, although that will really push the price towards the heavens!
The keyboard lighting can be set as per the user’s choice, and the glass trackpad also has RGB lighting, which is really funky. And then there’s the 300 Hz FHD display for a fast, vivid, and incredibly realistic gaming experience.
You can play any game, and we literally mean any game, including Doom Eternal, Metro Exodus, Hell Blade, and Tomb Raider at High to Ultra settings.
Thermal cooling is great, and the CPU or GPU do not throttle while gaming. The laptop is best for gaming or 3D modeling software, architectural designs, and video editing as well.
Pricing: Upwards $2200 (Prices have dropped by at least $600!)
Verdict: Arguably one of the most powerful gaming laptops you can buy today, this new Area 51M from Dell is redesigned to offer the gaming performance you need without going over the top.
Worth buying for around $2200 for sure. We would!
1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 (GA502IV-AZ040T)
Overall Best Gaming Laptop
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Stunning Audio
- All-day battery life
- Great performance for the price range
Cons
- Partially Soldered RAM
- No Webcam
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is a response to a similar call.
It is one of the most advanced and powerful gaming laptops in 2021, supporting a 4K playable frame rate on a 3.5 million pixels QHD display, along with a powerful processor that earned it the top slot on this list.
Technical Specifications:
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 on Board 8GB 3200MHz (Soldered)24GB Expandable |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max Q Design 6GB GDDR6 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS Processor 3.0GHz |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos with Smart AMP Technology |
| Storage | 1TB NVME 3.0 SSDSlot Supports Up to 1TB PCIe NVME SSDM.2 2280 slot |
| Operating System | WINDOWS 10 HOME |
| Display | 39.62cm (15.6)FHD (1920×1080) 16:9 anti-glare display |
| Keyboard | Backlit Chiclet Keyboard |
| Battery | 76WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion |
This beast comes with an insane configuration powerful enough to play Cyberpunk 2077 and Battlefield 5 at Ultra settings. Lightweight at only 2 kilograms, it’s portable enough and has the ideal chassis for a gaming laptop.
Putting this laptop up top on this list comes down to simple price to performance. For less than $1500, you can get your hands on a Ryzen 9 coupled with an RTX 2060 Max Q.
Add in the 16GB RAM and a full 1TB SSD, this gaming laptop is enough for almost any game you can throw at it. The Pantone-validated 240 Hz FHD display puts the cherry on the cake for an excellent value for money proposition.
The ergo lifted backlit keyboard is a breeze to game or work on, illuminating in a cool greyish blue. Smart Amp Technology is used on top of the stock audio driver and the laptop supports Type-C charging.
Pricing: Around $1500
Verdict: For a 240 Hz display with RTX 2060 Max Q, the Zephyrus G15 is perfectly priced and just about what you need to play the latest AAA titles without breaking the bank.
At this price tag, this is the most powerful gaming laptop you can buy, and you should.
Conclusion
Before you can single out on the most powerful gaming laptop that is just right for yourself, consider the following questions:
- How often would you be using the gaming laptop for playing games? (Often/ Sometimes/ Rarely)
- Would you be traveling with your gaming laptop? (Often/ Sometimes/ Rarely)
- Do you live stream? (Often/ Sometimes/ Rarely)
If your answer to most of the questions is “Often”, then I’d suggest you go for Alienware Area 51M R2. It is priced heftily but you need not worry about upgrading your rig for at least 5 – 6 years. If you don’t live stream often, you can go for the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 G532. It will also save you quite some money.
