Best gaming laptops of 2024: Save $600 on our favorite PC for Black Friday

The perfect entry point for PC gaming newbies.

Let’s face it: PC gaming provides the ultimate experience. High-end gaming PCs deliver more graphical power and processing capabilities than any console, offering unmatched freedom in customization and game selection. But, do you really want to be chained to your desk for every gaming session?

While desktops offer top-tier performance, gaming laptops blend that power with flexibility. It’s incredibly convenient to take your gaming setup wherever you go – whether it's to a friend's house or simply another room. There’s a gaming laptop for every player, whether you're after a powerhouse with stunning visuals, a sleek, portable option to slip into your backpack, or a budget-friendly choice. No matter your needs, there's a perfect gaming laptop waiting for you.

Where should you buy a gaming laptop?

You can find great gaming laptops at pretty much any big-name retailer nowadays. Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, GameStop, B&H, and others all have large selections of gaming laptops. During popular shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, these retailers always host huge sales, and in 2024, those sales started early. In fact, our favorite gaming laptop is already at a steep discount ahead of the holiday shopping season — $600 off the original price. So, be vigilant and stay tuned to our Black Friday coverage if you don't want to miss out on any other worthwhile deals.

However, there is often a benefit to shopping directly with gaming laptop brands — their sites often offer a lot more customization, letting you pick out the exact specs you want. At bigger retailers, most off-the-shelf gaming laptops are already pre-specced (often by sketchy third-party sellers if you shop at Amazon), making it harder to find the right configuration and price.

What’s the best budget gaming laptop, and is it worth it?

When shopping for a gaming laptop, you don’t need to splurge on a $3,000+ high-end model. There are plenty of great options under $1,000 that offer excellent value. That said, it’s important not to go too cheap – you really get what you pay for. Settling for a low-end laptop may leave you unable to run the games you want to play.

If you're on a tight budget and don’t mind cloud gaming, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a solid choice (more on that below). For even less, the Lenovo Gaming Chromebook 16 is another great option, especially for cloud gaming, and can be found in our guide to the best laptops under $500.

What are the best gaming laptops?

Choosing the right gaming laptop for your needs and budget can be a challenge. While they may be simpler than desktops, gaming laptops still require some careful consideration of specs. Unlike consoles, you can’t just grab the latest model off the shelf and start playing. With so many options for graphics cards, processors, storage, and display types, it can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in to help guide you through the decision-making process.

We have tested and reviewed a lot of gaming laptops over the years. Read on to find our recommendations for the best gaming laptops of 2024.

Alienware m16 R2

Who it's for:

The Alienware m16 R2 gaming laptop is perfect for gamers who want high performance without all the extra features. It's not overloaded with bells and whistles, but it offers solid value for those seeking quality over quantity. While it’s not flawless, it stands out as one of the best mid-budget gaming laptops, making it a great choice for newcomers to the PC gaming world. Plus, it's currently part of the Best Buy Black Friday sale, offering a $600 discount off the retail price.

Why we picked this:

If you're shopping on a mid-budget, the Alienware m16 R2 is the gaming laptop you’ve been waiting for. While it has a few minor drawbacks, its strengths far outweigh them, making it our top pick for now. This redesigned version is more minimalist than its predecessor, eliminating the bulky thermal shelf and adding a "Stealth Mode" hotkey to turn off RGB lighting for a more subtle look. Thanks to its MUX switch, the m16 R2 seamlessly toggles between integrated and dedicated GPUs, and NVIDIA’s Advanced Optimus feature can handle it automatically.

Mashable’s Tech Editor, Kimberly Gedeon, was impressed with the laptop's performance, particularly at this price point. It runs demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 without major compromises in settings, and the 240Hz display delivers smooth frame rates, though a boost in brightness would be welcome. The keyboard also earned praise for its tactile feedback and responsiveness.

That said, the speaker system is subpar—volume is fine, but it can sound tinny. We recommend using headphones for the best experience. The webcam quality isn’t great either, and the battery life falls short at just under an hour per charge, though most gamers will use it plugged in. Despite these setbacks, the Alienware m16 R2 remains an impressive gaming laptop and earned a Mashable Choice Award, making it our top pick for the best mid-budget gaming laptop right now.

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