Gaming laptops are raising the bar in 2023, and these three options are the absolute best on the market.
PC gaming on the go was unthinkable a decade ago, and up until recently, the massive size, power drain, and price tag of gaming laptops made them still fairly inaccessible. But in 2023, gaming laptops now combine the best parts of prebuilt gaming PCs and standard consumer models. If you’re looking to buy a monster portable gaming rig for the new year, these three options offer insane levels of gaming power in a reasonably slim form factor.
The Razer Blade 15 is a laptop gamer’s dream come true
Razer built its reputation with top-notch gaming peripherals, so powerful gaming laptops are a natural extension for the company. The Razer Blade represents its best gaming hardware crammed into a modestly-sized laptop. But despite its small size at just 15.6 inches diagonally, this machine puts most desktop gaming rigs to shame.
The top version of the Razer Blade 15 packs a 3080 Ti with an Intel Core i7-12800H processor, giving 14 cores of power at up to 4.8 gigahertz. 32 gigabytes of RAM and a terabyte of SSD keep things running smoothly while the integrated liquid cooling prevents your leg from catching on fire. All of that power is channeled through a 360 hertz 1920 x 1080 or 240 hertz 4K display, and it’s very possible to reach those high framerates with the aforementioned 3080 Ti.
The Razer Blade 15 is ideal for someone who prioritizes gaming but also appreciates the sleekness of a smaller machine. The laptop certainly functions for general tasks like browsing the web or taking notes in class, but its low list of features and mediocre battery life paint it as a clear piece of gaming gear. It also stands out like a sore thumb against a sea of Chromebooks and Macs, but anyone willing to drop $3,300 on a gaming laptop will probably appreciate the attention.
The MSI Vector GP76 specs are the best of all 2023 gaming laptops
If mobility is less of a priority, then the MSI Vector GP76 may be more suitable for your tastes. This gigantic 17.3-inch gaming laptop pairs the best possible internals with a massive screen to create the most immersive portable setup of 2023. MSI is no stranger to the laptop game, and the GP76 is the company’s ultimate flagship in everything from storage to graphics.
Like the Razer Blade, the MSI Vector GP76 packs an RTX 3080 Ti with an Intel Core i9-12900H. However, it leverages its roomier internal space to vastly outclass the Blade in onboard storage. The linked model houses two terabytes of NVMe SSD space. It also offers a choice between full HD and 4K, though the higher resolution may be worth springing for, given the larger 17.3-inch screen.
At nearly ten pounds, the full-size MSI Vector GP76 is portable in only the most literal of definitions. This beast of a laptop is meant for gamers who plan to travel around but keep their laptop stationed in a hotel, dorm, or guest room instead of lugging it around wherever they go. If you want a semi-mobile gaming setup or plan to travel with a computer-tethered VR system, the GP76 is a great option at $2,800.
The ThinkPad P16 G1 is the ultimate mobile workstation
ThinkPad isn’t the first label that gamers think of when it comes to gaming computers, but programmers and 3D modelers know that its a marque to respect. Lenovo’s ThinkPad P16 G1 is primarily intended for advanced rendering and art. Still, there’s nothing stopping a gamer from downloading Steam and using its beastly specs for some gaming while waiting for the compiler to finish up.
This laptop packs a 16-core i9 i9-12950HX, giving it the best CPU of any 2023 laptop, gaming or otherwise. 32 gigabytes of RAM keeps everything front and center during intense sessions while the all-SSD memory keeps all half-finished projects safe and sound. Instead of the RTX 3080 Tis included in the above options, Lenovo opted for an RTX A2000. The professional-grade GPU packs ray tracing and accelerated AI technology meant for developing programs, but they work well for running them at max settings too.
The ThinkPad P16 G1 is a great choice for gamers who also deal with highly intensive digital pursuits like 3D art, virtual reality developments, and large-scale physics rendering. It boasts the best CPU on this list with the most stable GPU all for $2,543, which is a small price to pay to not stand out in a boardroom meeting.
