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HP’s flagship Omen 16 laptop received a refresh this year, and it features updated AMD, Intel, and Nvidia components, as well as redesigned thermals for better and quieter airflow. Our experts took a first look at the during CES 2025 and discovered that the Max’s processors run up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 or the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, and GPU options consist entirely of Nvidia’s next-generation chips. This 16-inch is marked down right now, with additional savings for savvy shoppers who use code LEVELUP20. You could save a whopping $1,120. Imagine what you could do with that much cash left in your pocket!

The HP Omen Max features the top-of-the-line RTX 5090 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU (that’s right, the higher end of what’s offered). This potent combination will make both gaming and productivity tasks a breeze, and the generous 16-inch display will render on-screen action in crisp, clear 2K. With a rig like this, you’ll never want to game on another device again.

The 16-inch HP Omen Max comes in white and black options, while the keyboard features four-zone RGB lighting. It’s a clean, understated look that belies the gaming performance waiting within. Our PC expert called the “the new fastest mobile GPU” after some thorough testing, during which it outpaced the competition. It can run —a DLSS 4 game with a big open world and high visual fidelity—at its highest settings without missing a beat and without skimping on FPS. When combined with a generous 32GB of RAM, you can also engage in creative tasks like recording and editing your gaming exploits, so you can share them with the community at large. Secure yours today for a huge $1,120 off retail when you use code LEVELUP20.

Don’t forget to check out our Best Gaming Laptops of 2025 article for more buying options.

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It’s not the cheapest, but it’s far from the most expensive and considering the price you’re paying the HP Omen Max 16 puts on one hell of a show. Powerful but streamlined, exciting but understated – the Max has plenty going for it, just don’t hammer those keys too hard or unplug the power cable.

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The HP Omen Max 16 is everything I wanted it to be. I’m a disillusioned fan of this range, having landed with a GTX 1050 Omen as my first ever gaming laptop before falling out of love with its fairly janky releases in the years following. It’s had some wins in the last few years, even if the more recent HP Omen 17 was fairly uninspired, but 2025’s release changes everything.

This is a powerful machine, but it’s wrapped up in a slick, streamlined chassis that keeps things slim while still hiding enough space to let those components reach their full potential. With a price tag that holds its own against the rest of the market and a wealth of additional features packed in, this is one of the best gaming laptop I’ve tested in 2025 so far.

Reviewed by Reviewed by Tabitha Baker Managing Editor – Hardware The first gaming laptop I ever had was an HP Omen and I’ve been keen for this line to up its game ever since. Since those early days, I’ve personally reviewed over 50 gaming laptops, including the Max’s main competition, the Razer Blade 16. I personally prefer 16-inch machines, and prioritize a value-rich price/performance ratio over complete raw power in my own purchases. When I’m not testing new gaming laptops, my current rig is an RTX 4070 Razer Blade 14.

Swipe to scroll horizontally Key Specs Header Cell – Column 0 Tested Also Available Price $3,299.99 / £2,999 $2,299.99 – $3,599.99 / £2,399 – £3,999 Display 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS at 240Hz 16-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS at 165Hz | 16-inch 2560 x 1600 OLED at 240Hz Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | AMD Ryzen AI 7 H 350 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 GPU Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 Ti | RTX 5090 RAM 32GB DDR5-5600MT/s 16GB | 64GB Storage 1TB PCle Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD 512GB | 2TB Connectivity WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 – Ports 2x USB Type-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C (Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, 1x RJ-45 2x USB Type-A, 2x USB Type-C (Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, 1x RJ-45 Dimensions 14.04 x 10.59 x 0.98 inch – Weight 6.1lbs 5.5lbs

Configurations

(Image credit: Future)

HP has gone wide with its configuration options for the Omen Max 16, spanning the mid to high range in its GPU offerings and splitting devices across both Intel and AMD. We kick off at an RTX 5070 with Intel’s Core Ultra 7 255HX processor for a $2,299.99 / £2,399.99 base price, soaring up to the full-whack RTX 5090 and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX / AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, high-end models costing around $3,600 / £4,000.

The model I’m testing packs an RTX 5080 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD into a $3,299.99 / £2,999 price tag. That’s not cheap, but it’s certainly not as expensive as some.

An RTX 5080 configuration of the 2025 Razer Blade 16 comes with a slightly weaker AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor and equal RAM / storage amounts for $3,499.99 (though with an upgrade to an OLED display). The Alienware 16 Area-51 that’s patiently waiting its turn on my testing bench goes for $3,349.99 with the same specs as well.

The Asus ROG Strix G16 lowers the price tag to $2,899.99, while the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 halves your RAM (but doubles your storage) for the same $3,299.99 MSRP.

That means the HP Omen Max 16 sits squarely in the middle for an RTX 5080 rig, though with the additional benefits of cheaper configurations that others may drop.

There’s one difference between this rig and others in its price league that makes the HP Omen Max 16 stand just a little taller. It’s on sale far more regularly. Even as I’m writing this review, the configuration I’m testing has dropped from $3,299.99 to $2,599.99 and it’s far from the first time I’ve seen savings here.

Design

(Image credit: Future)

I unbox a lot of gaming laptops, but every now and then I unsleeve a machine that makes me audibly coo. The HP Omen Max’s crisp white chassis and soft-touch coating was love at first sight.

That white has stayed resistant to stains and scuffs in the time I’ve been carting it around and the lighter tone means fingerprints aren’t an issue either. The main chassis’ clean lines and tapered lip design makes a statement without being too bold – that’s where the RGB comes in.

HP has outfitted the Omen Max 16 with a strikingly vibrant set of LEDs under the main keyboard, as well as a light strip that casts a clean glow on the surface below. It’s not quite as strong as that of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 or the Asus ROG Strix G16, but it still creates a slick floating effect.

This smart form factor means the Omen offers the best of both worlds. It’s easy enough to throw into a backpack and doesn’t overwhelm a desk setup like chunkier models, but there’s still enough space to let those components breathe. Rather than the boxy, square designs of the best Razer laptops or the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, the Max 16 maintains a ‘gaming laptop’ shape but with a slimmer profile overall.

The back panel is also free from larger RGB panels or garish stamps, with a classy Omen logo stamped into the lid and covered with a sophisticated glossy effect. Inside, we do have a little iconography going on, but it’s restricted to a light gray ‘016’ in the lower right corner and a ‘Max’ stamp on the opposite side. Those dotted grills running along the top look very HP as well, keeping space for a speaker without overwhelming the internal design.

Display

(Image credit: Future)

I’ll say it now, Razer and the best Asus gaming laptops have an edge on their displays. The HP Omen Max 16 is configurable with an OLED panel (though there are fewer of those options on the shelves at the moment) but I’ve been testing the standard IPS. There’s a drop in vibrancy and contrast compared to more premium display options out there, but this is still a pretty face.

It doesn’t quite pack the same punch as the IPS featured on the Asus ROG Strix G16, which does a particularly good job of keeping its color contrast up without an OLED screen, but there’s still a nice amount of energy here. Color reproduction is well balanced with more naturally vivid scenes benefitting from a satisfying injection of power.

HP still maintains its upper hand against the competition, as OLED options are available, and the IPS screen I tested was still impressive. It’s just not quite the jewel in the Max’s crown.

Ports

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The HP Omen Max 16 is one of the few slimline 16-inch gaming laptops I’ve seen throwing its more permanent ports on the rear of the device. This is a big win in my books. I hate having cables sprawled out across the desk, especially when they start interfering with my mouse hand.

The Max 16 positions its power, RJ45, HDMI 2.1, and a USB-A port on the back, keeping the sides free for more ad-hoc accessories. The second USB-A port is the only connection on the right flank, with two Thunderbolt 4s (and the 3.5mm audio jack) sitting neatly on the left. If you’re regularly swapping out USB-A devices, that rear placement might grow a little tiresome, but having a more accessible port on the side keeps things a little more versatile.

You do drop a Type-A connection from the Asus ROG Strix G16 and Razer Blade 16, which both offer three traditional ports, though the Omen Max doubles the number of Thunderbolt options compared to Asus’s devices. Razer builds off an AMD base, so these are swapped for USB-4.

If you’re looking to wire in your internet, it’s also worth noting that both the Razer Blade 16 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 sacrifice the RJ45 present on the HP Omen Max 16, but trade in an SD card reader in its place.

Keyboard and trackpad

(Image credit: Future)

HP’s keyboard looks oh so inviting with its pudding style keycaps and soft finish, but actually going hands on with the deck reveals one issue. There’s a noticeable amount of flex in this deck, even when typing more casually. Thankfully, that bending doesn’t equate to a spongy feel overall – in fact, there’s a good amount of spring and tension in these keys. It is still a little disappointing in a more premium build, though.

You’re not getting the snap of Razer’s scissor switches, but it’s still a satisfying feel. With plenty of action under each press, there’s a good amount of space for fast repeated inputs and an actuation pressure that still feels comfortable during longer typing periods.

Functionality is a top priority here, though. The HP Omen Max 16 is one of the few 16-inch gaming laptops I’ve tested with a full number pad. Yes, things are a little squished on that right hand side, with half-sized up/down arrows feeling like more of a sacrifice than anything else on the deck.

The trackpad feels fantastic, with just enough tension underneath to provide a light but tactile full click. Tap gestures are picked up immediately and with a speedy response from the system, while the surface area feels smooth under the fingertips as well. Overall, it’s a much better pad than the somewhat hollow version on the Asus ROG Strix G16.

Performance

I tested the HP Omen Max 16 with an RTX 5080 under the hood, but this thing behaves more like an RTX 5090 at times. At full throttle (the system’s “Unleashed Mode” with full power unlocked), this machine tore through synthetic benchmarks and in-game framerates sometimes knocking far more expensive machines out of the race.

First up, 3D Mark. These are artificial GPU tests that stress various elements within the system’s graphical rendering systems to spit out a final score at the end of each run. After three attempts, the HP Omen Max’s final average scores are below.

The RTX 5080 inside this rig beat the RTX 5090 in the Blade 16 across both Time Spy and Fire Strike runs, though did fall slightly behind in the newer and more demanding Steel Nomad course. Still, it’s well above my current overall top-pick, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 (which sports a previous generation RTX 4080) and maintains its lead against similar Asus devices as well.

In-game, the HP Omen Max 16 trades places with the Razer Blade 16 a lot more, especially in FHD+ resolution. At 1920 x 1200 it’s slightly beaten by Lenovo’s previous juggernaut in easier runs like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, but comes out at the top of the pack across Total War: Three Kingdoms and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

Things get a little spicier when we crank that resolution up to the full QHD+. Here, the HP Omen Max 16 takes the lead over the previous generation Lenovo, while also beating out the higher-specced Razer Blade 16 in all but Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong.

Of course, the RTX 5080 isn’t better than the RTX 5090, but it’s allowed to rev its engines a little more in this iteration. The HP Omen Max 16 might not offer top-of-the-range performance in more demanding titles, but it’s still leading the pack across the majority of casual games, and Horizon is far from an easy run. Of course, the RTX 50-Series also comes with 4x Multi-Frame Generation which can bump those framerates in more demanding titles should you wish to use it.

When you consider that the RTX 5090 Blade 16 I tested for these numbers comes in at $4,499.99, the Max is thriving.

A lot of that is being helped by the CPU as well. I’ll eat my hat after saying this (I’ve not been a fan of Intel’s Ultra-range processors so far), but the Core Ultra 9 275HX is a beast under this hood. It’s beaten out the Intel i9-14900HX, the previous generation’s gaming golden child, inside the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i and even topped the much larger Asus ROG Strix Scar 18’s numbers.

For an even greater sense of just how far this CPU can go when pushed, it’s second only to the massive MSI Raider A18 HX with a blinder of brain in the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D in a humungous chassis.

All of that data is recorded, as always, in the HP Omen Max 16’s highest performance settings. That means fan noise, and lots of it. If you want to play this way for long periods of time you’ll need to crank that cooling up and things get incredibly loud.

Battery

The HP Omen Max 16 may thrive when connected to power, but it flounders without that cable attached. I played Doom: The Dark Ages on battery and can normally still set a gaming laptop to performance mode without being plugged in. Despite disabling ‘balanced’ mode from Windows itself, however, it seems that the Omen Max 16 doesn’t go full into its more powerful preset without that tether. That meant I could barely make it through a mission. The whole game feels slowed to a snail’s pace, with an almost laughable amount of time between frames and a grainy visual profile overall.

This is how gaming on the go used to be, but I’ve been impressed by more recent gaming laptops’ abilities to run titles smoothly without a power connection. It’s simply not an option here.

At 50% screen and 25% RGB brightness, I drained the battery to zero in just over an hour – about average for a machine of the previous generation, but still below some scores across RTX 50-Series machines.

In Balanced Mode with 50% screen brightness and 25% RGB lighting, the HP Omen Max 16 fell short of the Asus ROG Strix G16’s 6.5-hour lifespan, coming in at just under four hours.

Should you buy the HP Omen Max 16?

(Image credit: Future)

Yes, it’s got some battery woes and there’s a little flexing to the main keyboard but ultimately the HP Omen Max 16 is the most well-rounded gaming laptop I’ve tested so far. With a comfortable, sleek, portable design but performance metrics that push larger chassis out the way, the Max is a must-see machine. It’s at a similar price to slimmer, more OLED-friendly devices, and its overall productivity experience isn’t going to match that of the Razer Blade 16. It is, however, far more likely to drop that MSRP (and has been regularly over the last couple of months). That makes it my new go-to for anyone after a future-proofed rig for a value-packed price/performance ratio – as long as you keep it plugged in.

How I tested the HP Omen Max 16

I used the HP Omen Max 16 for two weeks before completing this review, while also testing directly against the Asus ROG Strix G16. I performed three sets of 3D Mark graphical benchmarks, running Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad three times each and taking an average result as each final score. I also tested the rig in in-game benchmark scenarios across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Horizon Forbidden West, Cyberpunk 2077, and Black Myth Wukong. Each of these tests were also run three times, across ‘High’ and ‘Highest’ settings in FHD+ and QHD+ resolutions. I then performed separate DLSS Frame Generation tests in Cyberpunk 2077.

All performance benchmarks were recorded in the system’s ‘Unleashed’ power mode, with full available wattage supplied.

For more information on how we test gaming laptops, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

I’m also hunting down the best Alienware laptops to buy right now – or check out the best gaming handhelds and best gaming PCs for different ways to play.

The best gaming laptops of 2025 are starting to take shape, and with the release of RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 machines the value of the new generation is starting to present itself. Among the top-shelf machines, there are plenty of cheaper options hitting the shelves this spring, and we’ve had some position changes on this guide as a result.

The best gaming laptop I’ve tested so far is, overall, the HP Omen Max 16. This is a new pick, but the 16-inch RTX 5080 device wowed in testing and has seen far more discounts on its launch MSRP than its competitors so far. You’ll find all my favorites below, with each rig having passed a series of in-game and dedicated stress-test benchmark processes.

I’ve also lived, worked, and played with all of these machines for a minimum of two weeks each (and more when I can swing it that way). That means you know each one has been not only play-tested but life-tested along the way. You can check out exactly how we test gaming laptops in our dedicated guide.

Reviewed by Reviewed by Tabitha Baker Managing Editor – Hardware I’ve been obsessed with laptops since I got my first machine that could just about, barely, run The Sims 2. Since then I’ve been through more gaming laptops than I can count, and – thankfully for my bank balance – have been reviewing these magic machines for over five years at GamesRadar+. While I can certainly appreciate a top of the range set of components, my background as a Deals Editor at our sister site TechRadar has also taught me the importance of value, so I consistently hold a particularly keen eye for user experience, long-term reliability, and the price/performance balancing act.

The quick list

Recent updates

The best gaming laptop overall

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1. HP Omen Max 16 The best gaming laptop overall Our expert review: Specifications CPU: Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 GPU: RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 Ti | RTX 5080 | RTX 5090 Storage: 512GB – 2TB PCle Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD Display: 16-inch 2560 x 1600 at 240Hz (IPS / OLED) Ports: 2x USB Type-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C (Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, 1x RJ-45 Dimensions: 0.98 x 14.04 x 10.59 inch Weight: 2.7kg (6.1lbs) Today’s Best Deals View at HP Store View at Currys View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Excellent performance + Streamlined design + Crisp white chassis + Vibrant RGB + Smart port placements Reasons to avoid – Low battery life

My favorite configuration:

HP Omen Max 16 | RTX 5080 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Available at HP

I like my HP Omen Max 16 exactly as I tested it, with an RTX 5080 GPU that feels like an RTX 5090 at times and Intel’s top shelf Ultra processor. This machine is regularly on sale as well, so value really is working in your favor.

The HP Omen Max 16 is the first of its line to truly impress me in recent years, landing with a splash in 2025 and washing the competition away. It takes over from the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 in this top overall spot, packing better performance and a boosted chassis design into a price tag that sees its own discounts far more regularly than others.

Buy it if: ✅ You want top shelf performance: The numbers I got out of the HP Omen Max 16 surprised me – at full pelt these components can absolutely sing. ✅ You want greater control over presets: There’s a solid piece of software tying everything together here, making for excellent control over how your machine runs. ✅ You like an RGB show: The backlighting on this keyboard is gorgeous, as is the underglow effect on the main chassis.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You need to work and play on the go: The only thing the Omen sacrifices to achieve its incredible performance and keen looks is its battery life – this one wants to stay plugged in. ❌ You hate keyboard flex: It’s minor, but it is noticeable – if you can’t stand a slightly bendy keyboard you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Design: From the moment I opened the HP Omen Max 16’s box I knew I was going to like this design. The all-white model I tested packs a slick chassis aesthetic while still feeling luxuriously soft to the touch. That’s a potent combination, and without any fingerprints to worry about either.

This is far from the chunkiest machine I’ve had on my testing bench, but it’s not exactly skinny either. Instead, the Omen walks a perfect line between portability and power, giving its components enough room to breathe but staying light on your desk top. That’s thanks to a flat top and heavily tapered lip around the main deck. In combination with the vibrant RGB lighting around the edge, the Max achieves a slick floating effect.

Features: The HP Omen Max 16 is configurable with a wide range of components that span Intel, AMD, and Nvidia’s mid and upper ranges, making for a comfortable set of choices. You will also have to decide your display. I tested an IPS panel that still delighted in its color reproduction and speed, but didn’t quite pack the punch of the alternative OLED option. Elsewhere, you’ll find a strong selection of ports (including two Thunderbolt 4 options) split mainly across the left flank and rear panel. That’s a rarity among 16-inchers, I often only see larger 18-inch models keeping permanent connections tucked away like this. It makes for a far tidier setup overall, though.

The keyboard and trackpad have plenty of bounce, though I did notice a considerable amount of flex to the main keys. It’s enough to see when typing, even casually, but it doesn’t add a mushy feel overall. That’s a relief, because these switches are energetic and satisfying by themselves.

Performance: I was blown away by the in-game and synthetic benchmarks the HP Omen Max 16 is capable of. Standing next to a far more expensive RTX 5090 Razer Blade 16, my RTX 5080 Omen was able to take the lead in several games, even if more challenging runs like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth Wukong still went to the Sneki brand.

Overall, though, this is wild RTX 5080 performance, with the extra chassis space and smart cooling features to see the Omen Max 16 performing well above its station. It outpaces the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 in all but one test, but considering the extent of its lead everywhere else I’m willing to forgive one benchmark run.

Battery: The HP Omen Max 16’s battery lets it down. I only managed about an hour of gameplay at 50% screen brightness, and that gameplay was not enjoyable. The system seems to force itself into a power-saving mode where others are happy to let you tinker with higher performance settings without a cable connected. It won’t last long and the experience is pretty rough.

Verdict: With its incredible performance and elegant design, the HP Omen Max 16’s poor battery life isn’t enough to keep it from this top spot. If you’re looking to play plugged in, and maybe take your laptop out for some light work every now and then, it’s a must-see. That’s doubly true because of all the discounts I’ve been seeing on this model. While competitors like the Razer Blade 16 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 have been clinging to their price tags, I’ve seen as much as $700 off this rig in the last few months.

Read more: HP Omen Max 16 review

The best cheap gaming laptop

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2. Asus TUF A15 The best cheap gaming laptop Our expert review: Specifications CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS GPU: Nvidia RTX 4050 | RTX 4060 | RTX 4070 RAM: 16GB Storage: 512GB | 1TB Display: 15.6-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080 at 144Hz Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort, power delivery), 1x RJ45 LAN, 1x Type C USB 4 (DisplayPort), 1x 3.5mm audio Dimensions: 0.9 x 13.9 x 9.8 inch Weight: 2.2kg (4.85lbs) Today’s Best Deals View at ASUS View at ASUS Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Excellent price-performance ratio + Solid construction and some premium materials + Full-sized keyboard + Comfortable form factor Reasons to avoid – Display is less bright than the competition – Slightly soft-feeling keyboard – 16:9 aspect ratio

My favorite configuration:

Asus TUF A15 | RTX 4050 | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | Available at Asus If you’re spending as little as possible, this RTX 4050 configuration will see you through. You’ll still be able to post some more than playable framerates with this model, while benefitting from a 144Hz display and Ryzen 7 processor.

The Asus TUF A15 has long been held as a staple among budget gaming laptops, but the latest model has cemented its position as one of the greats. This is a cheaper rig, so you’re making some sacrifices to get those latest components in the price tag. However, the performance on offer is fantastic value for money as a result.

Buy it if: ✅ You prioritize speed over finesse: The 1080p display in here is built to handle speed over the extra details you might find in a 1440p or 1600p screen. ✅ You’re happy to crank up the fans: We got our best results from the Turbo Mode power preset which can kick those fans up to give you a tangible boost in performance. ✅ You don’t want it to look cheap: The metal lid and simple color scheme makes the A15 look far more premium than its price tag suggests. If you’re looking to spend less without that typical budget aesthetic, this is your best bet.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You need a machine for daily work: If you’re after a portable machine for daily work out and about, this isn’t it. Not only is it chunkier than other ultrabooks at similar prices, but the keyboard and trackpad aren’t up to a full day’s clacking. ❌ You want to push demanding games to their limits: There’s only so much an RTX 4060 or RTX 4070 can do – if you’re looking to play next year’s biggest Triple-As on max settings we’d recommend something with a little more power.

Design: From the cool gray tones to the metal lid, the Asus TUF A15 looks and feels more premium than it actually is. Yes, the majority of this chassis is plastic, and there are some questionably cringey text stamps on the main body, but it’s a slick form factor overall and one that neatly sidesteps the common angular pitfalls of cheaper rigs.

The build quality is secure, with a nicely tightened hinge to the main display and only the expected amount of flex in the keyboard area for a gaming laptop of this price. No, it’s not quite as slim as the previous Asus TUF Dash F15 before it (my personal machine for a long time), but it’s still a comfortable size – easily backpackable and well below the heavyweights on this list.

Features: Like all good budget gaming laptops, the A15 has everything you need, but doesn’t pump too much of your cash into any of its main feature areas. Instead, it saves its value for performance. That means you’re getting a pretty standard 1080p 144Hz IPS display (in an older 16:9 form factor that did feel a little restrictive in my testing).

This screen could have benefitted from a few more nits of brightness, but displays its colors with enough contrast and vividity to get by in a more casual context. That still makes it a more immersive panel than you’ll find on the HP Victus 16, a similarly priced budget entry. However, it’s not quite up to the same heights as the Acer Nitro V 14, which makes particularly good use of its display.

There’s also a full-sized keyboard in here – a rarity even in 16-inchers these days – and while it’s a little softer than I’d like it still gets the job done. That trackpad isn’t going to see you through a work day on the go, though. It’s a clunky implementation with unreliable zoning for each click side and a heavy middle section.

Performance: I was impressed with the numbers filing out of the A15’s benchmarks. It actually scored higher in Time Spy and Fire Strike than a similarly specced HP Omen Transcend 16 (worth about $600 more) and managed to carry me through demanding titles like Returnal and Hitman 3 without once dropping even close to 60fps. Considering you’re spending far less than usual and still scoring three-figure framerates in Shadow of the Tomb Raider this is an absolute win.

Verdict: If you’re going all in on performance and your budget doesn’t stretch to the big dogs in this race, the Asus TUF A15 is a must-see. It’s one of the cheapest machines I’ve tested so far and I’ve come away surprised by the performance on offer as well as the form factor and design. You are making some sacrifices to get there, but at this price point they’re all worthwhile.

Read more: Asus TUF A15 review

The best 14-inch gaming laptop

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3. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 The best 14-inch gaming laptop Our expert review: Specifications CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Graphics: Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti / RTX 5080 RAM: Up to 32GB DDR5 Storage: 1TB / 2TB NVMe SSD Display: 14-inch QHD+ OLED 2880 x 1800 Refresh rate: 120Hz Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x Type-C USB 4 (DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x MicroSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm audio Dimensions: 0.72 x 12.24 x 8.66 inch Weight: 1.57kg (3.46lbs) Today’s Best Deals View at Laptops Direct View at ASUS View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Super slick design + Impressive performance + More powerful configuration options + Excellent CPU Reasons to avoid – Still features unnecessary extras

My favorite configuration:

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | RTX 5080 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Available at Best Buy

This configuration pairs that super efficient Ryzen AI 9 processor with the top-end of the G14’s GPU offerings, the RTX 5080. That, with the 32GB RAM, is as much power as you can cram into this still-portable device, and it’s well worth shooting for the top with this model.

The 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a little different to last year’s, though you wouldn’t necessarily know just by looking at it. With its increase in performance thanks to a boost up to an RTX 5080 (the previous generation tapped out at an RTX 4070) and one of my favorite gaming laptop CPUs at the helm, though, this one’s all about performance. That does mean the line drops some of its affordability-factor, and 2025’s iteration does jump up the price scale a little. If you’re after value above-all, then, the 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is still a fantastic bet.

Buy It If ✅You travel regularly with your laptop: Its 14-inch form factor is the giveaway here, but the G14 is particularly easy to transport thanks to its light weight and sturdy design. ✅Screen quality is a priority: That OLED panel is unmatched at the moment, offering an incredible viewing experience across both games and movies. ✅ You want a subtle aesthetic: The more refined aesthetic means you’ve got a gaming laptop that won’t stand out from high-end ultrabook options. Think MacBook but with an RTX 5080.

Don’t Buy It If ❌ You want a desktop replacement: The G14 is designed to go out and about with you – if you don’t mind a larger machine you can spend less and keep it docked at home.

Design: Last year’s Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 introduced a more ultrabook-esque aesthetic for the line, and I’m glad this subtle approach has stuck through to 2025. The new release looks and feels fantastic, pairing a slimline waist with a clutter-free design to continue the tradition of the best-looking gaming laptops I’ve used. The rounded corners keep things softer than the Razer Blade 14, while the CNC-milled aluminum alloy build means everything is rock solid. There’s still an unnecessary piece of “Slash Lighting” across the back, which can get annoying, but it’s easy to turn off.

Features: This year’s G14 sticks with OLED, packing a 2880 x 1800 resolution with 120Hz refresh rates. That’s the same spec as last year’s, and it shines just as bright. This is a sturdy panel overall, even if warmer tones sometimes leap a little larger than cooler ones. It’s no Blade 16, but it’s certainly an upgrade from IPS solutions like the Asus TUF A14 further down the page.

As an AMD machine, there’s no Thunderbolt in the side ports here – though a USB-4 connection will keep you looped up with a dock. If you’re after Thunderbolt instead, check out the 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 with its Intel specs.

Performance: I missed the true pairing of portability and performance in last year’s iteration, but 2025’s G14 puts that right. This rig kept up with larger RTX 4090 machines in my testing, blitzing through 1600p benchmarks at three-figure framerates in lighter titles, and staying well over 60fps in Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered. Some graphical tweaks will need to be made to achieve those numbers in Cyperpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, though the Multi-frame Generation of the RTX 50-Series can step in when you need a hand.

Battery: The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 ran for around two hours in gameplay in my tests, using the device’s Balanced Mode. That did drop to around one hour at full Turbo Mode, but it’s still an impressive result considering the size. Not only that, but gameplay runs smoothly to boot.

Verdict: The Zephyrus G14 is the best 14-inch gaming laptop I’ve had my hands on so far, and 2025’s iteration continues this tradition of pairing performance with outstanding portability. It’s not going to reach the framerate highs of a chunkier device but with a gorgeous OLED panel and a fantastic form factor it’s going to see much more use in everyday life.

Read more: 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review

The best 16-inch gaming laptop

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4. Razer Blade 16 (2025) The best 16-inch gaming laptop Our expert review: Specifications CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 GPU: RTX 5070 Ti | RTX 5080 | RTX 5090 RAM: 32GB | 64GB Storage: 1TB | 2TB | 4TB Display: OLED 2560 x 1600, 240Hz | Dual-shifting Mini LED Ports: 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB4 Type-C (Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4), MicroSD card reader, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio Dimensions: 0.69 x 13.98 x 9.86 inch Weight: 2.14kg (4.71lbs) Today’s Best Deals View at Razer View at Razer View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Best screen I’ve tested yet + Super satisfying keyboard + Ultra-slim design + Still solid performance overall + More focus on portable quality of life Reasons to avoid – Native performance shows little improvement – Still tough to play demanding games on battery

My favorite configuration:

Razer Blade 16 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 | RTX 5070 Ti | Available at Razer

With Nvidia’s DLSS at the helm, it’s the cheaper configurations of the Razer Blade 16 that make the most sense. You’re not getting as much raw horsepower out of this rig, but considering an RTX 4090 configuration comes in at over $4,000 this is where most players will be happiest.

The latest 2025 Razer Blade 16 is certainly making a statement. It’s slimmer and lighter, but also slightly more expensive than the previous generation – and that was already an eye-watering price tag. This is one for those investing in the quality of life of their gaming laptop – if you want the best screen, keyboard, and form factor (with some DLSS help to reach high framerates) I’ve tested in a gaming laptop so far, it’s a must-see.

Buy it if: ✅ You prioritize style: Razer has bags of style about it, from that slick aesthetic to the slimline form factor. If you’re looking for a high-end gaming laptop that really looks the part, you’ve found it here. ✅ You don’t want to compromise on your display: That 240Hz OLED panel running at a full 1600p is something to behold. There’s no sacrifices in this screen – it’s got it all. ✅ This is a long-term investment: The Blade 16 is a lot up front, but these rigs can see you through years of the most demanding games.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You only play lighter titles: If you don’t play every day, or you only play low-demand games then the high cost of the Razer Blade 16 just doesn’t make sense. ❌ You don’t want to use DLSS: Chunkier gaming laptops are going to get better framerates, so while the slimline Blade 16 makes some headway with native performance you’re always going to have a better time with higher TGPs and bigger chassis’.

Design: It’s slimmer, lighter, and even manages to look better despite carrying the same CNC milled black form factor as countless Blades before it. The 2025 Razer Blade 16 is a masterclass in gaming laptop design. This is a surprisingly skinny machine, thinner than my everyday Razer Blade 14, which makes throwing it into a backpack incredibly easy. Even the USB-A ports barely fit on the side of this chassis, and we’re still playing with flagship power under the hood.

Of course, that classic Razer durability continues throughout this build. The aluminum body and sand-blasted matte finish feel great in the hand, and offer a reassuring solidity to the frame as a whole. Of course, there’s no flex to the main deck here, and the screen hinge is well-tensioned with very little wobble.

Features: The first thing you’ll probably notice on the Razer Blade 16 is the OLED display. It was certainly my biggest takeaway from the 2024 model, and its implementation in this year’s device is nothing short of breathtaking. Its color accuracy, contrast, and eye-watering vibrancy make it the best gaming laptop display I’ve tested so far.

This year we’ve also got a new keyboard to contend with, and Razer’s claimed another top spot here as well. The scissor-switch deck has upped the key travel to 1.5mm for a particularly satisfying feel. These clickers are energetic, precise, and smooth, making for a comfortable and precise typing and gaming experience. They’re also accompanied by a boosted audio system, featuring four upward and two downward firing speakers.

It’s AMD’s time to shine under the hood this year, and while the AI-focused CPUs do hold the Blade 16 back a little, especially when compared with the powerhouse of an Intel processor featured in the last generation, they tick along nicely. I’d prefer an Intel i9-14900HX, but Razer is going for lean efficiency with its latest model, which makes sense given the boosted battery life, Nvidia RTX 50-Series DLSS features, and slimmer form factor.

Performance: This is where things get interesting. Most of my benchmarks put the RTX 5090 inside my test device only slightly ahead of the RTX 4090 in last year’s Blade 16. Some even placed it behind the previous generation. There isn’t a generational jump in performance on offer here – like it or not, to be gaming at higher framerates on a slimline device like this, you’ll need DLSS.

That’s not to say you’ll be stuttering through your gameplay. My RTX 5090 test device still managed to push more than playable framerates in everything from Black Myth: Wukong to Cyberpunk 2077, but those benchmarks were often more than doubled with the right AI tweaks in place.

Battery: The Razer Blade 16 improves its battery efficiency over the previous generation, offering just over two hours of gameplay time in lighter titles. However, I did notice stuttering and serious visual downgrades when playing more demanding titles without a cable.

Verdict: The 2025 Razer Blade 16 wants to be as helpful as possible; squeezing into a more portable form factor with a longer battery life and still offering excellent framerates. While the native performance of the RTX 5090 might put some off, this is an incredibly efficient device that wouldn’t have been possible without newer generation tech under the hood. Its display and keyboard are the best in the business to boot.

Read more: Razer Blade 16 (2025) review

The best 18-inch gaming laptop

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5. Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) The best 18-inch gaming laptop Our expert review: Specifications CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX GPU: RTX 5080 | RTX 5090 RAM: 16GB | 32GB | 64GB Storage: 2TB | 4TB Display: 18-inch Mini LED ROG Nebula HDR, QHD+ at 240Hz Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 2x Thunderbolt 5 USB-C (DisplayPort, power delivery), 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x 3.5mm audio, 1x 2.5G LAN Dimensions: 15.71 x 11.73 x 0.93-1.26 inches Weight: 3.3kg (7.28lbs) Today’s Best Deals View at ASUS View at ASUS Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Fantastic performance + Excellent, vivid display + New aesthetic feels far more premium + Impressive cooling + Updated ports Reasons to avoid – New cable design could be problematic – Smaller generational performance increases

My favorite configuration:

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) | RTX 5080 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Available at Asus

Yes, the RTX 5090 is going to give you slightly higher performance – which should mean everything given this is the most powerful gaming laptop I’ve had on the bench yet. However, there’s a $1,100 difference between the 5080 and 5090 configurations, and the improvements in native rendering between the two likely don’t justify the jump.

The 2025 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 was the most powerful machine I’d tested until the MSI Raider below came along, but it’s still a fantastic rig. The guts inside here and the strength of that display make this the best 18-inch gaming laptop on the market right now.

Buy it if: ✅ You want immersion and speed: This is a high-end Mini LED panel, but it keeps things zippy at QHD+ with a 240Hz refresh rate. That’s an excellent compromise you won’t find everywhere. ✅ You have a multi-monitor setup: Not all 2025 gaming laptops are upgrading to Thunderbolt 5, but the ROG Strix Scar 18 certainly is. You’re getting two here – ideal for a multi-display setup. ✅ You like a light show: The new Scar 18 extends and emboldens the RGB light strip around the edge, making for a fantastic floating effect.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You want to spring for 4K: MSI is the better choice for a 4K panel that can absolutely sing, though you’ll certainly be paying for the privilege. ❌ You want a beefier processor: The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX inside every Scar 18 isn’t the most powerful CPU on the market, whereas the MSI below packs an insane AMD brain.

Design: Straight out the gate, the 2025 version made one simply change that already had me preferring it over last year’s 2024 iteration. That translucent plastic plaguing the chassis has gone, and is replaced with a solid matte finish that’s far more befitting of a gaming laptop at this price point. It means your several-thousands-of-dollars investment doesn’t look like a cheap toy on the desk.

Still, this is a chunky machine and while its dimensions and weight aren’t going to make it the perfect travel companion it was never designed for that. The extra chassis size allows for better cooling, keeping all those internal components running as best they can.

That’s topped with new RGB lighting gracing not just the front lip (though that has also been slimmed down for a more sophisticated look) but also the sides as well. With everything switched on, this giant looks like it’s hovering gracefully over whichever tabletop has been cursed to carry it.

I can’t layer the same praise on the LED matrix display that’s somehow crawled out of the Zephyrus’s cage, but it can be switched off easily enough. It’s just a shame that’s factored into the final price tag.

Features: Up top, we’ve got the same ROG Nebula HDR display we’ve come to know and love in all its Mini LED glory. It’s been upgraded slightly for 2025’s iteration, with some extra layers for glare reduction and better viewing angles, but all in all this is still a fantastic OLED alternative. Connections are plentiful as well, with two Thunderbolt 5 options for additional speed over the Thunderbolt 4s in last year’s MSI rigs, though you are dropping a USB-A port compared to the Alienware M18 R2.

The keyboard and trackpad haven’t received the same kinds of upgrades as you’ll find in the Razer Blade 16 2025, but do feel energetic and responsive. That deck also benefits from full-sized arrow keys, whereas you’ll often find half-sized clackers on smaller models.

Performance: This is where it gets interesting. The RTX 5090 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 I tested blew the competition away when it came to easier 3D Mark tests like Fire Strike and Time Spy, and maintained its lead over the RTX 4090 MSI Titan and Raider in Steel Nomad as well. In-game, MSI was top dog across FHD and QHD+ benchmarks in all but Shadow of the Tomb Raider where the Raider just nudged it out the way.

It’s not a leap in performance compared to the same rig with an RTX 4090 under the hood, but this generation is paying more attention to efficiency elements like DLSS. I managed to get Cyberpunk 2077 running at 212fps with Frame Generation on, while also bumping Super Resolution up to Quality. That’s a rare feat in the world of laptops.

Verdict: The 2025 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 isn’t just the most powerful rig I’ve had on the test bench so far, it’s also worthy of the title as one of the best gaming laptops in its own right. Smart design upgrades and that fantastic Mini LED screen put those high-end components to good use.

Read more: Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) review

The most powerful gaming laptop we’ve tested

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6. MSI Raider A18 HX A9W The most powerful gaming laptop I’ve tested Our expert review: Specifications CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D GPU: RTX 5090 | RTX 5080 RAM: 64GB Storage: 2TB SSD Display: 18-inch UHD+ Mini LED at 120Hz Ports: 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x Thunderbolt 5 (DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x SD card reader, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio, Ethernet Dimensions: 1.26 x 15.91 x 12.02 inch Weight: 3.6kg (7.94lbs) Today’s Best Deals View at Currys View at Amazon View at Overclockers Reasons to buy + Incredible 4K display + Blindingly fast processor + Speedy Gen 5 SSD + Upgraded to Thunderbolt 5 Reasons to avoid – Raider build at Titan prices – Low quality keyboard and trackpad – Others use a dual-mode screen

My favorite configuration:

MSI Raider A18 HX A9W | RTX 5090 | AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D | Available at MSI

If you’re investing in the heaviest configuration on the market right now, you might as well go all the way to the top. This decks out the Raider A18 HX with a full RTX 5090 GPU, AMD’s incredibly Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor, and a massive 64GB RAM.

I wasn’t remotely surprised when the MSI Raider A18 A9W broke records as the most powerful gaming laptop I’ve tested yet. After all, it’s the only pre-market gaming laptop to pair the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor with an RTX 5090, and it does so while also upgrading your SSD to a Gen 5 as well. That’s all pretty rare, and it makes for a super-fast, if super-expensive, machine. There are some caveats to that hype, though.

Buy it if: ✅ You’re future-proofing: This is a lot to drop on a new gaming laptop, but if you’re investing in a machine that will go the distance there’s nothing else like it on the market. ✅ You want a desktop experience: With that 4K panel beaming up top, and plenty of ports available, you don’t need to connect an extra display or potentially even a hub to this device. ✅ You transfer between storage devices regularly: If you need some extra speed, this is definitely the way to go. A Gen5 SSD is tough to find in a gaming laptop, and it makes a world of difference here.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You play competitively: The Raider uses a 4K 120Hz panel, which is ideal for those after immersive single-player campaigns, but might not be fast enough for ranked leaderboards. ❌ You’ve got your eyes on last year’s Titan: The Titan has a better build quality than the new Raider, but it also comes in a lot cheaper – even with an RTX 4090 up top.

Design: The MSI Raider still packs a plastic chassis, despite charging more than last year’s aluminum Titan model. That’s a little disappointing, especially considering I experienced notable flexing in the main deck. Considering my test device would have cost well over $5,000, that’s an oversight. Still, this is a classic Raider design with its slightly indented keyboard area, clean back lid, and subtle nod towards RGB lighting. The light strip you’ll find on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 above is far more impressive, but there’s something here for those LED lovers. Underneath, extra rubber feet also provide a little extra elevation to improve airflow as well.

Features: The MSI Raider introduces Thunderbolt 5 to its feature list, but aside from the new-generation components under the hood that’s about it. Up top, we’ve still got a gorgeous 4K Mini LED panel that made everything from Doom: The Dark Ages to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle shine its brightest during my testing. MSI didn’t opt for the dual-mode display you’ll find on a Razer Blade 18, though, which means everyone is stuck on that 120Hz refresh rate – not great news for more competitive players.

If you’re going solo, though, the size, depth, and detail in this screen are still a sight to behold – and the refresh rate isn’t going to hold you back much at 4K anyway. The keyboard and trackpad also suffer from the same low build quality that initially had me concerned. The former is a little too soft for a gaming laptop of this price, and the latter feels too small in everyday use.

Performance: The MSI Raider A18 HX more than makes up for its shortfalls once it gets going, though. With those red-hot components whirring away under the surface, I was able to benchmark at much higher rates than ever before. Even taking some odd Shadow of the Tomb Raider results out of the equation, the Raider’s use of the RTX 5090 put it at the top of my testing pool across FHD and QHD benchmarks, and it blitzed the competition in 3D Mark’s synthetic runs. Needless to say, that AMD processor sits proudly at the top of my PC Mark 10 data set as well.

Battery: I don’t usually hold too much hope for battery lives in larger machines like this, but the MSI Raider A18 HX surprised me. Sure, while others can stretch to two hours of gameplay we tapped out at one hour here, and productivity tests had me at 0% after just over three hours. However, that’s still solid for a beast like this.

Verdict: The MSI Raider A18 HX is the best gaming laptop for those hunting down desktop-based power without the need for a monitor, especially if you’re going after single-player immersion over competitive speed. It’s the fastest machine I’ve tested so far, but you’ll need to think about overall value to determine whether it’s right for you – last year’s MSI Titan 18 HX is still a formidable opponent.

Read more: MSI Raider A18 HX A9W review

The best slimline gaming laptop

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7. Asus TUF A14 The best slimline gaming laptop Our expert review: Specifications CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS GPU: Nvidia RTX 4060 RAM: 16GB LPDDR5 | 32GB LPDDR5 Storage: 1TB SSD | 2TB SSD Display: 14-inch QHD+, 165Hz Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort, 1x Type-C USB 4 with DisplayPort + Power Delivery, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x MicroSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm audio Dimensions: 0.7 x 12.2 x 8.9 inch Weight: 3.2lbs (1.45kg) Today’s Best Deals View at ASUS View at Scan Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Turbo-powered CPU + Excellent price + Sturdy, refined build + Bright, crisp QHD display + Super slimline design + Portable form factor doesn’t sacrifice too much power Reasons to avoid – One zone white keyboard backlighting – Taps out at RTX 4060 – No Thunderbolt

My favorite configuration

Asus TUF A14 | RTX 4060 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Available at Amazon

The AI processor I tested is seriously impressive, and in this thin and light form factor it has to be kept for the full package. Not only are you getting that CPU, but this model also packs an incredible 32GB RAM and 2TB of SSD storage space – unheard of at this $1,499.99 MSRP.

The Asus TUF A14 is now the best slimline gaming laptop I’ve tested, after beating the HP Omen Transcend 14 in everything apart from screen. Yes, you’re dropping the OLED display of my former top pick, but considering you’re gaining so much in raw power and dropping a little weight (while keeping the cost lower), this is the new model to beat.

Buy it if: ✅ You travel regularly with your laptop: The A14 feels made for backpacks, with a super sturdy build and a low weight, it’s the most portable machine I’ve tested yet. ✅ You prefer a subtle design: Gone are the loud icons and gaudy stamps of previous TUF gaming laptops – this slate gray and black aesthetic slots into both work and play scenarios. ✅ You want to use AI features: Whether it’s normal Copilot tasks or you’re looking to use more game-boosting features over the next couple of years, this is the processor to do it with.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You prioritize screen vibrancy: Both the HP Omen Transcend 14 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 match this slimline form factor, but with high-end OLED displays up top. If you want that crisp contrast and boosted HDR functionality you’d be better off moving further up the price scale. ❌ You want to keep your laptop on your desk: If you don’t need to travel with your machine there’s better value in chunkier models. You’ll notice a performance bump even with similar components under the hood just from that extra chassis space alone.

Design: The TUF A14 reminded me of one of the first gaming laptops I bought for myself; the Asus TUF Dash F15. The cool slate aluminum lid and cheaper plastic internal deck, wrapped up in a super slick slimline form factor is a true sight to behold. Things are a little more refined these days, with no cringey text stamped onto the main palm rest, or heavy angular lines running across the main lid. That means this is a true hybrid machine in its aesthetic – it won’t stand out in either a work or play environment. That might not be to everyone’s taste but it’s certainly versatile.

This is one of the lightest machines on the market, and it manages to keep its waistline thin as well. While not as tiny as the Alienware x14, it carries the same 0.7-inch thickness as the more expensive Zephyrus G14 and HP Omen Transcend 14 while weighing in less than both. You are getting some slightly cheaper materials in the mostly plastic chassis (save for the aluminum lid), but with MIL-STD 810H certification it remains plenty durable. That lid also makes it a better build than the much cheaper-feeling Acer Nitro V 14.

Features: Configuration options are limited to an RTX 4060 GPU, which taps out a little earlier than the RTX 4070 options available in the Zephyrus G14. However, putting all your eggs in that graphics basket will have you missing out on a stunner of a processor. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is based on AMD’s latest Zen 5 system, offering up to 50 TOPS across a super sophisticated NPU. In everyday terms, it’s super fast and super efficient. The exact kind of processor you want in a slimline gaming laptop. That’s not all, though, Asus is packing this $1,499.99 configuration with 32GB RAM and a 2TB SSD – specs I often see in machines pitched at around $1,800 – $2,000. There are cheaper configurations available as well, with the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS getting involved.

Above all that you’ve got a 165Hz QHD+ display with a nicely bright response that dwarfs that of the Asus TUF A15 in speed and resolution. A well-spaced and tactile 1.7mm-travel keyboard lines the bottom section, with a generously sized glass trackpad underneath as well. Ports offer everything you could ask for – in brief, two USB-A options, two USB-C options (one with power delivery), a micro SD, and 3.5mm audio.

Performance: The efficiency of the Asus TUF A14 meant it was able to threaten even RTX 4070-toting machines like the Razer Blade 14 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 in my testing. Lighter 1080p benchmarks saw the A14 either beating or narrowly falling short of these far more expensive machines, and that little RTX 4060 could certainly keep up in QHD+ as well. It pitted miles ahead of the HP Omen Transcend 14, a machine I praised earlier in the year for its impressive benchmarks in this slim and light competition pool. Not only that, but that AMD CPU put the Ryzen 9 8945HS and Intel Core Ultra 7 155H to bed as well, topping the charts with an 8,259 score in PC Mark 10 and an astonishing 1,207 multi-core benchmark in Cinebench R24.

Verdict: The Asus TUF A14 is one of the most impressive gaming laptops I’ve tested this year, and while it’s not quite the best 14-inch model due to its lack of OLED display and higher configuration options, it definitely wins in the flyweight bout. A super slimline profile paired with efficient and powerful internal components makes for an excellent machine.

Read more: Asus TUF A14 review

How I test gaming laptops

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I live, work, play, stream, and browse on every gaming laptop that passes my desk for a minimum of two weeks. That allows me to assess its build quality, portability, display features, keyboard and trackpad, port selection, and form factor in a real-world setting as if it was being popped straight into your setup. For this reason, I use every laptop both by itself and as part of a larger monitor system (usually via USB-C using a Ugreen Revodok Pro 312 docking station).

I rate gaming laptops based on their design, features, and performance – and each section requires its own tests and real-world experiences.

The design of a laptop incorporates everything from its aesthetic (and how well it will blend into non-gaming scenarios) to build quality (its materials, any wobbles around the hinges, flexibility in the screen or base plate, and any creaking or rattling internally). In the world of gaming laptops, portability also plays a large role so I make sure to take each machine out with me for a series of coffee shop crawls, or a longer travel distance during my testing period.

The specific features I test are the display (brightness, clarity, color range, sharpness, speed), keyboard (size, balance, typing feel, placement), webcam, port selection (and placement), configuration options, trackpad, and onboard software options. All of these elements aren’t just reviewed as a whole package, but directly compared against similarly priced competitors to understand each machine’s value proposition as well.

Then we get to the all-important performance category. Every gaming laptop that I review is stress-tested against a series of benchmarking processes and everyday use. I run a standardised series of performance tests on each rig, benchmarking on both High and Ultra / Highest across:

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Total War: Three Kingdoms (Battle)

Black Myth: Wukong

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Cyberpunk 2077

I carry out these benchmarks at both 1080p and other native resolutions offered by each individual system.

I then test the GPUs inside these gaming laptops against 3DMark Fire Strike, Steel Nomad, and Time Spy. I also use PC Mark 10, Maxon Cinebench R24, and Geekbench tests for general productivity benchmarking.

Read more about how we find the best tech with the full Hardware Policy and find out exactly how we test gaming laptops.

Also tested

I’m always reviewing new gaming laptops, but only the very best make it to the top list above. You’ll find all the most recent gaming laptop benchmark scores just below, and more information on each model further down.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) | Available at Asus

The G16 always has a hard time, but faced against the Razer Blade 16 and coming in only slightly cheaper in like-for-like comparisons means it doesn’t quite top the list in the 16-inch category. Read more: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) review

MSI Raider 18 HX (2024) | Available at Amazon

Last year’s MSI Raider 18 HX was once the most powerful gaming laptop I’d tested, but it’s been beaten by the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025). Still, if you’re after a 4K machine capable of impressive framerates in a slab of a chassis, this is well worth a look. Read more: MSI Raider 18 HX review

Razer Blade 16 (2024) | Available at Razer

The previous generation Razer Blade 16 may well still be the best 16-inch gaming laptop for most players (it’s certainly cheaper these days) – but it’s no longer the best on the market. It’s been replaced by its 2025 counterpart due to the newer model’s improved keyboard, slimmer form factor, and more efficient insides. Read more: Razer Blade 16 2024 review

Acer Nitro V 14 | Available at Acer

The Acer Nitro V 14 is an entry level rig, but it’s one I’d wait for discounts on. We’re still looking at $1,099.99 for an RTX 4050 PC, and I regularly see savings on similar models taking us well below that four-figure range. It’s a solid machine that puts a lot of its emphasis on display quality, though configurations are limited to that basic GPU and it can be difficult to find on the shelves. The lower quality build also keeps it out of the Asus TUF A15 and Asus TUF A14’s way as well. Read more: Acer Nitro V 14 review

Alienware x16 R2 | Available at Dell

The Alienware x16 R2 is a sleek, slimline, and powerful piece of kit, but its shortcomings in its display, older ports, and comparative RTX 4080 performance mean it’s not knocking any of our top contenders from their perches. If you’re after an investment and you prioritize style, this is a fantastic choice though. Read more: Alienware x16 R2 review

MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio | Available at Amazon

Yes, it’s nice to have another slimline 18-inch gaming laptop on the market, but the build quality and overall performance potential of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio takes too much of a hit to be viable at this price point. You’re still getting that fantastic 4K Mini LED display (also featured on the Titan and Raider), but this machine doesn’t feel competitive in the current landscape. Read more: MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio review

HP Omen Transcend 14 | Available at Amazon

The tiny HP Omen Transcend 14 impressed in its performance earlier in the year, but the Asus TUF A14 knocked it off the top spot with more powerful specs and a lower weight. If you’re going all in on screen quality, though, it’s worth checking out this OLED panel still. Read more: HP Omen Transcend 14 review

MSI Titan 18 HX | Available at Amazon

The MSI Titan 18 HX was the most powerful machine I’d ever tested before the Raider passed my desk. It’s still a beast of a machine, but with a lofty price tag and lower performance it’s missed the cut. Read more: MSI Titan 18 HX review

RedMagic Titan 16 Pro | Available at RedMagic

The Titan 16 Pro has price on its side, but a strange CPU and GPU pairing means the performance you’re actually getting from this machine doesn’t represent strong value. While its display is certainly impressive, and its keyboard and trackpad feel slick, this thing is a little messed up inside, which results in high temperatures and loud fans. Read more: RedMagic Titan 16 Pro review

HP Victus 16 | Available at Amazon

If the HP Victus 16 had the display and keyboard to go up against the Asus TUF A15 it would be the best pick for budget-minded gamers. The RTX 4050 configuration I tested performed excellently in itself, but the main chassis cuts more corners to reach this lower price than Asus. Read more: HP Victus 16 review

HP Omen 17 | Available at Amazon

A slightly boring chassis and cheaper build means the HP Omen 17 doesn’t exactly stand out on the shelves but it does offer strong mid-range performance with a good selection of configuration options. The display is nicely colorful but lacks brightness and the ports are a little outdated. Read more: HP Omen 17 review

Alienware M16 R2 (2024) | Available at Amazon

The Alienware M16 R2 has taken a performance sacrifice in order to squeeze into a more functional form factor. While we were impressed with the slimmer design, it did struggle during more demanding tests and considering the competition in this category is so fierce it just misses out on a spot here. Still, it’s a fantastic machine in its own right, especially if you’re firmly in the mid-range of price. Read more: Alienware M16 R2 review

Acer Nitro 16 | Available at Amazon

The Acer Nitro 16 has some stiff competition in the Asus TUF A15, but while it does have a larger screen size and a nice selection of rear ports, its RTX 4070 performance was only just beating the A15’s RTX 4060 configuration in our testing. We would have expected a bigger jump here, which suggests you’ll get better value from Asus’s model overall. Read more: Acer Nitro 16 review

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) | Available at Amazon

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 went up against the ROG Strix Scar 16 in our matchup, but the additional price-performance value in the Scar model won out. This is still a fantastic rig, though, especially if you’re happy to prioritize portability over raw power. Read more: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 review

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2024) | Available at Amazon

2024’s Scar 18 fell short of the previous model’s performance, and exists more as an iterative update both under the hood and up top. Considering 2023’s laptop is available for far less than the new one these days, it’s not quite packing the same punch. Read more: Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2024) review

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) | Available at Amazon

The original Scar 18 was the most powerful gaming laptop I had tested before the MSI Titan 18 HX came along – but it’s still a solid option for anyone after the big-screen experience without spending on MSI’s super-luxury price tag. Read more: Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) review

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | Available at Amazon

The Legion Pro 7i is an impressive piece of kit, but its 16-inch form factor doesn’t give its high end components enough space to breathe compared to the Scar 16 sitting at the top of our list. In a mid-range configuration this is a beast, but its RTX 4090 benchmarks underwhelmed in testing. Read more: Lenovo Legion Pro 7i review

Razer Blade 14 | Available at Amazon

What’s keeping the Razer Blade 14 in second position behind the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14? Its price. This is a fantastic machine, even if you are tapping out at an RTX 4070 configuration. However, the price tag is prohibitive considering the smaller specs on offer. Read more: Razer Blade 14 review

Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 | Available at Amazon

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 used to be sitting pretty in the top spot, but it’s been ambushed by the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i now. It’s still a fantastic rig, especially if you don’t mind a chunkier form factor, but its 2023 performance didn’t hold up to 2024’s standards. Read more: Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 review

HP Omen Transcend 16 | Available at Amazon

The Omen Transcend 16 was actually our favorite slimline gaming laptop before its 14-inch sibling arrived on the shelves this year. As it stands, the larger 16-inch form factor is less conducive to that slimline portable feel than the new release’s 14-inch design. However, this is still an impressive device for those chasing a bigger screen. Read more: HP Omen Transcend 16 review

MSI Raider GE78 | Available at Amazon

The MSI Raider GE78 was one of the first RTX 40-Series gaming laptops I tested, and it still felt a little too old school to make it onto this list in its day. There’s an outdated cooling system, cumbersome form factor, and old-timey aesthetic holding this powerhouse back. Read more: MSI Raider GE78 review

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 | Available at Amazon

The previous generation Lenovo Legion Pro 7i fit the same design characteristics as the newer model currently occupying my top spot, but its performance wasn’t quite on par with the machines of its day. Considering you can still spend thousands on this rig, it’s just not worth it against the competition. Read more: Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 review

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 | Available at Amazon

I loved the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16, but it was also the first RTX 40-Series machine I got my hands on. Considering the jump between generations, it was easy to get excited about the numbers popping up on my screen. Since its release, the M16 has been overtaken by skinnier models and more powerful cards. Read more: Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 review

How to find the best gaming laptop for you

(Image credit: Future)

Gaming laptops come in all shapes and sizes these days, with a massive range of configuration options, display technologies, and price tags to contend with. I’ve bought my fair share of machines over the years, and there are always three factors that make up the majority of my decision-making; size, specs, and display.

Size matters

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Gaming laptops come in three sizes nowadays; 14-inch for those after a lightweight, portable design, 18-inch for a full desktop replacement, and 16-inch for a well-rounded performer that can still travel when needed. It’s easy to see why 16-inch laptops reign supreme, taking over from the 15.6-inch models of yore to become the most popular gaming laptop form factor on the market.

In general, I’d recommend most players aim for this happy medium. An 18-inch device is a real strain on the back if you need to take it on the go (if it will even fit into a conventional backpack) and a 14-inch model can sacrifice power in the name of a slimmer form factor while carrying a similar price. However, if you know you’re looking for a chunkier device that won’t need to be moved or a work laptop that needs to keep up with you day to day, each extreme certainly has its place.

Under the hood

Your decision will mostly come down to your graphics card and processor – though, helpfully, finding the right GPU will often land you with the right CPU in the first place.

An RTX 4050 rig is designed for lighter players who might want to tinker through some less demanding games while primarily using their laptop for work or streaming. These rigs are likely to come with cheaper i5 or Ryzen 5 processors, but can also pack an i7 or Ryzen 7 punch as well. You’ll usually find 16GB RAM and 512GB – 1TB of storage space included.

I would move up to an RTX 4060 if you’re looking to play more demanding games, but don’t necessarily need three-figure framerates – especially in QHD+ resolutions. This is the start of the mass market, most players will either find themselves with an RTX 4060 or 4070 rig – but sticking to the lower version might keep you from smooth rates on more demanding games in the years to come. You’ll usually be opting for an i7 or Ryzen 7 processor here, with 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage space.

The RTX 4070 is the most popular graphics card in a gaming laptop – and it’s generally where I start my search when pricing up new machines. You’re getting enough juice to bump things up to 1600p comfortably, though you might need to make some textural tweaks to run heavier games at Ultra settings. The price jump from an RTX 4060 to RTX 4070 isn’t quite as high anymore either, especially when rigs go on sale. I’d still recommend most players stick to an Intel i7 or Ryzen 7 processor to keep the value right here (though i9 and Ryzen 9 options start becoming more available this high up the food chain), with 16GB – 32GB RAM and 1TB – 2TB of storage space.

An RTX 4080 gaming laptop is going to see you through QHD+ gaming at ultra settings pretty comfortably – even in more demanding games. This is the start of high-end, and as high as I would recommend most casual players go. These machines are starting to drop their price tags a little now, but can still feel like a larger investment – especially if you take up the i9 / Ryzen 9 processors, 32 – 64GB RAM, and 2TB+ SSD opportunities that start opening up here.

I wouldn’t recommend the majority of players concern themselves with RTX 4090 gaming laptops just yet. There’s a performance jump, for sure, you’ll be outputting in 4K with much more ease, and QHD+ gameplay will feel like a breeze. However, these are premium machines, reserved for those with over $3,000 to spend. They’re worth saving for if you want to future-proof yourself, but unless you’re streaming or playing hardcore titles regularly you’ll find better value further down the price range.

All about that display

The majority of mid-range gaming laptops ship with QLED+ resolutions in a 16:10 aspect ratio, with a 240Hz refresh rate. That’s the gold standard for right now, but there are reasons to deviate from the norm. For example many rigs, particularly those from Alienware, can drop you resolution back down to FHD+ in exchange for faster panels (up to 480Hz in some cases).

That’s a screen designed for competitive eSports-style gamers, rather than everyday adventurers, though. On the flip side, you’ll find more OLED and 4K panels on the shelves these days – these give you a better viewing experience overall but at the cost of speed. While some brands like Razer have managed to bump their OLED screens up to 240Hz, you’ll more likely find these screens at 120Hz max.

It’s important to consider how you play when choosing your screen – whether you want to prioritize fidelity or speed. The QHD+ 240Hz option is so popular because it strikes the perfect balance between the two.

Swipe to scroll horizontally Gaming laptop price ranges explained Entry level Mid-range Premium 13th generation i5 | Ryzen 5 13th generation / 14th generation i7 | Ryzen 7 14th generation i9 | Ryzen 9 Nvidia RTX 4050 RTX 4060 / RTX 4070 / RTX 3080 RTX 4080 / RTX 4090 16GB RAM 16GB – 32GB RAM 32GB RAM 512GB SSD 1TB SSD 1TB – 4TB SSD 120Hz 144-240Hz 240Hz – 480Hz $500 – $800 $800 – $1,800 $1,800 – $3,000+

Gaming laptops glossary

AMD: AMD is a brand that develops a wide range of processors and graphics cards for business and gaming laptops. The latest GPU series is the AMD Radeon RX 7900, while it releases processors under the Ryzen name, offering Ryzen 3, 5, 7, and 9 in ascending power levels.

AMD is a brand that develops a wide range of processors and graphics cards for business and gaming laptops. The latest GPU series is the AMD Radeon RX 7900, while it releases processors under the Ryzen name, offering Ryzen 3, 5, 7, and 9 in ascending power levels. AMD Freesync: AMD Freesync is a software found in many gaming laptop displays that reduces screen tearing and stuttering. The majority of laptops ship with the base FreeSync features, but there are also FreeSync Premium and FreeSync Premium Pro tiers which offer support for higher refresh rates and resolutions, as well as HDR.

AMD Freesync is a software found in many gaming laptop displays that reduces screen tearing and stuttering. The majority of laptops ship with the base FreeSync features, but there are also FreeSync Premium and FreeSync Premium Pro tiers which offer support for higher refresh rates and resolutions, as well as HDR. Bluetooth: Bluetooth is the wireless connection gaming laptops can use to take input from a range of devices such as keyboards, headsets, and mice. However, these devices tend to use 2.4GHz adapter dongles these days (a small USB receiver with a lower latency connection), which means you’ll be using Bluetooth for controllers more than anything else. The latest Bluetooth version is 5.3.

Bluetooth is the wireless connection gaming laptops can use to take input from a range of devices such as keyboards, headsets, and mice. However, these devices tend to use 2.4GHz adapter dongles these days (a small USB receiver with a lower latency connection), which means you’ll be using Bluetooth for controllers more than anything else. The latest Bluetooth version is 5.3. Chassis: The term chassis relates to the main body of the laptop, housing the components under the keyboard and the back of the lid.

The term chassis relates to the main body of the laptop, housing the components under the keyboard and the back of the lid. Cinebench: Cinebench is a benchmarking software developed by Maxon, designed to test the rendering power of a gaming laptop’s processor. We use Cinebench to test the power of CPUs across both single-core and multi-core stress tests – the higher the number, the better the performance.

Cinebench is a benchmarking software developed by Maxon, designed to test the rendering power of a gaming laptop’s processor. We use Cinebench to test the power of CPUs across both single-core and multi-core stress tests – the higher the number, the better the performance. CPU / Processor: The CPU (Central Processing Unit) or Processor is the central component of a gaming laptop, completing instructions and operations across the machine. Intel and AMD are the leading manufacturers of processors, with Core and Ryzen product lines respectively.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) or Processor is the central component of a gaming laptop, completing instructions and operations across the machine. Intel and AMD are the leading manufacturers of processors, with Core and Ryzen product lines respectively. Crystal Disk Mark: Crystal Disk Mark is a benchmarking software to test the storage performance of the SSD or hard drive used in a gaming laptop. We use Crystal Disk Mark to report on read and write speeds, which can translate to launch, loading, and rendering times.

Crystal Disk Mark is a benchmarking software to test the storage performance of the SSD or hard drive used in a gaming laptop. We use Crystal Disk Mark to report on read and write speeds, which can translate to launch, loading, and rendering times. DisplayPort: DisplayPort is a port found on many gaming laptops, offering the ability to connect your machine to an external monitor. Unlike HDMI, DisplayPort allows for multiple displays to be connected through a single port, however is not compatible with anything other than monitors and computers. The latest version of DisplayPort is 2.1.

DisplayPort is a port found on many gaming laptops, offering the ability to connect your machine to an external monitor. Unlike HDMI, DisplayPort allows for multiple displays to be connected through a single port, however is not compatible with anything other than monitors and computers. The latest version of DisplayPort is 2.1. Ethernet: Ethernet is the term given to both the port and cable used to connect your gaming laptop to the internet via a wire. Rather than using a less reliable WiFi connection, hardwiring your machine into your router can be faster and offer lower latencies.

Ethernet is the term given to both the port and cable used to connect your gaming laptop to the internet via a wire. Rather than using a less reliable WiFi connection, hardwiring your machine into your router can be faster and offer lower latencies. Fire Strike: Fire Strike is a graphics and physics test within the 3D Mark suite of benchmarks. We use Fire Strike to stress test the processor and graphics card, returning a figure as the result. The higher the number, the better the score.

Fire Strike is a graphics and physics test within the 3D Mark suite of benchmarks. We use Fire Strike to stress test the processor and graphics card, returning a figure as the result. The higher the number, the better the score. FPS (Frames Per Second): Frames per second refers to the number of frames that are displayed on a screen every second. This is a handy way to measure the speed and fluidity of the graphics on your gaming laptop. Most titles run smoothly at 30fps, however faster action titles are better enjoyed at 60fps and up. Competitive esports-level framerates are often over 100fps.

Frames per second refers to the number of frames that are displayed on a screen every second. This is a handy way to measure the speed and fluidity of the graphics on your gaming laptop. Most titles run smoothly at 30fps, however faster action titles are better enjoyed at 60fps and up. Competitive esports-level framerates are often over 100fps. GPU / Graphics Card: The GPU is responsible for the graphics your gaming laptop is capable of reproducing. AMD and Nvidia produce the majority of graphics cards found in today’s gaming laptops, offering a range of different performance levels and prices. The latest AMD GPU is the Radeon RX 7900 XT, and the latest Nvidia range is the GeForce RTX 40-Series.

The GPU is responsible for the graphics your gaming laptop is capable of reproducing. AMD and Nvidia produce the majority of graphics cards found in today’s gaming laptops, offering a range of different performance levels and prices. The latest AMD GPU is the Radeon RX 7900 XT, and the latest Nvidia range is the GeForce RTX 40-Series. HDD: HDD is the acronym for a Hard Disk Drive, otherwise known as a hard drive. This is a form of storage often found in older, cheaper gaming laptops, or in addition to an SSD (Solid State Drive) in newer machines. An HDD is typically slower but cheaper (and therefore more readily available in higher capacities) than an SSD.

HDD is the acronym for a Hard Disk Drive, otherwise known as a hard drive. This is a form of storage often found in older, cheaper gaming laptops, or in addition to an SSD (Solid State Drive) in newer machines. An HDD is typically slower but cheaper (and therefore more readily available in higher capacities) than an SSD. HDMI: HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, and is the primary connection method used to link a computer to an external monitor, TV, or projector. The latest HDMI version is 2.1.

HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, and is the primary connection method used to link a computer to an external monitor, TV, or projector. The latest HDMI version is 2.1. Intel: Intel is one of the leading producers of processors in both business and gaming laptops. Intel’s CPUs are released in four tiers; i3, i5, i7, and i9 with various different models between them. The latest generation of Intel processors is the 14th.

Intel is one of the leading producers of processors in both business and gaming laptops. Intel’s CPUs are released in four tiers; i3, i5, i7, and i9 with various different models between them. The latest generation of Intel processors is the 14th. Kensington Lock Slot: A Kensington Lock Slot is an additional accessory sometimes found on gaming laptops. It is a port to enable the user to keep their machine secure by tethering a lock and wrapping it around the leg of a table or chair, ensuring nobody else can remove the laptop from its position.

A Kensington Lock Slot is an additional accessory sometimes found on gaming laptops. It is a port to enable the user to keep their machine secure by tethering a lock and wrapping it around the leg of a table or chair, ensuring nobody else can remove the laptop from its position. Nvidia: Nvidia is a brand best known in the gaming laptop space for producing graphics cards. The company’s GeForce RTX GPUs are the most popular on the market right now.

Nvidia is a brand best known in the gaming laptop space for producing graphics cards. The company’s GeForce RTX GPUs are the most popular on the market right now. Nvidia G-Sync: Nvidia G-Sync is similar to AMD FreeSync (see above), and used to reduce screen tearing and stuttering during fast moving games. G-Sync is designed for use with Nvidia graphics cards, however.

Nvidia G-Sync is similar to AMD FreeSync (see above), and used to reduce screen tearing and stuttering during fast moving games. G-Sync is designed for use with Nvidia graphics cards, however. OLED: OLED displays are gathering momentum in the world of gaming laptops, offering an alternative to traditional LED screens. An OLED panel is able to produce better color contrasts and higher brightness.

OLED displays are gathering momentum in the world of gaming laptops, offering an alternative to traditional LED screens. An OLED panel is able to produce better color contrasts and higher brightness. OS: A computer’s OS is its Operating System, most likely Windows. You’ll very rarely find a gaming laptop shipping with a different operating system. The latest release is Windows 11.

A computer’s OS is its Operating System, most likely Windows. You’ll very rarely find a gaming laptop shipping with a different operating system. The latest release is Windows 11. PC Mark 10: PC Mark 10 is a benchmarking software designed to test the power of a PC in a productivity setting. The program runs a series of mock work scenarios to test efficiency and processing performance, resulting in a single number response. The higher the number, the better the result.

PC Mark 10 is a benchmarking software designed to test the power of a PC in a productivity setting. The program runs a series of mock work scenarios to test efficiency and processing performance, resulting in a single number response. The higher the number, the better the result. RAM: RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and allows your computer to streamline its efficiency in running tasks. The more RAM you have, the more space your gaming laptop has to keep required data easily accessible (and therefore recalled faster).

RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and allows your computer to streamline its efficiency in running tasks. The more RAM you have, the more space your gaming laptop has to keep required data easily accessible (and therefore recalled faster). Refresh Rate: Refresh rate in the context of gaming laptops generally refers to the speed at which the display refreshes the picture. A higher refresh rate provides smoother motion, which is required for faster paced titles. Gaming laptops today generally offer at least 120Hz refresh rates, but can move up to 360Hz.

Refresh rate in the context of gaming laptops generally refers to the speed at which the display refreshes the picture. A higher refresh rate provides smoother motion, which is required for faster paced titles. Gaming laptops today generally offer at least 120Hz refresh rates, but can move up to 360Hz. Resolution: The resolution of your screen is the number of pixels on the display. This is usually split into HD (1920 x 1080 or 1080p), QHD (2560 x 1440 or 1440p), or UHD (3840 x 2160 or 4K), however different screen proportions can bend these definitions a little – you may see QHD+ resolutions listed on a screen that isn’t exactly 16:9 in dimensions (the standard for displays that these resolution numbers were based off).

The resolution of your screen is the number of pixels on the display. This is usually split into HD (1920 x 1080 or 1080p), QHD (2560 x 1440 or 1440p), or UHD (3840 x 2160 or 4K), however different screen proportions can bend these definitions a little – you may see QHD+ resolutions listed on a screen that isn’t exactly 16:9 in dimensions (the standard for displays that these resolution numbers were based off). RGB: RGB refers to the lighting often found on gaming laptops, particularly in the keyboard. The term RGB denotes a range of colors rather than limiting backlighting to a single color.

RGB refers to the lighting often found on gaming laptops, particularly in the keyboard. The term RGB denotes a range of colors rather than limiting backlighting to a single color. SSD: An SSD (or Solid State Drive) is the primary format of storage used in today’s gaming laptops. It’s faster than an HDD but is more expensive, which means you’ll generally find SSD space tapping out at 1TB if you’re browsing under $2,000.

An SSD (or Solid State Drive) is the primary format of storage used in today’s gaming laptops. It’s faster than an HDD but is more expensive, which means you’ll generally find SSD space tapping out at 1TB if you’re browsing under $2,000. Thunderbolt: A Thunderbolt port uses the same design as USB-C but a vastly different experience overall. Machines incorporate Thunderbolt to allow faster data transfer and charging speeds as well as connecting multiple devices via a single cable. The latest version is Thunderbolt 4.

A Thunderbolt port uses the same design as USB-C but a vastly different experience overall. Machines incorporate Thunderbolt to allow faster data transfer and charging speeds as well as connecting multiple devices via a single cable. The latest version is Thunderbolt 4. Time Spy: Time Spy is another DirectX test for the performance of a graphics card inside your gaming laptop, similar to Fire Strike.

Time Spy is another DirectX test for the performance of a graphics card inside your gaming laptop, similar to Fire Strike. USB Type-A: USB Type-A ports are standard USB connections used by the majority of external devices and are characterized by their larger square shape compared to the smaller USB-C. However, USB Type-C (below) is set to take over from the older A model over the next few years. Type-A supports the speed of data consistent with USB 3.0 (the latest version).

USB Type-A ports are standard USB connections used by the majority of external devices and are characterized by their larger square shape compared to the smaller USB-C. However, USB Type-C (below) is set to take over from the older A model over the next few years. Type-A supports the speed of data consistent with USB 3.0 (the latest version). USB Type-C: USB Type-C is a newer connection type for adding external devices, shaped in a smaller, more rounded port style. USB-C can be used for power delivery if the port on your laptop accepts this feature, but is generally used for the same inputs as USB-A.

USB Type-C is a newer connection type for adding external devices, shaped in a smaller, more rounded port style. USB-C can be used for power delivery if the port on your laptop accepts this feature, but is generally used for the same inputs as USB-A. Vapor Chamber Cooling: Vapor Chamber Cooling is a relatively new method of keeping a gaming laptop’s temperature down so that it can perform at its best. Rather than solely using air vents and fans, vapor chamber cooling relies on a liquid cooling system to distribute heat more effectively.

Best gaming laptops: FAQs

Which brand is best for gaming laptops? Overall, the best gaming laptop brands include Lenovo, Razer, Alienware, MSI, Asus and Acer. However, there are a number of companies all competing for the title right now, from budget-oriented developers to high-end industry staples. Finding the best gaming laptop brand may come down to how much you’re willing to pay and how much you value extra features like mechanical keyboards and RGB lighting in your chassis. Alienware, for example, produces some incredible machines with these features built in, but at a significant premium – whereas Acer’s machines tend to be more conservative in their builds but offer reduced prices.

What specs do you need in a gaming laptop? This is a big question, and the answer changes every year. However, at the moment I recommend picking up a high-end or upper mid-range processor from the last two years (Intel i7 or i9 from its 13th or 14th generation / AMD Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 from its 7000 Series) and at least 16GB RAM. 8GB used to get you by back in the day, but it’s just not doable any more. In terms of your graphics card, the model you choose will depend on the kinds of games you play. An RTX 4050 is going to be good for lighter indie titles and undemanding games, but an RTX 4060 can push you further up the settings scale for only a little more cash. RTX 4070 cards are for moderately demanding games, played at high settings while an RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 card will be needed for the biggest releases running in QHD+ at ultra settings.

Can you spend under $1000 on a gaming laptop? It’s absolutely possible to spend less than $1,000 and still pick up one of the best gaming laptops on the market. My favorite models under this price range are the Dell G15 and the Asus TUF A15, though the Acer Nitro 5 also offers plenty of value in its cheaper configurations as well. You might be dropping down to lower refresh rate screens or a cheaper version of an Intel processor, but if you’re playing lighter titles or you’re not fussed about the latest and greatest in performance there are plenty of options out there.

If you’ve managed to find the right rig for you, it’s worth investing some thought into the best laptop backpacks to get you out and about. Or, check out our guide to the latest cheap gaming laptop deals if you’re looking for more savings. Or, check out all the cheap Alienware laptop deals and Razer laptop deals currently on sale for some serious discounts.

The best HP laptops are competitive in every category. They are some of the best laptops overall, so making a well-informed decision can feel like an arduous task — especially if you have a strict budget. I’m here to help you narrow down your list of potentials, and if you don’t want to rip your hair out by the time you get to the end of my six recommendations, I’ll take that as a compliment!

One of the things we highlight in many of our HP laptop reviews are their splashy, OLED displays. Whether it’s high-end workstation, business, or productivity-focused 2-in-1s, the displays generally produce rich, saturated color and inky blacks, and have an average max brightness of 350-360 nits.

The keyboard tends to be another thing we really like about HP laptops. The large keys feel clicky and snapback responsively, and they’re spaced apart at just the right distance for most people to type comfortably.

Great performance is the most common factor across the majority of them, though. We’ve reviewed HP laptops with entry-level to high-end chips from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm and have walked away delighted at how well the majority of them handled a variety of tasks.

But if nothing here catches your eye (or the price isn’t right), don’t fret! We have more HP laptop reviews on the way. This page is regularly updated with our latest reviews to reflect Laptop Mag’s top picks for 2025.

Click to view recent updates to this page. 6/12/25: Added the HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 as best workstation laptop and the HP Omen Max 16 as best gaming laptop; updated the following sections: intro, benchmarks, recently reviewed.

The Quick List

CURATED BY CURATED BY Joanna Nelius Contributor Joanna Nelius has reviewed laptops and computer hardware since 2018. Her work has appeared in The Verge, USA Today, Gizmodo, PC Gamer, and Maximum PC. She holds an MFA from Chapman University and works as a creative writing instructor.

Best overall

Image 1 of 6 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future)

1. HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) The best HP laptop for nearly everything Our expert review: Specifications CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H GPU: Intel Arc integrated graphics RAM: 32GB Storage: 2TB Display: 14-inch (2880 x 1800) OLED touch Size: 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches Weight: 3.2 pounds Today’s Best Deals Check Amazon View at laptopmag.com Reasons to buy + Sleek design + Beautiful OLED display + Excellent performance + Great battery life + 4K webcam Reasons to avoid – Short on ports – Display benchmarks could be better

Why is it our best overall pick? The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a 2-in-1 laptop packed with versatility. Its fast processor makes it a fabulous multitasking buddy. Its OLED display makes the colors of your favorite shows pop. Its speakers can immerse you in your favorite song. And if you feel like drawing, grab your stylus and flip the lid back — you now have a tablet.

Buy it if ✔️ You like subtly beautiful laptop designs. The Spectre has rounded edges, a dual-hinged display, large keys, and a deep blue colored chassis. It’s neither ostentatious or bland. ✔️ You know quality doesn’t come cheap. But every penny you spend on this laptop’s performance, battery life, vibrant display, great speakers, and good looks will be well-spent.

Don’t buy it if ✖️You need something with perfect color accuracy. While perfectly fine for the average user, its display doesn’t cover the full DCI-P3 gamut. This could create issues for artists, designers, video editors, and anyone else who routinely works with that color space. ✖️ You don’t want to buy a docking station. Besides a power port, this laptop has only one USB-A port and two USB-C ports.

The HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is still one of Laptop Mag’s most highly regarded HP laptops, and for good reason: it’s near-perfect. Even for a last-gen laptop, it still offers the most consistent balance between performance, battery life, design, audio, keyboard clickiness, a 4K webcam, and a gorgeous display.

HP built the 2024 Spectre x360 14 with a powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, a 2.8K OLED touchscreen, and 11 hours of battery life packed into a 14-inch chassis. That’s incredible on its own, but it’s staggering that it’s only $1,858 — and we’ve seen it go on sale for hundreds of dollars less.

On the Geekbench 6.1 overall performance test, its 12,358 multicore score was far above the average premium laptop’s (8,443). Its SSD speeds are also decent, transferring 25GB of data at 1,362 megabytes per second, which is close to the average (1,378 MBps).

The Spectre doesn’t have the brightest or most colorful touchscreen, though. Its display reaches 366 nits of brightness, lower than the average touchscreen (431 nits). It also covers 85.8% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, below the average premium laptop (98.5%).

However, its OLED panel still filled the Road House (2024) trailer with “expected vibrance,” reviewer Rami Tabari writes in his review.

See our full HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) review.

Best budget

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Why is it our best budget pick? The HP Envy x360 2-in-1 offers a lot for an “old” laptop: fast multitasking performance, a bright and vivid OLED display, a great keyboard, and a clear webcam.

Buy it if ✔️ You spend a lot of time on video calls. This laptop’s 1440p webcam captures colors accurately and makes everything look clear and crisp. You probably won’t need to spend extra money on an external webcam. ✔️ You do a lot of typing. This clicky, comfortable keyboard is designed for near-constant use. It’s a treat for your fingers.

Don’t buy it if ✖️ You hate using external mice. The laptop’s trackpad is sluggish, and its surface isn’t smooth either. ✖️ You lack easy access to a wall outlet. While its battery life isn’t terribly short, it’s not exactly long, either; 9 hours might be enough for a full day of work and a movie or two, or it might not.

Even with the tradeoffs that generally accompany a budget laptop (especially one released two years ago), the Envy x360’s quality and reliability are not diminished. With multiple configurations starting way below $1,000, it is a sleek, dependable all-rounder accessible to a broader range of budgets.

The Envy x360’s AMD Ryzen 7000-series processor delivers solid performance and great efficiency. Backed by 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, its strengths lie in multitasking and typical daily use — don’t expect its integrated graphics to do any heavy lifting.

What makes the Envy x360 more of a steal than a bargain is its impressive 15-inch OLED display. It crushed Laptop Mag’s display tests, reproducing 128.1% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and sailing past the category average of just 85.5%!

However, that vivid OLED panel does have one downside: it impacts the Envy’s battery life, which measured just 9 hours and 17 minutes in our tests. Our reviewer, Claire Tabari, wasn’t impressed with the trackpad, but neither “ruin the laptop.” The HP Envy x360 is still a great pick.

See our full HP Envy x360 2-in-1 (2023) review.

Best business

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Why is it our best business pick? The HP EliteBook Ultra G1q comes stacked with performance and battery life, two of the most important things for a business-centric laptop. But its vibrant display, sleek design, and small footprint help it climb higher up the ladder.

Buy if it ✔️ You travel a lot for work. At 0.44 inches thick and 2.9 pounds, this laptop is easy to carry, and it should also make taking it out of your bag at a TSA checkpoint less of a headache. ✔️ You need a laptop with a long battery life. This laptop can handle 16 hours of web surfing before it needs to be charged.

Don’t buy it if ✖️ You need stellar integrated graphics. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips are vastly outmatched by their rivals in this area. And while those can handle casual gaming well, these generally can’t. ✖️ You’re concerned about app compatibility. While many common apps and programs have native Arm 64 support, if you’re using a bespoke program for work, like Prophet 21, you’re better off with an Intel-configured laptop.

If the EliteBook Ultra, HP’s first Copilot+ PC for business, can’t win you over with its speedy performance, vibrant display, sizeable trackpad, and executive-chic style, its impressive 16-hour battery life might.

Powered by Qualcomm’s impressive Snapdragon X Elite processor, the EliteBook is equipped to tackle a wide range of computing tasks, including demanding AI-based functions — which may mean little to your workflow today but could extend this laptop’s longevity by a couple of years as more AI features get added to PCs.

Even a year after its release, the EliteBook Ultra is still one of the most power-efficient laptops you can buy, largely due to the Snapdragon chip’s Arm architecture. Its battery life beats most of the laptops we’ve tested in the last year — even the MacBook Air M4.

However, while software compatibility for Windows on Arm has improved, it still isn’t as robust as the x86 version on Intel and AMD-based laptops. Popular programs like Adobe Premiere Pro and Audacity still lack native support on the EliteBook Ultra and other laptops like it.

But as long as you know the programs you need are compatible with Windows on Arm, the EliteBook Ultra truly is a fantastic laptop with plenty to offer. Security, speed, style, and superior battery life seal the deal on this hard-working machine. As Laptop Mag reviewer Madeline Ricchiuto writes, “HP has made a fantastic case for why Windows on Arm systems are ideal for business professionals.”

See our full HP EliteBook Ultra G1q review.

Best for students

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Why is it our best student pick? The HP Omnibook Ultra Flip 14 goes above and beyond the essentials for students. It features a sharp OLED display, a great built-in webcam and microphone, and its integrated GPU handles most games surprisingly well.

Buy it if ✔️ Most of your classes are remote. With a webcam and microphone as good as the ones on this laptop, you probably don’t need to invest in something else to participate in class discussions. ✔️ You need a clicky, comfortable keyboard. If you’re a college student (especially an English major), chances are you’ll write several papers a semester. You’ll need a good, reliable keyboard for all the hours you’ll spend typing.

Don’t buy it if ✖️ You’re a multitasking machine. If you routinely keep many apps and dozens of browser tabs open while trying to create 3D graphics, you might find the processor lacks enough multicore power to run it all smoothly. ✖️ All your peripherals are USB-A. You may need to spend more money than you originally planned on adapters or a docking station or buy new wireless peripherals.

A great laptop can make juggling a full load of classes a little easier for students. With its good performance, long battery life, bright and vivid display — and a built-in webcam and microphone that won’t make you look or sound like you’re using a computer from the early 2000s — the Omnibook Ultra Flip 14 is the best HP laptop for the job.

The highlight of this laptop is its display. Reaching an average max brightness of 359 nits and covering 84.3% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, it has the specs most students, regardless of major, will need to finish their coursework and enjoy watching their favorite show in their dorm room after a long day. Our reviewer, Stevie Bonifield, notes that the colorful graphics in Donut Country looked great and that the display “kept up well with the rapid pace of combat in Death’s Door.”

The Omnibook’s webcam and microphone are well-suited for online classes. The webcam accurately captures colors and details, displaying them in a naturally lit room. The microphone captures voices with clarity, even amid background noise.

As I’ve mentioned in other buying guides and reviews, this laptop’s Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor has slower multicore performance than other laptops with competing chips. This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but if you need a laptop that can run or process intensive tasks (like video editing or 3D modeling) as fast as possible, this laptop might be too slow for your needs. However, it can handle visual novels and point-and-click games well!

See our full HP Omnibook Ultra Flip 14 review.

Best workstation

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5. HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 Putting the “work” in “station” Our expert review: Specifications CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H vPro GPU: Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada Generation RAM: 64GB Storage: 1TB SSD Display: 16-inch (3840 x 2400) HP DreamColor Size: 14.02 x 9.54 x .076 inches Weight: 4.1 pounds Today’s Best Deals View at Ebuyer View at HP Store View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Powerful Nvidia RTX Ada Generation graphics + Strong general performance + Bright, vivid display + High audio fidelity with impactful volume + Many configuration options + Plenty of ports Reasons to avoid – Expensive – Battery life could be better – Gets hot under pressure

Why is it our best workstation pick? The HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 has more than enough performance for heavy video editing, intense design work, or serious data compilations. Along with many other great features, this is an excellent pick for video editors and civil engineers alike.

Buy it if ✔️ You’re looking for an impressive, colorful 4K display. Our tests showed this one covers over 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, so it’s easy to recommend for all sorts of professional, visual artists. ✔️ You need speed and stability. This laptop’s RTX 3000 Ada GPU offers both to data scientists, creatives, and other professionals who can’t risk their files becoming corrupted.

Don’t buy it if ✖️ You also want a gaming laptop. Its graphics card is extremely powerful, but it’s specfically designed to run programs, not games. You’ll likely experience lower frame rates compared to a GPU made with gaming in mind. ✖️ It’s outside your budget, but you can’t skimp on performance. Even if you get the $3,200 base model, you’d be sacrificing some of the things that make a workstation a workstation: lots of RAM and lots of storage.

A great display, a speedy processor, and a discrete GPU designed to correct memory errors make the HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 an incredibly capable workstation. There are a variety of ways you can configure it with RAM and storage, so whether you need to render floorplans in AutoCAD or 3D animations in Blender, you’ll most likely be able to fine-tune it to your unique needs.

As Laptop Mag’s Madeline Ricchiuto noted in her review, there was practically nothing she could “throw at the Studio that it couldn’t handle.” With a with a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 13,754 and its ability to convert a 4K video file to 1080p in just 3 minutes and 50 seconds, the performance speaks for itself.

Its 16.2-inch display is bright, offers a high refresh rate, and delivers stellar color accuracy. Our testing showed it covers 113% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, reaches up to 398 nits of brightness, and scores a great Delta-E color accuracy score of 0.26. Whether you’re editing videos or working on a work presentation, the display renders a sharp, accurate picture that’s hard to beat.

One thing Ricchiuto wishes the ZBook Studio handled better is its thermals. Its outer chassis can get very hot and hit a high of 107.9 degrees Fahrenheit during our testing. But if you plan to set up this workstation on a desk, it shouldn’t be that big of an issue.

It’s also worth noting that its battery life doesn’t last long, 4 hours and 43 minutes according to our tests. (Don’t stray too far from an outlet.)

See our full HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 review.

Best gaming

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6. HP Omen Max 16 Now THAT’S a gaming laptop Our expert review: Specifications CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 RAM: 32GB Storage: 2TB SSD Display: 16-inch (2560 x 1600) 240Hz OLED Size: 14.04 x 10.59 x 0.9 ~ 0.98 inches Weight: 5.92 pounds Today’s Best Deals Check Amazon View at laptopmag.com Reasons to buy + Stunning OLED display + Bouncy keyboard + Strong all-around performance + Solid heat management Reasons to avoid – Sweats in $4,299 – Short battery life – Mediocre audio – Game performance could be better

Why is it our best gaming pick? The HP Omen Max 16 excels in two areas where many gaming laptops don’t: display vibrance and heat management. Its OLED panel has one of the widest color gamuts we’ve ever tested, and its chassis stays 10-20 degrees cooler than the competition — even while gaming.

Buy it if ✔️ You want a laptop with great overall performance. This one surpassed its main competitors when we tested its multicore performance. Its gaming and video processing power are nothing to huff at, either. ✔️ You have a sharp eye for color. From the enticing neon of Cyberpunk 2077 to the spectacular, forest scenery of Red Dead Dead Redemption 2, this laptop’s OLED panel can make almost anything look more true to life, even if the world is fictional.

Don’t buy it if ✖️ This laptop costs more than you monthly rent. The top-of-the-line model we reviewed costs an exorbitant $4,299. If you’re mainly after the OLED display, a base model with an Intel Core Ultra 7 and RTX 5070 Ti will save you thousands of dollars. ✖️ You’re not looking for a desktop replacement. Gaming laptops this powerful usually have short battery lives, and with all the performance the Omen Max 16 offers, its 3-hour battery life is no surprise.

The HP Omen Max 16 has a tantalizing combination of strong, all-round performance, a splashy OLED display, and keys that are responsive and satisfying to press. It also handles heat way better than many of the best gaming laptops.

It’s not the fastest gaming laptop by frame rates alone, but it generated almost or just as many frames as its competitors. As our tests showed, the Omen Max 16 handles games like Far Cry 6 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider better than some rival gaming laptops, but performed worse with games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong.

Its give-and-take performance showed up in our Handbrake test, too, taking 2 minutes and 54 seconds to transcode a 4K video to 1080p. That’s about 20-35 seconds slower than its fiercest rivals but still faster than a lot of other gaming laptops we’ve tested

The plus-side of a little less speed usually means a gaming laptop generates less heat — and Omen Max 16 has better thermal management than most. It stays 10-20 degrees cooler than its competition.

However, we have yet to test another gaming laptop with an OLED display as drop-dead gorgeous as this one. Laptop Mag editor, Rami Tabari, called it a “fever dream of colors and infinite contrast” in his review, and with a DCI-P3 color gamut coverage of 141.4%, no wonder it decimates its competition. Though with a max brightness of 363 nits, dimly lit scenes can be easily washed out by strong ambient lighting (a common issue for OLED displays).

See our full HP Omen Max 16 review.

Benchmark comparisons

Click to view data in table format Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell – Column 0 HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) HP Envy x360 2-in-1 (2023) HP EliteBook Ultra HP Omnibook Ultra Flip 14 HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 HP Omen Max 16 Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) 12,358 7,748 12,717 10,877 13,754 19,822 Handbrake time ((MM:SS), lower is better) 07:30 09:19 06:40 06:37 03:50 02:54 Battery life – Web surfing (HH:MM) 11:01 09:17 16:01 12:02 04:43 03:20 SSD transfer speeds (MBps, higher is better) 1,362 1,245 893 1,702 1,401 1,395 DCI-P3 Color Gamut (Higher is better) 86% 128% 84.7% 84.3% 113.6% 141.4% Display Brightness (Nits, higher is better) 366 378 321 359 398 363 Hottest temperature (95 degree comfort threshold) 98 79 83 88.5 107.9 88.6

Recently reviewed

Not every laptop we review makes it into our top selection for buying guides. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth taking a look at. Below are some of our most recently reviewed HP laptops, if what you find on this list isn’t to your taste, be sure to check them out instead.

Choosing the right HP laptop

As one of the top laptop brands, HP has a laptop for every occasion, from premium business laptops to budget-friendly Chromebooks. But if you only recently noticed that some HP models didn’t get an update this year, you’re not imaging things.

In May 2024, HP announced it was resurrecting its Omni brand to replace several longstanding naming conventions across its laptop, all-in-one desktop, and traditional desktop product lines to make it easier for people to figure out what will suit their needs the best. But since the company is still in the process of phasing those names out, its laptop lineup is (temporarily) more crowded and convoluted. So, here’s a handy guide to what’s what.

Omni: HP’s consumer devices are now united under a single name, replacing the Spectre, Envy, Pavilion, and Laptop naming conventions.

Elite- and Pro-: HP will continue using theses names for its business laptops and desktops, but the Dragonfly name is gone. The more expensive, Elite devices are geared toward large businesses, while the the more budget-friendly Pro is for small- to medium-sized business.

-Book, -Studio, and -Desk: The “Book” suffix denotes laptops, “Studio” denotes all-in-one desktops, and “Desk” denotes traditional desktops.

“Ultra”: If “Ultra” is part of the model name, then that laptop is likely the highest-end, most premium consumer or business laptop HP offers — similar to the Spectre consumer series or Dragonfly business series with OLED displays, high-end processors, a thin and lightweight design, or other top-of-the-line features.

“Fold” and “Flip”: Dual screen laptops will have “Fold” in their name, while 2-in-1 laptops will have “Flip.”

Numbers: 3, 5, 7, and X (consumer), 2, 4, 6, 8, X (business) :HP’s new numbering system tells you a bit about the overall performance and features, whether it’s a budget-friendly laptop for watching movies and checking emails, or an expensive laptop that can run demanding design programs.

On the consumer laptop-side, the old and new naming conventions don’t exactly match up 1-to-1, but they’re not too far off. An OmniBook 3 is most like HP’s consumer Laptop line — fancier-sounding but still a generic laptop for everyday tasks; an OmniBook 5 is closer to a Pavilion, a mid-range laptop that looks nicer, and has more features and better performance; an OmniBook 7 should be the Envy of your friends who don’t have a laptop with an attractive design, vibrant display, and quality audio.

An OmniBook X should be similar in overall quality to the “Ultra,” but more affordable.

ZBook: It seems like HP is keeping the ZBook moniker for its workstation laptops, but it’s unlikely it will keep “Studio” in the name based on its new naming structure.

Everything else stays the same

Victus: HP’s budget gaming laptops that strike a balance between performance and value.

Omen: HP’s high-end gaming brand has a bit more pizazz and graphics power than some competitors. It delivers a decent gaming experience for (relatively) reasonable prices.

Chromebooks: Ranging from $300-600, the HP Chromebook line offers Google’s Chrome OS in several well-made laptops.

Fortis: Sub-$200 Chromebooks for students.

FAQs

Q: Why should I buy an HP laptop?

A: HP is a well-known computer brand with a longstanding reputation for making quality (and sometimes pricey) laptops. The company’s first laptop, the 110 Portable, was well-received by many reviewers at the time, and its laptops continue to earn positive reviews today.

Laptop Mag has given top-marks to many HP laptops we’ve tested and reviewed, but in the past year alone we’ve been consistently impressed by the quality of their keyboards and displays, battery lives, and overall performance. We currently recommend several as some of the best laptops for photo or video editing, gaming, notetaking and more, and have done the same for other categories in the past.

We’ve had mixed experiences with HP customer support, though, so keep that in mind.

Q: What are HP laptops best for?

A: That depends entirely on what kind of laptop you’re looking for. HP’s catalog of laptops is vast and varied. There are devices that suit everything from business to productivity and even gaming.

What’s most important about HP laptops is knowing which one will best serve your needs. If you’re looking into one that’s a couple years old, I recommend checking out our article: Which HP laptop is right for you? Why to buy the Spectre, Envy, ZBook, or Omen for a more detailed look. Or, incase you missed it, scroll back up to the previous section to learn more about HP’s Omni brand revival.

Q: I already have a stylus; will it work with one of these laptops with a touchscreen?

A. That depends! Not all touchscreens have stylus support. The ones that do might not support the same type of pens. To be sure, we recommend checking the manufacturer’s website for both the laptop and the stylus.

This will help you determine what pen protocols the stylus and laptop support. The two main ones are Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP) and Wacom AES. They’re not mutually compatible, but some pens support both, while others only support one.

How we test HP laptops

(Image credit: Future)

We put each laptop through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers, and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and DCI-P3 color gamut of the laptop’s display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 6, PugetBench for Adobe applications, and 3DMark professional graphics tests.

To determine real-world performance, we convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and duplicate a 25GB file. Our real-world graphics test is Cid Meier’s Civilization V: Gathering Storm benchmark at 1080p resolution and Medium graphics. We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop.

For our battery test, we continuously web-surfed over WiFi at 150 nits of brightness. MacBooks and premium Windows 11 laptops that last more than 10 hours are good, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered longer than 5 hours deserve praise.

We complement these tests with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers, who critique everything from the laptop’s materials to the feel of its touchpad.

See this page on How We Test Laptops for more details on our benchmarking procedures.

Why trust Laptop Mag?

Laptop Mag reviews over a hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We’re not just experts in the laptop field; we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest gaming technology.

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world’s largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we’re the group’s specialist for all things mobile tech.

Very expensive if you don’t need the enterprise-specific features

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) is the new king of HP’s enterprise-focused laptops, taking over from the legendary HP EliteBook 1040 series with a durable and practical design, an excellent keyboard, and best-in-class performance. Those who won’t use those enterprise features will be paying too much, though, and its endurance always leaves something to be desired — even considering the additional power drain of a high-resolution OLED display.

Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

As a general rule, enterprise laptops tend to be dreadfully boring. After all, they don’t need to be fun to sell themselves to companies and businesses.

I still find myself falling in love with a handful of commercial-grade devices that stand out from the rest, though, and those laptops increasingly hail from HP. Case in point, the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a), the new hero device for HP’s ambitious AI PC endeavors.

The EliteBook X is far from the slimmest or lightest 14-inch laptop out there, but it packs a ton of firepower courtesy of AMD Ryzen AI, and is especially competent when it comes to artificial intelligence.

It’s also just a great laptop in general, ticking every single box you need from a laptop you need to trust to get the job done. Like most enterprise machines, though, the EliteBook X 14 is an expensive machine, and it still manages to burn through its massive battery faster than I’d like.

Why You Should Trust Me Why You Should Trust Me Zachary Boddy (They / Them) Social Links Navigation Staff Writer, Expert Reviewer I’ve used many wildly different laptops, from wildly different companies, with wildly different hardware, but the foundation of a great Windows PC remains the same between all of them. Is it built well, does it feel fast and responsive, do I have to worry about the battery? I answer all of those questions and more every time.

Disclaimer This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

EliteBook X 14 review: Cheat sheet

What is it? The HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) is a 14-inch laptop designed for commercial customers, with enhanced security and remote management features.

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) is a 14-inch laptop designed for commercial customers, with enhanced security and remote management features. Who is it for? Those who need those enterprise-grade features, and are willing to trade some weight and thickness for best-in-class performance and AI capabilities.

Those who need those enterprise-grade features, and are willing to trade some weight and thickness for best-in-class performance and AI capabilities. How much does it cost? This laptop starts from $2,099 at HP for the Wolf Pro Security Edition. The standard edition starts from $2,199 at HP .

This laptop starts for the Wolf Pro Security Edition. The standard edition starts . What did I like? The practical design, refined hardware and comfortable keyboard, reliable performance, and gorgeous display.

The practical design, refined hardware and comfortable keyboard, reliable performance, and gorgeous display. What did I not like? The weight, the middling battery life, and the price tag.

EliteBook X 14 review: Pricing and specifications

Like most enterprise laptops, the EliteBook X 14 charges a bit of a premium for regular people. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) is an enterprise laptop through and through, and essentially comes in two flavors: the standard version, and the even more specialized Wolf Pro Security Edition.

The former starts from $2,199 at HP, and that laptop comes equipped with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, a non-touch 1200p IPS LCD display, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. My review configuration upgrades to a 2.8K OLED display and 64GB of RAM for $2,749 at HP.

For those not content with the standard 1-year of Wolf Pro Security, you can get three years included from $2,099.99 at HP, and prices for those configurations go all the way up to $4,299 at HP, depending on your needs.

Swipe to scroll horizontally Spec HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) Display 14-inch OLED, 16:10 aspect ratio, 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800) resolution, 48-120Hz variable refresh rate, 400nits max brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 5-star TÜV Rheinland EyeComfort & Low Blue Light certification, multi-touch support or 14-inch IPS LCD, FHD+ (1,920 x 1,200) resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB color gamut, non-touch, anti-glare CPU Up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (12 cores, 24 threads, up to 5.1GHz) or up to AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (8 cores, 16 threads, up to 5.0GHz) GPU Up to AMD Radeon 890M NPU AMD XDNA 2 (Up to 55 TOPS) Memory Up to 64GB LPDDR5X @ 8,000MHz (Soldered) Storage Up to 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD Ports 2x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 (40GBps, 100W Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10GBps, 100W Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10GBps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio jack, 1x Kensington Nano Security Slot Connectivity Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Battery 74.5Whr battery, 100W USB Type-C charger Dimensions 312.2 x 214.6 x ~18.3mm (12.29 x 8.45 x ~0.72in) Weight ~1.5kg (~3.3lbs) Warranty 1-year standard

Enterprise laptops can rarely be considered “good deals,” especially if you’re a regular consumer who doesn’t need those enhanced security and remote management features, but the EliteBook X isn’t outlandishly priced in its segment — and that price tag doesn’t matter as much to enterprises looking to buy a fleet.

In the box, you’ll find the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) laptop and a 100W USB Type-C slim charger with a braided cable.

Recommended configuration ✅ HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) — Ryzen AI 9 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Buy now: $2,199 at HP This IPS LCD display may not look as good as the OLED option, but you’ll gain a couple more hours of battery life and save as much as $550 versus the configuration I reviewed. Just be sure this laptop supports all the enterprise-specific features your job demands. 👉See at: HP.com

EliteBook X 14 review: Design and build quality

It’s a little chunky and a little heavy, but it’s built like a tank meant to last. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

When I went hands-on with a pre-production model of the HP EliteBook X, I commented on how I oddly really appreciated its design, despite it not being as sleek or slim as other premium Windows laptops.

At around 18mm thick and over 3 lbs, the EliteBook X isn’t particularly compact, but it’s not chunky enough that it felt like a burden while lugging it around HP’s Amplify 2025 conference for a few days.

It does feel very sturdy, though, passing 19 MIL-STD 810H military-grade durability tests and undergoing rigorous trials in HP’s labs. It’s sustainable, too, with recycled materials used throughout the laptop and packaging (including up to 80% recycled aluminum in the covers).

Image 1 of 2 On the right: HDMI 2.1, USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4, and 3.5mm audio. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy) On the left, Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, and Kensington Nano Security Slot. No microSD card slot here. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

That additional mass does make it easier to add a bunch of ports, and HP definitely did. You get a total of three USB Type-C ports, and two of those are full Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Yes, even though this is an AMD-powered laptop, you still get Thunderbolt. HP also smartly puts a T4 port on each side, so it doesn’t matter where your charger or docking station is situated (this change is in direct response to customer and reviewer feedback, too).

Beyond that, you get an HDMI 2.1 port for display output, a USB Type-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a Kensington Nano Security Slot. It’s a good selection, nicely spaced and well positioned.

The EliteBook X 14 isn’t the flashiest flagship, but I genuinely like its curvy aesthetic, and its wholehearted focus on practicality makes it a great choice for productivity-conscious workers.

EliteBook X 14 review: Display quality

HP’s 2.8K, 48-120Hz OLED display has become familiar in a good way. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

The EliteBook X can be equipped with a modest FHD+ IPS LCD display, which provides a considerable boost to battery life, or the gorgeous and vibrant 2.8K OLED panel that we’ve seen on other high-end HP laptops.

Comfortably sized at 14 inches with a 16:10 aspect ratio, perfectly sharp at 1800p, and beautifully smooth with a 48 – 120Hz variable refresh rate (with Windows Dynamic Refresh Rate support), this OLED display seemingly ticks all of the boxes.

It does look wonderful, too, with consistently punchy colors and the characteristic infinite contrast associated with this display tech. If you’re willing to sacrifice some endurance, it’s a visual treat.

This is a very color accurate display, but you won’t find many options to tailor it to your needs. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Swipe to scroll horizontally Setting Brightness Black Contrast White point 0% 4.6 0 Infinite 6,500 (0.312, 0.333) 25% 29.2 0 Infinite 6,400 (0.314, 0.333) 50% 91.8 0 Infinite 6,400 (0.315, 0.333) 75% 209.7 0 Infinite 6,400 (0.315, 0.331) 100% 410.7 0 Infinite 6,500 (0.314, 0.327)

Looking at the numbers, the EliteBook X’s OLED panel is very color accurate and shows a pretty consistent, even white balance across brightness levels. It also gets bright enough for an OLED panel, even if it doesn’t break any records.

You do get High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, but it’s not Dolby Vision, and I can’t find the exact VESA DisplayHDR standard. Like most laptop OLED displays, it’s better than your typical IPS LCD for HDR content, but nothing too crazily good.

I do have to hand out some demerits, though. The EliteBook X doesn’t feature an ambient light sensor for automatic brightness or color temperature adjustments despite its high price tag.

You also have next to no options for customizing the display, including tweaking the color profile or managing the OLED safety settings. ASUS still sets the standard for OLED displays in laptops.

Finally, this display does use Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) for dimming, which can cause eye fatigue and even headaches despite this laptop’s 5-star TÜV Rheinland EyeComfort and Low Blue Light certification. The PWM flicker refresh rate seems relatively low, and PWM appears to be in use across nearly all brightness levels, too, so choose the IPS LCD display option if you’re sensitive.

EliteBook X 14 review: Performance and thermals

This laptop is meant to offer the most power you can find in anything short of a workstation or gaming/creative laptop. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) is actually powered by the same exclusive AMD Ryzen AI chipset as the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 I reviewed. It’s a familiar 12-core, 24-thread foundation, but the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks is the most powerful on the market with up to 55 TOPs of computational power.

Overall, the EliteBook X is an excellent performer, balancing a best-in-class CPU with a good integrated GPU and plenty of fast memory and storage. I’d say the OmniBook Ultra 14 felt slightly more responsive, but the EliteBook X layers more security and remote management features on top.

Image 1 of 6 This SSD keeps up with the best PCIe Gen 4 drives with little issue. (Image credit: Windows Central) It’s not quite “gaming laptop” territory, but the EliteBook X performs extremely well for a 14-inch laptop. (Image credit: Windows Central) It continues to impress in Geekbench 6, although falls short of some ASUS devices with similar AMD hardware. (Image credit: Windows Central) In terms of overall productivity performance, the EliteBook X pulls ahead of some of the best consumer laptops. (Image credit: Windows Central) Intel’s latest integrated graphics are very impressive, but the EliteBook X keeps up. (Image credit: Windows Central) As we’ve seen before, AMD Ryzen AI also performs well with video encoding, often outperforming Intel. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The numbers reflect the user experience. This device isn’t pummeling 16-inch gaming laptops on a regular basis, but does keep up with the absolute best and most capable 14-inch machines we’ve tested.

Thermally, it can get warm to the touch, but never noticeably slowed down due to throttling. The fans can get very audible, but don’t spin up unnecessarily and are always at a consistent, low-pitched whir.

I noticed occasional stutters, though, and the EliteBook X loses approximately 18% CPU performance and 9% GPU performance when off the charger, which is a more substantial throttle than the latest Intel and Qualcomm chipsets.

EliteBook X 14 review: Software and AI experience

The HP AI Companion is actually useful, and it’s about to get a lot better. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

As I mentioned, the EliteBook X runs Windows 11 very well, and every version comes with Windows 11 Pro for additional security and remote management features. It’s a clean build, devoid of the frustrating bloatware HP loads on its consumer laptops.

HP’s own software is still needlessly fragmented into a bunch of pieces, though, and the myHP app for managing your device settings is slow and clunky on this laptop (that’s not a complaint I normally have with myHP). It’s also missing a lot of granular settings, like for the display.

You are getting one of the most complete AI PC experiences on the market, though, as the EliteBook X is a Copilot+ PC backed by a best-in-class NPU. HP also invests heavily in artificial intelligence, so the EliteBook X ties into that ecosystem seamlessly. The HP AI Companion app is onboard for device control, analysis, and organization of local data libraries, and more.

One of the most valuable features of the EliteBook series, though, is the Wolf Security for Business suite. This provides multi-level security that extends even below the BIOS, and is invaluable for protecting your data. Every EliteBook X 14 (G1a) comes with at least one year of Wolf Pro Security, too, which adds granular hardware control, automatic recovery, and a built-in Virtual Machine (VM) for isolating suspected malware.

EliteBook X 14 review: Battery experience

I saw a low battery a little more often than I’d like, and the estimator often felt unreliable. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

There’s a 74.5Whr battery inside the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a), which is sizeable for a 14-inch machine and should be plenty to keep this laptop chugging for hours.

Sadly, the EliteBook X’s endurance can only be described as “average,” falling short of the most efficient Intel and Qualcomm-powered laptops… and even similar AMD Ryzen AI devices.

Looping an hour of a standard Microsoft Office workload and then an hour of an HD video (all with standard settings) resulted in a battery drain of 11% in both cases. Running a Windows Battery Report after weeks of use returned an average battery life of around six hours of real-world usage.

Swapping out the OLED display for the lower-end IPS LCD panel would return a couple of hours of battery life to you. Even then, this laptop’s endurance would be decidedly average, but it’s at least consistently average.

It’s good enough for a passing grade, and HP does include a very nice, braided 100W USB Type-C charger in the box, which is compact and fast. It takes little time to get enough juice for a few more hours of work.

EliteBook X 14 review: Keyboard and touchpad

As expected of an EliteBook, this is a great keyboard. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Many seem to regard this laptop’s predecessor, the HP EliteBook 1040, as having one of the best keyboards of any laptop ever.

HP made some changes with the EliteBook X 14 to improve upon that design, and it really is an excellent keyboard. The layout is intuitive, and the keys are well-spaced and responsive.

The typing action is a little softer than I’d like, but the travel distance is great and performance is flawless. You also get a customizable macro key in the function row, which is always nice to have.

The glass, mechanical touchpad isn’t the largest, but it’s smooth and responsive, with Windows Precision drivers for flawless gesture support. I’d obviously prefer a haptic touchpad like in the upcoming HP EliteBook Ultra 14 (G1i) I briefly tested, but you can’t have everything.

EliteBook X 14 review: Other hardware

A good webcam, good microphones, a physical privacy shutter, and an IR sensor for Windows Hello — it’s all here. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Most people don’t expect much from their laptop’s webcam, but HP does offer some of the better ones you’ll find. The 5MP front-facing camera is decently sharp, with accurate color reproduction, consistent white balance, and respectable performance.

The dual-array microphone gets the job done, too, and both are supported by the AI-powered Poly Camera Pro application that provides a ton of options for improving your video conferencing experience.

There’s support for Human Presence Detection (HPD), with HP building on the standard Windows features with its own privacy additions. You’ll also find an IR sensor to support Windows Hello facial recognition, as well as a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button; both were fast and reliable, but I found the facial recognition to be more consistent on the EliteBook X.

You’ll find a quad speaker system inside the EliteBook X, too, and it stands out even without additional features like Dolby Atmos support. Some laptops still provide greater depth or a more dynamic sound, but these speakers are loud, clear, and balanced for all kinds of content.

Finally, wireless connectivity is handled by the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards, and performance is (mostly) excellent. I had a handful of instances when the EliteBook X randomly disconnected from a network, but it hasn’t been a frequent issue.

EliteBook X 14 review: Also consider

Consumer Version 👩 HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024) — Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Buy now: $1,799.99 at Best Buy If you still want a powerful, highly capable AI PC for work on the go, the OmniBook Ultra shares much with the EliteBook X, but sheds a lot of enterprise features (and saves you a ton of cash in the process). It’s still heavy and the display isn’t OLED, but it’s a great laptop overall. Windows Central review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 👉See at: BestBuy.com 👀Configure your own: From $1,349.99 at HP

The Lightest for Work 💼 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) Aura Edition — Core Ultra 7 258V | 32GB RAM | 2TB SSD

Buy now: $2,749 at Lenovo The ThinkPad X1 Carbon isn’t nearly as powerful as the EliteBook X, but it’s more than 50% lighter, and is in every way just as premium. The ThinkPad seal of quality means excellent reliability, durability, and security. This is a very capable AI PC, too, but Lenovo isn’t as invested in artificial intelligence yet. Windows Central review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 👉See at: Lenovo.com 👀Configure your own: From $2,125 at Lenovo

EliteBook X 14 review: Score card

Swipe to scroll horizontally Attribute Rating & notes Value ⭐⭐⭐½ — Unless you know you need the enterprise-specific features, these commercial laptops are rarely a “good deal.” The EliteBook X is right in line with other premium alternatives, though. Design ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — It’s thick, it’s heavy, and it’s stubbornly practical, but the EliteBook X still manages to win you over with its great build quality and port selection. Display ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — HP’s beautiful 2.8K OLED display returns with VRR in tow, and it still looks amazing here… But you’re not given many options to tweak it, and PWM dimming may cause issues for some users. Performance ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — AMD Ryzen AI continues to be a strong performer in the silicon space, and this laptop is one of the most powerful AI PCs without a discrete GPU. That’s especially true if your work can take advantage of the NPU. Software ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — HP’s enterprise software is cleaner than its consumer offerings, and you get added peace of mind through the Wolf Security suite. There are still too many HP apps, though, and myHP is clunky. Battery ⭐⭐⭐½ — You can gain a couple hours of extra playtime by dropping down to the IPS LCD display, but the EliteBook X is never going to be a true endurance champion. It’s average. Keyboard ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — The keyboard legacy of HP EliteBook continues with this laptop. It’s comfortable, responsive, and intuitive, and the touchpad follows suit. Other hardware ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — There are some missing premium features, like an ambient light sensor, but the EliteBook X ticks every box with top-notch video, audio, biometric authentication, and connectivity features. Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — The HP EliteBook X is an awesome option for those who need a lot of AI power in their line of work. There are lighter, thinner, and longer lasting laptops out there, but none will be quite this performant.

EliteBook X 14 review: My final thoughts

It’s not the laptop I’d personally choose for myself, but I still had more fun than I expected reviewing this device. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

✅You should buy this if …

You want a powerful 14-inch laptop

You want to see the best an AI PC can do

You need greater security and privacy features

❌You should not buy this if …

You highly value a thin-and-light design

You need true, reliable all-day battery life

I recently broke down why HP is the one company convincing me AI laptops actually matter, and you don’t have to reach far to label the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) as the company’s first hero device in this new era of artificial intelligence.

This laptop is built entirely with AI in mind, centered around the most powerful AI-centric chipset you can currently put in a laptop (a chipset that is, at least for now, exclusive to HP).

Combine that power with HP’s thorough, company-wide strategy for utilizing cutting-edge AI technology effectively and efficiently, and the EliteBook X 14 is a great laptop now that’s set to get even better as time goes on.

All that power comes at a cost, though, and the gargantuan battery stuffed inside this thick chassis isn’t enough to make this the endurance champion many professionals desire.

If you’re not a professional and just want a great 14-inch laptop, you’re also better off looking elsewhere, like at HP’s OmniBook line — don’t pay hundreds extra for enterprise-specific features you’ll never use.

There are many that will have all of their boxes ticked by this sturdy machine, though; to those people, you can now get the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) from $2,099 at HP.com, with a few available configurations depending on your hardware and software needs.