Regular laptops and gaming laptops still exist, but the line that separates them has almost disappeared. Nowadays, you can play quite a few games on your laptop if you have a fast CPU and graphics card, along with perks like a large screen and a good cooling system. Furthermore, not everyone wants big, flashy gaming devices, or wants to spend the money necessary to get them. If you’re considering a new laptop for school, there are more options than ever to help you get through your toughest studies and catch up on your next AAA play. These are our top picks for the best laptops for gaming and schoolwork. However, if you’re looking for a dedicated gaming laptop rather than an all-in-one machine, check out our best gaming laptops list for recommendations.
Best laptops for gaming and school in 2025
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Display size: 14-inch OLED | Display resolution: 2560 x 1440 (QHD) | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | RAM: 32GB LPDDR5X | Storage: 1TB SSD | Weight: 3.31 lbs | Maximum battery life: 10 hours
Read the full ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 review
The Zephyrus G14 has been our top recommended laptop for gaming performance for years. But this year, it’s better than ever thanks to a sleek unibody aluminum case, gorgeous OLED screen, and weight reduction of just 3.3 pounds. It feels strangely light for a machine equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4070 graphics. The new Zephyrus G14 doesn’t have the RTX 4080 option of its predecessor, but that’s not a big deal. It is better to choose a lighter and more attractive model, which will cost less than a ton.
$2,000 at Best Buy
Will Lipman Photography from Engadget
Display size: 14 inches | Display resolution: QHD+ | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS | GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 or 4070 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD | Weight: 7.98 lbs | Maximum battery life: Up to 7 hours
Read the full Razer Blade 14 review
Razer’s flagship Blade laptop has been the closest PC to Apple’s MacBook Pro since its debut, and the latest Blade 14 isn’t any different. It features the company’s signature build quality with a rugged aluminum case, but now you can choose between AMD’s Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 and 4070. A new LCD with 240Hz refresh rate lets you play almost any game. You can attack with eye-bleeding speed (or at least improve your accuracy while sniping in Overwatch 2). I was hoping for an OLED screen like the one on the Zephyrus G14, but the Blade 14 is still a great gaming notebook. Be prepared to pay a premium for great hardware.
$2,836 on Amazon
Will Lipman Photography from Engadget
Display size: 15.6 inches | Display resolution: 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | CPU: Intel Core i5-13450HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 | RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X | Storage: 512GB SSD | Weight: 6.19 lbs | Maximum battery life: 6.5 hours
Alienware has established itself as a solid premium brand, but Dell’s inexpensive G-series notebooks are worth a look for anyone in need of a budget-friendly machine. In particular, the G15 continues the trend of offering highly capable hardware such as Intel’s latest 13th generation CPUs, AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs, and NVIDIA’s RTX 30 and 40 series GPUs for less than $1,000. Masu. Granted, the case is mostly plastic, and the laptop screen doesn’t have all the latest features (at least it finally has a 165Hz option!). But it’s hard to find anything more powerful at this price.
$800 at Dell
Dell
Display size: 16 inches | Display resolution: QHD+ | CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 185H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 | RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X | Storage: 1TB SSD | Weight: 5.75 lbs | Max battery life: 90 Whr
Just a year after its launch, Dell has redesigned the latest Alienware m16 from the ground up. The result was the m16 R2. This is a lighter and more affordable gaming notebook that is equipped with an RTX 4070 GPU and can deliver strong performance in Cyberpunk 2077. It’s chunky at 5.75 pounds, but still 20% lighter than the previous 7.28 pound model. And for some, the m16 R2’s gorgeous 16-inch 240Hz LCD panel will be worth the effort.
$1,399 at Dell
ASUS ROG
Display size: 18 inches | Display resolution: QHD+ | CPU: Intel Core i7-13650HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 2TB SSD | Weight: 11.9 lbs
In some cases, a 16-inch or even 17-inch screen may not be enough. For the most demanding gamers and media editors, the ROG Strix G18 is an 18-inch beast powered by Intel’s latest 14th generation CPU and NVIDIA’s RTX 40 series family (including the top-end RTX 4080, of course). there is. The Strix G18 bills itself as a “gaming laptop” more than anything else in this guide, but it’s a solid choice for anyone who wants a big-screen machine at a relatively affordable price.
$1,760 on Amazon
Are gaming laptops suitable for school?
As already mentioned, gaming laptops are especially useful when performing demanding tasks. Their big promise is strong graphics performance, which is not limited to PC games. Video editing and 3D rendering programs can also take advantage of the GPU to handle tedious tasks. Some productivity machines, like Dell’s XPS 15, come with decent GPUs, but you can sometimes find even better deals on gaming laptops. My general advice for new flagship products is to pay attention to the specifications. Get at least 16 GB of RAM and the largest solid state drive you can get (ideally 1 TB or more). These components are usually difficult to upgrade later, so it’s worth investing as much as you can up front to get the most out of your PC gaming experience in the long run. Also, don’t forget the basics like a webcam. This may be required for the academic portion of the activity.
One big drawback when choosing a gaming notebook is portability. In most cases, we recommend the 15-inch model for the best balance between size and price. These typically weigh around 4.5 pounds, which is significantly heavier than a 3-pound ultraportable. However, today’s gaming notebooks are still much lighter than older models, so at least you won’t be lugging around a 10-pound brick. If you’re looking for something lighter, there are plenty of 14-inch options these days. And if you’re not into LED lights and other gamer-centric flashiness, look to more modest models with essentials like webcams (or find out how to turn those lights off) please).
