The Most Portable Gaming Laptop - Complete Buying Guide 2024

Tim Powers By, Tim Powers
Updated
Most Portable Gaming Laptop
Most Portable Gaming Laptop

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display

The Lenovo Legion Gaming Laptop offers a clean, minimalist design, the latest generation AMD Ryzen mobile processor, lightning-fast frame rates with uncompromised battery life, huge leap in graphical performance and an exclusive Lenovo Legion AI Engine. Enjoy fast, deep colors on the 15.6" FHD screen while the exclusive Lenovo Legion AI Engine dynamically shifts power between the CPU and GPU for more FPS on today's top AAA titles. Read Review

2. Runner Up: HP Pavilion Gaming 15.6-Inch Micro-EDGE Laptop

This laptop is equipped with the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, 9th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-9300h processor, and 8GB DDR4 RAM. The HP's thermal management system has been optimized to maintain a cool environment without sacrificing sound quality. Read Review

3. Best Design: ASUS TUF Dash 15 (2021) Ultra Slim Gaming Laptop

The ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop is packed with high-end features, including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card and the Intel Core i7 processor for superior performance. The 15.6” Full HD display has Adaptive Sync to enable smooth gameplay without screen tearing or artifacts. Read Review

4. Best Versatile: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15 Laptop

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15 Laptop is a thin, light laptop that has been designed to deliver the best performance. With a powerful AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series processor and NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics card it provides the perfect blend of power and portability. 8GB of DDR4 memory and 256GB of M.2 PCIe SSD storage give you plenty of space to store all your games and files with no compromise on speed. Read Review

Gaming is a popular pastime that not everyone has time for. Fortunately, gaming laptops have made it easier to enjoy your favorite games on the go. These powerful devices feature powerful graphics and solid audio systems so you get the best gaming experience possible.

They also typically come equipped with ultra-fast storage and multiple high-performance processors that work together to speed up gameplay performance as much as possible. With premium components and design, gaming laptops are becoming more and more attractive proposition than they were just a few years ago. So if you’re in the market for a new laptop that can play games, then look no further than this article! Here we will cover everything you need to know about buying the most portable gaming laptop.

You can count on our team of experts who have spent over 18 hours conducting surveys through 3,018 real customer reviews. Because of this, we came to the conclusion that the best-reviewed product is Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display with Mini-HDMI port. And HP Pavilion Gaming 15.6-Inch Micro-EDGE Laptop is another choice for you while keeping the product's quality and functionality.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display
Our Score:
9.7
Lenovo

With NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics behind you, you can enjoy the depth and visual fidelity of real-time ray-tracing – RTX Gaming, It's On

Connectivity: Built-in 720p webcam with e-shutter, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 4 USB, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, RJ45 Ethernet

The 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display on the Legion 5 gaming laptop delivers speed and color clarity for full-fidelity gaming

Legion TrueStrike keyboard with 4-zone RGB backlight; 2 x 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio for Gamers

Escalate your game with up to 8 high-performance cores in the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD storage

Realistic graphics: nvidia(r) geforce(r) GTX 1650 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated). enjoy new levels of gaming realism and performance with real-time ray-tracing technologies. Vr/mr ready. 15.6-Inch diagonal FHD IPS Anti-Glare micro-edge WLED-backlit Display (1920x1080) with 60Hz refresh rate

Ports: USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C(tm), 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, RJ-45, HDMI, headphone-microphone combo

Bios recovery and protection: automatically checks the health of your PC, protects against unauthorized access, secures local storage and recovers itself from boot-up issues

Thin and light (unpackaged): 14.17 inches (W) x 10.08 inches (D) x 0.92 inch (H); 4.92 pounds

Fast Processor: 9th Generation intel(r) core(tm) i5-9300h Processor, quad-core, 2.4GHz up to 4.1GHz with Intel's) Turbo Boost

Advanced thermal Management: optimized thermal design and IR sensor keeps your laptop cool to the touch, without affecting acoustics

Memory and storage: 8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (upgradable with 2 accessible Memory Slots) and Fast boot-up, file transfer and a snappier experience with the internal 256 GB pcie(r) nvme(tm) M.2 Solid State Drive

Battery life: up to 8 hours and 15 minutes (mixed usage); up to 6 hours and 45 minutes (video playback); up to 5 hours and 30 minutes (wireless streaming).

Operating System and Warranty: Windows 10 Home and 1-Year Limited hardware warranty with 24-hour, 7 days a week Web support

Fast and easy multitasking: experience high-grade Graphics and processing power that meets your gaming and multitasking needs for the latest games including Fortnight, PUBG, and Overwatch

15.6” 144Hz IPS-Type Full HD (1920x1080) display with adaptive sync

8GB DDR4 RAM | 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | Backlit Precision Gaming Keyboard

0.8” thin, 4.4 lbs ultraportable form-factor

Comes with Windows 10 Home and a FREE upgrade to Windows 11 (when available1)

Intel Core i7-11370H processor (12M Cache, up to 4.8GHz)

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6 up to 1585MHz at 60W (75W with Dynamic Boost 2.0)

4 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15 Laptop
Our Score:
9.2
Lenovo

2 x 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio for Gamers; spacious gaming keyboard with white backlight

8GB 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM memory and 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD storage

15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU to supercharge your favorite games. Slingshot your gaming visuals with 120Hz refresh rate for tear-free gaming

Fueled by the revolutionary AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series mobile processor, this IdeaPad gaming laptop delivers the wins. With 6 ultra-responsive cores, it's the new standard for gaming performance in innovative, thin, and light laptops

Connectivity: RJ45 Ethernet, 2x2 WiFi 802.11 ax, Bluetooth 5.0; 720p HD webcam and microphone array with privacy shutter; HDMI, USB-C

  • Aspect Ratio:16:9
  • With Alexa Show Mode, you can use your PC as a full-screen interactive experience that features rich visuals and lets you talk to Alexa from across the room.
  • Ports For All Your Accessories: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort), 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Power-off Charging), HDMI 2.1 with HDCP Support, Headphone/Speaker/Line-out Jack, Ethernet (RJ-45), DC-in for AC adapter.The Right Fit: 15.89" W x 11.02" D x 0.98" H; 5.95 lbs; One-Year International Travelers Limited Warranty (ITW); Up to 8 hours of Battery Life
  • Visual Intensity: Explore game worlds in Full HD detail on the 17.3" widescreen LED-backlit IPS display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 144Hz refresh rate and 80% screen-to-body/16:9 aspect ratio
  • Prioritize Your Gameplay: Killer DoubleShot Pro with Ethernet E2600 and Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 lets you use Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time, and have total control over priority traffic to maximize speed, throughput, and control
  • RTX, It's On: The latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti (4GB dedicated GDDR6 VRAM) is powered by award-winning architecture with new Ray Tracing Cores, Tensor Cores, and streaming multiprocessors support DirectX 12 Ultimate for the ultimate gaming performance
  • Dominate the Game: Great performance meets long battery life with the Intel Core i7-11800H Processor - up to 4.6GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads, 24MB Intel Smart Cache
  • Stay Cool Under Pressure: When heavy use requires an added boost, Acer CoolBoost technology increases fan speed by 10% and CPU/GPU cooling by 9% compared to auto mode, overall increasing thermal performance by 25% for better gaming comfort
  • Take Control of Your Gaming Laptop: The NitroSense UI can be called up with the dedicated keyboard button so you can instantly visualize your PC's component temperature, fan speed, loading performance, power plan, and more
  • Internal Specifications: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz memory (2 DDR4 Slots Total, Maximum 32GB); 1TB NVMe SSD (2 x PCIe M.2 Slots/1 x 2.5" Hard Drive Bay Available)
  • ROG Aura Sync System with RGB Keyboard
  • ROG Intelligent Cooling thermal system with dual 12V fans anti-dust technology and adjustable fan modes
  • Latest 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-core Processor
  • Ultra-slim 15’’ metal chassis gaming laptop 18 9mm thin 4 4poundss
  • 240Hz 3ms 15 6” Full HD (1920x1080) IPS Type Pantone Validated Display
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6 (Base 1080 MHz Boost 1305 MHz TDP 90W)
  • 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM | 1TB PCIe SSD | Windows 10 Home | Gigabit Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 (802 11ac 2x2)
  • It All Starts Now: Enjoy the latest generation Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business use.
  • Equipped With NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Series Graphics: Powered by Turing NVIDIA’s award-winning architecture, It’s a supercharger for today’s most popular games, and even faster with modern titles.
  • Powered by Intel's 11th Gen 6-Core CPU: With PCIe Gen4 performance and DDR4 memory with speeds of 3200MHz, the Intel i5-11400H 6-Core processor is able to ensure a smooth and productive experience.
  • Stay Cool & Quiet: Fine-tuned to be noticeably quieter and cooler under load, easily blending into any environment.
  • Fast FHD Display: The 15.6" 144Hz FHD, IPS-Level for quick response time gaming.
  • HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE: This i7 gaming laptop is built with 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processors that deliver powerful performance for uninterrupted gameplay
  • FOR SMOOTH HIGH-SPEED GAMING ACTION: Game with our fastest 15.6-inch G-SYNC displays ever, now with the option of an incredible 360Hz refresh rate and Advanced Optimus technology
  • STUNNING VISUALS: Built with powerful discrete graphics, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ensures clear gameplay
  • PREMIUM SUPPORT: We've made it easy to move all the good stuff over to your new PC, with 6 months of Dell Migrate
  • IMPRESSIVE MEMORY: Alienware's first 15.6-inch gaming laptop with 3200Mhz memory. This model even lets gamers upgrade their memory post-purchase, using the two available SO DIMM slots
  • SURREAL SOUND: Get deeper into the game through an added dimension of sound that places you at the center with Dolby Atmos
  • LEGENDARY DESIGN: The hexagonal-shaped vents boost intake efficiency and maximize air movement to maintain performance. Plus, you can customize the colors to match your style
  • NEXT LEVEL TECH: To take mega-tasking abilities to the next level, gamers can upgrade their memory post-purchase, using the two available SO-DIMM slots
  • VIVID VISUALS: Experience smooth, fast, and stunning graphics as the developers intended with more contrast and vivid colors
  • ELEVATED PERFORMANCE: Play with cutting-edge gaming technology powered by up to 170W across AMD Ryzen 6000 series processors, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics
  • 【Windows 10 included】4-Cell 80Wh Li-Ion Battery. 15.69"x 11.42"x 1.03", 6.55 lbs. Ports: 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-C, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combo, 1x HDMI,1x Ethernet Lan, 1x SD Card Reader. Wireless-AX + Bluetooth, Black. Bonus 32GB SnowBell USB Card.
  • 【Upgraded】Seal is opened for upgrade only, 1-Year warranty on Upgraded RAM/SSD from SnowBell, and original 1-Year Manufacture warranty on remaining components.【15.6" FHD 144Hz Display】1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity, Anti-glare IPS screen.
  • 【Intel Core i7-10750H Processor】Ultra-low-voltage platform. 6-core, 12-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go. 2x Dynaudio 2W Speakers + 2x 1W Woofers & 1080p FHD Webcam with microphone.
  • 【32GB DDR4 RAM】Plenty of high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run your games as well as multiple programs. 【512GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD】Save files fast and store more data. With massive amounts of storage and advanced communication power, great for major gaming, multiple servers, backups, and more.
  • 【Backlit Keyboard】with Anti-Ghost Key, allows you to enjoy comfortable and accurate typing, even in dim lighting.【NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Graphics】with 6GB shared video memory provide solid image quality for Internet use, movies, basic photo editing and casual gaming.
Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a most portable gaming laptop?

Upon looking for the perfect most portable gaming laptop, a lot of things should be taken into account. Each item has its own challenge of purchasing.  As a result of the formation, we're here to help, advise, and provide answers to these problems.

Please keep in mind the following points to select most portable gaming laptop that fit you most:

OS

The right gaming laptop starts with understanding the different operating platforms. We will discuss each platform and their respective benefits. We will also consider your individual requirements and preferences to make the best gaming laptop choice for you. Some laptops have multiple operating platforms to choose from, making them the perfect choice for anyone.

Structure And Size

Now that we have talked about the possible OS-based shifts, it’s important to select the right gaming laptop size before considering anything else. However, we must note that the physical presence is mostly evaluated based on the display size.

Accessory Compatibility

Now that you have covered all bases, it is time to see if the device is compatible with accessories or not. In that case, it is important to see if the headphone jack is universally compatible or there are enough slots to fit in external keyboards and mice. Most importantly, if you are looking to make the purchase, you must see if the retailer is offering an additional keyboard, laptop bag, or anything else to sweeten the pot further for the customers.

Specs, Innards, And Processing Power

So finally we are down to the internal components of the device. Here are the components that determine the quality of work, entertainment, gaming, and other activities. In this section, we will cover every aspect of the device’s physicality and even the components that are instrumental in driving the laptops. In simpler words, every aspect of the hardware will be taken care of.

Assessing The Battery Life

Selecting a gaming laptop requires careful consideration of your needs. Each one of the processing components and hardware inclusions requires power which is either offered by electricity or the power backup or rather the included battery. Therefore, the ideal scenario is to purchase a device that offers at least 8 hours of backup. Moreover, if you are looking to get a more beefed-up device you must compromise on the battery prowess of the same.

Display Quality

It's time to understand a bit more about the laptop selection process based on display quality. If you are into high-end gaming and incessant media consumption, a good quality screen is highly desirable. Budget units still pack the 1366 x 768 screens which don't resonate with better-looking content and sharper graphics.

Keyboard, Touchpad, And The Feel

Let us get a bit abstract with laptop purchases and focus on the device’s design. Most brands offer decently structured models which we witnessed in the preceding sections. Gaming laptops, in particular, offer features and designs that are ideal for those who enjoy playing video games.

FAQs

Is It Possible To Use An Ultrabook As A Gaming Laptop?

The term Ultrabook is a tricky one, as it was essentially drawn up by Intel to suggest that any slimline machine running an Intel processor and an SSD should be considered premium. The times have changed since then, and some super cheap machines can technically slide as ultrabooks these days which means the term generally covers expensive laptops running powerful configurations with a small form factor.
These machines do often still ship with standard Intel graphics chips, which means they likely won't be running the Nvidia and AMD GPUs that tend to set gaming laptops apart.

Should I Get A 4K Screen In My Laptop?

No, 4K gaming laptops are not the best choice for games. The standard 1080p resolution means that the generally slower mobile GPUs are all but guaranteed high frame rates, while companies are slowly drip-feeding 1440p panels into their laptop ranges. A 1440p screen offers the perfect compromise between high resolution and decent gaming performance. At the same time, a 4K notebook will overstress your GPU and tax your eyeballs as you squint at your 15-inch display.

Which Screen Size Is The Best For A Gaming Laptop's Display?

This will have the most immediate impact on your choice of build. Picking the size of your screen dictates the size of your laptop. A 13-inch machine will be a thin-and-light ultrabook, while a 17-inch panel almost guarantees workstation stuff. At 15-inches, you are looking at the most common size of the gaming laptop screen.

Is It Worth Paying For High-resolution Panels On Laptops?

We love high refresh rate screens on gaming laptops, and while you can't guarantee that your RTX 3060 will deliver 300 fps in the latest games, you'll still see a benefit in the general look and feel running a 300Hz display.

Do I Need To Worry About The CPU Of A Gaming Laptop?

That really depends on what you want to do with your laptop. An 8-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen chip will allow you to do a whole load of productivity on the road, but it won't be beneficial for gaming. That's one of the reasons Intel has launched its Tiger Lake H35 chips; they're quad-core, 8-thread CPUs, but they're clocked high to deliver high-end gaming performance when paired with something like the RTX 3070.

Which Component Is The Most Critical For A Gaming Laptop?

When it comes to gaming, the obvious answer is the graphics card, but that's where things have gotten a little more complicated recently. With GPU performance now so dependent on cooling, you have to pay attention to what wattage a graphics card is limited to and what chassis it's squeezed into.
As we said at the top, a graphics card in an 18mm chassis will perform markedly slower than one in a far chunkier case with room for higher performance cooling.

Are You Able To Purchase A Gaming Laptop That Has An RTX GPU?

If you're looking for a gaming laptop, Nvidia's RTX chips are currently in their 30-Series. That means that the vast majority of gaming laptops on the market are sporting them. That doesn't necessarily mean you need one if you're just playing smaller games on a budget, in which case a GTX 1650 is still a worthy consideration. However, if you're buying a gaming laptop today, the choices on offer will revolve around the RTX 30-Series line.

The list of most portable gaming laptop will be regularly updated to be included in additional data by our editor's team. Please keep an eye around for any amendments made to our website.

Our consultants could support you with problems related to most portable gaming laptop and other things as well. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you need advice.


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About Tim Powers

Tim Powers

Tim Powers is an audio equipment & home theater gadget reviewer and the editor of TheAudioInsights.com. He has been involved in the home theater hobby since the late 1990s when he purchased his first AV receiver. Tim is also a writer, with articles appearing in various online and print publications.