Gaming Laptops
Laptops that cover your PC gaming needs
Find the best gaming laptops. Whether you choose a Lenovo custom gaming laptop to suit your specific preferences or spring for the simplicity and power of a prebuilt gaming PC, you'll have all you need to run latest AAA titles.
Find the best gaming laptops. Whether you choose a Lenovo custom gaming laptop to suit your specific preferences or spring for the simplicity and power of a prebuilt gaming PC, you'll have all you need to run latest AAA titles.
TOP GAMING LAPTOPS
LAPTOP GAMING
LAPTOP GAMING
Once upon a time, PC gaming was something people would do on their laptops as a fun distraction. It was a diversion—a "non-essential" function of their PC—and very much a secondary consideration (if it was even considered at all) when it came time to buy a new machine. Today, it’s a different story.
If you're a gamer, PC gaming isn’t just another thing you do on a laptop—it’s the main event. If a laptop can’t deliver a top-tier gaming experience, it’s not the right laptop for you. So, how do you choose from the best gaming laptop deals? Start with this guide. We’ve assembled the most important aspects of gaming laptops so you can make an informed decision.
The current generation of gaming laptops virtually erases the compromises that earlier machines forced onto gamers. Less power, fewer options, smaller and lower resolution screens, and poor audio… all things of the past. Today's best gaming laptops running Windows 10 are truly portable versions of their desktop cousins, and more than a match for gaming consoles.
With all that power and speed, the best gaming laptops can deliver any gaming experience on the planet, from high-frame rate FPS titles, to fully immersive VR. Needless to say, if they can do all of that, why would you want to be tethered to a desktop?
KEY FEATURES OF A GREAT GAMING LAPTOP
You’ll find the following features on most laptops, but they play such a critical role in a gaming laptop, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the right setup. Shop the best gaming laptop deals here.
Graphics Card
The graphics card (or GPU) is the beating heart of a gaming laptop. The goal is to pick a discrete graphics card that can deliver a great visual experience for your favorite type of game. If you plan to run Metro Exodus at 4K with the game cranked to its maximum settings, you’ll probably want a top-of-the-line NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 2080 Super. But most games will run just fine on the GTX 1650, or 1660 Ti. Likewise, the RX 5500XT from AMD’s Radeon™ series of GPUs, is a good choice for gamers who prefer strategy to strafing.
Pro tip: Avoid integrated graphics unless you’re a casual gamer.
PROCESSOR
As important as the graphics card is to a gaming laptop, the processor (or CPU) is just as key, because these two components work together to deliver the overall performance of the machine.
You’ll be offered a choice of Intel® processors, ranging from the Core™ i3, to the Core™ i7, with several clock-speed options. Consider the Core™ i5 your baseline, anything less will be unbearably sluggish. There’s very little a dual-core i7 chip can’t do, which makes it ideal for most gamers. Only step up to a quad-core i7 if your pockets are deep and your appetite for destruction is unlimited.
RAM
Memory (RAM) determines how efficiently your processor can work. RAM is measured in size (GB) and speed (MHz). Too little of each, and the CPU will be forced to borrow space from your hard drive or SSD. Too much, and you’ll see very little performance improvement for the money.
8GB is the current sweet spot for most gaming laptops, but consider bumping up to 16GB if you need to keep lots of other apps open in the background.
STORAGE
There are two main kinds of laptop storage: Spinning disks known as hard drives, and the non-moving SSDs (solid state drive). Traditional hard drives have more capacity, meaning you can save more files like photos, videos, and apps, and cost less per GB. SSDs use similar technology to RAM, which makes them way faster. Unfortunately, current technology makes SSDs much more expensive per GB, so they tend to have smaller capacities. A truly flexible gaming laptop will have dual drive options, giving you the benefit of speed and capacity in equal measure.
DISPLAY
A gaming laptop's display can range from a screen size of 15 inches to 17 inches. While size certainly does matter, it's actual resolution, refresh rate, and quality that matters more. A full HD, 1920 x 1080 resolution will let you play most games at the highest quality. Touchscreens might be handy on 2 in 1 gaming laptops, but they’re unnecessary on traditional designs. Look for IPS or OLED technologies, as both of these will help maximize off-angle viewing.
Of course, a gaming laptop doesn’t need to be limited to its built-in screen. External gaming monitors can give you a larger screen, higher resolution, and better brightness and contrast when you’re at home or at work. Plus, many Legion gaming monitors come with NVIDIA® G Sync® or AMD FreeSync® technology built-in. These technologies reduce or eliminate screen tearing that can occur, leading to an overall smoother visual experience
KEYBOARD
In the desktop gaming world, there’s a lot of enthusiasm for mechanical keyboards. Though rare on laptops, mechanical keyboards do exist and can provide a “clicky" tactile experience. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get superb performance from a regular gaming laptop keyboard.
Look for models that feature anti-ghosting and a high n-key rollover. Keyboards that have a standard pitch (size of the key) and travel (vertical movement when pressed) will be easier to type on and more accurate when gaming. Additionally, RGB backlighting, though not a necessity, can really add a wow factor.
BATTERY LIFE
Gaming laptops are power-hungry, because gaming is a processor-intensive activity. You won’t find many machines that are both portable and that give you all-day battery life. Instead, consider four to six hours as the current benchmark for decent battery life.
If longer battery life is really important, you’ll need to pick a gaming laptop with a smaller screen size, SSD-only storage, and lower-performance CPU and GPU.
OPERATING SYSTEM
When it comes to gaming, there’s no better operating system than Windows 10. Enabling Game Mode in Windows 10 allows the OS to squeeze every bit of performance from your laptop, prioritizing processor and graphics card resources to your game. DirectX 12, an integral part of Windows 10 produces higher frame rates and reduced latency for breathtaking graphics. Take advantage of Lenovo’s best gaming laptop deals today.
ACCESSORIES
While PC gaming accessories don’t come packaged in with most new gaming laptops, they’re a critical add-on if your goal is to be competitive at any level. A great gaming mouse, like the Legion M500, is going to be an absolutely necessary add-on for almost any type of gaming. And for upper-echelon competition, you’ll want to invest in a quality gaming headset to ensure you never get caught unawares. Check out the Legion H500 Pro 7.1 sound sound gaming headset, and you’ll always hear your enemy approaching.
Pro tip: Avoid integrated graphics unless you’re a casual gamer.
LENOVO GAMING LAPTOPS: Legion & Ideapad
We’ve spent decades thinking about what gamers need in a gaming laptop, but also, about how we can make laptop gaming fun for everyone. The result is a line of laptops and hardware designed specifically for gamers, Lenovo Legion, and a selection of regular laptops that can transform into gaming machines when the need arises, IdeaPad.
Our line of Lenovo Legion gaming gear is built by gamers, for gamers, and represents the very best in gaming laptops. The Legion Series is at the core of Lenovo PC gaming and has something for every type of gamer, including VR-ready models, rigs for eSports, and even affordable laptops. Every Lenovo Legion laptop comes preloaded with a version of the Windows 10 operating system, up to Windows 10 Pro. With features that will give you every advantage, like RGB backlit keyboards, variable screen refresh rates, DDR5 memory, and unrivaled NVIDIA® graphics cards, the kitchen sink is about the only thing we didn't throw in!
LEGION 5 & LEGION 7 SERIES
Mastercrafted Gaming Machines
Sometimes you need a laptop you can take with you to school or work during the day, then get lost in your favorite game afterwards. For gamers who want a laptop that can serve both needs, we've made select IdeaPad and Legion gaming laptops available with Windows 10 Pro. So, if you’re looking for the best laptop for gaming and work, these models already have the hardware to cover your business and gaming needs, and now they have the software too.
IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15
The perfect undercover gaming laptop for work, school, and play.