Gaming laptops have become thinner, lighter and more powerful, to which we must add that they increasingly optimize energy efficiency to increase their autonomy. Here are at Naijaknowhow, we have analysed and listed the best gaming laptops in the market and we explain what you should look for before buying a PC for playing games.
Purchase guide for the best gaming laptops for games of 2022
There are several aspects that you must take into account when looking for a laptop that offers mobility and reasonable performance. If you add to this the price handicap, the choice is complicated by having to shuffle various variables.
You need a CPU that is powerful in terms of cores and speeds. Also a graphics chip powerful enough to support high resolutions without losing details in the graphics.
No less important is the amount of system RAM and storage, with units that offer more capacity to store games and other files. Finally, a reasonable resolution screen next to a design chassis that supports the challenges resulting from your ramblings.
With all this in mind, we have developed a series of purchase tips for each component of the laptop to help you in your final decision.
Which processor is the best for gaming laptops?
If we talk about Intel as the leading manufacturer of laptop chips worldwide, its 7th generation Intel Core processors, codenamed Kaby Lake, adapt well to the requirements of a portable gaming device.
However, the 8th and last generation codenamed Coffee Lake, is, even more, energy-efficient, while providing a considerable increase in performance.
As you will see below, many of the gaming devices shown here have eighth-generation chips, but choosing a previous model from the previous year could translate into a better price for your pocket. You do not need a Coffee Lake chip to face the future.
You may have heard of Intel’s new Intel Core i9, which has begun to make its appearance on some computers, including Apple’s MacBook Pro. With our recommendations, we hope that your decision is the most appropriate.
What graphics card to consider for a gaming laptop?
Undoubtedly, the graphics chip is the most important component of any laptop intended for games, since it does most of the work when the game runs on your computer, freeing up the workload of the CPU.
In addition, unlike what happens with a desktop PC, you can not access inside to update or replace the graphics card at any given time, so the decision you make initially will be decisive.
Notebooks with graphics chips Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti, 1080, 1070, 1060 and 1050 will be the ones that you should keep in mind when buying your new gaming equipment. You will see ‘Max Q’ versions of these graphics, created to fit inside the laptop’s chassis.
The GTX 1050 and 1050Ti are used more in portable gaming devices and should be a little cheaper than the latter. Predictably they could go down, but the reality is that they are still around € 1000.
What screen do I need for gaming laptops?
The screens of the laptops have improved considerably in recent years, to offer resolutions considered Full HD (1980 x 1080 pixels), also using better technology than the basic TN type panels found in cheap laptops.
As far as possible, search among the offer of laptops with IPS panels, which offer a wide and consistent visualization from all possible angles, as well as a better contrast ratio and a wider and more realistic range of colours.
Do not be fooled by the brightness of the screen: the contrast ratio, especially with lower brightness settings, is much more important than dazzling your eyes with values above 300 cd/m2.
You may find anti-reflective finish screens that are more practical if you use them in offices, reversing the trend of high-gloss reflective panels that were previously unavoidable for most brands.
The price of laptops also goes in relation to the resolution of the screen. When they are superior to HD, such as UHD or 4K, the graphics chips will need to offer higher performance to run the games.
Keep in mind that for most players, FHD (1920 x 1080) or QHD (2560 x 1440) will offer enough values to be able to represent a high level of detail, with very acceptable FPS display ratios.
If you want to offer a more smooth and smooth viewing experience, you can purchase 1080p or 1440p models with a refresh rate of between 120 and 144 Hz, values that are handled by the Razer Blade 15 or Asus ROG Scar 2 device.
How much storage do I need and what kind?
Undoubtedly, solid-state storage units have greatly improved performance and consumption than traditional hard drives. The user experience when it comes to turning on a PC immediately, starting programs, or opening and saving files, has changed considerably, significantly reducing time.
This will not make games run faster, although it can reduce loading times between levels, and cause them to start faster.
Our recommendation is to acquire an SSD in which to install the operating system of the laptop, with the option of a second large hard disk in the installation of the games. Remember that modern games take up a lot of space.
Do gaming laptops have better sound?
The sound in laptops for gaming has improved a lot in recent years, in addition to the headphone output, there are many brands that have been associated with other prestigious sounds in order to offer a set of surround speakers for those cases where you do not use a headphone.
Thus, we can see solutions from B & O, Harman Kardon, Onkyo or Dolby Surround. Our experience is that sometimes you can appreciate these differences, but it does not always mean that you have a better sound experience.
Battery life and other aspects
The autonomy of the laptop may not be as important as they can look for users who work daily with their laptops on journeys. The user of portable gaming will give priority to mobility versus autonomy.
In addition, the power of the processor directly affects the consumption of energy, so if you opt for a laptop with high performance, the battery will hardly be efficient, energetically speaking. Let’s see all these aspects below.
Now let’s delve right in!
The best gaming laptops of 2021
1. Razer Blade 15
Razer gaming laptop with Nvidia RTX 2070 Max Q graphic card under $ 2000
The Razer Blade 15 is a powerful notebook within the gaming area. The company, which specialized in all types of accessories for this market, currently has a portfolio of 7 computers that include the most powerful graphics chips together with high-performance hardware.
The screen of the Razer Blade 15 is also up to the hype. The aforementioned has an IPS panel with the possibility to choose between the model with FullHD resolution, or the 4K quality working at 60 fps and in multi-touch mode.
At the specification level, it includes an 8th generation Core i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 2070 Max Q graphic. You can also find this same model with GTX 1070 graphics in the Full HD screen mode at a more economical price.
Price: From $1,599 (approx. N577,000 naira in Nigeria)
2. Gigabyte Aero 15X
Gigabyte gaming laptop with 4k screen under $ 2000
This is a not so popular brand but surely deserves to be one of the best gaming laptops. The Aero 15X v8 model from Gigabyte comes with a balanced configuration for those users who want to combine working hours with leisure moments in a lightweight portable format that is easy to transport.
Its 4K screen is excellent, with the generally robust construction quality and a configuration designed to handle the latest game layout at a resolution of 1080p.
For connectivity purposes, the Aero 15X guarantees the new USB Type C and Thunderbolt 3 connection modes together with the more traditional Ethernet network connection, HDMI 2.0 output and three USB 3.0 ports. Its backlit keyboard will also allow you to focus more on the game and the driving controls.
Price: From $1,999 (approx. N722,000 naira in Nigeria)
3. Asus ROG Strix Scar 2
Asus gaming laptop with AURA lighting
For design purposes, the ROG of Asus has evolved in front of the previous generation with a narrower screen frame and more modern hinges that aesthetically make it more attractive, although it maintains a weight of 2.54 Kg and a thickness of up to 26 mm.
Another aspect of improvements on the ROG Strix Scar 2 of Asus is offered by the type of keyboard, with highlighted WASD keys and in transparent mode to be able to locate them immediately by the player. Its AURA lighting does the rest with improved membranes that speed up the recording of pulsations.
Aside from the fact that it is a somewhat heavy solution, and considering that the battery is not the longest, the rest of the features will not disappoint you, either by design, varieties of ports and response of keyboard and trackpad.
Price: From $1,699 (approx. N614,000 naira in Nigeria)
4. Alienware m15
Alienware gaming laptop with cooling system
If you are willing to pay for a powerful and mobile solution, the Alienware m15 offers a multitude of configuration options, starting from a cheap price that is currently at €1,449.
Unlike the majority of laptops, the Alienware m15 continues to present connectivity in its back, along with a cooling system known as bee panels with which an optimal interior temperature is guaranteed for its components to work.
If you do not mind paying an extra price for portability, the m15 is one of the best options to get to simulate great lighting details. The thinnest and lightest design does not take a toll on its power and performance, because it’s built with positive battery life.
Price: From $1,379
5. Acer Aspire VX15
Acer cheap gaming laptop under $800
Looking at the purchase price of the Aspire VX15 which happens to be one of the cheapest gaming laptops, we might well think that it is the PC configuration for gaming that best suits the needs of the mass public, with a price lower than €700, which is sometimes half of what other models cost.
The secret of this device seems to lie in the quality of the components, as is the case of the laptop, which is basically plastic. The vent for cooling has large ventilation grilles with red contours.
When playing a video in 720p quality loop mode, the Aspire VX15 lasts about six hours and 40 minutes, enough value to use it as a productivity PC, and not far from the best times of 9 hours offered by the Inspiron 7000 Gaming from Dell.
But make no mistake, since the contrast of the screen and somewhat weak colours will not make your games look splendid. Nor will you feel comfortable with the trackpad offered, something that you can solve with an external mouse.
Price: US $799 (approx. N290,000 naira in Nigeria)
Conclusion:
There you go, those are the best gaming laptops you should consider buying (in Nigeria or anywhere in the world) this year! We welcome your comments, questions, corrections and additional information relating to this article.
