13 Best Gaming Laptops UK Gamers Can Buy in 2023

The best gaming laptops are the ones that offer superb performance at a reasonable price and let you game for several hours without overheating or forcing you to sit next to a power outlet. That said, there are dozens of incredible gaming laptops on the market, so it could be difficult to choose just one, especially if you aren’t too familiar with all the different GPUs and CPUs.

In this guide, we’ve reviewed and compared the 13 best gaming laptop models available in the UK and highlighted their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right choice and get the best possible performance for your money.

Top 13 Best Gaming Laptops Available in the UK

If you’re looking for a quick answer, here’s our list of the best gaming laptops in the UK:

1. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro — A powerful, high-end gaming laptop with up to 14 hours of battery life.
2. Razer Blade 14 — Model with a high-powered CPU and graphics card, plus vapor chamber cooling for optimal performance.
3. Alienware X17 R2 — Equipped with advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech, tons of processing power, and customisable performance profiles.
4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 — Ultra-slim gaming laptop with a durable chassis and intelligent ROG cooling.
5. Acer Predator Helios 300 — Decent midrange option offering great performance for the price and the ability to run games at ultra-high settings.
6. Alienware m17 R3 Gaming Laptop — Lightweight laptop with a whopping 300Hz screen refresh rate for immersive gameplay.
7. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 — The best gaming laptop under £1,000, with a Ryzen 5 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 card.
8. HP Victus Gaming Laptop — The best affordable gaming laptop on our list, with powerful components and 32 Gb of DDR4 RAM.
9. Razer Blade 15 Advanced — Lightweight model with an innovative cooling system for optimal performance and a 300Hz refresh rate full HD display.
10. Acer Nitro 5 — Affordable option that offers excellent performance for the price, as well as fast loading a good battery life.
11. MSI Pulse GL66 — Flexible laptop that lets you mix and match different CPUs and GPUs according to your budget.
12. Asus TUF Gaming A15 — A cheaper platform that’s great for playing a variety of older games and that has room for upgrades.
13. HP Pavilion — A reasonably priced machine that offers stable performance without lag spikes or FPS drops.

Best Gaming Laptops for An Immersive Experience Reviewed

Read our in-depth reviews of the best gaming laptops to get a better idea of what different models offer in terms of CPU, RAM, and graphics, so you can compare them and choose the one that fits both your gaming needs and your budget.

1. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro — Powerful, High-End Model With Extremely Long Battery Life

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a powerful, high-end gaming laptop that’s guaranteed to run all games on ultra-high settings for the next five years, at the very least.

This Lenovo gaming laptop features the latest AMD Ryzen 7 eight-core processor with a 3.2GHz base clock (up to 4.7 max boost), 16 threads, and 16 Mb cache. The processor supports Simultaneous Multi-threading (SMT), which ensures even better gaming performance.

This powerful processor is paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, which offers the perfect mix of visual quality and performance, excelling at 1440p resolution.

It reliably reaches a two-digit FPS (frames per second) in ultra-demanding new games and a stable three-digit FPS in older titles. RTX 3070 Ti is slightly more powerful than the standard 3070 and 3080 models, and it features a flow-through cooling fan that improves cooling.

This means you can have longer gaming sessions without the laptop heating up too much. The laptop also comes with 32 Gb of faster DDR5 4800 MHz RAM and a 1Tb SSD and can be further upgraded with even more RAM.

This ensures fast boot-up and loading speeds and lets you comfortably run memory-hungry games and applications, multi-task, and have multiple Chrome windows with dozens of tabs open at a time.

The battery time of the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is up to 14 hours, so you don’t have to worry about constantly having it plugged in or the battery running out halfway through a match.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the laptop comes with both ethernet and HDMI ports, meaning you can hook it directly to the internet rather than through Wi-Fi to minimise latency and connect it to your TV when watching shows, movies, or YouTube.

2. Razer Blade 14 — 12-Core CPU, GeForce RTX 3080, and Vapour Chamber Cooling for Optimal Performance

Razer Blade 14 is another powerful gaming laptop, rocking the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU and a 12-core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X processor, offering stellar performance for even the most demanding, next-gen games.

This Razer laptop features a 165Hz gaming monitor, ensuring a crystal-clear display, perfect for fast-paced shooters where you need to see even the smallest glimpse of movement halfway across the map. You can also enable AMD FreeSync to eliminate choppy gameplay and broken frames, ensuring crisp performance at virtually any frame rate.

One of the key features of Razer Blade 14 is Spatial Audio support, meaning you don’t have to invest in gaming headphones to hear exactly where each sound is coming from.

This is indispensable for any game where audio queues can make all the difference between reacting in time and failing to notice the enemies before it’s too late. Razer Blade 14 also comes with vapour chamber cooling, which ensures optimal thermal performance.

The heat evaporates thanks to the internal fluid, ensuring the laptop stays cool and runs smoothly even during long gaming sessions or under heavy loads.

Beyond this, the keypad features customisable RGB keys, which can be synced with other Razer Chroma-supported peripherals (mouse, speakers) or set up to react to what’s happening in-game.

To sweeten things further, you can expect the battery to last up to 14 hours, which is enough to pull all-night gaming sessions or use the laptop for a full day’s work without worrying about looking for a power outlet.

3. Alienware X17 R2 — Advanced Alienware Cryo-tech and Customisable Performance Profiles

Alienware X17 R2 is a powerful gaming laptop designed to deliver tailored experiences to every gamer. It allows you to create multiple performance profiles for power, performance, thermal management, lighting, macros, and sound, which you can quickly switch between, depending on what you need for every game you play.

Alienware X17 R2 features the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070Ti GPU, which is extremely powerful in and of itself. However, you can further improve the laptop’s performance through NVIDIA DLSS. By using the power of AI, this is designed to increase the frame rate without sacrificing quality. Beyond this, the GPU also supports Ray Tracing for a more realistic, fully immersive gaming experience.

The Intel Core i9-12900H CPU has 14 cores and 24Mb cache and can be clocked up to 5GHz. Considering its power, the processor is reasonably priced, so you get a ton of value for money with this laptop and can run next-gen games without lag, stuttering, or any other issues.

To top it all off, Alienware X17 R2 comes with 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1Tb SSD, ensuring fast loading times and stutter-free gameplay. That said, what truly sets Alienware X17 R2 aside from other gaming laptops is the fact that it’s based on the Advanced Alienware Cryo-tech.

This cooling technology features four fans and gallium-silicon thermal interface material, ensuring the laptop can easily withstand heavy loads and function perfectly even after hours and hours of gaming.

4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 — Ultra-Slim Model With a Durable Chassis and Intelligent ROG Cooling

Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is an ultra-slim laptop that combines power, portability, and intelligent cooling technology to deliver excellent performance for gamers and creators.

Republic of Gamers (ROG) laptops are known for featuring powerful processors, and Zephyrus G15 is no exception. It features a Ryzen 9 5900HS CPU, an eight-core processor with excellent heat dissipation that can easily withstand even the most graphics-intensive games.

The CPU is clocked at 3GHz but can be overclocked up to 4.6GHz (Turbo). As for the GPU, you’ll experience superb gaming performance with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080.

The performance is further supported by ROG’s intelligent cooling system with self-cleaning and anti-dust tunnels. You won’t have to worry about the laptop overheating after lengthy sessions or slowing down over time with extensive use.

The laptop is made from a highly durable magnesium-aluminium alloy, which protects it from bumps and knocks, ensuring a longer lifespan. The alloy is engineered down to an ultra-thin layer, so the laptop only weighs 1.9 kg and is more durable than most models from other brands.

One thing to note, however, is that Zephyrus G15 comes without a camera or microphone, so you’ll have to invest separately in these peripherals.

5. Acer Predator Helios 300 — Strong Midrange Option, Offering Great Performance for the Price

Acer Predator Helios 300 is a decent mid-range option, offering excellent performance for the price. The laptop is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, with 6Gb of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM, so it can offer stellar visual quality even when playing the latest games.

The GPU is overclockable, and it supports NVIDIA DLSS and Dynamic Boost 2.0, so you can run games at ultra-high settings without stuttering or frame drops. The CPU is the tenth generation Intel Core i7-10750H, with six cores and up to 5.0GHz clock speed.

Despite being almost three years old, this processor consistently outperforms AMD Ryzen 7 CPUs and most Intel Core i9 processors, making it an excellent choice for gaming.

Predator Helios 300 gives you 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 Gb SSD. While DDR5 RAM has a better base speed and consumes less power for the same performance, DDR4 typically ensures lower latency and better stability, so it’s still an excellent choice for gaming.

You won’t have any issues running the latest games with this laptop, but you should note that you can’t upgrade it by adding more RAM later. Another thing to consider is that Helios 300 has an average battery life of six hours.

If you’re planning longer gaming sessions, you’ll have to ensure you fully charge the laptop beforehand and should be prepared to plug it in if you exceed the six-hour threshold.

6. Alienware m17 R3 Gaming Laptop — Lightweight Laptop With a Whopping 300Hz Screen Refresh Rate

Alienware m17 R3 is a lightweight, performance-optimised laptop with a 300Hz 3ms Full HD panel, perfect for visually demanding games where you want to fully immerse yourself in the stunning graphics.

It’s powered by the same CPU as the Acer Predator Helios 300 — the tenth-generation Intel Core i7-10750H, running at 5.1GHz. The difference with Alienware m17 R3 is that the processor is paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070.

The GPU is an older model, first released in 2018. Still, it pulls consistently good performance, so it’ll more than suffice for an average gamer. Besides this, the laptop comes with 16Gb DDR4 RAM and a 1Tb SSD.

It features Alienware’s signature Cryo-Tech for better component cooling, improving its overall performance and preventing overheating. One major downside of this model is that it’s very power-intensive, the average battery life is only two to six hours.

This means you’ll have to be near a power outlet if you plan on gaming for longer periods.

7. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 — Best Gaming Laptop Under £1,000 With a Ryzen 5 CPU

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is the best budget gaming laptop on our list, offering great performance, thanks to a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, for as little as £715.

The IdeaPad Gaming 3 comes with 16 Gb of DDR5 RAM, with the possibility of adding another 16 Gb RAM stick in case you need it later. It features a 1 Tb SSD with Windows 11 installed. The 15.6″ screen offers an FHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is still quite decent for gaming.

With an average battery life of six hours and a high-performance thermal system that prevents the laptop from overheating during lengthy gaming sessions, IdeaPad Gaming 3 is the best budget gaming laptop in the UK.

8. HP Victus Gaming Laptop — Best Affordable Gaming Laptop With Powerful Components and 32 Gb of DDR4 RAM

HP Victus is another excellent gaming laptop under £1,000, rocking an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti. The eight-core CPU, coupled with the improved version of the RTX 3050 graphics card and 32 Gb of DDR4 RAM, ensure a smooth, lag-free gaming experience at very high visual settings, even in more resource-intensive games.

The laptop features a 15.6″ full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, letting you fully immerse yourself in the games you love, thanks to stunning visuals. You can even connect the laptop to your TV screen to stream games, shows, and movies to the big screen.

One thing to note is that HP Victus Gaming Laptop has an enlarged touchpad, which can be handy for other stuff but will likely be an inconvenience for gaming since you might accidentally press it with your palm.

9. Razer Blade 15 Advanced — Innovative Cooling for Optimal Performance and a 300Hz Refresh Rate Full HD Display

Razer Blade 15 Advanced is a 2020 model which remains one of the most popular Razer laptops among gamers. This is mainly because it features a 15.6″ display with a 300Hz refresh rate, so you’ll actually be able to see and feel the impact of high FPS in your games.

This laptop is powered by an eight-core Intel Core i7-10875H processor, which can be clocked up to 5.1 GHz Max Turbo, so it’ll withstand even the most resource-hungry games, making it a great choice if you’re planning on running next-gen titles on it.

The CPU is paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super, which is about 20% faster than the base GPU models in the RTX 20 series, ensuring a stable, stutter-free performance.

Much like other Razer models, Blade 15 Advanced is thin and compact, so you can easily carry it wherever you go and be ready to game instantly. Another advantage of Razer Blade 15 Advanced is its innovative approach to cooling.

It consists of a vacuum-sealed, liquid-filled vapour chamber that reliably dissipates heat and ensures optimal performance by preventing the components from reaching higher temperatures, even during long gaming sessions.

10. Acer Nitro 5 — Budget Option That Offers Excellent Performance for the Price

Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is another budget gaming laptop offering a solid mix of performance and price. This laptop has an Intel Core i5-9300H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. The CPU and the GPU are older, midrange models, but they still offer solid performance in newer game titles on medium-to-high settings.

Acer Nitro 5 comes with 32 Gb of DDR4 RAM and a 512 Gb SSD, ensuring all your games load lightning-fast. That said, what truly enables this laptop to achieve outstanding gaming performance is the Acer CoolBoost technology.

This relies on twin fans and dual exhaust ports to dissipate the heat and alleviate the stress on the CPU and GPU, allowing you to utilise their maximum power without the risk of the laptop heating up.

Another great thing about Acer Nitro 5 is that it has an average battery life of eight hours, so you can easily go through an entire gaming session without worrying about charging it.

11. MSI Pulse GL66 — Flexible Laptop That Lets You Mix and Match Different CPUs and GPUs

MSI Pulse GL66 is solid if you’re looking for a bit more flexibility since it lets you pick and choose between four CPUs and five GPUs, so you can put together a powerful gaming laptop that perfectly fits your budget — plus, as one of the nicest looking laptops, it’s sure to fit in well with your gaming chair and overall setup.

Returning to CPUs and GPUs, we recommend a combination of the Intel Core i7-11800H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card. With 16 Gb of DDR4 RAM, this pair is more than enough to support stellar performance in all newer games for a little over £1,100.

While there are a few cheaper options, some of which we’ve covered in this guide, MSI Pulse GL66 is a tremendous long-term investment guaranteed to run all next-gen games at high quality in the next five years and more.

The laptop was built on MSI’s Cooler Booster technology, which ensures optimal thermal dissipation and stable performance during long gaming sessions.

Another reason to opt for MSI Pulse GL66 is the customisable keys, which can be set to react to in-game events in real-time and cleverly signal your in-game status through RGB keyboard lighting.

12. Asus TUF Gaming A15 — Great for Playing a Variety of Older Games

Asus TUF Gaming A15 is a midrange gaming laptop, ideal for casual gamers who play various older games and aren’t too concerned with running newer AAA games on ultra-high settings.

This gaming laptop has four variations, with the most affordable offering a great CPU in the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H and a decent graphics card — GeForce GTX 1650, for just £672, making it perhaps the best cheap gaming laptop on our list.

The drawback is that this build only has 8 Gb of DDR4 RAM. That said, there is an empty socket, so you can upgrade to 2 x 16 GB memory sticks down the line and go up to 32 Gb of RAM if you need it.

The display is a standard 15.6″ screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth gameplay at higher FPS. While its battery life isn’t the most impressive, it’ll still last you about four and a half hours on average before needing to be plugged in, which is quite decent.

13. HP Pavilion — Cheap Midrange Model Offering Stable Performance

HP Pavilion is a decent midrange option for gamers on a tight budget. For just £525, you get a powerful machine that can run all newer games on medium settings without lag spikes, stuttering, or huge FPS drops.

This HP model comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, a combination that offers excellent gaming performance for the price. You also get 8 Gb of DDR4 RAM, with the option to upgrade to 32 Gb.

The 15.6″ display delivers Full HD visuals at a screen refresh rate of 144Hz, offering a fully immersive gaming experience. One potential drawback of this laptop is the 256 Gb SSD, which is hardly enough to store all your games, with most modern AAA titles taking up over 50 Gb.

Top 13 UK Gaming Laptops Compared

Here are the specifications of the top 13 gaming laptops on our list, so you can see how they compare and find the perfect model that fits into your gaming budget:

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Gaming Laptop for You

When choosing a gaming laptop, most people just look at the GPU and CPU, thinking that newer is always better. That’s not always the case. Factors like the cooling system, screen refresh rate, and RAM also impact the performance and contribute to the gaming experience.

And there’s also the question of budget. Gaming laptops aren’t cheap, so you must ensure you get the most powerful gaming laptop for your money that’ll provide optimal performance for years to come. Here are all the factors you need to consider when purchasing a gaming laptop to ensure you’ve made the correct choice:

• What games you intend to play — If you plan on playing resource-demanding games like the God of War or Elden Ring, you’ll need an extremely powerful CPU and a GPU to match and at least 16 Gb of RAM. On the other hand, if you enjoy older games like Dota 2, League of Legends, CS:GO, or similar titles, a midrange gaming laptop will suffice.
• The average time you spend playing — If you often have six-hour or longer gaming sessions, you’ll need a laptop with an excellent cooling system and a decent battery life.
• Your budget — Lastly, it all comes down to how much money you can set aside for your new gaming laptop. Plenty of budget options offer solid performance for the money, but many superb high-end gaming laptops can easily match the best desktop PCs in terms of power and performance. It’s up to you to determine the budget and find the most optimal balance of power and price.

Are Gaming Laptops Better Than Gaming PCs?

This question is tricky to answer. Of course, a newer gaming laptop with a powerful GPU and a fast CPU will be better than an older desktop PC, but the same is true if you also reverse the roles.

In reality, the power of a gaming machine comes down to its components, so if the laptop and the desktop PC you’re comparing have the same components, they’ll be equally powerful. That said, a gaming laptop with the same components as a gaming PC will cost you significantly more.

This is because laptops need to be thin, light, and portable, which represents an additional development challenge — you have to fit all the components into the laptop chassis to achieve the expected level of performance, which is significantly smaller than a PC case.

Put simply, gaming laptops can be just as powerful as gaming PCs, but you should be prepared to spend at least 50% more on a laptop to get the same level of performance. You can look at it as paying extra for the portability of laptops.

Gaming Laptop UK FAQs