The Best Gaming Laptops of CES 2021 | Top Five (5).

A gaming computer, also known as a gaming PC or gaming rig, is a personal computer designed for playing video games that require a high amount of computing power.

The virtual CES 2021 event may be different this year, but that hasn’t stopped it from rolling out impressive tech as per usual. The best gaming laptops of this year’s CES are a mix of many first-rate refreshes, a few outstanding overhauls of existing models, and notable newcomers. 

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To name-drop a few, the MSI Stealth 15M now comes with a brand-new shell that gives it a legitimate claim to the title of thinnest gaming laptop in the world. Meanwhile, the new Asus TUF Dash F15 comes with a hip design, military-grade durability, and an affordable price tag – proving once and for all that you don’t need to spend the big bucks for sheer power and portability. 

With Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3000 graphics coming to gaming laptops this year, the time to upgrade to a brand spanking new model is now. The best gaming laptops of CES 2021 are proof that power and portability can go hand in hand, and we’ve gathered them all right here.

1. LENOVO LEGION 7

Lenovo has released several gaming laptops this year, including the Legion Slim 7, the Legion 5 Pro, and the flagship Lenovo Legion 7. All eyes are on the Legion 7, however, as it comes with a newer display and the latest innards. Unlike its previous model, this 2021 version comes with a bigger, faster, and higher resolution screen. Its 16-inch IPS display touts a 2560 x 1600 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, HDR 400, and Nvidia G-Sync. That’s certainly an upgrade from 2020’s 15.6-inch, 1080p, 144Hz one.

Not to be outdone, the internal components get a proper update as well. This year’s Lenovo 7 comes with AMD Ryze 5000 chips and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs. That’s while keeping things around the same price point as last year’s. Expect to see it on the shelves around June 2021.

2. MSI STEALTH 15M

Is this the world’s thinnest gaming laptop?

Though lofty claims of being the world’s thinnest gaming laptop are yet to be substantiated, the MSI Stealth 15M is certainly a solid contender for the title. Being only 0.63-inch thick and 3.73 lbs light means that it’s thinner and lighter than both the MacBook Pro 16-inch and the Dell XPS 15. That’s while packing 11th-gen Intel Core chips and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 graphics – the highest configuration gets you an Intel Core i7-11375H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Max Q, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. In fact, it’s one of the first gaming laptops to feature Intel’s 11th-gen H35-Series mobile processors. 

That’s pretty impressive, especially for a gaming laptop. The display could be better, with MSI keeping things low-key with a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. However, even in 2021, a 1080p screen is still plenty sharp for gaming. Now available for pre-order starting at $1,399 (£1,025, AU$1,800), the MSI Stealth 15M won’t start shipping until later this year.

3. ASUS TUF DASH F15

Affordable CAN mean sheer power

The Asus TUF line is no stranger to affordable great performers. Last year’s Asus TUF A15, for instance, was simply brilliant while keeping things accessible to budget-conscious gamers. Now, it’s back at CES to prove that budget gaming laptops can also deliver brute strength. The new Asus TUF Dash F15 is set to do exactly that, bringing in Intel Tiger Lake processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 mobile GPUs, and up to a 240Hz 1080p display without costing a fortune. The cherry on top? It’s only 0.78-inch thick and only 4.41 lbs in weight.

And that’s on top of its military-grade durability and hip, office space-worthy design. No word yet on when the Asus TUF Dash F15 will be available and just how cheap it is exactly at the time of writing, but based on the success of the TUF A15, we’re sure the TUF Dash F15 will deliver as promised.

4. RAZER BLADE 15

Smooth 4K gaming

Available starting January 26 at the top online retailers, the new Razer Blade 15 may not feature any design revamps. However, its 4K display option does need the right internals to back it up. And, this year’s models make that a reality, thanks to Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 joining its specs roster. That’s right; the new Razer Blade 15 Advanced Edition will come powered with the best mainstream GPU for 4K gaming right now, alongside a 10th-gen Intel chip, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD.

Of course, if you’re looking for faster yet more affordable options, it’ll also have 1080p and 1440p displays available at 360Hz and 240Hz, respectively – all also touting RTX 3000 GPUs. The new Razer Blade 15 starts at $1,699 (about £1,325 / AU$2,380), with the 4K display, RTX 3080 configuration setting you back $3,299 (about £2,420 / AU$4,230).

5. RAZER BLADE PRO 15

Fast 4K gaming

If you don’t mind a slightly bulkier gaming portable, however, the Razer Blade Pro 17 offers everything the Razer Blade 15 with 4K display has to offer, only faster. Only $300 more than its smaller cousin, this configuration of the new Blade Pro 17 comes with a 4K display with double the refresh rate at 120Hz. It also comes with the Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU for that impeccable 4K gaming experience. Much like the 15, it also comes with largely similar display options and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 graphics cards.

The question is, is it worth shelling out more over the Blade 15? In our humble option, if you’re all about the 4K gaming life, yes. That’s especially since it’s not really much thicker or heavier. If you’re going for the 1440p option, however, the smaller version has a faster refresh rate.