Andy Edser, hardware journalist
This month I have been evaluating: Gaming laptops, headsets, and a couple of mice. I’ve also returned to the time-consuming vortex that is Diablo 4, since the optimal way to test a gaming mouse is to vigorously use it while expressing frustration. Probably.
One of the clichés that writers strive to avoid is commencing with “when I was younger.” However, I can be quite the contrarian, so without delay—when I was younger, gaming laptops were dreadful.
From bulky chassis designs to rough plastics to keyboards that felt like typing on bubble wrap, there was a significant flaw with almost all of them. The long-standing guidance was: if you’re in search of a gaming rig, avoid laptops. True gaming PCs were for entertainment, mobile devices were meant for work, and purchasing a gaming laptop was a surefire method to squander your money.
Over the years, that viewpoint has transformed. Certainly, it’s been feasible to acquire a genuinely potent gaming laptop for some time now at a fair price, and we at PC Gamer dedicate our days to discovering the best gaming laptop bargains for this precise reason.
Portability has also improved significantly. Thin, elegant devices that can easily fit in your backpack while allowing for some gaming during your next flight are now far more common, and the world is better off for it.
However, 2024 felt like a transformative moment for me. Despite recent advancements, I commenced the year still believing that, while gaming laptops had vastly improved, they were still a step or two away from being the ultra-versatile, futuristic machines we all envision in our minds.
Then, I encountered the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16. I distinctly remember the moment I took it out of its packaging and literally laughed out loud. It’s unbelievably thin, with a machined aluminum frame that’s part MacBook (boo, hiss), part sci-fi (yay). The stunning slashed design of the rear lid is razor-sharp in person, presenting a subtle form factor. You could easily take this to a meeting without drawing a glance, except perhaps from an unknowing individual questioning whether they missed the latest Apple update.
Except my review model housed a mobile RTX 4090 inside. And that, if you ever have the opportunity to handle a G16, is astounding. I recall flipping it around in my hands. Where exactly had all the weight gone? How on earth was it going to maintain its cool?
Well, the brief answer is, it doesn’t. The G16 is another laptop where cramming Nvidia’s top-of-the-line mobile GPU into the design is a misguided idea. Yet, it performed better than I expected. Yes, that GPU is significantly thermally throttled, and yes, the fans ramp up impressively, but it was better. Not quite enough to warrant purchasing one with this specific graphics chip installed, but still remarkably impressive in such a sleek and desirable laptop.
Consequently, due to this incompatible GPU and chassis pairing, I had to substantially lower the score in my review of the G16. Because of the presence of the RTX 4090, it was overly pricey, and it simply didn’t make sense to acquire the specific model I was evaluating.
It was quite impressive, though. So I was thrilled to see that my esteemed colleague Jacob, in his review of a Strix Point and RTX 4070-equipped variant, became just as enamored with it as I did. This was very similar to my review unit, except for the mega-GPU caveat being absent. And what an exceptional laptop it is.
Jacob also evaluated its smaller counterpart, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and praised its merits to anyone who would listen. Both the G16 and the G14 feature OLED displays, wonderful keyboards, excellent speakers, impressive battery life, and that unexplainable sensation of premium. Additionally, we’ve been discovering them on sale throughout the year, making both of these laptops even better values than their MSRP indicates.
2024 appeared to me as the year gaming laptops began to shed their troublesome origins and started to evolve into something far more sophisticated.
It is not only Asus enjoying a successful year, either. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 greatly impressed our Katie, thanks to its remarkable speed, outstanding Thermal Mode, and a robust yet elegant chassis.
This is a powerful device and while not as portable as the Zephyrus models, certainly makes a compelling argument as a mature, powerful gaming laptop for those of us who don’t spend all day immersed in RGB.
Desire another? Consider the Razer Blade 14, a perfectly portable little device with an all-metal frame, an excellent trackpad, and significant battery longevity. It’s not drastically different from previous Razer Blade models, but appears and feels like an enhancement of a formula long refined in the Razer labs. Gaming laptops are evidently improving, and suddenly the future of portable gaming machines looks exceptionally bright.
Naturally, there are exceptions. The MSI Titan 18 HX A14V feels as if it originates from an entirely different time, and the Asus Strix Scar 18 still presents as somewhat outdated despite having a few commendable characteristics. But in general? 2024, to me, appeared to be the year when gaming laptops began to shed their troublesome origins and started evolving into something considerably more sophisticated.
This makes me extremely eager for 2025. Concerning components, we’ve merely begun to witness the latest Strix Point and Lunar Lake laptops entering the market, and we have been impressed in our preliminary evaluations with what the innovative mobile CPUs can deliver. CES 2025 typically serves as the platform for significant laptop launches, and I am looking forward to getting my hands on the newest models when I travel to Vegas at the beginning of next year.
And regarding GPUs? Well, who can say at this stage. While we anticipate a variety of new Nvidia graphics cards to debut next year, predicting how long it will take for mobile versions to surface in new devices remains uncertain. Although, considering CES has always focused on laptops, I wouldn’t be shocked if there were one or two mobile GPU announcements in the mix. Regardless, whatever the new mobile chips turn out to be, I suspect they will still generate heat in a manner that causes complications for manufacturers.
However, with everything else about gaming laptops seemingly improving, I am very curious to see what the next generation will be like when manufacturers begin producing new models with the latest components. 2024 may have been the year when gaming laptops matured, but as for what they might resemble in 2025? I believe we should all be quite excited to discover.