Tech News: Buying Guide: 10 best gaming laptops 2015: top gaming notebooks reviewed

Buying Guide: 10 best gaming laptops 2015: top gaming notebooks reviewed Gaming laptops we recommend

You don't even need to tell us what happened when you told your friends that you want to buy a gaming laptop. Their inner elitist got the best of them, and bashed you for not just building an outright gaming desktop. But we get you. Building a gaming PC takes knowledge and dexterity that you just don't have or care to develop.

That's where the gaming laptop shines, as a fast lane to PC gaming. No need to build a case or even buy a monitor. Of course, that convenience usually comes with a hefty price tag. Most vendors start their asking prices at around $1,400 (about £901, AU$1,894) for 13 and 14-inch products, whereas the biggest and beefiest 17 and 18-inch models can skyrocket upwards of $3,000 (around £1,931, AU$4,059).

If you're ready to accept that a gaming laptop will almost never be as affordable or offer the same level of performance as a comparably-priced gaming desktop, then your decision is already made. But again, the gaming notebook is a device of convenience and portability over raw power. Without further ado, here are our favorite gaming laptops that we've reviewed thus far.

Best Gaming Laptops

1. Origin EON15-X

A desktop-grade CPU in an unbeatable gaming laptop

CPU: 4GHz Intel Core i7-4790K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M (8GB GDDR5 RAM), Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 LED Backlit Matte Display | Storage: 240GB SSD; 1TB HDD (5,400 rpm) | Connectivity: Intel PRO Wireless AC 7265 + Bluetooth Wireless LAN Combo | Camera: 2MP Video Camera | Weight: 7.5 pounds | Dimensions: 15.2 x 10.31 x 1.40 inches (W x D x H)

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Great value Desktop-grade performance Razor thin viewing angles

Origin EON15-X is a real head turner. It packs a desktop processor into a fairly compact 15.6-inch laptop that, while smaller, offers even more performance compared to other, bigger hardcore gaming rigs. This extra CPU power is handy for users who need to edit video and other processor intensive tasks that a mobile chip can't handle. You'll also get an extra kick of performance in no matter what game you're running.

This machine is definitely worth consideration over all others and now that Origin has updated this monster with a Intel Skylake processor, you can bet you'll get even more performance mileage. Though, there might be a new performance champion on the block now that Asus has created the ROG GX700 as the world's first gaming laptop with liquid-cooling.

Read the full review: Origin EON15-X

Best Gaming Laptops

2. Aorus X3 Plus v3

A slim and light gaming machine

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Highly portable Blazing performance Trackpad is a weak link 4K screen makes text tricky to read

High-res gaming machines are a tough nut to crack whether you have a baller PC tower and even more so with portable laptops. So it comes as a pleasant surprise to see the Gigabyte build out the Aorus X3 Plus v3 as a machine that can fly even with a 4K screen in tow. This 14-inch gaming laptop can pull off this feat largely thanks to its beefy video card and dual SSDs. The Aorus X3 handles the latest graphics-heavy games such as Elite Dangerous with ease at 60 fps even in the most frantic space combat.

Read the full review: Aorus X3 Plus v3

best gaming laptops

3. MSI GT80 Titan

An outrageously sized and powerful gaming laptop

CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-4720HQ | Graphics: 2 x Nvidia GTX 980M SLI (16 GB GDDR5); Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 18.4-inch WLED FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare Display | Storage: 256GB SSD; 1TB HDD (7,200 RPM) | Optical drive Blu-Ray Burner | Connectivity: Killer DoubleShot Pro 11ac + Bluetooth 4.1 | Camera: Full HD type (30 fps, 1080p) | Weight: 9.9 pounds | Dimensions: 17.95 x 13.02 x 1.93 inches

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Authentic mechanical keyboard Easily upgraded H-E-A-V-Y Impossible to use on your lap

The MSI GT80 Titan goes above and beyond to give gamers a desktop experience in a notebook with a complement of high-performance parts to a built-in mechanical keyboard. However, weighing in at nearly 10 pounds and measuring roughly two-inches thick, this laptop is seriously pushing the limits of what you can call portable. For all the strain it'll put on your back and wallet, though, this 18.4-inch gaming laptop absolutely plow through almost any graphically intense game you try to run. This gaming behemoth proved to be a monster with the best in class mobile GPUs so we can't even fathom what it could do with a Nvidia GTX 980.

Read the full review: MSI GT80 Titan

Best Gaming Laptops

4. Gigabyte P55K v4

An excellent gaming laptop for budget-conscious players

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Speedy performance Great virtual surround Large screen bezels Average battery life

If you're looking to jump into PC gaming on a budget, the Gigabyte P55K v4 offers plenty of performance without breaking the bank. For the same price as the new 12-inch Apple MacBook you get a super-speedy Intel Core i7 processor with discrete graphics to boot. There's enough power on tap to easily surpass the 60 fps holy grail in almost any game so long as you knock your settings a peg or two below Ultra. To top it off P55K v4 features a great, colorful IPS screen and an immersive Dolby Digital Plus Home Theatre sound system to make this one of the nicest self-contained gaming platforms we've ever reviewed.

Read the full review: Gigabyte P55K v4

best gaming laptop

5. Alienware 17 (2015)

The Alienware 17 is an impressive refinement for this series of gaming laptops

CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M (4GB GDDR5 RAM), Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 17.3 inch, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS anti-glare display | Storage: 256 GB M.2 SATA SSD + 1TB HDD (7,200 rpm) | Connectivity: Killer 1525 802.11ac 2×2 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.1 | Camera: 2MP Full HD webcam | Weight: 8.33 pounds (3.78 kg) | Dimensions: 16.93 x 11.49 x 1.35 inches (W x D x H

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Flexible desktop mode Excellent large screen Still quite expensive Slightly bottlenecked Amplifier performance

The Alienware 17 is one of those few outrageously priced gaming laptops that's actually worth it. The notebook is a fully capable gaming machine on its own, but with the added power of desktop graphics through the GPU Amplifier it can play almost any game on Ultra settings.If you're looking for something smaller, the Alienware 13 also works with the optional GPU box.

Read the full review: Alienware 17 (2015)

Best Gaming Laptops

6. Aorus X7 Pro-Sync

Fully-loaded machine with everything you'll ever need

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Thin and fully-loaded Record breaking performance Hard to click trackpad Tornado-producing fans

The Aorus X7 Pro-Sync is a 17.3-inch gaming laptop that packs a ton into thin body. With no less than two graphics cards and a heady processor too, the X7 is overflowing with performance. What's more, thanks to some newly added Nvidia display technology, gamers can be confident they're getting the highest frame rates without any bothersome jitter and tearing issues. In the future, this Aorus X7 will come packing Nvidia's desktop graphics for even more performance.

Read the full review: Aorus X7 Pro-Sync

best gaming laptop

7. Origin EVO15-S

Peak performance from a super slim gaming laptop

CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M (6GB GDDR5 RAM), Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 eDP Wide View Angle Matte Display | Storage: Dual 128GB M.2 SATA SSD in RAID0 (256GB Total); 1TB HDD (7,200 rpm) | Connectivity: Intel PRO Wireless AC 7260 + BT Wireless LAN Combo | Camera: Built-in 720P Video Camera | Weight: 4.3 pounds | Dimensions: 15.35 x 10.47 x 0.78 inches (W x D x H)

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Super thin chassis Color rich, contrasty screen Short battery life Obnoxiously loud fans

There's plenty to like about the EVO15-S, and while it comes at an expensive premium, it's one of the few laptops that are well worth the expense. This Origin machine is one of the thinnest and lightest gaming laptops you possibly buy. It doesn't skimp on the latest cutting edge parts either with an excellent 1080p panel, three storage drives and plenty of RAM. Plus there's also the option to throw on a 4K screen for a marginally priced upgrade.More and more gaming laptops have been outfitted with Nvidia's latest GPUs, but the Origin EVO15-S is still one of the best-performing gaming laptops for a reasonable price.

Read the full review: Origin EVO15-S

best gaming laptop

8. HP Omen

A most sophisticated and attractive gaming laptop

CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-4720HQ | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M (4GB GDDR5 RAM), Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 Full HD WLED-backlit IPS touchscreen | Storage: 512GB SSD | Connectivity: Intel 802.11ac WLAN and Bluetooth | Camera: HP TrueVision Full HD WVA Webcam with Dual Digital Microphone | Weight: 4.68 pounds | Dimensions: 15.07 x 9.67 x 0.78 inches

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Bold, unique design Sublime screen Pricey compared to competition Lacking screen brightness

If you want a machine that doesn't follow the crowd with glowing alien heads and flaming decals, the HP Omen has a style unto its own. Steeply tapered edges give way to a plenty of lights and other little details to make this one of the industry's most sophisticated and attractive gaming laptops. Beyond looks, the HP Omen packs enough processing brains to handle anything from everyday task to hardcore PC gaming. As a mid-range system, it straddles the line of excellent power efficiency while still offering enough performance to handle the latest games.

Read the full review: HP Omen

Best gaming laptops

9. Digital Storm Triton

A rare powerful and affordable gaming laptop

CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970M (3GB GDDR5 RAM), Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 8GB DDR3L (1600MHz)| Screen: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 (Anti-Glare) LED-backlit Matte Display | Storage: 120GB SSD; 750GB HDD (7,200rpm) | Connectivity: Intel Wireless-AC 7265 + Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 2MP 720p webcam | Weight: 5.5 pounds | Dimensions: 15.16 x 10.67 x 0.98 inches (W x D x H)

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Excellent performance Thin, attractive design Bland screen Heat ventilation problems

The Digital Storm Triton is an attractive, powerful and, most importantly, affordable gaming laptop. These are three qualities you don't often hear in the same sentence, making this machine special for pulling together such a rare combination.It has enough computing power to play most modern games at 60 fps with just a few tweak in your graphics settings.Though it has a lackluster screen and trouble keeping cool, this Digital Storm laptop is still an incredible deal.

Read the full review: Digital Storm Triton

Best Gaming Laptops

10. Asus ROG G751JY

The G751 combines top-end components with a great design

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Good performance Great overall design Rather hefty Expensive

The Asus ROG G751 is a gaming tank in every sense. At 17 inches and 4.8kg, it's bigger and heavier than some other gaming laptops, but it sports a premium design spruced up with aluminum and houses powerful components that justify the chunk. Inside you'll find some of the best components available to notebooks to day that allows this mobile rig to play games at high detail settings. For all of its horsepower, the G751 is uncommonly quiet and runs at a gentle hum. It's big, bold, perhaps even beautiful — and definitely a beast. It's also worth noting that Asus has a new ROG G752 waiting in the wings with an new sleeker design plus Skylake processors.

Read the full review: Asus ROG G751JY