These were the best gaming laptops I saw at CES 2025

It’s been some time since even most of the finest gaming laptops have gotten a real refresh. That has to do with graphics playing cards. Nvidia has made us wait a number of lengthy years earlier than stepping as much as the brand new RTX 50-series playing cards, and with out a GPU improve, it’s laborious to justify shopping for an costly new laptop computer.

However with the RTX 50-series formally introduced, a load of recent and up to date gaming laptops have been introduced at CES this 12 months, and having checked them out myself in individual, these are the 5 that actually caught my consideration.

Razer Blade 16

It’s in all probability no shock to see the Razer Blade 16 on this checklist — however honestly, this is among the largest adjustments to this design in a few years. The chassis has been diminished considerably over final 12 months’s mannequin, which was truly fairly thick. This time round, it’s simply 0.59 inches at thinnest and 0.69 inches at its thickest. That’s extremely skinny.

Razer says the slight incline not solely helps with typing ergonomics but in addition with thermals, permitting for a small chamber on the backside referred to as a “thermal hood.” Including in a bigger vapor chamber internally and making the swap to AMD will assist preserve related thermals because the earlier design regardless of being thinner — once more, in line with Razer. Don’t neglect — you’re additionally getting as much as an RTX 5090 for graphics, and the identical killer OLED show.

Asus ROG Circulate Z13

The ROG Circulate Z13 is actually essentially the most distinctive gaming laptop computer I noticed at CES this 12 months. The two-in-1 design already makes it stand out, for positive, however the chip inside is what really makes this particular. It’s one among only some gadgets to make use of AMD’s new Ryzen AI Max+ Professional chips, which have a large built-in GPU inside. It’s so highly effective, in actual fact, that Asus has switched away from utilizing a discrete RTX 4050 or 4060, which have been out there in final 12 months’s mannequin. AMD is evaluating it to the Apple M4 Professional, saying it surpasses it in some efficiency testing. That’s an enormous deal.

The truth that such a chip and such a laptop computer even exist make it price mentioning on this checklist. However I’ve at all times liked the design of the ROG Circulate Z13, particularly in the way it retains the warmth away out of your fingers whereas gaming. If this fancy new Ryzen chip could make it a quicker, cooler, and quieter laptop computer, I’ll be delighted.

Lenovo Legion Professional 7i

The Legion Professional 7i has lengthy been one among our favourite gaming laptops for many who need a blinged-out powerhouse — and aren’t afraid to pay for it. This 12 months, although, it received a reasonably important improve to its design. It’s nonetheless a large-and-in-charge sort of gaming laptop computer, however this time Lenovo has changed mini-LED with OLED, which is a significant step up.

The opposite noticeable change is within the again, which replaces rear-facing ports with some RGB vents and returns the the array of ports to the edges. Lenovo says it’s for improved thermals, which this laptop computer will want if it hopes to chill the 250 watts of whole energy shared between the CPU and GPU. We’ll must see the way it shakes out when opinions launch, however that is one to look out for.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

The ROG Zephyrus G14 is a mainstay amongst our suggestions for finest gaming laptop computer, and after final 12 months’s important redesign, I wasn’t anticipating any critical adjustments this 12 months. And there weren’t. And but, the small tweaks make this already spectacular laptop computer that a lot better.

First off, it’s made the swap from AMD to Intel — the other transfer that the Razer Blade 16 made. Meaning it’s configurable as much as an Intel Core Extremely 9 285H and 64GB of reminiscence. Essentially the most significant change, nevertheless, is an added 2mm of thickness, which is permitting Asus to stuff in as much as an RTX 5080 this time round. Final 12 months’s mannequin topped out at an RTX 4070. And lastly, Asus has moved one of many USB-C ports to the opposite aspect of the chassis to make for extra handy charging choices.

Alienware Space-51

Not like most of the different gaming laptops on this checklist, the Alienware Space-51 isn’t attempting to be smooth or dainty. Alienware absolutely wouldn’t have revived the Space-51 branding if that was the purpose. That doesn’t imply the Alienware Space-51, which is able to are available in each a 16-inch and 18-inch measurement, has a sloppy design. By no means.

It is a meticulously crafted new look, harkening again to the basic Alienware vibes whereas nonetheless modernizing as many parts as attainable. The sides are softer and extra rounded once more, the ring of sunshine on the thermal shelf is refined and extra delicate, and even the hinge has a extra streamlined aesthetic. All are adjustments for the higher. I nonetheless want we have been getting some higher show choices right here like mini-LED or OLED, however it’s laborious to not respect what Alienware has accomplished with the triumphant return of the Space-51.