Gaming laptops have always been in demand for people looking for a portable gaming machine. One thing to keep in mind when shopping for one is that you won’t find much at a low budget, as gaming laptops generally don’t come cheap. Regardless, in this article, we’ll provide a list of the best gaming laptops to buy in early 2026 across different price ranges.
Asus Rog Strix Scar 18
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 packs an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, an RTX 5090, up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 4TB of storage. It’s a desktop replacement that doesn’t hold back, and the aggressive design with full-surround RGB and a customizable AniMe Vision LED display on the lid makes that very clear.
On the positive side, it tops the charts in raw native performance, and the redesigned cooling system keeps things impressively quiet even under heavy load. The Mini-LED panel also delivers excellent picture quality, getting significantly brighter than most OLEDs with no risk of burn-in.
The biggest downside is the price, starting at $4,999 for the RTX 5090 configuration. Speaker quality has been a common complaint as well, with the audio described as tinny with no bass. There’s also no OLED option, which is something most competitors at this price already offer.
Lenovo Loq 15
The Lenovo LOQ 15 comes packing an AMD Ryzen 7 250 and an RTX 5060 GPU. The design is clean and minimal with no over-the-top gamer aesthetic, which works in its favor for people who prefer a more low-key look.
On the performance side, AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy run at high or ultra settings with DLSS enabled at 1080p and 1440p. Cooling is solid too, with temps rarely exceeding 70 degrees even under heavy load.
The main issues are the base configuration. It ships with only 16GB of single-channel DDR5 and a 512GB SSD, which feels like too little for the price. It’s still a decent budget pick, but expect to spend a little extra on upgrades. For a more in-depth look, you can check our review of the Laptop
HP Omen 16
The HP Omen 16 comes with an Intel Core i9-14900HX, an RTX 5070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB Gen4 SSD inside a 16-inch 1600p 240Hz display. The design is clean and relatively understated compared to most gaming laptops, which is a plus if you prefer something that doesn’t look too over the top.
The performance holds up well for the price, and the upgraded cooling system handles heat quietly even under heavy gaming sessions. HP’s software suite also lets you tweak components, monitor thermals, and run overlays, which is a nice touch.
That said, the display is the biggest letdown, falling below today’s standard and lacking visual punch. The price also climbs fast depending on the configuration.
Lenovo Legion Pro 5
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 starts at $1,399 and comes with up to an RTX 5070 and a 16-inch OLED display. The design is clean and understated, which is a plus if you want something that doesn’t look too aggressive.
The OLED panel is one of its strongest points, offering over 500 nits of brightness, wide color coverage, and deep contrast that most competitors at this price can’t match. The cooling also does a good job of pushing heat out through the back, keeping the keyboard deck cool during heavy sessions.
On the downside, the lid has a bad habit of collecting fingerprints, and Lenovo preinstalls apps like Vantage and Legion Space that include ads, with Lenovo Now being almost entirely promotional. The trackpad is also on the smaller side, which is a minor but noticeable annoyance for a laptop at this price
MSI Cyborg 15
The MSI Cyborg 15 is one of the more affordable options on this list, starting under $1,000 with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7, an RTX 4050, 16GB of RAM, and a 144Hz display. The design stands out too, with translucent sides and WASD keys that give it a retro-futuristic look without being too over the top.
For the price, 1080p gaming performance holds up well, and MSI backs it with a three-year warranty, which is well above the industry-standard one year.
The downsides are worth knowing before buying, though. The fan runs constantly and stays audible across a quiet room, even when you’re not gaming. The display also only covers just over 60% sRGB, which makes colors look bland in games and films. Battery life is poor as well, so don’t stray too far from an outlet.
Final Words
Gaming laptops come in all shapes and sizes, and as you can see, the price range varies quite a bit. If you’re on a tight budget, the MSI Cyborg 15 or the Lenovo LOQ 15 are decent starting points, just be ready to deal with some compromises.
If you have more room to spend, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 and HP Omen 16 both offer a solid balance between performance and price. And if money isn’t a concern, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is simply the best you can get right now. Whatever you go with, make sure the specs match what you actually need before pulling the trigger.