These are the best gaming laptops I came across at CES 2025
It's been a while since many of the finest gaming laptops had a meaningful makeover. This has to do with graphics cards. Nvidia has made us wait many years before upgrading to the new RTX 50-series cards, and without a GPU update, it's difficult to justify purchasing an expensive new laptop.
But, with the RTX 50-series officially revealed, a slew of new and upgraded gaming laptops were unveiled at CES this year, and after checking them out in person, these are the five that piqued my interest.
Razer Blade 16
It's certainly not surprising to find the Razer Blade 16 on our list, but this is one of the most significant upgrades to the design in recent years. The chassis has been drastically reduced from last year's model, which was fairly thick. This time, it's just 0.59 inches at its thinnest and 0.69 inches at its thickest. That's quite thin.
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Razer claims that the modest inclination improves both typing ergonomics and thermals, allowing for a tiny chamber at the bottom known as a "thermal hood." Adding a bigger vapor chamber inside and switching to AMD would assist in maintaining identical thermals to the prior design while being slimmer, according to Razer. Don't forget that you'll receive up to an RTX 5090 for graphics and the same stunning OLED display.
ASUS ROG Flow Z13
The ROG Flow Z13 is unquestionably the most interesting gaming laptop I saw at CES this year. The 2-in-1 design stands out on its own, but the chip within is what actually distinguishes it. It's one of just a handful of devices that have AMD's latest Ryzen AI Max+ Pro processors, which include a large integrated GPU. It's so powerful that Asus has opted not to use a separate RTX 4050 or 4060, which were available in last year's model. AMD is comparing it to the Apple M4 Pro and claims it outperforms it in several performance tests. That's a big thing.
The mere existence of such a chip and laptop qualifies it for inclusion on this list. But I've always liked the ROG Flow Z13's design, particularly the way it keeps heat away from your hands while gaming. If this fancy new Ryzen CPU can make the laptop quicker, cooler, and quieter, I'll be overwhelmed.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i
The Legion Pro 7i has long been one of our favorite gaming laptops for people who want a blinged-out powerhouse but don't mind paying for it. This year, however, it underwent a considerable redesign. It's still a huge and powerful gaming laptop, but Lenovo has upgraded from mini-LED to OLED, which is a significant improvement.
The second notable alteration is in the back, where rear-facing ports are replaced with some RGB vents and the array of connectors is relocated to the sides. Lenovo claims it is for enhanced thermals, which this laptop will require to cool the 250 watts of total power shared by the CPU and GPU. We'll have to wait and see how things play out when the reviews go up, but this is one to keep an eye on.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
The ROG Zephyrus G14 is a constant on our list of the best gaming laptops, and following last year's huge overhaul, I wasn't anticipating any major changes this year. And there wasn't. Nonetheless, the minor modifications improve an already excellent laptop.
First and foremost, it has switched from AMD to Intel, which is the polar opposite of the Razer Blade 16. That implies it can support up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H and 64GB of RAM. The most significant change, however, is an additional 2 mm of thickness, allowing Asus to fit up to an RTX 5080 this time around. Last year's model maxed out at an RTX 4070. Finally, Asus has relocated one of the USB-C ports to the other side of the chassis for more easy charging capabilities.
Alienware Area 51
Unlike many of the other gaming laptops on this list, the Alienware Area-51 isn't striving to be slim or delicate. If the intention had been to restore the Area-51 branding, Alienware would not have done so. That is not to say that the Alienware Area-51, which will be available in both 16-inch and 18-inch sizes, is poorly designed. Not at all.
This is a thoughtfully developed new look that pays homage to the traditional Alienware aesthetic while updating as many components as possible. The edges are softer and more rounded, the ring of light on the thermal shelf is refined and more subtle, and the hinge has a more streamlined appearance. All changes are for the best. I still wish we had better display options here, such as mini-LED or OLED, but it's difficult not to admire what Alienware has accomplished with the triumphant return of the Area-51.
Luke Larsen is Computing's senior editor, in charge of all articles related to laptops, displays, PC hardware, Macs, and other topics.
Almost every major laptop maker arrived at CES 2025 prepared to compete.
Over the last four days in Las Vegas, I've seen everything from experimental designs to next-generation components, unusual form factors, and unfettered performance. Here are the greatest laptops from the show, which I can't wait to fully evaluate in the coming months.
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