Best gaming laptops in 2021

Best gaming laptops in 2021

Best gaming laptops in 2021

Thanks in no small part to the popularity of Ultrabooks, there’s now an overwhelming variety of laptops for your gaming needs, with some serious power packed into these portable computing solutions.

While these machines used to be niche enough that it was a little easier to search for the one that happened to sport the best processor, GPU, and RAM assortment, the field has exploded since then and it can be a little harder to determine the best gaming laptop.

The gaming laptops of the last few years – thick chassis with RGB and tapered flares – are far from the only option these days, with a variety of advancements (such as Nvidia’s Max-Q technology) allowing the sleeker Ultrabook form factor to harbor some incredible grunt as well.

Regardless of if you’re in it for the stealthy, sleek numbers to slip in your satchel on the go, or an all-in-one replacement for a desktop rig, we’ve sifted through what’s on offer to bring you the best gaming laptops available in Australia.

Best gaming laptops in Australia at a glance

  1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
  2. Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED (2020)
  3. Gigabyte Aorus 17G
  4. Asus TUF Dash F15
  5. Alienware m17 R4 (2021)
  6. Razer Blade Pro 17 (2021)
  7. Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502
  8. Asus TUF A15
  9. MSI GS75 Stealth
  10. Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
  11. Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701
  12. Gigabyte Aorus 17G

Asus Zephyrus G14

The Asus Zephyrus G14 is an absolute beast of a gaming laptop. (Image credit: Asus)

1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

The best gaming laptop around

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS – 9 4900HS | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Screen: 14-inch Non-glare Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS-level panel, 120Hz – 14-inch Non-glare WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS-level panel, 60Hz | Storage: 512GB / 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0

Best battery life in a gaming laptop
Excellent performance
Thin and light
No webcam
Fans can get loud

While the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is missing a webcam and a Thunderbolt 3 port, its solid battery life, compact form, and powerful specs do a fine job at balancing everything that gaming laptops should be offering. This is an absolute beast of a gaming laptop, delivering an incredible performance with its AMD Ryzen 4000 processors and Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card while touting best-in-class battery life that will last you all day long, a fast display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a lightweight, ultrathin design. The best part is that you’re getting all that without burning a hole in your pocket. Don’t get us wrong; it isn’t cheap. However, for a laptop this impressive, we’re surprised Asus isn’t asking for more.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED (2020)

(Image credit: Future)

2. Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED (2020)

An upgrade to the OLED marvel

CPU: Intel Core i7-10875H | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super (8GB GDDR6; MaxQ) | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 4K (3,840 x 2,160), 60HZ, AMOLED, Gloss | Storage: 512GB SSD

4K HDR OLED screen
RTX GPU and 10th-gen CPU
Sleek with better thermal management
Expensive
Unfortunate webcam placement

While the Aero 15 range from Gigabyte is aimed at designers, it makes for one of the best value gaming laptops on the Australian market right now due to its powerful internals, brilliant display, and sleek, stylish chassis. This year’s model refreshes much of what was great about the 2019 model – packing a 15-inch 4K HDR screen which is ideal as a high-resolution on-the-go gaming monitor, media machine, or its intended design-centric use. It also ramps up the internals, with a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU running the show and the latest RTX 2070 Super GPU in assistance.

Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED

Best gaming laptops: Gigabyte Aorus 17G (2021)

(Image credit: Gigabyte)

3. Gigabyte Aorus 17G (2021)

New age hardware, old school vibes

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 Series | RAM: Up to 64GB | Display: 17.3-inch FHD 300Hz NTSC 72% IPS panel | Storage: 512 GB PCIe SSD

Incredible mechanical keyboard
Powerful gaming performance
300 Hz display
No upgraded design
Extremely heavy

A tactile mechanical keyboard and a 300Hz refresh rate display are just the beginning. The Gigabyte Aorus 17G (2021) touts an incredible gaming performance that might just be worthy of desktop gaming PCs. With one of the RTX 3000 GPUs under the hood, this will see you through the most graphics-intensive games, including competitive ones. And, because of its impressive battery life, you can do so away from a power source.

Read the full review: Gigabyte Aorus 17G (2021)

Asus TUF Dash F15

(Image credit: Asus)

4. Asus TUF Dash F15

Affordable CAN mean sheer power

CPU: Up to Intel Core i7-11375H | Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 | RAM: Up to 16GB DDR4-3200 | Screen: Up to 15.6-inch WQHD anti-glare 165Hz IPS-level display with Adaptive Sync | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD

Long battery life
Super thin and light
Strong gaming performance
No webcam
Keyboard lighting color can’t be changed

The Asus TUF line is no stranger to affordable great performers. Last year’s Asus TUF A15, for instance, was simply brilliant while keeping things accessible to budget-conscious gamers. The Asus TUF Dash F15 is back to preserve that affordability while also delivering brute strength. It brings in Intel Tiger Lake processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 mobile GPUs, and up to a 240Hz 1080p display without costing a fortune while also keeping things light, thin, and military-grade durable.

Read the full review: Asus TUF Dash F15

Best gaming laptops: Alienware m17 R4 (2021)

(Image credit: Dell)

5. Alienware m17 R4 (2021)

Big. Powerful. Beautiful.

CPU: Up to 10th Generation Intel Core i9-10980HK | Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | RAM: Up to 32GB DDR4 2933MHz | Screen: 17.3″ UHD 60Hz 25ms 500-nits display | Storage: Up to 4TB SSD + 512GB SSD

Blazing fast performance
Stylish chassis
Plenty of ports
Expensive
Basically no battery life

It’s not always going to be substance over style. The Alienware m17 series continues to prove this with the new Alienware m17 R4, an extremely powerful gaming laptop with plenty of ports and an extremely stylish chassis that lights up like a Christmas tree. That way, you can play all the latest AAA games smoothing and in style. Of course, this being one of the fastest gaming laptops in 2021, it won’t be cheap. However, if you have the money, you’ll be glad you chose this.

Read the full review: Alienware m17 R4 (2021)

Best gaming laptops: Razer Blade Pro 17 (2021)

(Image credit: Future)

6. Razer Blade Pro 17 (2021)

RTX 3000 gaming goodness

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 – 3080 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Screen: 17.3″ Full HD 360Hz – 17.3″ 4K Touch 120Hz | Storage: 512GB – 1TB SSD

Extremely powerful
Gorgeous display
Great performance at 1080p
Very expensive
Gaming at 4K needs tweaking

If you’re looking for an absolute beast, the best gaming laptop for you might just be this follow-up to Razer’s 17-inch leviathan. More than just a gaming portable, it makes for an excellent mobile workstation for creators as well – although gamers who have the cash will appreciate the RTX 3000 GPU, up to 64GB of memory, and display with fast refresh rates. It’s pretty expensive, though, so unless you need all that power or you just have the money to throw away, you really have to make sure you’ll make the most of it.

Read the full review: Razer Blade Pro 17 (2021)

Best gaming laptops: Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502

(Image credit: Asus)

7. Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502

Intel’s latest mobile tech brings its A-game

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti – RTX 2070 Super | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 anti-glare display, 60Hz – 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS, 144Hz | Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD

Excellent battery life
Good gaming performance
Fast screen
Not the most powerful
You’re paying a lot for the design

Those in the market for a mid-range gaming device might adore the Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502. It’s a great-looking piece of kit, serving as another entry to Asus’ much-vaunted ROG Zephyrus lineup of stylishly thin, and light gaming laptops. And, that fast screen makes it a joy for gamers with a predilection for fast-paced games. However, does it measure up to the most powerful laptops out there? While not cutting-edge, the Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502’s specs are decent for graphically intensive games and its battery can last a while, which makes it a great candidate if you’re not looking for a maxed-out machine.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 GU502

ASUS TUF Gaming A15

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is a great value gaming rig with a long battery life and military-grade durability. (Image credit: ASUS)

8. Asus TUF A15

The new affordable gaming king

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H – 7 4800H | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660TI – RTX 2060 | RAM: up to 32 GB SDRAM | Screen: 15.6″ (16:9) FHD (1920×1080) 60Hz Anti-Glare IPS-level Panel – 15.6″ (16:9) FHD (1920×1080) 144Hz Anti-Glare IPS-level Panel | Storage: 1TB 5400 rpm SATA HDD – 256GB/512GB/1TB PCIe Gen3 SSD

Great 1080p performance
New AMD processors
Very good battery life
Noisy fans
Not the most powerful gaming laptop
Design won’t be for everyone

Give us a laptop that touts one of AMD’s stellar Ryzen 400 mobile processors, and we’d be more than happy to try it on for size. What we found in the Asus TUF A15, however, is not just fantastic gaming performance, but a great value gaming rig with long battery life and military-grade durability as well. With the help of Nvidia’s most powerful 1080p graphics cards, this Ryzen 4000-powered laptop will see you through all your 1080p gaming demands without burning a hole in your pocket. Whether you play a lot of competitive esports or need a rugged laptop, this one’s a winner.

Read the full review: Asus TUF A15

Best gaming laptops in 2021 1

(Image credit: MSI)

9. MSI GS75 Stealth

Gaming power meets ultrabook style

CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H 2.20GHz | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q (8GB GDDR6 VRAM) | RAM: 32GB | Screen: 17.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) 144H

Super-sleek and subtle design
Tons of performance
Thin bezels
A little expensive

Considering the huge 17.3-inch display, it’s amazing that this laptop manages to be at once compact and sleek while still packing the latest GPU and plenty of gaming power to boot. It’s an improvement on the GS65 in most ways (but it’s certainly still great – see below), although the most significant bump is the inclusion of Nvidia’s RTX 2080 GPU and a stupendous 32GB of RAM. The Samsung SSDs come in a RAID configuration for ultra-fast speeds, and the screen has tiny thin bezels on all four sides. There is no doubt that this is a premium beast.

Read the review:  MSI GS75 Stealth

Dell G5 15 SE (2020)

The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) boasts impressive AMD specs, especially in the CPU department. (Image credit: Dell)

10. Dell G5 15 SE (2020)

A fantastic value

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H – 7 4800H | Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5600M | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare LED Backlight Non-Touch Narrow Border WVA Display – 15.6 inch FHD(1920×1080) 300nits WVA Anti-Glare LED Backlit Display(non-touch), 144Hz refresh rate | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

Excellent CPU performance
Very affordable for a gaming laptop
Quick and vibrant display
Gets pretty hot under strain
The plastic build feels flimsy

Though Dell has its premium lines, it’s also been very good at building excellent budget machines. The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is a very good example of that, touting impressive AMD specs, especially in the CPU department, to keep cost down without compromising performance. This is among the very few gaming laptops out there that are affordable and also deliver a staggering performance for the price, with a stunning display to boot. Of course, being a budget laptop, some sacrifices have been made – namely, its build and heat management. However, for the budget-minded, this is certainly among the best gaming laptops out there for gaming.

Read the full review: Dell G5 15 SE (2020)

Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701

(Image credit: Asus)

11. Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701

Power and beauty

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 – GeForce GTX 2080 Max-Q (8GB GDDR6 VRAM) | RAM: 8GB – 24GB | Screen: 17.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) 144Hz panel with G-Sync

 Super thin
 Tons of performance
 Very expensive

These days, the best gaming laptop manufacturers are scrambling to craft the thinnest gaming laptop packing raw power. Right now, the one that might be leading the charge is the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX701. At just 0.7 inches thick, this beast of a laptop boasts an Intel Coffee Lake Core i7 chip, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics and 16GB of RAM. That means you can play any PC game under the sun on Ultra, and also take it with you wherever you go – ideal for travelers with a penchant for gaming. Plus, it’s packed with RGB lighting that’ll dazzle just about anyone.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701

Gigabyte Aorus 17G

(Image credit: Gigabyte)

12. Gigabyte Aorus 17G

Big, powerful, industrial

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q | RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4 | Screen: 17.3-inch Thin Bezel 240Hz FHD 1920×1080 anti-glare display LCD | Storage: 2x M.2 SSD

Excellent performance
Top-shelf build quality
Fast and color-accurate display
Expensive
Heavy

If you want an absolute beast of a gaming laptop, Gigabyte’s Aorus 17G is a worthy candidate both inside and out. While this megalithic portable has a substantial weight of 2.7kg to match, it’s a small price to pay for such power inside – namely, 10th-generation processors and up to 64GB of memory, as well as Nvidia’s most powerful RTX and Super RTX cards. There’s nothing this laptop can handle (or annihilate), making it a prime example of what a next-generation desktop replacement can be. And, that’s without mentioning its 1080p display touting a whopping 240Hz refresh rate and its solid build. Just be ready to break that piggy bank, as this won’t be cheap.

Read the full review: Gigabyte Aorus 17G