The 9 Best Gaming Laptops Under $3000 of 2023

If you are planning to purchase a new gaming laptop and have a budget of $3000 for it, you are at the right place. In this guide, we will talk about the 9 best gaming laptops under $3000 that you can buy currently in 2023.

We zeroed down on these top 9 options after comparing various models for their graphical and processing capabilities, display quality, cooling effectiveness, overall build quality, and much more.

After all, gaming is not just a task you do on your computer. It’s an experience to be had, and for the best gaming experience, you need to ensure your gaming laptop has powerful specs, a high quality fast refresh rate display and many other features that contribute to it.

We have selected the below mentioned gaming laptops after considering all those factors to ensure you get the best gaming experience and the most worth for your money.

so, check out our top picks and read their detailed reviews to make an informed purchase.

Best Gaming Laptops Under $3000 – Reviews & Comparisons

1. HP Omen 17

The best gaming laptop under $3000 overall

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX (16 Cores, 24 Threads, up to 5 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 16GB DDR6 VRAM
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 4800 MHz
• Storage: 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• Display: 17.3-inch QHD 240Hz IPS (300 nits, anti-glare)
• Weight: 6.1 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

The HP Omen 17 is our top recommendation for a gaming laptop under 3000 dollars for plenty of great reasons. You get the best GPU you can possibly get on a laptop, double the storage most laptops provide at this price segment, and a big high refresh rate screen, all under a budget of $3000. This great balance of features and price easily earned the laptop the No.1 position on our list.

Talking about the design first, the laptop looks and feels very premium and has a rather simple, minimalistic design. On the back of the lid, you have a neat Omen logo, and that’s it—no fancy lines running through the lid, no RGB lights on the sides of the chassis either. You can easily use this laptop in a professional setting, and nobody would bat an eye!

The laptop is also built very well with aluminum and plastic and has a matte finish on the back of the lid and on the chassis. It weighs 6.2 pounds, which is also not bad for a 17-inch gaming laptop. One thing you might want to consider, however, is that the hinge of the laptop is not one of the best available, and the display lid has some wobble issues because of that.

Coming to the display, the laptop has a big 17.3-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels (QHD). It has a refresh rate of 240Hz, which ensures that you never miss a frame, even when gaming at high frame rates. The display’s brightness stands at 300 nits, which is bright enough for most indoor environments. However, you can also use the laptop outside fairly well because the display has an anti-glare coating which makes it usable under direct sunlight despite being relatively dim.

The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-13700HX processor paired with 32GB RAM, and top of the line Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU that delivers outstanding gaming performance.

Most laptops under this price segment are equipped with a bit more powerful Intel Core i9 processor, which has 24 cores as opposed to the 16 cores that the i7-13700HX provides. However, the laptop more than makes up for it by using the best GPU you can get in the market: the Nvidia RTX 4090, equipped with a whopping 16GB dedicated graphics memory. And as mentioned earlier, you also get a 2TB SSD, which is rare in this price segment, where most laptops provide only 1TB storage.

For the keyboard you’d expect a 17-inch laptop to have a number pad, but this laptop surprisingly doesn’t have it. But apart from that minor nitpick, the keyboard is great and certainly one of the best you can get on a gaming laptop. It has great travel and is highly responsive. There’s also RGB backlighting, which you can set on a per-key basis.

As opposed to most metal-plastic hybrid build laptops, the HP Omen 17 uses aluminum on the upper side of the chassis instead of the display lid. This adds an extra bit of rigidity to the chassis, and there is absolutely no flex on the keyboard or anywhere around the trackpad. The laptop is also equipped with loud and crisp sounding two bottom-firing speakers.

Though one thing that may bother some people is that all the ports are on the left and right sides of the laptop, which may make cable management a bit difficult, especially when you’re using a mouse.

The back side of the chassis has no ports, owing to the vents taking up the entire space for the phenomenal 3-way thermal cooling system HP provides on this laptop.

Overall, the HP Omen 17, despite some shortcomings, is the best gaming laptop you can get under the $3000 price range right now. Its top-of-the-line GPU, excellent QHD high refresh rate display, strong chassis, and well-laid keyboard combine to make it the ultimate high-end gaming laptop for professional gamers.

2. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16

Our runner-up pick

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: 13th Generation Intel Core i9-13980HX (24 Cores, 32 Threads, up to 5.6 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU (12GB DDR6, 175W)
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 4800MHz
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Display: 16-inch QHD 240Hz Mini LED display (100% DCI-P3, 1100 nits)
• Weight: 5.9 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

If you’re okay paying a bit more and are looking for an alternative to the HP Omen 17, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 sits right next to it on our list and is a direct competitor to the Omen 17. Unlike the Omen 17, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 is a much lighter and more portable 16-inch laptop with its own sets of benefits and disadvantages relative to the HP Omen 17.

Starting with the design, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 has unapologetically a gaming laptop design. The display lid has a large ROG logo aligned to the right side and a diagonal line running across the entire lid, joining its opposite corners. You also get fancy RGB lights running across the sides of the laptop.

The whole laptop is made of plastic, except for the display hinges, which are made of metal. The screen doesn’t wobble at all, and overall build quality is also very durable. The laptop weighs 5.5 pounds, which is also on the lighter side for 16-inch gaming laptops.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 also offers a superb display for gaming. Its 16-inch display has a QHD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 240Hz. Covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, the ROG Scar 16’s display is also fit for color-sensitive tasks. The display also uses a mini LED panel instead of the usual IPS you often find in laptops, and this gives this laptop’s display a far greater ability to reproduce punchy colors, deep blacks, and high contrast ratios. It is excellent not just for gaming but also for content creation. The display also has a peak brightness of a whopping 1100 nits!

Inside, the Scar 16 boasts the most powerful laptop processor till date, the Intel Core i9-13980HX and an Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU. You might think the RTX 4080 would not deliver as good a gaming experience as the absolute best RTX 4090. However, for the most part, the difference between these two in actual gaming experience is only marginal. Apart from that, the laptop also offers 32GB of RAM and 1TB of high speed Gen4 SSD storage, complementing to its high-end CPU and GPU.

Moving on to the keyboard, it offers excellent travel and has 4-zone RGB lighting. You also have three brightness levels for the keyboard’s backlighting. The keyboard doesn’t have a number pad, but you can enable it on the trackpad by long-pressing on its top right corner.

It’s quite rare for gaming laptops, but the speakers on this laptop are phenomenal. In fact, they’re one of the best speakers you can get on a laptop. It has 4 speakers firing at the bottom, and they are loud, clear, and have good bass.

In terms of I/O, the laptop offers two USB Gen 3.2 Type-A ports on the right side, and on the left-hand side, you get two USB-C Gen 3.2 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a charging port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an RJ45 Ethernet port. Out of the two USB-C ports, one of them has Thunderbolt 4 support.

The whole back is reserved by a large exhaust vent, which, as you would expect, does a phenomenal job at keeping its high-end specs running cool while gaming.

3. Alienware M18

The best desktop replacement laptop

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: 13th Generation Intel Core i9-13900HX (24 Cores, up to 5.4 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 12GB DDR6
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 4800 MHz
• Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD
• Display: 18-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 480Hz 3ms IPS display with Nvidia G-Sync (100% DCI-P3, 300 nits)
• Weight: 8.9 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

If you’re coming from gaming on a desktop and are new to the laptop gaming club, you’d expect your gaming laptop to deliver similar performance, if not outperform, powerful gaming PCs. You’re also probably used to gaming on a big screen, which is why we recommend this 18-inch behemoth—Alienware M18 to you. Its powerful processor and GPU, combined with a gigantic high refresh rate screen, make it ideal for previous desktop gamers.

The design of the laptop is neat and unique. The lid features the Alienware logo on the top, and apart from that, the laptop’s design is minimalistic. On the back of the laptop, you get RGB lighting surrounding its ports and cooling vents area, which looks very cool.

Regarding build quality, its lid is made of aluminum, while the chassis is plastic. It is a high-quality plastic, so it still feels very premium to the touch. However, as you would have expected, it has a huge footprint and weighs 8.9 pounds, so it’s far from being a light or portable laptop.

Its display, as mentioned earlier, is 18 inches diagonally and has an extremely high refresh rate of 480Hz, which is perfect for competitive e-sports gaming. The display is also extremely color-accurate with 100% DCI-P3 coverage.

However, one thing that bugs me about its display is its resolution. Dell also offers an 18-inch QHD+ 165Hz display option for M18, but our unit has a 480Hz FHD+ display, which is largely gaming focused display panel. The display’s peak brightness of 300 nits is also on the lower side compared to the average 500-nits in this price segment.

Inside, the Alienware M18 boasts a powerful 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900HX processor with 24 cores and 32 threads and a max clock frequency of 5.4GHz. It also features an Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU equipped with 12GB graphics memory. You also get 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage on the variant that costs under $3000.

The performance and gaming experience both are superb. It runs almost any game you throw at it at max settings with FPS averaging at 213 in most modern games. Moreover, its large display make everything come to life and immerses you completely in the games.

Its per key customizable RGB keyboard is also decent and doesn’t disappoint. It has good travel and responsiveness. Unlike the two laptops mentioned above this one, the Alienware M18’s keyboard has a number pad. The touchpad is also decent and is slightly aligned toward the left.

However, the dual speakers at the bottom of the chassis are decent at best, so you better consider using headphones.

Connectivity-wise, it lefts no stone unturned, offering almost every port you could possibly get on a laptop with the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support for wireless connectivity. So, if you don’t plan on moving with your gaming laptop much and looking for something that could possibly replace your gaming PC, then the Alienware M18 is one of the best gaming laptops in the world right now!

4. Razer Blade 16

The Most Premium Design

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Core i9-13950HX (24 Cores, up to 5.5 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU (8GB DDR6 VRAM)
• RAM: 16GB DDR5 5600 MHz
• Storage: 1TB SSD (PCIe 4.0 x 4)
• Display: 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 240Hz with Nvidia G-Sync (100% DCI-P3, 500 nits)
• Weight: 5.4 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

Razer is known for its extremely well-designed laptops that are great from both an aesthetic and ergonomic point of view. The Razer Blade 16 is no exception. It has a very small footprint, and while it’s still a 16-inch laptop, it’s smaller than much of the competition and weighs only a little more than 5 pounds.

It looks premium from all sides: even the bottom end of the chassis is very clean, as opposed to cheese-grater-looking vents slapped across the entire base in most gaming laptops. Razer also offers it in two color options: Black and White, both of which look stunning.

Unlike other laptops in this list, the build of the Razer Blade 16 is also all metal, further adding to its premium feel.

Its 16-inch display is gorgeous with QHD+ resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. However, if you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can also get it with the Dual Mode Mini LED display. The dual mode of that display allows you to use the display in FHD+ resolution with 240Hz refresh rate or UHD+ resolution with 120Hz refresh rate depending on your need. Amazing, right?

The display is also very color accurate, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. This color accuracy makes this laptop ideal for both gaming and content creation. Moreover, the display’s brightness is also more than sufficient for outdoor use, peaking at the max of 500 nits.

Inside, the Razer Blade 16 packs a powerful Intel Core i9-13950HX processor and an RTX 4070 GPU. For the high price that you pay, the GPU it offers may feel a bit underwhelming, but Razer Blade laptops have always been more expensive because of their premium designs.

However, the Nvidia RTX 4070 in no sense is a weak GPU. It offers 8GB of dedicated graphics memory, which is enough to play most modern games at high settings. Furthermore, you get 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage on it with the maximum support of up to 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage.

The keyboard has RGB backlighting with per-key customization, and its typing experience is decent. Its keys offer decent travel, but it’s not as good as the Alienware M18 or ROG Scar 16. On the other hand, the touchpad is large, and I found it quite satisfying to use.

The speakers also sound great. It features a quad-speaker setup, two bottom-firing and two top-firing speakers, which deliver an immersive audio experience.

Lastly, it also does not compromise on connectivity. It offers a good number of ports, including the Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port, standard USB Type-A ports, the latest HDMI 2.1 port, and many more. As far as their placement is concerned, all ports are lined on the sides, and there are no ports on the back of the chassis. A slight setback, though—it does not have an Ethernet port, but Wi-Fi on it works great!

5. Acer Predator Helios 16

The best value for money option

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: 13th Generation Intel Core i9-13900HX 24 Cores (up to 5.4 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU (12GB DDR6 VRAM, 175W)
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 RAM
• Storage: 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Display: 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 240Hz Mini LED panel (100% DCI-P3, up to 1000 nits)
• Weight: 5.7 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

We understand that $3000 is a very large amount, and you want to get the most worth for your money to ensure your every hard-earned dollar is well-spent. If you’re looking for the best value for money gaming laptop under $3000, look no further than the Acer Predator Helios 16. It packs in an excellent set of specs and features for a relatively affordable price.

Starting from the design, the laptop has a clean, minimalistic look: not too much of a gaming aesthetic, except for the RGB on the back of the chassis. Its lid is made of aluminum, while the rest of the laptop is polycarbonate. It weighs 5.7 lbs, which is also on the lighter side for a 16-inch gaming laptop.

One of the main USPs of the Acer Predator Helios 16 is its display. It has a 16-inch mini LED display. Mini LED displays are far better than IPS displays when it comes to color reproduction, brightness, and contrast ratio.

It has a 2560 x 1600 (QHD+) resolution and a refresh rate of 240Hz, which is standard in this segment. Its peak brightness of 500 nits is also excellent and makes it reasonably easy to use the laptop outdoors or in brightly lit environments. The color accuracy of the display, however, is slightly lower than most laptops in this list, with 97% of DCI-P3 coverage.

Coming to the specs, the laptop features an Intel Core i9-13900HX processor with 24 cores and a powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 graphics card with 12GB graphics memory. It also has 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB storage, double than what other gaming laptops offer for the price.

The keyboard is a full-size RGB keyboard with a numpad. The travel is decent, but the keys don’t feel as responsive as others in this list. The touchpad is aligned to the left, but it probably won’t bother you because you will use a mouse while gaming anyway.

It also offers all the ports and slots that you would need. Ports are also smartly placed on the left, right, and on back side of the chassis, with frequently used ports easier to reach and others placed for better cable management.

All these well-thought-out great features and specs, with superb build quality and design, for a better price than other gaming laptops, make the Acer Predator Helios 16 the best value option in the sub-$3000 price range.

6. Razer Blade 14

The most portable option

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (8 Cores, 16 Threads, up to 5.2 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 (8GB DDR6, Max-P)
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 5600 MHz
• Storage: 1TB SSD (PCIe Gen4)
• Display: 14-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 240Hz anti-glare (100% DCI-P3)
• Weight: 4.0 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

In a world of big and chunky gaming laptops, if you want a great gaming experience without compromising on portability, your options are limited. However, the Razer Blade 14 is here to save the day.

The Razer Blade 14 boasts high-end specs in an ultraportable chassis. Although the words “ultraportable” and “high-end specs” together do not sound right, Razer has largely succeeded in achieving that with the 2023 Blade 14—thanks to AMD!

Unlike the Razer Blade 16, the Blade 14 has an AMD Ryzen 9 processor inside. This new processor is undoubtedly very powerful. However, it’s highly efficient as well. That means that it consumes less power, so you get better battery life, and it also generates less heat, meaning better thermals too.

Moreover, less heat from the CPU also allowed Razer to provide higher-end GPU options on this year’s Blade 14. As a result, you can get the 2023 Razer Blade 14 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, providing 8GB of dedicated graphics memory to play all the latest games smoothly. Paired with the powerful CPU and GPU combo is also a whopping 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB of latest Gen4 SSD storage.

Just like the Razer Blade 16, the Razer Blade 14 also has an all-metal build, which feels premium as well as sturdy. It also weighs only 4 lbs, making it one of the best ultraportable gaming laptops.

The laptop’s 14-inch display is also just fantastic with the QHD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 240Hz. That said, the 240Hz refresh rate might feel like a standard, considering most other laptops in this list feature one. However, a 240Hz refresh rate on a compact 14-inch laptop is rare. Its smooth high refresh rate lets you take full advantage of gaming at high frame rates enabled by its powerful GPU.

The display also has a peak brightness of 500 nits, which is good, and it is also highly color accurate, covering the entire DCI-P3 color gamut.

Moving down to the keyboard, it offers good travel and responsiveness. Of course, you wouldn’t get a numpad on a 14-inch laptop. But you get the beautiful RGB backlighting that you can customize as per your taste. Its touchpad is also large and comfortable to use.

Lastly, the Razer Blade 14 offers almost all the ports—a rare in portability-focused devices. The only port it misses out on is an ethernet port, making your online gaming reliant on wireless internet connection quality. But you needn’t worry, as Blade 14 has got you covered there too with the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

7. Asus ROG Flow X16 2-in-1 Gaming Laptop

For those who want a convertible gaming laptop

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H (14 Cores, up to 5.4 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 with 8GB dedicated graphics memory
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 4800 MHz
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: 16-inch QHD Mini LED Touchscreen 240Hz (up to 1100 nits, 100% DCI-P3 color)
• Weight: 4.4 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

Convertibles are no longer limited to being just on-the-go productivity devices. Now there are convertibles that you can play games on, like this one, the Asus ROG Flow X16 2-in-1.

The ROG Flow X16, despite being a 2-in-1, packs enough capable hardware to run all the latest games. Moreover, its design is also minimal, so you can use it as your work device without any problems.

The hinge quality matters a lot when buying a laptop, and more so, when buying a convertible laptop. Fortunately, Asus did not cut any corners with the hinge; it feels sturdy and durable. Its chassis is also well made with a lightweight magnesium alloy and aluminum, which is why it weighs just 4.4 lbs despite being a 16-inch device.

Coming to the star of the show—the screen—the ROG Flow X16 features a 16-inch touchscreen mini LED display with 1100 nits of peak brightness and 100% DCI-P3 color coverage. The display is superb in terms of color reproduction, contrast, and brightness. Moreover, it has a QHD+ resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, making it excellent for gaming, professional editing, or even just doing everyday work or watching videos.

As mentioned earlier, it boasts a very capable specs too, and is powered by an Intel Core i9-13900H processor, which has 14 cores, and it is paired with an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU with 8GB of dedicated graphics memory. This combination is not as powerful as the top-tier laptops in this list, but it should still give you a great gaming experience. The laptop also has 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, which is more than enough.

Now if we talk about the keyboard, then it does have RGB backlighting, but you cannot configure it on a per-key level. But it has a decent travel and doesn’t feel bad to type on. The touchpad is normal-sized and has good feedback on clicking, nothing to complain about. The speakers on the laptop are front-facing and deliver good quality sound. I must mention, Asus has bettered the speakers in its latest models, and for good.

Unlike other 2-in-1s, connectivity is also well managed on the ROG Flow X16. On the left-hand side of the chassis, you have a charging port, an HDMI 2.1 port, a headphone jack, and two USB-C ports, out of which one has Thunderbolt 4 support. On the right side of the chassis, you have two USB-A ports and a microSD card slot.

While port selection is decent, you don’t get an Ethernet port on this laptop. But that’s not a huge deal as it does offer reliable wireless internet connectivity.

So, if you are looking for a gaming laptop that’s versatile and portable enough to carry easily to different places and use on the go, then Asus ROG Flow X16 is the best gaming laptop under $3000 for you.

8. Dell G16 Gaming Laptop

Best gaming laptop for budget conscious buyers

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: 13th Generation Intel Core i9-13900HX (24 Cores, 32 Threads, up to 5.4 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 8GB DDR6 VRAM
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 4800 MHz
• Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen4 SSD
• Display: 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 240Hz IPS with Nvidia G-Sync (100% DCI-P3, 500 nits)
• Weight: 6.3 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

If you’re looking for a good, budget-friendly laptop that delivers comparable performance to the rest of the laptops in this list without burning a hole in your pocket, then this Dell G16 gaming laptop is the one for you. The i7 variant of the Dell G16 topped our list of best gaming laptops under $1200, and this is its i9 version, which offers even more at a reasonable price of around $2000.

Jumping right in, the G16 offers a 16-inch display with QHD+ resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and Nvidia G-Sync support. The display also covers a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. However, its peak brightness stands at only 300 nits, which makes it suitable only for indoor usage—a minor caveat.

Coming to the performance, it is powered by an Intel Core i9-13900HX processor paired with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD, and for gaming, it has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. These are indeed very impressive hardware specs for the price, and it makes the G16 a very capable laptop for gaming or doing any other demanding job.

The build quality of the G16 is also excellent, featuring an aluminum lid that makes the laptop look and feel premium. Furthermore, the use of aluminum instead of plastic also makes the laptop more durable. The laptop comes in two colors: Black and White, and it weighs 6.03 lbs, which is okay for a 16-inch gaming laptop.

The keyboard is responsive and has nice travel. However, it only has single-zone RGB backlighting, as opposed to all the other laptops here that offer fancy 4-zone RGB lighting in their keyboards and allow you to configure them on a per key level too. However, at the price point this laptop comes in, compromises like these are likely. The speakers are loud and crisp, although they lack bass.

The G16 does not compromise on any essentials, though. Like for connectivity, it has almost every option you can think of. On the right side of the chassis, it has two USB 3.2 type A ports, and on the left side, you get a headphone jack and an RJ45 Ethernet port. On the back of the chassis, you get a USB 3.2 type C port, a USB 3.2 type A port, an HDMI port, and a charging port, and the USB-C port on the back also has a Thunderbolt 4 support.

So overall, the Dell G16 is a fantastic high-end gaming laptop option to consider if you are concerned by the high price of other gaming laptops on our list. The G16 offers an equally good gaming experience as them, and you also do not miss out on much, apart from minor things like per-key RGB customization on the keyboard and a slightly dimmer display. The things that you would be totally fine without.

9. Razer Blade 18

Splurge worthy

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13950HX 24 Cores (1.8 – 5.5 GHz)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 (8GB DDR6 VRAM)
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 5600MHz
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Display: 18-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 240Hz IPS
• Weight: 6.8 lb

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

After reading about how heavy the Alienware M18 is, you might be haunted by the idea of getting a large 18-inch laptops. However, if you’re willing to pay more, the Razer Blade 18 is the perfect 18-inch gaming laptop. It is far lighter than the Alienware M18 despite being the same size and doesn’t compromise on performance either.

Just like the other Razer Blade laptops reviewed on this list, the Razer Blade 18 has a minimal design, and without the Razer logo on the back of the lid, you’d think it’s a business laptop. The laptop is made of aluminum, which makes it very durable. Apart from that, the aluminum build also makes the laptop look and feel premium. However, Razer Blade laptops have a known problem of being great fingerprint magnets, so you might need to wipe your Blade 18 every once in a while to keep it looking pristine. The laptop weighs 7 pounds, which is still very heavy, but compared to other 18-inch gaming laptops, it’s one of the lightest you can get.

The laptop has a big, 18-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 2800 x 1600 pixels (QHD+), which keeps all the text and graphics in your game sharp and crispy. The display has a refresh rate of 240Hz but is variable, so it can go down to 60Hz to save power. The display is also color accurate and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and its peak brightness is also decent at 500 nits.

The Blade 18 is powered by an Intel Core i9-13950HX processor and an RTX 4060 graphics card. It has 8GB of dedicated graphics memory, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD storage. However, if you’re willing to spend more, you can also get it with the top-of-the-line RTX 4090 GPU.

Overall, the laptop does really well in benchmarks, even with an RTX 4060 GPU, and should be able to handle heavy gaming quite effectively.

The keyboard has RGB backlighting that’s customizable on a per-key basis. It’s a TKL (Ten Key Less) keyboard, which means it lacks a number pad. Despite the laptop being a giant, 18-inch laptop, the keyboard is shrunk to a small place. The travel is also way too small, and typing on the laptop is not very comfortable. On contrary, the speaker system on the Razer Blade 18 is very good. It’s a six-speaker system that is loud and delivers great-quality sound—probably the best speakers on a Windows laptop.

As far as ports are concerned, on the left side of the chassis, you get two USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-C port, an Ethernet port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a charging port. On the right side, you get a Kensington lock, a USB 4 type-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support, an HDMI 2.1 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-A port, and an SD card slot.

Overall, Razer Blade 18 is a complete package. Though its pricing is very expensive, if you want to buy a least weighing 18-inch gaming laptop, this is the one.

$3000 Gaming Laptops FAQs

Conclusion

As you can see, even when you have a budget of $3000, there are a lot of options out there, and there’s no one laptop we can recommend to buy. What is good for you depends on your needs and preferences. In our reviews above, we tried to clarify the strengths and weaknesses of laptops from as many perspectives as possible to make it easy to select the right laptop for you.

To recap, the HP Omen 17 and the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 both deliver a good, well-rounded package of features and performance, thus, earning their positions at the top of our list. However, Razer Blade laptops this year have been great, despite minor shortcomings. Out of the 9 laptops on our list, 3 of them are Razer Blades.

Overall, it’s a great year for new gaming laptops, and the new RTX 40 series GPUs with its DLSS 3 support has improved the gaming experience on laptops to as close as PCs. Overall, this is a great year to buy a new gaming laptop, and we’re excited about what’s coming up next in the gaming laptop sphere.

There are always great gaming laptops for all budgets. If you’re on a tighter budget, you might want to take a look at our list of best gaming laptops under $1500 (half the price but not entertainment).

Got a question? Drop them below. Have a suggestion to make to improvise our list? We are all ears.

Thanks for stopping by!

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