PC Gamer Hardware Awards: 2025’s Best Gaming Laptop

2025 has been a remarkably busy year for gaming laptops. With Nvidia launching a new generation of mobile graphics hardware, manufacturers have been forced to either refresh existing designs or rethink their laptops entirely. As a result, the market has seen an unusually strong lineup, spanning premium redesigns, unexpected value picks, and outright performance monsters.

Among the first laptops to arrive this year was a completely reworked flagship, signaling a clear intent to reclaim ground lost in previous generations. Last year’s standout blended performance with a slim, stylish chassis, leaving some traditionally premium brands looking bulky by comparison. That balance has shifted once again, and the competition is tighter than ever.

At the same time, value-focused surprises have emerged. Affordable machines equipped with top-tier GPUs were once unthinkable, yet this year has delivered exactly that. Alongside them are powerful desktop-replacement systems that prioritize raw speed but manage to distinguish themselves through thoughtful software rather than brute force alone.

Three laptops, each excelling in a different way, have earned nominations for gaming laptop of the year. The winner will be announced on New Year’s Eve.

Best gaming laptop 2025: the nominees

Razer Blade 16 (2025)

The previous iteration of the Blade 16 marked a departure from Razer’s classic slimline design, expanding its chassis to accommodate the thermal demands of high-powered GPUs. While effective from a cooling perspective, it sacrificed the sleek aesthetic the brand was known for.

The 2025 redesign corrects course. The new Blade 16 is noticeably slimmer, retaining only a subtle bulge beneath the CPU and GPU to maintain thermal headroom. While it does not push the most powerful GPUs at unrestricted limits, that is not the goal here.

This is a true hybrid machine, capable of serving as a professional work laptop during the day and a capable gaming system in the evening. Its standout trait is strong on-battery gaming performance, making it unusually flexible for a high-end notebook. The result is a refined, well-balanced device that feels purpose-built rather than overextended.

MSI Vector 16 HX AI

The MSI Vector 16 HX AI does not chase thinness or visual flair. Instead, it embraces a bulky, traditional design that prioritizes sustained performance. Its heavier chassis allows for quieter cooling under load, often outperforming slimmer and more expensive competitors while producing less noise.

What makes this system particularly notable is its pricing. Regular discounts place it among the most affordable ways to access top-tier mobile GPU performance, with relatively few compromises in real-world gaming scenarios.

Portability is not its strength, and carrying it daily would be a challenge. However, as a desktop replacement, it excels. The Vector 16 delivers consistent, high-end performance in a straightforward package, making it an unexpectedly compelling option.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen10

Where the Blade 16 focuses on balance and refinement, the Legion Pro 7i unapologetically targets speed. This is a large gaming laptop designed to extract maximum performance from its hardware, and in many cases it delivers frame rates that rival or exceed more expensive systems.

Despite its size, the design remains visually appealing, with subtle rear lighting that adds character without excess. The keyboard is excellent, the OLED display is striking, but the most impressive aspect lies in its software.

The LegionSpace application avoids the usual pitfalls of gaming laptop utilities. It gives users granular control over system behavior, allowing CPU limits to be adjusted independently of GPU performance. This makes it possible to significantly reduce fan noise while maintaining strong gaming results, a rare and welcome level of control.

With these three nominees, the competition for gaming laptop of the year is unusually well balanced. Each system excels in a different area, whether that is portability, value, or outright performance. The final winner will be revealed on New Year’s Eve, but any of these laptops would be a deserving choice.