The best laptops for games and homework in 2025

0 3 6 minutes read

The best laptops for games and homework in 2025

Finding a laptop that can juggle games and homework isn’t as tricky as it used to be. Today, you don’t have to choose between a machine that can handle your job and a machine that can keep up with your favorite games. Whether you’re diving into an article, editing a video for a project or jumping into a round Fortnite or Baudel’s Gate 3 After class, there are many laptops that strike the right balance between performance, portability and price.

The key is to know what to look for. Solid gaming and homework laptops should have enough processing power to multitask, handle modern gaming’s GPU (even if you don’t set it up for Ultra boot) and decent battery life to get you through a day’s course or study lessons. Some are stylish and light enough to slip into their backpacks, while others are full-blown gaming rigs you get home and plug in. We have tested a range of laptops to help you find the right laptop for your student schedule and steam library.

Best Games and School Laptops in 2025

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Read our full Asus Rog Zephyrus G14 Review

The Zephyrus G14 has been our laptop recommendation for gaming performance for years, but thanks to the refined all-in-one aluminum case, the gorgeous OLED screen and weight savings are just 3.3 pounds, which is better than this year. This is weird for machines with AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4070 graphics. While the new Zephyrus G14 lost the RTX 4080 option from the previous model, that’s not a big deal. You’ll be better off using a lighter, more attractive model that doesn’t cost a ton.

Best Buy $2,000

Will be for Engadget’s Lipman Photography

Read our full Razer Blade 14 Comments

Razer’s flagship blade laptop has been the closest PC simulation to the Apple MacBook Pro since its debut, and the latest Blade 14 hasn’t changed. It has the company’s landmark building quality with a rock-fixed aluminum shell, but now it has AMD’s ryzen 9 8945hs CPU and NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 and 4070 of your choice. The new LCD has a 240Hz recovery speed with a 240Hz recovery speed, which also enables you to play at an approximate speed (or can give you a fast speed) (or can make your speeds all the way, at least enables you to get effects, or at least, it can enable you to play without a doubt. Overwatch 2). While we want to see the OLED screen as it does on the Zephyrus G14, Blade 14 is still a huge gaming laptop. Just be prepared to pay a premium for its excellent hardware.

$2,610 on Amazon

Will be for Engadget’s Lipman Photography

While Alienware has established itself as a solid premium brand, Dell’s cheap G-series laptops are worth a look to find anyone who needs a budget-friendly machine. In particular, the G15 continues to offer very capable hardware trends – including Intel’s latest 13th-generation CPUs, AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs, and NVIDIA’s RTX 30 and 40 series GPUs, for around $1,000. Of course, the situation is mostly plastic, and the laptop’s screen doesn’t offer all the latest delicacies (at least ends up with a 165Hz option!). However, for the sake of price, it is difficult to find something more powerful.

Dell $1,000

Dell

With only one year on the market, Dell returned to the drawing board with the latest Alienware M16 and redesigned it from scratch. The result is the M16 R2, a lighter, more affordable gaming laptop that can still hit Cyberpunk 2077 With RTX 4070 GPU. At 5.75 pounds, it is a chunky beast, but is still 20% heavier than the previous 7.28 pounds. For some, the weight is worth living with the M16 R2’s gorgeous 16-inch 240Hz LCD panel.

Dell $1,879

Asus Roger

Sometimes a 16-inch or even 17-inch screen won’t cut. For the most demanding gamers and media editors, there is the ROG Strix G18, a 18-inch beast Sporting Intel’s latest 14th-generation CPU and NVIDIA’s RTX RTX 40 series family (including the top RTX 4080 of course). The Strix G18 screams “Game Laptop” more important than anything else in this guide, but it’s a solid choice for anyone who wants a big screen machine at a relatively affordable price.

$1,899 on Amazon

The best laptops for FAQs for gaming and homework

Is gaming laptop good for schools?

As we have already mentioned, gaming laptops are especially useful if you do any demanding work. Their huge promise is strong graphics performance, which is not limited to PC gaming. Video editing and 3D rendering programs can also use their GPUs to handle laborious tasks. While you can find a nice GPU on some productivity machines, like Dell’s XPS 15, you can sometimes find better deals on gaming laptops. My general advice for any new workhorse: Be aware of the specs; get at least 16GB of RAM and the largest solid-state drive you can find (ideally 1TB or more). These components are usually hard to upgrade, so it is worth investing in the maximum benefits you can take advantage of the PC gaming experience over the long term. Also, don’t forget the basics like webcams, which may be necessary for your active part.

One big drawback of choosing a gaming laptop is portability. In most cases, we recommend using a 15-inch model for the best size and price balance. Those usually weigh about 4.5 pounds, which significantly far outweighs the super convenience of three pounds. However, today’s gaming laptops are still much lighter than older models, so at least you won’t drag around the 10-pound brick. If you’re looking for something lighter, there are plenty of 14-inch options these days. And, if you don’t like LED lights and other player-centric lightning, keep an eye out for more low-key models that still have webcams (or make sure you know how to turn them off).

Do gaming laptops last longer than standard laptops?

Not necessarily – it really depends on how you define “lasting longer”. In terms of raw performance, gaming laptops tend to pack more powerful components than standard laptops, meaning they can keep a longer relationship when it comes to handling demanding software or modern gaming. This makes them a reliable option if you need a system that won’t feel outdated after a few years, especially for students who also play games during downtime.

But there is a trade-off. All of this power generates heat, and gaming laptops are usually hotter than typical ultralight items and put more stress on internal components. If they are not cooled correctly or maintained regularly (think dust accumulation and heat paste), wear will shorten their lifespan. They are also often bulkier and have a shorter battery life, which can impact long-term availability depending on your daily needs.

Gaming laptops can last longer for performance, but only if you take care of them. If your needs are light (browse, write papers, and stream), a standard laptop may actually last longer, simply because it is less stressful every day.

What is the role of GPU in gaming and school computers?

GPUs play an important role in how your laptop handles visual effects – this is especially important if you use your computer for both games and schools.

For gaming, GPU is crucial. It is responsible for rendering graphics, textures, lighting and all visuals that make your favorite title look smooth and realistic. A stronger GPU means better frame rates, higher resolutions and the ability to play modern games without lag or stuttering.

For homework, the GPU is also important – but its importance depends on what you are doing. If your school tasks mainly involve writing papers, browsing the web, or using productivity tools like Google Docs or Microsoft Office, you don’t need a high-end GPU. But if you are working on anything that is visually required by graphic design, video editing, 3D modeling, or other good GPUs can greatly speed up and improve your workflow.

Georgie Peru contributed to the report.

admin 9 hours ago

0 3 6 minutes read