Choosing the right gaming laptop can be overwhelming, with so many popular gaming laptops out there. I know the struggle all too well. When my uncle asked which laptop I wanted years ago, I didn’t know anything about gaming requirements. I ended up with a laptop that could barely run the games I loved.
You don’t want to make the same mistake I did. Finding the perfect gaming laptop that delivers blistering performance without breaking the bank is crucial. That’s why I’ve done the heavy lifting for you.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the five key factors to consider when buying a gaming laptop in 2024. Then, I’ll share my hand-picked top seven laptops that blew me away with their gaming prowess. Finally, I’ll let you in on the best place to buy one of these laptops right here in Nigeria at an affordable price.
5 Factors To Consider When Buying A Gaming Laptop
If you’re looking to buy the best gaming laptop in 2024, the key factors I recommend considering are raw performance, display quality, portability, cooling capabilities, and overall price.
1. Performance:
When it comes to gaming performance, you want a laptop that can keep up with even the most demanding titles. A powerful CPU, beastly GPU, plenty of RAM, and fast storage are essential.
Anything less, and you’ll be stuck dealing with lag, stuttering frames, and visuals that look like you’re playing an 8-bit game from the 80s. As a competitive player, there’s nothing worse than getting your ass kicked because your laptop couldn’t handle the graphics.
2. Display:
But high frame rates mean nothing if your screen looks washed out or blurry. A high-resolution panel with a fast refresh rate and proper tech like IPS is key for smooth, vibrant gameplay visuals.
I once bought a laptop marketed as “HD” only to find out it had a terrible TN display – the colours were so bad I could barely make out enemies from teammates.
3. Portability:
Don’t overlook portability if you need to game on the go. You’ll want a reasonably compact and lightweight laptop that doesn’t feel like a laptop-hauling gym workout when you’re lugging it around.
Battery life is also crucial for those times when you need to play unplugged and away from outlets. The worst thing is running out of juice in the middle of an intense multiplayer match.
4. Cooling System:
When you’re pushing a laptop to its limits with graphics-intensive games, cooling becomes crucial. You don’t want a machine that sounds like a jet engine taking off or gets hot enough to fry an egg.
An efficient cooling system with beefy fans and vents is a must for lengthy gaming sessions without thermal throttling wrecking your performance. I’ve had laptops that were potent out of the box but became stuttery, laggy messes after an hour of gameplay due to overheating issues.
5. Price:
Last but definitely not least, price. For some gamers, money is no object, and they want to go all-out on the most souped-up, maxed-out laptop money can buy. But for the rest of us mere mortals, finding a bang-for-your-buck option from the mid-range or budget category is important.
You shouldn’t have to remortgage your home or sell a kidney to be able to enjoy buttery-smooth gaming. With smart shopping, you can get a very capable yet affordable laptop.
Best 7 Gaming Laptops To Buy In 2024
The top seven gaming laptops for 2024 are the MSI Titan 18 HX, MSI Katana 15, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15, Dell XPS 15, Razer Blade 14, HP Victus 15, and Acer Nitro 16.
1. MSI Titan 18 HX
If raw, unadulterated power is what you’re after, the MSI Titan 18 HX should be at the top of your list. This absolute unit is a performance monster, sporting the latest Intel and NVIDIA hardware that will chew through any game you throw at it.
A friend of mine has one of these, and the visuals look so crisp and smooth on the 18-inch QHD+ mini-LED panel that I almost didn’t believe my eyes.
The Titan has sharp colour accuracy, deep blacks, and a blistering 240Hz refresh rate for silky animations. Despite being VR-ready, the Titan is surprisingly portable, and the unique vapour chamber cooling keeps temperatures and noise under control during intense sessions.
2. MSI Katana 15
Okay, I get it – the Titan is a beast, but it’s also pretty pricey. If you want a more budget-friendly but still exceptionally capable gaming laptop, look no further than the MSI Katana 15. This is the rig I ended up buying recently and I’ve been seriously impressed.
The Katana packs some serious heat with its 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and RTX 3070 Ti graphics card. Thanks to the 165Hz display, I can play all the latest AAA titles at high settings with great frame rates.
While it’s not the thinnest or lightest laptop out there, the Katana has enough juice to let me game for a few hours when I’m away from outlets. The per-key RGB keyboard is also a nice touch.
3. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15
For those on an even tighter budget, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 caught my eye as an affordable yet very capable 1080p gaming machine. Sure, you’re not getting cutting-edge specs, but the 12th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and 16GB RAM provide enough muscle to run most games smoothly at medium-to-high settings.
What really sold me though was the portability – at under 4 lbs and just 0.7 inches thick, this is one of the most portable 15-inch gaming laptops out there.
The Slim 3i is perfect for gaming on the go without feeling like you’re lugging around a laptop and weight plates. While the 60Hz display won’t blow you away, it still looks perfectly decent, with good colours and response times.
4. Dell XPS 15
For gamers who also need a laptop that can do double duty for work or school, the Dell XPS 15 is hard to beat. This sleek and stylish machine doesn’t look like a typical “gamer” laptop, but it packs a serious punch under the hood.
I checked one out when my cousin bought an XPS 15 and I was blown away by the performance from the 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and RTX 3050 Ti graphics. The 3.5K OLED display is simply stunning with its inky blacks, vibrant colours, and 400 nits of brightness. Games look incredibly immersive and lifelike.
While not quite as powerful as some gaming laptops, the XPS 15 can still run the latest titles at 1080p/high settings with ease. Plus, its ultra-premium build, relatively compact size, and long battery life make it a killer option for gaming wherever you go.
5. Razer Blade 14
Leave it to Razer to craft one of the most drool-worthy and portable gaming laptops money can buy. The new Blade 14 takes thin and light performance to another level with its CNC aluminium chassis that measures less than 0.7 inches thick.
But don’t let the slender form factor fool you – this little beast is packing some serious heat. We’re talking up to an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, Radeon RX 6800S graphics, and blazing-fast displays up to QHD+ 165Hz. I saw one of these in action and it was handling the latest games at maximum graphics settings without breaking a sweat.
The Blade 14’s miniature vapour chamber cooling setup is almost silent, too, so you can game in peace without that annoying fan whine. The only real downside is the premium price tag, but for the ultimate in portable gaming perfection, it’s worth every penny.
6. HP Victus 15
For gamers on a stricter budget who still want great bang for their buck, HP’s Victus 15 should definitely be on your radar. This affordable laptop punches well above its weight class in terms of performance.
It can be configured with up to an Intel Core i7 processor from the latest 12th-gen family, along with a powerful RTX 3050 Ti GPU. I had a chance to try one out and was seriously impressed by how smoothly it was running Cyberpunk 2077 and other demanding titles at 1080p ultra settings.
The Victus 15 has a decent 1080p 144Hz IPS display with good colours and minimal ghosting too. It’s not the most portable option out there, but the chunky plastic build at least helps with cooling and keeps the price in check. For affordable entry into proper 1080p gaming, it’s a winner.
7. Acer Nitro 16
Rounding out this list of the best gaming laptops to buy in 2024 is the Acer Nitro 16. This laptop caught my eye as a terrific value-oriented option for 1440p gaming on a budget.
While not as cheap as the Victus 15, the Nitro 16 can be equipped with up to a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU and an RTX 3070 Ti GPU. That’s some seriously powerful hardware for pushing high resolutions and graphically intense games.
When I tested one out, I was able to crank the settings to Ultra and still get smooth frame rates in titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1440p.
The 16-inch WQXGA display itself is quite good too, with 100% sRGB coverage, 500 nits of brightness, and a rapid 165Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync support. Acer’s Vortex Flow cooling does a decent job at keeping temperatures under control as well. For around 1.7 million Naira, you’re getting exceptional 1440p performance at a reasonable price point.
Where To Buy Gaming Laptops in Nigeria
The best place to buy gaming laptops and other tech gadgets in Nigeria is Cardtonic. While there are plenty of popular options out there, like Jumia, Konga, and Jiji, Cardtonic really stands out with some awesome benefits.
For starters, they consistently offer discounted pricing on laptops, phones, and other electronics. But beyond just low prices, Cardtonic frequently runs promotions and deals that help you save even more when buying gadgets through their platform. You can even download the Cardtonic app to stay on top of their latest offers and shop on the go.
What amazes me is that Cardtonic originally started as just a gift card platform, but they’ve evolved into one of the premier online destinations for tech shopping in Nigeria. From my experience and chats with friends, their customer service and delivery are also on point.
So, if you want to buy one of those seven popular gaming laptops we covered at a truly affordable price, I’d recommend at least checking out Cardtonic first. You can save a nice chunk of change and get a quality machine to take your gaming to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Gaming Laptop In 2024
1. What Is The Most Powerful Gaming Laptop?
The MSI Titan 18 HX is likely the most powerful gaming laptop you can buy in 2024. It’s an absolute beast packed with the latest high-end processors, graphics cards, advanced cooling, and a brilliant mini-LED display.
2. How Much RAM Do I Need For Gaming?
For gaming in 2024, you’ll want at least 16GB of RAM, though 32GB is even better if you can afford it. This ensures you can max out game settings while also multitasking and running other apps smoothly.
3. Is The i5 Processor Good For Gaming?
An i5 processor can handle gaming decently in 2024, especially for less demanding games. However, an i7 or even an i9 CPU will provide noticeably better performance in the latest AAA titles.
4. How Much VRAM Does GTA 5 Need?
For an optimal experience in Grand Theft Auto V, you’ll want a graphics card with at least 4GB of VRAM, though 6GB or 8GB is recommended for maxed-out settings at higher resolutions.
5. Which Graphics Card Is Best For Gaming?
In 2024, the best graphics cards for gaming will be NVIDIA’s RTX 40 series or AMD’s Radeon RX 7000 GPUs. The RTX 4090/4080 and RX 7900 XT/7800 XT will deliver supreme performance in the latest games.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, choosing the right gaming laptop in 2024 comes down to finding the perfect balance of performance, display quality, portability, cooling, and value for your specific needs and budget.
Whether you want a slim, lightweight, portable powerhouse like the Razer Blade 14, an affordable 1080p ripper like the HP Victus 15, or an absolute 4K beast with the latest hardware crammed inside like the MSI Titan 18 HX, there’s an option for every type of gamer.
The seven laptops I covered – the Titan, Katana 15, IdeaPad Slim 3i 15, XPS 15, Blade 14, Victus 15, and Nitro 16 – represent the cream of the crop for 2024’s gaming laptop scene. Any one of them will let you experience the latest games in their full graphical glory for years to come.
