GROUP TEST GAMING LAPTOPS
Monster hunter buys
There’s a bewildering choice of laptops for serious gamers – so here are six of the best, from budget barnstormers to hardcore hardware
Alienware x15
What’s the story?
Alienware has long been a big beast in the field of gaming laptops, and that’s set to continue with the x15. It’s a tweaked version of the firm’s m15, and pairs a sleeker design with superb components and top-notch display options.
As usual there’s a wide selection of customisable specs, and this rig is also available in a hefty 17.3in form factor as the x17.
Is it any good?
The x15’s updated design is unmistakably Alienware thanks to its honeycomb vents and RGB LEDs. It’s hewn from magnesium, aluminium and plastic, and has near-flawless build quality. It’s also lighter than its predecessor.
Gaming grunt comes from Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 cores and you can choose from a trio of displays: combine the RTX 3070 with a 165Hz screen for buttery-smooth mainstream gaming, or opt for the RTX 3080 with 1080p at 360Hz or 2560x1440 at 240Hz if you want esports excellence or high-res visuals.
This machine has top 11th-gen Intel processors and lashings of memory, and it’s available with up to 4TB of SSD storage.
The x15 has the pace to tackle any gaming scenario, while the displays have lashings of brightness and huge colour gamuts. Wi-Fi 6 ensures fast networking, the USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4 and the snappy keyboard has 1.5mm travel and per-key RGB LED backlighting.
Superb stuff – just note that upgraded internals are coming to these machines later in the year.
from £2149 / stuff.tv/x15
Key specs
● 15.6in 1920x1080 165Hz/ 360Hz / 2560x1440 240Hz
● Intel Core i7/i9
● GeForce RTX 3070 / 3080 8GB
● 16/32GB RAM
● 512GB-1TB SSD
● 1-5hr battery
● 16.3mm thick, 2.36kg
STUFF SAYS Alienware’s latest certainly isn’t cheap, but it is brilliant ★★★★★
Acer Nitro 5
What’s the story?
If you’d like to get your hands on some top gaming power without rinsing your bank account, this Acer is our top budget pick.
This machine is available with current-gen Nvidia graphics alongside capable Intel processors and displays with the refresh rates to handle games at decent speeds.