Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
-
01The best overall 15-inch gaming laptop
If you’ve been looking for a machine that’s a more standard size then you’ll want to consider one of the best 15-inch gaming laptops in 2023. Fortunately, this is the most common size model available and a familiar size for many manufacturers such as ASUS, Razer, MSI, and more. This roundup goes through some top picks for all budgets and preferences.
That’s the biggest strength of the best 15-inch gaming laptops because there’s a wide variety of options in this size. We’re bringing you all the top options that you need to be aware of. With that said, we’re also rounding up all the best gaming laptops overall as well as the best OLED gaming laptops to have the best displays possible regardless of chassis size.
Best 15-inch gaming laptops at a glance
Have a specific 15-inch gaming laptop brand in mind? No problem. Here you can see all our top picks at a glance so you can see what’s inside our recommended machines.
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 (RTX 3070 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch 240Hz IPS QHD
HP Victus 15 (RTX 4050)
CPU
Intel Core i5-13500H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
RAM
16GB DDR4
SSD
512GB NVMe
Display
15-inch FHD IPS 144Hz
Lenovo LOQ (RTX 4060)
CPU
Intel Core i7-13700H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD 144Hz
MSI Katana GF66 (RTX 3070 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM
16GB DDR4
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
FHD IPS 240Hz
Razer Blade 15 (RTX 3080 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch 4K 144Hz
For a deeper dive into things, we’re going into further depth about the best 15-inch gaming laptops so you can get the low down on all you need to know in more detail.
1. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 – The best overall 15-inch gaming laptop
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 (RTX 3070 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch 240Hz IPS QHD
- Powerful CPU and GPU combo
- Stellar display
- Awesome trackpad
- Previous generation CPU and GPU
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 takes the top spot as the best overall 15-inch laptop for gaming and that’s because of its competitive price point, superfast RAM, incredibly quick high refresh rate display and choice of processor and CPU for an encompassing 1440p experience that few others can match up to.
That’s because the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 hovers around the $1600 mark which is one of the more aggressive rates given the gaming hardware inside. While the CPU may be previous generation, the 12th Gen i9 processor is still considerably faster than many other alternatives from AMD and Intel’s current crop of chipsets. What’s more, the mobile RTX 3070 Ti with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM is still a beast for today’s games, too.
2. HP Victus 15 – The best budget 15-inch gaming laptop
HP Victus 15 (RTX 4050)
CPU
Intel Core i5-13500H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
RAM
16GB DDR4
SSD
512GB NVMe
Display
15-inch FHD IPS 144Hz
- Current-generation i5 CPU
- Respectable GPU
- Competitive pricing
- Older, slower RAM
In terms of price-to-performance, things don’t get much better than the HP Victus 15 for the money. That’s because this machine retails under the $999 mark while delivering top-end 1080p gaming performance armed with all current generation hardware in a 15.6-inch chassis with few considerations. That means a powerful 13th Gen i5 processor and the strong RTX 4050 with Nvidia DLSS 3 support for higher framerates through Frame Generation.
A caveat here to the aggressive pricing is the smaller amount of NVMe SSD storage on board and the choice of older, slower RAM. However, these factors are unlikely to bottleneck your system the way that a weaker GPU or slower CPU would. We don’t typically see machines of this spec selling under the $1,000 mark so the value for money here is truly undeniable.
3. Lenovo LOQ – The best value 15-inch gaming laptop
Lenovo LOQ (RTX 4060)
CPU
Intel Core i7-13700H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD 144Hz
- Tons of RAM
- Current generation i7 CPU
- Massive amount of storage
- On the pricier side of things
Selling around the $1500 price range, the Lenovo LOQ can easily be considered the best value 15-inch gaming laptop in between a budget pick and a premium offering. That’s because you’re getting both the 13th Gen i7 CPU coupled with the RTX 4060 for significantly more power than an entry-level rig would typically allow for.
This is bolstered by a mammoth 2TB NVMe SSD, which is double what we generally see around this price range and from top-end offerings, as well as 32GB DDR5 RAM which again bucks the trend of what’s usually inside of mid-range gaming laptops. Factoring all this in, there’s a reason why it can be considered one of the best Lenovo gaming laptops overall, and perfect if you want high-end 1080p without breaking the bank too badly.
4. MSI Katana GF66 – The best 15-inch gaming laptop for competitive gaming
MSI Katana GF66 (RTX 3070 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM
16GB DDR4
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
FHD IPS 240Hz
- Incredibly fast panel
- Powerful GPU and CPU
- Good amount of RAM
- Previous generation hardware
- Older, slower RAM
If you’re someone who wants a 15-inch gaming laptop for competitive gaming then the MSI Katana GF66 could be exactly what you’ve been looking for. That’s because it features a super smooth 240Hz IPS Full HD display coupled with the powerful RTX 3070 Ti with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM and an almighty 12th Gen i9 processor for smooth operation in all the big eSports.
The MSI Katana GF66 tends to hover around the $1300 price range which is very competitive for how capable the hardware is. This is a far cry from the original asking rates and will offer you significantly better overall performance than opting for a rig running the latest hardware in comparison as you won’t get a 13th Gen i9 and RTX 40-series build at this rate that can measure up.
Razer Blade 15 (RTX 3080 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch 4K 144Hz
- Powerful CPU and GPU combo
- Amazing 4K display
- Tons of superfast RAM
- Previous generation CPU and GPU
- Just 1TB NVMe for the price
If you want to get yourself the ultimate 15-inch gaming laptop then look no further than the Razer Blade 15. This incredible machine packs in the unbeatable RTX 3080 Ti GPU, complete with 16GB GDDR6 VRAM, a massive 32GB DDR5 RAM, and the all-star 12th Gen i9 CPU all with a 4K 144Hz display, too. You’ll be able to truly game in 4K on the built in display or when hooked up to one of the best gaming monitors which support the resolution, too.
Keep in mind that you will be paying a premium on all that power, and for Razer’s overall design ethos as well. You see, the Razer Blade 15 is made of aluminium with a finish similar to that of an Apple MacBook Pro instead of the general plastic builds of most gaming laptops, and it doesn’t come cheap. This configuration hovers around the $3000 mark, but there’s no denying just how powerful it continues to be in 2023, and is much cheaper than its original launch price, too.
Best 15-inch gaming laptops – FAQs
Still got more questions about the best 15-inch gaming laptops? No worries. We’re here to answer anything you may want to know to help you make an informed purchasing decision by employing our experience and expert knowledge.
Is a 15-inch laptop the best for gaming?
Until recently, a 15-inch gaming laptop was the most conventional size of panel available and still remains a very popular choice from all major manufacturers. It’s a good middle ground as you’re still getting the easiest portability but it’s not so small that you’re squinting at the screen either.
Is it better to game on a bigger or a smaller screen?
Ultimately this comes down to personal preference as a bigger screen can be more immersive but it means more limited portability. What’s good about many of the best 15-inch gaming laptops is that they are able to hooked up to external gaming monitors easily enough to be more versatile as desktop replacements.
What are the best 15-inch gaming laptop brands?
The Razer Blade 15 and the Lenovo LOQ are two of the biggest brands for 15-inch gaming laptops with the MSI Katana range being a popular choice for cash-strapped gamers as well. Every laptop in our guide is a top quality pick and sorted by budget and general usage, too.
