Best small gaming laptops in 2024 (14-inch, FHD, QHD)

The best small gaming laptops are those micro machines that are ideal for portability while also delivering on all the power you need for today’s modern titles. In 2023, there are more options than ever for diminutive models with sizes as small as 14-inches which are fully-powered with all the latest hardware from AMD, Nvidia, and Intel.

In this roundup, we’re bringing you everything you need to know about the best small laptops for gaming with rigs made by trusted manufacturers such as Razer and Asus, among others. Keep in mind that you’re often paying a bit of a premium for slighter computers, but we’ve done our best to keep a good price-to-performance ratio firmly in mind. Below we’ve listed our top five picks, followed by an expert analysis of the specs, performance and value.

Our selection of the best small laptops for gaming also prioritises refresh rate and RAM. Many AAA games today like Starfield and Payday 3 demand up to 16GB RAM, so it’s worth prioritising a laptop that delivers on that front if you want something to last.

1. Razer Blade 14 (2023) – The best small gaming laptop overall

Razer Blade 14 (2023)

CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS

GPU

RTX 4060

SSD

1TB SSD

Display

16:10 QHD+ 240Hz

How We Review

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Pros

• Compact design
• Powerful performance
• High-end construction

Cons

• Higher specs are pricey
• Can run hot

The Razer Blade 14 is our top pick for the best small laptop for gaming and that’s due to its premium construction and design combined with powerful hardware. It also takes the number one spot in our selection of the best overall gaming laptops. There’s either the choice of opting for an older RTX 30-series machine or going for an RTX 4060 or RTX 4070 rig, and a highlight is the AMD Ryzen 9 CPU, both the 6000 series and the 7000 series combined with up to 32GB DDR5 RAM.

What’s more, the smaller display means that you have a higher overall PPI (pixels per inch) than with a larger gaming laptop, meaning the Razer Blade 14 looks seriously sharp in action. That should come as unsurprising, though, due to the 14-inch QHD display available in either 165Hz or up to 240Hz for high resolution and high refresh rate gameplay. You can expect to find older machines on Amazon for under $2,000, up to an RTX 3080 Ti, but for the latest GPU, they range from $2,399.99. Alternatively, consider the best RTX 4060 gaming laptops for laptops similar to the Razer Blade 14’s power.

2. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – The best budget small gaming laptop

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (RTX 3060)

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7-5800HS

GPU

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

RAM

16GB DDR4

SSD

1TB NVMe

Display

14” FHD 144Hz

How We Review

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Pros

• Competitive price point
• Respectable hardware
• Good build quality

Cons

• Previous generation GPU

In terms of good value for money, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 excels where many others may falter. Our laptop expert Aaron who had a hands-on review of the ROG Zephyrus G14 described the laptop as a “stylish, light and portable gaming laptop with an impressive 10-hour mbattery life”. We had to agree with him. For just over $1,000 you’re getting an incredibly well-built machine with a high refresh rate 1080p display combined with the RTX 3060 with 6GB GDDR6 VRAM which should be enough for today’s games when factoring in Nvidia DLSS. If you’re after something cheaper, consider our selections of the best laptops under $1000.

A main advantage of this Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 configuration is the inclusion of the latest AMD Ryzen 7 CPU so you won’t have to worry about the system being bottlenecked any time soon. What’s more, with a 144Hz display, games will be smooth with V-Sync enabled and further boosted by Nvidia DLSS 3.5, for better ray tracing performance. Considering the sticker price, this is a solid deal in 2023.

If you’re in the market for something particularly flashy then look no further than the Acer Predator Triton 14 with its sleek thin and light chassis, measuring in at just 18.99mm thin and weighing in at just 3.75 lbs. That means it’s ideal for fitting in your bag and being around with you on the go and there’s no real sacrifices to the hardware inside, barring an RTX 4050. Granted, it’s amongst the best Intel 13th gen laptops, and benefits from DLSS 3 for a significant framerate boost in 1080p.

What’s flashy about the Acer Predator Triton 14 especially is the RGB keyboard which is particularly dazzling given the style of the machine. Beyond aesthetics, you’re also getting speedy DDR5 memory and an extended display with a 165Hz refresh rate, too, which means you’ll be able to enjoy entry-level gaming. This rig used to retail at $1,500, which is too steep in our opinion, however, it’s now been knocked down to a far more palatable figure which is a fair price for what’s inside. It’s not the best cheap gaming laptop, but it does offer pretty good value.

4. MSI Thin GF63 – The best thin and light 15-inch laptop

MSI Thin GF63 (RTX 4050)

CPU

Intel Core i7-12650H

GPU

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050

RAM

16GB DDR4

SSD

512GB NVMe

Display

15.6-inch 144Hz FHD

How We Review

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Pros

• RTX 40-series GPU
• Decent price point
• Thin and light

Cons

• Relatively small SSD
• Slower RAM

If you don’t mind a slightly larger display then the MSI Thin GF63 could be the perfect machine for you. A major advantage of this device is its competitive price point, retailing at only $895, combined with the fact that it weighs in at just 4.1lbs, so it’s about as slight as rigs this size come at well under the $1,000 mark.

What’s more, you’re getting the RTX 4050 here which comes equipped with Nvidia DLSS 3 so you’ll be able to use the tech to boost framerates of games considerably through Frame Generation. That means 1080p and 60FPS, while ray tracing will be entirely possible in even demanding hardware, more so considering the incoming release of DLSS 3.5 for improved ray tracing, too. All told, for under $900, this is a great deal.

5. MSI Stealth GS66 – The best value small gaming laptop

MSI Stealth GS66 (RTX 3070 Ti)

CPU

Intel Core i9-12900H

GPU

RTX 3070 Ti

RAM

32GB DDR5

SSD

1TB NVMe

Display

15.6-inch 360Hz FHD

How We Review

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Pros

• Fast RAM
• Sleek chassis
• Powerful hardware

Cons

• Previous gen CPU and GPU

In terms of sheer value, this configuration of the MSI Stealth GS66 can absolutely be considered one of the best value small laptops for gaming. There’s a lot of hardware packed into its 15.6-inch chassis, including a powerful Intel Core i9 CPU, an RTX 3070 Ti, and 32GB DDR5 RAM for powerful performance for a very competitive price.

Overall, you can expect to pay between $1,500 and $2,500 depending whether there’s a deal on. Considering the potential of a massive price drop, and how capable the CPU and GPU are inside of this rig, you’ll be able to max games out in its target 1080p resolution, and benefit from 360Hz refresh rate so titles will run incredibly smoothly. What’s more, at just 4.63 lbs in weight and 0.71-inches thick, the MSI Stealth GS66 is slight, too.

Best small laptops for gaming – FAQs

It can be daunting trying to decide on a small gaming laptop because they can be a real investment. That’s why we’ve gone to the lengths to answer some pressing questions so that you can make an informed purchasing decision.

What size is best for a gaming laptop?

If you want a good small laptop gaming experience then you’re either going to want to go for a 14-inch or a more conventional 15-inch machine. These two sizes are the smallest that pack in dedicated gaming hardware, as you’ll proper AMD and Nvidia GPUs inside.

Is 14-inch a good size for a gaming laptop?

14-inch gaming laptops are the best for portability over larger sizes such as 16-inch and 17-inch models so are best if you’re someone who is frequently commuting or prefers to game wherever they are. For as much as we love big and powerful gaming laptops, they can get heavy and are less ideal for transit.

What screen size do most gaming laptops use?

Generally speaking, the most conventional size for a gaming laptop is 15.6-inches as this remains the most popular screen size from major manufacturers. We’ve included a few options in our roundup with the bigger size but are thin and light for maximum portability.