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If you’ve got a set budget in mind then you’ll want to consider one of the best gaming laptops under $2500 to get exactly the right machine for you. Fortunately, this amount of money means you can aim for a high-end rig from boutique manufacturers such as Alienware, ASUS, and Razer, among others. We’re rounding up all the top options within this price range down below.
While the best gaming laptops under $2500 encapsulate the majority of high-end machines on the market, we’re also rounding up all the best gaming laptops overall as well as the best OLED gaming laptops, and even the best small gaming laptops for a more encompassing view.
Best gaming laptops under $2500 at a glance
We’re rounding up all the best gaming laptops under $2500 for a quick overview of the hardware inside. From MSI to Corsair, and Alienware, among others, these are our top picks in a flash.
MSI Vector GP68HXÂ (RTX 4080)
CPU
Intel Core i9-13950HX
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
16-inch FHD+ 144Hz
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4070)
CPU
Intel Core i9-13980HX
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
16-inch 16:10 QHD 240Hz
MSI Katana 15 (RTX 4070)
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD IPS 144Hz
Corsair Voyager a1600
CPU
AMD Ryzen R7 6800HS
GPU
AMD Radeon RX 6800M
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
16″ 2560×1600 240Hz IPS
Alienware x17 R2 (RTX 3080 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
17.3-inch FHD 480Hz
1. MSI Vector GP68HX – The best gaming laptop under $2500 overall
MSI Vector GP68HXÂ (RTX 4080)
CPU
Intel Core i9-13950HX
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
16-inch FHD+ 144Hz
- Stellar processor
- Powerful GPU
- Fast RAM
- Limited to Full HD
The MSI Vector GP68HX takes pole position as the best gaming laptop under $2500 and this is for several reasons. Chief among them is the RTX 4080 inside which is one of the best graphics cards on the market and equipped with a mighty 12GB GDDR6 VRAM and third-generation ray tracing to be able to push even the most demanding games for many years to come.
Priced around the $2100 range, you’re coming in significantly under budget with no real compromises to speak of for the power and the form factor, with exception of the resolution. While 1080p looks great on a 16-inch display, it may not be ideal for everyone. Not to worry, as the HDMI port on the side means this rig can be hooked up to one of the best gaming monitors if you’d rather play in 1440p or comfortably in 4K at 60fps.
2. ASUS ROG Strix G16 – The best 1440p gaming laptop under $2500
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4070)
CPU
Intel Core i9-13980HX
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
16-inch 16:10 QHD 240Hz
- Powerful CPU and GPU combo
- Tons of fast RAM
- Incredible display
- On the pricier end of things
If you want a combination of high resolution and high refresh rate portable gaming then look no further than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 with its combination of 13th Gen i9 CPU and RTX 4070 GPU and 32GB RAM. Armed with a 16-inch 1440p 240Hz refresh rate display, you’ll get the smoothest gaming experience in double the native resolution of Full HD 1080p and benefit from a slightly larger aspect ratio as well.
A great strength of the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is its competitive price point which hovers around the $2000 mark at MSRP and offers both high-end construction and RGB lighting for a premium feeling machine through and through. The only real negative is the price point. As our top pick sells at a similar rate and features the RTX 4080 which offers more overall VRAM.
3. MSI Katana 15 – The best value gaming laptop under $2500
MSI Katana 15 (RTX 4070)
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD IPS 144Hz
- Huge amount of RAM
- Double the storage usually seen
- Powerful GPU
- Previous generation CPU
In terms of value for money, the MSI Katana 15 is rarely bested, especially when factoring in the 32GB DDR5 RAM, a 2TB NVMe SSD and the i7 CPU for a very competitive rate. That’s because this model sells around the $1500 mark which packs in the RTX 4070 GPU and a high refresh rate display, too. These are specs normally found in machines costing $500 more.
The only real compromise to keep the costs down is the decision to utilize a 12th Gen CPU inside of a newer 13th Gen processor. However, Alder Lake’s microarchitecture is still more than capable for demanding games and productivity tasks, so there’s no bottleneck to speak of with this rig from a price-to-performance perspective, and around $1000 under budget as well. We’re also rounding up all the best gaming laptops under $1000, too.
4. Corsair Voyager a1600 – The best AMD gaming laptop under $2500
Corsair Voyager a1600
CPU
AMD Ryzen R7 6800HS
GPU
AMD Radeon RX 6800M
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
16″ 2560×1600 240Hz IPS
- Powerful CPU and GPU combo
- Cool touch bar
- Amazing screen
- Previous generation GPU
While the Corsair Voyager a1600 was once monstrously expensive when it first released that’s now no longer the case in the latter months of 2023. That’s because this all-in AMD machine now retails around the $1300 mark which is amazing value for money considering the CPU and GPU combo, and the screen which is one of the best you’ll see on a gaming laptop.
A particular highlight is the enhanced QHD+ resolution at 240Hz which is perfect for media playback and intensive gaming and furthered by an Apple MacBook style touch bar that has Elgato streaming functionality built right in. We rarely see all-AMD rigs at this price point, let alone from a company as well-regarded as Corsair, so if you want something different from the usual Intel and NVIDIA combination then this could be it.
5. Alienware x17 R2 – The best large gaming laptop under $2500
Alienware x17 R2 (RTX 3080 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
17.3-inch FHD 480Hz
- Massive amount of RAM
- Decent amount of storage
- Massive high refresh rate display
- Previous generation GPU and CPU
There are few big-screen options for high-end gaming as viable as the Alienware x17 R2 under $2500. This 17.3-inch machine packs in a staggering 480Hz refresh rate rarely seen on traditional gaming laptops alongside 32GB of DDR5 RAM and the almighty RTX 3080 Ti which has 16GB GDDR6 VRAM for an overhead you just won’t get from the competition.
While this rig was once incredibly expensive, you can now find this model hovering around the $2,300 mark which is more than fair considering all the hardware inside. This is due to the fact that the build is powered by an older 12th Gen i7 CPU and a previous generation GPU but the combination is still high-end and able to max out 1080p games for many years to come.
Best gaming laptops under $2500 – FAQs
Still have more questions around some of the best gaming laptops under $2500? We’ve got you covered. Below, we’re employing our knowledge and experience to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Is a $2500 gaming laptop worth it?
$2500 is a among the high-end price range for a gaming laptop and tends to feature top of the line specs with some of the best CPUs for gaming and graphics cards available. You’ll often frequently find high refresh rate 1080p and 1440p screens and the likes of the RTX 4070 and RTX 4080, too.
What are the best gaming laptop brands for $2500?
Two of the best gaming laptop brands are Alienware and MSI which you will find in our guide from new running the latest gaming hardware. Generally speaking, ASUS ROG also makes high-quality products that tend to be on the pricier end of the spectrum as well.
Are $2500 gaming laptops good for everyday use?
Due to their powerful performance, a $2500 gaming laptop is ideal for work as well as play but at the cost of battery life. For the best experience, you’ll want to keep your machine plugged in so that the fans can kick in and the computer can regulate heat properly.
