14-inch laptops are compact but provide sharper details. These may not be as popular as 15″ or 17″ gaming laptops in the gaming community, but they have their own fanbase who like vivid visuals and want something that can fit their smaller backpacks for easy portability. Except for the screen size shrink, there is hardly any drawback to make users feel their gaming laptops are inferior compared to 15 or 17-inch gaming laptops.
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ASUS ROG Zephyrus Gaming Laptop 2023
Best Overall 14-inch Gaming Laptop
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Acer Predator Triton 14 Gaming/Creator Laptop
Best Mid-Range 14-inch Gaming Laptop
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Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 WQXGA
Best AMD 14-inch Gaming Laptop
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Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop with RTX 4070
Best High-End 14-inch Gaming Laptop
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Acer Predator Triton 14 Gaming Creator Laptop
Best Budget 14-inch Gaming Laptop
The Best Gaming Laptops for 2023
The best gaming laptop for you will come down to budget, expected performance, and workload. Let’s dive in and find your new gaming laptop.
Whether users want the fastest gaming processor with superb single-core performance or a high-core count CPU that excels in both gaming and productivity, there are laptops for every need. From entry-level RTX 3050 GPUs to the latest high-end ADA cards, users can choose from the best 14″ gaming laptops Game Rant recommends to its readers.
Things to Consider When Buying a 14″ Gaming Laptop
Resolution: Typically, 14-inch gaming laptops come with full HD resolution as the screen is smaller and 1080p is sharp enough. However, QHD resolutions are also available on some higher-end models that provide higher PPI (Pixels per inch) for a sharper visual quality.
Configuration: Depending on the budget, users can opt for somewhat older hardware, but it’s recommended not to settle with anything that is 2-3 generations older. The latest generation of CPUs and GPUs provide the best bang for the buck and are going to last for several years. A CPU with at least 4 cores with hyperthreading or higher is recommended for those who are on a budget. However, if budget isn’t a big problem, users should feel free to go with 8-core processors, at least 16GB of RAM, and a powerful mid-range or high-end GPU.
Display: Displays are available with different panels. The most popular currently is the IPS, which offers great viewing angles and accurate colors. Users should also look for the response time and refresh rate if they want a smoother gaming experience and a responsive screen. A high refresh rate display that is also quick in transitioning to the next frame will provide little to no ghosting or blur.
Connectivity: Connectivity options on laptops are generally fewer than what is found on desktops. Still, a good gaming laptop should come with a WiFi 6 adapter, a fast LAN port, a couple of high-bandwidth latest-USB ports, and Bluetooth. Having a fast-charging USB Type C port or a Thunderbolt port is also recommended for various purposes.
Battery Life: Gaming laptops generally consume a lot more power compared to non-gaming ones as they come with dedicated graphics cards and faster displays that are power-hungry. Gaming loads quickly deplete the battery, which is the most common problem faced by gaming laptops. A laptop with a good battery backup should allow gaming for around 3 hours on a single charge.
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best 14-inch Gaming Laptops
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA401Q
Best Overall 14-inch Gaming Laptop
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Gaming Laptop is a 2023 edition with an impressive RAM capacity of 40GB and a balanced configuration for completing any task. The Ryzen 5800HS CPU and RTX 3060 combo ensures the laptop can provide a consistent 60 fps and the insanely high memory size keeps bottlenecking at bay. The 144Hz display with a full HD resolution makes sure users get smoother gameplay and the IPS panel produces excellent color accuracy.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060
- RAM
- 40GB DDR4
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 14″, 1920×1080
- Brand
- Asus
- Connectivity
- WiFi 6, Bluetooth
- High refresh rate IPS panel for fluid gaming experience
- Thin and compact build quality
- Ideal for both gaming and productivity
- Poor battery life
- RTX 3060 comes with only 6GB VRAM
Not many gaming laptops feature more than 16 or 32GB system RAM. Even if they do, they cost much higher than their counterparts with the rest of the specs being identical. The Zephyrus 14, however, comes with a whopping 40GB of system RAM that won’t kneel in front of the Google Chrome browser. The laptop is fairly priced for its configuration and comes with satisfactory specifications to run games at 1080p ultra settings. While it isn’t meant for maxing out every modern title, it can do so with a lot of games, thanks to the RTX 3060 laptop GPU that gets sufficient power to maintain its performance for a longer period.
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It would have been better if the 3060 had 8GB VRAM, but compromising on a setting or two shouldn’t be a big deal. The CPU, on the other hand, is also an excellent choice that brings both the CPU and iGPU on the same chip. While the iGPU won’t be as good as the RTX 3060, the 8-core and 16-thread CPU will make sure users get all that horsepower to execute intensive applications. So, it’s kinda fantastic for both gaming and work and provides a decent IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate for fluidity.
The laptop has got hundreds of positive reviews for these reasons, and it comes in different variants for those who want a different RAM and storage configuration. Nonetheless, its short battery life makes it difficult to game for longer than 2 hours without being plugged into the outlet.
Acer Predator Triton 14 Gaming/Creator Laptop
Best Mid-Range 14-inch Gaming Laptop
Acer Predator Triton 14 Gaming/Creator Laptop with the i7 13700H and RTX 4070 is a killer QHD gaming machine that comes with a super fast IPS Mini LED display for unparalleled fluidity. The sleek silverish and the thin build allow users to carry it easily and don’t compromise on the specifications. From productivity to intensive gaming, the Triton 14 is a complete package for enthusiasts.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- Intel Core i7 13700H
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070
- RAM
- 16GB LPDDR5
- Storage
- 1TB PCI-E SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 14″, 2560×1600
- Brand
- Acer
- Connectivity
- WiFi 6E, Bluetooth
- Super high refresh rate of 250Hz for very fluid gameplay
- RTX 4070 GPU for maxing out modern titles
- 14 cores/20 threads CPU for awesome productivity
- IPS Mini-LED display with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and HDR support
- Nvidia G-Sync for tear-free gaming
- QHD resolution on 14-inch is too much for some users
- High GPU power consumption of 140W, resulting in shorter battery life
One of the reasons why the Predator Triton 14 laptop is a great investment is because of the Raptor Lake CPU and the high-end RTX 4070 GPU that can easily crush any game present on Steam. The laptop can easily last for several years before it starts to feel slow as a result of more intensive games. Even then, its balanced configuration will make it ideal for productivity as the i7 13700H provides a high core count to distribute the load on the appropriate cores. Both CPU and GPU aren’t constrained by power consumption, which helps the laptop run like a beast when actively charging. However, this also depletes its battery pretty quickly when not plugged into the outlet.
The laptop is pretty compact and thin, weighing only 3.75 lbs and measuring less than an inch in thickness. So, portability and ease of use are simply unmatched. Moreover, the display quality is unparalleled with its IPS Mini-LED display that boasts a wide color gamut of 100% DCI-P3 for accurate and richer visuals. On top of that, users get an insanely high refresh rate of 250Hz, which will make gameplay buttery smooth. Certainly, it isn’t just any ‘gaming’ laptop, but a luxury for those who can afford it.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 WQXGA
Best AMD 14-inch Gaming Laptop
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 WQXGA is among the very few gaming laptops that boast an AMD CPU and GPU configuration. The Rembrandt APU Ryzen 9 6900HS elevates its overall gaming/productivity performance significantly while the Radeon RX 6800S provides the strength to power the pixels in the latest games. The laptop boasts a decent memory, SSD, and display configuration to keep it relevant for the next few years.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
- GPU
- AMD Radeon RX 6800S
- RAM
- 24GB DDR5
- Storage
- 2TB PCI-E SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 14″, 2560×1600
- Brand
- Asus
- Display type
- IPS
- Connectivity
- WiFi 6, Bluetooth
- Dedicated AMD RX 6800S GPU with 8GB VRAM
- 120Hz refresh rate IPS display
- 24GB RAM for great productivity and 2TB fast SSD for sufficient storage
- Pricier compared to alternatives with Nvidia Ada GPUs
- RX 6800S not much capable in ray tracing
Featuring a premium compact and thin build, the Rog Zephyrus 14″ laptop boasts a fully white exterior and weighs less than 4 lbs. Despite being lightweight and thin, the configuration is impressive and sufficient for gaming and work. The laptop is powered by the Ryzen 9 6900HS, which is one of the best-performing Rembrandt APUs that also comes with an integrated GPU. It features 8 cores and 16 threads that can go as high as 4.9GHz with the turbo mode, resulting in a dramatic increase in performance.
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On the other hand, the Radeon RX 6800S, which despite being less popular, performs really well at both 1080p and 1440p resolutions. It is around 10-15% slower than the RTX 3070 laptop GPU but comes with 8GB VRAM and can provide satisfactory performance on the QHD display. The panel used is an IPS one and provides excellent color gamut coverage for good color reproduction. Moreover, the 120Hz refresh rate prepares it for smooth gameplay, which could have been even better, as there are some $1500 gaming laptops that boast displays with a 144Hz refresh rate or higher.
Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop with RTX 4070
Best High-End 14-inch Gaming Laptop
Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop has several editions, but this one is the latest with the Ryzen 7940HS CPU, featuring the Zen 4 architecture for improved IPC performance and brings a decently powerful iGPU as well. The laptop, however, uses the RTX 4070 to power the games and graphically intensive tasks on a premium 240Hz IPS display that boasts a QHD resolution for sharper details.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 14″, 2560×1600
- Brand
- Razer
- Display type
- IPS
- Connectivity
- WiFi 6E, Bluetooth
- Model
- Blade 14
- Latest Zen 4 based mobile CPU with 8 cores and 16 threads for great gaming/productivity performance
- 240Hz refresh rate for unmatched fluidity
- Vapor chamber cooling for quick heat dissipation
- Weighs only 4 lbs for easy portability
- Very power hungry
- Keyboard could have been better
The Razer Blade 14 has been on the market for a while now and gets upgraded every year with the latest specifications. There are many reasons why enthusiasts prefer going with this model, as it provides a bigger touchpad, a lightweight build, great battery life, and an excellent cooling solution. While Razer advertises that it can last up to 10 hours, in reality, it can last up to 7 hours, which is still far better than the average. This allows users to multitask for longer than other gaming laptops and even on 100% gaming load, it can last around 5 hours on a single charge.
The build quality is remarkable, making it sturdy while keeping it lightweight and thin. Despite featuring high-end hardware, the laptop measures just 0.71″ in thickness and weighs only 4 lbs. The screen features a high refresh rate of 240Hz with great color accuracy and a QHD resolution for sharper images. While it’s difficult to reach 240 fps, the RTX 4070 is capable of providing over 100 fps in most modern titles, and reaching 200+ fps is no big task when it comes to esports games such as CS2, Valorant, Apex Legends, and others.
At its core lies the latest Phoenix Ryzen 9 7940HS APU that brings 8 cores and 16 threads to the table with major IPC uplifts, thanks to the Zen 4 architecture. This, however, doesn’t stop here as the CPU also comes with a Radeon 780M iGPU which has shown remarkable gaming performance in various tests. But as the RTX 4070 is far superior in gaming, users won’t have to compromise on the intensive graphical settings anymore.
Acer Predator Triton 14 Gaming Creator Laptop
Best Budget 14-inch Gaming Laptop
Acer Predator Triton 14 Gaming/Creator Laptop is a high refresh rate laptop with a quality IPS panel for an immersive gaming experience. With the 14-core Raptor Lake CPU and RTX 4050, it is capable of playing games with decent framerates at 1080p resolution, and rocks in CPU-intensive operations. A thin and lightweight build makes it easily portable and the RGB keyboard makes it look gorgeous.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- Intel Core i7 13700H
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050
- RAM
- 16GB LPDDR5
- Storage
- 512GB PCI-E SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 14″, 1920×1200
- Display type
- IPS
- Brand
- Acer
- Model
- Predator Triton 14 PT14-51-78B4
- Connectivity
- WiFi 6E, Bluetooth
- Affordable pricing
- Latest 14 core i7 CPU for great productivity
- 165Hz refresh rate for high gameplay fluidity
- Lightweight and thin build
- RTX 4050 isn’t ideal for intensive games
- 512GB storage space won’t be sufficient for storing several games
Boasting a sparkly silver exterior, the Predator Triton 14″ gaming laptop is back again, but now with a different configuration for users on a budget. For $900, this laptop delivers a capable Core i7 processor with 14 cores and 20 threads. So, there shouldn’t be any doubt about its gaming or productivity capability, as Raptor Lake CPUs have already proven themselves to be marvelous for an all-around purpose. Combined with the RTX 4050 laptop GPU, it is capable of playing games at 60 fps on high to ultra settings.
It’s a lightweight and thin notebook for easy portability and also brings a beautifully RGB-lit keyboard and the Predator logo under it. The screen measures 14 inches and brings a high refresh rate IPS panel for great fluidity. This makes it stand out, as there are only a handful of laptops that come with 165Hz refresh rate for under $1000. Additionally, the laptop also brings Nvidia-Gsync support to eliminate any screen tearing as a result of the difference between the refresh rate and the framerates.
Acer Swift X Laptop
Best Budget 14-inch Gaming Laptop
Acer Swift X Laptop is an affordable entry-level gaming laptop with an RTX 3050 for playing on high settings. The processor is a Zen 3-based Ryzen 5600U that comes with 6 cores and 12 threads to get the job done without breaking the bank. The laptop’s highly power-efficient operation results in a longer battery life and its compact build quality makes it highly portable.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600U
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3050
- RAM
- 8GB LPDDR4X
- Storage
- 512GB NVMe SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- IPS, 1920×1080
- Brand
- Acer
- Model
- Swift X SFX14-41G-R7YT
- Connectivity
- WiFi 6, Bluetooth
- Highly power efficient and excellent battery life of up to 12 hours
- Lightweight bulid quality and backlit keyboard
- Satisfactory for non-intensive and casual gaming
- Not meant for graphically intensive games
- Low refresh rate
- 8GB RAM may introduce bottlenecking
Finally, those who are looking for an affordable option that can game well should opt for the Acer Swift X laptop that provides acceptable hardware specs and a good quality build. It’s pretty lightweight and thin, weighing only 3 lbs and measuring 0.7mm in thickness, which makes it one of the thinnest and lightest gaming laptops in 2024. Not only is it portable, but it is very power efficient too. Thanks to the Ryzen 5 5600U CPU, which consumes a max power of only 15W while offering 6 cores/12 threads with a clock speed crossing the 4.0GHz mark in turbo mode.
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For gaming, the RTX 3050 is onboard, which is just fine for high settings at 1080p resolution, but users shouldn’t expect a lot from it. With 4GB VRAM, older games and eSports titles will run pretty well, but newer titles can also work just fine on medium settings. The battery life is highly impressive and can last up to 12 hours, as per the company’s claim. So, it’s safe to say that the laptop can last up to 7 hours on gaming loads, which is a result of highly power-efficient components. Game Rant, however, recommends upgrading the storage and system RAM to have adequate space for storing games/files and eliminating bottlenecks from the memory side.