Gaming and school laptops provide an immersive entertainment and educational experience in a portable package. Many also offer desktop quality keyboards and the ability to use high-end VR headsets.
The best gaming and school laptops can even work as a serious workstation.
All gaming and school laptops are great for dedicated gamers and students with mobile lifestyles or looking to save more space than a desktop could.
The gamers range from students hoping to play anywhere on campus to business professionals who want to play during their free time.
In this article, read about best laptop for gaming and school, but also best & affordable laptop for programming, animation, photo editing, art, drawing, development, business, work or everyday use.
Recommendations for Best Laptop for Gaming and School
There are a lot of gaming and school laptops out there with all the different options and specifications available.
It’s not always easy to figure out which one will work to suit your needs. In this article, we will review the 10 best laptops for gaming and school on the market.
We will be taking a look at laptops in every budget range so regardless of whether you are on a budget or want a laptop that offers the best value we have an option for you. Read below if you are interested in finding out which gaming and school laptop is best for you.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Lenovo Ideapad L340 | Display: 15.6 Inches RAM: 8GB Storage: 512GB SSD Battery: Up to 9 hours | |
 | ASUS ZenBook 13 | Display: 13.3 Inches RAM: 16GB Storage: 512GB SSD | |
 | ASUS ROG 15-Inch | Display: 15.6 Inches RAM: 16GB Storage: 512GB SSD Battery: Up to 4 hours | |
 | Alienware AW17R3-7092SLV | Display: 17.3 Inches RAM: 16GB Storage: 256GB SSD | |
 | Microsoft Surface Pro X | Display: 13 Inches RAM: 8GB Storage: 256GB SSD Battery: Up to 13 hours | |
 | HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop | Display: 15.6 Inches RAM: 8GB Storage: 256GB SSD Battery: Up to 8 hours | |
 | MSI GL65 Gaming Laptop | Display: 15.6 Inches RAM: 16GB Storage: 512GB SSD | |
 | Acer Premium Nitro 5 | Display: 15.6 Inches RAM: 8GB Storage: 512GB SSD Battery: Up to 8 hours | |
 | ASUS TUF F17 | Display: 17.3 Inches RAM: 8GB Storage: 512GB SSD | |
 | Lenovo Ideapad 3 | Display: 15.6 Inches RAM: 8GB Storage: 512GB SSD Battery: Up to 6 hours |
How to Select Best Laptop for Gaming and School – Buyer Guide
There are plenty of things to consider when looking for the best laptop for gaming and school in the market. We suggest you check out the following guide. It will help you to find the one that is best for you.
Processor
The speed and performance of gaming and school laptops depend on the processor.
We suggest you buy a gaming laptop that contains an Intel Core i5, i7, i9 processor of latest generation like 10th generation.
In other cases, if you don’t want to use Intel, consider an AMD equivalent processor, such as the AMD Ryzen series AMD 5, 7, or 9.
RAM
Gaming and school laptops use a large amount of RAM. So all the gamer students should pay special attention to the RAM of the laptop.
We suggest a gaming device with at least 8 GB RAM. It allows you to play your favorite games and do your schoolwork without any difficulty. Although you can upgrade to 12,16 GB when you have the budget.
Storage
Storage is one of the significant factors you should consider before buying a laptop for schooling and gaming. We recommend you buy at least 512 GB SSD storage to store all documents and the latest games.
If you are not satisfied with 512 GB then upgrade 1TB storage SSD, but it will cost you higher. It is a perfect storage capacity for gaming and school laptops.
If you are running short in budget then choose hybrid storage i.e. conventional Hard disk drive HDD and solid-state drive SSD (HDD+SSD) for a low budget.
Graphics Card
Remember any gaming laptop will perform with a dedicated graphics card, not with an integrated/shared/built-in graphics card.
A dedicated graphics card is far better than an integrated graphics card. NVIDIA dominates the GPU market. Any gaming laptop with an NVIDIA GPU will cost you more.
So, you should go for Nvidia GeForce RTX, GTX series. The RTX series is the latest while GTX is a bit older.
Battery life
All gamers need a laptop with good battery life. Try to buy a machine with a battery life of at least 6 hours or more.
A laptop with good battery life is a plus for gaming and school laptops. We have selected laptops that have 6+ hours of battery life.
But remember, battery timing depends on certain factors, and when it comes to gaming laptops then it gets 50% less while playing games as described by the manufacturer or brand.
What Minimum and Recommended Specifications are Required?
The best gaming and school laptops are an excellent combination for students of high, elementary and, primary schools.
In order to summarise the specs check out the minimum and recommended specifications down below so that you can find the right one for your needs.
| Features | Minimum | Recommended |
| Operating System | Windows 7 or macOS | Windows 10 Pro or macOS 10 Catalina or 11 Big Sur |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Processor | Intel Multi-core processor | 8th – 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor or AMD equivalent processor |
| Screen Size and Resolution | 10-12-inch (1366 x 76) | 15-17 inch (1920×1080) or 1280 x 1024 or Higher |
| Storage | 512 GB SSD | 1 TB SSD OrHybrid (HDD+SSD) storage for low budget |
| External LCD/LED Monitor | 19-inch | 21-27 Inch with higher resolution |
1. Lenovo Ideapad L340 – Best Laptop for Gaming and Programming
The Lenovo Ideapad L340 is a great pick for gaming, programming, and school. It has a slick, stylish design with faster boot-up times and quicker game launches. The laptop features a powerful Intel Core i5-9300H with up to 4.5 GHz clock speeds.
It also features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card which ensures a smoother, faster, and more power-efficient gaming and programming experience. The 8 GB RAM and 512 GB NVMe SSD boost the performance of the laptop.
You can surf the web, run multiple programs and save all the important documents. The amazing 15.6-inches display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution makes it an ideal choice for gaming and programming.
Apart from that, it has a DVD-RW player, HDMI port, and USB 3.0 ports, microphone, and audio jack with a LAN port. Also, the full-sized keyboard with ambient backlighting offers a superb typing experience.
With a long battery life of 9 hours, it is undoubtedly one of the best laptops for gaming and programming.
2. ASUS ZenBook 13 – Best Laptop for Gaming and Animation
If you are looking for an ultra-slim laptop for gaming and animation then ASUS ZenBook 13 is an ideal option for you. It has a bright and readable 13.3 inch Full HD NanoEdge Bezel display. The 16 GB RAM and 512 GB PCIe SSD are good enough to handle complex and latest gaming and animation requirements.
It comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce MX250 discrete graphics card, and a long battery life of up to 10-12 hours. The laptop features a screen pad that gives instant access to your favorite applications with perfect ease.
It also features an interactive secondary touchscreen for enhanced productivity and a built-in IR camera for facial recognition.
For extensive connectivity, it comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and Micro SD card reader, USB Type C, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11Ax), and HDMI.
The combination of a powerful processor, discrete graphics card, and fast storage capacity not only makes this laptop agile and responsive but also one of the best laptops for gaming and animation.
3. ASUS ROG 15-Inch – Best Laptop for Gaming and Photo Editing
If you are looking for a laptop that is good enough for gaming and photo editing then look no further as Asus Rog 15” is for you.
It comes with an Intel Hexa-Core i7-9750H processor boosting up to 4.5 GHz and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card which ensures great performance throughout the day.
The 16 GB RAM and 1TB HDD + 512GB SSD lets you play games and edit photos without any interruption. It gives faster boot up, data access, no noise, and reduced heat production.
The 15.6-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution offers impressive color and clarity. It features Bluetooth, HDMI, backlit keyboard, USB 3.0, and headphone combo jack. The laptop runs on Windows 10 operating system and has an average battery life of 4 hours.
Overall, the Asus ROG is not just one of the best laptops for gaming and photo editing, but also one of the best value laptops to hit the market.
4. Alienware AW17R3-7092SLV – Best Laptop for Gaming and Art
The Alienware AW17R3 is a thin and light Windows laptop built for intense gaming in the market today. It comes with amazing specifications that ensure reliable day-to-day performance.
The laptop has a big 17.3 -inch FHD display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. It features a 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M graphics card.
The 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD and 16 GB RAM is sufficient for gaming and to store art work of artists.
A traditional full-size keyboard gives the best typing experience while playing games or drawing sketches by artists.
For connectivity, it offers USB Type-C, USB 3.0 ports, RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet IPv6, Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port, Media Card Reader, Power/DC-in Jack, Noble Lock port, Headphone 1/8″ Port, and HDMI. If you need a convenient, fast, and smooth laptop for gaming and art then this laptop is for you.
With excellent performance and a good battery life of 6 hours, it is one of the best laptops for gaming and art.
5. Microsoft Surface Pro X – Best Laptop for Gaming and Business
The Surface Pro X is one of the best laptops for gaming and business. It has a 13 -inch PixelSense touchscreen display and the Surface signature 3:2 ratio gives you an excellent workspace.
The laptop is powered by Microsoft’s sq 1 processor which is a custom Qualcomm chip with slightly higher clock speeds. It features Microsoft SQ1 Adreno 685 graphics card which runs games and business with efficiency and speed.
The surface slim pen is light and easy to hold. It is responsive and provides amazing on-screen writing and drawing experience. The 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD are sufficient and allow you to do your work with ease.
It has a built-in kickstand that instantly transforms the laptop mode to studio mode and tablet mode. The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home operating system and has an all-day battery life of 13 hours.
So, if you are looking for a laptop for gaming and business then this laptop will never disappoint you.
6. HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop – Best Affordable Gaming Laptop
The HP Pavilion is a powerful laptop for gaming and multitasking. It comes with an Intel Core i5-9300H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card having 4 GB video memory. Both CPU and GPU offer the perfect combination for the in-game experience.
The 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD are sufficient in this budget and enhance the overall performance of the device. It has a 15.6 -inch micro-edge WLED-backlit vibrant, brilliant, and exquisite display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution.
For connectivity, it comes with an RJ-45, HDMI, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C(TM), 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, and headphone-microphone combo.
The laptop features a dual-fan cooling system, custom-tuned audio, and an island-style keyboard. It runs on Windows 10 Home operating system and has a battery life of 8 hours.
Lastly, it is not only a great laptop with high-grade graphics and processing power but also one of the best affordable gaming laptops.
7. MSI GL65 – Best Laptop for Gaming and Work
The MSI GL65 is a thin and light laptop mainly designed for gaming, study, or work. It comes with an Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. Both CPU and GPU deliver unparalleled work and gaming experiences.
The 16 GB RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD enhance the overall performance of the laptop.
It has a 15.6 -inch display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. The laptop features an RGB keyboard which is good both for typing and fast-paced gaming.
It can easily run most office applications and popular games such as Fortnite, Apex Legends, Minecraft, PUBG, Watchover, and more.
The laptop features a 144 Hz rapid refresh rate, MSI’s exclusive Cooler Boost Technology, and a premium sound quality with high-resolution audio.
It runs on Windows 10 Home operating system and has an average battery life of 4 hours.
That said, the breakthrough graphics performance and dedicated thermal solutions make it one of the best laptops for gaming and work.
8. Acer Premium Nitro 5 – Best Laptop for Gaming and Drawing
The Acer Premium Nitro 5 is a great choice for gamers and artists. It comes with a 9th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB graphics card.
The 8 GB RAM and 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD hybrid storage helps you to store plenty of games and their tweaks/cheats, etc to prevent any lags while multitasking.
It has a 15.6 -inch LED-backlit display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. For connectivity, it comes with a USB 3.1 type C Gen 1 port, 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 1 USB 2. 0 ports, HDMI 2. 0 Port, 1 HDMI, and headphone/microphone combo jack.
The device features Acer True Harmony Technology, with 2 Built-in stereo speakers makes it a perfect choice for gamers. The voice recognition technology is assisted by 2 built-in microphones.
An HD webcam with 720p and a great backlit keyboard is run by Windows 10 operating system. It has a battery life of 8 hours.
In short, the bright display, fast processor, and good battery life make it one of the best laptops for gaming and drawing.
9. ASUS TUF F17- Best Laptop for Gaming and Development
The ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop is an excellent laptop for gaming, streaming, video calls, and remote learning. It comes with an Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti with a 4 GB graphics card.
Both the CPU and GPU deliver speed and reliability for serious gaming and multitasking. You can type assignments, read eBooks, make presentations, play the latest games, and even watch movies to relax after a long day with this laptop.
It has a 17.3” FHD IPS-Type display screen having a 144 Hz refresh rate with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. The 8 GB RAM and a 512 GB PCIe SSD combination is sufficient for gaming and development.
You can get up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge which is good enough for the latest games development.
With the Windows 10 Home operating system, RGB backlit gaming keyboard, and military-grade toughness, it is undoubtedly one of the best laptops for gaming and development.
10. Lenovo Ideapad 3 – Best Laptop for Gaming and Everyday Use
The Lenovo Ideapad 3 is powerful and one of the best laptops for gaming and everyday use. It has a 15.6 -inch LED-backlit anti-glare display with a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution.
The laptop features an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Quad-Core processor and an integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics card. It runs on Windows 10 operating system and has a battery life of 6 hours.
The 8 GB RAM and 512 GB PCIe SSD make this laptop smooth and fast. It features almond color with a 720p camera along with a 64 GB flash drive and a 4-in-1 card reader.
The comfortable keyboard enhances the user experience and makes it ideal for gaming and everyday use. It is perfect for small business, school education, commercial enterprise, online class ready, remote learning, and Google classroom.
So, whether you are watching Netflix, surfing the web, or doing video calls the Lenovo Ideapad 3 will never disappoint you.
FAQs
1. What is the best laptop for gaming and everyday use?
Gaming laptops come with an excellent combination of CPU and GPU. We suggest you buy Lenovo Ideapad 3. It is perfect for gaming and everyday use.
2. What is the best laptop for gaming and animation?
We suggest you buy the ASUS ZenBook 13. It is one of the best laptops for gaming and animation.
3. What operating system is best for gaming and school?
All the above-reviewed laptops come with the Windows 10 operating system and you can upgrade those to Windows 11 as well.
We suggest you buy any one of the above-reviewed laptops. They are one of the best laptops for gaming and school.
4. Are gaming laptops perfect for programming?
Yes, all gaming laptops come with high-end specifications. We recommend you buy Lenovo Ideapad L340. It is perfect for gaming and programming.
5. What graphics card is suitable for a gaming laptop?
If you are a dedicated gamer we recommend you buy a laptop with a dedicated graphics card. We Nvidia GeForce RTX, GTX series graphics card or GPU for this laptop.
You can select the best-suited graphics card according to your budget or requirements.
6. Which one is the Best Gaming Laptop Under $700?
We have separate post on the subject related above. You can view that post by clicking link above.
Conclusion
The market is full of a wide range of laptops today. There is something for everyone from personal use to professional use and from gaming to school.
All the above-reviewed laptops are a good long-term investment for gamers, students, and content creators. They all are the best in their respective fields, with distinct characteristics. If you want to carry your laptop with you around the house, school, or over to your friends, then you will definitely enjoy the utility of a laptop.
Offering unmatched performance across the board these laptops will see you playing games and doing school work that puts it past regular laptops.