Last updated on December 31st, 2020 at 11:24 pm
If you are into serious gaming, then you should get a laptop that supports steam games. As you probably know, there are thousands of steam games that have been developed, and possessing a good laptop increases your chances of playing most of them.
Unfortunately, finding the best laptops for steam games can be backbreaking work. Luckily, we’ve gone out of our way to research and review the top six laptops that we believe can handle steam games without a hitch.
Keep reading to find out what you should look for when purchasing a laptop for steam games.
One of the best thin and powerful gaming laptops you can get.
The perfect balance in terms of performance, weight and battery life.
A budget gaming laptop that doesn’t sacrifice performance.
One of the best thin and powerful gaming laptops you can get.
The perfect balance in terms of performance, weight and battery life.
A budget gaming laptop that doesn’t sacrifice performance.
Last update on 2021-03-06 at 23:05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Preview |
Name |
Rating |
Processor, GPU & RAM |
|
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Intel Core i7 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q | 32GB DDR4-2666 |
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AMD Ryzen 9 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 | 16GB |
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Intel Core i7 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q | 32GB |
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Intel Core i7 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 | 16GB |
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Intel Core i7 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | 16GB |
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Intel Core i5 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | 8GB DDR4-2400 |
Here Are The 6 Best Laptops For Steam Games
➕ Pros
- Ultra-slim design
- Decent battery life
- Impressive display and refresh rate
- It is fast especially when in extreme mode
➖ Cons
- Get’s a bit hot in extreme mode
- Poor audio quality
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q| RAM: 32GB DDR4-2666| Screen: 15.6″ FHD IPS 1080p 300Hz| Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
If you are looking for a laptop that has an attractive, sleek design, then the MSI GS66 might cut it for you. It has the looks of a flagship laptop and still packs a lot of power.
The MSI GS66 is famous for its ultra-slim profile. We are talking about a laptop that is 0.7 inches thick. This makes it one of the best laptops in terms of portability.
As far as gaming rigs go, it’s hard to get such a thin notebook, yet it packs a lot of power.
It features a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display that has a refresh rate of 300Hz. This refresh rate is quite impressive, and it should appeal to you if you are a fan of eSport games. The 300Hz panel has a 1920 x 1080 resolution and 3ms response time.
This gaming rig carries an 8-core Core i9 processor and an RTX 2080 GPU. Of course, this is unheard of in small laptops, and by the looks of things, the MSI GS66 went overboard with these specs.
You can squeeze a lot of power from this laptop, but the problem is that it gets hot so fast. Moreover, the fans might kick on sooner to keep the CPU cool.
The other issue is that the laptop might throttle CPU performance to keep the temperatures down.
It has a decent keyboard that has per-key RGB lighting. We found typing on this keyboard to be so comfortable. We are pretty sure you’ll enjoy playing games with this keyboard as well.
Other specs that make the GS66 Stealth one of the best laptops for steam games include a 512GB m.2 PCle NVMe SSD, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 99.9 WHr battery.
➕ Pros
- Has a fast processor
- Attractive and clean look
- Impressive 120Hz display
- Incredible battery life
- Comfy keyboard for gaming and typing
➖ Cons
- Keyboard lighting is abysmal
- No webcam
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 14″ LCD IPS 120 Hz 1920 x 1080 | Storage: 1TB SSD
The Zephyrus G14 is undisputedly the best compact gaming laptop you can buy. It’s a 14-inch laptop that comes loaded with a lot of power. Unlike most gaming rigs, the Zephyrus G14 has a clean and attractive design.
This high-tech laptop has a modern look and is available in white and dark gray. Besides, the laptop’s diagonally split lid will wow you with the perforation on one half and blankness on the other half.
Apart from the design and compactness, the hardware in this laptop is the star of the show. You’ll get a powerful AMD Ryzen 9-4900HS CPU fused with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU.
This package should muscle through heavy tasks without breaking a sweat.
What’s more, the power consumption of the CPU is pretty low, and it should give you up to 9.5 hours of web browsing or 10.7 hours of video playback.
You can game on this laptop for hours without worrying about how fast the battery will drain.
The other impressive feature is the display; it has a WQHD resolution and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. With this awesome screen, you will enjoy smoother gameplay, considering that the GPU’s frame rate is also out of this world.
This beast also comes with a full-size functionality keyboard that ensures you enjoy gaming and typing as well. Amazingly, Zephyrus G14 comes with a fingerprint login feature on the power button.
This feature makes it easy to unlock your laptop, and it works the same way as a smartphone’s fingerprint sensor.
Top these features off with strong speakers, a lightning-fast 1TB SSD, 6GB of VRAM, and 16GB of RAM.
The Zephyrus G14 is no doubt one of the best laptops for steam games. Everything about it oozes class and elegance.
➕ Pros
- Thin bezel, HD display
- Impeccable screen refresh rate
- Features a minimalistic design
- Supports multiple upgradability options
- Impressive keyboard design
➖ Cons
- The battery life is wanting
- Flimsy hinges
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q | RAM: 32GB | Screen: 15.6 Full HD LED-backlit IPS display | Storage: 512GB SSD
HP is known for making great gaming laptops, but they smashed it with the HP Omen 15. This model has appealed to most gamers, mainly because of the power it packs.
Don’t expect any unique features in this laptop, but the truth is that it ticks all the boxes for a gaming laptop.
The HP Omen is a performance-oriented gaming rig. It carries an Intel core i7 processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and 32GB of RAM.
With this kind of package, this laptop will handle most steam games smoothly. Besides, multitasking should be a walk in the park for this laptop.
Another feature that you might like is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q design GPU. It is designed to take on graphic-intensive games without breaking a sweat.
We are pretty sure you are going to love the interactive and cinematic experience that the NVIDIA GameWorks technologies provide.
One of the cool things about the HP Omen 15 is the high-resolution displays. You have the option of choosing between three displays, including:
- 1080p with a 144 refresh rate
- 1080p with a 60Hz refresh rate
- 4K with a 60Hz refresh rate
With these refresh rates combined with the NVIDIA GPU, the HP Omen 15 should deliver fluid gameplay without any stutter or input lag.
The keyboard on this laptop is fantastic and should wow most gamers who prefer to game on zoned backlit keyboards.
You will also appreciate how silent the keyboard is, and this makes the HP Omen an excellent laptop to use in an office setting.
Other great perks of this laptop are the availability of so many ports, a 512G PCle SSD, appealing design, and a serious fan as well.
➕ Pros
- Slim and awesome design
- Impressive display
- Effective thermal design
- Thunderbolt 3 support
➖ Cons
- Poor battery life
- No Webcam
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6″ FHD IPS 1080p 240Hz| Storage: 512GB OR 1TB PCle SSD
Asus Zephyrus M15 is a good option if you are looking for cheap laptops that can run steam games. Although the 2020 model refines on the 2019 M series, you’ll be getting a laptop with powerful hardware and new display options.
The design and exterior of the Zephyrus M15 are quite appealing, considering that you can get it in a prism black, brushed black and prism gray as well.
This notebook also comes with an RGB backlit keyboard.
You’ll also like the fact that it is compact and lightweight. It is a 15-inch notebook, and it weighs around 4.4 lbs.
As we mentioned earlier, the M15 2020 model is available in 3 new screen options. You can either get it in an FHD 144Hz, FHD 240Hz, or a 4K UHD 60Hz.
Gamers are recommended to choose the FHD 240Hz 3ms screen as opposed to the 4K UHD option, which takes a toll on the battery life of this laptop.
The FHD 144Hz panel is not great either, and it’s best you stay away from it. We noted that it is fairly slow, and the colors look washed out.
In terms of performance, the Asus ROG Zephyrus M15 is up there with the best. It comes with the Intel Core i7 processors, an Nvidia RTX 2070 Super dGPU, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM. Depending on the model you choose, you can get 512GB or 1TB of SSD storage.
The thermal design on the Zephyrus M15 is also great as it’s equipped with two fans, thermal plates, and several heat pipes.
Aside from that, the CPU has a liquid-metal thermal compound that helps keep the components stay cool.
This notebook carries a 76Wh battery, which is decent considering what you get in other laptops.
➕ Pros
- Features a sleek design
- Awesome keyboard and touchpad
- Impressive 300Hz refresh rate
- Incredible gaming experience
- Very powerful
➖ Cons
- Poor battery life
- Lacks USB-C charging on the base model
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6″ FHD 1080p 144Hz| Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD
Another top pick happens to be the Razer Blade 15, which has been in the market for quite some time. To set things straight, this is the 2020 model. You’ll find some new changes that were not present in the 2019 model.
If you are looking for a proper laptop that can endure intensive-gaming sessions, then the Razer Blade 15 might be your best bet.
Let’s see what this gaming machine has to offer.
To start with, the new Razer Blade 15 flashes a 15.6-inch IPS display. You can choose whether you want a touchscreen or a non-touch display.
Besides, the screen can be specced with a refresh rate of 144Hz or 300Hz.
You will also love the power that the Blade 15 packs under the hood. It comes with a six-core 2.6GHz Core i7 CPU. This processor is coupled together with a 16GB RAM and a 256GB or a 512GB SSD.
Surprisingly, you also have a couple of options when it comes to the GPU. You can choose to go with the NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1660 Ti, the RTX 2060, RTX 2070 Max-Q, RTX 2080 Super, or the RTX 2080.
The prices will differ depending on the GPU you choose and the processor as well.
The keyboard of this laptop has a sensible layout, and it is reasonably comfortable as well. You’ll also appreciate the fact that it has RGB backlighting and a modern style touchpad, which is fun to use.
Finally, the Razer Blade 15 is achingly gorgeous as it features a very slim and light design. At least you can tell that it is a modern gaming laptop with so much power to handle steam games.
➕ Pros
- It is affordable
- Impressive battery life
- Enhanced thermal solution
- Full-size backlit keyboard
➖ Cons
- 60Hz refresh rate is not great
- No left and right mouse button
CPU: Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650| RAM: 8GB DDR4-2400| Screen: 15.6″ FHD IPS 1080p 60Hz| Storage: 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
If you are looking for a cheap laptop that can run steam games, then you might want to look at the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop.
It does not have any special features that will intrigue you, but it has been cut out for gaming.
The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop should offer you with decent processing power and high-grade graphics.
This can be attributed to the 9th generation intel core i5-9300h processor and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU.
You will enjoy incredible levels of gaming realism on this laptop’s 15.6-inch FHD IPS WLED-backlit display. The screen has an anti-glare feature, a 1920 x 1080 resolution, and a 60Hz refresh rate.
This laptop comes with an 8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM and a 256GB SSD. Besides, the HP Pavilion allows you to upgrade the memory as it has 2 accessible memory slots.
Other cool features of the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop are the full-size backlit keyboard, dual fan system, impressive battery, and the front-firing speakers.
Steam Laptop Requirements
For any laptop to play steam games, it must meet certain requirements. Below is a list of the minimum requirements that you should know:
- OS – Windows 7 SP1/8.1/10- 64 bit
- RAM – 4GB
- GPU – NVIDIA GTX 670 or AMD Radeon HD 7870
- CPU – Intel Core i5-3470 or AMD FX 4350
- Display – 1280 x 720 resolution screen
What Is The Best Laptop For Steam Games
There are so many laptops that can run steam games without a problem. However, not all will offer incredible power and fantastic graphics.
We would recommend that you go for the ASUS Zephyrus G14 simply because of its high-grade specs.
You can also count on all the laptops we’ve reviewed as they have the recommended requirements for steam games.
Can You Play Steam Games On A Windows Laptop
Yes, you can play steam games on a laptop that runs Windows 7, 8, and 10 as well.
What To Look For When Getting A Laptop For Steam Games
Before you pick any laptop, you should look for the following things to ensure you are getting a good gaming rig:
CPU
A good gaming laptop should have a powerful CPU that can run graphic-intensive games without breaking a sweat. In most cases, an Intel Core i5 or higher should get the job done.
In case you prefer to go with AMD Ryzen laptops, then look for one that has an AMD Ryzen 5 processor or higher.
Graphics
Graphics are an important part of gaming, which is why you should choose a laptop with a powerful and modern graphics card.
The most popular graphics cards are the Nvidia RTX and the GTX series. Various laptops come with different GPU models, but as long as they are under the RTX or GTX series, you should be good to go.
RAM
To be on the safe side, you should go for a laptop that has at least 8GB of RAM.
However, you will get better performance if you choose a notebook with 16GB of RAM or more. As you well know, the more the RAM, the better.
Final Thoughts
Steam games are fun when playing on a high specced laptop. Don’t settle for slow and cheap laptops that will lag and lose frame rate when gaming.
Get yourself one of the laptops we’ve reviewed above for the best gaming experience.