For a while, gaming laptops were somewhat of a novelty and were mostly dominated by high-cost brands likeDell’s Alienware. While those are still a great choice, they no longer are the de facto leaders of the gaming laptop space. Joining them is MSI, a company that focuses on providing high-quality gaming laptops at a variety of costs.
Finding a good laptop can often feel overwhelming. What’s a good GPU nowadays, and what the heck are cores? If you’re finding the language a bit much and you just want to drill down into some good options, we’re happy to help.
MSI Thin GF63 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop
Ideal for any use at a good price
If you’re not sure what you need the most in your gaming laptop, you may’t go wrong with the MSI Thin GF63 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop. This laptop comes with a 4060 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and an excellent refresh rate to make any game a joy to play.
If you aren’t positive on what you intend to use your laptop for, it’s a good idea to grab a laptop that’s great in any scenario. For that, the MSI Thin GF63 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop is an excellent choice for athin gaming laptop. That mouthful of a name is all description - it comes with a 15.6" screen and a 144Hz refresh rate, both of which are a good standard in the gaming industry.
Beyond that, this laptop comes with a 4060 GPU, which is more than enough to run any game that you’d want to pop onto a laptop. If you’re running the most cutting-edge AAA titles on Ultra graphics, then a 4060 might have a few moments where it isn’t enough. But for the vast majority of the titles available today, a 4060 is effectively a future-proofing component. Besides that, 32GB of RAM provides you with more than enough RAM to multitask with or to play more demanding games. Overall, this is an excellent choice that will excel in nearly any use-case scenario and comes at a price that’ll beat most high-end gaming laptops.
MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop
Excellent in all the important areas
If you don’t intend to use your laptop to run the absolute top-of-the-line AAA games, then there’s no reason to shell out extra money on max-quality components. The MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop comes with specs that are technically a generation behind, making this the perfect choice for casual gamers or those who prefer low-demand titles.
Mid-range laptops are ideal for people who don’t want to get a budget laptop that’ll struggle on average titles while not also wanting to shell out to pay for a laptop in the thousands range just to play the newest releases on max settings. If you’re looking for a laptop that can excel at getting the job done without shooting for the stars, then the MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop is more than enough.
This option comes with 16GB of RAM, which is effectively the “general standard” for a gaming laptop. While that can feel restrictive on some high-demand games or for multitasking, it’s more than enough for a normal day of usage. Its RTX 3050 GPU is technically behind the current generation, but you’ll find the 30-series of GPUs is still able to run most modern titles on High or Ultra graphics. The only drawback with this laptop is that it won’t be enough to max out the settings on some of the newest, most demanding games. Still, that’s a small price to pay when thefinancialprice you’re taking on is around a thousand dollars lower than some of the high-end options out there.
MSI Raider GE76 Gaming Laptop
Ideal for gaming and high-processing tasks
The MSI Raider GE76 Gaming Laptop is a phenomenal choice for anyone who wants a larger-than-average display and intends to make the fullest of the Intel Core i9 processor. While the 3060 GPU is more than enough for most uses, we still would like to see a better GPU for this option’s price range.
There’s a good chance you don’t intend to use your gaming laptopstrictlyfor gaming. Many of us gamers have PC hobbies that we like to explore, such as coding or 3D modeling. These processor-heavy tasks are great on this laptop due to the Intel Core i9 processor, which can handle both tasks without any issue. The same is true for any processor-heavy task, so don’t be afraid to try to push this machine to its limits!
Beyond its processor, the MSI Raider GE76 is a great choice for its 17.3" display, which is a bit larger than most competitors. Our only complaint is the RTX 3060 GPU, as we would expect to see a more recent generation of GPU in a laptop at this price range. Still, a 3060 is more than enough to run most modern games - I can say from personal experience that my 3060 can handle nearly any game I throw at it on max settings. If you’re worried the 3060 GPU will restrict you, don’t let that hold you back, but you also shouldn’t expect this to be a “future-proof” choice.
MSI Titan 18 - 4K UHD, 120Hz, Intel Core i9-14900HX, 128GB DDR5, 4TB SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Top of the line forever
If money isn’t an object and you want the best possible option, the MSI Titan 18 is the perfect choice. With an Intel Core i9 and an RTX 4090 GPU, this laptop will be top-of-the-line for years to come.
If high prices don’t throw you off and money isn’t a restriction for you, then you should aim for the absolute top-of-the-line. The MSI Titan 18 easily contains some of the highest, most “future-proof” specs you can find on the market for any brand. The first thing you might notice is the 18" display, which is considerably larger than the average laptop. This screen comes with 4K resolutions and a fantastic 120Hz display.
Once you’re past the screen, there’s still a wealth of perks to the laptop. Most notable is the pairing of an Intel Core i9 CPU and an RTX 4090 GPU. With this processor and GPU, the MSI Titan 18 is all but future-proof, keeping it at the top of quality for years to come. You’ll also enjoy a four-terabyte NVMe SSD and a staggering 128GB of RAM, making it almost impossible to max out storage and memory. Make no mistake, this laptop has such phenomenal performance that it’s almost overkill in any standard use. The only drawback of this laptop is that, for most of us, the massive price tag is so restrictive as to border on comedy.
MSI Katana 17 Gaming Laptop w/ GeForce RTX 4060
Good size, great specs, wonderful performance
The MSI Katana 17 Gaming Laptop is one of the brand’s most successful lines. We’ve chosen the model with an RTX 4060 as our recommendation due to its stellar performance and acceptable price tag.
If you’re set on a 17" display, the MSI Katana 17 Gaming Laptop is our personal choice. This model comes with a variety of customizations, from the GPU to the RAM and plenty more. We’ve gone for the version with the 4060 GPU in order to provide maximum value and a GPU that can meet any challenge you throw at it.
Aside from the GPU, this piece also comes with an Intel Core i7 processor. While that may not be the most premium processor available, it’s more than enough for the average gaming laptop and should accomplish anything you throw at it. If you intend to engage with processor-heavy tasks, you may want to look at a different option.
MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo Laptop
Great for all uses
If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle multitasking, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo Laptop is an ideal choice. This isn’t strictly a gaming laptop, but it can handle most casual games without difficulty.
Are you hunting for a gaming laptop but still need something that can handle your day-to-day tasks? The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo Laptop is a strong contender for the best gaming laptop if you’re a casual gamer who intends to use your laptop for more than just gaming. To get it out of the way at the start, this option doesn’t have a dedicated GPU, so don’t expect to hop into top AAA games with ease.
Thankfully, that’s just about the only con we can throw out. This laptop will handle most casual or indie titles without difficulty while still providing you with the specs you need to manage your daily tasks. Its 1TB NVMe SSD provides excellent storage, while its 16GB DDR5 RAM makes it easy to multitask. Overall, this is agreat hybrid laptopfor casual gamers who need something to fulfill their daily needs.
FAQ
What Makes A Laptop “Good”?
Ultimately, the best laptop is going to be the one that fulfillsyourneeds. Think of what your rubric for “good” is by analyzing your budget, your intended use for the laptop, what sorts of games you play, and more. With those guidelines in mind, you’re able to more easily pick between a laptop that’s perfect for you and a laptop that’s just good for having nice components.
What Does “Future-Proof” Mean?
Future-proof is a phrase you’ll often see when looking at laptops, PCs, and PC components. The term refers to how long a piece can last before needing an upgrade or replacement. For example, anything with an RTX 4090 GPU is considered future-proof because the 4090 GPU is unlikely to be obsolete any time soon.
Where Can I Find MSI Laptops?
The first place to look is often MSI’s website. They also have official vendor pages on Amazon and Walmart, which we’ve linked to a few times in this piece.
