Best gaming laptops under $1500

Top pick: ASUS ROG Strix G16 — the strongest gaming hardware here for the money: a Ryzen 9 with an RTX 5060 and a 165Hz screen, and the best-rated of the serious options. It's the one to buy if frames matter most.

Who the others suit:

• HP Omen 16 — a bigger 16" 16:10 screen and AMD power; good if you want a roomier display for both games and work.
• Acer Nitro V 15 — the value choice: solid 1080p gaming for well under the cap, leaving room for a monitor or headset.
• Asus TUF Gaming A18 — an 18" screen if size beats portability, though ratings are thinner.
• HP Victus 15 — the budget entry point; fine for esports titles at 144Hz, not for max settings.

Skip the older Acer Nitro 5 and Asus FX503VD — dated hardware at this point.