Contrary to the religious beliefs of gamers worldwide, RGB lighting does not increase FPS nor does it improve your “eSports skills.” We can all agree, however, that gaming laptops with RGB are some of the most attractive attention magnets, especially in dimly-lit rooms.
Besides, with how expensive gaming laptops are these days, you might as well look for one with RGB for that added bling.
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And by gaming laptops with RGB, we don’t mean those faint and meek keyboard backlights; our standards are more er, exquisite than that. We crave unicorn poop and rainbow vomit that will sear their prismatic brilliance onto your visual cortex.
It just so happens that the following gaming laptops with RGB meet those criteria.
MSI Raider GE67Hx
PROS
- Generous front RGB
- OLED display
- DDR5 RAM
- Great QHD gaming GPU
- Reasonable-price due to recent sale
CONS
- 720p webcam
- Noisy
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i7-12800HX
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- RAM / Memory: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 15.6″ OLED QHD 240Hz
It might not have the best GPU or the biggest screen, but the MSI Raider GE67Hx matches its RGB splendor with a beautiful OLED display. That’s its main advantage against other gaming laptops with RGB.
And take note, this OLED display is also in QHD or 1440p with a 240Hz refresh rate, meaning it can also count as a competitive eSports machine. With an RTX 3070 Ti and a 12th Gen i7 processor, it’s well-equipped for that kind of challenge.
Moreover, the price is now reasonable despite the OLED display since it’s technically an outgoing generation (though it’s still a superb option).
Lenovo 16" Legion Pro 7 16IRX8H
PROS
- Top of the line laptop CPU
- Latest-gen GPU
- QHD display
- Generous DDR5 RAM
- Generous base and front RGB
- Actually has a numpad
- 1080p webcam
CONS
- Can get hot and loud
- Aspect ratio is not widescreen
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i9-13900HX (13th Gen)
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
- RAM / Memory: 32 GB DDR5
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 16″ 2560 x 1600 240 Hz IPS
When it comes to lighting up the room, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 and its other brothers in the “Legion 7” lineup are undisputed champions. There’s no shortage of lighting here, the whole base comes with RGB LEDs, giving the laptop an ethereal look especially if placed on top of a reflective black surface.
And to make itself worthy of all that blindingly beautiful RGB, it comes equipped with the latest and the greatest when it comes to laptop gaming hardware. The 13th Gen Intel CPU and the RTX 4080 along with the 32GB of DDR5 RAM ought to make jaws drop; all that’s left is for the RGB lighting to make eyes pop. Figuratively speaking, of course.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 15
PROS
- 300Hz makes it good for eSports
- Subtle yet distinguished RGB lighting
- AMD processor is good for battery life
- Sturdy and minimalist build
- Stylish design
CONS
- Only 1080p display
- One of the RAM sticks is soldered
- No webcam
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
- RAM / Memory: 16 GB DDR4
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 15.6″ 1920×1080 300Hz IPS Display
Sure enough, Asus isn’t backing down from the RGBattle. Its ROG lineup is well-known for its copious amounts of RGB lighting and enthusiast gamer stuff. So the ROG Strix Scar rightfully comes equipped with lighting that can rival that of the Lenovo Legion 7.
Granted, the intensity of the RGB lighting is more muted here and not as radiant as the ones from Lenovo. But it’s easy enough to appreciate. The specs are also decent with the RTX 3080 leading in the forefront and despite being just 1080p, the refresh rate is worthy of eSports contenders.
Alienware M15 R5
PROS
- Odd but useful rear lighting
- 360Hz display is awesome for eSports
- Generous RAM amount
- Stylish
CONS
- 1080p display
- Soldered RAM
- 720p webcam
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: AMD Ryzen R9 5900HX
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070
- RAM / Memory: 32 GB DDR4
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 15.6″ 1920×1080 360Hz IPS Display
Alienware and its M15 lineup took a different approach to RGB lighting. It’s all business at the front and party in the back with the glowing Alienware logo and the oblong RGB strip situated at the rear of the laptop.
You might be thinking this is not ideal since you won’t see the RGB while using the laptop but lighting positions like these have their uses. For one, they provide a bit of bias lighting to the adjacent wall or background so that your eyes don’t become to strained under dim light.
And besides, it’s great for showing off to the people in front of you. Specs-wise, it’s good enough and the price is well-justified with an RTX 3070 and an eSports display.
Asus ROG Strix G15
PROS
- QHD display
- Stylish chassis
- Generous RGB
- Reasonable price
CONS
- Storage could be better
- No webcam
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX
- GPU / Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 6800M
- RAM / Memory: 16 GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
- Display: 15.6″ 165Hz QHD (2560 x 1440)
For those of you who only have a mid-range budget but still want your best shot at RGB lighting, then look no further than this model of the Asus ROG Strix G15. Thanks to the AMD bundle, it’s more affordable compared to its Intel and Nvidia counterparts.
This particular Strix has about the same lighting and RGB capabilities as its more elegant Strix Scar 15 cousin. The screen is even better since its display is QHD, giving the Radeon RX 6800M plenty to work with at the most reasonable price point.
Other Ways To Add RGB
We understand that these laptops are on the higher end of the price spectrums; that’s how the manufacturers wanted it. RGB usually means they want to charge more for their “gaming” devices. If you’re stuck with a gaming laptop where only the keyboard has RGB, then you can add some cheap products and methods to make it more “stylish.”
You can slap on these affordable items or accessories for your gaming laptop to add more RGB lighting:
- Cooling pad with RGB
- RGB strips
- Portable RGB lamps
- Glow-in-the-dark stickers
- RGB mouse/desk mats
But of course, nothing beats dedicated and built-in RGB on the laptops for a seamless display of gamer elegance and status.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does RGB lighting drain the battery faster?
Yes. Most laptop lighting drains the battery faster, RGB is no exception. -
Can you control the RGB in laptops?
Most of the time, you can. Most manufacturers who add RGB lighting to their laptops make them controllable or addressable via proprietary software.