One of the best advantages of a gaming laptop– apart from portability, is weight. The lightest gaming laptops are usually sleek enough to carry with two fingers and fit in document envelopes.
But that’s not the case for most high-end or even mid-range gaming laptops. Those things are usually heavier than they look. The beefiest ones usually weigh anywhere from three to nearly five kilograms.
Still, if you’re willing to make some compromises in specs, you can have some of the lightest gaming laptops that can still max out most of the latest games today; at the very least, they can perform well in productivity tasks.
RELATED: 5 Best & Quietest High-End Gaming Laptops in 2022
Let’s clear something up first. Our criteria for “light” for a gaming laptop, is anything that doesn’t weigh more than two kilograms (rounded off for some selections). Meanwhile, we define “best for gaming” as anything with at least an RTX 3060 mobile and a mid-range CPU.
Only a handful of such laptops exist. But if you’re looking for anything you can carry like a folder that still packs a heavy kick, these lightest gaming laptops will surely punch above their weight class.
Razer Blade 15 (2022)
PROS
- Top-of-the-line laptop hardware
- Metal finish
- Sleek form factor
- Generous RAM
- 4K display
- Comes with Razer freebies
CONS
- Good luck explaining this expenditure to your spouse, parents, or boss
- Keyboard has no numpad
- 4K resolution is wasted on a small screen
- Weight: 2 kg
- Price: $3,999.99
- Max CPU/Processor: Intel i9-12900H processor
- Max GPU/Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 Ti
- RAM/Memory: 32 GB DDR5 4800MHz
If money is not a concern, then go ham with Razer’s products. We would recommend the Razer Blade 17, but that one’s starting to get a little too heavy at nearly three kilograms. Razer is an engineering marvel at this point.
Being able to squeeze in an RTX 3080 Ti in such a slender laptop frame along with a top Intel processor for laptops is no easy feat. Everything else is great here, from the RAM to the storage. Make sure to buy this one with Razer’s signature bundles.
Razer Blade 15 (2022)
XMG NEO 15 (E21)
PROS
- RTX 3080 paired with a Ryzen 9 processor
- Uses the efficient Tongfang Chassis
- 1440p resolution
- 15.6" IPS with 165 Hz frequency
- More affordable than other brands
CONS
- Might get noisy and hot
- Plastic bottom case and display frame
- Weight: 2 kg
- Price: $1940 (on sale at the moment)
- Max CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
- Max GPU/Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- RAM/Memory: 64 GB DDR4 RAM
Just at two kilograms, the XMG Neo 15 (E21) is the best bang for your buck. The AMD CPU might be last-gen, but the Ryzen 9 5900HX is still a solid contender for any task. The real selling point here is the RTX 3080.
Most other gaming laptops that feature that hardware can go as heavy as four kilograms. XMG with its Tongfang Chassis managed to bring down the weight to manageable levels. At this price, it’s also hard to beat as most other gaming laptops don’t offer the same weight advantage while retaining their high-end specs.
XMG NEO 15 (E21)
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
PROS
- Beautiful white aluminum finish
- Top-of-the-line AMD laptop CPU and high-end AMD GPU
- As light as low-end laptops
- 180-degree hinge
- Generous RAM
- 2560 x 1600 resolution
- Also comes in black
CONS
- Only 14-inch display
- Keyboard has no numpad
- Pricey
- Weight: 1.7 kg
- Price: $2,499.99
- Max CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
- Max GPU/Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 6800S
- RAM/Memory: 32 GB
For any of your AMD loyalists, then, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the way to go. It’s a beautifully-made laptop that comes in a radiant white color; quite important if you want to stand out in those meetings or LAN parties. Of course, mentioning the specs alone would make you stick out already.
This thing is loaded with AMD goodness and can easily play games on 4K. The screen resolution, however, is only 2560 x 1600 and the screen itself is only 14-inches, but again, it’s only 1.7 kg, so you can forgive this beautiful creature for its hardware compromises.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Asus ROG Flow X16 (2022) GV601
PROS
- Hinge can bend the screen at a full 360-degrees
- Beautiful touchscreen display
- Top-of-the-line AMD mobile CPU
- 1440p resolution
- 16-inch screen
CONS
- Keyboard has no numpad
- GPU could be better
- Pricey
- Weight: 2 kg
- Price: $1,999.99
- Max CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
- Max GPU/Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM/Memory: 16GB DDR5
It’s a little over two kg, but that extra 100 grams of weight is negligible, especially when you consider the benefits of having a flexible and versatile laptop. You can turn the Asus ROG Flow X16 into a tablet as it comes with touchscreen functionality.
This is perfect for digital media professionals, especially artists who prefer to draw on their screens instead of their Wacom pen displays. The GPU is not the most robust, but it will still handle the latest games with ease.
Asus ROG Flow X16 (2022) GV601
Alienware X14
PROS
- Generous RAM
- Second lightest in this list
- Good Alienware laptop cooling
- Stylish
- Comes in black and white chassis colors
- Thin
CONS
- Only 1080p
- Screen is only 14 inches
- Keyboard has no numpad
- Pricey for its specs
- Weight: 1.8 kg
- Price: $1,899.99
- Max CPU/Processor: 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H
- Max GPU/Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060
- RAM/Memory: 32 GB
Alienware is not backing down from this lightweight division. Although its offerings are rather limited because the only Alienware laptop of this generation that weighs less than two kg is the X14. Still, it’s a good contender, given Alienware’s reputation.
They had to make some sacrifices on the GPU front as the max GPU here is only an RTX 3060 but this mid-range fighter will still satisfy in 1080p gaming. Everything else is satisfactory unless you want a big screen on your laptop; this one only has 14 inches.
Alienware X14
MSI Stealth 15M
PROS
- Lightest option here
- Doesn't get too hot
- Slim form factor
- Affordable
- Comes in black and white chassis colors
CONS
- Only 1080p
- Storage is a bit limited
- CPU could be better
- Weight: 1.7 kg
- Price: $1,499
- Max CPU/Processor: Intel Core i7-1260P (12th Gen)
- Max GPU/Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM/Memory: 16GB DDR4
For those who want to keep the cost low while still enjoying the fruits of nanotechnology and minimalist engineering, then MSI is the brand for you. Its Stealth line, namely the Stealth 15M, is thin, cool, and sleek. Of course, it’s also one of the lightest options here.
Sadly, for this price point and weight category, MSI had to cut some costs. They did so with the CPU. The Core i7-1260P isn’t exactly a strong option, so heavy-duty digital media professionals might want to consider another model. But for gamers, this should be enough, especially with the RTX 3060.
MSI Stealth 15M
Lenovo Legion S7
PROS
- 165 Hz display
- Max-Q version of RTX 3060 mobile
- Lighter than most other options with the same specs
- Thin
- Affordable
- Hinge can bend screen 180-degrees
- Free Xbox Game Pass
CONS
- CPU is last-gen
- Weight: 1.9 kg
- Price: $1,642.14
- Max CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
- Max GPU/Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Max-Q
- RAM/Memory: 16GB DDR4
The “S” in S7 stands for slim, so you can imagine Lenovo’s dedication to providing good gaming performance in such a thin form factor. For the average gamer, they won’t disappoint. Heck, even for digital media professionals, this laptop will suffice too, thanks to the Ryzen 7 CPU.
The laptop’s base resolution is 1080p with a 165 Hz refresh rate, but some models (in certain locales) allow for 4K resolution at 60 Hz. But you might want to reserve that for light tasks as this laptop isn’t for 4K performance. It’s a great option nonetheless.
Lenovo Legion S7
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Why are lighter and thinner laptops more expensive?
Because manufacturers have to house so many components in a smaller area. Smaller components are more expensive and are more complex. More complexity means spending more money on these components. -
Are there performance compromises with lower-weight laptops?
Usually, yes. If not the smaller battery, then it would be a GPU with lower wattage (weaker performance) or a less efficient cooling system. -
Are lighter laptops more fragile?
Yes. A thinner screen and chassis mean thinner plastic or aluminum to reduce weight. This, in turn, will reduce durability. So you'll want to be extra careful with lighter and thinner gaming laptops.