For a long time in the industry of computers and laptops, AMD has always had the role of the underdog. Their fiercest competitors are Intel (CPU market) and Nvidia (GPU market); most of the time, their victories against these two computing giants are sparse. But that doesn’t mean AMD products– AMD gaming laptops included, are lackluster.
AMD gaming laptops, for one, have their own advantages. Both their CPUs and GPUs (for this generation) generally consume less wattage and thus output less heat. This is an ideal operating condition for a lot of computers.
RELATED: 6 Best White Gaming Laptops
AMD CPUs have proven to be challenging for Intel, and this sentiment somewhat extends to the laptop versions of their CPUs.
Meanwhile, AMD GPUs might not have the robust proprietary tech and features of Nvidia cards, such as Raytracing cores and DLSS, but they tend to be more affordable and consume less energy.
In the long term for gaming laptops, this leads to less heat and less wear and tear for components. Also, lower component wattages brought about by AMD GPUs or CPUs lead to better battery life. If that matters a lot to you, then give Team Red a bit of love by opting to go for their AMD gaming laptops, such as the models below.
Asus - ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition
PROS
- AMD Radeon RX 6800M at its current price point is a steal
- 300 Hz refresh rate, perfect for eSports
- Good thermals and noise
- Relatively affordable
- Stylish
CONS
- Storage could be better
- CPU is last-gen
- GPU is overkill for 1080p display
- CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
- GPU/Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 6800M
- RAM/Memory: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 15.6″ FHD 300Hz
The Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition shows just how much you can save by opting to go full AMD. These specs rival that of top-of-the-line Intel + Nvidia combos, and those usually cost significantly higher.
Again, that doesn’t you’ll be sacrificing a lot of performance due to the lower price. Because for 1080p gaming, you likely won’t notice the performance difference too much. Heck, the RX 6800M is overkill for 1080p gaming. That’s why Asus made the display refresh rate 300Hz.
Consequently, this also makes the G15 Advantage Edition an awesome eSports machine. A lot of stores are also offering this one up for clearance sale. The CPU is last-gen, after all, but that’s not really much of a significant compromise.
Asus - ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA402RK)
PROS
- Top-of-the-line AMD hardware
- Beautiful, minimalistic design
- Compact
- Hinge doubles as added cooling system
- Has cheaper configurations if you want to save money
- WQXGA resolution (2560 x 1600)
CONS
- Pricey
- Screen is only 14-inches
- CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS
- GPU/Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 6800S
- RAM/Memory: 16 GB 4800MHz RAM
- Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD
- Display: 14″ WQXGA 120Hz
Of course, if you’d rather have a laptop that can also double as a fashion statement, then look no further than the ever-popular ROG Zephyrus G14. It’s always held its own spot as one of the most beautiful, powerful, and compact laptops in existence. And “powerful” doesn’t usually fit in well with those other two adjectives.
You will need to pay a bigger premium for this one, even with the AMD hardware since white computers and computer components are almost always more expensive. So it’s up to you what you need or want.
As for gaming performance, this will not disappoint. Its CPU is even better than the Strix G15 Advantage Edition since it’s current-gen.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA402RK)
Lenovo Legion 7 (Gen 7)
PROS
- 180-degree hinge
- Max-TDP GPUs
- 2560 x 1600 resolution with 165Hz refresh rate
- Customizable if you want better specs
CONS
- Default storage could be better
- 16:10 aspect ratio, more square than widescreen
- CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800H Processor
- GPU/Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 6700M 10GB GDDR6
- RAM/Memory: 16 GB DDR5-4800MHz
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600) 165Hz
You have to hand it to Lenovo, their naming schemes are very convenient for the consumers. Moreover, their gaming laptops– particularly the Legion lineup, have a good reputation for featuring maximum-wattage models of laptop GPUs, meaning they operate better than most gaming laptops with neutered GPUs.
In any case, you can’t go wrong with Lenovo Legion. Their current Legion 7 (full AMD variant) has a good and competitive price with some awesome features. The specs are also impressive enough if you consider gaming eye candy as an integral part of your experience.
Also, their hinges swing up to 180 degrees, which is great for presentations and other activities that don’t involve sitting.
Lenovo Legion 7 (Gen 7)
HP - Omen Gaming 16.1"
PROS
- QHD display with 165Hz refresh rate
- Ryzen 7 CPU at this price point
- Minimalist design
- You can change configurations if you want more affordable or more powerful specs
CONS
- CPU is last-gen
- CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
- GPU/Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 6600M
- RAM/Memory: 16 GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 16.1″ QHD 165Hz
HP is not backing down in the competition when it comes to pure AMD gaming laptops. They do have some higher-end options, but the best deal right now is this one from the Omen lineup. It’s a mid-range gaming device with fair pricing, of course.
And despite the mid-range category, this laptop doesn’t slouch on its other features. In fact, it has a QHD display which is quite rare for budget options in the mid-range category. The 1440p display is also paired with a generous 165Hz refresh rate.
That isn’t to say there weren’t any compromises. The CPU is notably last-gen but seeing as it’s a Ryzen 7, that’s good enough for both productivity tasks and gaming.
HP - Omen Gaming 16.1"
Lenovo Legion S7 (Slim, Gen 7)
PROS
- Slim and light
- DDR5 RAM
- 180-degree hinge
CONS
- GPU could be better
- Storage could be better
- Soldered RAM module, can't be replaced or upgraded
- 16:10 aspect ratio, more square than widescreen
- CPU/Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 6600H Processor
- GPU/Graphics Card: AMD Radeon™ RX 6600S 4GB GDDR6
- RAM/Memory: 16 GB DDR5-4800MHz
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Display: 16″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 165Hz
Last but not least, we have another offering from Lenovo, specifically the Legion Slim 7 or S7. Don’t expect it to be as robust as its non-slim variants. This sub-lineup was made to be as light and compact as possible for a powerful gaming device.
Consequently, it will produce less heat and consume less electricity. However, the biggest compromise here is the RX 6600S which only has 4 GB of VRAM. This means you will need to lower some crucial graphics settings in demanding games, such as textures and resolution.
One of the RAM modules is also soldered, so there goes upgradeability. But if what you want is something that you can slip in an envelope case or carry around like a folder, then this gaming device will suit your needs well.
Lenovo Legion S7 (Slim, Gen 7)
AMD Is Looking More Appealing Now
The latest news regarding Nvidia has put AMD Radeon GPUs in a more favorable light. Nvidia hiked the pricing of its graphics cards by nearly double and they also consume more energy. Now, the world waits what AMD has in store this coming November. What this means for gaming laptops is that anything with an Nvidia GPU might also increase in price.
Meanwhile, anything with an AMD GPU might be significantly more affordable. It’s fair to expect that AMD will be the more sensible option in the coming months when it comes to purchasing computer parts or gaming laptops. So stating early with AMD’s offerings is a good venture.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are AMD gaming laptops more affordable?
They usually are compared to their Intel and Nvidia counterparts. -
Are AMD components weaker?
Sadly, they usually are weaker. Both AMD GPUs and CPUs have lower gaming performance compared to their Nvidia and Intel laptop counterparts. They are still great for your gaming needs.