Page Text: Why should buy this: It's the best 13-inch gaming laptop.
Who's it for: Gamers who want the smallest possible gaming laptop.
Why we picked the Asus ROG Flow X13:
The ROG Flow X13 was made famous for its ability to connect to the XG Mobile, a remarkably small external GPU that used a proprietary PCIe interface. But Asus also sells a stand-alone model that pumps up the graphics to an RTX 3050 Ti and leans in on this laptop's ultra-compact form factor.
To consider the ROG Flow X13, you need to be attracted to the size of this laptop. Otherwise, you'll be let down by the performance and price. But for a compact convertible 2-in-1 that you can bring to school while also being able to play some games in the evening at decent frame rates, the Asus ROG Flow X13 is in a category of its own. The Razer Blade Stealth 13 is technically the closest rival, but it's still currently stuck on old hardware.
Asus ROG Flow X13
The best 13-inch gaming laptop
More
Frequently asked questions
How much is a gaming laptop?
Gaming laptops tend to be more expensive than more general-purpose laptops because they generally include a dedicated graphics chip for better game visuals and frame rates. The cheapest options start at around $700, though you can't expect great performance at that level. Our favorite budget gaming laptop, the HP Victus 16, can be found for under $1,000. There are some alternative budget laptops that we like, although you'll struggle to find something that's great for gaming once you edge toward $500. On the higher end, you can end up spending well over $2,000 if you want the latest components and fastest screens.
What should I look for in a gaming laptop?
If you're going to play anything other than classic games or very low-intensity indie games, you want a dedicated graphics chip. It doesn't need to be something amazing, and AMD APUs with Vega graphics onboard are worth considering at the low end. Either way, you'll want something more than Intel integrated graphics if you want decent frame rates in most games.
If you expect to hit frame rates over 60 fps, it's also worth looking out for a high refresh rate display. We consider them more important than higher resolutions when it comes to gaming, and they typically aren't too costly.
Are gaming laptops good for work?
Usually, yes. You don't need a dedicated graphics chip for working, but the fast processors and high-speed RAM that gaming laptops are typically equipped with are just as good at handling spreadsheets and Word documents as they are at crunching the numbers for the latest games.
Then again, a larger, thicker gaming laptop with RGB lighting might not be appropriate for every job setting. A more subdued design, like the Razer Blade or the G-series Dell gaming laptops, fit in much better.
Are Mac laptops good for gaming?
Some aren't bad, but most of them aren't great. Apple only puts dedicated graphics chips in its MacBook Pro 16-inch models, and they come at a hefty price. There's also software compatibility to consider, as many more games are available on Windows than MacOS, even with the addition of Apple Arcade .
If all you want is a little Fortnite on the side, a 16-inch MacBook Pro will get you by, but these are not gaming machines by any means. That being said, if you really want to stick with a Mac, there's always the option to dual-boot in Boot Camp , which lets you run Windows 10 games on your MacBook hardware.
Editors' Recommendations