Today we’re having a look at some of the most affordable and most powerful Gaming Laptops available in New Zealand with new additions from MSI, Razer, HP, Asus, Dell, Acer, Lenovo and Gigabyte, all vying for the top spots! Some of the laptops in our list are very new, others are proven favourites - whichever the case, all laptops outlined below offer excellent performance for your dollar. We've done our best to choose our top list based on a variety of factors so you can find the best one for your circumstances.
Quick list! The Top Gaming Laptops
- MSI Sword 17 RTX 4060 / Intel i7-14650HX
- HP Victus 16 RTX 4070 / Intel Core i7-14650HX
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 RTX 4080 / Intel Core Ultra 9-185H
- MSI Raider A18 HX A7 RTX 4080 / AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
- ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 RTX 4080 / Intel Core i9-14900HX
- MSI Titan 18 RTX 4090 / Intel Core i9-14900HX
We use the term "gaming" because all models below feature Nvidia ShadowPlay so you can capture or stream gameplay directly from the laptop while you play, without the need for additional hardware. Previously, anything labeled "gaming" implied enough RGB to make your eyeballs bleed, thankfully that's not a condition with our list. Having dedicated graphics also makes them excellent machines for photo and video editing - and if you are worried about battery life, don't be - you can temporarily disable the power-hungry Nvidia graphics and run off integrated graphics just like the ultrabooks do.
Price is super important when choosing the right gaming laptop (price/performance for the win!), so our picks start with the most affordable options!
1. MSI Sword 17 RTX 4060
First up we have the Sword 17 from MSI. This particular model has an RTX 4060 graphics card alongside an Intel i7-14650HX processor. The Sword range from MSI is targeted at the entry-level customer base, and while its RTX 4060 is entry-level, it does pack some features that are synonymous with more premium offerings. The CPU is more than impressive, and the 17” QHD+ 240Hz IPS display packs specs that you’ll find in much higher-end laptops.
Design-wise, the Sword 17 has had an overhaul, with a brand-new body that holds onto its predecessor’s sleek profile. There’s also a new cooling vent which allows for more efficient airflow with a multi-directional outlet. The keyboard has also received an upgrade. Enhance your gaming from function to form, with the 24-zone RGB keyboard that will fit right into your gamer aesthetic.
Overall, the MSI Sword 17 RTX 4060 is a great way to enter the gaming laptop scene. The graphics card is complemented by some really nice features and a more than capable processor. It doesn’t have the price tag that often accompanies such specs, mostly due to the graphics card, but if you don’t need more than an RTX 4060, then this is a very good way to get a laptop that is practical yet still capable.
2. HP Victus 16 RTX 4070
The new HP Victus 16.1” Gaming Laptop is a great low-cost option for those looking to score an RTX 4070. In fact, for what you get - an Intel i7, DDR5 RAM and a 165Hz display, it’s one of the cheapest RTX 4070 laptops on the market.
The new-gen Victus gets a hardware update, with a backlit keyboard being offered for the first time in the Victus line-up. Couple this with great performance and you can grab yourself a laptop that has been reviewed highly and even referred to online as the ‘Budget King’.
HP didn’t cut corners when building the Victus 16 either, with 16 GB of fast DDR5 RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. Its 165Hz refresh rate is more than most RTX 4070 laptops at this price point, which usually have 144Hz, and the display is IPS, meaning wider viewing angles to enhance your gaming experience.
Overall, if you’re looking for the increased gaming potential that an RTX 4070 has over the 4060, HP’s Victus is quite literally one of the cheapest ways to go.
3. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 RTX 4080
Next on the list we have ASUS’s ROG Zephyrus G16 Gaming Laptop. This sleek powerhouse steps it up with a polished design that catches the eye and a visual experience that’s a treat for any gamer who wants high fidelity and fluid action. You’ll witness all of the action on a stunning 16” QHD Nebula display with ultra-thin bezels and a super fast 240Hz refresh rate.
Under the hood, the ROG Zephyrus G16 is equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU (or option of a RTX 4070 GPU), along with advanced features like Ray Tracing, to ensure you can enjoy the latest AAA titles at high settings. It’s powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9-185H processor, along with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of SSD storage, to deliver top-notch performance for all of the latest games, while easily keeping background apps running smoothly.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16's advanced cooling is quintessential to its performance, featuring ROG Intelligent Cooling system equipped with Thermal Grizzly’s liquid metal thermal compound and a comprehensive 6-heatpipe layout for optimal heat dissipation. The innovative 84-blade Arc Flow Fans™ and targeted inward airflow ensure that the laptop stays cool and quiet during intense gaming sessions and silent of up to 0 dB during lighter tasks thanks to their Ambient Cooling technology.
4. MSI Raider A18 RTX 4080
Next up, we have the MSI Raider A18 HX A7V (RTX 4080) - a premium powerhouse that is made to push the boundaries! This laptop is mighty powerful, offering incredible desktop power inside a portable form factor. Featuring the powerful AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D processor - with 16 cores and quick clock speeds up to 5.4GHz - this laptop will take your gaming experience to the next level, effortlessly replacing your desktop and taking on the heaviest AAA titles and creation tasks. The Raider A18 also brings MSI AI Engine to your lap, with automatic tuning to ensure your laptop is performing as well, or as efficiently, as necessary.
An RTX 4080 (12GB) GPU, 32 GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD ensure the Raider A18 is beyond capable! The display is a gorgeous 18” QHD+ with a blazing fast 240 Hz refresh rate for unmatched visuals. All this power needs some serious cooling support and MSI’s latest Cooler Boost 5 does just that, with 2 fans, 6 heat pipes, and 3D cooling stands to ensure optimal thermals, even during the most intense gaming sessions. It’ll sit nicely in your gaming setup too; in fact, it’ll be the main attraction! The Raider A18 sports the matrix light bar which has 16.8 million colours. Coupled with the RGB keyboard, the matrix light bar allows you to really personalise your gaming powerhouse to your liking and create the ultimate gaming atmosphere.
5. ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 RTX 4080
Another excellent gaming laptop from ASUS is the ROG Strix SCAR 16 RTX 4080 that offers incredible power and performance to blast through your games, content creation and more! This beast is built from the ground up for gamers - and, of course, game developers - holding the ability to run all of the latest game engines.
Featuring a 14th Gen Intel i9-14900HX processor and a GeForce RTX 4080 GPU with 175W max TGP, NVIDIA Advanced Optimus and DLSS3; this laptop flexes its muscles with some serious gaming credentials. It also sports a crystal clear 16" QHD+ Nebula Display with an incredibly fast 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, Pantone Validation, and 100% DCI-P3 coverage. Bolstered by comprehensive cooling, the 24-core, 32-thread processor clocks up to 5.5GHz to blast through even the most heavy duty games and workloads. It features up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM power for blistering fast performance, and 2 TB of SSD storage.
The ROG Strix Scar 16 is a beasty gaming laptop with incredible specs that’ll keep up with the most demanding games. Step it up a notch with the Strix SCAR 17, which features a larger display and an AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D CPU.
6. MSI Titan 18 HX A14VIG RTX 4090
Here at Hardwired, we try not to use the term ‘beast’ lightly when describing a laptop, and to be honest, this Titan 18 from MSI doesn’t really qualify for that title. The word behemoth is probably more fitting, or one of its synonyms… something like… Titan!
The MSI Titan 18 is not for everyone. Its top-of-the-range features come with a hefty price tag, but then again, you don’t buy a Ferrari or Porsche for cheap either. Headlined by the 16 GB RTX 4090 graphics card, the Titan goes on to excite, with an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU, a whopping 2TB SSD with 64 GB of RAM and much, much more. That HX at the end of the CPU name means it’s pretty much the best laptop CPU series around and the ancillary features will just beef up your experience even more. Game all day or engage in demanding AI tasks with the AI power available to you in the Titan. MSI AI Engine facilitates Intelligent Meetings, Gaming, Work and Entertainment - what more could you ask for?
Design wasn’t forgotten either with a unique Cherry MX Ultra-Low Profile mechanical keyboard coupled with the world’s first seamless RGB haptic touchpad for premier gaming immersion. MSI has incorporated a two-tone design throughout this gorgeous alloy chassis, built with advanced ‘Thixomolding’ technology. Another world first is the gorgeous 18” Mini LED display which is also 4K and has a respectable 120Hz refresh rate. The refresh rate isn’t the highest you’ll find on a laptop display, and this may be due to MSI trying to manage the limitations of 4K resolution on refresh rates. Battery capacity is right under the legal flight limit at 99.9Whr, and perhaps the modest refresh rate is MSI wanting to squeeze as much out of that battery juice as possible. Either way, if you’ve got this much power behind your laptop, you’ll probably be doing your serious gaming on a monitor anyway. And you won’t have much trouble doing so, with a desktop-esque I/O that is more than capable of everything from flexible display output to seamless data transmission.
WOAH six awesome Gaming Laptops already, and better still, this is just a small slice from the massive range of laptops available today! We'll continue to update with more of the latest as new options arrive, so be sure to keep your eyes on Hardwired News for the latest!
