Best Gaming Laptop

(This article is one of 16 parts in our Tech Awards 2025: Editor's Choice content series.)

This year’s Best Gaming Laptop criteria is simple. Firstly, we are only judging gaming-grade laptops that are no smaller or larger than 18-inch because 2025 seems to be the year that laptop brands have decided that “bigger is better.” That said, the 18-inch laptops, or more commonly known as desktop replacement laptops, have gotten more svelte, slimmer and dare I say, even portable in the case of some models in 2025.

We do not expect that brands must have the fastest and greatest processors in their respective laptops, although we always ask that they send over their best configurations. The models and their respective configurations that we reviewed must also be available for purchase in Singapore.

Nominees:

1. Acer Predator Helios 18
2. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18
3. Gigabyte Aorus Master 18
4. MSI Titan 18 HX AI

Note: Last year’s Gaming Laptop winner, Lenovo Legion, couldn’t send us a suitable review unit to test.

And the winner is…

MSI Titan 18 HX AI - Best Gaming Laptop

MSI’s Titan 18 HX AI didn’t just edge out the competition this year – it bulldozed through the category. With its impressive 18-inch mini-LED display, desktop-class Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (the only laptop that carries Intel’s flagship high-performance mobile CPU) and NVIDIA RTX 5090 Laptop GPU options, and a cooling system that looks more like something from a small server rack, this gaming laptop certainly isn’t built to be subtle. What clinched the “Best Gaming Laptop” title, though, is how MSI managed to wrap all that muscle in a package that doesn’t forget about the user experience.

A key example being the keyboard: the Titan 18 HX is one of the few contemporary gaming laptops (or the only one?) still rocking genuine, albeit a low-profile version, Cherry MX mechanical switches, and it’s a revelation if you’ve grown too used to the spongy feel of membrane or chiclet keys. The click and travel are unmistakably mechanical, closer to a proper desktop keyboard than anything else on a laptop. It makes long play sessions, or even plain old typing, feel more tactile and satisfying – and that’s something rivals can’t match.

Calling the Titan a laptop almost doesn’t do it justice. This is a portable workstation in disguise, built for gamers who refuse to compromise on frame rates, visuals, or even the quality of their keystrokes. Yes, it’s bulky and eye-watering expensive – but for those who want the absolute peak of gaming performance in a (just about) luggable form, MSI’s flagship deservedly takes the crown. Have a closer look at it in our photo gallery.

(Stay tuned for our full review)

MSI’s Titan 18 HX AI is available from MSI’s Lazmall Store and Shopee Mall with our tested configuration available here.

In the meantime, here's how the other nominees fared in a snapshot.

Acer Predator Helios 18 – The best value laptop

Acer’s Predator Helios 18 AI came closer than we expected to top our list this year. It’s a seriously impressive machine – solidly built, surprisingly refined, and anchored by one of the nicest 18-inch mini-LED displays we’ve seen on a gaming laptop. Fire up a game and the colours just pop. Performance, as you’d expect from the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, is never in doubt. It runs just about everything smoothly, even if it doesn’t quite hit the outrageous levels of MSI’s Titan.

What really struck me, though, is how sensible Acer has become with the Helios 18 AI. It feels grown-up compared to older Predator designs – a little less flashier, more polish – and crucially, it comes in at a more competitive price than its rivals. That makes it a much easier recommendation if you want high-end gaming performance without blowing a hole in your budget. For instance, the Predator Helio 18 AI with an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 96GB of RAM and a 4K mini-LED display is available for S$6,999. That’s still far lower than the ROG and Gigabyte’s own equivalent models. So while the Predator Helio 18 AI may not have walked away with the crown this year, it easily secured its spot as our second favourite.

(Stay tuned for our full review)

The Acer Predator Helios 18 AI is available from Acer’s online store and Shopee Mall, and our tested configuration is here.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 – The best-looking 18-inch gaming laptop

ASUS’s ROG Strix Scar 18 is a reminder that gaming laptops don’t always have to play it safe. I really like that the company has brought back the Anime Vision display on the lid – it’s a fun, customisable feature that makes the machine truly your own, and instantly recognisable in a sea of matte-black slabs. The overall build quality is solid too, with the kind of heft and rigidity that gives you confidence it’ll hold up after years of heavy gaming.

The problem is that looks and extras only get you so far. At its price point, you’d expect the Scar 18 to trade blows with the very best, but its performance lands in the middle of the pack. But don’t get me wrong; it’s no slouch – far from it – yet when rivals like the above MSI’s Titan 18 HX AI or even Acer’s Helios Predator 18 are offering more power or better value, the Scar 18 feels like a tougher sell. ASUS has crafted a striking and well-built laptop here, but the high pricing and middling performance keep it just below the competition in our ranking.

(Stay tuned for our full review)

The ASUS Strix Scar 18 is available from their ASUS online store, LazMall Store and Shopee Mall, with our tested configuration over here.

Gigabyte Aorus Master 18 – A dependable high-end laptop

Gigabyte’s Aorus Master 18 is the kind of gaming laptop that gets the fundamentals right without shouting too loudly about it. The design is more understated compared to the rivals here, but that works in its favour if you prefer something that doesn’t scream “gamer” every time you open the lid. The build is sturdy, the cooling solution does its job well, its 18-inch display delivers plenty of screen real estate for both games and work, and even the keyboard and trackpad are pleasant to use.

The trouble is that while the Aorus Master 18 ticks the right boxes, it doesn’t really push past them. Performance is strong, but not class-leading; the display is good, but not as punchy as Acer’s Predator Helios 18; and the overall package lacks the extra flair of the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 or the sheer excess of MSI’s Titan 18 HX AI. It’s a dependable high-end laptop, no doubt, but in a fiercely competitive field this year, it ends up being overshadowed by machines that either offered more power, better value, or simply a stronger sense of character.

(Stay tuned for our full review)

Gigabyte’s Aorus Master 18 is available from Tech Yard, with our tested configuration available here

(This article is one of 16 parts in our Tech Awards 2025: Editor's Choice content series.)

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