5 Best Gaming Laptops In Malaysia 2023 (Premium & Budget)

All set to treat yourself to the best gaming laptop in Malaysia 2023? Don’t panic when you see the prices! The latest gaming laptops can cost around or even more than RM7K.

However, it’s not all hopeless! And you can get a decent budget gaming laptop in Malaysia for less than RM4,000!

Be sure to read the buying guide below if this is going to be your first ever gaming laptop too.

Table Of Contents:

• Best Gaming Laptop Malaysia
• Budget Gaming Laptop Malaysia
• How To Choose A Good Gaming Laptop
• How To Keep Your Laptop Cool While Gaming

5 Best Gaming Laptops In Malaysia 2023

Higher specs and faster performance costs more! Here are our recommendations according to various budgets!

• Best Compact 14-inch Gaming Laptop: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
• Best Premium Gaming Laptop: Razer Blade 15 Advanced
• Best Entry-Level Gaming Laptop: Acer Nitro 5
• Best Mid-Range Gaming Laptop: Lenovo Legion Pro 5
• Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G17

1. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 2022 GA402R – Best Compact 14-inch Gaming Laptop

Thanks to the smaller 14-inch screen size, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is compact & slim. It is our pick as the Best Compact 14-inch Gaming Laptop.

You also get a sharp and crystal clear 2560 x 1600 Quad HD+ resolution and a speedy 120Hz refresh rate. This is much sharper than the usual Full HD displays on some budget gaming laptops.

It’s slightly less sharp than a 4K display, but games and movies still look detailed. Plus, the 120Hz refresh rate makes motion and scrolling much smoother in-game.

Powering the laptop is the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS, one of the latest processors from AMD. It isn’t the most powerful AMD processor, but it’s one of the best you can get for slim form factors.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 also features 16GB RAM and a generous 1TB SSD. This is built to handle high-graphic games and multitasking. The 1TB SSD is plentiful storage for your games.

For graphics, the ROG Zephyrus G14 has the AMD Radeon RX 6700S. This is comparable to dedicated GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or 3060. That’s good considering the laptop size.

Compared to another 14-inch gaming laptop, the Razer Blade 14, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 features improved battery life, customizable RAM slots, and is cheaper for similar performance.

Battery life is longer on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 too. But those customizable RAM slots are important for gamers and designers alike. In contrast, the Razer Blade 14’s RAM is soldered on so you’re limited to what Razer offers.

Plus, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is at least RM1,000 cheaper than the Razer Blade 14. This is a big difference considering that they perform similarly. The ROG Zephyrus G14 also has a unique customizable Matrix backplate.

You can play games, set a music visualizer, and other animations, unique to the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. For these reasons, we think the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a better deal.

Still, the biggest downside of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is the price. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 will cost you over RM8,000. It’s expensive but for its performance and unique features, we’d say the price matches the total package.

Pros:

• Unique customizable matrix cover
• Powerful AMD processor & GPU
• Slim & light form factor
• Sharp & smooth display (QHD+ & 120Hz)
• Customizable RAM capacity

Cons:

• Less customizable 1-Zone RGB Keyboard
• Pricey

2. Razer Blade 15 Advanced – Best Premium Gaming Laptop

If you have money to spend, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is the best premium gaming laptop you can buy. This pricey laptop has powerful performance in a slim minimalist aluminium body.

The Razer Blade 15 Advanced features a 15.6-inch QHD display that supports a vibrant 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 240Hz refresh rate. The display is crisp and extremely vibrant.

Internally, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced features the latest 12^th Gen Intel Core i7-12800H with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD storage capacity. The RAM is especially speedy since it’s a DDR5 variant. It uses less power and loads fast.

The latest 12^th Gen Intel Core i7-12800H is reliable and can handle heavy workloads in gaming or design apps.

Additionally, the Razer Blade 15 features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070Ti. This is a powerful GPU for a laptop. It handles graphic-intensive games with ease. It also supports GPU & Battery Boost and Whisper Mode.

But if you want the best bang for your buck, you can upgrade to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080Ti. The rest of the specs are identical but the RTX 3080Ti offers a substantial jump in graphic performance.

You also get Razer’s Chroma Per-Key RGB keyboard, Wi-Fi 6e, THX Spatial Audio, and a CNC aluminium body.

Compared to the less powerful Razer Blade 15 Base model, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced features an improved CPU, GPU, a sharper display, faster refresh rate, and more RAM/storage capacity.

The two laptops are identical in terms of build and design. But the Razer Blade 15 Advanced has substantially improved performance in-game and for multitasking. It’s smoother, faster, and can run games at higher graphic settings.

Another reason we recommend the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is the display. The Razer Blade 15 Advanced has a sharp QHD resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate compared to the Base model’s FHD resolution and 144Hz refresh rate.

While the Razer Blade 15 Base model is significantly cheaper, for the improved internals and display, we think the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is worth it.

Pros:

• Attractive design & CNC aluminium chassis
• Powerful CPU and RAM
• Razer Chroma Per-Key RGB Keyboard
• Sharp & vibrant display
• Speedy 240Hz refresh rate

Cons:

• Very expensive
• RAM is soldered on (no additional slots)

3. Lenovo Legion Pro 5 82RG007RMJ – Best Mid-Range Gaming Laptop

Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is relatively cheaper than flagship laptops like the Razer Blade 15 Advanced or ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. But its performance is still on par with both laptops.

And hence, it is our pick as the best mid-range gaming laptop.

The 16-inch QHD 2560 x 1600 resolution display (with 100% sRGB colour gamut) is incredibly vibrant. It is further improved by HDR400 and Dolby Vision support which boosts colour contrast, shadowing, and excellent bright/dark contrast to make images more vivid. You also get a 165Hz refresh rate with the Lenovo Legion Pro 5.

Under the surface, Lenovo Legion Pro 5 uses the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H – this is similar tothe ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14’s processor. There’s 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. Additionally, there is an M.2 SSD slotin case you need more storage.

Unfortunately, the RAM is soldered so you can’t upgrade/replace it. But for most gamers, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has a perfect setup. Its performance is almost identical to the pricier ROG Zephyrus G14.

This is in part thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 with a 140W TGP. It’s more powerfulthan the Acer Nitro 5’s GPU (but less powerful than the Razer Blade 15 Advanced).

Thus, this is a solid middle ground to run games at high graphic settings with minimal lag/frame rate drops.

Compared with a similarly priced laptop, the MSI Stealth 15M, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has the superior AMD processor, 1TB SSD storage, higher brightness, a faster 165Hz refresh rate, and a sharper QHD resolution.

Both laptops feature the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 but the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has a higher 140W TGP.

So, if you’re considering either the MSI Stealth 15M or the Lenovo Legion Pro 5, we’d recommend the Legion Pro 5 for outstanding overall performance.

Pros:

• Large & vibrant QHD display
• HDR & Dolby Vision Support
• Powerful AMD processor
• 140W TGP Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Graphics Card
• Plentiful storage & SSD slot

Cons:

• Not portable (bulky)
• Sound system could be better

4. ASUS ROG Strix G17 G713R-MKH160W – Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop

If you need more screen real estate for your money, the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is the Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop.

It’s a massive 17.3-inch with a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution and 100% sRGB colour gamut.

The display isn’t as sharp as we’d like, but it is vibrant, and colours pop off screen. But what the ASUS ROG Strix G17 lacks in image quality, it makes up for with speed.

This is thanks to the supersonic 360Hz refresh rate. Which is the fastest refresh rate we’ve seen. The fast refresh rate ensures minimal distortion/blur when aiming or moving in a game.

Internally, the ASUS ROG Strix G17 features an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor. It also packs in a 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.

The 512GB SSD is lacking but at least you can upgrade for more storage. There is an extra RAM slot and SSD slot for that reason.

Additionally, the ASUS ROG Strix G17 features the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 with a 140W TGP. This is capable of handling AAA games at high graphic settings without noticeable lag or frame drops.

Compared to another 17-inch gaming laptop, the ASUS TUF Gaming F17, the ROG Strix G17 has an AMD processor, afast 360Hz refresh rate, amore vibrant display, and a per-key RGB backlit keyboard.

Between the two models, ASUS ROG Strix G17 has the faster refresh rate and a more vivid display.

The per-key RGB backlit keyboard is a sweet deal too over the single-colour keyboard on the TUF Gaming F17. Lastly, the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has an Aura Sync Light Bar that syncs to your keyboard for extra RGB lighting goodness.

To conclude, the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is an impressive package for a 17-inch gaming laptop. It’s a pain in the butt to carry around, but it’s a perfect gaming desktop replacement at a reasonable price.

Pros:

• Massive & vivid 17-inch display
• Super-fast 360Hz refresh rate
• Per-key RGB Lighting & Aura Sync Light Bar
• Dolby Vision HDR support
• Latest AMD Ryzen 7 processor

Cons:

• Heavy (not portable)
• Lacking storage capacity for the price

Budget Gaming Laptop Malaysia

Save some money from these budget laptop models and you can invest in a luxurious gaming chair!

5. Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-58G4 – Best Entry-Level Gaming Laptop

The Acer Nitro 5 is worth considering if you have a tight budget. This entry-level gaming laptop sports a 15.6-inch Full HD panel with 144Hz refresh rate.

For the price, it’s admirable to have such a fast refresh rate. It’s not the 240Hz on the Razer Blade 15 Advanced, but it’s still smoother than 60Hz.

However, colour accuracy and vibrancy take a hit since the display only supports a 45% NTSC colour gamut. It isn’t vibrant and colours can look dull. But this is normal for entry-level gaming laptops.

Acer Nitro 5 runs on a 12^th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. You can also upgrade the RAM and storage up to 32GB RAM. There is a PCIe M.2 slot and a 2.5” SATA slot.

The 12^th Gen Core i5 is the latest in the series but it can’t compare to 12^th Gen i7 processors. And this does affect performance and load times in-game at times.

On another note, the Acer Nitro 5 features a 4-zone RGB keyboard. Something which other budget gaming laptops don’t have (i.e., single backlit colour).

Compared to the older Acer Nitro 5 model, the latest Acer Nitro 5 improves in every aspect. It features a more powerful processor, graphics card, RAM, a faster refresh rate, and a 4-zone RGB keyboard (The older model has a red backlit keyboard).

The previous model had the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660Ti which is not as powerful as the RTX 3050 on the latest Acer Nitro 5. Plus, the upgraded RAM and processor means programs load faster without lag/buffering.

Surprisingly, the newer Acer Nitro 5 is cheaper than the older model.

All in all, the latest Acer Nitro 5 is not as vibrant, powerful, or as fast as flagship gaming laptops. But it’s still a solid performer that covers the essentials. You can game confidently on this even with the lower price tag.

Pros:

• Affordable price tag
• 4-zone RGB keyboard
• Expandable RAM/storage slots
• Latest processor & GPU
• 144Hz refresh rate support

Cons:

• Laptop build can feel flimsy
• Audio could be better

How To Choose A Good Gaming Laptop

In a nutshell, don’t stinge on the GPU. If you need to save money somewhere, that can be the screen (you can use an external monitor) or the CPU.

Other things like memory are often upgradeable.

And you have to accept that a gaming laptop is not ideal for frequent travelling. Nor is the battery life as long as other laptops!

1. Graphic Card / Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

It’s safe to say that most games depend on the GPU. And since GPUs are usually built into the laptop (and not upgradeable):

You need to get one that will still be able to cope with future games. At least for a few years!

GPU brands and their latest cards:

• Nvidia – RTX 30-series cards
• AMD – Radeon RX Radeon RX 6000 and 7900 Series

What if you only plan to do some light gaming?

Entry-level GPUs include AMD Radeon RX6600 XT.

2. CPU

Although a GPU is more important than a CPU for a high performance gaming laptop:

You should still try to get one that has an Intel® Core™ i7 processor  (with minimum 8GB of RAM) or better!

The best laptops in Malaysia run the latest and fastest chips for their CPUs!

With:

• High clock rates (GHz)
• Multiple cores

3. RAM

If you plan to use the laptop for games, the minimum requirement for RAM is 16GB.

It’s always an added bonus if it is possible to upgrade the RAM in future!

4. Memory Storage

SSD is the newer technology for memory storage and leads to a faster overall performance than what you would get from a conventional HDD.

So don’t buy a gaming laptop without SSD!

Bear in mind, having more memory storage can drive up the price of a gaming laptop in Malaysia!

That’s why many models will compromise and use both HDD and SSD! Just check that the HDD is a 7,200-rpm HDD (faster).

Later on, you can switch to a larger HDD (if possible). Or use an external drive.

5. Laptop Screen Display

In addition to graphic cards, having support software like Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync can further reduce chances of screen ghosting or tearing!

High-end screens use OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) instead of LED-lit LCDs. The contrast is more obvious. But that reflects in the price too!

Example of screen ghosting:

5.1. Screen Size

15 to 17-inch screens are common with gaming laptops. These larger laptops will come with their respective weight!

5.2. Resolution

Do not accept anything less than HD (1920 x 1080p)!

5.3. Refresh Rate / Frame Rate & Resolution

A higher refresh rate (in Hz; images per second) is necessary for a seamless gaming experience.

For HD displays, you can get a 144Hz refresh rate! However, 300Hz is better still!

And like Smart TVs, there are 4K displays for laptops too. But these are expensive. And are only worth it if you will be using a huge screen!

Moreover, the refresh rates for 4K displays are still limited to 120Hz.

Therefore, for a decent gaming laptop, aim to get FHD with a refresh rate of at least 144Hz. 4K is still not a good option.

6. Build

Obviously, you’ll want a sturdy keyboard that can take frequent barrage from enthusiastic gameplay!

You may want to check the placement of keys you frequently use. Some keyboards don’t give you full-sized arrow keys.

7. Extra Features

• Ports – Consider the type and number of ports you will need for any additional peripherals. Do you still need USB A or an SD card reader?
• Another thing to look out for is wireless connectivity for 4GHz or 5GHz bands. But now, you should be looking for Wi-Fi 6 capability too.
• Don’t forget Bluetooth for your wireless headset or other wireless accessories!

And while they’re fun to use, a touch screen is definitely unnecessary for a gaming laptop.

You don’t need anything else to drain your precious battery life when you’re running power-hungry games!

On the subject of battery:

8. Battery Life

For gaming laptops, it’s rare to find any that can last for more than 8 hours on a single charge!

Furthermore:

You should be using the power supply in order to run the highest in-gaming settings!

How To Keep Your Laptop Cool While Gaming

It’s inevitable for a laptop to get hot after hours of gaming!

There are ways you can keep it cool instead of solely depending on the laptop’s built-in cooling system!

• Keep the fans free from obstacles
• A flat surface is preferable for the laptop to rest on
• Elevate the laptop with an external cooling fan or laptop stand (i.e. cooling pad)
• Clean your laptop occasionally (expel dust from the vents with a hit of compressed air!)
• Switch to lower in-game settings

Conclusion

For portability, the best gaming laptop in Malaysia 2023 is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. But the Razer Blade 15 Advanced is the ultimate splurge for gaming enthusiasts.

On the other hand, for budget gaming laptops, we’ll have to go for the new version of the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop!

Further reading:

• 7 Best Smart TVs In Malaysia
• 11 Best Bluetooth Wireless Earphones In Malaysia
• 13 Best Smartphones In Malaysia