CES never disappoints when it comes to showcasing the latest in laptops, and this year's event was no different. I explored the bustling show floor and various packed suites and showrooms to uncover the key trends shaping gaming laptops in 2025. Here are the major themes that stood out in the world of gaming laptops this year.
A Huge Diversity of Designs
Gaming laptops have always boasted a variety of styles, but this year's offerings felt particularly diverse. Brands like Gigabyte and MSI are increasingly blending productivity with gaming, pushing the boundaries of what high-end gaming laptops can offer beyond just raw hardware.
This year, you'll find gaming laptops in a broader spectrum of designs. For instance, the Gigabyte Aero series presents a sleek, professional look that blends seamlessly into business environments. On the other end of the spectrum, the MSI Titan 18 HX AI Dragonforged Edition boasts bold graphics on its lid, making a clear statement about its gaming prowess.
RGB lighting remains a staple, with innovations like wrap-around lighting rings, illuminated mechanical keyboards, and even trackpad lights. The Asus ROG Strix Scar series particularly caught my eye with its AniME Dot Matrix LED display, which can showcase text, animations, and more on its lid using white LEDs.
While the core design principles remain unchanged, expect to see some fresh and exciting novelties alongside the traditional range of gaming laptops, from hefty powerhouses to sleek, lightweight models.
AI Assistants are Coming
Last year, AI integration in laptops was a buzzword, but the implementations often fell short. This year, however, multiple vendors showcased AI Assistants designed to enhance user control over their PCs without the need for manual software adjustments.
In one demonstration, an MSI representative used a chatbot to specify the type of game he wanted to play, and the assistant automatically adjusted the performance settings to match the game's intensity. While these systems are intended to work offline, I remain skeptical about their efficiency compared to manual adjustments. We'll need to see how these features perform once they're fully rolled out.
Mini-LED, Rollable Displays and Other Novelties
Mini-LED technology is finally making a significant impact in the gaming laptop market. Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte all displayed Mini-LED laptops with top-tier specifications and pricing. These laptops featured over 1,100 local dimming zones, reducing blooming and enhancing contrast, along with impressive brightness and vibrant colors. While OLED still excels in contrast, Mini-LED's resistance to burn-in and higher sustained brightness make it an exciting prospect for future models.
There were also some intriguing novelties. The ASUS ROG Flow X13, returning after a year's hiatus, now supports eGPUs via USB4, eliminating the need for proprietary connections. Asus showcased it connected to a new eGPU with up to an RTX 5090, offering a powerful boost akin to a Microsoft Surface on steroids.
Elsewhere, Asus displayed the Zenbook Duo, a dual-screen productivity laptop, but Lenovo stole the show with the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable. This isn't a gaming laptop, but it's noteworthy as the first notebook with a rollable OLED display. With a simple button press, its 14-inch screen extends upward by an additional 2.7 inches. While the initial design may seem awkward and durability concerns linger, it's a pioneering product that promises to improve with time and further development.
Ultrabooks Continue to Rise, Even for Gaming
Ultrabooks are increasingly prevalent, even within gaming line-ups. Major manufacturers now offer thin, light, and premium gaming laptops, such as Gigabyte's revamped Aero series, which perfectly embodies the Ultrabook form factor.
This trend makes sense for gamers who don't need to run the latest titles at maximum settings. These new Ultrabooks allow you to enjoy gaming while maintaining exceptional portability and productivity. As I noted in my review of the Asus TUF Gaming A14 last year, it's possible to integrate a dedicated graphics card into these machines without compromising their on-the-go productivity.
Moreover, with the latest processors from AMD and Intel, you can achieve surprisingly good gaming performance even without a dedicated GPU. Technologies like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and Intel XeSS, along with frame generation, enable relatively demanding games to run smoothly. For casual gamers, this might be all you need, raising questions about the future necessity of lower-end GPUs like the RTX 4050M.
Cloud gaming also offers a viable solution for these machines. Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now have reached a level where you can enjoy a high-quality gaming experience without needing a dedicated "gaming" laptop.
The world of gaming laptops is brimming with exciting developments, and we'll continue to cover them throughout the year. What trends caught your eye? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
