Gaming laptops are beasts when it comes to performance. With high-end specifications and a superior thermal design that ensure vital components like the CPU and GPU perform optimally, these laptops are built for serious gaming.
But besides these top-of-the-line features, laptop manufacturers also incorporate several gaming-centric elements to enhance the aesthetics of the computer. RGB backlit keyboards, body graphics, RGB lights around the frame, and logo, are just some of the visual elements that manufacturers use to give gaming vibes to the laptop.
However, if you are a working professional by day and a gaming geek when the creature comes out to play, you’d prefer a laptop that looks more at home on a work desk rather than the sets of a sci-fi flick. A gaming laptop with an over-the-top aesthetic may attract unnecessary attention and not be ideal for an office setting.
Fortunately, several laptops fit the part. They look like everyday laptops with minimal gaming elements from the exterior, but they pack tremendous performance capabilities and efficient heat dissipation to prevent thermal throttling.
Selecting A Gaming Laptop That Looks Normal
There are several gaming laptops on the market, and choosing one is challenging enough. But it’s far more difficult to find one computer that offers all the features and doesn’t resemble something that should hang from the ceiling of a nightclub.
Image Credit: www.techcrunch.com
The gaming aesthetic of a laptop comes either from its shell design or elements that manufacturers use to accentuate the look. Manufacturers may use one or a combination of several elements on a computer.
These include the following.
- Illuminated logos: Manufacturers often emboss their logo on the laptop’s lid. Some illuminate it with RGB lighting to give it a gaming vibe.
- Body Graphics: Normally, these are fancy stickers (or badges) stuck on the laptop’s body to add color or an element of design to the overall look.
- RGB Lighting: While RGB-lit logos are common on gaming laptops, some manufacturers provide additional lighting around the port or the laptop’s frame.
- RGB Backlit Keyboards: Monochrome backlit keyboards are commonplace on mid-to-high-range laptops. But gaming laptop manufacturers often use RGB backlit keyboards to enhance gaming aesthetics.
- Large Air Vents: Gaming laptops generate excessive heat that needs to be dissipated quickly. For this reason, manufacturers use large fans that require large air vents to maintain a high airflow.
Honestly, it’s nearly impossible to find a gaming laptop that doesn’t use at least one of these elements. So you have to judge what’s acceptable to you and rate the contenders that have the bare minimum.
Table of Contents
- Selecting A Gaming Laptop That Looks Normal
- Comparison Of The Best Gaming Laptops That Look Normal
- 1. Razer Blade 16 – Our Choice
- 2. Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16IRX8 – Most Normal Looking Gaming Laptop
- 3. Acer Predator Triton 14 – On-The-Go Gaming
- 4. MSI Stealth 15 – Slim Gaming Laptop
- 5. GIGABYTE AERO 16 OLED – OLED Screen
- 6. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 – AMD Laptop
- 7. HP Victus 15.6-inch – Budget Pick
- 8. MSI Cyborg 2023 – Gigabit Ethernet
- Best Gaming Laptops That Look Normal – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Comparison Of The Best Gaming Laptops That Look Normal
| Image | Product | Details | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Razer Blade 16 | Display: 16” Mini LED Resolution: 3840x2160 CPU: Intel Core i9-13950HX GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 RAM: 32GB DDR5 Storage: 1TB SSD Ports: 1x Thunderbolt 4 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 1x HDMI v.2.1 1x Media card reader 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 Date Released: Feb-2023 | Buy on Amazon |
 | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16IRX8 | Display: 16” IPS Resolution: 2560x1600 CPU: Intel Core i7-13700HX GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 RAM: 16GB DDR5 Storage: 1TB SSD Ports: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 1x HDMI v.2.1 1x RJ-45 Ethernet 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 Date Released: May-2023 | Buy on Amazon |
 | Acer Predator Triton 14 | Display: 14” IPS Resolution: 1920x1200 CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 RAM: 16GB DDR5 Storage: 512GB SSD Ports: 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 1x HDMI 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 Date Released: Apr-2023 | Buy on Amazon |
 | MSI Stealth 15 | Display: 15.6” IPS Resolution: 1920x1080 CPU: Intel Core i7-13620H GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 RAM: 16GB DDR5 Storage: 1TB SSD Ports: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 1x HDMI v.2.1 1x RJ-45 Ethernet 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 Date Released: Jan-2023 | Buy on Amazon |
 | GIGABYTE AERO 16 OLED | Display: 16” OLED Resolution: 3840x2400 CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 RAM: 16GB DDR5 Storage: 1TB SSD Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 1x USB-C 3.2 1x USB-A 3.2 1x HDMI v.2.1 1x Ethernet RJ-45 1x Media Card Reader 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 Date Released: Feb-2023 | Buy on Amazon |
 | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 | Display: 14” IPS Resolution: 2560x1600 CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 RAM: 32GB DDR5 Storage: 1TB SSD Ports: 1x USB 4 Type-C 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 1x HDMI v.2.1 1x Media Card Reader 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 Date Released: Jun-2023 | Buy on Amazon |
 | HP Victus 15.6-Inch | Display: 15.6” IPS Resolution: 1920x1080 CPU: Intel Core i5-13420H GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 RAM: 16GB DDR4 Storage: 512GB SSD Ports: 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 1x HDMI v.2.1 1x RJ-45 Ethernet 1x Media Card Reader 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 Date Released: Jun-2023 | Buy on Amazon |
 | MSI Cyborg 2023 | Display: 15.6” IPS Resolution: 1920x1080 CPU: Intel Core i7-13620H GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 RAM: 32GB DDR5 Storage: 1TB SSD Ports: 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 1x HDMI v.2.1 1x RJ-45 Ethernet 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 Date Released: Jun-2023 | Buy on Amazon |
1. Razer Blade 16 – Our Choice
The Blade 16 has an excellent gaming pedigree, with Razer constantly launching some of the best gaming laptops in the recent past. Despite its tremendous processing power, Razer manages to keep its gaming aesthetic to a minimum. But minimal does not mean none; there is a backlit logo on the laptop’s lid, but it is a monochrome logo that will attract little attention.
The Blade 16 is a powerhouse of performance thanks to its high-end specifications. The laptop has an Intel 13th generation Core i9-13950HX processor (eight performance and 16 efficiency cores, 36MB cache, and up to 5.2GHz clock speed). Razer pairs this with a generous 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD.
The dual-mode mini-LED display offers 4K@120Hz or FHD+@240Hz, which is excellent when playing high-end games that give you an edge with extra frames. The display provides stunning images supported by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 dedicated GPU.
The panel has close to 1000 nits brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and an incredibly low response time of 3ms, key ingredients to offer lifelike gaming graphics. Razer’s use of mini-LED does an outstanding job with 1000 dimming zones and a contrast ratio of 1M:1, making the blacks look true while displaying vibrant colors.
Razer does an excellent job with connectivity too. The Blade 16’s port selection includes a Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI v.2.1, enabling you to hook up an 8K display quickly. While the laptop lacks an Ethernet port, you get excellent wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
- The High-end specifications can handle any game.
- The dual-mode mini-LED display is ideal for gaming with high refresh rates.
- It includes a GaN charger that’s compact and power-efficient despite its 280W output.
- The aluminum body makes the laptop durable.
- Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6E provide high-speed connectivity.
- Very expensive.
- No Ethernet port for wired LAN connectivity.
2. Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16IRX8 – Most Normal Looking Gaming Laptop
The Legion Pro 5 is among the only gaming laptops that have no significant gaming aesthetic that you find on gaming notebooks. In fact, it follows Lenovo’s trademark black bento box design that you see on most of their laptops. Sure, it has a few large air vents for enhanced heat dissipation, but they are unobtrusive and don’t affect the overall look of the computer.
Lenovo offers the Legion Pro 5 with several high-end and mid-range specifications, giving reasonable value for your money. The laptop has a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13700HX processor with 16 cores (8-P 8-E cores), 24 Threads, 20MB Cache, and a 5.00GHz clock speed. While more high-end specifications include 1TB SSD storage and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 dedicated GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM provides excellent mid-range performance.
Interestingly, the high-end specification extends to the display also. The Legion Pro 5 has a 16-inch IPS panel display with a 2560×1600 WQXGA resolution that offers a 165Hz refresh rate, eliminating the need for a big screen monitor and making the Pro 5 a self-sufficient gaming platform.
The only thing you’ll miss is a Thunderbolt 4 port, but apart from that, the laptop has an excellent selection of ports and network connectivity options. These include USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (with 140W Power Delivery and Alt Mode DisplayPort), USB-A, and HDMI v.2.1 ports. And for network connectivity, Lenovo offers an Ethernet port for wired and Wi-Fi 6E for wireless networks.
- No gaming aesthetics.
- The 16-inch display ensures the best gaming experience on a laptop.
- High-end specifications enable you to play the game of your choice.
- Plenty of ports to connect all your peripheral devices.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 provide high-speed network access.
- Premium price
- No Thunderbolt 4 ports despite the premium price
3. Acer Predator Triton 14 – On-The-Go Gaming
Gaming laptops are known to be bulky and heavy computers with poor portability. The Predator Triton 14 is surprisingly portable, and its slim and no-fuss design makes it an excellent travel companion.
It gets its slight form thanks to the 14-inch screen, which essentially governs the laptop’s overall size and keeps it in check. But while it does that, Acer makes sure not to compromise on what’s inside.
The Triton 14 also uses Intel’s 13th-generation Core i7-13700H processor (14 Cores, 20 Threads, 24MB Cache, and up to 5.00GHz clock speed). RAM and storage are mid-range, with 16GB DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD drive, but adequate for most games on the market. More importantly, Acer includes the GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, ensuring your gaming experience remains uncompromised.
The Triton 14’s top-notch thermal design includes several features supporting the cooling infrastructure. These include fans, an efficient airflow system, and heat pipes, among other components to circulate the air and transfer heat away from critical components like the CPU, RAM, and GPU.
The laptop has no flashy graphics or badges, large air vents, or pervasive RGB lights on the body (or lid). However, the keyboard is backlit with RGB lighting, so it will grab a few curious looks, especially in dimly lit environments.
- The small size makes the laptop portable.
- A good mix of high-performance specifications.
- Reasonably priced for a gaming laptop.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 provide high-speed network access.
- Simple-looking laptop with no external gaming aesthetics.
- No Ethernet port for wired network connectivity.
- Few USB ports for connecting peripheral devices.
4. MSI Stealth 15 – Slim Gaming Laptop
Besides being heavy, gaming laptops are also very bulky because they pack in more components than most other laptops. Apart from a dedicated GPU, gaming laptops have an extensive thermal design that includes multiple fans, heat pipes, and whatnot, making such laptops big and heavy. The MSI Stealth 15 does an excellent job of managing internal space and maintaining a slim form factor.
Despite using three fans and five heat pipes, the laptop is one of the thinnest gaming laptops you can lay your hands on. MSI uses fans with super thin fan blades, which allows for more blades and facilitates greater airflow, preventing the throttling of critical components.
MSI offers the Stealth 15 with a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13620H processor (10 cores, 16 threads, 24MB Cache, and up to 4.90GHz clock speed). While you have the same 16GB DDR5 RAM and fewer cores than the Acer Triton 14, which is priced similarly, the MSI offers double the storage with a 1TB SSD. And with the GeForce RTX 4060, you also get a slightly better GPU than the Acer.
The laptop’s shell is devoid of any over-the-top blemishes in the form of body graphics or RGB lighting. There is one illuminated logo on the laptop’s lid, but it seems insignificant considering the 15.6-inch frame of the computer. The air vents on the Stealth 15 are located on the sides and rear edges of the laptop, and they are hardly noticeable, especially considering that this is a fully-loaded gaming laptop.
The Stealth 15 has a modest 15.6-inch display panel with a 1920×1080 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, adequate for mid-and-high-end gaming. The laptop has a good selection of ports that include USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports and HDMI v.2.1 for connecting 8K displays. Shockingly, you only get Wi-Fi 6.
- A slim design makes the laptop portable.
- Superior heat management with an excellent thermal design.
- Excellent speakers produce high-quality sound.
- The High-end specifications can handle any game.
- No Wi-Fi 6E despite the price.
- The screen is average at best, and serious gamers will prefer an external monitor.
5. GIGABYTE AERO 16 OLED – OLED Screen
The Aero 16 from Gigabyte has a 16-inch OLED screen with a 4K 3840×2400 UHD+ resolution in a 16:10 aspect ratio, making it perfect for work and play. It also features VESA DisplayHDR 600 True Black, a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and a TUV Rheinland-certified Eyesafe 2.0 panel with exceptional color accuracy, all essential features that ensure an engaging and lifelike gaming experience.
Apart from the AERO logo on the lid and subtly backlit keyboard, there are no dead giveaways of the gaming pedigree of this laptop. Gigabyte keeps the design of the air vents discreet so that the computer can maintain a modest frame. There are vents on the rear and side edges of the laptop; they are unobtrusive and don’t add unduly to the laptop’s thickness.
The laptop gets its gaming prowess from the 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13700H processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD storage which Gigabyte pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. And if you want more, Gigabyte offers a variant with an i9-13900H which pairs with 32GB DDR5 RAM.
The Aero 16 has an excellent selection of expansion ports, including Thunderbolt 4, a USB-C, and an HDMI v.2.1 port, making it easy to customize your gaming station with high-performance peripherals. The laptop has no Ethernet port, but you can attach a Thunderbolt dock and expand your laptop’s capabilities.
- The OLED screen ensures lifelike images.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 provide high-speed network access.
- Thunderbolt 4 ports for attaching eGPUs.
- The FullHD camera is perfect for video calls and streaming online.
- The thin bezels provide an excellent screen-to-body ratio.
- No Ethernet port for LAN connectivity.
- The 60Hz refresh rate is unsuitable for high-performance gaming.
6. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 – AMD Laptop
If you are an AMD loyalist and prefer the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 series processor for gaming, Zephyrus G14 is a worthy contender. Although expensive, Asus ensures it gives you top-of-the-line specifications on a laptop shell with minimal gaming aesthetics. The lid features Asus’s AniMe Matrix, a LED matrix you can use to display customized graphics (or none at all).
The G14 has AMD’s Ryzen 9 7940HS processor with eight cores, 16 threads, and a clock speed of up to 5.2GHz. It comes with 16GB DDR5 RAM onboard and an additional 16GB upgradeable chip. For storage, Asus includes a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD and offers variants of up to 4TB that enable you to save all your media and games on a single storage unit.
Asus includes a 14-inch QHD+ display with a 165Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, all impressive numbers for a proper gaming laptop. Of course, a 14-inch frame also governs the laptop’s overall size, making it perfect for gaming while you travel. Asus pairs this display with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, giving you a well-rounded gaming platform that’ll keep you engaged for long hours.
- The USB 4 port enables the use of eGPUs.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 provide high-speed network access.
- The high-end specifications are ideal for most games.
- Portable and light for a gaming laptop.
- Excellent display with high-performance gaming specifications.
- A fully-expandable RAM configuration would be better.
- Programming the Asus AniMe LED matrix panel is cumbersome.
7. HP Victus 15.6-inch – Budget Pick
The HP Victus is perfect for working professionals who enjoy mild gaming during their free time. It is a budget pick, and with all things “budget,” one must sacrifice plenty of high-end specifications.
For starters, where most gaming laptops offer Intel’s Core i7 processor, the HP Victus has a 13th-generation Intel Core i5-13420H with eight cores, 12 threads, and up to 4.8GHz clock speed. RAM and storage are limited to 16GB DDR4 and 512GB, respectively. However, the most significant sacrifice is the use of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050. Nevertheless, the specifications are enough to handle mid-range games, and HP offers variants with higher RAM and storage configurations.
Next, the display on the HP Victus has only a 1080p resolution, but HP thoughtfully combines this with a 144Hz refresh rate to prevent image distortions while gaming. So while you’ll miss the lifelike clarity of high-resolution displays, your gaming experience won’t be plagued by unnecessary interruptions.
You’ll notice more sacrifices on the connectivity the Victus offers. HP foregoes Thunderbolt and high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and only offers USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Thankfully, HP includes an HDMI v.2.1 and Ethernet port, but wireless connectivity is limited to Wi-Fi 6 even though you get Bluetooth 5.3.
- Price
- Mid-range specifications are ideal for working professionals who occasionally enjoy gaming.
- Several variants with higher specifications, all reasonably priced.
- No large air vents and extremely subtle (almost non-existent) gaming aesthetics.
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity would be better.
- DDR5 RAM is expected at this price point on regular laptops.
8. MSI Cyborg 2023 – Gigabit Ethernet
The MSI Cyborg is an excellent gaming laptop that has almost no gaming aesthetic on the shell. The computer offers a mixed bag of high-end and mid-range specifications, but its most significant advantage is its Gb LAN connectivity.
The Cyborg has a 15.6-inch IPS panel display with a modest 1920×1080 resolution and a reasonable 144Hz refresh rate, ideal for mid-range gaming and budding gamers. The screen isn’t spectacular but does the job, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU ensures a fantastic gaming experience.
MSI includes Intel’s latest 13th-generation Core i7-13620H processor with ten cores, 16 threads, 24MB cache, and up to 4.90GHz clock speed. While a lower RAM variant is available, we recommend getting the 32GB DDR5 variant that MSI pairs with a 1TB SSD, as it promises significantly better value for money.
The laptop is slightly bulky, but not because of the air vents, as MSI conceals these on the laptop’s bottom panel. The lid has an MSI logo that’s not backlit; most people won’t even notice it’s there. Thankfully, there is no RGB lighting on the laptop, and the keyboard only has a subtle monochrome backlight that’s commonly seen on most high-end laptops.
Unfortunately, the MSI makes a poor selection of port and connectivity options. Sure, you get a Gb LAN port, but there are no high-speed USB ports, and MSI only offers Wi-Fi 6, a hard pill to swallow considering the price and competition.
- The high-end specifications provide an excellent gaming experience.
- No gaming aesthetic on the shell.
- Air vents are neatly concealed on the laptop’s bottom panel.
- Gigabit LAN connectivity provides high-speed connectivity on wired networks.
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity would be better.
- You’ll need a high-resolution monitor to experience genuinely immersive gaming.
- No high-speed USB ports.
Best Gaming Laptops That Look Normal – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Should I Buy A Gaming Laptop With A Thunderbolt Port?
The answer depends on your laptop’s specifications and gaming preferences. If your chosen gaming laptop has the latest GPU and sizable SSD storage, you can do without a Thunderbolt 4 port. However, getting a Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 laptop is advisable, as these ports allow you to attach eGPUs for easy upgradation of your gaming setup.
Are There Any Thin-And-Light Gaming Laptops?
A dedicated GPU is an essential part of a good gaming laptop. But they produce a lot of heat that needs to be dissipated quickly to ensure the component performs optimally. While the GPU is a small device, the thermal infrastructure designed around it to keep it cool occupies space. Therefore, gaming laptops are big and heavy.
How Much RAM Should My Gaming Laptop Have?
While no rule governs the answer, most gamers prefer at least a 16GB DDR5 RAM chip for gaming. For best results, it’s advisable to check the “Recommended” specifications of the gaming title to be sure what RAM capacity suits your need best.
Are Gaming Laptops Upgradeable?
Most gaming laptops enable the upgradation of the RAM and storage drive. These are standard changeable components that anyone with little experience can do at home. However, vital parts like the CPU and GPU, essential gaming laptop elements, are far more challenging to upgrade, if not impossible.
