The Gaming Laptop Trends of CES 2025

CES 2024 showcased a dazzling array of gaming laptops, revealing several key trends shaping the future of mobile gaming.

A Diverse Landscape of Designs

While gaming laptops have always boasted a variety of styles, this year felt particularly diverse. Brands like Gigabyte and MSI are blurring the lines between productivity and gaming, pushing high-end models to offer more than just raw power. This translates to a broader range of aesthetics. Laptops like the Gigabyte Aero series exude sleek elegance, suitable for even the most professional settings. Conversely, machines like the MSI Titan 18 HX AI Dragonforged Edition proudly display their gaming pedigree with bold graphics.

RGB lighting remains a staple, with laptops featuring wrap-around rings, illuminated keyboards, and side/rear/trackpad accents. The Asus ROG Strix Scar series impressed with its AniME Dot Matrix LED display, showcasing text and animations on the lid. While not revolutionary, expect a mix of familiar form factors—from large and powerful to thin and light—alongside some innovative designs.

The Rise of AI Assistants

AI integration in laptops gained significant traction last year, but implementations often fell short. This year, several vendors showcased AI assistants designed to control PCs without needing to open any software. One MSI demo showed an assistant automatically optimizing performance settings based on the chosen game. While potentially convenient, the practical speed advantage over manual adjustments remains to be seen. Further testing is needed to assess the real-world utility and offline capabilities of these systems.

Mini-LED, Rollable Displays, and Other Innovations

Mini-LED technology is finally making a significant impact on the gaming laptop market. Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte all displayed Mini-LED laptops with top-tier specs and prices. These models, boasting over 1100 local dimming zones, offer reduced blooming, enhanced contrast, impressive brightness, and vibrant colors. While OLED still reigns supreme in contrast, Mini-LED’s lack of burn-in risk and higher sustained brightness make it a compelling alternative.

Further innovations were also on display. The ASUS ROG Flow X13 returned with USB4 eGPU support, eliminating proprietary connections. Asus showcased it paired with a new eGPU featuring up to an RTX 5090. Elsewhere, Asus displayed its Zenbook Duo dual-screen laptop. However, Lenovo stole the show with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, the first notebook with a rollable OLED display. Its 14-inch screen extends by 2.7 inches with the push of a button. While the initial design might seem unconventional and durability concerns exist, it's a significant step forward for rollable display technology.

The Continued Dominance of Ultrabooks

Ultrabooks are ubiquitous, even within gaming lineups. Major manufacturers now offer thin, light, and premium gaming laptops, often adopting a minimalist aesthetic. Gigabyte's revamped Aero line exemplifies this trend. These devices are ideal for gamers who don't require maximum settings on the latest titles, offering portability and productivity alongside gaming capabilities. Adding a dedicated graphics card is possible without sacrificing portability, as demonstrated by the Asus TUF Gaming A14.

Furthermore, adjusting settings allows users to bypass the higher cost of dedicated graphics cards. Modern AMD and Intel processors, along with features like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and Intel XeSS, enable playable performance in demanding games. Cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now offer additional options, providing high-quality gaming experiences without requiring a dedicated gaming laptop.

The gaming laptop landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with numerous exciting developments on the horizon. We'll be covering these advancements throughout the year. What trends stood out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!