5 Best 13 inch Gaming Laptop

Introduction

These days, instead of playing physical games people are passionate about playing games on laptops. These iconic gadgets have transformed the gaming industry. Laptop designers are continuously working to structure new ideas for example, how to make a gaming device better and convenient? Gaming industry is always very competitive so, this struggle is constant.

Nowadays, portable laptops are in demand due to their lightweight and compact design. No one wants to carry a heavy bag along with them. The 13-14 inches size is quite suitable.

13-inch gaming laptops have gained huge popularity for many good reasons. The biggest of them all is, that they are an excellent combination of portability and capability. This size is perfect for students as well as professionals because it can adjust well in school bags and office briefcases.

But, the selection of a 13-inch laptop especially for gaming is not an easy task as all the laptops are not manufactured equally. All of them have some specific features, functionalities, and drawbacks. It is not enough to skim through the list of specs and features for making a reasonable choice.

Many factors are responsible for making a laptop perfect. We have compiled a list of the 5 best 13 inch gaming laptop to help you with your difficulty in making a choice. We are hopeful that you can make a better decision after reading this article.

Is 13-Inch Screen Enough For Gaming?

A 13-inch laptop would be perfect for gaming if the GPU can withstand your desired game choice. It would not give an immersive experience identical to a larger screen but, it is ideal for playing games. Specifications and features matter more than the size of the screen. If the specs of the laptop are compatible with your game type then screen size does not matter.

Advantages Of 13 Inch Gaming Laptops

After buying a 13-inch laptop, you would realize the long list of advantages it provides to the users. The first and foremost is portability. They are so light in weight and compact that you can carry them all day long without any hindrance.

A 13 inch gaming laptop offer high processing speed and power in a small package. They feature a Whisky Lake Intel Core i7 processor, which makes it 4 times faster in processing the game content. It protects the laptop from hanging.

All 13-inch gaming laptops have NVIDIA GeForce graphic card, which provides clarity during massive memory games. You can say that 15-inch laptop provides more power, but it also costs high. So, 13-inch gaming laptops are the perfect combination of portability, power, and price. We have provided a review of some best 13-inch laptops below.

Our Top Picks: 5 Best 13 inch Gaming Laptop

Razor Blade Stealth 13

Razor’s Blade Stealth laptops are serving as decent choices for many years. But, Razor Blade Stealth 13 is a true gaming laptop. Its upgraded Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics chip and 120 Hz display allures the attention of gamers. There is no comparison of this ultraportable gaming premium. Its remarkable features and solid design makes it highly recommendable.

It is a high-quality aluminum framework having a square shape. Stealth is one of the most modern-looking laptops due to the absence of round corners. It is 0.6 by 12 by 8.3 inches (HWD) and weighs only 3.1 pounds. Its impressively thin design is fit to slip into a bag. The keyboard layout is also improved in this version of Razor Blade Stealth 13.

Its 13-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate is a great combination. Its thin screen provides strong quality, vibrant and sharp pictures. Its touchpad is one of the finest available on any Windows laptop. On the right side, USB-A and USB-C ports are present but lack audio-jack. The USB-C ports offer Thunderbolt 3 support.

The CPU of Stealth performs moderately well. It is not a powerhouse but is proficient in performing daily tasks. Razor Blade Stealth 13 is an incredible laptop having enough grunt to play all the great games at a reasonable rate. It outshines for its battery life. It works well as long as you keep the graphical details under control.

Features

• It comprises a 13.3-inch touch screen.
• It is capable of Thunderbolt 3.
• It offers a 1080p full HD resolution.
• For additional power, it is compatible with Raze Core x External GPU enclosures.
• It supports SSD upgradability.
• It features a biometric security system. Also, it supports Windows Hello instant facial unlock and authentication with an IR sensor and an integrated webcam.
• It also includes customizable RGB lighting.
• It has 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD.

Pros

• Top-mark built quality.
• Has a solid battery life.
• It has beautiful appearance.
• It is ultraportable

Cons

• It lacks steadfast video out ports.
• A bit expensive as compared to portable competitors.

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Verdict

You can buy Razor Blade Stealth 13 for many good reasons. It is the best 13-inch gaming laptop. This ultraportable version is a compact metal build. Its built-in webcam, refined aesthetic, form factor, and chic color keyboard elevates it to the upper class of finest ultra-portables. 

Apple MacBook Pro 13

Apple MacBook Pro 13 is an ideal choice for software developers, multimedia editors, gamers, hobbyists, and other creative professionals. It is a 10^th Gen Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor. It provides high-quality performance and is available at a lesser price than the MacBook Pro 16. 

Apple retains its signature design as ever. MacBook Pro 13 comes in the same aluminum built framework, with small nips. Few color options like moody space grey, dark, and brighter silver finish are available for the thin slab.

It has a 13.3-inch screen comprising a very high innate resolution. It provides brilliant colors and sharp text. Its true tone feature enhances the white balance of the panel. A 720p webcam is present on the top of the display in a jet black higher bazel. Its audio setup is also upgraded.

Its amended keyboard is comfortable for typing. It offers an oversized trackpad, which is excellent. It comes with a hepatic feedback system instead of a physical clicking mechanism.

It measures 0.61 by 12 by 8.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 3 pounds. It is slightly heavier than its competitors. But, it is still not burdensome. It comes with three USB ports and it is viewed as a limitation. But, it is less of an issue now because many peripherals come with USB-C connectors.

Features

• It features two USB-C ports and one 3.5 mm headphone jack.
• The USB-C port supports the Display port, charging, USB 3.1 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 3, and USB-4 connections.
• The wireless connectivity comprises 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 networking, mice, Airdrop transfers with other Apple devices, and Bluetooth 5 for external keyboards.
• It has a better performing M1 along with 256GB of solid-state storage and 8GB of memory.
• It includes a touch bar and touch ID.
• It has 500 nits brightness and offers 25% more colors than sRGB.
• It involves a true tone feature and P3 support.
• It also features three microphones arrays.

Pros

• Its updated keyboard is more comfortable.
• It has an excellent retina display.
• Offers a speedy performance as compared to the Apple M1 chip.
• Has great graphics and computing performance.
• It comprises four thunderbolts 3 ports.
• Long battery life.
• Improved webcam.

Cons

• It is expensive.
• It does not support Wi-Fi 6.
• It has a limited port variety.
• It lacks a touch screen.

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Verdict

Apple MacBook Pro is a slogger for those who want an exceptional piece for playing games. It is a powerful as well as compact macOS laptop, which can complete processor-rigorous workflows with great competence.

Dell XPS 13

Dell XPS line can never go wrong. It is just getting better day by day, and its models stand out among the Ultrabooks. Dell XPS 13 is one of them. It is the best premium laptop and serious workhorse for students. Its powerful internals and exquisite design make its way to the list of best 13-inch gaming laptops.

Dell XPS 13 features an Intel Evo Program powered by a 1.80 GHz Intel Core i7-8565U 8^th generation processor. It also comes with a CNC-machined aluminum body. On the left side, two Thunderbolt 3 slots, a security lock slot, and a diminutive button with 5 LEDs are present. While on the right side, a USB-C 3.1 slot, an audio jack, and a micro SD card slot can be found.

The minuscule speakers, present on the sides, are not very loud. It sounds rough and hollow at 100 percent volume so, it is better to keep the volume between 75 and 85 percent.

It has a 13.3-inch display screen, which is better in this version. It looks endless with an infinity edge display. With an 11-inch form factor, it offers an 80.7% screen to body ratio. The vibrant colors and wonderful contrast ratio define bright scenes and shape to shadows.

Its anti-reflective screen and IPS panel provides a wider viewing angle and allows you to enjoy the entertainment outdoors. Its camera is sited above rather than below the display. The battery life and performance are also improved.

Features

• It is a 1.80 GHz Intel Quad-Core i7-8565U 8^th Gen processor.
• It has 16GB DDR4 RAM.
• It comes in rose gold-on-white, silver-on-black, and a new frost-on-white color layout.
• It includes a 2.25mm webcam placed on the top of a thin bazel display. It uses a 720p widescreen sensor paired with 4 far-field microphones.
• It weighs 2.7 pounds.
• It comprises a glass-coated touchpad.
• It includes Thunderbolt 3 ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a micro SD card slot, and one USB-C 3.1 port.
• Dell’s Cinema Color tools provide 100% sRGB color reproduction.
• It offers 400 nits of brightness.

Pros

• Its webcam is present above the display.
• New frost-on-white color option available.
• Boosted battery life.
• Compact and classy design.

Cons

• It lacks HDMI and USB Type-A ports.
• The 4K display is not suitable for battery life.

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Verdict

Dell XPS 13 has earned our high recommendation. There is nothing to dislike about its gorgeous design. The complaint about the position of the webcam is also resolved by Dell. So, it is undoubtedly the best Ultra-portable gaming laptop you can get.

Microsoft Surface Book 2

The original Microsoft Surface Book has earned a great reputation, and now its next version comes with even better features. It is an incredible choice for people who want staggering power in a trivial piece. It consists of an 8^th Gen Intel Quad-Core i7-8650U processor and NVIDIA GeForce GPUs graphic card. This card has its own 2GB GDDR5 memory. Hence, it is amazing for games.

Talk about the design, it is a two-in-one device. Yes, the screen is detachable and you can use it as a tablet as well. Tent mode is also present. Moreover, it does not fold flat; a small space exists when you close it. The 13.5-inch pixel sense display is responsible for razor-sharp resolution and blazing graphics.

It is a lightweight and powerful laptop providing unprecedented performance, which is remarkable for this size. Its backlit keyboard is super comfortable. And, we can say that it is the most silent keyboard we ever had. Like the previous version, this generation also lacks Thunderbolt 3. USB-C port is utilized as a single port for transferring files, charging devices, and display videos on external monitors. All in all, it is a versatile device.

Features

• It features an 8^th Gen Intel Quad Core i7-8650U processor.
• It has 8GB RAM 1866Mhz LPDDR3.
• It includes an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU graphic card.
• Its screen is detachable.
• It weighs 2.76 pounds.
• In addition to black colors, it also comes in cobalt, silver, and burgundy colors..
• The keyboard features three levels of backlight brightness, shining in white.
• An edge-to-edge sheet of corning’s Gorilla Glass covers the screen. It also features 10-point capability.
• It includes one USB 3.0 port, a headphone jack, and mini-display port output.
• It also has a TPM 2.0 chip for enterprise security.
• It comprises a 720p webcam and Bluetooth 4.1.

Pros

• Lightweight, compact, and trim design.
• Long-lasting battery.
• Sharp touch display.
• High-built quality.

Cons

• Limited options are available for ports.
• The clicks of the touchpad are quite loud.

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Verdict

Microsoft Surface Book 2 is a versatile laptop, suitable for gaming and other functions. It is a sleek Ultraportable design with a top-notch build, long-lasting battery, and stellar screen. After adding a port or two by yourself, it would be an ideal choice.

HP Envy 13

HP Envy 13 is available for a beautiful and secure life on the go. It is a fast, attractive, and affordable all-metal built structure. It comprises of a beautiful geometric-pattern speaker grill. This sleek ultra-portable powerhouse has an Intel Quad Core i7-8565U processor and NVIDIA’s new MX250 graphic card.

The top feature of the HP Envy 13 is a cutting-edge security. It has some state-of-the-art security features such as a webcam killing switch and fingerprint reader. It protects your private data from breach and loss.

Its 13.3-inch 1080p non-touchscreen provides a very sharp and bright image. It reproduces 109% of the sRGB color gamut. Its backlit keyboard with 1.2 millimeters of key travel makes typing a joy. Its battery life is up to 12 hours and 45 minutes, which is exceptional.

HP Envy uses a jaw-dropping mechanism to fit the USB 3.1 A-Type ports on both sides. On the left side, a USB-C port and a headphone jack are present. While on the right side a power jack and micro SD card reader are seen. Moreover, it is one of the best 13-inch gaming laptops.

Features

• It includes an Intel Quad Core i7-8565U processor and NVIDIA’s new MX250 graphic card.
• It comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512 SSD.
• It features a 13.3-inch touchscreen display with gorilla glass on the top. The 4K IPS provides a wide-viewing angle.
• It includes a webcam kill switch and an integrated fingerprint reader.
• It involves the bios recovery and protection features.
• Has a distinctive design including an incredible backlit keyboard and geomatic pattern speaker grill.
• It weighs 2.82 pounds.

Pros

• Attractive and lightweight framework.
• Super-fast processor.
• Long-lasting battery for FDH models
• It has powerful speakers

Cons

• It lacks Thunderbolt 3.
• Small battery life for 4K model.

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Verdict

No doubt, HP Envy is nearly the best Ultraportable laptop. It provides you with all the necessary features such as fast speed, bright display, long battery life, and durability at an affordable rate. You won’t regret buying it.

What to Look for When Choosing a 13-Inch Gaming Laptop?

You cannot buy such an expensive device without knowing anything about it. Features and specs can tell you that it is the best device, but can never tell if it is best for you or not? The answer to this question is your requirements and priorities. No doubt, all the 13-inch laptops are remarkable, but they all are built by keeping certain users in mind. So, it is a difficult task to hunt for one, which is suitable for you.

This task can become easy if you consider some factors before choosing a laptop. It will help you in making a reasonable choice.

Portability

13-inch laptops are ultraportable. They can slip into any backpack very easily. This is the main reason for its popularity. It provides a good balance between the screen real estate and weight. For example, Dell XPS weighs just 2 pounds but has a 13.3-inch display.

On the other hand, carrying 15 or 17-inch laptops seems very impractical. Some 13-inch laptops also have a large weight not as much as that of 15 or 17-inch laptops but greater as compared to other laptops of their size. So, try to get one with lesser weight as it is one of the solid reasons for choosing a 13-inch laptop.

Battery life

It is one of the most crucial features of any gaming laptop whether it is 13 inches or 17 inches. Portable machines need to deliver long runtimes, otherwise their portability will not pay you off well. You should consider a laptop having at least 9 hours of battery time. While, the one with 13 hours will be fantastic.

Large memory

Memory always matters a lot for every user. But, if you are buying especially for gaming, then you have to put extra effort into searching for a laptop with solid memory. As we know, the size of games is increasing day by day so, to avoid a continuous irritation of space shortage, you should consider at least 8GB RAM.

Price

If you are on a limited budget, then you have to compromise on a few things. The main target of people is to get maximum power at a small price. It is possible, but some other features will not be similar to expensive laptops. Of course, there is worth investing money in these expensive laptops. But you should keep your budget in mind. Try to get maximum features at a low price.

Recommendation

All the above explained 13 inch gaming laptops are fantastic, but the winner of our list is Razor Blade Stealth 13. It is a true ultraportable gaming laptop capable of providing extreme efficiency. Its amazing features such as biometric lock system and upgraded NVIDIA graphic card attract the users’ attention. It is one of the few 13-inch laptops which include a Thunderbolt 3. So, this amazing laptop is our recommendation.

Final words

In this world of technology, these iconic gadgets have become our everyday need. Manufacturers are making them at a large level and putting the buyers in choice dilemma. Here, we have provided you a list of the 5 best 13-inch gaming laptops. All of them are highly competent and well tested.

If you are a gaming enthusiast, then you must surely get one of the above. We hope that they will suit your requirements, budget, and needs. So, what are you waiting for? Go and order one for yourself!

Best of Luck!