CES 2024 showcased a plethora of gaming laptops, revealing key trends shaping the market. This report highlights the most significant developments.
Diverse Design Language
While gaming laptops have always offered stylistic variety, this year felt particularly distinct. Manufacturers like Gigabyte and MSI are blurring the lines between productivity and gaming aesthetics. High-end models are striving for more than just raw power, resulting in a broader design spectrum.
Examples range from the sleek, professional Gigabyte Aero series, suitable for any business environment, to the boldly branded MSI Titan 18 HX AI Dragonforged Edition, leaving no doubt about its gaming pedigree.
RGB lighting remains a staple, with innovative implementations like wrap-around lighting, illuminated keyboards, and even trackpad lighting. Asus ROG Strix Scar's AniME Dot Matrix LED display, capable of displaying text and animations, is a standout feature.
Expect a continued evolution of design, encompassing both powerful behemoths and slim, portable options, with diverse hardware configurations.
The Rise of AI Assistants
AI integration in laptops gained momentum last year, but often fell short. This year, several vendors showcased AI assistants designed for seamless PC control without requiring manual software interaction.
One demonstration featured MSI's AI assistant automatically optimizing performance settings based on the specified game. While the technology shows promise, its real-world efficiency compared to manual adjustments remains to be seen. Offline functionality needs further clarification.
Display Innovations: Mini-LED and Beyond
Mini-LED technology is finally making inroads into the gaming laptop market. Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte all displayed Mini-LED laptops with high-end specifications. These models boast over 1,100 local dimming zones, resulting in superior contrast, brightness, and color accuracy. While OLED still maintains an edge in contrast, Mini-LED offers the advantage of higher sustained brightness without the risk of burn-in.
Beyond Mini-LED, other innovations emerged. The ASUS ROG Flow X13 returns with USB4 eGPU support, eliminating proprietary connections. Asus showcased its compatibility with a new eGPU featuring up to an RTX 5090.
Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, while not strictly a gaming laptop, deserves mention as the first commercially available notebook with a rollable OLED display. Its expandable screen offers added functionality but raises concerns about durability in its initial iteration.
Ultrabooks: Gaming's New Slim Profile
Ultrabook-style gaming laptops are gaining significant traction. Major manufacturers are embracing this thin, light, and premium design. Gigabyte's revamped Aero line exemplifies this trend.
These devices cater to users who don't require maximum settings for the latest games, offering a balance of portability and gaming capabilities. The ability to add dedicated graphics cards, as demonstrated by the Asus TUF Gaming A14, further enhances their versatility.
Furthermore, advancements in integrated graphics from AMD and Intel, coupled with technologies like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and Intel XeSS, make even demanding games playable on these machines. Cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now provide alternative solutions for high-quality gaming without dedicated gaming hardware.
The gaming laptop landscape is rapidly evolving. We will continue to cover these and other advancements throughout the year. Share your thoughts and observations in the comments below!
