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 diverse. Manufacturers like Gigabyte and MSI are blurring the lines between productivity and gaming machines, emphasizing aesthetics beyond raw hardware. This translates to a wider range of designs. Some, such as the Gigabyte Aero series, boast sleek, professional aesthetics, while others, like the MSI Titan 18 HX AI Dragonforged Edition, flaunt bold, gamer-centric designs.
RGB lighting remains a staple, with innovative implementations like wrap-around lighting, illuminated keyboards, and even trackpad lighting. The Asus ROG Strix Scar series impressed with its AniME Dot Matrix LED display, capable of displaying text and animations. Expect a blend of traditional and innovative designs, from bulky powerhouses to slim and portable options.
The Rise of AI Assistants
AI integration in laptops gained momentum last year, but often fell short. This year, however, several vendors demonstrated more sophisticated AI assistants capable of controlling PC settings without manual software interaction. One MSI demo showcased an AI assistant automatically optimizing performance settings based on the chosen game. While the practicality and speed advantages over manual adjustments remain to be seen, this technology warrants further observation.
Mini-LED, Rollable Screens, and Other Innovations
Mini-LED technology is finally making a significant impact on gaming laptops. Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte showcased Mini-LED models with high-end specifications and pricing. These laptops boast over 1,100 local dimming zones, resulting in superior contrast, brightness, and color accuracy. While OLED still holds an edge in contrast, Mini-LED offers higher sustained brightness and avoids burn-in risks.
Other notable innovations include the return of the ASUS ROG Flow X13 with USB4 eGPU support, and Lenovo's groundbreaking ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, featuring a rollable OLED display. While the rollable screen's durability is a concern, it represents a significant step forward in laptop design.
Ultrabooks Gaining Ground in Gaming
Ultrabook-style gaming laptops are becoming increasingly prevalent. Major manufacturers are adopting this thin, light, and minimalist design, exemplified by Gigabyte's updated Aero lineup. These machines offer a balance between portability and gaming capabilities, particularly for users who don't require maximum settings on the latest games. The power of modern integrated graphics, coupled with upscaling technologies like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and Intel XeSS, allows for surprisingly playable performance even without a dedicated GPU. Cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now further enhance the viability of Ultrabooks for gaming.
The advancements in gaming laptops are impressive. The future holds even more exciting developments, and we'll continue to cover them as they emerge. Share your thoughts on these trends in the comments below!
