Looking for the best gaming laptop among brands like Dell, Acer Predator Helios, some MSI gaming laptops and even Razer models, we have figured that Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 laptops offer a great favorable balance in price to performance ratio. Given the superior performance of more expensive cards like GTX 1070 or GTX 1080, those models will also cost a lot more.
On the other hand, a GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card can smoothly run all your favorite games at 1080p. This means you should actually be doing better than most of the competition. And that too, at a budget-friendly range of price. Basically, it is our go-to point for high-end gaming without actually spending too much.
Best GeForce GTX 1060 Laptops for Smooth 1080p Gaming
Previously, we did a more price focused article and picked out the best gaming laptops for under 1000 dollars. This time around, the focus is more on the performance metrics. These included at least impeccable gameplay at FHD 1080p, juggling between mid to high graphics settings, and testing for higher refresh rates with the 145Hz refresh rate continuing to be the golden benchmark.
Among the GTX 1060 range, you get to choose between the 3GB graphics card as well as the 6GB version. However, based on a few benchmarks you can expect the game to gain between three to five frames per second upon upgrade in general. It is a choice whether you wish to spend the extra money on it or not.
Best Overall Gaming Laptop with GTX 1060
ASUS ROG Strix Hero II Gaming Laptop
144Hz, Full RGB, i7-8750H!
The ASUS GTX 1060 6GB laptop we tested was the iconic looking ASUS ROG Strix Hero II – that is one hell of a long name! Nonetheless, all things stand to justify: the model is geared with GDR5 RAM to the tunes of 16GB and even higher if you want as well as 8th gen processors.
There is a reason why we have picked an ASUS laptop for our overall favorite GTX 1060 laptop. This beast has all areas covered! For instance, you won’t be limited to the measly 60Hz refresh rates on the screen. In fact, you will be able to go up to 144Hz for smoother higher frame rate games. You always need great quality of audio in order for the gameplay experience to be fully immersive. THe goof thing is, that is the case with the ASUS model we tested. The speakers are above average and so was the battery timing.
Its GTX 1060 6GB fully complements the i7 processor and while it isn’t the very high end of performance gaming, you are talking about mid-tier to high-end quality. For instance, when multithreading you get to record that the processor works 70 percent faster than the 7700HQ.
Who doesn’t want a top-notch gaming laptop that looks and feels the same? ASUS knows what you guys need. Which is why the new ASUS ROG Strix Hero II comes with an extensive AURA RGB keyboard as well as logo and lighting bar on the feet of the trackpad. In order to keep things cool, you also get three radiators as well as two in-built fans.
ASUS ROG Strix Hero II is the type of model that is made for benefiting from adaptive syn technologies. As you can see, it has a great 144Hz display, and for that tweaks need to be made and frame rates increased to get a smoother visual. This is where something like Nvidia G Sync would have come in handy, but the technology isn’t enabled on the laptop.
On the flipside, we are glad to inform that there isn’t a gigantic list of problem areas in the ASUS gaming laptop. In fact, the only real concern is that the device can sometimes get hotter than usual. The bottom side of the case is most affect making it very clear that you will need to get a better cooling solution if you are going to test the limits of your laptop’s performance – the existing fans get louder at heavy-duty tasks.
RUNNER-UP:
Acer Predator Helios 300
True, we were more bent towards the quality of PC hardware components inside the ASUS gaming laptop above. Specifications-wise, the infamous Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop is almost exactly the same. Moreover, the battery life is an impressive 7 hours and the company boasts of metallic aeroblade fans that are faster and more efficient than plastic PC fans. Just like the MSI gaming laptop below it also has red lighting in the keyboard. What you will need to consider, however, is whether the 256GB SSD is enough or not.
Best High-End
GIGABYTE Aero 15W v8
Ultra-professional looks, high end gaming
A single glance at this Gigabyte laptop will tell you it looks more of a professional use computer. However, Gigabyte hasn’t broken up with their roots! The model is exactly the gaming beast you would want it to be. Despite a mere 0.7 inch thickness, it packs a punch!
Although the new model of Gigabyte Aero 15 comes with the new GeForce RTX 20 series, we have limited ourselves to GTX 1060 laptops. And in those, there’s hardly a model competing with the 2018 model of Aero 15. You get an 8th generation Core i7-8750H. When compared with other processors like Intel Core i7-7700HQ @ 2.80GHz and i5-8300H @ 2.30GHz, it has an overall higher CPU mark based on better clock speeds, two extra cores, better single thread rating and so on.
The Kaby Lake processor’s power is doubled up by inclusion of a 16GB DDR4 RAM (expandable to 32GB). Also, the choice between SATA III and PCIe technology for its M.2 slots is good, although the latter is faster and generally better in all aspects. Despite the DDR4 RAM, the graphics card is better as you’re getting a GTX 1060 6GB version, as opposed to DDR5X or GDDR6 of the insane ASUS ROG Zephyrus S.
When you have bought a gaming laptop that packs at least an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 590, you need not to worry about performance bottlenecks. Video games these days don’t really demand more than that, and ultimately the only question raised is about cooling systems. Good thing is, Gigabyte Aero 15 is equipped with a specially designed Supra Cool dual fan as well as heating pipes. Moreover, the fan noise is intelligible.
The laptop is aesthetically superior as well. For example, it makes an innovative change in the screen and bezels. Instead of the usual spot on top of the screen, Gigabyte Aero 15 has placed the camera on the bottom of the screen. This has allowed or evenly sized extremely thin bezels. Running Full HD 1080p video games at high settings looks even better when you have more than sufficient refresh rates (144Hz display). There are qualitative elements too: the screen is anti-glare IPS but runs a Pantone X-Rite display.
In addition to that, the USB Type C standard of its Thunderbolt 3 is highly enabling for multiple devices. Needless to say, running potential of transfer speeds as high as 40Gbps! So if the price isn’t really a concern here, this is the best of both worlds i.e video games as well as professional jobs. If not, then the Eluktronics laptop below and Asus ROG Strix GL702VM are other choices.
RUNNER-UP:
Eluktronics P650HP6-G VR Ready
Another laptop brand that has been trying to push its way in is Eluktronics. Although it has not been granted the same limelight as mainstream gaming laptop makers, consumer reviews about Elukrtonics laptops are more than satisfying. The G-Sync enabled laptop boasts 256GB SSD as well as 1TB HDD joining hands with a massive 16GB RAM although it is a DDR4. Moreover, the processor is an Intel i7-7700HQ which, despite not being the best, does offer high rated performance. To round off the high-end performance, Eluktronics has also mounted a reliable cooling solution.
Best Budget
MSI GV62 8RE Gaming Laptop
Performance gaming on budget
Usually, when you want to buy a budget laptop that doesn’t compromise much, you’d look for a GTX 1050 laptop. But the MSI laptop we are talking about manages to fit in a GTX 1060 3GB card while actually gaining on the price to performance ratio. Although the plastic case isn’t the best out there, it is the reason why the laptop is cheap.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 has long been ditched from the top slot. But it is still the go-to graphics card for when you don’t plan on spending extravagantly on, say, a GTX 1080 or maybe even the super-massive RTX 2080! Basically, it is the same things that MSI has improved in the line over previous models: better processor i.e. GeForce GTX 1060 3GB GDDR5 and an 8th gen Core i7. You can also look for the more affordable i5-8300H variant although you’d have to drop the hexa core for that.
Talking of, the i5 is able to master Full HD gaming and does slightly better than even the i7-7700HQ. But the processor isn’t as powerful as the Core i7-8750H, so obviously, you can’t demand top tier performance. What you will get is a lesser power consuming laptop all the assistance from newer technology like an M.2 SSD, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C ad two display outputs for 4K at 60Hz.
Its 15.6-inch IPS panel is at par with the Acer Predator Helios 300 as well as the newer Dell G5 15 in terms of response time. But overall display-wire we’d put it above the Acer laptop but behind the Dell. The good thing is, despite being an IPS LED panel, it has no backlight leakage.
While it has a variety of things that are similar to other MSI gaming laptops like the GF62VR and also the GE, GL and GP models. You will see the same case, the same iconic red back-lit keyboard, similar ports and so on. However, for entry-level gaming, the inclusion of GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card has helped alleviate the GV62 a little more.
Without a doubt, the only thing that some might consider a deal breaker is the casing. It is basically plastic that wasn’t made to look hot. There also are certain unusual croaking sounds from the case but nothing earth-shattering. That said, it is probably this way only because the MSI laptop is aimed at budget buyers. Additionally, it is also because of the plastic case that the gaming laptop is still quite lightweight.
RUNNER UP
Dell Gaming Laptop G5
Once you are past the GTX 1050, performance bottlenecks hardly exist. Therefore, despite not being as good as other GTX 1060 laptops here, the Dell G5 is a solid choice. Packing the same Core i5-8300 processor as the MSI gaming laptop, you get a comparatively smaller 128GB SSD although Dell makes up for it thanks to a 1TB HDD. However, you won’t be able to go beyond the 60Hz refresh rate on this one! If the MSI laptop doesn’t fit somehow, nothing’s wrong at entry level gaming with this guy.
The Bottom Line:
The Nvidia Geforce GTX 1060 isn’t the best graphics card there is. But it is definitely a value pick for entry-level to mid-tier gaming. Therefore, even the MSI gaming laptop above, with its less than impressive plastic casing has no performance bottlenecks. The only thing that will matter other than your choice between the GTX 1060 6GB and 3GB variants is cooling. With no performance bottlenecks, cooling solutions and overheating will be the deciding factor.
There often are laptop sales being offered at Amazon, Newegg, and other giant retailers. You can opt to wait for a further discount too. But the GTX 1060 laptops are already not as expensive as laptops with, say the GeForce RTX 2080. Therefore, if budget isn’t a concern you have the liberty to go from Core i7 to i9 and do the same with graphics cards.