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. High-end models are increasingly focused on delivering more than just raw power.

This translates to a broader spectrum of designs. Sleek, professional-looking laptops like the Gigabyte Aero series coexist with aggressively styled machines like the MSI Titan 18 HX AI Dragonforged Edition, which boldly displays its gaming pedigree.

RGB lighting remains a staple, with innovative implementations such as 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 particularly noteworthy.

Expect a continued range of form factors, from bulky powerhouses to slim and lightweight ultrabooks.

The Rise of AI Assistants

AI integration in laptops gained momentum last year, but often fell short. This year, several vendors showcased more refined AI assistants enabling hands-free PC control.

One demonstration showed an MSI representative using a chatbot to adjust performance settings based on the desired game, automatically optimizing the system. The practical speed advantage over manual adjustments remains to be seen, however.

Mini-LED, Rollable Screens, and Other Innovations

Mini-LED technology is finally gaining traction in gaming laptops. Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte showcased models boasting flagship specifications and utilizing Mini-LED displays with over 1,100 local dimming zones for superior contrast and brightness. While OLED still holds an edge in contrast, Mini-LED's lack of burn-in risk and higher sustained brightness make it a compelling alternative.

Other innovations included the return of the ASUS ROG Flow X13 with USB4 eGPU support, and, most notably, Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable. This groundbreaking laptop features a rollable OLED display, expanding from 14 inches to 16.7 inches. While its durability and somewhat unconventional design raise questions, it represents a significant step forward in laptop technology.

Ultrabooks Gaining Ground in the Gaming Sector

Ultrabook-style gaming laptops are becoming increasingly prevalent, with major manufacturers offering thin, light, and aesthetically minimalist designs. Gigabyte's updated Aero line exemplifies this trend.

These machines cater to users who don't require maximum settings for the latest games, offering a balance between portability, productivity, and gaming capabilities. The power of modern integrated graphics, coupled with upscaling technologies like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and Intel XeSS, allows for surprisingly playable performance in many titles. This raises questions about the long-term viability of lower-end dedicated GPUs like the RTX 4050M.

Cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now further reduce the hardware requirements for a satisfying gaming experience, making even non-gaming laptops viable options.

CES 2024 showcased impressive advancements in gaming laptops. We will continue to explore these developments throughout the year. Share your thoughts in the comments!