Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Amazon Prime Day
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • Best web hosting
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best laptop

Recommended reading

Three of the best gaming laptops of Computex
Laptops Best gaming laptops of Computex 2025 - top picks from Asus, Acer, and more
best laptops of computex
Laptops Best laptops of Computex 2025 - meet the future of notebooks from HP, Asus, and more
Image of Computex show floor with 'TechRadar Computex 2025' logo
Computing Next-gen laptops, bonkers PCs, and too much AI: here's what I expect to see at Computex 2025
Razer, MSI, and Asus laptops against a blue TechRadar-branded background
Pro These are the biggest laptop launches of 2025 so far you absolutely need to check out if you create content
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) with screen open on blue background
Laptops The best laptops 2025 tested, reviewed and rated
An MSI MEG Vision X AI gaming PC at Computex 2025 with a TechRadar @ Computex 2025 badge overlay
Computing MSI's new AI-infused QD-OLED monitor and improved MEG Vision X AI gaming PC make AI a bit more practical for gamers
Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop on purple background with price cut text overlay
Gaming Laptops The ridiculously high-end Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop just got its first big price cut
  1. Computing
  2. Gaming Computers
  3. Gaming Laptops

5 insane gaming laptops from CES 2017

News
By Gabe Carey published 5 January 2017

Blurring the lines of what’s real and what’s science-fiction

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

This year, CES 2017 is home to not only off-the-wall, wonky AI-powered robots and levitating Bluetooth speakers, it’s also the perfect place to showcase some of the latest home computing innovations as well. After all, it’s not a Consumer Electronics Show without a little something that appeals and entertains on a practical level.

Here we’ll take a look at the most promising gaming laptop selections found at CES. Whether we’re talking about the budget-friendly Dell Inspiron 15 7000 or the absurdly priced (and sized) Acer Predator 21 X, there’s something at CES for every PC gamer to appreciate. Even if your interests in video games stop at VR, sit tight because Lenovo introduced an unexpected addition this year.

So grab your popcorn and low-latency, RGB-backlit gaming mouse because you’re in for a ride, one replete with mechanical keyboards and battery-draining graphics cards that’ll make you drool with envy. 

  • All the good stuff from CES 2017
Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Gigabyte Sabre 15

Gigabyte Sabre 15

Entering the New Year, Gigabyte has decided to also make the move to Intel’s 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors, namely with the Sabre 15. This laptop won’t push much beyond 1080p, but it’s not trying to either. Featuring a choice between Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1050 or a 1050 Ti, this is a notebook that aims to master full HD graphics rather than make a failed attempt to exceed them. 

That said, there is a UHD display in place, not for gaming, but to utilize the unique inclusion of a UHD Blu-Ray drive. Not only does the Gigabyte Sabre 15 don an “Island style” per-key backlit RGB keyboard boasting 16.8 million color options, but it also packs in the latest Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port standard and a 91-Wh battery that claims extensive game time over its competitors. 

Let’s just hope that GPU is enough to keep your Steam catalog running for years on end.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming

Dell is distancing itself from its historically gaming-focused Alienware branding in favor of a new effort. 

The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming, which we previously reported on as the leaked Dell XPS 15, boasts Pascal-series graphics for only $799 (about £650, AU$1,100).

Sure, you aren’t getting the glamorous 4K-resolution display or Blu-Ray drive you could otherwise nab with Gigabyte’s aforementioned Sabre 15, but with these specs, you really don’t need to.

The GTX 1050 can only really handle the latest Inspiron 15’s 1,920 x 1,080 LED display anyway. Anything more and it would just barely chug along at inconsistent frame rates.

With that in mind, Dell does offer the option of a 4K IPS screen for those interested, but it’s going to cost a premium. It’s a surefire hit among those who don’t need the best graphics, but still want to play games both old and new.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Acer Predator 21 X

Acer Predator 21 X

If you’re one of those people who takes the extremities of gaming culture in jest, you’ll get a kick out of this. The Acer Predator 21 X is not only gaudy, lumbering and unnecessarily equipped with a full-size mechanical keyboard, but it’ll also set you back a good chunk of change.

If you have $8,999 (£7,350, AU$12,500) to spare and literally nothing better to spend it on, well, the Acer Predator 21 X is certainly an option. 

Outrageously armed with not one, but two GTX 1080s, a curved 21:9 display and Cherry MX Brown mechanical keyswitches, you may be thinking that’s not quite enough to justify a price tag nearing 9-grand. That is, until you find out that Acer also squeezed in a 7th-generation Kaby Lake Intel Core i7-7820HK processor, 64GB of RAM and up to four 512GB SSDs configured in RAID 0. 

At 8kg (an incredible 17.6 pounds) in weight, the Acer Predator 21 X offers few advantages over desktops of a similar spec, but for whatever reason if you prefer a laptop – especially at this size – with the graphical capabilities of a small horse, it’s here – and it’s making our wallets tremble.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Lenovo Legion Y720

Lenovo Legion Y720

Then there’s the Legion Y720 from Lenovo, brandishing VR optimizations front and center. Lavished with the company’s own proprietary Entertainment Hub software, which melds all of your games and movies in one place, the Legion Y720 goes a step further than being simply “VR Ready.” 

Instead, this tall, dark and handsome notebook manages the upscaling of non-virtual reality content to the new and improved format in various ways. The first is with movies, where you can optionally simulate the experience of sitting in a theater and watching the film of your choice on a massive, digitally constructed display. The second is by fully replacing the functions of the right stick or mouse movements in first-person games with 360-degree head tracking.

In terms of hardware, the Lenovo Legion Y720 ships with an Intel Core i7-7700HQ, an Nvidia GTX 1060 and 6GB of RAM for $1,399 (about £1,140, AU$1,950), though if you feel up to the task, you can fork over a little more for a 4K screen, 32GB of RAM and either a 2TB HDD or a 1TB PCIe SSD.

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Aorus X5 v7

Aorus X5 v7

The last entry on our list of standout gaming laptops from CES 2017 is one from Aorus’ new collection. Like its counterparts, the Aorus X5 v7 is outfitted with a 7th-generation Core i7-7820HK CPU, theoretically capable of a 3.9GHz clock boost, which is pretty damn impressive if we do say so ourselves. 

What’s more, Aorus went as far as to include a fun-size GTX 1070 and the option of either a 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) display or a still-acceptable WQHD+ (2,880 x 1,620) panel. Either route uses G-Sync, so screen-tearing won’t be a concern. In spite of all this, the Aorus X5 V7 still maintains a sleek chassis measuring in at only 25mm deep. Per-key customizable lighting and Sabre high-fidelity audio are mere bonuses. 

The only thing that would make this PC sound even more enticing is the option of a 120Hz refresh rate and – oh wait – it has that. We don’t know the pricing yet, but we can only hope it’s as tantalizing as the rest of the machine.

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
TOPICS
Acer Dell Lenovo CES
Gabe Carey
Gabe Carey
Social Links Navigation
Gabe has been writing about video games and technology since he was 16 years old. Currently serving as a Contributing Editor & Producer for TechRadar, where he keeps articles fresh and up to date on the reg, you may recognize his byline from Digital Trends, TechSpot and Kotaku UK. He can't tell if his adoration of Sonic the Hedgehog is genuine or ironic anymore.
See more Computing News
Read more
Three of the best gaming laptops of Computex
Best gaming laptops of Computex 2025 - top picks from Asus, Acer, and more
best laptops of computex
Best laptops of Computex 2025 - meet the future of notebooks from HP, Asus, and more
Image of Computex show floor with 'TechRadar Computex 2025' logo
Next-gen laptops, bonkers PCs, and too much AI: here's what I expect to see at Computex 2025
Razer, MSI, and Asus laptops against a blue TechRadar-branded background
These are the biggest laptop launches of 2025 so far you absolutely need to check out if you create content
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) with screen open on blue background
The best laptops 2025 tested, reviewed and rated
An MSI MEG Vision X AI gaming PC at Computex 2025 with a TechRadar @ Computex 2025 badge overlay
MSI's new AI-infused QD-OLED monitor and improved MEG Vision X AI gaming PC make AI a bit more practical for gamers
Latest in Gaming Laptops
HP Omen Max gaming laptop on mauve background with lowest price text overlay
Not a typo – you can get an RTX 5080 gaming laptop for $1,480 with these two steps
HP Omen Max 16 laptop on orange background with don't miss text overlay
You can get an RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop for just $1,124 right now – here's how
MSI Thin 15
The clock's ticking on two of the best gaming laptop deals of the year (so far)
MSI Raider A18 HX
MSI Raider A18 HX review: big in power, big in size… as in literally too big
HP Omen Max gaming laptop on green background with big savings text overlay
With over $1,000 off, this is the cheapest RTX 5080 gaming laptop I've ever seen
MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop on purple background with big savings text overlay
Need a new gaming laptop? These are my 7 favorite deals from the Memorial Day sales
Latest in News
Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary trailer teases Ryan Gosling’s desperate mission to save the sun in Amazon’s sci-fi spectacle movie
Spotify's new visual upgrade to it Discover Weekly playlist
I never use Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist, but its big new upgrades could change that
Veo 3-generated image of an old sailor.
This simple trick gets you 3 months of Google Gemini Veo 3 for free - here’s how you can create the best AI videos without dropping a dime
The band The Velvet Sundown
Spotify’s latest breakout band The Velvet Sundown appears to be AI-generated – and fans aren’t happy
A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.
Microsoft confirms Windows 11 25H2, and in some ways, I'm glad we're not getting a major update like Windows 12 this year
A metal spider standing on a printed circuit board
FBI warns Scattered Spider hackers are now going after airlines
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    I reviewed the Sony ULT Field 3 Bluetooth speaker and it left me disappointed, for one key reason
  2. 2
    This 4K dash cam with two ultra-wide lenses shoots some of the sharpest video I’ve seen
  3. 3
    I used the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus for a week and it's the most durable multitasker but lags behind the iPad Air in an important way
  4. 4
    Another major MOVEit flaw could be on the way - here's what we know
  5. 5
    Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, July 1 (game #1254)

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...