If you’re hunting for a laptop that blends top-tier gaming with AI and creative workflows, the RTX 5060 is the new sweet spot in 2025. As someone who edits 4K footage, plays AAA games, and experiments with Unreal Engine 5 and Blender AI plugins, I tested four machines firsthand to find out which delivers—and for whom. Here’s my deep-dive review of the top RTX 5060 laptops this year.
1. Gigabyte Gaming A16 CVH – Best Budget All-Rounder
Specs Recap: Intel Core i7-13620H | RTX 5060 (85W) | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD | 144Hz FHD IPS
The Gigabyte A16 CVH won’t turn heads at a LAN party, but it delivers serious value. I ran Cyberpunk 2077 on High at 1080p and consistently hit 60–70 FPS with DLSS enabled. For DaVinci Resolve users, it handles light to moderate 4K editing with some hiccups during complex Fusion effects but remains usable.
Thermals: Dual rear exhaust vents and a two-fan setup keep temperatures below 85°C. It stays quiet most of the time.
Display: A standard 144Hz FHD IPS panel. Color reproduction is decent (~65% sRGB), but not ideal for serious content work.
Build & Ports: Plastic build but sturdy enough, with USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and RJ45 Ethernet. No Thunderbolt.
Who’s it for? Students, casual gamers, or anyone upgrading from GTX 1650/RTX 3050-level laptops who want RTX 40/50-series perks under budget.
2. Acer Nitro V 16S AI – Best Value with AI Boost
Specs Recap: AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS | RTX 5060 (100W) | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD | 165Hz WUXGA (16:10)
This model is where AI meets affordability. The Nitro V 16S includes AMD’s Ryzen AI (XDNA engine), which accelerates AI video denoise, background blur, and even inpainting in tools like Topaz Labs. In Helldivers 2 and Hogwarts Legacy, I was easily hitting 80–90 FPS on Ultra with Frame Gen active.
Thermals: Slightly warm after 45+ min gaming, but doesn’t throttle. Fans ramp up audibly, but not annoying.
Display: 1920×1200 (WUXGA), 165Hz with better vertical real estate and decent contrast (~300 nits).
Build & Ports: Mid-range polycarbonate chassis with full I/O, including USB-C PD and HDMI 2.1.
Who’s it for? Budget-conscious gamers and content creators who want access to AI workflows and stable gaming FPS without overpaying.
3. ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) – Best for Competitive Gaming
Specs Recap: Intel Core i7-14650HX | RTX 5060 (120W) | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB Gen4 SSD | 165Hz FHD+ (16:10)
This beast is tuned for esports. It gave me 160–200 FPS in Valorant, CS2, and Overwatch 2, with extremely low input lag. The 3ms response time and 165Hz refresh rate are buttery smooth. I even streamed gameplay while recording with OBS, and it didn’t skip a beat.
Thermals: Class-leading. The vapor chamber and Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal thermal paste ensure low 80s under full load.
Display: 16:10 FHD+ anti-glare with superb brightness (~350 nits) and sharp visuals.
Build & Ports: Aluminum lid, RGB keyboard, MUX switch, and full-sized I/O including USB-C with G-Sync support.
Who’s it for? FPS gamers, streamers, and competitive players who demand no-compromise latency and cooling.
4. Lenovo Legion 5i OLED – Best for Creators
Specs Recap: Intel Core i7-14700HX | RTX 5060 (115W) | 32GB DDR5 | 2TB SSD | 15.1″ 2.6K OLED 165Hz
This one’s a creator’s dream. The 2.6K OLED is Pantone Validated, 100% DCI-P3, VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black, and Dolby Vision certified. I graded 4K BRAW footage in DaVinci Resolve, and color accuracy was spot on. Gaming? Spider-Man 2 on High RT ran at 65+ FPS thanks to DLSS 4.
Thermals: For an OLED laptop, it’s well-vented. Smart fan profiles and dual cooling zones handle long renders well.
Display: 2.6K OLED (2560×1600), 165Hz, near-zero ghosting, and rich blacks.
Build & Ports: Metal top chassis, massive trackpad, RGB keyboard, full-sized I/O including Thunderbolt 4 and SD card reader.
Who’s it for? Video editors, colorists, and hybrid users who need a studio-grade display and gaming power.
Final Verdict – Which RTX 5060 Laptop Is Right for You?
User Type | Best Model |
---|---|
Budget Gamers & Students | Gigabyte A16 CVH |
AI-Enhanced Creators | Acer Nitro V 16S AI |
Competitive FPS Gamers | ASUS ROG Strix G16 |
Video Editors & Designers | Lenovo Legion 5i OLED |
💡 Editor’s Note:
If you’re just gaming at 1080p or starting out with AI tools like Stable Diffusion or Resolve’s Smart Reframe, the Acer Nitro V 16S hits the sweet spot. But if you’re after creator-level accuracy, nothing beats the Legion 5i OLED. The ROG G16 is the clear winner for serious gamers, while the Gigabyte A16 CVH makes RTX 50 series accessible to budget buyers.