CES 2024 showcased a plethora of gaming laptops, revealing key trends shaping the market. This overview highlights the most significant developments.

Diverse Design Language

Gaming laptops displayed a remarkable variety of aesthetics. Manufacturers like Gigabyte and MSI are blurring the lines between productivity and gaming machines, emphasizing design elements beyond raw hardware. This translates to a broader range of styles, from sleek, professional-looking laptops like the Gigabyte Aero series, suitable for business settings, to aggressively styled machines like the MSI Titan 18 HX AI Dragonforged Edition, showcasing their gaming capabilities through bold graphics.

RGB lighting remains a staple, with innovative implementations such as wrap-around lighting, illuminated keyboards, and even trackpad lighting. The Asus ROG Strix Scar series impressed with its AniME Dot Matrix LED display on the lid, capable of displaying text and animations. While not revolutionary, expect a blend of familiar form factors (ranging from bulky to ultra-thin) and innovative design elements.

The Rise of AI Assistants

AI integration in laptops is advancing, with several vendors showcasing AI assistants for PC control without requiring separate software. One demonstration showed an MSI representative using a chatbot to optimize game settings automatically. However, the practical speed and offline capabilities of these systems remain to be fully evaluated.

Mini-LED, Rollable Screens, and Other Innovations

Mini-LED technology is gaining traction, with Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte showcasing high-end laptops featuring this display technology. These laptops boasted over 1,100 local dimming zones for enhanced contrast and brightness, offering a compelling alternative to OLED, particularly regarding burn-in concerns.

The ASUS ROG Flow X13 returned with USB4 eGPU support, eliminating proprietary connections. Asus also displayed its Zenbook Duo dual-screen laptop. However, Lenovo stole the show with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, the first commercially available laptop with a rollable OLED display. While its durability and somewhat unconventional design raise questions, it represents a significant leap in laptop technology.

Ultrabooks Dominate the Gaming Landscape

Ultrabook-style gaming laptops are increasingly prevalent, reflecting a trend towards thin, light, and premium designs. Gigabyte's updated Aero line exemplifies this shift. These laptops offer a balance between portability and gaming performance, particularly for users who don't require maximum settings on the latest games. The capability of modern integrated graphics, coupled with technologies like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution and Intel XeSS, makes this segment surprisingly powerful. This raises questions about the continued necessity of lower-end dedicated GPUs like the RTX 4050M.

Cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now further enhance the viability of ultra-portable gaming, reducing reliance on high-performance hardware.

CES 2024 offered a glimpse into the future of gaming laptops, and we'll continue to cover these advancements throughout the year. Share your thoughts on the most exciting developments in the comments below!