STACK #256 February 2026

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Gaming laptops aren't just for games – their high specs make them ideal for many fields of study. If you want a laptop that you can use for both uni work and to dominate in Arc Raiders , consider one of these top models. Words James O'Connor 5 great GAMING LAPTOPS for uni students

ASUS V16 16" Full HD 144Hz Gaming Laptop (Intel Core 5) [GeForce RTX 4050] The ASUS V16 is ideal for creativity – from art projects and architectural design, to video editing or audio production. The big 16" FHD display boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, while the ergonomic touchpad is 40% larger than previous models. The Intel® Core 5™ CPU and GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, plus a huge 32GB of RAM, offer solid power – it will run most modern

Lenovo Legion 5i 15.1" WQXGA 165Hz OLED Gaming Laptop (Intel Core i7) [GeForce RTX 5050] The Lenovo Legion 5i is powerful and cool. However, you might want to turn off the RGB lighting in the lecture theatre – but it looks awesome when you're gaming during downtime! This model sports a powerful 20-core processor along with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 graphics card, capable of great feats no matter what games or apps you're running. The three USB-A ports and two USB-C ports are particularly generous, letting you plug in everything you need, while the roomy 512GB M.2 SSD gives you plenty of room for assignments and large files. The stunning OLED 165Hz screen is easy on the eyes, too. Lenovo

games effectively with a smooth frame rate. ASUS's personalised apps, such as GlideX (for screen sharing) and ScreenXpert (for handling app windows) make it particularly versatile, plus the high capacity battery can keep up with long study days.

Alienware 16 Aurora 16" WQXGA 120Hz Gaming Laptop (Intel Core 7) [GeForce RTX 5050] Alienware is synonymous with gaming laptops, and this model is a great mid-budget choice for gaming and study on the go. It sports a 120Hz display capable of 500 nits brightness, and the GeForce RTX 5050 GPU packs serious punch for both gaming and other software. Alienware has also invested in ensuring this laptop stays cool under pressure, with its innovative Cryo-Chamber structure helping to focus fan airflow to the laptop's core components. This allows the

Alienware 16X Aurora 16" WQXGA 240Hz Gaming Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7) [GeForce RTX 5060] This premium model definitely has the "X" factor. Its stunning

HP OMEN Max 16" UWVA 2.5K 240Hz OLED Gaming Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7) [GeForce RTX 5070 Ti] This formidable laptop is available in both Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 and 9 processor variants. This model’s features are built for gaming, but it’s also a great study buddy that’s capable of handling complex tasks and software. It's an ultra-responsive laptop, with a stunning OLED display, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for blazing wireless speeds, a huge 1TB SSD, and 32GB of RAM for extra efficiency. It also packs DLSS 4 technology, which means that your games

2560x1600 display has a high 240Hz refresh rate,

which, combined with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

GPU and 16GB of RAM, will ensure that games run extra-smooth, and the screen is easy on the eyes during long study and lecture sessions. The Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 12-core processor means you're working with some serious power, while the big 1TB SSD ensures ample local storage for both uni work and games. The Aurora 16X is a solid laptop for students, content creators, and gamers alike.

are AI upscaled in real-time, and its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU enables you to tap into ray tracing and other powerful rendering technologies.

Intel® Core™ 7 10 core CPU to devote its full power towards processing tasks without you needing

to worry about it getting too hot.

FEBRUARY 2026

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Check out the PC GAMING GUIDE in the Games section on pages 12–13