CES never disappoints when it comes to showcasing the latest in laptops, and this year's event was no different. I explored the bustling show floor and various packed suites and showrooms to uncover the key trends shaping gaming laptops in 2025. Here are the major themes that stood out in the world of gaming laptops this year.

A Huge Diversity of Designs

Gaming laptops have always boasted a variety of styles, but this year's offerings felt particularly diverse. Brands like Gigabyte and MSI are pushing the boundaries between productivity and gaming, while high-end gaming laptops are striving to offer something "extra" beyond just hardware.

This year, you can expect gaming laptops to come in a broader range of designs. For instance, the Gigabyte Aero series offers sleek, elegant designs that blend seamlessly into professional environments. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX AI Dragonforged Edition features bold graphics on its lid, making a clear statement about its gaming prowess.

RGB lighting remains a staple, with innovations like wrap-around lighting rings, illuminated mechanical keyboards, side-lights, rear-lights, and trackpad lights. The Asus ROG Strix Scar series particularly impressed with its AniME Dot Matrix LED display, which can showcase text, animations, and more on its lid using white LEDs.

While there isn't much reinvention in design, expect to see some intriguing novelties alongside the traditional spectrum of large, heavy laptops to slim, lightweight models with a wide array of hardware options.

AI Assistants are Coming

Last year, AI became a buzzword in the laptop market, but the integrations often fell short. This year, multiple vendors showcased AI Assistants designed to control your PC without the need to manually open software.

In one demonstration, an MSI representative used a chatbot to specify the type of game he wanted to play, and the assistant automatically adjusted the performance mode to its highest setting to match the game's intensity.

I remain skeptical about the practicality of these systems. Although they seem intended to operate offline, I'm not convinced they're any faster than manually adjusting settings. We'll need to see how these features perform once they're fully implemented.

Mini-LED, Rollable Displays and Other Novelties

Mini-LED technology is finally making a significant impact in the gaming laptop market. Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte showcased Mini-LED laptops with top-tier specifications and pricing. These displays feature over 1,100 local dimming zones to minimize blooming and enhance contrast, along with exceptional brightness and vibrant colors. While OLED still excels in contrast, Mini-LED's lack of burn-in risk and higher sustained brightness make it an exciting prospect for future models.

There were also some unique novelties on display. The ASUS ROG Flow X13, returning after a year's hiatus, now supports eGPUs via USB4, eliminating the need for proprietary connections. Asus showcased it connected to a new eGPU product expected to feature up to an RTX 5090, offering a powerful boost akin to a Microsoft Surface on steroids.

Elsewhere, Asus displayed its Zenbook Duo, a dual-screen productivity laptop, but Lenovo stole the show with the most intriguing new laptop: the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable. This isn't a gaming laptop, and it may not become widespread this year, but it's the first notebook with a rollable OLED display. With a simple button press, its 14-inch screen extends upward, adding 2.7 inches of screen real estate. While it looks somewhat awkward and raises concerns about the durability of the extension mechanism, it's a pioneering product that will likely improve with time and further development by other manufacturers.

Ultrabooks Continue to Rise, Even for Gaming

Ultrabooks are increasingly prevalent, even within gaming line-ups. Major manufacturers now offer Ultrabook gaming laptops, characterized by their thin, light, and premium yet minimalist designs. Gigabyte, for example, has revamped its Aero series to embrace the Ultrabook form factor, and the models I saw were impressive.

This trend makes sense for gamers who don't need to run the latest games at the highest settings. These new Ultrabooks allow you to enjoy gaming while maintaining exceptional portability and productivity. As I noted in my review of the Asus TUF Gaming A14 last year, it's possible to include a dedicated graphics card in these machines without compromising their on-the-go productivity.

Moreover, if you're willing to adjust settings, you can bypass the higher cost of a laptop with a dedicated graphics card. The latest processors from AMD and Intel are surprisingly capable for gaming, as demonstrated by the latest handheld devices. With enhanced integrated graphics and performance-boosting features like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (or Intel XeSS) and frame generation, you can achieve a playable state for relatively demanding games. For casual gamers, this might be sufficient, raising questions about the future necessity of lower-performance chips like the RTX 4050M.

Cloud gaming also presents a viable option for these machines. Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now have reached a level where you can enjoy a great gaming experience without needing a dedicated "gaming" laptop.

The world of gaming laptops is brimming with exciting developments, and we'll continue to cover them throughout the year. What trends caught your eye? Share your thoughts in the comments below!