Facebook
Reddit
Email
Here are the five best laptops for RTS games in 2025. These cater to high performance and fall under the premium segment.
RTS or Real Time Strategy titles may appear top-down and seem arcade-like, meaning they are easy to run on any hardware. In reality, these demands require a significant amount of computing power, including both GPU and CPU resources. The game design itself is as follows: the CPU prepares the frames for the GPUs, handles physics, performs AI-related calculations, and manages game logic.
All of these factors combined make the game incredibly CPU- and GPU-demanding. For this particular reason, players seeking high frame rates in this game will be unable to achieve them. A proper balance of hardware and components is necessary. Below are the laptops, ranging from the super high-end flagship budget segment to high-end models, best suited for this kind of workload. Even beyond just RTS, these can do anything thrown at them, including hardcore video editing, CAD, and more.
Note: For the most accurate pricing, please contact your nearest retailer or online store, as they will be able to assist you. The laptops mentioned here can be picked up from either Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart.
1. ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) – $4,499
The 2025 iteration of the Strix SCAR 18 upgrades the previous generation with the RTX 5090 and the Arrowlake HX series processor. For RTS, these are absolute overkill, but when your needs shift from RTS to AAA, then these will help a lot. Additionally, productivity-wise, you are secure for at least 5 years or more, and the 24GB VRAM was a welcome addition.
Key Specifications:
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 24GB
- RAM: 32GB DDR5
- Storage: 2TB PCIe SSD
- Display: 18-inch ROG Nebula HDR 2.5K 240Hz/3ms
2. MSI Titan 18 HX AI (2025) – $5,999
If you thought the first laptop was expensive, then this takes it even further, as it incorporates AI and costs that much more. Now, the CPU over here is the Ultra 9 285HX, the highest one in the Arrow Lake mobile HX lineup. The RAM is 96GB, meaning that, even beyond demanding tasks, you can easily use this machine to run Llama 4 distilled or even other AI models with 6-bit quantization at the very least.
Key Specifications:
- CPU: Intel Ultra 9-285HX
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 24GB
- RAM: 96GB DDR5
- Storage: 6TB SSD
- Display: 18-inch 120Hz UHD+ Mini LED
3. ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) – $1,999
The ROG Strix G16 has a more affordable price point at $1999, but this one, according to Walmart, is said to pack in at least an RTX 5070 Ti GPU. That said, the CPU choices are Ryzen 9 but non-AI-based HX models. Whether it’s an RTS or an AAA, you can easily get along with a little bit of adjustment to the settings.
Key Specifications:
- CPU: Ryzen 9 8940HS
- GPU: RTX 5070 Ti (12GB VRAM)
- RAM: 16GB DDR5 (Upgradable)
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 16-inch Full HD+ 165 Hz
4. MSI Katana 15 – $949
Returning to the budget segment, but with excellent hardware. The Katana 15 is an example of all the checkboxes being met: proper hardware, capable GPU, and plenty of RAM, and it doesn’t break the bank either. Now, if you want to play AAA games with this, you can, but you’ll need to be cautious with those settings sliders.
Key Specifications:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-12450H
- GPU: RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6
- RAM: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch 144Hz IPS
5. ASUS TUF Gaming F15 – $949
Another champion in the budget segment that also checks all the boxes, but the details—plenty of RAM, a great CPU, a decent GPU, and plenty of RAM. The TUF Gaming F15 is indeed a good choice for RTS and even AAA titles, especially when settings are adjusted to a low level.
Key Specifications:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-13620H
- GPU: RTX 4060 (8GB VRAM)
- RAM: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz
Performance Expectations for RTS Titles
Here is an approximation of the performance you can expect with these laptops while playing popular RTS titles, including Tempest Rising, Broken Arrow, and more.
| Model | Expected 1080p Performance |
| ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (RTX 5090) | Ultra settings, 160–240+ FPS |
| MSI Titan 18 HX AI (RTX 5090) | Ultra settings, 150–220+ FPS |
| ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 50XX) | High-Ultra, 120–180+ FPS |
| MSI Katana 15 (RTX 4060) | Medium-High, 80–120+ FPS |
| ASUS TUF Gaming F15 (RTX 4060) | Medium-High, 75–110+ FPS |
Verdict
RTS titles are easy to run and don’t offer much visual content. But in reality, titles like Anno, AOE4 (Age of Empires), and the Civilization Series can overheat your components, as the load they create is intense. Ensure you are playing on a good cooling pad, as, unlike other games, RTS games hammer both the CPU and GPU simultaneously, causing your laptop’s thermal solution to overheat quickly.
We provide the latest news and “How To’s” for Tech content. Meanwhile, you can check out the following articles related to PC GPUs, CPU and GPU comparisons, mobile phones, and more:
- 5 Best Air Coolers for CPUs in 2025
- ASUS TUF Gaming F16 Release Date, Specifications, Price, and More
- iPhone 16e vs iPhone SE (3rd Gen): Which One To Buy in 2025?
- Powerbeats Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 2: Which One To Get in 2025
- RTX 5070 Ti vs. RTX 4070 Super: Specs, Price and More Compared
- Windows 11: How To Disable Lock Screen Widgets
