It’s no secret that laptops have come a long way in recent years. They’re now more powerful than ever, and they’re also more affordable. That’s great news for gamers because it means you can get a great gaming laptop without spending a fortune.
If your budget is higher than $1200 then this doesn’t worry because there are the best gaming laptops under 2000$. If your budget is lower than $1200 then best laptops for less than $800 will be suitable for you.
We’ve put together a list of the best gaming laptops under $1200, so you can find the perfect one for your needs and budget. Whether you’re looking for a powerful machine that can handle the latest games or a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you covered.
Our laptops are listed below, so you can read all about them and pick out the one that’s right for you.
6 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200 2022
1. MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop
The MSI Stealth 15M is a great choice for gamers who need a portable gaming laptop that can handle the most demanding games.
The Intel Core i7-11375H is great for multitasking and running multiple programs at once. The RTX 3060 is noticeably faster than my old card and the added VRAM is appreciated.
It’s got a great 144Hz FHD 1080p display that is perfect for my design work, and the laptop is fast and responsive overall.
The 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD make sure that everything runs smoothly and quickly. I’ve tested the battery life and it lasts for about 6 hours, which is great.
This laptop slim design makes it easy to carry around, and its matte black finish gives it a sleek look. The keyboard is backlit and easy to use, even in low light conditions.
The touchpad is responsive and accurate, making it easy to navigate. The Thunderbolt 4 is great for connecting to external devices and the WiFi 6 is very fast.
The one downside to be aware of is that it can get quite loud at max power.
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2. ASUS ROG Strix G15 Gaming Laptop
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is a powerful RTX 3050 laptop that comes in at under $1000. It comes in a black and red color scheme that is very attractive. The laptop has a good weight to it but is still portable.
Firstly, the Ryzen 7 4800H is a powerful 8-core processor that will handle all of your gaming needs. It has a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz and can boost up to 4.2 GHz. This will ensure that you don’t miss any frame rates in your favorite games.
The RTX 3050 is a mid-range graphics card that will offer you good performance for the price. It has 4GB of GDDR6 memory and a boost clock of 1860 MHz. This card will be able to handle most games on high or ultra settings.
It has 8GB of DDR4 ram which will be more than enough for most gaming needs. It can also be upgraded to 32GB if needed.
The display on this laptop is a 15.6” inch IPS-Type FHD display with a resolution of 1920×1080. This will give you good color accuracy and viewing angles. The 144Hz refresh rate will also help to reduce any motion blur in fast-paced games.
It comes with a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, which will give you fast data transfer speeds and plenty of storage for your games and files. The only downside to this laptop is that it does not come with a built-in webcam.
The keyboard on this laptop is an RGB backlit keyboard with a keycap that has a fingerprint sensor. This will allow you to login into your laptop quickly and easily. The keyboard also has a number pad on the right-hand side.
Lastly, the laptop has the ROG Intelligent Cooling system. This will help to keep your laptop cool during extended gaming sessions. The thermal Grizzly Liquid Metal Thermal Compound will help to dissipate heat quickly and effectively.
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3. MSI GF65 Gaming Laptop
I bought the MSI GF65 Gaming Laptop for my son and he loves it. It’s fast, the graphics are great and it’s lightweight so he can take it with him when he travels.
This model has a 144Hz Full HD display, Intel Core i7-10750H processor, and 6 cores for those who need heavier workloads or want more power from their computer.
The 16GB of RAM is great for gaming and multitasking, and the 512GB SSD is really fast and has plenty of space for all my games and files.
I have played Cyberpunk 2077 and it’s been great. The RTX 3060 is a big step up from my old card and the extra horsepower is really noticeable in-game.
It’s really comfortable to type on and the keys are nice and responsive. I love the color too, it’s a really pretty shade of red.
I was disappointed with the battery life on this laptop. I expected to be able to get a few hours of use out of it, but it only lasted for about 3 hours before needing to be plugged in.
The good news is that it charges quickly, so if you’re near an outlet you can easily top it off.
I’m happy to say that the cooling is pretty good, however, it does run hot under heavy load.
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4. ASUS TUF Dash 15 Ultra Slim Gaming Laptop
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is an excellent gaming laptop for its price range. It’s very slim and portable, making it easy to take with you on the go.
It has a fast Intel Core i7-11370H processor and it can even be overclocked to 4.8GHz. The design is also great, with a durable chassis that can take a beating.
It is a very powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6 Graphics card. This will allow you to play all the latest games on high settings with no problem.
The 144Hz IPS-Type Full HD display is great for illustration and video editing. I found the adaptive sync to be very helpful in keeping my work looking sharp and consistent.
The 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD are more than enough for most people’s needs. You can store all your favorite games and media without sacrificing speed or performance.
The backlighting is fantastic and the keyboard itself is very precise. It is clear that a lot of thought went into making this a durable MIL-STD product. I have never seen a laptop with such a high level of build quality.
Every component feels solid and well put together. I am confident that this laptop will withstand the rigors of daily use and travel.
I will say that the battery life is incredibly long. The advertisements tout up to 16-hour battery life, but the laptop computer cannot last for more than 8 hours of video or light gaming.
The cooling system is top notch and keeps the Dash F15 running smoothly and extends its lifespan. The five heatpipes do a great job of drawing heat away from the CPU, GPU, VRM, and VRAM, making this system ideal for gaming or other demanding tasks.
I was a little worried about the lack of a webcam, but it turns out I don’t really use it that much anyway.
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5. Acer Nitro 5 Premium Gaming Laptop
Acer Nitro 5 is a great mid-priced gaming laptop. It has a large monitor and plenty of memory and storage for all my games. The graphics are good and it runs most games smoothly.
The visuals are extremely clear and bright, and the 144hz refresh rate ensures smooth images even in the most action-packed moments. The 80 screen-to-body ratio is also great for viewing movies or working on creative projects.
The 10th Gen Intel i5-10300H processor is great, it’s fast and can handle anything I throw at it.
It has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 with 4GB dedicated GDDR6 VRAM which can handle the latest games without any issues.
It’s fast, has a lot of storage space, and the 32GB of RAM is perfect for my needs.
You can also enjoy the backlit KB which allows you to see what’s on-screen in low light conditions without having any trouble reading it or typing up anything else while using this powerful device as well.
I also have an Amazon Alexa and I love it. It’s so convenient to be able to control my music and lights with just my voice.
It has a 4 hour battery life, which is great, and I’ve tested it with some benchmarks and it performs very well.
The webcam is great and the CoolBoost technology really helps with the thermal performance.
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6. Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop
I recently purchased the Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop and I’m very happy with it. It’s a great computer for gaming and other activities. The graphics are amazing and the speed is incredible.
It has a 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display that delivers speed and color clarity for full-fidelity gaming. I tested the laptop’s performance by playing several games and it ran smoothly with no lag. The visuals were also stunning and the colors popped.
The Lenovo Legion 5 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti is a great upgrade from the old 2080 model. The performance is much better and this powerful graphics card will allow you to play your favorite virtual reality or 3D games on full screen at maximum settings.
The TrueStrike keyboard with 4-zone RGB backlight is really great and makes it easy to see what I am doing in low light conditions. The keyboard is also very responsive and feels great to type on.
It has 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD storage, which is great for me because I need a lot of storage space.
It’s got a great webcam with an e-shutter, which is perfect for keeping your privacy intact.
The only downside is the noisy fans. They’re not too loud, but they’re definitely noticeable.
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Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200 Buying Guide
When it comes to gaming laptops, there are a lot of factors to consider. But, if you’re on a budget, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best possible value for your money. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best gaming laptops under $1200.
We’ll consider specs like CPU, GPU, memory, and storage to help you make the best decision for your needs.
Processor
You should definitely consider an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. These processors offer great performance for the price, and they’ll be able to handle even the most demanding games.
RAM Memory
RAM memory is an important part of a gaming laptop as it will directly affect the speed at which your laptop can process anything. You need to make sure that you have at least 16GB of RAM available to run any game. High-resolution games require more so you can consider at least 32 GB of memory for laptops with a high-resolution display.
Display Size and Resolution
High-end gaming laptops usually come with a large 15.6-inch display while some other options are also available in the market that comes with 17-inch display size. You need to make sure that you choose a high-resolution display with at least 1080p screen resolutions.
Graphics Card
This is probably the most important part of any gaming laptop since it will determine how fast your games will run. If you are looking for the best performance then Nvidia RTX 3050, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti cards can be considered but if you want to experience the latest games, then you should go for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080.
Storage Options
With storage options like SSD and HDD available in the market, it is better that you get a laptop with at least 1 TB of hard drive memory along with high RPM. You can choose the option of a dual hard drive system if you want to have a combination of both HDD and SSD for faster processing speed.
Operating System
It is good to have a Windows 10 or 11 operating system available on your gaming laptop. If you need to upgrade the operating system later on then it will not be a problem because most laptops can be upgraded easily and at a free.
Battery Life
If you are planning to play games on the go or outside then it is better that you choose a laptop with good battery life. A high-end gaming laptop will give you at least 6 hours of battery backup but this can also depend on how big your screen is and whether you are using original batteries or not.
Features To Look For
All laptops are not created equal so when it comes to choosing the perfect gaming laptop, you should consider some additional features like a backlit keyboard or USB 3.2 port for better connectivity.
Also, there are lots of laptops in the market that come with high-end graphics card which is specially designed for gamers. Some other features like the availability of an optical drive and HDMI port can be useful for some users.
FAQs
What should I look for when buying a gaming laptop under $1200?
There are a few things you should look for when buying a gaming laptop under $1200. First, make sure the laptop has a powerful processor and graphics card. Second, check to see if the laptop has a lot of RAM.
Third, make sure the laptop has a large hard drive. Fourth, make sure the laptop has a good warranty. Finally, read online reviews to see what other people think of the laptop. You’ll also want to make sure that the laptop has a good display and comfortable keyboard.
Are there any gaming laptops under $1200 that don’t require a graphics card?
No, there are not any gaming laptops under $1200 that don’t require a graphics card. A graphics card is an important component of a gaming laptop, and without one, the laptop would not be able to run games properly.
Can I use a gaming laptop for other activities, such as work or school?
Yes, you can use a gaming laptop for other activities, such as work or school. However, you may want to consider a different laptop for those activities, as gaming laptops tend to be more expensive and have more powerful hardware than traditional laptops.
What are the pros and cons of gaming laptops?
The pros of gaming laptops include their powerful processors and graphics cards, which allow them to handle even the most demanding games. The cons of gaming laptops include their high price tags and poor battery life.
Conclusion
We have tested and compiled a list of the best gaming laptops under $1200. If you are looking for a powerful machine that can handle the most demanding games, then look no further. These laptops offer great performance without breaking the bank.
Our top pick is the MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop. This machine is packed with powerful hardware, including an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. It also has a large 15.6-inch display, making it perfect for gaming.
If you’re looking for something a little cheaper, our runner-up is the Acer Nitro 5. This laptop also has some great hardware, including an Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA RTX 3050 graphics card. Read our full review.
Thank you for reading! We hope this article was helpful. For more information on gaming laptops, be sure to check out our other articles on the subject.
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