Gaming laptops are becoming very popular, thanks to some addictive high-end games like Fortnite, Overwatch, and others.
However, you do not need to go for expensive laptops before you can enjoy these games. Below is a guide of the best gaming laptops that you can get under $800.
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Best Gaming Laptops under $800 in 2021
1. MSI GV62
MSI has become a famous name in the production of powerful gaming laptops. It is powered by an 8th generation i5 processor and paired with a GTX 1050 Ti graphics card, which makes it one of the best gaming machines on my list.
It also sports 8GB of RAM as the standard memory capacity and comes with a 1TB of hard disk space. This ensures that you can save as many of your favorite games in high-settings as you want.
The only significant flaw is that it does not come with an SSD. But you will be getting a 16GB of Intel Optane Memory, which is a suitable replacement for the SSD because the Optane memory can picture variations on most of the popular games.
Also, you do not need to worry about the laptop heating up while playing high-end power consuming games because the laptop comes with a cooler boost technology for dissipating heat.
In terms of audio quality, the laptop is empowered with the Nahimic 3 audio system that delivers an excellent audio quality while playing your favorite games.
However, the battery is quite disappointing, you will only be able to use it for 4 hours max, but the laptop has a lot of exciting features that you will really enjoy.
2. Dell Inspiron 15-7000
If you are a fan of VR gaming or you are just curious and want to experience it, but you don’t want to pay more than $800, the Dell Inspiron 15-7000 is a good choice. The laptop is engineered with Windows Mixed Reality headsets in memory, which will enable it to run VR games smoothly.
Powered with a generation i5 processor and supported with a GTX 1050 with 4GB of dedicated memory, this fantastic machine can handle a lot of non-VR games on high settings without having any issue. In terms of storage space, the laptop comes with a 1TB to save your games and files and 8GB of faster memory that enhances the overall performance of the laptop.
The Dell Inspiron 15-7000 sports a 15.6 inches screen that can be viewed from any angle and has an attractive red pattern base that gives it a stylish look. The only drawback is the laptop’s audio quality, but considering the price, I believe that the flaw is negligible.
3. Dell G3
The Dell G3 is another fantastic gaming laptop that you can get under $800. The Dell G3 comes with an eight-generation processor paired with a GTX 1050 graphics card, 4GB of dedicated memory, and 8GB of RAM to ensure that you can run multiple background apps effectively.
The Dell G3 sports a 1TB of hard drive space, which should be big enough to handle your favorite games and a 128 GB SSD, which makes it better than the Dell Inspiron that I mentioned earlier.
The Dell G3 comes with the anti-glare technology that delivers vibrant visuals and gives the user a better opportunity to view the screen from any angle.
Dell has been known for years to always deliver when it comes to the production of powerful laptops, but the only flaw with the Dell G3 is that the keyboard is not easy to use. Most companies that produce low-priced laptops always have to make some deductions to cope with the market, and it seems they can do better with the overall design and build quality of the Dell G3.
However, if you do not care about appearances, the Dell G3 is definitely one of the best gaming laptops that offer a lot of value for $800.
4. Acer Aspire 7
The Acer Aspire 7 is a lightweight but compelling laptop with top-level hardware specifications that you can get under $800.
The laptop runs a 7th generation i7 processor and GTX 1050 graphics card; however, you will only get 2GB of dedicated memory with the GPU.
One of the major strengths of the laptop is the storage options that it offers. The Acer Aspire 7 comes with 1TB of hard drive space coupled with an extra 128GB for your system files, which enhances the laptop’s overall performance.
It’s important to point out that you will hardly see a gaming laptop with a hard drive and an SSD.
The laptop comes with an ergonomic keyboard, and the trackpad is quite responsive. And to make the laptop more appealing, the Acer Aspire 7 comes with a fingerprint reader to ensure that your files are protected.
One of the notable flaws is battery life. Although the company claims that their laptops can work for more than 8 hours, a lot of users have complained that the laptop battery cannot play games for a long time.
But all you need to do is to ensure that you are always close to a power outlet and you will still enjoy the laptop.
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5. ASUS FX503VD
The ASUS FX503VD is another amazing multipurpose laptop that every gamer will enjoy. Powered with a heavyweight i7-7700HQ processor, 8GB of RAM, and 2GB of limited memory, this laptop deserves to be on this list.
Although there are better gaming laptops in the same price category, if you are looking for a laptop that can run average games smoothly and perform other tasks, you should consider the ASUS FX503VD.
In terms of storage, the ASUS FX503VD sports a massive 256GB SSD but does not have much memory space to handle most recent high-end games and files.
This means that you will probably need to buy an external hard drive. However, the SSD ensures that the laptop has a decent loading speed, and you will be able to move files around in a matter of seconds.
One of the flaws of the ASUS FX503VD is the screen resolution because there are limited angles by which you can comfortably view the screen. This can be quite annoying, especially if you are playing with your friends, you will need to be moving your head around to see the right color of images.
However, the ASUS FX503VD is elegantly built, quite attractive with a fantastic keyboard, so if you care about appearance and you do not fancy the high-end games, you will enjoy this laptop.
6. Lenovo IdeaPad 15 Y700
The Lenovo IdeaPad 15 Y700 is another beautiful gaming laptop.
It is powered by a 6th generation i5 processor, which is quite old now. And it also comes with a GTX 960M graphics card, which is not as good as the 1050 model. However, you do not need to be discouraged yet because the laptop has a lot to offer.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 15 Y700 is beautifully designed with the backlit keyboard that is really comfortable to use. It comes with red-shaded speakers, which add to the elegance of the machine. It also sports some appealing hardware specs in the memory category, which includes 1TB of hard drive supported by a 128GB SSD to give you enough space to store your important files, movies, and games.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 15 Y700 comes with the 960M and Intel i5-6300HQ combo that will struggle with a lot of graphically intensive games on high settings. However, you will still be able to run decent modern games like Fortnite and DOTA 2 as long as you reduce the settings to low or medium. It has all the necessary ports and slots that you can use to connect your devices.
Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad 15 Y700 is a decent gaming laptop, but if you are a fan of high-end games, there are better models.
7. ASUS TUF FX504
If you are looking for a lightweight and great-looking laptop under $800, you should check out the ASUS TUF FX504. The laptop is compelling and elegantly built, and to make it better; it is one of the cheapest on the list.
The ASUS TUF FX504 is equipped with an 8thvgeneration i5 processor and coupled with the impressive GTX 1050 GPU, which makes it possible for users to run the most popular high-end games on it on medium settings. You will not be getting the same level of performance that you will get from laptops like the MSI GV62 with its GTX 1050 Ti video card, but you will still enjoy it.
It’s important to point out that the ASUS TUF FX504 does not come with an SSD, but it comes with a 1TB hybrid hard drive, which is quite faster than the standard hard drive but not better than an SSD.
One of the notable flaws of the ASUS TUF FX504 is the trackpad, it can be quite difficult to use and will take some time to understand it. Overall, the ASUS TUF FX504 is a fantastic gaming laptop that represents value for money.
8. ASUS VivoBook K570UD
Equipped with a 1050 GPU with 2GB of limited memory and an 8th generation i5 processor, the Asus VivoBook K570UD is one of the top laptops within an $800 price range.
Although you will not be able to run the massive AAA games in high settings, you will be able to play other average games like PUBG, Fortnite, and some other ones.
The i5-8250U that comes with the laptop delivers fantastic processing speeds and is paired with the 256GB SSD, which ensures that you can run as many apps as possible at the same time.
It also comes with an amazing battery life for day-to-day computing tasks and does not take a lot of time to charge. The Asus VivoBook K570UD is lightweight and only weighs 4 pounds, making it easy to carry around.
However, if you want to use the battery for long gaming sessions, you will need to stay close to a power outlet. Another notable flaw is that the laptop overheats quickly because the cooling technology cannot accommodate the intensive power consumption of the high-end apps.
This basically means that the Asus VivoBook K570UD, just like most laptops on this list, is capable of running minor computing tasks and playing games on moderate or low settings.
9. Acer Nitro 5
The Acer Nitro 5 is the combination of top-level performance and style.
It is one of the few laptops on this list that is equipped with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card, 4GB of dedicated memory, and runs a 7th generation i5 processor.
This fantastic machine can run most of the modern games in high settings without experiencing any issue. You can also throw some latest AAA games on medium to high settings, and they will run correctly.
And to make it more exciting, it will not overheat. The Acer Nitro 5 comes with a powerful cooling technology that is quite impressive and will still maintain the normal heat of the laptop even during long gaming sessions.
The battery life is also fantastic, and you will be getting up to 9 hours for general computing tasks and around 6 hours for playing games or streaming movies.
The Asus VivoBook K570UD comes with a 256GB SSD, but you will need to buy an external hard drive if you want space to save all your games.
The inbuilt speaker is also not impressive, but you can always use your headset. Overall the Asus VivoBook K570UD is one of the top gaming laptops that you can get within the $800 price range.
10. MSI GL62M
The MSI GL62M is one of the cheapest on this list, and it comes with amazing features that every gamer will love. In terms of gaming laptops, the MSI GL62M has similar features with most laptops on this list.
This amazing laptop is equipped with a GTX 1050 graphics card, powered with a seventh-generation i5 processor, and an impressive SSD storage that ensures that the laptop can handle any task that you throw at it.
You will be able to run high-end games like Overwatch, Battlefield 1, Fortnite, PUBG, and others in decent settings. The MSI GL62M also comes with a cooling boost technology that helps in making sure that the laptop does not overheat.
One of the flaws of the MSI GL62M is the battery backup, which drains quickly during long gaming sessions but can work for hours if you are running general computing tasks.
Another flaw is the absence of a regular hard drive, which means you will need to invest in an external drive. Overall, the MSI GL62M is an amazing gaming laptop that you can get within the $800 price range.
