Best Gaming Laptop Under $800

If you are a gaming enthusiast but don’t have room for a desktop setup, then getting a laptop is the second-best choice. Apart from the fact that you can find models with high CPUs and great video cards for a reasonable price, you can also play on your laptop while traveling.

As there are plenty of options on the market, it wasn’t difficult to create a list of the best gaming laptops for under $800. To help you make the right decision, we have highlighted the pros and cons of the top five products. Let’s get to it!

Read also: What to Look for When Buying a Gaming Laptop?

Best Gaming Laptop Under 800 Reviews

1. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15 15.6” Laptop

We are starting with a model from one of the industry’s leading names, Lenovo. Highlighted by a 15.6” FHD display and offering 1920×1080 resolution, you don’t have to worry about it delivering high-quality graphics. In addition to that, it features an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor and 8 GB of DDR4 RAM to support smooth performance at all times.

Review

First and foremost, we want to discuss the design of this gaming device. It is highlighted by a 15.6” FHD display and comes with an NVIDIA GeForce FTX 1650 GPU that works together to ensure that you can play your favorite game at the highest possible settings. While it is available in only Shadow Black, this laptop is one of the most elegant models under $800.

When talking about gaming equipment, the refresh rate is a crucial factor. Fortunately, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 works at 120Hz, which means that you shouldn’t encounter any glitches or lags even when playing the latest games. In addition to that, this minimizes the possibility of ghosting and offers a tear-free experience for beginners and true professionals.

What we are most impressed by is that, although it is thin and sleek, this model offers a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Processor that is among the best solutions for gaming laptops. It comes with six cores that work together to support the superb performance of the IdeaPad 3. One of the coolest points about this product is that it also comes with an operating system.

Thus, you won’t need to search for an affordable OS license. You are getting Windows 10 Home, which will perfectly suit your needs. As for the memory, the RAM is set at 8 GB, and the 3200 Mhz DDR4 contributes to the processing power of this laptop and plays an important role in the smooth gaming experience. The second sphere is the hard disk size.

This Lenovo laptop is highlighted by 256 GB M.2 PCIe SSD storage and the possibility to connect an external storage unit. Rocking the 2×2 Nahimic Audio speakers isn’t only suitable for gamers but also professional gamers that need a fast and responsive laptop to work on.

This laptop is also highlighted by an ergonomic keyboard that features an elegant white backlight and several keys that you can create macro controls with. As for the connectivity, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 can connect through 2x2WiFi 802.11 ax, RJ45 Ethernet, and Bluetooth 5.0.

In addition to that, there are a couple of HDMI ports and a single USB-C port. Also, there is a webcam shutter in case you want to keep your privacy. Unfortunately, the battery life is not good, as it can only get you through about 2 to 2.5 hours of continuous use. Apart from that, there is not much that we can put against it.

This is an affordable, intuitive, and powerful laptop that will support your gaming needs.

PROS

• Reasonable price
• Great graphics
• High processing power
• Tear-free experience
• Powerful speakers
• Versatile connectivity

CONS

• Low battery life

2. HP – Pavilion 15.6” Gaming Laptop

The second laptop on our list is similar to the previous one except for the fact that it is manufactured by HP. As for the specifics, it comes in Shadow Black and is highlighted by a sleek and modern design. It rocks a 15.6” display that should be more than enough for any gaming purpose. Also, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 and 256 GB of SSD memory makes it one of the highest-performing laptops under $800.

Review

The first thing that we were impressed by is the professional yet relaxed design of this laptop. It can fit in almost any working area and its lightweight structure makes it perfectly suitable for those of you who travel a lot. Same as the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, it offers a 15.6” display and a resolution of 1920×1080, which should be more than enough to get you through Starcraft, Minecraft, Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V, and other games that demand great graphics.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 video card is considered an industry-standard in the gaming world. Once again, you won’t have to bother with the retailer about a separate operating system license as you get Windows 10 Home pre-installed on this HP Pavilion.

While the speakers aren’t as powerful as with the Lenovo model, the microphone is quite impressive. It offers clean and tear-free audio, so you can rely on it for communicating with your teammates. The keyboard will withstand heavy use and offers a green backlight to make things a bit more attractive.

As for the smooth performance, you are looking at a 120Hz refresh rate and an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H Processor, which means that you won’t experience any lags or glitches even when the game is at its highest settings. Also, the 256 GB of SSD memory means that you should have an easy time multitasking on the HP Pavilion.

Unfortunately, the battery life isn’t great on this one, either. Still, these few small cons don’t undermine the fact that this product offers superb performance and great graphics.

PROS

• Micro-edge 15.6” display
• High refresh rate
• Superb graphics
• High-quality microphone
• Supports multitasking
• 256GB of SSD memory

CONS

• Battery life could be better
• Speakers aren’t very powerful

3. ASUS TUF Gaming F17 Gaming Laptop

Moving on with our list of the best gaming laptops under $800, this ASUS product is sure to make you happy. It is highlighted by a 17.3” FHD IPS display, which is considered to be an even better solution than the aforementioned 15.6” micro-edge option. In addition to that, it rocks an attractive Bonfire Black color scheme and runs on Intel Core i5-10300H.

Review

Firstly, we want to make it clear that there are two versions of the TUF Gaming laptop. If you are not into computers with bigger displays, then the 15.6” one may be a better choice for you. It is similar to its counterpart, offering 512 GB of SSD memory, 8GB of DDR4, and a military-standard construction.

The only difference between it and the F17 model is the processor, as this one runs using the i7-9750H. Going back to the 17.3” laptop, we want to start by noting that it is suitable for gaming, as well as personal and business use. The fact that it is rocking the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6 means that you can tune all games to the highest settings. Judging by our experience, this laptop offers graphics that are up to 1585MHz running at 80W TGP, which is impressive for a product under $800.

As for the processing power, you shouldn’t be worried about glitches or lags, as it is highlighted by the Intel Core i5-10300H, which comes with four cores and a performance that goes as high as 4 GHz. Apart from the graphics and the processor, the SSD memory matters when you are a professional gamer. Fortunately, this one offers double what the Lenovo and HP models do, as it is set at 512 GB and is supported by 8GB of RAM.

Speaking about the construction, you won’t have to worry about it breaking down given the military-standard build. All of the gaming essentials are well thought out, with an RGB keyboard and clean audio for the microphone and the speakers. Also, Windows 10 Home keeps you away from any troubles.

The main issue is the fact that the fan is rather loud and affects the immersive gaming experience. On the other hand, considering the specifications and the fact that it offers the performance of a $1,000+ laptop it is worth it.

PROS

• Superb processor
• Impressive graphics
• 512 GB of SSD memory
• Tear-free gaming
• Clean audio
• 17.3” IPS display

CONS

• Loud fan

4. MSI GF63 Thin 15.6” Gaming Laptop

It would be a shame to miss out on a product manufactured by the best laptop gaming brand for 2018. This MSI model is highlighted by a 15.6” FHD display and is available in the Thin Bezel design, which is the industry standard of sleek and portable devices. It runs on Intel Core i5-9300H and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650, offering an immersive gaming experience.

Review

Similar to the product above, this one comes in two different variations. Apart from the mentioned Intel Core i5-9300H, you can also go for the Intel Core i7-9750H, but keep in mind that it is much pricier. The only difference is the processing unit.

Discussing the more affordable MSI model, it is safe to say that it can be used by professional creators and gamers considering the tear-free performance that it offers. More impressively, while it is set at just above 7.5 pounds, this laptop will resist heavy use and is highlighted by military-grade construction.

As for the display, it is set at 15.6” and offers a resolution of 1920×1080. In addition to that, an IPS rate of 60Hz and 45% NTSC should support the most demanding games. The video card that this laptop uses is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650, which is considered to be the best solution for affordable gaming computers.

When it comes to the processing unit, the Intel Core i5-9300H does a good job of ensuring a lag-free experience. Also, we didn’t have any ghosting-related issues. This model has a powerful CPU, and MSI integrated a responsive keyboard with an attractive red backlight.

Supporting the sleek performance is the 256 GB NVMe SSD memory and 8GB DDR4 2666MHz with two functional sockets. The main issue that we have with it is the trackpad, which is a bit too sensitive if you are a gamer.

Apart from that, this is an affordable laptop that offers good graphics and an intuitive response to your gaming demands.

PROS

• Great price
• 15.6” FHD display
• Fast processor
• Anti-ghosting
• Supports multitasking

CONS

• Overly sensitive trackpad

5. 2021 Flagship Acer Nitro 5

Last but certainly not least is an Acer laptop that is highlighted by a 15.6” IPS display and an AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4600H processor. It is considered to be a more powerful unit than the i7-9750H, allowing this laptop to compete with high-end models. In addition to that, it offers great graphics provided by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650H and a pre-installed Windows 10 Home OS that should save you precious time.

Review

Before we get into reviewing this Acer Nitro laptop, we want to note that there are several similar models all set above the price of $800. While the most popular one is the 8GB RAM 512GB PCIe SSD, the others options are all great choices, as well.

It is safe to say that this 15.6” laptop offers some of the most impressive graphics on the market. The full HD IPS 4GB display allows you to play games with maximum color contrast and clarity. In our opinion, it is great for professional gamers, as well as creators, small businesses, and students attending online school.

As we have mentioned above, the Intel AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4600H is a processor that you can rely on, as it is highlighted by a processing power of up to 4GHz. It is supported by 3B of cache, an 8MB L3 cache, and 12 threads all working to provide you with an immersive and tear-free experience.

Given the fantastic display and high processing power, we weren’t surprised that this Acer laptop supports multitasking. It comes with 256 GB of SSD memory and 8GB of RAM. Also, it features the Nvidia GeForce GTX1650, which we have already highly praised for its breakthrough performance and ability to support the latest titles.

Apart from the essentials, the keyboard, microphone, and speakers also operate at high levels of quality. Also, you get Windows 10 Home to support your gaming or creator needs.

For the accessories, there is a single USB 3.2 Type-C port, two regular USB ports, an RJ-45, a single HDMI port, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and a lithium-ion battery that can last for up to 8 hours. With the only issue being a somewhat noisy fan, this is a laptop that we would recommend to any gaming enthusiast!

PROS

• Superb processing unit
• Impressive image color and clarity
• Anti-ghosting
• 8+ hours of battery life
• Reliable keyboard, microphone, and speakers
• Windows 10 Home

CONS

• Loud fan

Wrap Up

In the end, all five products offer immense quality given that they are priced under $800. Our personal favorite is the 2021 Flagship Acer Nitro 5 15 Gaming Laptop for its superb graphics, high CPUs, and great battery life. The second best would be the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15.6” Laptop for its tear-free experience!

Read also: Best Gaming Laptops Under $2000