Whether you have aspirations to become a professional gamer or you simply want to have the best possible equipment, investing in a high-quality laptop is a great decision. It offers a variety of advantages in comparison to a desktop computer, such as a sleek design and portability.
To help you find the one that suits your needs, we have prepared a list of the best gaming laptops under $1500, highlighting the pros and cons of the top five models. Let’s get to it!
Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500 Reviews
Dell Gaming G15 5510
Starting with a product from one of the leading industry names, this laptop is highlighted by a 15.6” FHD display offering a resolution of 1920 by 1080 and a performance of up to 120 Hz. In addition to that, a hard disk size of 512 GB and Windows 10 Home should cut your effort in searching for an adequate operating system. The best point about it? The fact that there are three variations of this laptop and all are set under the price of $1500.
Review
Before we get into the specifics of this laptop model, we do want to emphasize the differences between the variations that Dell offers. Your first option is to get a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10870H, the second one is to get one with a processing unit that is 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H, and the third one is to invest your money into the 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H, which is the most affordable model out there.
Apart from choosing between a few different processing units, you can also decide on the graphics card. A few available options include the Nvidia GeForce GTX1650Ti, the Nvidia GeForce RTX2060, and the Nvidia GeForce RTX3060, which is regarded as the most powerful of the three options. What you should keep in mind is that in all given cases, you will be working with a laptop that offers 512 GB of SSD memory and is suitable for performing multiple tasks at a smooth and tear-free pace.
Judging from our experience, you won’t be going wrong with any of the Dell G15 models as they all offer impressive graphics, highlighted by supreme contrast and image clarity. With that in mind, you can be pretty confident running all of the latest titles on the highest settings. As mentioned above, you will be working with a narrow-back display that is highlighted by an anti-glare trait and performs at up to 250 nits. As for the design, all of the laptops come in grey only.
Another thing that you can decide on is the RAM, as the manufacturer offers a model with 8 GB of DDR4 and 16 GB of DDR4 memory. To top that off, the connectivity is the same in all the Dell variations and includes 802.11 ac WiFi as well as Bluetooth 5.0. Also, there is a single USB-C port and a couple of HDMI ports.
The performance is outstanding and is highlighted by a dual-fan cooling system and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, ensuring you won’t experience any ghosting issues or glitches even when playing the most demanding games. The main issue that this laptop faces? The fact that the battery lasts only 2.5 to 3 hours when on a full charge.
Apart from that, you are looking at a product that offers exceptional performance and is sure to adhere to your gaming needs.
Pros
- Great processing power
- Impressive graphics
- Dual fan cooling system
- Anti-ghosting performance
- Multiple USB and HDMI ports
- Windows 10 Home
Cons
- Low battery life
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-54-760S Gaming Laptop
The second product on our list is the Helios Gaming Laptop, which comes in a few different variations, similar to the one mentioned above. While the most popular model is highlighted by a 15.6” IPS display, 16 GB of DDR4 memory, and 512 GB of SSD memory, you do have the freedom to upgrade this laptop in case you are willing to invest more money and get a truly outstanding gaming laptop.
Review
Discussing the decisions that you can make, the first one is related to the video card. Thus, you can choose between a few Nvidia components, including the RTX 3060, the RTX 2060, and the RTX 2070 Max-Q, which are considered among the best solutions for gaming laptops. In addition to that, decide whether you want a laptop with a larger or a smaller display.
Our personal favorite is the 15.6” IPS display offering a refresh rate of 144 Hz for the fact that it can run popular games without any issues or the image clarity or contrast being affected. Still, in case you are more about the larger screens, the Acer Predator provides that option as you can get a Helios that is set between 15 and 15.99” or a 17.3” that runs at a refresh rate of an impressive 240 Hz. In addition to that, you can also get a Helios 300 that comes with a 15.6” display and a refresh rate of 240 Hz (it comes at a higher price).
Last but not least, you can choose between a couple of different kits, including the laptop-only, mouse bundle, backpack bundle, headset bundle, and a mousepad-only kit. Similar to the aforementioned product, you are getting Windows 10 Home pre-installed into all of the models, which means that you shouldn’t be wasting your time searching for the perfect operating system.
Talking about the gaming performance, you can be confident that it will run tear-free and without any ghosting issues. The reason for that is the 11th Generation Intel Core i7-11800H processor that is considered one of the best processing units on the market. It is highlighted by 8 powerful cores and 16 threads working together to ensure an immersive experience running the most demanding titles.
As we have mentioned above, no matter whether you go for a display that runs at a 144 or 240 Hz refresh rate, you shouldn’t have to worry about lags and glitches. Not only that, but a 3 ms response time ensures that you get the best image clarity and contrast. Talking about multitasking, there isn’t a lot you should worry about as all of the Acer Predator models are highlighted by 16 GB of DDR4 3200 MHz memory with a maximum of 32 GB.
In addition to that, you get 512 GB of PCIe Gen SSD memory and room for an external storage unit. One of the coolest points is that you can have it connected to WiFi 6 Ax1650i and Ethernet E2600 at the same time. It should help you maximize the speed and achieve maximum control over the throughput.
At the end of the day, it is good to know that all Acer Predator Helios models use the AeroBlade cooling system which incorporates 89 separate bionic blades into the fan units to ensure that your laptop doesn’t overheat. The main issue that we have? The fact that the headset produces a lot of static issues.
Still, as it is a piece of equipment that you can replace, it shouldn’t downgrade the overall quality of this gaming laptop. Thus, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is a product that we would recommend to any tech enthusiast!
Pros
- Impressive refresh rate
- Ground-breaking processing power
- Fantastic image clarity/contrast
- Connect through Ethernet and WiFi simultaneously
- 89 Separate fan units
- 16 GB of DDR4 memory
Cons
- Static noise produced by the headset
MSI GL66 Gaming Laptop
If we look at the brands that aren’t as popular as Acer or Dell, it is hard to miss out on what MSI has to offer. This particular product is highlighted by a 15.6” FHD display offering a resolution of 1920 by 1080 and running on a refresh rate of 144 Hz.
In addition to that, it offers the same processing unit as the aforementioned product, the Intel Core i7-11800H, which is set to provide you with an immersive gaming experience. Also, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 supports the idea of playing the most demanding titles at the highest settings.
Review
When it comes to this GL66 laptop, it is a product that can be used for multimedia, personal, and business use. Thus, even if you are not a gamer but a content creator, you can be sure that this MSI will address your needs. It does run on pre-installed Windows 10 Home which means that you can get to work as soon as the laptop arrives.
The first impressive point has to be the 15.6” display that comes with a refresh rate of 144 Hz and ensures that you don’t miss out on the single frame during your gameplay experience. In addition to that, it works with the aforementioned 11th Intel Core i7-11700H to prevent any ghosting and lag/glitching issues.
Given the fact that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX3070 is probably the best solution for gaming laptops that are under $1500, you shouldn’t worry about it delivering outstanding performance. We are happiest about the fact that, although it is highlighted by a military standard construction, it is a light and thin laptop that you can use while on the go. The thin bezel design makes the MSI GL66 one of the most attractive gaming devices on the market.
It prevents overheating through a Cooler Boost Technology and features an intuitive keyboard that will allow you to customize the controls and create macros that will improve your gameplay. The main issue that we had? The fact that the touchpad is a bit too sensitive can be an issue when it comes to games that demand more control.
Still, you can get a Bluetooth mouse and have this issue fixed. Taking everything into consideration, it is a decent gaming laptop that you shouldn’t be missing out on.
Pros
- Runs smooth
- Great thermal protection
- Superb graphics
- A refresh rate of 144 Hz
- Military standard construction
- Customizable keyboard
Cons
- The touchpad is too sensitive
ASUS ROG Strix G15 Gaming Laptop
Moving on with our list of the best gaming laptops under $1500, we can’t forget about the ROG Strix G15, which is considered to be one of the best. It comes with an impressive 15.6” IPS display that is highlighted by a refresh rate of 300 Hz and a response time of below 3 ms. In addition to that, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti and an AMD Ryzen R7-5800H processing unit will allow you to play the latest titles.
Review
The first thing that you should know is that similar to what you were able to do with the Dell and Acer laptops, ASUS also allows a few different ROG Strix G15 models. Thus, you can choose between a model that rocks the Ryzen 9 5900HX and one that comes with the Ryzen 7 5700H. Apart from that, you can decide whether you want a laptop that offers an SSD memory of 512 GB PCIe or 1 TB PCIe. Last but certainly not least, you can choose between 16 GB of DDR4 and 32 GB of DDR4. All the decisions should be considered depending on what you plan to use the laptop for.
Keep in mind that all models come with pre-installed Windows 10 Home and the same 15.6” IPS screen that is the main highlight of this product. Judging by our experience, the display plays a huge part in the overall performance of this laptop, considering the fact that the refresh rate of 300 Hz means that there isn’t any room for ghosting issues or glitches/lags.
In addition to that, all of the ROG laptops feature the Cooling Thermal Grizzly Compound that prevents overheating and keeps fan noise to a minimum. Regarding the processing units, both the Ryzen 9 and the Ryzen 7 offer extraordinary performance and run at a processing speed of up to 4.4/4.6 GHz.
While you shouldn’t worry about the graphics or if it will be able to support the latest titles, we aren’t satisfied that the battery life is set at around 3 hours. Other than that, it is an impressive gaming laptop that you should definitely consider.
Pros
- Superb processing power
- A refresh rate of 300 Hz
- Innovative cooling system
- Up to 1 TB of hard disk memory
- Impressive graphics
Cons
- Low battery life
Lenovo Ideapad 3 Gaming Laptop
Last but not least is a laptop coming from the leading Chinese company that is highlighted by a 15.6” IPS display and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It runs on an Intel Quad-Core i5-10300H processing unit and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 graphics card, and you can also choose the RAM and hard disk memory size.
Review
Similar to the products mentioned above, you can customize your Ideapad 3 by your financial situation and needs. Thus, there is a wide variety of options to choose from, including 8 GB DDR4 and 256 GB of SSD memory, 16 GB DDR4 and 1 TB of SSD memory, 32 GB DDR4 and 1TB of SSD memory, as well as 64 GB DDR4 and 2TB of SSD memory which is considered to be one of the most powerful laptops on the market.
The fact that all of the featured laptops are highlighted by a 15.6” display size and a refresh rate of 120 Hz is why the decision-making shouldn’t be as tough. While not as great as the aforementioned Asus, you still shouldn’t experience any ghosting issues, especially if you are going for a model with more RAM and SSD memory.
As for the processing unit, it works at a base frequency of 2.5 GHz and can run up to 4.5 GHz working with 8M cache and 8 threads. The Intel Boost Turbo Technology plays an important role when it comes to running the most demanding games without the risk of overheating.
When it comes to the external ports and slots, the Lenovo Ideapad 3 features a single USB-C, two USB 3.0, an RJ-45, an HDMI 2.0, and a combined headphone/microphone jack. Also, a 720HD webcam is highlighted by a privacy shutter for those who prefer not to be seen while gaming.
In addition, there are also 2×1.5W Dolby audio speakers and a powerful Lithium-ion battery that will allow you to use this laptop for up to 9 hours (without charging). The main issue? The fact that the fans are a bit noisy. Still, for the given price and considering all run with the Intel Boost Turbo Technology ensuring an immersive gaming experience, it is a worthy choice.
Pros
- Intel Boost Turbo Technology
- 15.6” FHD Display
- Fantastic graphics
- High-quality speakers
- A wide variety of ports/slots
- Long battery life
Cons
- Loud fans
Wrap Up
As we showed throughout the article, there is a wide variety of laptops under $1500 that can address your gaming needs. Our personal favorite is the ASUS ROG Strix G15 for offering the most impressive graphics and processing power while staying light and portable. Our second choice is the Lenovo Ideapad 3 for the fantastic price and the fact that you can rely on the Intel Boost Turbo Technology for running demanding games!
Read also: Best Gaming Laptops Under $800