9 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200 in 2023 [Expert Recommended]

As a gaming fan on a $1200 budget, what features do you desire from a laptop? As a risky game lover, I choose a laptop with plenty of storage, a tiny profile, a long battery life, and, most significantly, RAM; so that I can play any game I find exhilarating without difficulty.

While determining the best gaming laptops under $1200 USD is tough, incorporating all of these characteristics into a single notebook is much more so.

That is when our decisions become relevant. Naturally, the primary element influencing our choices is the product’s price. However, if you’re on a budget but still want to dominate your gaming field with thrilling feature-packed laptops, we’ve got you covered. Choosing a gaming laptop is no longer a difficult task for you.

This essay will throw some light on the best gaming laptops under $1200 and explore their specifications in depth. Thus, let us proceed to the main section. We also reviewed the best gaming laptops for less than $1300

Top 9 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200 in April-2023 [Recommended]

You will find below a list of the best gaming laptops under $1200 USD for you to choose from – let’s get started!

01. Most Powerful Gaming Laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G15

Asus is a market leader and a well-known laptop of gaming laptop. They employ cutting-edge technology in their microcomputers to provide a robust gaming experience that will have you scoring big numbers in no time.

ASUS ROG Strix G15 is the company’s newest gaming laptop. The laptop is powered by AMD’s newest Ryzen R7 5800H chipset, which features a boosted clock speed of 4.4GHz and a base clock speed of 3.0GHz. This is a high-performance chipset with an octa-core CPU and 16 threads, which makes it ideal for multi-threaded workloads such as gaming.

It features a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a whopping 300Hz refresh rate. While the refresh rate is ridiculous, using the full capabilities of the technology is practically difficult. Nonetheless, it is beneficial to have excessive characteristics. In terms of graphics, it has a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti with 4GB GDDR6 VRAM to perform graphics-intensive workloads. This is the ideal graphics card for medium to high-end games.

Additionally, the laptop features 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz RAM and a speedier 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD. The RAM can be increased up to 64GB, which is an excellent feature for a gaming laptop. Its lighted RGB keyboard adds another dimension of appeal for expert gamers. In terms of I/O ports, it satisfies all requirements by providing the required connection ports.

In a word, if you’re searching for the best gaming laptop under $1200, this is a solid contender. Taken together, this is the most powerful gaming gear available for around $1200 right now.

02. Best Versatile Gaming Laptop: Acer Predator Helios 300

The Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop is a technological marvel developed by one of the world’s leading laptop manufacturers. It grants you access to a variety of strong features that contribute to an exceptional gaming experience.

The laptop is powered by a 12th gen Intel i7-10750H processor from 12th generation. With an hexa-core CPU and a basic clock speed of 2.3GHz, the supplied chipset is rather capable. Additionally, it supports turbo boost up to 5.0GHz with Intel’s Turbo Boost technology. More importantly, it is constructed using a highly efficient 10nm SuperFin technology, which significantly reduces power usage. In general, it is the fastest CPU in its class, delivering exceptional performance.

Along with the newest processor, it is equipped with 16GB of DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory. These new features combine and optimize your ability to play many games simultaneously without worrying about storage.

Furthermore, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Graphics, you may choose any game and enjoy it with realistic graphics. The GPU is part of Nvidia’s latest RTX 30 series (RTX 3050, RTX 3060, RTX 3070, and RTX 3080, among others), which enables it to take advantage of the latest Nvidia features, such as the DLSS chip, the second generation RTX architecture, the third generation Tensor cores, and various other optimizations to boost graphics performance.

At the front is a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a refresh rate of 144Hz and 3ms Overdrive Response Time. This is a reasonably accurate color panel with excellent viewing angles and crisp images. Indeed, the laptop makes no concessions in terms of display quality, and the panel is ideal for gaming.

Additionally, there is an RGB Backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, DTS X Ultra Audio, and extra slots for simple expansion.

There is also a 5th Generation AeroBlade Fan with 89 blades meant to enhance air intake and keep your system cool during extended gaming, although you may still feel the heat. In general, it’s a nice balance of cutting-edge hardware with energy efficiency.

03. Best Functional Gaming Laptop: Acer Nitro 5

While Acer’s “Nitro” line is well-known for its affordability, the firm has introduced more powerful gaming choices at a higher price point this time around. We’ve chosen one of the Acer Nitro 5 AN517-54-77KG models with exceptional internals for this review.

In terms of computing capability, this laptop is equipped with a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor that features an octa-core architecture and 16 threads. It features eight-strong cores and operates at a base clock speed of 3.2GHz and a peak clock speed of 4.6GHz. This powerful CPU with a default TDP of 45W is constructed on a very energy-efficient 7nm processing node, which enables it to consume very little power while running intensive tasks.

In terms of graphics, the laptop is equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050Ti GPU. This is the full-featured RTX 3050Ti with Dynamic Boost 2.0 to maximize GPU performance. This intriguing GPU has a DLSS chip for sophisticated machine learning, dedicated Tensor cores, and Ray Tracing, among other significant capabilities.

Additionally, there is a 17.3-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p. As one may anticipate from a gaming laptop, it supports up to 144Hz refresh rate, which is definitely beneficial for gamers. The offered control panel is more than enough for seamless gaming operations.

Additionally, the laptop features 16GB DDR4 RAM with a 3200M MHz transfer rate, you can add up to 32GB and 1TB NVMe SSD storage. The given RAM is sufficient to ensure that you never run out of memory when gaming.

However, for future-proofing purposes, you may require additional space. It does this by including some additional RAM and storage slots. In addition, there are three USB Type-A connectors, one USB Type-C port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio/microphone combination.

Additionally, compatibility for Killer Wi-Fi 6 is included for improved connectivity. One additional feature is a multi-color RGB illuminated keyboard, which is attractive to professional gamers.

04. Best Performative Gaming Laptop: MSI GF65 Thin

MSI GF65 thin is another budget-friendly gaming laptop. Indeed, this is one of the most affordable gaming consoles available. In terms of specifications, the laptop features a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display that creates a lifelike representation of the virtual world.

The laptop is equipped with 16GB RAM, which can be upgraded to 64GB, allowing you to play the newest games such as PUBG, COD, and Fortnite without worrying about storage or memory. With the quickest speed, all functions will perform flawlessly.

The laptop is powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor that processes data at a high rate, guaranteeing that all games run smoothly on your laptop. The supplied chipset is equipped with a quad-core CPU that operates at a base clock speed of 2.60GHz and can be clocked up to 5.0GHz with Intel’s Turbo Boost technology.

Of course, along with a strong CPU, we’ll need a strong graphics card to eliminate any performance bottlenecks. As a consequence, the NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3060 Graphics Max-Q with 6GB GDDR6 VRAM enhances the excitement and enchantment of your game by utilizing solid colors and the highest quality display.

Additionally to these specifications, it is lightweight and thin enough to handle comfortably. Additionally, you may have uninterrupted pleasure with its long-lasting, strong battery, which lasts more than 4 hours.

Furthermore, the keyboard has multi-color RGB illumination and an Anti-Ghost Key, which is very useful while playing shooting games.

Finally, it comes equipped with all of the necessary ports, including two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, and one USB TypeC 3.1 Gen 1 connector with Thunderbolt 4 capability, in addition to an HDMI output. In a word, if you’re searching for the best gaming laptop under $1200, this is a solid contender.

05. Best Fastest Gaming Laptop: MSI Stealth 15M

Even with top-of-the-line features, the MSI Stealth 15M is offered for an amazingly reasonable price. That is primarily why it is popular. However, there is a catch. The included RTX 3060 GPU utilizes the full 130W of power.

In this situation, the GPU performance has been higher, which is visible when performing graphics-intensive tasks.

In terms of performance, the laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-11375H CPU from the 12th Generation. The included chipset supports an octa-core CPU operating at a basic clock speed of 3.3GHz, overclocked up to 5.0GHz. Without a doubt, it is a high-performance processor.

Additionally, a powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card handles graphical performance with 6GB GDDR6 VRAM without using excessive power, yet performs well enough to run the majority of games. Additionally, the business has implemented Cooler Boost Technology, which utilizes several fans and heating pipes to provide efficient thermal dispersion.

Additionally, the laptop includes a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p. With a refresh rate of 144Hz, this panel provides an immersive gaming experience. The refresh rate indicates how frequently the screen refreshes in a second. Therefore, it is critical for optimizing overall gaming performance.

That is why gaming laptops with a high refresh rate display are chosen. Additionally, the display offers 100 percent sRGB coverage, which enables it to retain acceptable color accuracy. As a result, there should be no issues with utilizing it for content production tasks such as 4K video editing, professional photography, AutoCAD, Solidworks, and game development, among others.

Apart from that, the computing machine comes equipped with 16GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM to aid in data processing. The good news is that you can upgrade the RAM up to 64GB, thereby turning it into a gaming beast. The same holds true for storage capacity.

Although a 512GB NVMe SSD is pre-installed, an extra HDD slot is available to expand the system’s storage capacity. Superb heat management, a multi-color RGB backlit keyboard, and adequate audio output are important gaming features.

MSI Stealth 15M is the company’s most popular gaming laptop in general. This is one of the best gaming laptops under $1200 on the market.

06. Best Secured Gaming Laptop: ASUS TUF FX706

The Asus TUF Gaming F17 is the company’s latest product, and it differs significantly from its predecessor in a number of ways:

1. The business has completely revamped its hardware with the current offering, including a new strong octa-core processor, RTX 30 series GPU, and a redesigned design.
2. The laptop is powered by a 12th Generation Intel Core i5-11260H processor.
3. With an octa-core CPU, this is the most powerful i5 12th-generation chipset to date.

The CPU generates a variable base clock speed of 2.60GHz and up to 4.4GHz when used with Intel Turbo Boost technology.

Apart from a strong CPU, gaming demands a specialized GPU. As a consequence, the Nvidia RTX 3050Ti graphics card is used in this gaming system. It’s worth mentioning that the “Ti” model is an overclocked variant of the normal model. As a result, it generated more power with a 1585MHz operating frequency at 60W and a maximum power limit of 75W with Dynamic Boost 2.0 when doing graphics-intensive activities.

Taken combined, this is the most powerful configuration of any laptop powered by an RTX 3050. The front side is dominated by a 17.3-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p. The advantage of this display is that it features a 144Hz fast refresh rate, which is ideal for gamers.

Apart from that, the laptop features 32GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB PCIe drive. This amount of RAM and storage is ideal for any gaming laptop, and there should be no issues running even the most demanding AAA titles. The computing machine includes:

• Three USB Type-A ports.
• One USB Type-C port.
• An HDMI port.
• An RJ45 Ethernet port.
• A 3.5mm headphone/microphone combination.

In terms of design, the laptop features a rugged body approved to MIL-STD-810H military standards. Even with a plastic casing, the laptop maintains a high level of build quality. A backlit keyboard with single-color illumination is located on the front.

Additionally, heating difficulties are minimal, and it works admirably when gaming continuously. To conclude, the Asus TUF F17 2023 edition falls well within the $1200 price range, providing another excellent gaming option.

07. Best All-Rounder Gaming Laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G15

If you’re searching for a gaming laptop that’s both affordable and loaded with cutting-edge gaming capabilities, the Asus ROG Strix G15 (2023) is an excellent choice. A 15.6-inch Full HD IPS-Type screen encircles the front section with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p.

The display’s advantage is its 300Hz fast refresh rate, which makes it an ideal panel for 1080p gaming at a respectable frame rate. Additionally, it includes 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz RAM, which enables you to play your favorite games, as well as 1TB PCIe SSD storage. The laptop’s design provides exceptional flexibility and mobility, allowing it to be conveniently stowed in a backpack without trouble or risk.

Additionally, the laptop is powered by a formidable AMD Ryzen 7 5800HX CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti graphics card to deliver full gaming capabilities. The AMD 5000 series features an octa-core architecture and 16 processors with a basic clock speed of 3.3GHz that may be increased to 4.4GHz.

On the other hand, the RTX 3050Ti GPU is part of the newest RTX 30 series (RTX 3050, RTX 3060, RTX 3070, and RTX 3080, among others) and is designed to give unmatched graphics performance. Apart from that, this laptop does not include a camera. As a result, you must rely on an external camera if your task requires it.

The laptop is equipped with an HDMI port, a USB Type-C port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, three USB Type-A ports, and a headphone/microphone combination. It enables easy connection of all gaming accessories and external monitors to this laptop.

Additionally, the laptop includes a cooling system called “ROG Intelligent Cooling” that incorporates a heat pipe and a twin fan system.

This laptop’s architecture allows for adequate heat dissipation during intense gaming, giving it an excellent value of roughly $1200.

08. Best Multi-purpose Gaming Laptop: Dell Flagship G15

Dell Gaming G15 Gaming Laptop is a new addition to the Dell lineup of laptops. It features an AMD 6-Core Ryzen 5 5600H (Beats i7-10750H) CPU for blazing-fast performance.

The chipset is based on the ultra-low-power 10nm SuperFin node, which claims to significantly reduce power consumption.

The 120Hz 15.6-inch Full HD (1920X1080) IPS-Type Display displays strong colors accurately, enhancing the enjoyment of the game. The newest Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU with 4GB GDDR6 VRAM handles the graphical performance.

The laptop features 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD storage. It is compatible with the current version of the Windows 10 operating system. In comparison, this machine is quite modest in weight, allowing for maximum mobility.

The RGB keyboard enables you to dominate the competition. Apart from that, it features a solid and sturdy design that is also elegant and has built-in cooling fans. This ensures that your device’s functionality is maintained at all times while keeping the temperature down.

This laptop is equipped with all of the necessary connectivity choices, including two USB Type-A ports, one Type-C Thunderbolt 3 port, an HDMI port, an RJ45 Ethernet connector, and a 3.5mm headphone jack/microphone combo.

We have no complaints about the lack of I/O ports, and the remaining connection choices are more than enough, including Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (22) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1. To summarize, this is one of the most powerful laptops available for less than $1200.

09. Best Budget-Friendly Gaming Laptop: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

We cannot overlook the ROG Zephyrus series, whose name genuinely translates as “Republic of Gaming.” This is the best option if you want above-average RAM and system storage for quicker game performance at an affordable price.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 is the ideal combination of strong capabilities and an attractive appearance that delivers an exceptional gaming experience.

It is equipped with one of the most powerful CPUs available, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, and 16 GB of lightning-fast RAM for playing thrilling games. It is an ultra-compact and ultra-portable gadget with a lightweight design that will not fatigue you during extended holding sessions.

The laptop’s upper end features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 1650 graphics card with 4GB of GDDR6 video RAM. It is extremely durable yet robust due to the use of high-quality materials.

Apart from gaming, it is designed to excel in other productivity activities like 4K video editing, photoshop, 3D rendering, AutoCAD, and professional picture editing. A 14-inch Full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate is included.

In addition, the display covered 100% of the sRGB color space, ensuring excellent color cooperation.

Overall, it’s an excellent purchase if you’re looking for a strong gaming laptop with respectable content creation capabilities.

10. Best Aesthetic Gaming laptop: Lenovo Legion 5

Lenovo Legion 5 is a game built specifically for gamers to increase their degree of delight and gaming experience. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, which enables it to handle even the most demanding games with lightning speed. In addition, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card has been demonstrated to deliver a realistic virtual world filled with vibrant colors and intriguing situations.

Additionally, it features 16 GB of DDR4 3200 MHz memory and 512 GB of M.2 NVMe SSD storage. This increases the performance of your laptop’s tasks. Additionally, it is just 1 inch thick, light in weight, and extremely portable, increasing its flexibility.

It features cutting-edge cooling technology that keeps it cool enough to work optimally at all times. Apart from that, the laptop has a conventional 15.6-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p. The panel’s primary selling point is its 100 percent sRGB coverage and capability for high refresh rates up to 165Hz.

As a result, the corporation has also concentrated on non-gaming productivity activities. As a result, if you’re interested in using it as a productivity machine for editing 4K films, picture editing, Photoshop, or Autocad, you’re welcome to have it. Additionally, the laptop enhances functionality by including all required connectivity ports.

There are several USB ports and other necessary ports. It is constructed of sturdy plastic. In general, this is a good value-for-money gaming system that costs less than $1200.

Purchasing Guide – How to select the best gaming laptop under $1200?

If you’re not sure what to look for while shopping for the best laptops under $1200. Here is a comprehensive step-by-step buying guide with critical elements to consider when purchasing a laptop that meets the stated requirements.

Processor

The CPU is one of the most critical elements to consider when choosing a laptop, regardless of your reason for obtaining a new computer. It functions as the brain of any computer. If you’re wanting to use your computer for gaming reasons, you’ll need a strong CPU to suit your requirements. With a budget of less than $1200, you can get some of the most advanced CPUs on the market.

For optimal gaming performance, you need to have at least an i7 12th-generation chipset. However, 12th-generation i7 chipsets are also available in the price ranges specified. When it comes to AMD, which is Intel’s primary opponent in the chipset manufacturing market, they also have some decent processors.

If you are an AMD fan, you currently have the AMD 5000 series with Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 CPUs for hardcore gaming. In general, both AMD and Intel provide extremely strong chipsets for less than $1200.

Computer Graphics Card

This is one of the critical components that contribute to a gaming laptop’s ability to tackle graphics-intensive activities. As you may know, NVIDIA is the most prominent GPU manufacturer, and the firm offers a plethora of affordable alternatives around $1200.

More precisely, if paired with a capable CPU, the RTX 3050 or RTX 3060 may be the best option. We’ve also included a few laptops from the RTX 30 series, which is still relatively unknown but will undoubtedly gain popularity in the near future.

Other possibilities are the RTX 3050 Ti and GTX 1660 Ti, both of which are capable of handling low to medium-resolution graphics games at high settings. However, if you want seamless, high-end gaming, you should opt for the RTX 3060 or RTX 3070.

If you’re unsure about the Ti vs. Non-Ti distinction, the “Ti” designation on NVIDIA graphics cards refers to “Titanium,” which is somewhat more powerful than the non-Ti version of the same model number. The cost of more powerful graphics cards is more than the cost of less powerful GPUs. Therefore, make an informed decision on which option is the most cost-effective for you.

Memory & Storage

Although the majority of the laptops on our list include a 16GB RAM and SSD configuration, you shouldn’t be concerned about performance. SSDs, an enhanced version of a classic hard drive, are available on the majority of modern laptops. However, if you add additional hard drive support, this is a good alternative for data storage.

One feature you should keep an eye out for is SSD compatibility, which will allow you to install your operating system. Because a faster SSD reduces boot time and has a major influence on the entire speed of the OS, when it comes to RAM, please avoid laptops with less than 8GB if there is no opportunity to increase it with an additional slot. A least 16GB RAM, preferably DDR4, is recommended for good gaming.

The durability of the battery and portability

Battery life should not be an issue if you want to use your laptop to play games. You’re unlikely to find a gaming laptop under $1200 that has a battery life of more than 3 hours. As a result, prolonged gaming needs you to sometimes plug in your power adapter. Because increased performance always results in increased power consumption, there is nothing wrong with it.

Moving on to mobility, you may notice a sense of weight in the majority of gaming laptops due to the inclusion of several additional components such as a specialized GPU, cooling fans, and so on.

A typical 1200$ gaming laptop weighs around 5 lbs. Therefore, if you get a gaming laptop, you must suffer additional weight. Additionally, it increases the thickness of the laptop compared to standard business laptops.

FAQS on Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200

Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200 Reviews – 2023

Conclusion on Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200

To summarize, the purchasing criteria will assist you in selecting the best gaming laptop. According to our personal taste, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is the overall best value-for-money laptop under $1200. It has the newest Intel Core i7 chipset and the RTX 3060 GPU, the optimal combo for handling any game.

If you’re a professional gamer looking to maximize your money, you may choose the Asus ROG Strix G15 (2023), which comes equipped with the best-in-class AMD Ryzen 7 processor and RTX 3050Ti GPU. However, if you’re searching for a somewhat more economical solution, the Acer Nitro 5 is another decent option. Additionally, it features equal characteristics at a little lower price point.

If you want a larger display, the Asus ROG Strix G17 (2023) and the Asus TUF Gaming FX706 may be excellent possibilities. MSI GF65 is a good option if you want powerful hardware at a reasonable price.

There are other additional possibilities available, which you can see in the list of the Top 10 Best gaming laptops for around 1200$ listed above. Additionally, you may refer to our laptop buying guide for additional information. How do you feel? Let us know in the comment sections below!