Top 10 Best Gaming Laptops Under 1200 Dollars in 2024

Selecting the best gaming laptop under 1200 dollars is not that hard nowadays since your budget is fair enough to get the correct hardware piece you want. So you’ve been saving up for a long time.

You picked up some summer jobs, part-time paper routes, and God knows how many other odd jobs to save up for that brand-new gaming laptop you want to buy.

What is the best gaming laptop under $1200?

The best gaming laptop under $1200 is the Acer Nitro 5, known for its excellent performance-to-price ratio. It features an Intel Core i5 processor, NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD, offering a great balance of power and affordability for gamers.

You’ve dreamed about your shiny new toy for months and have already listed the titles you want to play. And when finally that day comes, and you start searching for your perfect laptop, you find that you don’t have the money to afford your dream device.

Best Gaming Laptop Under 1200

So you start thinking of going towards the cheaper options but don’t want to compromise on performance or the titles you want to play. And that’s where you get stuck. Which is the best gaming laptop you can buy for under 1200 dollars to play almost all games in 2024?

But worry not, for we have your back. We’ve compiled a list of the top gaming laptops between $900 and $1300. But this price range doesn’t mean the laptops aren’t as strong as the more expensive ones.

We’ve picked out only the best devices from the best laptop brands for the price range, which offer performance on par with the latest and greatest of today’s devices.

List of Best Gaming Laptops Under 1200 Dollars:

1. MSI Stealth 15m Gaming Laptop:

Stealth 15M from MSI is the top-line option in gaming laptops with outstanding performance and sleek and slim design. It is packed up with an 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor. This laptop can do any heavy task on your to-do list.

This laptop has GPU GeForce RTX™ 3060, so any game you can think this laptop can handle any game. This laptop also comes with real-time ray tracing, a dream for gamers.

MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop Under 1200

It also has a generic 144hz display to provide the best visuals during gaming.

The design department of MSI has worked exceptionally on this laptop. They have made this very sleek, thin, and lightweight laptop easy to carry everywhere you go.

It comes in pure white and carbon gray, with an RGB backlight keyboard. The overall design of this laptop is worth the price you will pay.

Specifications:

  • 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor
  • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 Laptop GPU 6GB GDDR6
  • 16 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3 SSD
  • Cooler Boost technology with 6 heat-controlling pipes

This laptop has dedicated thermal solutions for CPU and GPU. It has six heat pipes that work together to maintain harmony between heat, cold, and airflow to provide the user with the best gaming performance.

This laptop comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM. It has storage of 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3 SSD. The storage and RAM are upgradable, and the max option for RAM is 64GB.

Overall, this laptop comes with great features and benefits for gamers, and we are convinced to list this mode as the best gaming laptop under 1200 dollars. However, it has some drawbacks: its audio quality and battery life (expected). So, at this price range, it is the best gaming laptop you can get with the best features, and the price is worth it.

Pros:

  • Ray Tracing and Best Graphics.
  • Lightweight.
  • 144 Hz display.

Cons:

  • The audio quality is not so good.
  • Poor Battery Life.
Sale
MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop: 15.6" 144Hz FHD 1080p Display,...
  • Aspect Ratio:16:9.Voltage:230.0 volts.Communication : 802.11 ax Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth version 5.1.

2. Acer Predator Helios 300

Acer Predator Helios 300

The best laptop on our list is the Helios 300 Acer Predator. Under the budget but with so much more to offer in the specifications sector, this mid-range machine is built for the avid gamer and his virtual needs.

Leading as the number 1 new release in the Amazon category, it has already gained good customer feedback and stars. The processor is an 8-Core/16 threads Intel 11th Generation i7-11800H, which can handle any task and your most intensive games.

Because of its video card, this laptop is one of the best gaming laptops under 1200 dollars. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 6GB dedicated GDDR6 VRAM gives extreme video quality while playing the games.

16GB RAM and 512 GB SSD (and 2.5″ hard drive bay) with full HD 15.6 screen size are other significant factors on this laptop. It has various configurations with RAM, SSD, and standard hard disk while purchasing from Amazon.

You can select the correct model based on your needs and budget. Acer takes care of the cooling system of this gaming laptop well.

Sale
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-54-760S Gaming Laptop | Intel...
  • Aspect Ratio:16:9.Voltage:230.0 volts.Control method:touch

3. Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop:

Lenovo is known for its revolutionary tech products and fast-growing name in the tech industry. They have also made their name in the laptop industry by producing laptops like Legion. Although notebooks in this series are expensive, they provide features worth the price.

One of the laptops from this series is Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming, which packs an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, so no matter what task you have, this powerful laptop will take care of it.

Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop

This laptop has NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050Ti controlling its graphics section. As a result, it provides the best AI-enhanced graphics and high-speed gaming performance.

It also gives you the option of real-time ray tracing to provide you with the best gaming experience. So, for every game you can think of or ever dream of playing, now you can enjoy them without any problem.

The design of this laptop is quite simple when you first look at it, but it feels very different when you experience it. It has a display of up to 15.6″ FHD. It is very slim and thin, and it comes in a phantom blue color with a texture on the laptop’s body that feels great.

This laptop has 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD storage, but you can always configure them according to your needs without any limits.

The primary benefit you get from this laptop on a budget of 1200$ is colorful and vibrant graphics. This laptop will provide you with both good performance and graphics.

This laptop only has one disadvantage, which is poor battery life. If you use it for only commercial work, it will work fine. But if you want to use it for gaming, you must always keep the charging brick with you.

Pros:

  • Excellent Graphics And Performance.
  • Upgradeability of Storage And RAM.
  • Vibrant Display Quality.
  • Real-time ray tracing.

Cons:

  • Poor Battery Life.
Sale
Lenovo - Legion 5 - Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800H - 16GB RAM...
  • Escalate your game with up to 8 high-performance cores in the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD storage

4. Dell Gaming G5 15 5511

Dell Gaming G5 15 5511

This laptop has decent battery life, unbeatable performance, and ample storage space. It gives you uninterrupted gameplay with excellent graphics. Thanks to the advanced NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050 Ti graphics, you can have an intensive gaming session.  

You don’t have to get frustrated because of any storage shortage. Multiple storage options help you enjoy faster load times. You get to handle your gaming operations smoothly.

The Dell G5 Gaming laptop provides you with a smooth and fast WiFi connection. You can play online games on this laptop and connect with other players. Thanks to the built-in dual speakers, you can hear every sound in the game. This allows you to identify where your enemies are hiding. The in-game visual soundtracking is quite crisp and clear.

Specifications:

  • 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor-11800H
  • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti Laptop GPU 4GB GDDR6
  • Wi-Fi 6
  • 16 GB DDR4 RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • Windows 11

The dual-fan cooling system prevents the laptop from getting overheated. It keeps the system cool even if you keep it running for a longer period. You can focus on planning an attack with the quick-charge system. The 4-Cell battery helps you keep it recharged for a long. No critical ports or wires distract you from playing your game.

This is a unique laptop of the Dell G series, which comes with advanced and innovative software. The Alienware command center manages all your gaming operations. You get to fine-tune your gaming and system settings perfectly.

There is a gaming library that gives you easy and quick access to all your games. You can make a gaming profile and keep it how you like it.

Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 64GB DDR4...
  • 【Create and conquer】The Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition desktop gives you the power to develop and explore new worlds with up to 16-cores, 32-threads and 72MB of total cache in the new AMD Ryzen 5800 series processors. Designed for powerful, intelligent and efficient gaming performance, AMD Ryzen 7 processors are also ideal for livestreaming gamers who play and record simultaneously.

Related: The most expensive laptops for gamers

5. MSI GL66 Gaming Laptop:

MSI Pulse GL66 Gaming laptop is primarily for gamers. This laptop is powered by an 11th Gen. Intel® Core™ i7 processor, which provides excellent user efficiency in gameplay, multitasking, and productivity.

GeForce RTX™ 3060 takes care of the graphics and performance in this laptop for hardcore gamers without any lag and fps drop. This graphic card provides you with ray tracing and colorful and vibrant graphics.

MSI GL66 Gaming Laptop

If you want to compete in games with your friends and win every match, this laptop is undoubtedly for you.

This laptop comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM and 512 GB NVMe SSD. They are both upgradeable. So, if you want a computer at a reasonable price and want to upgrade in the future, this is the best option.

The design of this laptop is to die for and is worth the price. It has futuristic aesthetics. The keyboard has an auxiliary display interface that you can customize according to your preferences.

You can choose two color options: Titanium gray and Core Black. This laptop is also lightweight and thin, making it easy to carry everywhere.

Pros:

  • Powerful Processor.
  • 144 Hz display.
  • Best Graphics.
  • Ray Tracing.

Cons:

  • Plastic Build Design.
  • No SD card Reader.
  • Mediocre Sound Quality.

The 15.6” 144hz display on this laptop delivers exceptional display quality with vibrant colors. A display of 144hz will give you the experience of a refresh rate you have never experienced before.

This laptop also provides its user with powerful technology, Cooler Boost 5 with 6 heat pipes, which can maintain the laptop’s heat while gaming, so you don’t have to worry about your laptop heating up.

So, if you want a powerful gaming laptop with good graphics for under 1200$.

Every laptop comes with its drawbacks, and this laptop has too, which are that it has a plastic build and mediocre sound quality.

6. Asus ROG Strix G15:

Asus ROG Strix G15 is worth mentioning laptops if you want a good laptop within 1200$ budget. This comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H Mobile Processor, giving its user the best performance for work or gaming.

You can easily do any task with this powerful processor without any hassle. The graphics section is controlled by NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050. It provides users with good graphics and the best gaming performance. You can play every AAA game with this laptop because this graphics card can take care of everything.

Asus ROG Strix G15

This also comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD. Max capacity for RAM up-gradation is 32GB.

This laptop has a 15.6-inch FHD anti-glare display with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, providing clear graphics and fast-paced gaming without any fps drop.

The design of this laptop is sophisticated and sleek. It comes in grayish and has an RGB keyboard. It is a bit heavyweight, but the design is pretty cool and simple at the same time.

Specifications:

  • AMD Ryzen 7 4800H Mobile Processor
  • NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM
  • 512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
  • 15.6-inch FHD Anti-glare display

This laptop also comes with an Intelligent Cooling System that provides excellent cooling while gaming or doing any heavy tasks.

This laptop has a great advantage: the longer battery life that every gamer wants in a gaming laptop. If you have a budget of 1200$, this is surely for you.

Pros:

  • Good battery life.
  • Best Graphics.
  • Intelligent Cooling System.

Cons:

  • No SD card slot.
  • No Thunderbolt support.
  • Without Integrated Webcam.
Sale
ASUS ROG Strix G15 (2021) Gaming Laptop, 15.6†144Hz IPS Type...
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 with ROG Boost up to 1840MHz at 80W (95W with Dynamic Boost 2.0)

7. Acer Nitro 5 Gaming:

Acer has made many gaming laptops, but its Nitro series is the best. Moreover, Acer Nitro 5 is the finest work gaming laptop from Acer, and it is worth the price they are asking for. Intel® Core™ i7 11th generation processor powers it.

Its processing power provides you with excellent performance. Whether competing in a game against your friends or working on something important, it will never betray you midway.

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop Under 1200 Dollars

It is packed with GeForce® RTX™ 3050Ti, which provides you with 2nd generation ray tracing and immersive and beautiful graphics. This laptop also has Wifi-6, so you don’t have to worry about internet speed during games and work.

This laptop has a 17.3-inch FHD display to make you enjoy the gaming experience and never miss a shot or beautiful in-game world details while playing. It has a 144 Hz refresh rate, giving you a smooth game experience.

It has 16GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB storage, both non-upgradeable.

The design of this laptop is what a gamer aspires for. It has a cutting-edge, slim, and sleek design with a glossy look and an RGB keyboard, giving an overall gaming experience.

This laptop is also cool and quiet, so you don’t have to worry about noise and heat up while playing games and doing work.

Although it is a good gaming laptop, it has some drawbacks, such as mediocre battery life and a heavy case.

So, if you are looking for a good gaming laptop under 1200 dollars, then Acer Nitro 5 can be your gaming companion.

Pros:

  • Its best performance at this price.
  • primarily
  • Powerful AMD Processor.

Cons:

  • Bulky Case.
  • Mediocre Battery Life.
  • No Card Reader.

8. LG Gram 16Z90P:

So, LG is the oldest tech brand known for its best innovation in the tech industry, and LG has also backed out from the laptop industry. LG has provided the laptop industry with its GRAM series, par excellence in this list.

Moreover, LG GRAM 16 is a laptop powered by the 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 Processor and Iris Xe® Graphics. It is the best laptop with high-end performance which you can get on an affordable budget.

LG Gram 16Z90P

Its CPU will make your work very fast and simple without any problems. So, this laptop can be done no matter your task.

The design of this laptop is exceptional. It comes with a grayish color and a minimalistic design. It has a 16-inch display for an immersive experience and a more precise resolution.

Being ultra-slim and ultra-portable with an entire magnesium-alloy body, you will never feel its weight because it only weighs under 3 pounds. So, if you want to work on the go, this laptop will never betray you on your travel journey.

Specifications:

  • 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 Processor
  • Intel Iris Xe® Graphics
  • 16″ immersive display
  • Thunderbolt 4
  • Fingerprint Sensor

This laptop has a significant advantage: better battery life, so throw that power cord away because this laptop can go up to 22 hours of battery.

It has Thunderbolt technology, so you can enjoy dual 4K and 8K displays with only one Thunderbolt 4.

This laptop also has a fingerprint sensor, so you don’t have to worry about the security of your precious files. You are the only boss of your packs.

Pros:

  • Super 16-inch display.
  • Good performance.
  • Best battery life.
  • Very thin and lightweight.

Cons:

  • Lacks performance upgrade.
  • No dedicated NVIDIA graphic card.
LG Gram 16Z90P Laptop 16" Ultra-Lightweight, (2560 x 1600), Intel...
  • 16" WQXGA (2560x1600) IPS LCD, with DCI-P3 99% color expression

9. HP Business Touchscreen:

HP has been on the laptop for long enough. Their perfection has led them to produce some of the best laptops available. And this perfection is quite visible in their budget models.

This notebook from HP is one of their best budget models. The 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 Processor powers the laptop. The processor brings enough power to allow the HP notebook to play some of the latest games.

HP Business Touchscreen Laptop

With this processor comes the Iris Xe® Graphics integrated into the laptop. Intel designs this combination with their years of mastery in the chip industry. So, whatever program or games you throw at this laptop will give you satisfactory results.

We see different combinations when we get on this laptop’s other hardware. But the one we think is best for the $1200 category is the 32 GB RAM with a 1 TB SSD.

In this combination, you get enough RAM to perform different tasks simultaneously. And the 1 TB SSD is enough to store a few of the latest games.

The screen is a 15.6” touch screen with FHD resolution. It is an IPS panel with a WLED-backlit screen. The screen gets color-accurate, and you’ll see the true colors as intended by the developers of the games.

Other than that, the laptop has ample ports all around it. You won’t have to worry about connectivity. As long as you’re not doing intensive gaming, the laptop will last you long enough to call it a day.

Pros:

  • The accurate fingerprint reader keeps your data safe.
  • Has a long-lasting battery.
  • Slim and sleek design.
  • White chassis color for the premium look.
  • Available in different combinations.

Cons:

  • No dedicated GPU.
  • Upgrading it yourself voids the warranty.
HP 2021 Newest Business Laptop, 15.6" FHD IPS Touchscreen,...
  • 【Memory & Storage】64GB DDR4 RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once. 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive provides fast bootup and speedy data transfer; Original seal will be opened by our engineers for upgrade ONLY, 1-Years Warranty on upgraded RAM/SSD/HDD from PConline365, and original 1-Year Manufacture Warranty on remaining components

10. MSI GF 75

MSI GF75 Thin 9SC 027 Laptop

This is a sleek and thin gaming laptop that gives you robust gameplay. Do not assume it is not powerful just because it is too thin. This laptop has a high-performance processor that gives you a real-time gaming experience. The game gets too real when you are playing it on MSI GF 75 Gaming Laptop. You can control your game well with the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX Graphics. You can increase the performance of your game with the 9th Gen Intel 6-Core Processor. 

You can play your game anywhere you desire without compromising your game performance. This is a thin and lightweight laptop. It also comes with a battery life of 7+ hours. You can enjoy playing your game for a long. There are no distractions of low battery warnings you have to deal with. The Backlit keys are crimson red. You can clearly see them while focusing on the screen, killing your enemies.

The thermal technology gives you exceptional performance under high pressure. You can keep the laptop temperature balanced with a good-quality ventilation system. This laptop comes with a brushed aluminium look. It makes a good impression on your personality no matter where you take it.

MSI GF75 Thin 9SC-027 17.3" Gaming Laptop, Thin Bezel, Intel Core...
  • Display: 17.3" Thin Bezel FHD, IPS-Level 100%sRGB 1920x1080 16: 9

Benefits Of Getting a Gaming Laptop Under Mid-Budget:

If you are a gamer but can’t afford high-end gaming PCs or laptops, you will surely be searching for a laptop that can come at a handy price, but these are difficult to find because of many options in the market.

So, when you finally decide to buy a gaming laptop under a reasonable budget. While you enjoy its advantages, you also have to face the disadvantages of these gaming laptops. Let’s check out some advantages and disadvantages of gaming laptops under 1200$.

Benefits:

  • The latest mid-range processors allow you to perform heavy tasks without any hassle.
  • A mid-range graphic card provides you with the best graphics and can run most games for extended periods.
  • They have a pretty cool design and are lightweight.
  • Easy upgradeability of the system components.
  • Ample RAM lets you process many tasks at the same time.
  • Bigger storage options.
  • They often come with a dedicated cooling system.

Drawbacks:

  • A major disadvantage of gaming laptops mostly is poor battery life at the expense of high-end performance, which is reasonable.
  • If any of the components get damaged, it will take a fortune to repair them.

Quick Video about how to select the best gaming laptop!

What are laptop brands that are good for gaming and cheap?

Gaming laptops are different from standard laptops. There was a time when a laptop was just a laptop. You could even play games on it and carry out different tasks. However, with the gaming industry revolution, gaming laptops increased.
Brands like HP, Dell, and Lenovo introduced high-resolution gaming laptops. These laptops have advanced graphics that give you crisp and clear real-time images. You can beat your enemy in an instant with amazing graphics performance.

How much RAM do I need for gaming?

You need to know how much RAM is required to play the game smoothly without over-killing your laptop. The minimum RAM requirement for a gaming laptop is 8GB. You can also acquire a laptop with 16 GB RAM. However, the preferable RAM capacity is 8GB.

Is Alienware actually good for gaming?

Alienware is making a big name in the gaming industry. This is a high-end laptop that is in high demand. Game lovers can experience action-packed gameplay. This laptop has proven reliability, giving you superior graphic performance.
The laptop is specially designed for game lovers considering their gaming needs. It comes with customizable lighting elements. Moreover, the quick-response keyboard also enhances your gaming experience.

That is all we have about the top 10 best gaming laptops under $1200. You must select the powerful and latest processor, enough RAM to meet the game requirements you are going to play, and a dedicated good display card.

It is optional to go with a traditional hard disk or SSD, but SSD is always preferable for faster disk access. Most of the laptops in this list have the same specifications, but every laptop is different in its features list or price point.

If any of the above solutions did not fix the Windows PC issues, we recommend downloading the below PC repair tool to identify and solve any PC Issues.

Dinesh is the founder of Sysprobs and written more than 400 articles. Enthusiast in Microsoft and cloud technologies with more than 15 years of IT experience.

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