Gaming laptops offer plenty of choices. Many come equipped with premium builds featuring subtle aesthetics that won’t scream “I’m a gamer!” as well as impressive hardware specs.
Dell’s G5 line begins at under $1,000 and features Intel 13th generation processors and Nvidia’s RTX 40 series graphics cards; other alternatives, like Acer Nitro 5 or MSI Raider GE67 HX offer similar power for around that price point.
Acer Predator Triton 300 SE
The Acer Predator Triton 300 SE provides premium gaming performance without breaking the bank. Packed with an Intel CPU, Nvidia RTX graphics, and 16GB of RAM in a slim and portable design suitable for backpacking use, its performance will easily outmatch its price point.
The Triton 300 SE features an IPS screen with vibrant colors and a 144Hz refresh rate, but is marred by an annoying ghosting effect which detracts from gameplay at high frame rates.
The aluminum chassis of Acer’s Triton laptop is light, sturdy and well-built; yet surprisingly thin at just 0.7 inches thick making it easy to slip into any backpack. A Kensington-style lock slot on its side makes this gaming laptop suitable for public use; unfortunately its bloatware prevents us from giving our full recommendation: it comes preloaded with ExpressVPN, Norton Antivirus Killer Control Center as well as several games.
MSI Raider GE67 HX
The Raider GE67 HX gaming laptop stands out with exceptional performance and an irresistibly elegant design. Featuring a dark gray chassis with large heat vents, an RGB light bar, MSI branding and backlit keyboard – it makes an impressionful statement!
The GE67 HX can be equipped with either an Intel Core i7-12800HX processor and/or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics cards to provide a smooth gaming experience. Both components work harmoniously together for optimal results.
It boasts a great 15.6-inch OLED display with a high refresh rate and QHD resolution, featuring excellent contrast ratio and deep blacks for great visuals. No worry of OLED burn-in here either; its screen can even be refreshed to eliminate ghosting altogether!
Its trackpad is also excellent, though I would prefer it to be larger. It responds well to gestures and palm rejection but can be slightly clicky at times; nonetheless, the MSI Center software gives you control of and customizability options for this laptop.
Acer Nitro 16
Acer’s Nitro 16 gaming laptop series serves as its foundational model, sitting below their premium Predator series. As its cheapest model in this group, it boasts great performance and build quality as well as creature comforts such as four-zone RGB keyboard, USB 4 Type-C port and quiet fans – at an attractive price point.
This model offers a slight update to the Nitro 5, featuring a more wedge-shaped profile to reduce bulk and give it a premium aesthetic. On its top lid, a more stylish Acer logo has been replaced with sleek accent lines and an updated Nitro logo – adding yet another element that sets this model apart.
The stunning 16.5″ WUXGA display offers an immersive gaming experience. Boasting 3ms Overdrive response time and 165Hz refresh rate, you can expect the smoothest gameplay around. And thanks to next-gen cooling, 4-zone RGB keyboard, and NitroSense software – taking command of your game has never been simpler!
Dell G15
The Dell G15 is a 15.6-inch gaming laptop equipped with Intel 12th Gen CPUs and NVIDIA RTX 300-series GPUs, featuring an extensive port selection such as HDMI 2.1 port, two USB-C (including one equipped with DisplayPort Alt-mode), headset/microphone jacks, as well as texture design that gives an appearance more premium than you may expect from budget gaming laptops. It comes equipped with HDMI 2.1, two USB-C ( one equipped with DisplayPort Alt mode) ports as well as headset/microphone jacks; there’s even one USB-C port capable of supporting DisplayPort Alt mode; two USB-C (one equipped with DisplayPort Alt-mode) ports as well as headset/microphone jacks. The chassis design gives off premium appearance without breaking budget gaming performance; you won’t find this in budget gaming laptops from Dell or other brands!
This laptop is ideal for video and graphics design, as it can run heavy Adobe Creative Suite software without much lag. Furthermore, its performance makes it suitable for coding/software development as it quickly handles intensive computations.
However, the Dell G15 does have its downsides. Most notably it has poor battery life so if you plan on playing games or doing demanding work you must plug it in regularly. Furthermore, its speakers do not deliver satisfactory audio at high volumes, with adequate yet non-high end features like mechanical keys or per-key RGB lighting available to enhance user experience.