PC gaming has always been considered the pinnacle of video games, and over the years, it has continued to evolve thanks to new technology. The PC gaming community has seen everything from beefy desk builds to small handhelds. While all of the ways of playing PC games have pros and cons, there’s something about a good gaming laptop that stands out. Gaming laptops nowadays perform identically to a desktop PC while also offering the luxury of gaming on the go. But, there are various options available on the market, and not all are good. However, today is your lucky day if you want to spend $1200 on a laptop. This article will give you 5 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200.
5 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200
There was a time when powerful gaming laptops used to cost an arm and a leg, but that has changed over the last decade. If you have a budget of 1200 bucks, there are some outstanding options on the market for you to choose from. Here 5 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200.
Lenovo Legion 5
Let’s start with one of the cheaper options on this list, the Lenovo Legion 5. Lenovo’s Legion series of gaming laptops has gone from strength to strength ever since they were first announced, and this generation is no different. This laptop comes with high-end hardware, including the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 TI. Combine that with 16GB ram and a 512GB NVMe SSD, and you’ll have performance for ages.
The fact that the Legion 5 looks like an everyday laptop is also a plus point, considering gaming laptops are known for their flashy designs. The Legion 5 also comes with the fastest screen on this list, with a 165Hz panel. You’ll get all these features and a lot more for just $1049, which is a stellar deal in every universe.
Acer Nitro 5
If you are looking for a 5 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200 with a slightly bigger screen, the Acer Nitro 5 is the best option. You are coming in at 17.3 inches compared to the 15.6 inches of all the other options on this list. The Intel i7 11800H and the RTX 3050 TI combination will be enough to run all your games at a steady frame rate on high settings.
This laptop comes with a red-backlit keyboard which gives it much more of a gamer aesthetic if you are looking for that. This big laptop also has a bigger 1TB NVMe SSD to store all your games. The screen on the Acer Nitro 5 is a good one as well. It’s a 1080p IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. The larger footprint would also mean a more immersive gaming experience. A 17-inch laptop is not for everyone, so keep that in mind.
MSI Katana GF66
The MSI Katana GF66 is the best value-for-money laptop on this list. Apart from being the cheapest laptop on this list, it’s also the only laptop with a 12th gen i7 chip. Other specs like the RTX 3050 TI and 16 GB ram might be pretty similar to everything else, but the fact that it comes with such an aggressive price tag and the premium build quality of MSI makes it stand out.
If you are looking for a gaming laptop that doesn’t compromise the gamer aesthetics while still looking clean, this is the laptop for you. It has a bright, 144Hz, 1080p display that will elevate your gaming experience to the next level. If these are the qualities you want in a gaming laptop, you won’t go wrong with the Katana GF66.
Dell G15 5511
If performance is your primary priority, you don’t have to look further than the Dell G15 5511. The RTX 3060 is an absolute beast of a card that will run every AAA game you throw at it with complete ease. The Intel core i7-11800H is a worthy partner for the 3060, and multitasking on this laptop won’t be a problem at all.
The 15.6-inch FHD IPS panel looks bright and colorful but has a slightly slower 120Hz refresh rate than the other picks on this list. Now, there is not much difference between 120 and 144Hz to the naked eye, making it a trade-off you can live with. The Dell G15 is a safe purchase for this budget since this machine has little to no flaws.
Acer Predator Helios 300
The Predator Helios 300 from Acer has the same specs as the G15 from Dell. But the 4-zone backlit keyboard and the standout gamer aesthetics make it different. Looking at it from afar, you could tell this laptop was made for gaming. If you take out this laptop in class or with friends, it will be clear who the gamer is. If you are going for that, the Helios 300 is for you.
The Helios 300 is no slouch when it comes to performance, either. The RTX 3060 and the 11800H will handle all your games at high settings while being more than competent for any form of schoolwork or editing.
Final Thoughts
All the laptops on this list have pros, cons, and things that make them stand out. You could not go wrong with any of these options, but if we had to give you the best option, it’d have to be the Dell G15 for its overall performance and build quality. But if you are on a tighter budget, the MSI Katana and the Lenovo Legion 5 are fantastic options. We hope this article helped you make your purchase or narrow your options.
Meta: If you have $1200 to spend and are looking to buy a gaming laptop, here are the 5 best gaming laptops under $1200 for you to consider.