Best Gaming Laptop Under 700 Dollars

Best Gaming Laptop Under 700 Dollars
Best Gaming Laptop Under 700 Dollars

Games are no longer a walk in the park as they once were. Nowadays, the gaming industry is evolving non-stop with games becoming more realistic every day. This seemingly unstoppable progress puts laptops on the spot if they want to keep up with the PC beast. Surely enough, laptops did rise to the occasion adding specs and tweaks to satisfy the needs of gamers on the go, and so was born the gaming laptop,

While buying a gaming laptop can make quite the dent on your wallet, easily breaking the 1000 wall, there is still hope for those of us on a budget. Many brands currently offer powerful features at more affordable prices, you just gotta find them. Here, we'll be helping you achieve exactly that, presenting you with a list of the top 5 gaming laptops that you can get for less than 700 dollars.

Top 5 Best Gaming Laptop Comparison Chart

Our Top Picks

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

Kicking our list off with Acer, with a super machine where power meets affordability. With a 7th generation Intel Core i5 CPU running at 2.5GHz, this processor can take on almost whatever you throw at it. Equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI along with 4GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM, graphics aren't something to worry about as it can work just about any game with average high settings. This super machine also carries an 8GB DDR4 RAM memory and a 256 SSD which means more speed and sufficient space. Packed with cutting-edge anti-heat technology, you know this laptop was made to provide an outstanding gaming experience.

Although the speakers on it could have been better, using headphones should solve the quality issue just fine. The battery won't drain too fast with intense gaming but expect a plug-in demand within 3 hours tops. Overall, the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop fits right into the criteria you're looking for when you think of specs on a budget.

Things We Like

  • Designated 4GB graphics memory
  • The classy professional feel of the design
  • Anti-heat technology
  • Full HD display

Things We Don't

  • Storage may not be enough for some gamers
  • The weight is on the heftier side
  • Below average audio quality
ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop FX504

Since we're talking gaming, there's no way the ASUS name won't come up. The ASUS TUF FX504 delivers a superior processing performance thanks to its 8th generation Intel Core i5-8300H processor with 3.9GHz maximum turbo. This laptop handles graphics like no other with the impressive 3GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. Add in 8GB of RAM and you're pretty much set. Storage is a good 256GB SSD, enough to get by with no problems.

The design itself is rather thin and sleek for better portability. However, when it comes to heat and dust collecting issues, the dual fans coupled with anti-dust technology will take care of it like it never existed. The durable keyboard on this laptop is also red backlit to easily find your way around it in the dark. Along with crystal clear audio quality, the ASUS TUF FX504 gaming laptop is undoubtedly one of the best value choices you can make.

Things We Like

  • Powerful 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor
  • Beautiful clear quality of display 
  • Anti-dust cooling system
  • Great multitasking capabilities
  • High-end keyboard endurance
  • Lightweight, travel-friendly

Things We Don't

  • Storage size may be problematic for game hoarders
  • Battery life could use some work
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series

A gaming laptop list wouldn’t be complete without Dell making an appearance. Dell has always been known for supplying the market with top-notch gaming laptops, and when it comes down to a tight budget, you won’t be disappointed. This particular laptop of the Inspiron series sports an Intel Core i5 7th generation processor running at 2.5 GHz up to 3.9GHz with turbo boost, quite able to run those high demanding games as smooth as butter. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5 graphics card renders one of the best machines to deal with games showing incredible detail.

The storage on the Dell 7567 is a massive 1TB 5400 rpm Hybrid Hard Drive to appeal to users looking for space as well as speed. Multitasking on this laptop is pretty swift owing to its 8GB RAM. With its high-resolution display and signature keyboard, the Dell Inspiron 7567 is well worthy of its place as one of the top performing laptops out there.

Things We Like

  • Plenty of storage room
  • Pre-installed Windows 10 to cut to the chase
  • High resolution IPS screen
  • Awesome speakers, for a laptop

Things We Don't

  • Seriously missing the SSD
  • Slightly over the 700 dollars mark
Acer Aspire E 15 Laptop

Once more, Acer lands a spot in our list with an even more affordable gaming laptop than the previously mentioned Nitro 5. The CPU makes for solid performance with an Intel Core i5 8th generation and a 1.6 GHz clocking speed reaching 3.4 GHz maximum. Regarding the graphics handling, the Aspire E 15 got you covered with the 2 GB dedicated NVIDIA MX150, which is equivalent to the GTX1050. The 8GB RAM is plenty to keep all your multitasking at bay while the durable 256 GB SSD ensures fast loading and rendering.

The battery on this one is an improvement compared to previous models but you’ll still need to have your charger ready if you’re planning intense gaming sessions. All in all, the Acer Aspire E 15 may not offer the most outstanding features, however, it sure does back you up, as well your wallet.

Things We Like

  • Most affordable gaming laptop 
  • Best value for how much you’re paying
  • Improved battery

Things We Don't

  • A bit on the heavy side
  • Too basic of a design
  • GPU is lacking compared to other contenders on the list
  • Screen brightness might be an issue for some users
ASUS VivoBook S Ultra Thin Laptop

Looking for a laptop that serves both your work and gaming needs? Then the ASUS Vivobook is the one you’re seeking. Although it’s not marketed mainly for its gaming abilities, the specs it offers are no less than the average laptop within our specific price range. The Intel Core i5 8th generation CPU clocking in at 3.4GHz max speed along with the 8GB RAM is enough to power through average gaming requirements. Although graphics detailing is not the best, 2GB of NVIDIA MX150 is all you need if you’re more into laidback gaming.

The design is attractive with various color options and the display offers a stunning vibrant wide view because of the ASUS NanoEdge Bezel. So, if your eyes are set on a laptop that’s not necessarily built around gaming majorly, the ASUS Vivobook is definitely worth considering.

Things We Like

  • WideView color-rich display
  • Neat design
  • Upgradable RAM

Things We Don't

  • Battery life is a bit short
  • May overheat

What to Look for in a Gaming Laptop?

Buying a laptop with the intention of having it run all sorts of heavy-duty games sets a whole different bar for their specs as opposed to lighter work or personal related use. While they should be rather high, you should keep in mind that you're getting an entire system with most of its features being not upgradable. This makes your decision that much crucial, especially if you're on a budget, which is why we'll be going through all the important aspects you absolutely must know before choosing a gaming laptop.

Portability

The main purpose of getting a gaming laptop is to have your fun on you anywhere you want. The degree of mobility you want depends on how much you're planning to move with your laptop. As a laptop's portability directly corresponds to the size of its screen, you should figure out which one you'll be compromising on.

Generally speaking, a bigger screen equals a larger and heavier laptop with more space for components to make it more powerful. So, if you're just gonna keep your laptop at home most of the time or maybe change rooms at most, then you don't really need to watch out for the screen size, and a good 17 or 18-inch display should work just fine with you. Yes, you'll be getting the most out of your gaming experience but you'll need to always be ready to plug in the too charge-hungry laptop.

On the lighter side, laptops with a 15-inch screen are a great middle ground option if you're going to carry it around or actually have it on your lap more. These laptops also tend last longer unplugged.

The smallest display size at 13 or 14 inches offers the most portability, perfect if you’re always on the move. These laptops run the longest without needing to be plugged in but they're the least capable because there's just not much room to handle the heat.

Graphics

You probably know how critical graphics are to your gaming experience. The graphics card or GPU is responsible for processing data and transmitting signals to the monitor so you can see an image. Most games, such as open world ones, offer beautiful scenery and details for which you'll be needing a nice GPU with its own designated memory, called VRAM, in order to fully appreciate it. A 4GB VRAM should be enough for the average gamer. 

What to Look for in a Gaming Laptop

The laptops mentioned here are equipped with Nvidia GPUs, like the majority of gaming laptops, which will give you a few years of gameplay at high settings with solid frame rates.

​CPU & RAM

Considered to be the brains of a laptop, a good CPU along with a sufficient RAM are crucial for a smooth performance. Together they deal with everything that's not graphics related including calculating a game’ physics and running all non-gaming apps such as your operating system and browser.

An Intel Core i5 CPU is what you see on our listed laptops, either 7th or 8th generation, which will grant the best processing speed your money can buy.

Display

Setting aside the size, as we already mentioned it, let's talk resolution. Having awesome graphics and sleek frame rates just goes to waste if your display doesn't back them up. To be able to experience all the beautiful details and colors, a minimum resolution of 1920 × 1080 is what you're aiming for. Going any less should be a crime that you really don't wanna commit.

Storage: SSD vs HDD

When it comes to storage, you know the drill: bigger is better. But since we are talking about gaming laptops, faster is unquestionably also better which is where an SSD (solid state drive) surpasses an HDD (hard disk drive). Although hard drives offer more storage, they are much slower and you surely can live without the hitching. After all, a gamer needs their fast game load.

Ideally, we would love a combination of both SSD and HDD, that way you get space plus speed. However, a certain budget limit won't allow going all out with storage, which is why an SDD is ultimately the top priority. 

Keyboard

What to Look for in a Gaming Laptop

You don't want to get caught up in all the specs jazz that you overlook the keyboard’s quality. Think of how comfortable you want those keys to feeling and how springy they are upon pressing.

A keyboard should add ease and style to your gaming experience. To achieve this you'll need to consider features such as:

Key travel: it’s basically how far down a key goes when pressed. Anywhere starting from 1.5 to 2 millimeters or more is optimal.

Actuation: is the amount of force you need to apply to press a key down. Typically around 60 to 70 grams is enough for the keys to be springy without being too soft or too stiff.

Anti-ghosting: is what allows you to press multiple keys at once and have them all register to get that super special combo.

Backlighting: that's when the keyboard background lights up, and it’s just so freaking cool. Such a look gives sort of a high-tech pro gamer feel that may not be vital to have but really, why not?

Gaming laptops offer several light colors and you can also customize different lighting settings depending on what game you're playing or even what section of the keyboard you're using.

Audio

Sound can win or lose you a game. Even if you mainly use a headset, sometimes you just want to give it a rest and put it down. Loud yet good quality speakers really pay off when you hear those enemy footsteps crawl up behind you.

​Battery Life

Let's get real about it. Counting solely on the battery for gaming isn't going to last you more than two hours maximum. You have to understand and expect that you're gonna need to keep it plugged in whenever possible if you want to get the most out of your GPU and display. Otherwise, your laptop can definitely last long but it'll cost you squinting at a dark or dim screen.

Wrap Up

Personally, I think the ASUS TUF FX504 takes this one home. Not only does it carry a killer CPU and a blazing graphics card, but it also has ideal size for portability. The design is eye-catching and the anti-dust cooling system delivers both convenience and reliability. However, if lots of storage is something that’s crucial to you, I suggest considering the Dell 7567 laptop with its 1TB drive. 

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