Best Gaming Laptops under $1300: 2019 Buyers’ Guide!

Gone are the days were only a game console could play the most recent games. Nowadays, even laptops are built to handle the most powerful games on the market. In this article, we have compiled a list of some of the best gaming laptops under 1300 dollars, but before we jump to the list, let’s first analyze the things to consider when buying a new gaming laptop in 2019, especially at this price range!

How to Choose a Gaming Laptop?

Choosing your next gaming laptop won’t be an easy task. But we are here to help you decide. There are a few main things to consider: your budget, how portable do you need the device to be, the graphics, the display, the audio, the keyboard, the touchpad, the CPU, the RAM, the storage and the brand. Let’s go into detail about the most important ones.

What to Consider when buying a new gaming laptop?

• GPU: Obviously, the graphics card, or GPU, is probably the most important piece of hardware when it comes to buying a gaming laptop. The GPU is responsible for processing and transmitting the images onto your display, so having a powerful GPU equals being able to run demanding games, playing at high settings, while maintaining high frames rates per second. At this price range, you should aim for at least a laptop with an Nvidia GTX 1060!
• CPU: Another very important part of any laptop, you should pay close attention to the CPU (or processor) that you’re getting. Go with at least a 6^th Generation Intel Core and never below an i5 processor. Also, try to look for a Quad-Core, as that would be ideal. There are usually two speeds to have into consideration when it comes to CPU: the clock speed and the overclocked (also known as turbo mode). Higher speeds mean better performances.
• RAM: You should get a laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM memory. Even if having more RAM is not that important for gaming, it will always be a plus, especially for other tasks.
• Display: Often overlooked, the display is quite important as well. Go for a higher resolution (never below 1920 x 1080 pixels), and preferably an IPS panel display. Also, a lot of gaming laptops nowadays have high refresh rates. We have made an article about 144Hz laptops recently than you check out! Basically, high refresh rates provide a better visual experience and are a must in gaming nowadays!
• Storage: Always go for an SSD, they are way faster than HDDs. Also, you should check for the speed of said drive, as that will determine things like game load times and reduce hitching.
• Portability: The bigger the screen, the more space it has for more powerful hardware. However, that will reduce portability. A 17-inch laptop is not as convenient to carry around as a 13-inch would be, but it will have a better performance.

Best Gaming Laptops under 1300:

You are all set to choose your next gaming device. Below, we’ve compiled a list with the five best gaming laptops under 1300 dollars. Take into consideration our tips and your personal requirements.

• Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL

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First on our list, the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL needs no introduction, as it’s one of the most popular gaming laptops out there. With an 9^th Generation Intel i7 CPU (six cores, 2.60 GHz up to 4.50 GHz), 16 GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU (6 GB), this laptop will handle about every game on the highest settings. With a good construction that even prevents overheating, your sure to also get a good screen.

The 15,6 inch Display has a Full HD resolution, and it also features a 144Hz refresh rate and  3ms response time. In terms of ports, the predator Helios 300 has three USB ports and one HDMI output. The battery life is of about 5 hours.

• Omen by HP 15-dc1020nr

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The Omen by HP 15 has a 9^th Generation Intel i7 processor (six cores, 2.60 GHz up to 4.50 GHz), 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. The GPU is a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with 6 GB of VRAM. Considered to be a reliable machine, you’ll be able to play most of the latest games, including Fortnight, PUBG, and Overwatch, on the highest settings.

The screen is a 15.6-inch Full HD display and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has three USB 3.1 ports, one HDMI output, one Mini DisplayPort, one USB 3.1 Type-C port and one media card reader. The battery will last more than 6 hours of mixed usage.

• Dell G5 15 G5590-7679BLK-PUS

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The Dell G5 15 gaming  laptop has an 9^th Generation Intel i7 processor (six cores, 2.20 GHz up to 4.10 GHz), 16 GB of RAM and a 256 SSD + a 1 TB HDD. The graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4 GB VRAM). With a great price for a gaming laptop, this model has a bright screen and a nice metal finish. The keyboard also feels great for everyday typing.

The screen is a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This laptop also has lots of ports, including three USB 3 ports, one USB C and Thunderbolt 3 port, one HDMI output and one Mini DisplayPort. The battery can last up to 8 hours.

• Alienware M15

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Alienware makes some of the most powerful laptops out there, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t offer any gaming laptops under 1300 dollars. Here, we have a laptop with an 8^th Generation Intel i7 CPU (six cores, 2.20 GHz up to 4.10 GHz), 16 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD + a 1 TB Hybrid Drive. The GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of VRAM. The GTX 1060 is still a great value in 2019, and it’s capable of playing recent games et mlid to high settings. This laptop also looks good and feels solid. It also comes with an efficeint cooling system, that keeps the fan noises low most of the time.

The screen is a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has three USB 3.1 ports, one HDMI output, one Mini DisplayPort and one Thunderbolt 3 port. The battery will last up to 4 hours of heavy use.

• MSI GL63 8SE-209

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Our last option is the MSI GL63 8SE-209; and this laptop has an Intel Core i5 processor (2.30 GHz up to 4.00 GHz), 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. The GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with 6 GB of VRAM. This gaming laptop won’t disappoint, and even if it does tend to overheat at times, it has the necessary power and a nice display to regular and gaming usage. The RTX 2060 almost perform as good as the GTX 1660 Ti, but this laptop has an i5 processor, unlike the previous ones.But it’s still one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 dollars you can find!

The display has 15.6-inches, it’s Full HD and has a 120Hz refresh rate. In terms of ports, this laptop has four USB ports, one HDMI output, one DisplayPort and an SD card reader. The battery lasts around 3 hours.