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Gaming laptops are usually more expensive than conventional laptops because of the level of components needed to drive the fast-paced games. However, we have researched and compiled a list of the best gaming laptops under 1300 for you to consider in this review. The number 1 choice is the ✅Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop.
The great features that come with gaming laptops are really great news if you’re an ardent gamer.
We believe you are, otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this.
The truth is, you can get yourself some decent and high-performing gaming laptops without breaking the bank.
In this post, we researched and compiled a list of 7 of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD.
This is to help you easily get your ideal gaming laptop without stress.
Best Gaming Laptops Under 1300 USD
Comparison table of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD
| S/N | Product | Image | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i7-9750 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 256GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 3.79lbs Battery life: Up to 7hrs |
| 2 | MSI GL65 Leopard Gaming Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 512GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 9.38lbs Battery life: Up to 3hrs |
| 3 | Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop |   | Processor: Intel i7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 512GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 5.07 lbs Battery life: Up to 6hrs |
| 4 | Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 256GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 7.68lbs Battery life: Up to 5hrs |
| 5 | Asus TUF A15 Gaming Laptop |   | Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 512GB HDD Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 4.85lbs Battery life: Up to 5hrs |
| 6 | HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 17" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 256GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 6.07lbs Battery life: Up to 8hrs |
| 7 | Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 256GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 8.93lbs Battery life: Up to 5hrs |
1. Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop No 1 Choice
Acer Nitro 5 is a great machine and is also our choice for the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD.
Design
It’s solidly built, sleek, and has a slim profile.
As a matter of fact, this laptop looks and feels more like a premium machine.
Furthermore, the casing is primarily made of plastic and has red markings, giving it a more contemporary look.
Screen
The 15″ 1080p IPS FHD display offers a very bright and clear experience in visuals.
To further add to this, the viewing angle is great, with a refresh rate of 144Hz.
Keyboard
It comes with a smooth and fast keyboard.
However, the keys have red markings.
This, coupled with the red backlight may pose a problem with clearly seeing the digits.
Interestingly, the brightness can be changed from settings according to personal preferences.
Hardware / Software / Connectivity
Powered by the 9th Generation Intel Core i7, Acer Nitro efficiently supports you through all your intense activities.
Also, there’s the high-performance NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics.
Furthermore, the laptop comes with the Acer CoolBoost technology and dual fans, which effectively takes care of heat management.
Hence, you don’t have to worry about the laptop heating up unnecessarily.
In addition, it also comes with 16GB RAM and 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD.
There’s an extra open slot for future upgrades.
For connectivity, all the essential ports (USB, audio jack, HDMI, etc.) are available for your convenience.
Battery
The battery is able to last for up to 5 hours on average.
Weight
At 7.68 lbs, it’s not the lightest of all gaming laptops.
PROS
- Sturdy
- Fantastic heat management
- Great audio experience
- Great screen
- Powerful processor
CONS
- Loud fans
Acer Nitro 5 is great for mid-level as well as entry-level gamers.
As our choice for the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD, it’s great value for the money.
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2. Dell G5 15 Gaming Laptop
Dell G5 is one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD currently in the market.
The G-series range of gaming laptops from Dell is more affordable and reliable than some of the other gaming laptops.
There are 3 models in the series which are the G3, G5, and G7 models.
G5 15, which is mid-range perfectly strikes a balance between price and performance.
We particularly love this because it succeeded in showing that affordable gaming laptops don’t have to be poor in performance.
Design
Dell G5 comes in a sleek and beautifully functional design, capable of winning your heart at first glance.
With the polished metal finish and deep-space black colour, G5 is an absolute stunner.
Also, there’s an eye-catching design of blue accents incorporated for full effect.
Screen
It comes with a 15.6inch 1920 x 1080 FHD gorgeous display with 144Hz refresh rate.
With the brilliant colours popping off your screen, you’re guaranteed a completely immersive gaming experience.
Keyboard
One of the most exciting features of this laptop is the customizable RGB keyboard.
You can customise it through the Alienware Command Centre app.
If you choose to customize your keyboard, which we recommend you do, you’d have access to enjoy exciting premium lighting options.
For instance, you can program the keys to glow in only one colour/hue, or you may choose to have it alternate between different colours.
You may even go on to assign specific colour schemes to particular games.
Now, how cool is that!
Although the keys are smooth and responsive with a matte finish, intense users may, however, find the keys shallow.
See why it’s on this list as one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 yet?
Hardware / Software / Connectivity
With 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, this beauty can literally handle anything you throw at it.
The graphics cards feature a powerful multiprocessor capable of handling the most complex graphics of modern games.
Also, it comes with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD and 1TB SATA.
Hence, you are able to multitask without any hassle.
Furthermore, it runs on Windows 10 OS.
Also, there are lots of ports for connectivity such as USB Type-C, 3 x USB Type-A, Display, HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm audio jack, Gigabit Ethernet, etc.
In addition, thermal management is fantastic.
This is achieved with the innovative dual-fan cooling system, which has an advanced thermal design.
This ensures that the system stays cool even when gaming is intense.
Battery
Considering the limitations of gaming laptops when it comes to battery life, Dell G5 15 comes packing in the punch at up to 7hours back up.
Very impressive indeed.
Weight
It weighs 3.79lbs, which is relatively light for a gaming laptop.
PROS
- Great price
- Sleek design
- Efficient processor
- Great graphics
- Effective cooling system
- Beautiful keyboard with great lighting design
- Bright screen
CONS
- Noisy (fan) during intense gaming
Overall, Dell G5 15 laptop is a very excellent, above-average, pocket-friendly, high-performing, and attractive gaming laptop.
Hence, its inclusion as one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD.
Click on the image link above to purchase on Amazon.
3. MSI GL65 Leopard Gaming Laptop
MSI GL65 Leopard is another classy gaming laptop that’s definitely one of the best gaming laptops under 1300.
Design
The design is a combination of plastic and metal.
The finish is however made of sleek aluminium.
Also, it’s sturdy and tends to feel chunky but the chunkiness is for extra protection.
Screen
The 15inch 1080p FHD IPS-enabled display is very sharp and bright.
Also, it comes with 144Hz refresh rate.
Hence, your gaming experience is superfast.
Keyboard
The keyboard is fast, smooth and responsive.
In addition, each key comes in different colours.
To make it more fun and unique, you can easily customise the colours to suit your needs.
Furthermore, you can also customise the backlit. There are different templates and themes you can easily choose from in order to personalise your experience.
Hardware / Software / Connectivity
This laptop runs on Intel Core i7-10750H which comes with 6cores and 12 threads processor.
Also, it comes complete with 8GB RTX 2070 graphics card.
This is popular for its speed and power.
Also, it comes with 16GB memory and 512GB storage.
Hence, you can effectively multitask and freely enjoy your games
There are many ports to choose from. From the USB Type C to Gigabit Ethernet, 3 x USB R, HDMI, etc, your connectivity needs are adequately sorted.
Weight
Compared with other gaming laptops on this list, the MSI is relatively heavy at 9.38 lbs.
Battery
Even with the battery life averaging 2-3hrs under intense use, this laptop us still one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD.
PROS
- Fantastic graphics
- Beautiful and customisable keyboard
- Powerful processor
- Great screen resolution
CONS
- Heavy in weight
Click on the image above to buy on Amazon
4. Acer Predator Helios 300 Laptop
From our research, Acer Predator Helios 300 is one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD.
Design
Helios 300’s body is made of plastic.
However, the plastic is sturdy and doesn’t feel or look cheap.
Also, the blue accents on the lid give it a classic look.
In build quality, it’s very similar to the 17″ gaming laptop counterpart reviewed here.
Screen
For a sub-1300 USD machine, the 15.6″ 144Hz/3ms 1080p IPS display is very sharp and bright in visual output.
It has great viewing angles that ensure you don’t miss out on any detail while enjoying your favourite games.
Keyboard
The keyboard and touchpad are fantastic.
Also, the keyboard has a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard which is unique.
Hardware / Software / Connectivity
Helios 300 features the 10th generation Intel i7 6 core and 2.6GHz base clock speed processor.
This is very efficient and powerful.
Also, the 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU ensures the integrated graphics are beautiful.
Interestingly, RTX is a recent architecture.
It’s capable of handling ray-tracing (lighting effects put into games by developers).
For heat management, the laptop comes with a Predator button. This button shows the temperature of the GPU/CPU at any time. It also shows the laptop’s ambient temperature.
Furthermore, you can upgrade the 16GB RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD.
You have to always keep your headphones on to enjoy the maximum audio experience.
For connectivity, there are 2 x USB-A Gen 1, 1 x USB-A Gen 2, 1 x USB-C Gen 2, HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack, etc.
Battery
Helios 300’s battery life is designed to last up to 6 hrs although users report a much lower battery life.
Weight
It weighs 5.07lbs.
PROS
- Great screen
- Great graphics
- Powerful processor
- Great keyboard
- Good heat management system
CONS
- Noisy fans
Helios 300 is strong and sleek, it’s one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD in the market.
Click the image above to buy on Amazon.
5. Asus TUF Gaming Laptop
Yet another great laptop on our list of best gaming laptops under 1300 is the Asus TUF A15 gaming laptop.
Design
Asus TUF gaming laptop is slightly chunky in build.
Notwithstanding, it’s beautifully designed and sleek in look.
The sturdy design helps to protect it from accidental damages while also providing enough space for ports and peripherals.
Screen
It comes with a beautiful 15.6″ 1920 x 1080 FHD IPS display.
Also, the viewing angle is wide. This offers consistent visuals when watching from remote angles.
Keyboard
Furthermore, the keyboard is decent, smooth and clicky with the smooth trackpad.
Hardware / Software / Connectivity
Firstly, the laptop runs on AMD Ryzen 7 3750H processor and GeForce RTX 2060.
This winning combination increases the speed and performance of the laptop.
Also, there’s the SenseMI feature which helps to select the right power level against battery life.
Furthermore, it comes with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD.
With these two, your memory and storage needs are never going to pose a challenge.
However, the fans usually go into overdrive and become louder than expected.
For connectivity, there’s the Ethernet, HDMI, 2 x USB Type-A and USB Type-C, etc.
Battery
It’s common knowledge that gaming laptops are usually poor in battery performance.
However, this laptop’s battery life is fantastic, lasting up to 5 hrs on the average.
Weight
For a high-performance gaming laptop, 4.85lbs is relative light.
PROS
- Sleek, sturdy and strong
- Efficient processor
- Great keyboard
- Light in weight
- Great screen resolution with high refresh rate
CONS
- Loud fan
As one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD, you’d find the Asus TUF A15 gaming laptop a very worthy investment.
To buy on Amazon, tap the image above.
6. HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop
HP Pavilion 17″ gaming laptop is one of our favourite gaming laptops.
It’s also one of the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD.
Design
In design, it’s surprisingly sleek.
also, it comes in a sturdy chassis.
The chassis components are finished with smooth matte and premium aluminium.
Also, it has a matrix-like backlit in green colour which we think is really classy.
Screen
You get to enjoy your visual experience with the wide 17″ 1920 x 1080 IPS display.
The images produced are clear, crisp and sharp even though the refresh rate is low.
Also, you might experience slight bleeding although ti’s barely noticeable.
Keyboard
It comes with clicky and smooth keys.
Also, the touchpad is responsive although small in size when compared with the entire form.
Furthermore, it makes a clicky sound when in use and this could be a bit annoying.
Hardware / Software / Connectivity
It’s powered by the efficient 10th generation Intel Quad-Core i5-10300U which also comes with Intel Turbo Boost.
The memory, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage are upgradeable.
When you add these features to the NVIDIA GTX 1650 and real-time ray-tracing technology, you get yourself a speed machine.
Also, the cooling system is game-oriented with double exhaust headers positioned at the back of the system.
Thoughtfully, all the accessories are placed at the back. This way, nothing gets in the way while you enjoy your favourite games.
For connectivity, there’s the superfast USB Type C as well as 3xUSB Type A, RJ45, HDMI, headphone jack, AC smart pin.
Battery
The battery life is up to 8 hrs, averagely.
Weight
It weighs 6.07 lbs
PROS
- Sleek and sturdy in build
- Powerful processor
- Great graphics
- Has Backlight
- Great battery life
CONS
- Low refresh rate
Buy on Amazon by tapping the image above.
7. Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop
The last but definitely not the least on our list of best gaming laptops under 1300 is the Razer Blade 15 gaming laptop.
Design
The sleek design is similar in style to Apple MacBook Pro. The design is beautiful.
The body is made completely of aluminium and certainly looks like a premium, top-range laptop.
Screen
Razer’s 1920 x 1080 Full HD comes with an impressive 300Hz refresh rate.
Furthermore, you’d find the visual experience really satisfactory.
This is because the images are clear and very bright at 300nits.
In addition to that, the laptop comes with the Window Hello facial recognition.
Keyboard
The laptop comes with the amazing chiclet keys.
They’re well spaced out with great key travel to provide a satisfying typing experience.
Furthermore, the touchpad is smooth and sensitive and its performance totally complements the keyboard.
Interestingly, Razer Blade’s touchpad is regarded as one of the best in the market.
Hardware / Software / Connectivity
The laptop runs on Intel Core 17-10875H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super.
You’d agree that nothing can beat that super-combination.
The best part, however, is that you get to completely enjoy your fast-paced games smoothly.
Also, Razer comes with the Razer Synapse app pre-installed.
Hence there’s enough flexibility to adjust performance, switching through different fan speeds and power modes.
Furthermore, there’s a good number of ports to choose from, for connectivity.
The laptop has 3 x USB-A, 2 x Thunderbolt 3, reversible charging and dedicated HDMI ports among others.
All you need to do is to plug in your headphones and your peripherals to get your favourite games going at full blast.
Battery
The battery life is programmed to last up to 5 hrs backup for basic tasks.
However, this can drop with intense use.
Weight
It weighs 8.93lbs which is not too heavy for a powerful gaming laptop such as this.
PROS
- Slim profile
- Sleek design
- A good number of ports
- Powerful processor and GPU
CONS
- Heavy in weight
Click the image link above to buy on Amazon.
Conclusion on The Best Gaming Laptops Under 1300 USD
Best doesn’t necessarily mean expensive.
We mean, buying a powerful gaming laptop doesn’t have to leave a gaping hole in your purse.
Note that all of the machines reviewed here can hold their own against premium brands and models in the market. Remember they’re the best gaming laptops under 1300 USD.
Our number 1 choice is the ✅Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop.
To purchase this simply click on the link above.
