If you’re a PC gamer, one thing’s for sure; the largest investment you’re going to have to make is your computer. While some people prefer desktop versions, I personally believe that there’s nothing better than a gaming laptop.
Laptops offer portability, which is something a desktop computer can never do. Portability is an important feature; it allows you to game from anywhere, and even attend local gaming meetups with your own device.
Laptops have a reputation for being costly, though, which is true. However, there are some excellent buys you can bag in under $500. Here is a list of my personal favorites:
Contents
Laptop Model | Weight | Storage | Screen Size | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acer Aspire E 15 | 5.27 lbs | 1 TB | 15.6 inches | |
ASUS VivoBook F510UA | 3.70 lbs | 1000 GB | 15.6 inches | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 330 | 4.85 lbs | 256 GB | 15.6 inches | |
Dell Inspiron I3567 | 4.85 lbs | 512 GB | 15.6 inches | |
Lenovo T8TJG FX-7500 | 5.15 lbs | 512 GB | 15.6 inches | |
Acer Aspire 5 | 3.97 lbs | 256 GB | 15.6 inches | |
HP 15 Laptop | 4.50 lbs | 1 TB | 15.6 inches | |
Lenovo L340 | 6.17 lbs | 256 GB | 17.3 inches | |
ASUS VivoBook 15 | 4.50 lbs | 256 GB | 15.6 inches | |
Dell Latitude Gaming Laptop | 4.41 lbs | 512 GB | 14 inches |
1. Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-576-392H)
This 8th generation laptop sports an Intel Core i3 8130U processor with 2.2 GHz; it also sports a 6 GB dual-channel memory feature and has a 1 TB hard disk drive and a built-in DVD player. The memory capacity is more than enough to download popular gaming platforms, like Steam, and run multiple high-resolution games at the same time without having to delete previous ones.
As for the display, this device comes with a large 15.6-inch screen with a stunning Full HD display and a resolution of 1920×1080; it qualifies as a widescreen laptop and is lit by an LED display.
These screen features make it an excellent device for gaming; however, while the display capacity can support most games, it may have trouble supporting some high-resolution games.
Pros:
- 1 TB hard disk drive
- 15.6-inch large screen display
- Built-in DVD player for CD games
Cons:
- Basic Core i3
- Average 1920×1080 resolution
2. ASUS VivoBook F510UA
This powerful 8th generation laptop contains Intel Core i5 8250U with a 1.6GHz processor; it also has an 8 GB DDR4 RAM with a 1 TB hard disk drive, which makes it ideal for gaming as it can support large game files, and gaming platforms. With a 1 TB storage capacity, the gaming world id your oyster.
As far as graphics are concerned, the ASUS VivoBook has an average display of 1366×768 across a 15.6-inch screen. While the large screen is brilliant, this resolution may be stretched too far across it and would work better for smaller computers. Hence, it is not that great for gaming but is not too large of a compromise considering how the laptop comes with other great features, like a 1 TB hard disk drive.
Pros:
- 1 TB storage capacity
- Intel Core i5
- 8 GB DDR4 RAM
Cons:
- 1366×768 resolution on a 15.6-inch screen
- Low battery life
3. Lenovo IdeaPad 330
Lenovo is known for its reliability, which is what makes this such a brilliant laptop for gaming. Gamers need a reliable device that will not crash on them mid-game, hence causing them to lose all their progress.
This device has an 8GB DDR4 RAM with a 256BG standard storage capacity; however, some feel that this is not enough space to accommodate multiple games simultaneously. While this is true to a degree, the amount of games you can store at a time depends solely on the type of games you are playing.
This computer’s maximum resolution capacity is 4096×2304 at 30Hz; it comes with a standard 1366×768 resolution but can easily be expanded to accommodate more. The screen has a 15.6 inch, 16:9 aspect ratio with an AMD Radeon R5 graphics card.
Pros:
- 8 GB RAM
- Lightweight device
- Excellent portability
- AMD Radeon R5 graphics card
Cons:
- Poor to average battery life
- Average loudspeaker quality
4. Dell Inspiron I3567
Dell is another great company to look into if you’re searching for a strong piece of hardware; Dell laptops are extremely reliable, making them a convenient choice in the gaming world. This particular model sports a strong, black, plastic exterior; the plastic capsule makes it lightweight and easy to carry around.
This device has a 15.6-inch screen with a 1366×768 resolution; it also has a touchscreen feature for hands-on activity. However, the touchscreen feature does not provide an extra edge when gaming, as most games are not designed to be accessed using a touchscreen.
The laptop sports a 7th generation Intel Core i3-7100U processor with Intel HD Graphics 620 and a 6GB DDR4 RAM. It also has a 1TB hard disk drive, which is perfect for gamers.
Pros:
- Touchscreen
- Excellent multitasking ability
- 1 TB hard drive
Cons:
- Dim display
- Touchscreen feature not useful for most games
5. Lenovo T8TJG FX-7500
Another Lenovo device equipped to bring you the best-gaming experience; this computer sports a 15.6-inch HD LED display with a 1366×768 display. It also has an AMD quad-core Radeon R7 graphics card to help bring you elite gaming experience.
This laptop sports a 2.1 GHz CPU and an 8 GB RAM with a hard disk drive that can accommodate 1 TB worth of data, which is excellent for gamers and comes in handy when downloading and storing many games simultaneously.
The PC comes with a low battery life of 5 hours; this problem can be overcome with regular charging but may not be up to par with the expectations some gamers have from their computers.
Pros:
- 1 TB hard disk
- HD LED display
- Radeon R7 graphics card
Cons:
- Low battery life
- Plain black design
6. Acer Aspire 5 (A515-54-51DJ)
Acer’s 8th generation laptop is an ideal companion for gamers; this device has an Intel Core i5 8265U processor that runs at up to 3.9 Hz. It also has an 8 GB DDR4 RAM, and a 256 GB PCle NVMe storage capacity.
This laptop flaunts a large 15.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1920×1080; it is a widescreen, backlit computer with LED lighting and an IPS display, as well as Intel’s UHD 620 graphics.
The backlit keyboard is a helpful feature for gamers who enjoy playing at night time or in the dark; features like this and the built-in fingerprint reader make this laptop remarkably accessible and convenient to use. It is also not too heavy, and hence easily portable.
Pros:
- Backlit keyboard
- Intel i5 processor
- 15.6 inches widescreen
Cons:
- 256 GB storage space
- Average resolution
7. HP 15 Laptop (15-db0069wm)
HP never fails to impress; this laptop comes with an 8 GB RAM and a 1 TB hard drive. This storage space is sufficient; it can support games with heavy files as well as smaller ones and is the recommended storage capacity for gamers.
It also has an AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics card for impeccable graphic quality, making it an excellent laptop for gaming purposes.
This device has a 15.6-inch HD screen with SVA BrightView technology to allow for excellent viewing; this is particularly helpful for a gaming laptop because it encourages in-game clarity and high-quality graphics.
Pros:
- Impressive 1 TB storage capacity
- SVA BrightView technology
- Radeon Vega 8 graphics card
Cons:
- Unattractive exterior design
- Supports Windows 10, which is an unreliable OS
8. Lenovo L340
If you’re looking for a larger laptop, this one could be perfect for you; Lenovo’s L340 comes with a stunning 17.3-inch screen with a 1400×900 native resolution. It also contains an integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics system and is ideal for gaming.
This device has an 8GB RAM and a 1 TB hard disk, which, as I’ve mentioned before, is excellent for gamers because it can host larger game files as well as platforms like Steam, which is essential for PC gamers.
Its default OS is Windows 10 Home Edition; while this is the latest version of Windows, every gamer is aware of the small bugs that exist within this OS. While it might not be the best OS out there, it is good enough for gamers and comes in a 64-bit version.
Pros:
- Large 17.3-inch screen
- Tough exterior
- 1 TGB hard disk
Cons:
- It runs on Windows 10 Home Edition; an OS that is not necessarily the best for gamers
- Poor battery life
9. ASUS VivoBook 15
This laptop by ASUS promises quality, and delivers it, too. It is an excellent gaming device that can support games with extremely demanding graphics thanks to its Radeon Vega 8 graphics card that provides the graphic boost you never knew you needed!
This device is equipped with a 15.6-inch screen that flaunts anti-glare technology, making it perfect for use in bright sunlit conditions. Furthermore, it has a stylish backlit keyboard and fingerprint scanner, allowing for easy access and convenient usage.
As for the hardware, this laptop is 0.7 inches thick and lightweight, making it an easily portable device. It runs on Windows 10 Home Edition, which is passable, but not necessarily the preferred OS for many gamers.
Pros:
- Radeon Vega 8 graphics card
- Lightweight and easily portable
- Anti-glare technology
Cons:
- Windows 10 OS
- No optical drive
10. Dell Latitude Gaming Laptop
This device’s screen is 14 inches across, which makes it smaller than the other ones listed here, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing! The smaller size allows this device to fit into any bag and be carried around easily. It has a 720M 2GB graphics card, too, that allows it to support heavy-duty games like Skyrim and Fortnite.
This device sports an Intel Core i5 Quad-core processor, which is great for gaming. It also has an impressive 16GB DDR, and a 512 GB hard drive, which is not as much as 1 TB but can still allow for a healthy gaming experience.
Pros:
- 720M 2GB graphics card
- Quad-core processor
- 16 GB DDR
Cons:
- 512 GB hard drive
- 14-inch screen
Final Words
As you can see, there are many excellent devices out there just waiting to be purchased. My personal favorite is the ASUS VivoBook 15 thanks to its Radeon Vega 8 graphics card and stylish exterior. It also has great portability, durability, and anti-glare screen technology, making it an excellent product for under $500
A gaming laptop should preferably be equipped with a graphics card and have decent battery life and widescreen feature. It should also be sturdy and durable because it will be in constant use for hours on end.
Moreover, your laptop should be reliable, with easy accessibility options and large memory capacity. Once you find the right gaming laptop for yourself, you’re all set to enjoy hours-worth of fun!
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