As online gaming becomes more and more trendy, more and more laptop users are trading in their old laptops for computers that are better suited for gaming. For a first-timer, though, it may be difficult to navigate the gaming laptop market and decide which gaming laptop is right for you, especially with the wide range of options being offered by today’s tech companies. If you’re looking to purchase a gaming laptop, but have no idea where to start, here is a list of the 7 best gaming laptops for beginners.
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1. Acer Predator Triton 300 SE
Armed with a sleek, highly portable design and an RTX 3060 gaming performance, the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE has set itself apart as the one to beat when it comes to gaming laptops at low prices. This laptop also boasts a 144Hz display and a long battery life, perfect for the gamer on the go. However, as quality as it is, it’s not a perfect gadget: the 14-inch screen might not impress everyone, and the 512GB SSD isn’t particularly optimal if you’re the type of player with a large game library.
2. MSI Katana GF66
Well-priced and well-rounded, the MSI Katana GF66 offers a good mix of features at a relatively low price. With its 1080p gaming performance, 144Hz display, and 1TB SSD, this laptop encourages you to begin your gamer journey by trying out all sorts of games without worrying about storage. However, it isn’t for gamers who prioritize visuals over all else, as its display isn’t very bright or colorful, nor is it for gamers without a designated gaming space, as its brief battery life can be a hindrance.
3. Acer Nitro 5 (2022, 12th Gen Core)
The Acer Nitro 5 definitely won’t be going toe-to-toe with the best gaming laptops any time soon, but it does offer a competent list of features at a low price – perfect for someone just starting out. The 12th Gen CPU and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti will ensure a decent gaming experience, and it has a good port selection alongside a 144Hz display. However, the Core i5 CPU and 512GB of storage are quite limiting for gamers, and the display falls short of 60fps in most video gaming situations.
4. Asus TUF Gaming 17
The Asus TUF Gaming 17 offers a large 17-inch display alongside other features that make it a standout in the beginner gaming laptop market. These include the strong AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, the spacious 1TB SSD, the 1080p gaming performance, its eye-catching keyboard backlighting, and solid battery life. However, prospective buyers should also know the screen itself is quite lackluster; it has no biometrics nor an SD card slot and offers WiFi-5 networking rather than the better WiFi-6 networking.
5. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i sets itself apart from the other laptops in its pack with its sturdy build, long-lasting battery, and wide range of supported ports – up to and including ethernet. It additionally boasts a comfortable keyboard, a quick CPU performance, and a 120Hz display. However, if you’re thinking of buying it, do consider the following factors: its capability in terms of graphics is below par for a gaming device at its price, and the 8GB of memory can prove tight for gamers with large libraries.
6. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
What the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro lacks in terms of flash and flair, it more than makes up for its performance at its price point. Looking past the drab design and bulky chassis, you’ll find that the Legion 5 Pro offers multithreaded CPU performance, a great gaming performance with its GeForce RTX 3070, a gorgeous 16-inch display with crisp, fast, and bright visuals, and solid build quality. If first impressions don’t bother you, then the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is definitely the gaming laptop for you.
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7. EVOO LP7
EVOO’s LP7 trades in the more dynamic appearance of some other entries on this list for great performance at an attractively low price. This laptop packs solid 1080p frame rates for PC gamers, an eight-core Ryzen CPU and GeForce RTX CPU, an impressive port selection, and decent battery life. However, it’s not the prettiest device on the market, with its plastic look and feel, loud fans, relatively dim screen, and issues with the keyboard layout, meaning you’ll have to weigh these in as factors.
Any of these 7 laptops would be a perfect first choice for the first-time gamer, as each offers a level of technical performance inaccessible on a less-suited laptop. Ultimately, what matters when selecting your first gaming laptop is choosing the one that feels right to you. Whether you’re looking for one that offers a nice keyboard feel, like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i, or you’re more focused on getting the best performance, like the MSI Katana GF66, there’s definitely a gaming laptop out there for you.
