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Best Gaming Laptop Under 800 (Budget-Friendy & High-End GPUs)

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Buying a gaming laptop is never a difficult task. We have not only done it in the past but showed you how to do it as well. However, the one thing that often ends up becoming a roadblock is the budget. Not everyone has a budget of $2,000 or above.

Someone just wants to buy the best gaming laptop under 800, and that is when things can get a bit confusing for many.

Thankfully, if you have stumbled upon this article, you are right at home because I am going to take a look at the finest laptops available in the said category.

Not just that, I also have a buying guide for you in place that should be of great help to you and will allow you to get your hands on the right laptop without having any problems whatsoever as far as the buying process is concerned.

Best Gaming Laptop Under 800 – Comparison Chart

Image Name Price Rating Specs
ASUS TUF FX505DT 
  • CPU: Ryzen 5 R5-3550H
  • Display: 15.6, 120Hz / FHD
  • GPU: GTX 1650 (4GB)
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4
  • Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD
Acer Nitro 5 
  • CPU: Core i5-7300HQ
  • Display: 15.6, 60Hz / FHD
  • GPU: GTX 1050 Ti (4GB)
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4
  • Storage: 256GB SSD
HP Pavilion 15-Inch
Micro EDGE 
  • CPU: Core i5-9300H
  • Display: 15.6, 60Hz / FHD
  • GPU: GTX 1650 (4GB)
  • RAM: 8GB SDRAM
  • Storage: 256GB SSD
Lenovo Ideapad L340 
  • CPU: Core i5-9300H
  • Display: 15.6, 60Hz / FHD
  • GPU: GTX 1650 (4GB)
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4
  • Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Acer Nitro 5 (2019) 
  • CPU: Intel i5-8300H
  • Display: 15.6, 60Hz / FHD
  • GPU: GTX 1050 Ti (4GB)
  • RAM: 12GB DDR4
  • Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
Series 
  • CPU: Core i5-7300HQ
  • Display: 15.6, 60Hz / FHD
  • GPU: GTX 1050 (4GB)
  • RAM: 8GB DDR4
  • Storage: 1 TB Hybrid HDD

Best Gaming Laptop Under 800

Now it does seem that 800 is not a lot of money for a gaming laptop since it barely buys you a good gaming desktop. But laptop technology has improved to a point that if you are looking for something that is affordable and does not break the bank, you should go for it.

#1- ASUS TUF FX505DT Gaming Laptop

– Specifications:

  • Comes equipped with GTX 1650 (4GB GDDR5).
  • Quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 3550H.
  • 15.6” 120Hz full HD display.
  • 256GB NVMe SSD with 8GB DDR4 RAM.
  • MIL-STD-810 Military Standard construction.
  • Battery Life can be from 4 Hours to 10 Hours Depending on the Usage.

– Advantages:

  • The laptop is priced aggressively.
  • The gaming performance is great.
  • The audio is solid through and through.
  • The laptop runs cool and doesn’t have any thermal issues.
  • 120Hz Display Panel

– Drawbacks:

  • The display is middling at best.
  • The battery life is below average, to say the least.

The first laptop on the list is the one that surprised me the most. I have been using it as my daily driver for some time now, and to be honest, the performance it delivers is exceptionally well for a lot of reasons. I wouldn’t be surprised if people are running after this laptop.

I am talking about the Asus TUF FX505DT gaming laptop, a very affordable laptop that is capable of delivering fantastic performance at 1080p. Not just that, if you are looking at the price alone, it is one of the most aggressively priced laptops, which is a great thing.

You are also getting surprisingly solid audio and build quality alongside that, which results in a great overall experience, and the laptop itself runs cool even when under a lot of loads.

There are a few quirks, though, that I would like to make evident. For starters, the display itself is average at best, and the battery life does not get a lot better, either. These are two things that I didn’t like about the otherwise great laptop.

– Author Note:

Overall, the Asus TUF FX505DT does not take a long time to establish its spot in the market as one of the finer options available for anyone willing to get their hands on a good gaming laptop. I know it might sound like the fact that 800 might not be enough for this laptop, and you are cutting corners, but that is not the case.

The only corners that have been cut are in the case of battery life and a slightly average display. But everything else about this laptop is as good as it can get. Asus has hit a home run with this laptop, and if you also want something very durable at the same time, this is the one that you should be going with.

#2- Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

– Specifications:

  • Equipped with 7th generation Core i5 7300HQ processor.
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti (4GB GDDR5).
  • 15.6” full HD, IPS display.
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM with 25GB SSD.
  • Up to 8.5 hours of battery life.

– Advantages:

  • You are getting great specs for a budget price.
  • The laptop manages to stay cool under load, thanks to powerful fans.
  • You have a lot of ports for different peripherals.

– Drawbacks:

  • The size of the laptop is on the bulkier side.
  • The trackpad is a hit and miss.
  • The audio could have been better.

We have already accepted the fact that Acer is known for making great laptops, and they have been doing that for some time now. If you are interested in getting your hands on something that Acer has to offer, then you can look at their impressive portfolio of available laptops.

The laptop in question is the Acer Nitro 5, and honestly, it delivers exceptionally well performance for the price. For the price that Acer is asking, you are getting a laptop that offers a lot of great specs crammed into one.

Another great thing here is that the laptop manages to stay cool under pressure, and if you wish, you can even customize the fan controls, and you would be all good without any issues. For those who want to use a good number of peripherals, you can do so thanks to a lot of ports available to you.

Sadly, there are a few downsides that I would address here, so you know what you are getting yourself into. For starters, the Nitro 5 has a bulky size, and the trackpad is not as good. Last but not the least, even the audio is on the weaker side.

– Author Note:

If you are in search for a good laptop that delivers exceptionally good performance for the price you are paying, I can tell you that the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is the one you should be going for, thanks to how good it performs and how affordable it is.

Everything about this laptop hits the sweet spot, and if you are in search of something that is not going to break the bank for you. This laptop is great.

#3- HP Pavilion 15-Inch Micro EDGE Gaming Laptop

– Specifications:

  • Equipped with Intel Core i5 9300H.
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU (4GB GDDR5).
  • 15.6” full HD IPS Display at 60Hz Refresh Rate.
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM with 256GB NVMe SSD.
  • Battery Life is 5 Hours to 8 Hours Depending on the Usage

– Advantages:

  • Comes with a good mix of components for god gaming performance.
  • Works great for gaming and day-to-day tasks.
  • A pretty good-looking design.

– Drawbacks:

  • Limited configuration option.
  • No gaming-oriented features.

Perhaps the most prolific name in the entire laptop market happens to be HP, and for all the right reasons. They have been delivering some fantastic gaming laptops for ages, and by now, we have all gotten accustomed to their laptops, and they have to offer.

Now, calling the HP Pavilion Gaming 15-Inch Micro-EDGE Laptop a pure gaming laptop would be wrong as it is not from their gaming lineup, but still manages to guise itself as one and does a fine job at that, too. So, how good is it? Well, that is what we are here to find out.

For starters, the laptop comes with a mix of components that are respectable, and they go well together. If you are looking for something that is not going to bleed your bank dry, this is a great option. Aside from that, you are also getting a laptop that is great for your daily tasks.

Not just that, for anyone who is looking for a nicer, streamlined design, this laptop is going to deliver on that front, too. So you can be sure that you are getting a good experience overall.

There are a few downsides; for starters, the laptop does not bring a lot of configurations as compared to some of the other options, and the laptop has a dire lack of gamer-oriented features. When turned off, it might not even look like a gaming laptop to begin with.

– Author Note:

For anyone who is looking for a good gaming laptop that is not going to cost a lot of money and does not even look outlandish, for that. The HP Pavilion Gaming 15-Inch Micro-EDGE Laptop is something that you would be glad to have.

A streamlined design and decent performance allow it to become one of the best options available for anyone who is looking for a laptop that will be great at work and play.

#4- Lenovo Ideapad L340 Gaming Laptop

– Specifications:

  • Equipped with 9th generation Intel Core i5 9300H.
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650.
  • 15.6” full HD IPS display.
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD.
  • Offers game mode and quiet mode for tuned performance.
  • Bettery life is 5 to 9 Hours.

– Advantages:

  • The gaming performance at 1080p is great.
  • You are getting a pretty good price for this laptop.
  • The battery life remains great.
  • One of the more comfortable keyboards in a budget laptop.

– Drawbacks:

  • The click pad is strangely loud.
  • 512GB SSD might not be enough in the longer runs.

Lenovo does not need an introduction when you are talking about gaming laptops or laptops in general. Being one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the market, Lenovo has earned itself quite a reputation amongst gamers with their Legion lineup. However, I am not talking about Legion.

The laptop that I have for review today is the Lenovo Ideapad L340, and that is one of the more affordable offerings that are available in the market. But that does not mean that the performance is not going to be good. On the contrary, to be honest.

The laptop delivers excellent 1080p gaming performance, and the price is one of the best things about this, as well. So you will not have any problems coming in your way. Surprisingly, the L340 delivers a pretty good battery life at the same time, and you are also getting a comfortable keyboard.

There is not much to dislike here, to be honest. The click-pad can get noisy, and you might run into issues with the 512GB SSD not being enough, but other than that, you are getting an excellent, top of the line experience.

– Author Note:

I have to be honest here, the price tag I am targeting is not enough for a lot of laptop manufacturers in which they can deliver something good, but Lenovo has done it, and they have made a great laptop for anyone who is trying to get a good performance.

The L340 is certainly the one laptop that can easily rule them all in the given price bracket and get away with it, with great performance and a price that will make a lot of people scratch their heads in awe because it is that affordable.

#5- Acer Nitro 5 (2019) Gaming Laptop

– Specifications:

  • Comes with Intel Core i5 8300 CPU.
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB GDDR5).
  • 12GB DDR4 RAM with 256GB PCIe SSD.
  • 15.6” FHD IPS display.
  • Battery Life 5 to 8 Hours

– Advantages:

  • You are getting a pretty solid set of specs for the price.
  • The laptop has some great thermals under full load.
  • You are getting a lot of ports for the sake of adding more peripherals.

– Drawbacks:

  • The size is still on the bulkier side.
  • The trackpad can be a major hit and miss.

The good thing about Acer is that it is known to refresh its older laptops with relatively the same price tag but better overall performance. This is where the Acer Nitro 5 FHD gaming laptop comes into place as it is a refresh of the older version, but this time around, you are getting better specs overall.

I know it might not sound like you are getting a lot, but hey, it does not hurt to have better overall specs for somewhat the same price, which means that you are not using a lot when you are investing in this laptop,

Now just like the previous offerings, you are getting solid specs for a budget laptop that manages to stay cool under pressure as it allows you to tune the fan curve as per your requirements. Not just that, you are also getting stellar performance across the board, which makes it easier for you to game the way you want to.

Another great thing here is that you are getting a laptop that comes with a lot of I/O ports, so as far as your peripheral and connectivity needs are concerned, you are completely covered, and will not have to worry about that at all.

There are a few downsides, though. That Acer has still carried over from the last generation. The laptop still has a bulkier size, and the trackpad is still a hit and miss.

– Author Note:

If you are looking for a laptop that is not going to cost you an arm and a leg and performs well too, the Acer Nitro 5 makes a lot of sense at a lot of different places, to be honest. However, the thing that you must understand is that there are a few downsides, but those are not going to come in the way.

#6- Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series Gaming Edition 7567

– Specifications:

  • Comes equipped with Intel Core i5 7300HQ.
  • 8GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB HDD.
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (4GB GDDR5).
  • 15.6” Full-HD IPS display.
  • Battery Life 5 to 11 Hours.

– Advantages:

  • The laptop is very affordable.
  • You are getting smooth, worry-free performance at 1080p.
  • The 11-hour battery life is seriously impressive.
  • The overall design language is pretty good looking as well.

– Drawbacks:

  • The display is average at best
  • Not a lot of storage available for some.

Dell and HP are like two sides of the same coin as they have been delivering some of the best options that are available for you. However, both companies are known for their more affordable lineups like the Inspiron series. While it is not the actual gaming series for Dell, but if you want to game on a budget, this is the way to go.

Thankfully, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series Gaming Edition is a laptop that is made for gaming and other tasks, and it seems that the laptop does deliver on that front with ease. So, if you are looking for something that has good performance, that’s the way to go.

If you want a good and affordable gaming laptop, this can be yours for the price. Additionally, the gaming performance at 1080p is going to be excellent, so you will not have to stress over that. Another great thing about this seemingly basic laptop is that you are getting 11-hour battery life, and the design is pretty attractive, as well. So, you can attract some attention if that is truly what you want.

Dell had to cut some corners to make this laptop hit the price tag, and in that, there are some minor issues here. For starters, the screen is subpar at best, and you are not getting a lot of storage out of the box either.

– Author Note:

Honestly, if you are searching for a laptop that does everything without costing a lot of money, this has to be one of the better options available in the market.

The best thing about this laptop is that you don’t have to worry about how much you are paying here. As it is affordable, works well, and delivers great performance, too.

Important Factors Before Buying The Best Gaming Laptop Under 800

Now that we are done looking at the best laptops available under 800, the next step is to start looking at some important factors before you buy one of these laptops. The reason to consider these is simple, we want to deliver the best experience, so you don’t have to worry much.

More Related Articles Below:

Ram, Graphics Card & Processor: First Line of Defense!

Buying a gaming laptop is not that difficult if I am being honest. It is one of the easiest to do things, but you have to consider a few things before you go ahead and make a purchase. After all, you cannot just buy a laptop based on a single factor because that is never going to work for anyone properly, so you have to consider several things.

Now the good news is that it is not all that difficult to begin with. You can start by considering the RAM of the laptop. Almost all the laptops I have listed here are equipped with 8GB RAM, which is enough in most use cases, but you might want to upgrade to 16GB in total in the future so you can get an even better experience.

Inside Look of a gaming laptop showing the mobo

Then you have the graphics card, which is another important aspect of a gaming laptop. For the budget that you are looking at, the best available options are either going to be a GTX 1650 or 1050Ti. I would advise you to always go with the GTX 1650 due to it being one of the more modern architectures and better performance.

The last thing that you will need to consider is going to be the processor. Anything less than an Intel Core i5 at 1080p resolution is not something that you should be looking forward to. So, whenever you are buying a new gaming laptop, you have to look at the processor as well.

CGI Image of GPU and CPU Inside gaming Laptop

Once you have gone through this process, buying a good gaming laptop is not going to be a difficult process. I understand that you might be confused, but hey, once you get these out of the way, you should not have to face more issues as far as the process of buying is concerned. Just get what you think is best for your budget, and you would be good to go.

SSD & Total No of Storage

Now here is the interesting thing. Being a PC gamer for as long as I can remember, storage has never been a huge concern for me. The reason behind that is rather simple, I only keep one game installed on my computer at a time, which means that I never really run out of any storage whatsoever.

However, not everyone is going to be like that, and in many cases, you will notice that people normally have a lot of issues with the storage space available. That means that when you are looking into a gaming laptop, storage is a massive concern.

image of M.2 NVME SSD and HDD on the desk

Thankfully, if you are looking to get the most effective buying and user experience down the road, I would always recommend going for a laptop that is equipped with a good SSD. But at the same time, we also have to understand that SSDs can be on the expensive end, and that is where problems come into play.

Now the good news here is that most of the laptops that I have listed here are going to ship with an SSD installed. However, you should not be expecting higher storage numbers to begin with. Which means that you are going to have to be limited when it comes to storage.

This is where HDD comes into play; these are cheaper to buy, and they are slower as well. So, you should keep an eye on what is available and what suits your use case better before you decide as it will be a lot simpler that way.

Heat Dissipation

Gone are the days when laptops used to become toasty every time someone would start gaming on them. The modern-day laptops are much better at dissipating heat, but then again, we have to keep in mind that what we are looking at is a budget option rather than being more expensive.

Showing the Hypercool tech of Asus TUF FX505 Laptop

Which means that the cooling solution is not going to be up to the task for a lot of people. Still, I have seen some impressive thermal designs even in the available budget laptops, so you can be sure that you are going to get a decent performance one way or another.

Thankfully, the laptops that are mentioned here are pretty good as far as dissipating heat is concerned. So, you are not being left out on anything major, and you won’t have any issues.

Resolution & Display

Moving on, when you are looking to get your hands on a laptop for gaming, the resolution and display itself are going to make a lot of sense. You cannot just get something that delivers subpar resolution or the display itself.

Person playing video games on gaming laptop

However, at the same time, you cannot expect industry-leading displays, either. So, you have to make a tradeoff here. With budget gaming laptops, you are going to get a 1080p display, which is good for almost every single game that you would play.

As far as the display is concerned, you are going to be limited to an IPS panel that will be of 15.6”. Which has become a standard. Some laptops ship with 144Hz panels, but those are not as widespread. It is still important to keep this thing in mind.

Number of Available Ports

Ever since I have become a part of the wireless revolution, it has become almost impossible for me to used wired options that are also widespread. However, the same is not the case with everyone since most people want to get something that has ports available on it.

Ports of Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

When you are in the search for a good laptop, be sure that it has enough ports available for you, so you do not run into any experience as far as the overall usage is concerned, and you are getting enough ports, too. Making the right decision is one of the more important ones, and you have to be certain.

Battery Timing Is Enough?

It should not come as a surprise, but gaming laptops are notorious for having average battery life. It is something that I have experienced time and again, and when you are going for a laptop such as this one, you have to be aware of the fact that you are going to need good battery life if you plan on going mobile.

Thankfully, the laptops available on this list are pretty good as far as the battery life is concerned, but they are not going to be breaking a lot of records. Gaming takes a toll on the battery, so you have to understand this factor here.

Additional Features

The last thing that needs to be looked at whenever you are looking at a good gaming laptop is additional features. A thing that most people overlook almost all the time, but the thing here is that people who want to spend their money on a gaming laptop often also want to get their hands on features that are otherwise not available.

CGI Image of Asus TUF FX505 Keyboard

The most common feature is something that I would call RGB lighting on the keyboard, and honestly, at the given price tag, it is not easily available since it only adds to the overall cost of the laptop, so you have to be aware of that.

Additionally, you could be looking at a faster refresh rate display. Which is another thing that is not easily available. Since in the majority of cases, you are limited to a 60Hz panel, and that is more than enough for what you are paying here.

My Final Thoughts:

I understand that buying a gaming laptop can be an overwhelming experience, and in most cases, you might end up in a state of confusion as well. But the thing that you must understand is that the laptops that I have listed are great in almost every aspect.

They fit right into the price you are paying for them and will not cause you any issues, either. You can get the best possible laptop here without having to stress about anything going wrong or out of place. Rest assured, these laptops are great for gaming and doing day-to-day tasks as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is the best gaming laptop under 800?

The best gaming laptop under $800 in this list is simply the Asus TUF FX505DT, and it takes the cake by bringing the best in class performance as well as display.

Question 2: What is the most powerful gaming laptop under 800 dollars?

I am going to go with the Asus TUF FX505DT again because it delivers great 1080p performance at well over 60 frames per second and the gorgeous 144Hz display is just another great thing.

Question 3: Is it worth it to buy an $800 gaming laptop?

It certainly is. For anyone who is on a budget, buying a gaming laptop for $800 or under that price tag makes perfect sense. It might not be the fastest, but it will surely deliver a fantastic performance.

Question 4: How do I choose a laptop?

The definitive buying guide that I have listed here is surely going to make it easier for you to choose the right laptop. I have covered every base, so you know you would be completely safe when making a purchase.

Question 5: How much RAM & HDD do I need?

Honestly, the drive capacity is something that happens to be completely subjective, but if you are looking to get your hands on a good laptop, then the RAM should be at least 8GB, but you can always upgrade it later down the road.

Question 6: 800 dollar gaming laptops performance?

For the most part, any good $800 gaming laptop is going to perform more than adequately at 1080 and 60 frames per second. If you are worried about the performance on that level, you should not have anything to worry about as it will deliver great performance through and through.

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Gregory Rosales

Gregory Rosales

I've been building gaming PCs for the last 13 years and purchased my first console seven years ago. My passion for exploring what's inside these things helped me develop professional writing skills. I benchmark the computer hardware first with the right equipment and post them here for you.
My expertise is in Computer Hardware, Gaming Hardware, Computers and Laptops, Gaming Consoles, and Consumer Technology.

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