The global pandemic caught all the big names and businesses off guard. Production plants are in worse shape than ever, and this has a huge impact on the economy. Gamers' lives have been in turmoil these days, as shortages of chips have brought the production of graphics cards, processors, memory, and solid-state drives to a complete halt.
All of these unfortunate events have had a domino effect on everyday consumers, and you and I fall into that category. That means finding the right laptop for gaming will be a dream for many gamers. And to get the system requirements right so you can enjoy modern games without compromise, framerate lag can be hectic.
But don't worry because my years of gaming experience will end all your confusion about the best gaming laptops under $700 as I've paved a line for my beloved readers to make sure they don't have to struggle for themselves by reading tons of articles and websites.
List - Best Gaming Laptops Under $700
- ASUS TUF - Runner up
- Dell G15 Flagship - Runner up
- Lenovo Ideapad 3 - Must consider
- Lenovo Ideapad L340 - Runner up
- HP Pavilion - Editor choice
- Acer Nitro 5 - Powerfull choice
- MSI GF63 - Editor choice
#1. ASUS TUF - runner up
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10300H, 4 cores
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti
- Memory: 8GB DRR4 memory RAM
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Screen size: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display
- Dimensions: 14.2 x 10.3 x 1.1 inches
- Weight: 6 lbs
ASUS TUF gaming laptops are known for their great 1080p displays and ability to run AAA games without compromising frame rates, such as Star Wars: Fallen Jedi, Death Stranding, Sekiro: Shadows Died Twice, which is why it's a bit pricey because it's on a budget.
You can enjoy all of these games on the huge 15.6" Full HD IPS display, however, you might want to consider gaming indoors as you'll struggle with the low nit brightness of the Asus TUF display despite the build quality very good.
But, ignore the price tag for a moment and see that the 10th Gen Core i5-10300H paired with the Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 Ti is a powerful graphics card, an upgrade from the GTX 1650.
Like all of the laptops listed above, this one lacks a Thunderbolt 3 port. However, there are still some key ports such as dual Type-A ports, and fast type C ports, and for gaming and other such uses, you can connect via an ethernet port.
For battery performance, I'll leave it to you to judge, as laptop battery life will vary based on consumer usage. As for light browsing and surfing, the laptop barely delivers 5 hours of runtime, an acceptable result for a gaming laptop with such high specs.
Best
- Variety of high-end games
- Plenty of USB ports
- excellent display output
Bad
- Sub-par battery life
#2. Dell G15 Flagship
- 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz display
- 10th Gen Intel 4-Core i5-10200H (Beats i7-8750H)
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB Solid State Drive
- GeForce GTX 1650 4GB
Like the older Dell G3, the Dell G15 has some fascinating specs, but this time, the processor is powered by Intel technology.
A gaming laptop with a simpler design and a clean look, when I opened the lid to power it on and played a few videos on it, the experience was surreal and breathtaking, the 15.6" full HD kept the colors true and not It will be oversaturated, and as icing on the cake, you can also fiddle and adjust the refresh rate to 120hz.
Multitasking is quick and easy, the RAM capacity is 8GB, and the next-gen 256GB SSD keeps load times to a minimum, so you can get started right away without lag.
Additionally, the 4GB Nvidia Geforce 1650 dedicated graphics card can easily support newer games, however, you may want to turn those graphics settings down to medium to play at 60 frames per second.
The keyboard only has single-zone backlighting, but it's not too bright to blind you when working with the laptop in a dimly lit room. The keys aren't too crowded, and the travel time feels very loose, even for larger fingers, so you won't make frequent mistakes when typing fast.
This laptop even comes with an Alienware-inspired cooling chamber system to get the hot air out as quickly as possible, and it's great value for money.
Best
- Reasonable price tag
- sober finish
- high-speed processor
Bad
- a bit bulky
#3. Lenovo Ideapad 3 - Must consider
- 15.6-inch full HD display
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage
- Windows 10H
The fact that you can play games at 120Hz at 1920×1080 resolution proves that, and at this price tag, it is a 15.6-inch laptop with a Full HD display. It has a beautiful screen and even prettier tear-free frame rates while keeping the bezels very thin.
The hardware specs are truly outstanding, the AMD-powered Ryzen 5600H from the Zen 3 core architecture will blow your mind with its top-notch performance, and the Hexa Core processor boasts commendable processing speeds that can't be ignored.
Coming to the graphics department, the mid-range Nvidia Geforce 1650 dedicated graphics card does a great job playing games at medium to high settings, such as Shadow of Mordor, Doom Eternal, Hitman 3, and Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
On the plus side, you also get a fully laid-out keyboard, which means you can enjoy the numeric keypad if you like the attributes.
For connectivity, Lenovo offers several interfaces, like dual Type-C and single USB 3.0, which are really fast enough to get your file transfers done as quickly as possible.
For a gaming laptop, this bad boy does an excellent job of around 8 hours of runtime, which is already very satisfying if you ask my opinion.
Best
- Beautiful keyboard design with numeric keypad
- Thin and light construction
- Battery runtime is awesome
Bad
- RAM capacity should be higher
#4. Lenovo Ideapad L340 Budget options
- Processor: Intel Core i5-9300H processor
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB VRAM
- Memory: 8GB DDR4 RAM SODIMM
- Storage: 512 GB NVME SSD
- Screen size: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 X 1080) IPS display
- Ports: 2 USB 3.1 USB-C HDMI LAN Headphone/Mic Combo
- Weight: 4.8 lbs
The Lenovo IdeaPad l340 gaming laptop is a bit pricey for our tastes, but this laptop has a reputation as an all-rounder in the midrange gaming laptop space.
The nano-bezel 15.6-inch display ensures you get the best possible images with accurate color and sharpness while playing your favorite video games. There's also no fading or color inversion when viewed from the different angles that most budget laptops have.
Also, to keep things balanced without encountering any bottlenecks, the laptop is equipped with a quad-core chip, the Intel Core i5-9300H.
If you want to play your favorite games like Fortnite, Call of Duty Warzone, Apex Legends, or Assassin's Creed Valhalla, you can easily run them on this laptop with medium to high settings, shadows, and other antialiasing options adjusted to Low.
This laptop's components in other categories don't do that in terms of connectivity, as there's only one USB Type C port and two USB Type 3.1 hubs.
Also, there is no SD card slot, and if you want to transfer files, you have to connect the device via a cable. However, if you want to quit wired gaming instead of using wireless internet, the HDMI jack and Ethernet port are still there.
Lithium batteries for laptops are relatively good, as you can't expect everything in a price range like this, and gaming laptops tend to produce dire results. With Wifi turned ON and brightness set to medium, you can expect around 6 hours of runtime.
Best
- Good hardware performance
- cute keyboard backlight
- good customer support
Bad
- Lack of ports like Thunderbolt 3
#5. HP Pavilion - Editor choice
- Processor: Intel Core i5-9300H processor
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB VRAM
- Memory: 8 GB SDRAM
- Storage: 256 GB SSD NVME
- Screen size: 15.6 inches with Micro-EDGE bezel
- Ports: USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C(tm), 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A
- Dimensions: 10.08 x 14.17 x 0.92 inches
- Weight: 4.92 lbs
Still, looking for a gaming laptop under $700? Well, here we list the HP Pavilion.
Combining style, performance, and royalty, the HP Pavilion 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop is the perfect gamer's dream with a matte finish that won't cut any crucial corners, even on a limited budget.
If you don't mind a 60 Hz refresh rate and are an old-school gamer looking to enjoy casual gaming, you'll be better served by this laptop with a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display. With a built-in anti-glare panel, you don't have to worry about gaming outdoors or in a bright room on a 1920 x 1080 pixel screen.
Even on such a tight budget, the HP Pavilion laptop is an amazing value for money, you get an Intel Core i5-9300h processor with 8 MB of cache, which is only two generations compared to the latest generation with a base clock speed of 2.3 Processor GHz and max clock speed of 4.1 while consuming only 45W TDP.
The quad-core processor and eight-thread CPU will ensure that you won't encounter any bottlenecks when compiling data received directly from a dedicated graphics card with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, an Nvidia GTX 1650, which is fine-tuned for user 60 on medium settings FPS in heavy-duty games like PUBG, Apex Legends, and Counter-Strike Global Offensive.
Most mid-range laptops in this price range tend to lack a dedicated number pad, however, that's not the case in the HP pavilion, as you can expect a full-fledged backlit keyboard with a green tint that can also be adjusted to set the High, Medium and Low.
Need a port? You get the idea, but, don't expect any thunderbolt, but USB TYPE C is still here, it may not have the same speed as Thunderbolt 3, but still, get the job done and make you happy, and, you'll be a generic USB hub like 3 x USB Type-A is unnecessary efficiency and the ethernet jack on the left side of the laptop.
As a gamer, I don't compromise on portability and neither should you, that's why this laptop is my top recommendation as this device's lithium battery will keep you busy for 7 hours Battery life while having WIFI turned ON.
Best
- Anti-glare technology
- Decent battery life
- amazing sound quality
Bad
- lack of thunderbolt 3
- Touch screen not supported
#6. Acer Nitro 5 - Powerfull choice
- Processor: 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
- Screen size: 15.6-inch full HD IPS display
- USB 2.0 port, 1 – HDMI 2.0 port
- Dimensions: 14.31 x 10.04 x 0.96 inches
- Weight: 5.07 lbs
The notorious claim is perfect for the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, don't judge a book by its cover, as the laptop might not have all the quirks and gimmicks of a shiny gaming machine, but it certainly has what it needs on this list.
If you're a fan of old-school 1080p gaming and don't mind enjoying AAA games at 1920 x 1080p resolution, then the Acer Nitro 5 could be the perfect choice for you. The 15.6-inch HD display panel will give you color-accurate visuals and color palettes with a locked refresh rate of 60 Hz.
However, if the mid-range settings of the graphics are an acceptable ratio for gaming, then it's safe to say that the Intel Core i5 9300H with quad-core and quad-thread will ensure you enjoy your favorite games at solid frame rates.
The keyboard has a dedicated Numpad that feels like a keyboard designed for gamers, as the WASD keys and arrow keys are backlit in bright red.
This laptop might not be expensive, but it still features the latest WIFI 6 technology, allowing gamers to feel the power of the next-generation internet without compromise, plus, for wired connections, you get 2 USB hubs Type-A port, a single USB Type-C, but does not support Thunderbolt 3.
According to the manufacturer, the lithium battery will provide an 8-hour experience. We all know this is an exaggeration, and in my personal experience, the laptop can withstand 6 hours of runtime, which can be adjusted with the gaming performance settings in Acer's software.
Best
- A gamer-focused keyboard
- Decent battery runtime
- Expandable memory size
Bad
- temperature problem
- Missing SD card reader slot
#7. MSI GF63 - Editor choice - Extreme performance
- Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-9300H
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650
- Memory: 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Dual Channel SO-DIMM
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
- Screen size: 15.6 inches Fhd wide viewing angle
- Dimensions: 14.13 x 9.99 x 0.85 inches
- Weight: 7.63 lbs
The third laptop on my list is very interesting, and it's from MSI. The MSI GF63 is a strong contender in this gaming laptop list due to its top-notch hardware specs, design, quality, and aesthetics.
It also has nearly similar hardware specs to the aforementioned laptops, such as an Intel Core i5-9300H and a dedicated 4GB graphics card, an Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650. The laptop also has an SSD with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of NVme PCIe storage.
However, the memory ram can be upgraded to a maximum of 64GB, which is why the laptop is listed as slightly more expensive due to the expandable memory slot.
While this might not be a selling point for some users, I assure you that with the arrival of games with updated graphics requirements like Halo, Dishonored 3, and Battlefield 2042, upgrading your laptop to meet the system requirements will definitely be necessary.
The laptop also has a plethora of ports clustered through its bases, such as USB Type-C, 2 USB 3.2 ports, an Ethernet jack, and an audio microphone combo.
But don't expect any Thunderbolt 3 in mid-range laptops.
The laptop's portability is below average due to the short 51Wh lithium battery. However, to save battery life, you can set power options in MSI Dragon Center. The runtime output of the battery is approximately 5 hours.
Best
- Slim and lightweight
- Plenty of upgradeable options
- Premium display
Bad
- Missing Thunderbolt 3 port
FAQs on Best Gaming Laptops Under $700
The question that is most commonly asked on various gaming forums and social media.
Is 8GB RAM enough for gaming?
While 8GB RAM is the best option for older generation games, things have changed a lot with the advent of ray tracing technology, and 8GB RAM may not give you the space you need for new games.
Is the Ryzen 5 4500h good?
Yes, of course, the Ryzen 5 4500h is a good processor, keeping its price/performance ratio in mind. Having said that, the processor is based on the Zen 2 architecture with integrated graphics, so if you're short on discrete graphics, for the time being, don't worry,
What's the best gaming laptop under $700?
It's a question for you to decide and choose from the list, however, if you still need my professional opinion, then you should choose the ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop as it offers the latest generation processor and graphics processing unit.
What is the lowest price for a gaming laptop?
Given the current economic situation, inflation, and the pandemic, $600-700 might be enough to buy a decent mid-range gaming rig. Don't expect an RTX graphics card or an octa-core processor. On the other hand, it's just a matter of preference, you can always opt to buy refurbished high-end laptops that are much cheaper and perform well if they're in perfect condition.
Is the Acer Nitro 5 good for gaming?
As we all know, Acer never messes with its products, especially its gaming lineup, and the Nitro 5 is no exception. Since its specs are great for gaming and other hardware-intensive tasks, calling it "good" is a bit of an understatement.
My last conclusion
The world of technology is constantly evolving and there are a wide variety of best gaming laptops under $700 but if you've been wasting time thinking about which products are best for your tastes, you're confusing yourself even more.
Having said that, pick any laptop from the list, and I assure you, none of the laptops mentioned above will disappoint you.