If you’re looking for a great gaming laptop without breaking the bank, going with the under $1,200 segment is a good budget guideline.
You can find lots of good gaming laptops that are under $1,200, with features such as powerful processors, large displays, and full HD graphics.
However, with so many options on the market, it can be tough to decide which one is right for you.
To help you make your decision, we’ve put together a list of 7+ of the best gaming laptops under $1,200 that are currently available.
We’ve ranked them according to their overall performance, build quality, and value for money.
So, whether you’re looking for a top-of-the-line gaming laptop or a more budget-friendly option, there’s something on this list for you.
Table of Contents
Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,200
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop with M2 chip
The MacBook Pro M2 chip is a powerful processor that gives the MacBook Pro an edge over other gaming laptops. It has a 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM.
The graphics card is a Radeon Pro 560X with 4 GB of VRAM. The display is a 15-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2880×1800 pixels. The laptop also has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, an HDMI port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
It is one of the most popular options around the $1,200 range on the market currently and presents a great deal.
MacBook Air M1
The new MacBook M2 is also among the most secure laptops on the market. It shares many of the same security features as the Pro model, including the T2 chip and Apple’s holistic approach to security.
One of the most impressive things about the M2 is its performance.
It’s incredibly fast and efficient, making it ideal for tasks like video editing and 3D rendering.
And because it’s so fast, you’re less likely to experience slowdowns caused by malware or other security threats.
If you’re looking for a powerful and secure laptop, the MacBook M2 is a great fit.
Lenovo Y50-70
The Lenovo Y50-70 is our pick for the best touchscreen gaming laptop for budget-minded gamers. It’s a well-rounded machine with good performance specs and a large touchscreen display.
The Lenovo Y50-70 has a 15.6-inch touchscreen display, an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB HDD. It also has an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics card.
The Lenovo Y50-70 is a great choice for gamers who want a well-rounded machine with good performance specs. It’s also a good choice for creative professionals who need a large screen for photo or video editing.
ASUS TUF FX504
It is a lightweight and slim laptop with superior features. It is ideal for someone who wants a good gaming laptop at an affordable cost.
Its appealing outward appearance has an aluminum chassis and a scarlet logo on the top lid.
ASUS FX504 has a 15.6 inches full HD display that improves the appearance of your games on the screen.
Its plausible display quality can be attributed to its bright and colorful panel.
The device is equipped with an 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor that ensures you can play your games without the machine overheating.
The 8GB RAM ensures fast read from the hard disk. On the downside, this gaming laptop has low disk storage, which is a turn down for most people. Its graphics are supported by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti card which provides uninterrupted image loading.
The graphics are silky smooth, and you can play high-quality games on the highest settings.
ASUS FX504 is a portable machine as it weighs 5 pounds only.
The battery can last up to 7 hours without plugging in, making it an ideal laptop for gamers who want an uninterrupted gaming experience.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 – 13.5″ Touch-Screen – Intel Core i5 – 8GB Memory – 128GB Solid State Drive (Latest Model)
- Clean, elegant design — Thin and light, starting at just 2.79 pounds, Surface Laptop 3 is easy to carry
- Choose from rich tone-on-tone color combinations: New Sandstone, plus Matte Black, Cobalt Blue, and Platinum
- Improved speed and performance to do what you want, with the latest processors – Surface Laptop 3 is up to two times faster than surface Laptop 2
- More ways to connect, with USB-C and USB-A ports for connecting to displays, docking stations and more, as well as accessory charging
- All-day power on the go, with up to 11.5 hours of battery life, plus standby time when you’re away. Go from empty to a full battery with fast charging – up to 80% in about 1 hour
Acer Swift X SFX14-42G-R607 Creator Laptop
The Acer Swift X SFX14-42G-R607 Creator Laptop is a powerful device that is equipped with an Intel Core i7-8565U processor. It has a base clock speed of 1.8 GHz and can Turbo Boost up to 4.6 GHz. The laptop also has 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD.
The graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3050 Ti with 4 GB of VRAM. The display is a 14-inch FHD IPS display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. The laptop also has two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one USB Type-A port, an HDMI port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The Acer Swift X SFX14-42G-R607 Creator Laptop is a great choice for those who are looking for a powerful and portable device.
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-79TD Gaming Laptop
The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-79TD Gaming Laptop is a great choice for those who are looking for a powerful and affordable gaming laptop. It is equipped with an Intel Core i7-9750H processor and has a base clock speed of 2.6 GHz.
The laptop also has 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD.
The graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3050 Ti with 4 GB of VRAM. The display is a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.
The laptop also has one USB Type-C port, three USB Type-A ports, one HDMI port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-79TD Gaming Laptop is a great choice for those who are looking for an affordable gaming laptop.
What Features Should You Look For in a Gaming Laptop Under $1,200?
The following list of features can be expected in a gaming laptop under $1,200.
Processor
A gaming laptop under $1,200 should have a powerful processor such as an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7.
Graphics Card
A gaming laptop under $1,200 should have a powerful graphics card such as an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT.
Display
It should have a large display with a high resolution. A 15-inch display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels is a good choice.
Memory
A gaming laptop under $1,200 should have at least 8 GB of RAM.
Storage
It should have at least 256 GB of storage.
Ports and Connectivity
It should have a variety of ports such as USB Type-A, USB Type-C, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 3.
Battery Life
It should have a long battery life so that you can game for hours without having to worry about running out of power.
FAQs – Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,200
What is the best gaming laptop under $1,200?
You could argue it’s the MacBook Pro.
It is equipped with a powerful processor and graphics card, has a large display, and offers a great value for money.
What are the key features to look for in a gaming laptop under $1,200?
When looking for a gaming laptop under $1,200, ensure that it has a powerful processor and graphics card, a large display, and enough RAM and storage. Additionally, make sure that it has a variety of ports so that you can connect it to all your devices.
How much does a quality gaming laptop cost?
A gaming laptop under $1,200 usually costs between $800 and $1,200. However, there are some laptops that cost more than $1,200 but offer great value for money.
What is the best processor for a gaming laptop?
The best processor for a gaming laptop is an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7.
These processors offer great performance and are perfect for gaming.
What is the best graphics card for a gaming laptop?
The best graphics card for a gaming laptop is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 3050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT. These graphics cards offer great performance and are perfect for gaming without breaking the bank.
Conclusion – Gaming Laptops Under $1,200
The best gaming laptop under $1,200 is the MacBook Pro. It is equipped with a powerful processor and graphics card, has a large display, and offers great value for money.
When looking for a gaming laptop under $1,200, ensure that it has a powerful processor and graphics card, a large display, and enough RAM and storage.
Additionally, make sure that it has a variety of ports so that you can connect it to all your devices.
