8 Best Gaming Laptops Under $800 in 2024

By Robin Owens 20 days ago, Hardware

The best gaming laptops under 800 dollars on the market.

best gaming laptops under 800

If you want to play your favorite games without worrying about any issues with hardware but don’t have loads of money, you can buy a powerful gaming laptop under 800 dollars with a decent CPU, GPU and RAM.

To avoid future expenses, pick an option with a good keyboard that will make your in-game actions more precise. Some options come with amazing backlighting, which allows you to use them in dimly lit rooms.

Top 8 Best Gaming Laptops Under 800 Dollars

  1. HP Pavilion Gaming - Our Choice
  2. Acer Nitro - Durable
  3. MSI GF63 Thin - Stylish
  4. MSI Modern - Compact
  5. Asus TUF Gaming - Affordable
  6. Lenovo Ideapad - Good keyboard
  7. Acer Swift - Solid performance
  8. Dell G3 - Long battery life

While mid-range laptops lack some features that are common for high-end devices, they are still powerful enough to run most of the recent titles. Whether you are a fan of shooters or racing games, you can easily find an option that will suit your needs.

Even a cheap gaming laptop under $800 can feature a keyboard that will make your experience more immersive and give you a competitive edge over your opponents.

1. HP Pavilion Gaming

Our Choice
gaming laptop under 800 hp pavilion gaming

CPU: Intel® Core™ | GPU: NVIDIA | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 15 -inch | Weight: 4.37 lbs

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⊕ Impressive performance and graphics
⊕ Slim profile
⊕ Great specs for casual gaming
⊖ Low data transfer speeds

The HP Pavilion Gaming is a reliable device equipped with several extra features that make it suitable for gamers. It has a dedicated Nvidia GPU, which allows it to deliver nice image quality. You will also appreciate its comfortable keyboard and impressive performance.

This gaming laptop under 800 dollars can run all the recent titles. Featuring a slim profile and top-notch specs, it is perfectly suitable both for gaming and casual use. High processing power enables it to solve several tasks at once.

2. Acer Nitro

Durable
gaming laptop under 800 acer nitro

CPU: Gen Intel® Core™ | GPU: Acer Nitro | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 256 GB | Display: 15.6 -inch | Weight: 5.07 lbs

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⊕ Remarkable battery capacity
⊕ Solid build
⊕ Reliable input devices
⊖ Insufficient brightness

Thanks to the remarkable quality of audio, you can fully immerse yourself into the world of gaming. The Waves MaxxAudio accounts for the unprecedented clarity and richness of the sound, while Acer TrueHarmony speakers will make your experience even more enjoyable. With the help of Waves MaxxAudio, you can adjust bass and change the volume.

The keyboard comes with extra keys that let you control all the features with better precision. You can use the NitroSense Key for various commands. The WASD and arrow keys enable you to control your in-game actions better. Thanks to the 1.6 mm travel distance, the keyboard is comfortable to use. The keycaps feel nice to touch. If you often play in poorly lit rooms, you will like the backlighting effects.

3. MSI GF63 Thin

Stylish
gaming laptop under 800 msi gf63 thin

CPU: Intel® | GPU: NVIDIA | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 256 GB | Display: 15.6 -inch | Weight: 7.58 pounds

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⊕ Thin profile, lightweight design
⊕ Amazing GPU
⊕ Cheap
⊖ Poor battery life

This model is a great upgrade if you compare it to the earlier version. Its performance is 10% more powerful, which makes it a smart option for multitaskers. The GF63 has a high-quality display with a decent screen-to-body ratio. The bezels are extremely thin. With its body made of lightweight and durable aluminum, this model is quite portable.

Its well-thought-out design and the overall build quality make it a great value for the money. This best gaming laptop under 800 is suitable for extended gaming sessions. The MSI APP Player allows using it for playing mobile and desktop games.

4. MSI Modern

Compact
gaming laptop under 800 msi modern

CPU: Intel® Core | GPU: NVIDIA® | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 14 -inch | Weight: 2.62 lbs

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⊕ The battery lasts for a whole day
⊕ Creator Center
⊕ Better than expected
⊖ Trackpad is mediocre

Featuring the 10th Gen. Intel Core i5 CPU and a high-speed SSD, this cheap gaming laptop under $800 will quickly load any game. It’s equipped with NVIDIA GeForce GPU for better image quality, which enables you to use such photo and video-editing software as Adobe Lightroom and Premiere Pro.

Besides, the MSI Modern is quite compact. It can last up to 10 hours without being plugged in. You can quickly adjust all the system modes and make your OS more efficient with the help of the Creator Center that will help you fix any issue in no time.

5. Asus TUF Gaming

Affordable
gaming laptop under 800 asus tuf gaming

CPU: AMD AM4 ATX | GPU: NVIDIA | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 15.6 -inch | Weight: 4.85 lbs

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⊕ Brightness can be adjusted without PWM
⊕ Quite affordable
⊕ Good thermals
⊖ Poor built quality

The TUF505 was designed to meet the highest requirements. It’s equipped with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and a GeForce GTX 16-Series GPU, which lets it support even the most resource-consuming games. It fully meets the MIL-STD-810G standard and features an RGB keyboard with beautiful backlighting.

The NanoEdge design is extremely elegant, you will hardly notice the bezels outlining the IPS display. You will be impressed with the viewing angles, which account for consistent colors across the screen. Being quite portable, it’s one of the most powerful i7 gaming laptops under 800 dollars as it features NVIDIA GeForce Experience. You can select either Creator or Gaming drivers to make the most out of the GeForce GPU.

6. Lenovo IdeaPad

Good keyboard
gaming laptop under 800 lenovo ideapad

CPU: i3-5005U | GPU: Lenovo | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.84 pounds

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⊕ Value for money
⊕ Reliable keyboard
⊕ RAM and a hard drive can be upgraded
⊖ Limited viewing angles

As the IdeaPad L340 features the 9th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU, you can install any recent game without worrying about its requirements. Its 8 GB DDR4 RAM and a high-speed 512 GB NVMe SSD account for ultra-fast performance.

If you are a fan of good graphics, you will appreciate the quality that the NVIDIA GeForce GPU can offer. Your gameplay will become seamless and more immersive, you will hardly ever notice any delay when playing fast-paced titles. The 15.6-inch IPS screen delivers Full HD quality. Thanks to the implemented Dolby audio technology, you can enjoy high-quality sound.

7. Acer Swift

Solid performance
gaming laptop under 800 acer swift

CPU: Gen Intel® | GPU: NVIDIA® | RAM: 8 GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 2.65 pounds

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⊕ Durable aluminum body
⊕ Impressive specs for the price
⊕ Decent performance and battery capacity
⊖ Poor-quality graphics, non-touch display

This best gaming laptop under 800 features a durable chassis made of aluminum, magnesium and metal. Its amazing screen-to-body ratio and great battery capacity make it a smart option for those who travel a lot. As it weighs only 2.6 lbs, this laptop with a 0.63-inch profile is extremely portable. It’s powered by Ryzen 7 4700U CPU and can last for hours without being recharged.

The silver body is quite stylish, while the 14-inch Full HD IPS display makes images look bright and full of color. If you decide to take it with you on a trip, you will appreciate its durability and great battery life. The laptop can last up to 11.5 hours, which will suffice for solving most of your tasks.

8. Dell G3

Long battery life
gaming laptop under 800 dell g3

CPU: Gen Core i5 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce| RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512 GB | Display: 15.6 -inch | Weight: 5.18 lbs

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⊕ Remarkable battery life
⊕ Good cooling system
⊕ Powerful performance
⊖ Inconvenient touchpad

The Dell Inspiron was designed for those who don’t like playing at their desks all the time. You can take it with you anywhere. With the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU, you can install the most recent games. This model is equipped with two in-built speakers. The 15.6-inch display with virtually unnoticeable bezels delivers Full HD quality, which makes your in-game experience even more immersive.

Thanks to Bluetooth support, you can connect this best gaming ultrabook under $800 to other devices. A 9th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU and 8 GB RAM allow for multitasking, while the 512 GB NVMe SSD delivers high speed. The Dell G3 is a perfect option for those who are looking for a device with an elegant design for work-related tasks and gaming.

Image Name Features  
gaming laptop under 800 hp pavilion gaming
HP Pavilion Gaming
Our choice
  • CPU: Intel® Core™
  • GPU: NVIDIA
  • Display: 15 -inch
  • Weight: 4.37 lbs
CHECK PRICE
gaming laptop under 800 acer nitro
Acer Nitro
Gaming
  • CPU:Gen Intel® Core™
  • GPU: Acer Nitro
  • Display: 15.6 -inch
  • Weight: 5.07 lbs
CHECK PRICE
gaming laptop under 800 msi gf63 thin
MSI GF63 Thin
Stylish
  • CPU: Intel
  • GPU: NVIDIA
  • Display: 15.6 -inch
  • Weight: 7.58 pounds
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop Under 800 Dollars?

best gaming laptop under 800

Screen Display

When it comes to gaming, it’s better to choose a laptop that comes with a high-resolution screen. If a model of your choice has a resolution of 1920×1080, the image quality will stay at the top-notch level. The high refresh rate is also vital as it significantly reduces eye strain. Opt for the best gaming laptop under 800 with a 144Hz refresh rate or higher. A display should cover 72% of the color gamut as well. If it has advanced specifications, you will hardly ever see any signs of ghosting when playing fast-paced games.

Put the GPU First: Graphics Are Key

A powerful GPU is one of the key selling points of any gaming laptop as it directly affects your experience. If you are serious about gaming, make sure to purchase a laptop that comes with an Nvidia discrete graphics card. Some people prefer AMD GPUs that deliver decent performance as well.

However, Nvidia remains the best manufacturer of graphics cards on the market, as it has created a unique discrete mobile GPU. Thanks to the advanced “Turing” architecture, it’s capable of solving any task. You can also find plenty of laptops with earlier GPUs based on the “Pascal” architecture, but if you don’t plan to upgrade your device too often, it’s better to choose the newest version. Keep in mind that if you see in the description of a gaming laptop under 800 dollars that if features a 10-Series GPU, such as a GeForce GTX 1070, it won’t deliver the same performance as the newest models.

Turing GPUs were presented in September 2018. At the beginning of the next year, manufacturers started to release laptops with them. You can easily recognize them, as they are marked with the letters “RTX”, while the 10-Series GPUs usually have “GTX” in their names. The newest GPUs are perfect for those who enjoy racing games.

best gaming laptop under 800

Storage

While it’s crucial to have a lot of storage space to install modern games, you might notice that your large hard drive is rather slow. Users can choose between two types of hard drives: HDD and SSD. Solid-state drives are known for their high speed and better read and write times. Due to this, they are a great choice if you need to install your OS or various modern games. The only their shortcoming is their storage capacity.

Hard disk drives are larger. The first HDD was released decades ago. Such drives have a lot of free space but their speed is rather low, which results in poor read and write times. If you have some cash, it would be a smart idea to buy a laptop that has both options. For instance, some models feature a 512 GB SSD and a 7200 RPM HDD. With them, you can count on high speed and have plenty of space for games.

However, if you still need to choose one option, I advise you to pick a laptop with a large SSD. It is a great solution for those who are on a budget, as you will get a high-speed drive with decent storage space.

FAQ

  • • What specs are the most important for a gaming laptop in 2024?

Even if you opt for a cheap gaming laptop under $800, it’s crucial to purchase a device with a decent graphics card and a powerful processor. Besides, you will need to have enough RAM and a good hard drive. As for a CPU, if you have some money, pick a Core i7 processor. The i9 laptop is an even more powerful option.. There are also some models with desktop processors.

  • • Do I need to buy a gaming laptop?

While a powerful laptop won’t improve your gameplay overnight, you need to buy it if you spend a lot of time playing the recent games. Of course, if you are a fan of basic games, you can easily live without a mid-range laptop. A laptop with a decent screen is a must for people who care about their eyesight.

  • • Are gaming laptops suitable for casual use?

Yes, you can use them for solving basic tasks as well. They usually come with popular operating systems, so you can install any software on them. The only difference is that they have some specs designed to improve your in-game experience.

  • • Are gaming laptops long-lasting?

If you buy a laptop from a well-known brand, it will serve you between 3-6 years. Most users prefer either to upgrade their devices after that or buy new ones. If you don’t need to play the recent titles that require more advanced specs, you can use your laptop even longer.

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