8 Best Gaming Laptop Under $1200 in 2023

Are you looking for a gaming laptop that costs less than $1,200?

If so, you have come to the right place.

We’ve compiled a list of the top gaming laptops that are both affordable and perform well in this post.

Gaming laptops are available in price ranges ranging from $500 to $5,000, but finding a powerful machine in the middle of this range (i.e., $1200) is challenging.

Before purchasing a better gaming laptop, you must thoroughly research and understand all the components.

Isn’t it?

We wrote this article, which was completed after significant research, review, and practical use, to make this process easier.

All models on our list will let you play modern games like Call of Duty and easily perform demanding activities like Rendering, Video Editing, AutoCAD, and programming.

You will get better performance from a gaming laptop if you spend $1,000 on it. However, for an extra $200, bringing the total to $1,200, you can purchase future professional gaming laptops that will be easy to use in the next 3 to 4 years.

Always remember…

A laptop is a long-term investment, so get a powerful machine with a somewhat greater budget if possible.

Changing computers is a complicated process, similar to changing cell phones yearly because they contain many crucial large files.

What to look for in a 1200 Dollar Gaming Laptop?

There are always some questions in my mind when buying a gaming notebook, such as

1. Which is the best gaming laptop with a price of less than US$1,200 that can play almost all games in 2023?
2. Which components need more attention?

Any gaming laptop must have certain features and specifications to get the best performance in all high-end games and run other software smoothly.

For under $1200, you can get a more powerful machine and run games on Ultra settings.

In addition, you can get smooth performance in games such as Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, etc.

The essential components of a gaming laptop are −

• Need the latest and most powerful processor
• It should have a dedicated graphics card
• RAM & Storage should have more

The Best Gaming Laptops under $1200: Our Top Pick

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1. ASUS ROG Strix G16

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX Processor (2.6 to 4.9 GHz, 24M Cache, 14 cores)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 6GB GDDR6
RAM	16GB DDR5 4800 MHz Memory
Storage	512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Screen	16-inch, FHD+ 16:10 (1920×1200 pixels), anti-glare display, 100% sRGB, 165Hz
Weight	5.51 lbs ( 2.5 Kg)
Battery	90WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion with 280W AC Adapter
Others	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Windows 11 Home, Backlit Keyboard

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ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop [Review]

This latest ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop is an excellent choice for modern gaming and performing heavy tasks. Its price is around 1200 dollars which is ideal for pro gamers. For Programming and Design students, this laptop will be a perfect choice.

Given its overall quality, you can count on the ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming to perform wonderfully for many years.

In terms of graphics cards, RAM, and storage, this powerful system is a solid alternative for around $1200.

Performance

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop powered by a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13650HX processor is ready for work or play. The laptop was designed to be energy efficient, allowing it to perform at its best while consuming minimal power.

This gaming laptop has a dedicated powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 6GB GDDR6 graphics card. With this powerful GPU, you can efficiently run modern games at a high refresh rate and maximum settings.

For post-graphics performance, Asus has provided ROG Boost Technology.

It supports 16 GB RAM and a 512GB SSD to take advantage of memory and storage. If you require additional memory and storage, you can do it internally and externally; a slot has been provided. You will be pleased with the way the games look and play.

A gaming laptop’s battery life suffers due to the strong hardware components that require more power.

The battery should last up to 6 hours for leisurely surfing, internet shopping, and other activities.

Display and Design

The display on this gaming laptop is a 16-inch Full HD IPS display with a 1920×1200 resolution. From all sides, this screen will show you spectacular and clear visuals.

A refresh rate of 165Hz has been specified for gaming performance or any graphics-related work, which is only available on premium gaming laptops. A high refresh rate is rare on a gaming laptop under $1200.

The laptop seems to be beautiful enough to attract a lot of attention. It doesn’t look to be cheap on the interior or out.

From the outside, this laptop appears to be highly high-end due to its unique frames. In the case of the structure, mainly plastic has been employed, but it is more effective for heating management.

Additional Features

Even though this is a gaming laptop, the design is incredibly thin. In terms of weight management, it is ideal because it is a gaming laptop with a weight of 5.51 lbs (2.5 Kg).

It comes with Windows 11 Home and contains all of the necessary connectivity ports to allow you to work or play without interruption.

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2. HP OMEN 15 Gaming

Specifications

CPU (Processor)	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (2.9 GHz to 4.3 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 8 cores)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (6 GB GDDR6)
RAM	8GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM
Storage	512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Screen	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144 Hz, IPS, anti-glare, WLED-backlit Display
Weight	5.43 lbs (2.46 Kg)
Battery Life	Up to 8 hours
Others	RGB Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, Windows 10 Home OS

This OMEN 15 can provide a PC-like gaming experience and rapid performance. This excellent gaming laptop can easily handle even the most demanding modern games.

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop with desktop-like performance, go no further than the HP Omen 15. Its 15-inch display will give you a fantastic look and feel.

Performance

This laptop will satisfy you when it comes to gaming performance. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H eight-core processor. The processor’s base clock frequency is 2.9 GHz, with maximum boost clock technology allowing it to reach 4.3 GHz for intensive activities.

Because it features a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB graphics card, the GPU will have no problems. You can play games with a high refresh rate and maximum settings.

As a result, it can smoothly run practically all AAA games at ultra-graphics settings.

It offers 512GB SSD storage and 8GB DDR4 RAM, a strong CPU, and a smooth graphics card.

You can easily upgrade to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage if you need more memory or storage.

The HP Omen 15’s weak battery performance is a drawback. If you play modern games or multitask, it can last up to 4 hours once fully charged.

Design and Display

A 15.6-inch full HD display, IPS technology, and anti-glare support come standard on this gaming laptop. This 144Hz screen boasts a 72 percent NTSC color gamut and a resolution of (1920 x 1080).

If you use it, it can provide a brightness of up to 300 nits. It offers a quick response speed, vibrant colors, and good image quality.

Other Features

The keyboard offers distinct tactile keys, and the RGB keyboard backlight may be adjusted in different provinces. It includes two physical buttons and a huge, sensitive touchpad.

In terms of ports and connectivity, It contains-

• 1 x USB Type-C port
•  1 x USB Type-A port
•  2 x SuperSpeed USB Type-A ports
•  1 x Mini DisplayPort
•  1 x HDMI 2.0 port
•  and 1 x RJ-45 jack, and a headphone/microphone combination jack

It’s heavy at over 5 pounds, and the design is slightly awkward. Although it is not the most portable alternative, it is nevertheless durable and well-designed.

It can stay cool even with demanding hardware even after a long game session.

If you want to connect to the Internet wirelessly, the latest Bluetooth 5 and WiFi 6 technologies provide three times quicker rates.

“The HP Omen is a powerful gaming laptop capable of handling the latest games and demanding work. This is a terrific choice for professional gamers and designers, thanks to the 144Hz crystal clear screen and full-size backlit keyboard.”

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3. Acer Nitro 5

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (6GB dedicated GDDR6 VRAM)
RAM	16GB DDR4 3200MHz Memory
Storage	512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Screen	15.6-inch FHD IPS display ;144Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time
Weight	5.51 lbs (2.5 kg)
Battery Life	Up to 8 hours
Others	RGB Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, Windows 11 Home

Read Acer Nitro 5 Full Specifications, Review, Price, and Benchmarks

This latest Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is an excellent choice for modern gaming and performing heavy tasks. Its price is not as high as other high-end gaming laptops. For some students or designers, this laptop will be a perfect choice.

Acer Nitro notebooks offer exceptional gaming performance at an affordable price. This time, it comes from a powerful version and hardware by slightly enhancing the specifications and presenting a new and updated model.

Performance

This notebook computer uses an Intel Core i7-12700H processor with an eight-core structure and 16 threads to provide exceptional performance and processing capability. It has a strong CPU with a base clock speed of 2.5GHz that can be increased to 4.7GHz using Intel Turbo Boost Technology.

The CPU also supports a 24MB smart cache with a default TDP of 45W. It’s based on a low-power 7nm processor node that only uses little electricity to cool down when doing intensive games and tasks.

The laptop has the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB dedicated GDDR6 VRAM GPU.

New ray-tracing cores, Tensor cores, and streaming multi-processors that enable DirectX 12 Maximum for ultimate gaming performance are among the notable characteristics of this RTX GPU.

In addition, the laptop has 16GB DDR4 RAM with a 3200M MHz transfer rate and 512GB NVMe SSD storage.

When playing modern games, you will never run out of memory; nevertheless, an additional slot has been provided for future-proofing purposes, allowing you to upgrade your laptop’s memory to 32GB.

An extra slot is offered to expand the laptop’s storage capacity, and you can use it to add an SSD or HDD.

Design and Display

The Full HD pixels are most notably present on the 15.6-inch widescreen LED-backlit IPS display with 1920 x 1080 resolution. It supports up to 144Hz refresh rate and 80 percent screen-to-body ratio/16:9 aspect ratio, as expected from gaming laptops, which is unquestionably a healthy complement for game enthusiasts.

The Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is made of high-quality components with a small amount of plastic on the bottom. It doesn’t have the same sparkle as a business laptop, but it may be seen differently. Regarding the design, the upper left and right sides will have fewer bezels, while the bottom will have more.

Other Features

It also includes a full-size backlit keyboard controlled by NitroSense UI, allowing you to monitor loading performance, temperature, and fan speed in real time.

Furthermore, compatibility with Killer WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 helps improve communication.

There are no compromises in terms of I/O ports because it features the fastest Thunderbolt 4 connections as well as other ports, such as 

• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
• 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1
• 1 x HDMI 2.1 supports HDCP
• 1 x headphone/speaker/line out jack
• 1 Ethernet (RJ-45)

The Windows 11 operating system runs on this gaming laptop. It features a responsive trackpad as well, but it is smaller. Because this is a gaming laptop, there isn’t much focus on weight control. It is quite heavy, weighing 5.51 pounds (2.5 kg).

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4. Dell G15 5511

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H (24MB Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 14 cores) Processor
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 Graphics
RAM	16GB Dual-Channel DDR5 4800MHz Memory
Storage	512GB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 Solid State Drive
Screen	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 250 nits Anti- Glare Display
Weight	5.55 lbs (2.5 kg)
Battery	6 Cell, 86 Wh with 240W AC Adapter
Others	Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, Thunderbolt 4, Windows 11 Home

Dell G15 5520 offers the latest and most powerful processor and a dedicated GPU with powerful capabilities and the ability to perform intense graphical tasks. It’ll suffice for basic gaming, but don’t expect newer games to run at high framerates or quality.

The Dell G15 will be an excellent choice if you are looking for a budget gaming laptop less than 1200 and can provide excellent gaming performance but don’t expect too many whistles and chirps.

In terms of overall performance, this model’s design, storage, and display are ideal for professional players and creators.

Performance

Despite being a mid-range gaming laptop, the Dell G15 has a 12th-generation Intel Core i7-12700H processor.

With its eight-core architecture, the CPU delivers fast, dependable performance and an immersive gaming experience.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB, GDDR6 graphics card is at the core of this performance, and it’s a solid choice for gaming and benchmarking.

It features 16GB of DDR5 RAM and runs at 4800MHz and a 512GB SSD that is far faster than a hard drive. Thanks to the optional dual-drive configuration, you may experience speedier startup and additional storage capacity.

The processor’s power can handle a wide range of multi-threaded software, including games, but in demanding games like League of Legends and Cyberpunk 2077, the Dell G15 can only manage 25 frames per second.

This model’s 86-watt-hour battery can be used for 6 solid hours while streaming video, which is better for everyone.

Display and Design

It features an average color accuracy of a 15.6-inch FHD (1920×1080) anti-glare LED backlight panel. Furthermore, the brightness of 250 nits is lower than the average brightness of any low-cost laptop.

This narrow bezel display with a 120Hz refresh rate offers a clear and sharp wide viewing angle.

The monitor’s poor colors are noticeable but not intrusive in gaming.

The G15 measures 10.74 x 14.06 x 1.06 inches, which isn’t exactly a tiny and light gaming laptop compared to comparable models.

Other Features

It features excellent thermal management and enough room for the G15 5520 gaming laptop to deliver ample power while adjusting to changing system loads.

Furthermore, when operating the most demanding apps and games, efficient cooling management helps components to maintain lower temperatures and greater clock rates.

Because it weighs 5.55 pounds, this is a somewhat heavy gaming laptop (2.5 kg). As a result, it’s a little challenging to use it outside because it’s not fully compatible with backpacks.

The 4-zone RBG backlit keyboard ensures that all tasks are visible in low-light situations with configurable settings.

Press the FN + Game Shift button when the Game becomes vital to activate the dynamic performance mode, which can be dramatically progressively utilized.

HP Pavilion Gaming laptops come with Windows 11 Home; however. For Faster connectivity, it has a Thunderbolt 4 port, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.

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5. Razer Blade 15 Base

Specifications

CPU (Processor)	10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor (up to 5.0 GHz; 6 cores)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics
RAM	16 GB DDR4 2933MHz Memory
Storage	256GB PCIe SSD
Screen	15.6-inch Full HD thin bezel 120Hz Display;
Weight	4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)
Battery Life	Up to 4 hours
Others	RGB Backlit Keyboard, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6, Windows 10 Home OS

This is a fantastic and powerful portable laptop computer. Everything is excellent in general, and the interior is sturdy. This is a tremendous machine. Select the version you prefer and purchase it.

This Razer Blade 15 is at the top of our list for performance, and once you see it on the table, you won’t believe it’s a laptop that costs less than $1,200.

Like a high-end laptop, this laptop has an aluminum body and precise structure. It is a portable ultra-thin gaming laptop that is also good in terms of performance.

Performance

It’s a powerful gaming laptop with a 10th-generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor for maximum performance. It has a CPU frequency of up to 5GHz, enabled by Intel Turbo Boost technology.

The CPU has a six-core design and up to 16MB of cache, making it ideal for 3D modeling, rendering, video editing, and other creative pursuits.

16GB of high-speed RAM is available in this gaming laptop. The dual-channel RAM module is the highlight, followed by the upgradeable memory up to 64 GB.

Gaming laptops have a short battery life, but you can get 4 to 5 hours of use out of them if you use them for ordinary tasks.

It comes with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti regarding graphics cards. This GPU acts as a quick supercharger for playing popular and modern games.

Display and Design

This gaming laptop features a 15.6-inch display with Full HD resolution and minimal bezels on three sides.

On the other hand, the display is clear, accurate in color, and highly friendly to gamers because of the 120Hz refresh rate.

Suppose you’re currently playing modern games or working on a difficult task. As a result, you may enjoy maximum settings and be as powerful as a gaming laptop by eliminating screen tearing and ghosting.

The one-piece CNC aluminum frame performs in the lowest feasible footprint while remaining extremely sturdy and only 0.78 inches thick.

Other Features

It includes enough ports, such as a webcam, two USB Type-A connectors, and two USB Type-C ports, among other things.

It has Bluetooth 5 and WiFi 6, which can transport data considerably quicker than the previous generation to connect to the wireless Internet world.

The pre-installed Windows 10 operating system is another resource-intensive feature of the Blade 15. You will offer Windows 11 for free if accessible in your country/region.

Chroma’s backlit keyboard is impressive in terms of productivity, and its speakers are excellent. Similarly, cooling and temperature control technology is virtual show-stoppers.

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6. HP Pavilion 15 Gaming Laptop

Specifications

CPU (Processor)	AMD Ryzen 5 5600H Hexa Core Processor (16MB L3 Cache, up to 4.20GHz)
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated)
RAM	16GB DDR4 RAM
Storage	512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Screen	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144 Hz, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare Display
Weight	4.78 (2.16 kg)
Battery Life	Up to 8 hours
Others	Backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, HD Camera, and Windows 11

First and most importantly, the laptop is fantastic and represents excellent value for money, as it comes with a tremendous package of extra hard drive space and memory.

This computer’s RAM speed is a little slower. It’s still speedy in some areas, and thanks to the SSD, it’s not as slow as it once was. However, this is an excellent laptop in general.

This latest HP Pavilion gaming laptop is ideal for simple multitasking. The computer offers a superb gaming experience thanks to its superior graphics and strong processor.

Generally, it satisfies customers’ expectations and offers good throughput for the latest games and demanding tasks.

Performance

An AMD Ryzen 5 5600H CPU powers the laptop with 16MB of cache memory. Turbo engine technology will allow its eight-core CPU to reach speeds of 4.2GHz.

It has a fast processor and realistic graphics with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics and 4GB GDDR6.

All recent games may be played at the highest settings using the NVIDIA Pascal architecture, which provides exceptional speed and energy efficiency.

It has 16GB of high-bandwidth RAM and is capable of running numerous applications and browser tabs at the same time. Furthermore, the 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD can provide speedier booting, file transfer, and overall performance.

The laptop has a battery life of up to 5 hours for mixed-use, 4 hours for video playback, and 3 hours for wireless streaming. This battery will last less than 3 hours when playing games or performing intense work.

Display and Design

It sports a 15.6-inch IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED backlit screen with full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. This 144Hz panel is an ideal screen for a $1,200 gaming laptop.

The requirement to run Minecraft, The Sims 4, and other games needed a high-quality build and color management system.

The laptop is slightly larger than a business laptop, measuring 14.77 x 10.12 x 0.93 inches.

Other Features

HP Pavilion gaming laptops are equipped with advanced thermal management technology to keep the user’s laptop cool. As a result, you won’t have any heating issues when performing demanding tasks.

It has all of the necessary ports, for example.

• 1 x USB Type-C port
•  1 HDMI 2.0 port
•  2 x USB Type-A port
•  1 x RJ-45 connector
•  1 x headphone/microphone combo jack

This $1,200 gaming laptop comes with a Wireless-AC Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 combo. The Windows 11 Home 64-bit operating system supports it, and it will be free to upgrade to Windows 11 when it becomes available.

The laptop can automatically maintain and monitor the health of your PC using Bios recovery and protection functions, preventing unauthorized access.

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7. Lenovo Legion 5

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Specifications

CPU (Processor)	5th Gen AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor with 3.2GHz
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 6GB GDDR6
RAM	16GB DDR4 RAM 3200MHz
Storage	512GB NVMe SSD
Screen	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display, 165 refresh rate
Weight	5.28 lbs (2.39 kg)
Battery Life	Up to 8 hours
Others	4-zone RGB backlight Keyboard, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Windows 11 Home

The Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop is the most recent addition to the popular gaming laptop series for a good reason. It offers an excellent blend of size, build quality, and performance.

The Lenovo Legion’s excellent build quality and the chassis are free of visible bends. The keyboard feels ordinary for laptop keyboards, so you won’t have any problems unless you’re a keyboard snob.

This Legion 5 is ideal if you’re looking for Lenovo’s best gaming laptop under $1200. Its latest AMD Central processing unit will deliver excellent results. In addition to the CPU, there is greater storage space, RAM, and a smooth dedicated GPU.

Performance

The Lenovo Legion 5 is a powerful gaming laptop with the latest and most powerful hardware components for under $1,200.

There is no better chipset in this price range than AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800H processor.

Up to 8 high-performance cores can be added to your game, allowing it to tackle any work you put into it.

The most crucial feature is the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card with an additional 4GB GDDR6 video RAM.

Some notable features, such as the visual fidelity of real-time ray tracing-RTX Gaming, have increased the game’s performance.

The increased memory decreases the reliance on the CPU and random access memory (RAM).

Furthermore, there is 16GB DDR4 RAM, a standard feature that most laptops in this price range demand.

If you feel insufficient memory, you may easily increase it to 32 GB using dual-channel memory.

It also has a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD for crucial documents and game data. You can do so internally or externally if you require additional storage.

Display and Design

The Legion 5 gaming laptop’s 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display enables full-fidelity gaming with speed and color clarity.

The screen has a refresh rate of 120Hz, which allows the game to run smoothly and at high settings.

Undoubtedly, this is an outstanding gaming computer with a long-lasting body.

The Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop features badgers above the screen, similar to the new Apple MacBook Pro with m1pro and m1x processors.

Other Features

The keyboard comes with a white flickering backlight. As a result, RGB isn’t supported.

A backlit keyboard with RGB support is included with this gaming laptop. The touchpad will become more responsive as well.

It has all the standard I/O ports and connection possibilities, including USB-C. It connects to the Internet via wireless WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

The laptop is perfect for gaming laptops because it weighs more than 5.29 pounds (2.4 kg). The computer is equipped with the most recent Windows 10 operating system. When Windows 11 is out, though, you can easily update it for free.

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8. MSI GF75 Gaming Laptop

Specifications

CPU (Processor)	10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H Processor
GPU	4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Ti
RAM	16GB DDR4 2666MHz
Storage	512GB NVMe SSD
Screen	17.3 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 144Hz; 45% NTSC 100% Adobe RGB Display
Weight	4.85 lbs (2.19 kg)
Battery Life	Up to 5 hours
Others	Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, Windows10 home 64-bit

This is a very Thin and Slim 1200-dollar gaming laptop. It is light and portable and has also proven to be a cost-effective and efficient gaming machine.

A Taiwanese notebook manufacturer, MSI has been releasing high-quality, powerful gaming laptops at reasonable costs.

The MSI GF75 is one of the great devices under $1200 and is the best 17-inch gaming laptop on the market.

Performance

This is a gaming laptop with a powerful Intel Core i5-10300H processor from the 10th generation.

It also has a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics card, which offers superb gaming performance.

The MSI GF75 gaming laptop has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB solid-state drive. You can choose between a 512GB SSD with 16GB RAM, a 256 SSD with 16GB RAM, and a 1TB HDD. Choose from your favorite.

The CPU will supply you with a maximum frequency of up to 4.5GHz if you perform strenuous tasks, and it also features an 8MB Intel cache.

This game laptop also has a flaw: its battery life could be more impressive than a typical gaming laptop. It can last 3 to 4 hours if you deal with intensive or multiple tasks.

Display and Design

It has a 17.3-inch full HD display with an NTSC color gamut of 45 percent and an Adobe RGB color gamut of 100 percent. The 1920×1080 screen resolution, lower bezel, and 144Hz refresh rate are ideal for gaming and deliver a widescreen experience to consumers.

Thanks to the large touchpad and lighted keyboard, users can see the keys in the dark.

The black aluminum case and other exposed portions are pretty attractive. Its internal components are also formed of plastic.

However, it remains among the best gaming laptops under $1200, with stunning screens and designs.

Other Features

It’s a small, portable machine weighing 4.85 pounds (2.19 kg) and has a slim and attractive design.

Even if you spend most of your time outside, you can take this laptop with you, which will easily fit in your backpack.

This laptop has a variety of ports and interfaces, including-

• 1 HDMI 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
•  3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
•  1 RJ-45 cable connector
•  One × APDIF audiophile headphone amplifier + Gold Flashjack

It also has four USB 3.0 ports, which can be used to connect external devices.

After the official activation, Windows 10 boasts unmatched computer performance, allowing you to open up to 30 tabs simultaneously without any issues.

When Windows 11 is released, you can update for free.

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Buying Guide: How To Choose a Good Laptop for Gaming?

Before purchasing a gaming laptop, you should be familiar with the laptop’s or PC’s components, such as the CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, portability, ports, and connectivity.

You will have a lot of trouble executing any activity if you need help understanding all of the components on your laptop.

Purchasing a laptop is a long-term investment, and picking a powerful laptop by gradually raising your budget is the best option.

As we all know, many individuals continue to replace their mobile phones or other electronic gadgets every one or two years, just as you can’t upgrade your laptop.

This is why it is essential to understand all of a laptop or PC components before deciding which one will provide you with the most power.

If your budget permits you to get a gaming laptop for less than $1200, machines with a strong CPU, smooth GPU, larger RAM, and storage are advised.

If you need help deciding on laptop components around $1200, we’ve included some minimal and recommended specs below; please look.

Minimum and Recommended System Requirement: Gaming Laptop Under 1200

Specs	Minimum	Recommended
Screen	Full HD (1080 x 1920)	Full HD (1080 x 1920) or more
CPU	10th Generation Core i5 or equivalent AMD Ryzen 5	11th Generation Core i5 or equivalent AMD Ryzen 5,7
GPU	Intel Iris Xe or equivalent AMD graphics	Dedicated NVIDIA 1000 series to 3000 Series
Memory	8GB	16GB or more
Storage	128GB SSD	512GB SSD or more
Battery	2 Hour	4 hours or more

If you’re on a tight budget, a laptop with the exact minimum system requirements is an option. However, don’t always think of a cheaper option because you can obtain a full HD screen, Tiger Lake’s 11th generation i5 or i7 CPUs, or AMD Ryzen 5, 7 processors in this price range.

In addition to the powerful processor, the $1,200 gaming laptop will come with a dedicated graphics card and 16GB of 512GB RAM.

If you want a dedicated gaming laptop, don’t worry about the battery life because gaming laptops consume more power.

Choose a Trusted Brand

From low-cost laptops to high-end gaming consoles, Asus has many products. The brand provides technical assistance as well as social media platforms.

ASUS business and gaming laptops are made of high-quality materials and are perfect for budget-conscious consumers. It’s a cost-effective computer with an excellent screen, long battery life, and solid performance. In 2023, it was also one of the world’s finest laptop brands.

Lenovo might be the solution if you seek a powerful, stylish, affordable laptop.

With a market share of nearly 25%, it is a genuine candidate for the finest laptop brand in the world. Lenovo provides excellent customer service and support worldwide, in addition to high-quality laptops.

Acer is recognized for its remarkable flexibility, offering anything from low-cost laptops for students to high-end gaming systems for professionals. Its low-cost variants make it a popular choice among people on a tight budget.

The benefit of MSI is that they offer a wide range of laptops. The MSI brand is known for its high-end graphics cards and gaming systems, but some budget-friendly models are available. MSI is someone other than the one to go if you’re searching for a low-cost gaming laptop.

Dell is an excellent brand when ordering a new laptop or computer. They provide high-quality machines with extraordinary battery life and performance. Although some of their models are more expensive than other companies, their dedicated following shows they are worth the investment.

The company sells a selection of laptops capable of handling even the most demanding jobs.

The HP isn’t for you if you’re looking for a cheap laptop. The brand is known for its expensive costs, and finding an excellent notebook for the under-budget category takes a lot of work.

HP had a good year in gaming with the Pavilion 15 and the more expensive Omen 15 and Omen 17. HP PCs are known for their dependability, but they may be costly.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why is a dedicated GPU Essential for Laming Laptops?

You must have a dedicated graphics card if you want to buy a gaming laptop for less than $1,200.

The integrated graphics card is only suitable for daily tasks such as browsing the Internet and watching movies.

If you perform graphics-related tasks, such as rendering, games, etc., you will quickly know how much your laptop needs to have a dedicated graphics card.

Some modern games, such as Call of Duty, Cyberpunk 2077, Fortnite, etc., use more and more graphics. So if you want to run on a laptop, you should have a dedicated one instead of one with less power4.

Dedicated graphics cards have some advantages or use more powerful components for rendering, so they take less time to complete the task than shared graphics cards.

Therefore, laptops should be equipped with dedicated GPUs to enjoy AAA-level games with high refresh rates and smooth settings.

In addition, you can get a laptop equipped with any NVIDIA 1000-Ti series and RTX GPU to complete all these heavy tasks.

Q2. How Much Should I Spend On a Gaming Laptop?

It is entirely dependent on your needs. You can effortlessly run modern games and do heavy tasks in stealth if you invest more money and see decent specifications.

However, if you have a limited budget, you will be limited to playing entry-level games or completing daily activities. You’ll have to pay more to acquire powerful components for robust gaming laptops.

If you spend around $500 on a gaming laptop, you can play entry-level games without difficulty.

You can get a gaming laptop with an NVIDIA 1050 Ti entry-level dedicated graphics card for $600 to $700. On $800 to $900 computers, though, it can run AAA games and do heavy tasks.

Buy a gaming laptop for less than $1,000. You’ll be able to perform AutoCAD, video editing, and other tasks quickly, but if you spend $1200, you’ll be able to play modern games like League of Legends, Valorant, and Minecraft.

Q3. Do FPS Matter for Gaming?

FPS refers to the number of frames displayed per second. FPS matters because a higher FPS will ensure you can see more detail in gaming.

While many games are graphically demanding and require high frame rates, your average frame rate won’t make a difference. Higher frame rates mean smoother gameplay, less input lag, and less stuttering.

This is also important because high FPS allows you to see more enemies.

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Final Words

You’ll quickly get a better gaming laptop for under $1,200, so you should keep the same when choosing components. You can expect a gaming laptop’s largest and most powerful processor, dedicated graphics, more RAM, and storage.

In this price range, you’ll get processors ranging from Intel Core I5 to 7, and in AMD, you’ll also get Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7.

Gaming laptops aren’t just for gaming; they can efficiently run all the heavy lifting and content creation.

On this list, the Asus ROG Strix g15 would be the best choice because its processor and dedicated new graphics card are very powerful, and it has more and more RAM and storage space. The HP Omen is also a good choice if you want a portable one.

This article has cleared all your doubts about the best $1,200 gaming laptop.

If you still have questions and suggestions, please write us in the comment box, and we will reply as soon as possible.