5 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1200: Reviewed & Compared

What to Expect from This Price Point

Gaming laptops in the $1000 to $1200 price range are powerful machines. However, they are not the top of the line. They will have great processors and enough RAM to game and perform multitasking, but many won’t be able to play brand new gaming titles at the highest possible settings.

However, don't let this discourage you, as this price range has many options for every type of gamer and the power to boot. 

Gaming Laptops Under $1200 Compared

Features to Look for in Gaming Laptops Under $1200

Processor

At the heart of your laptop lies the processor, otherwise known as the CPU. This acts as the brain for your computer, doing all of the complex calculations necessary to execute what you demand of it.

You’ll have two options in the under $1200 price range; the Intel Core i7 and the AMD Ryzen 7. Both are great processors that get the job done, but varying models will have different clock speeds and overall power.

GPU

Your GPU, or graphics card, is what allows your laptop to run games. For the $1000 - $1200 price range, you’ll have access to Nvidia GeForce and AMD cards. All of these will be dedicated, meaning they are not integrated into the processor itself but a separate component of the computer.

Determining which graphics card best suits your needs is important. Some cards will be able to run AAA titles, and some won’t. Typically, Nvidia GeForce cards are of better quality than many AMD, but this isn’t a given.

RAM

This is the component that helps every other component function. Also known as your laptop's short-term memory, RAM helps make quick calculations and stores the code necessary to run applications.

Having enough RAM is immensely important for a gaming laptop. You need at least 8GB of RAM, but this is on the low end of the spectrum. Ideally, your graphics card will also have at least 4GB dedicated RAM separate from the computer’s internal RAM capacity.

Storage Space

This is the long term memory of your computer. Storage space allows you to save the files and applications onto your hard drive for access at any time. Games, music, movies, images, and programs are all stored here.

Since games tend to take up a lot of storage space, you need a computer that will have enough. Laptops have two types of storage, SSD and HDD. Some laptops will have both, while others will only have one. HDD is an older storage method with more space, while SSD might have less but uses storage more efficiently and operates faster than its counterpart.

Battery Type & Life

Your battery will determine how long you can use your laptop off the charging cable. You shouldn’t be keeping your laptop plugged in constantly, so battery life is an important aspect to consider when purchasing any laptop.

Most laptops now feature a lithium-ion battery that can last for hours off the charger. Some may have fast-charging capability. If you travel with your computer a lot, this can be a huge benefit. You might even be able to get a 50% charge in under 30 minutes!

Screen Size & Display

This is one of the first things you need to consider when buying any laptop. For gaming, you need at least a Full HD screen. While 4K screens are available, sometimes it isn’t ideal for gaming. In the under $1200 price range, you won’t be able to get a 4K display.

Refresh rates for display determine how your game is going to look. Higher refresh rates limit motion blur, which can hinder any game’s performance. The higher a laptop’s refresh rate is, the better.

Portability

Gaming laptops have a terrible reputation for being bulky and heavy. However, newer models have slimmed down the body and cut down the weight, making them more portable than ever.

If you want to travel with your gaming laptop or use it for work or school, portability is an essential factor to consider. You won’t be able to find anything under three pounds for a gaming laptop in this price range.

Additional Features

Warranty

Any gaming laptop you purchase for $1000-$1200 should come with a good warranty. This will protect your computer from some forms of damage and hardware malfunction.

If your warranty isn’t up to snuff, you should consider purchasing an additional warranty to give added protection. Your purchase is best protected with a good warranty in place.

1. ASUS ROG 2019

Our Top Pick!

The best gaming laptop under $1200 is an exceptional product coming off the legendary Asus Republic of Gamers line. This laptop not only has the power to play AAA titles at high settings but multiple other features that made our team drool at the chance to get our hands on it.

The laptop? The Asus ROG 2019, an absolute behemoth in the gaming world, and for good reason.

Supplying this beast’s top-notch performance is the Intel Hexa-Core i7-9750H processor with clock speed turbocharged up to 4.5GHz. Six cores allow unparalleled processing capability, running up to twelve threads simultaneously to achieve an insane performance standard that easily competes with the best and most well-known gaming brands on the market.

For gaming with a powerful processor, you definitely need the right amount of RAM to keep all of your applications running smoothly while in use at the same time. The ROG 2019 does not disappoint, delivering on 16GB DDR4 RAM using cutting-edge technology specially developed by Intel to support AAA titles.

If you like to take a break from CoD with some Netflix and internet browsing, this model can have dozens of tabs open at once with zero lag whatsoever. In terms of display, the ROG 2019 is a gamer’s dream. The 1920 x 1080p Full HD resolution is the ideal standard for top-quality graphics for visually-intensive games like Tomb Raider and Hitman. 

Colors are vivid, and blacks are deep and diverse. No details will be lost in the shadows or dark-lighting used to set the mood for cinematic adventures and frantic multiplayer games alike. Not only that, but the energy-saver LED backlighting lets you ramp up the settings even if you’re off the charger.

Your laptop’s visual prowess is only as good as its GPU, the staple piece of equipment that all self-respecting manufacturers strive to include at the highest possible standard for gaming. The ROG 2019 comes equipped with the Nvidia GTX 1650, a top-shelf graphics card with 4GB DDR5 dedicated memory.

If you like to have a few games installed on your laptop but often worry about storage space, this is the laptop for you. Having 1TB HDD and 512GB SSD means the ROG 2019 eats games and applications for breakfast with enough room for an early dessert.

You can comfortably fit multiple large files without the need to expand into peripheral storage devices. However, the storage is upgradeable, meaning you can choose to have even more if you deem it necessary.

Quite surprising for us were the standard speakers that are built into the frame. These are powerful, to say the least. The bass is booming, and the laptop was able to fill our testing room with sound at only 50%, an impressive feat for a computer in any price range.

Finally, the ROG 2019’s design is magnificent, a true feat of utility and aestheticism that most brands can only dream of. At around five pounds, it’s lighter than many hardcore gaming laptops and, with a width of only one inch, thinner as well.

Both interior and exterior are a classy black aluminum that has a nice finger-feel to it. The Republic of Gamers logo is embroidered on the top of the chassis, lighting up with an intimidating red when the laptop is powered on.

This is hands down our top pick for the best gaming laptop under $1200 and would be well worth the money to start your adventure in whatever type of game you’re into.

2. Acer Predator Helios 300

Optional Extras Available

The runner-up on our list has an equally impressive reputation behind its name, and the optional extras make it an excellent choice for any hardcore gamer. The model is none other than the Acer Predator Helios 300.

The Helios 300 is a powerful machine that comes equipped with the Intel i7-10750H six-core chipset processor.

This is a speedy piece of equipment that can handle a clock speed up to 5.0GHz. You won’t have any difficulties running top gaming titles with little to no lag, even in a high player count game like Battlefield or Overwatch.

Backing up the processor is the overclockable Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card with 6GB dedicated DDR6 VRAM. This GPU is more than enough to deal with 60fps Full HD gaming at high-visual output.

AAA titles will look fantastic at the high settings they were meant to be played on. No matter if you’re playing single-player strategies like Divinity II or high-octane shooters like Call of Duty, you’ll feel confident in this laptop’s ability to perform.

Aside from the dedicated GPU RAM, the laptop has 16GB DDR4 dual-channel memory, much higher than some laptops in this price range. Multitasking is an absolute breeze for the Helios 300.

Not only is it great for gaming, but if you’re a professional who uses their laptop for memory-intensive tasks like video editing or graphics rendering, this laptop is a fantastic option.

In terms of display, the Helios 300 is a competitor. Full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution makes images appear crisp and clean, and the 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms overdrive response time limit any motion blur that may hinder gaming performance on similar models.

Colors and blacks are consistently brilliant from any perspective. You’ll feel comfortable shifting your viewing angle from time to time without worrying about missing any details if you do so.

The storage capacity of this model is fantastic, as well. The 512GB SSD hard drive is designed for fast-access and has enough room for a couple of games, and all of the standard laptop applications people tend to use most frequently.

However, if you find this to not be enough, don’t worry. Acer has left one memory slot open for an easy upgrade, so if you’re willing to spend a bit more money, you can get extra HDD capacity with little effort.

What makes the Helios 300 unique in the gaming space is that Acer has included multiple bundlings with other specialized Acer peripheral products like their headphones, mouse, and backpack. All of these are designed for use in this model and are top-shelf products in and of themselves.

Overall, the Acer Helios 300 is a stellar option for any gamer that likes a bit of wiggle room in how their laptop operates and its upgradability over time.

3. Acer Nitro 5

Top Connectivity Features

Coming in at number four on our list is the Acer Nitro 5, an exceptional gaming laptop with great connectivity features at an amazing price point.

What makes this model special is the number of ports it has. Not only does it have the standard audio jack, USB 2.0, and HDMI plugins, but it also comes equipped with USB 3.1, USB 3.1C, USB 3.1/charge port, K-lock security, and an RJ45 ethernet port.

It has a Bluetooth connection and a strong connection to any Wi-Fi you may be using with 4G LTE support. Any peripheral devices you might want, like headphones, extra speakers, or additional monitors, can be easily used in tandem with the laptop. 

If you have extra devices plugged into any laptop, it tends to overheat pretty quickly. That isn’t the case with the Acer Nitro 5. This model features patented CoolBoost technology that has fans on the bottom and vents on the side. For gaming especially, this is a huge boon to anyone who likes to play for hours on end. No more singed desks or burning pants here!

This bad boy's hardware specs are nothing to joke about either and can reasonably compete with any of the laptops above on this ranking. With the Intel Core i7-9750H, you’ll have plenty of power at your disposal for a range of tasks and plenty left over for a top gaming title. It has a clock speed of 4.5GHz, exceptional for the $1200 range.

Electrifying the processing capability of the Nitro 5 is 16GB DDR4 RAM. Everything will feel fast and smooth, even when you forget to close out the twenty tabs you had open, and you decide to hop on Fortnite a quick game or five.

Supporting all of your gaming needs is the fantastic Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060. This graphics card is top of the line and comes equipped with 6GB DDR4 dedicated RAM, ensuring a lightning-fast refresh rate and load time for any AAA game.

For large, single-player open-world games like Skyrim or the newly remastered Horizon: Zero Dawn, changing areas will seem seamless with almost no load times at all.

Last but not least is the Nitro 5’s display, a stunning 1920 x 1080p resolution with an extraordinary 144Hz IPS display. Colors are insanely beautiful from any viewing angle, and the 15.6” screen is big enough to create an immersive experience lacking in many gaming laptops under $1200.

You will find that the Acer Nitro 5 doesn’t just have a stellar reputation but great customer service to boot. You won’t be disappointed if you choose this gaming laptop if you have a budget under $1200.

4. ASUS Vivobook K571

Best Students & Gaming Laptop Under $1200

Taking the fifth spot in our ranking is another Asus model and another great one at that. This laptop is a phenomenal option for a student who likes to prioritize their studies and portability but needs enough power to satisfy their competitive cravings on their time off.

If this sounds like you, the Asus Vivobook K571 is the laptop you need.

The chassis is a cool midnight black that is pleasing on the eye. The brushed aluminum casing makes it tactile and grip firmly, allowing the laptop to be carried open or closed with ease. The body itself is ultra-thin, measuring just under one-inch thickness. This means the K571 is exceptionally portable, making it perfect for traveling between classes and public transport.

The internal hardware of this model is a spectacle to behold. Featuring the powerful Intel Core i7-9750H processor with a clock speed of 4.5GHz, the K571 has lightning-fast multiprocessor capability. Supporting this is an impressive 16GB of RAM, perfect for keeping your school assignments up in the background as you take a break with a game on high-settings.

Probably the most important piece of equipment for the gaming student in any laptop is the GPU, and the K571 does not fail to deliver. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 is a gaming powerhouse, running new AAA titles on medium to high settings with minimal lag and pixelization.

When running a few applications at once, a common problem with gaming laptops is that they tend to overheat. The K571 has patented Asus IceCool Tech and rear-facing fans that keep heat directed away from the user and the mousepad cool at all times. You won’t have to worry about overheating or an uncomfortably hot workspace anymore.

If you’re a student with a medium budget for a quality gaming laptop but also need something that can handle all your school requirements, the Asus Vivobook K571 is the right model for you.

5. Asus TUF Gaming A15

Value For Money

Extra Gaming Laptop Features To Look Into

Gaming Laptop Care And Maintenance

If you want your gaming laptop to have a long and happy life, you need to take care of it.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What gaming accessories do I need to make the most of my gaming laptop?

For a gaming laptop, you need the essential peripherals. Good quality headphones, a responsive mouse, a cooling pad, and a high-quality mousepad are the key to a good gaming experience.

Can I run VR on any gaming laptop?

Unfortunately not. Some laptops come VR Ready, while others do not. You may be able to purchase an accessory that makes it possible, but not all laptops are VR Ready out of the box. 

How long do laptops in this price range typically last?

A good gaming laptop under $1200 should last 4-6 years if taken care of correctly. You might not be able to game the top AAA titles in 5 years, but it will still be a good machine.

Where should I start browsing for the best gaming laptops under 1200 USD?

If you’re looking for the best gaming laptops under $1200, Amazon.com has the widest selection of available high-quality models.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you in your hunt for the best gaming laptop under $1200. Every machine on this list is incredible and has amazing qualities for this price range. However, our team recommends the ASUS ROG as the best gaming laptop available. You can easily find all of these laptops on Amazon.com.