Gaming laptops are expensive. But is it possible to find one that won’t break a bank? Absolutely. This post highlights the top 5 gaming laptops under $700. 

And if you are considering building a computer, our piece on what you need to build a gaming PC will walk you through the basics.

Our Top 5 Gaming Laptops Under $700 List

• Acer Nitro 5
• MSI GF63 Thin
• Asus TUF Gaming Laptop
• Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
• HP Pavilion Gaming

Acer Nitro 5

Acer Nitro 5 is one of the cheapest laptops for gaming. Yet, it offers outstanding value for the price. Nitro 4 uses cutting-edge technology to address overheating issues all gaming units struggle with. Besides, the line has a rather extensive list of configurations. Some of the most affordable ones would be the earlier AMD-based models. However, if you want a full gaming experience, we suggest investing in an Intel-based Nitro 5. 

2021 lineup comes in both AMD Ryzen and Intel configurations, 8GB or 16GB RAM and up to 1TB SSD. The line even got the latest top-of-the-line NVIDIA RTX 3080 GPU. And this means you play the newest AAA games with ease. 

The cheapest Intel Core i5-10300H NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 configuration will cost you $699.99.

MSI GF63 Thin

MSI gaming laptops are beautifully designed, and the GF63 is no exception. But it also packs powerful components. Of course, depending on the configuration, the price on certain GF63 Thin models can quickly reach the $2000 mark, but they also do have a great one well under $700.

For example, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SCX-005 gaming laptop with the Intel Core i5-10300H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 MaxQ graphics currently retails for $649.99 at Walmart.

And, of course, the 8GB dual-channel RAM is a bit underwhelming but sufficient for basic laptop gaming. You also get a 256GB NVMe SSD and a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) display. Besides, the model is eligible for a free Windows 11 Home upgrade.

Asus TUF Gaming Laptop

OK, this one is a bit more expensive but still somewhat affordable, especially considering all the perks it has to offer. The 15.6-inch Asus TUF FX505DT gaming laptop comes with a quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 R5-3350H 2.1GHz processor. Like the MSI GF63, it spots an FHD IPS-type display panel but offers a better 120Hz refresh rate. Some would also argue that thanks to the 12-nanometer chip architecture, this model is more efficient than most of the Intel Core i5-based counterparts. 

This model also comes with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, 256GB SSD storage, and 8GB RAM. Other perks include:

• RGB keyboard.
• Durable chassis with MIL-STD-810 military standard construction.
• Dual fans with anti-dust technology.

Overall, the Asus TUF FX505DT is a perfect choice for mid-range gamers. Currently, you can buy one for $899.00 on Amazon. 

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is another excellent and very affordable AMD Ryzen 5-based laptop. Thanks to a 15.6-inch IPS display paired with NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics, the model can handle even the most demanding games. Besides, the 120Hz refresh rate assures great visuals with no bleed. We also love the sound quality the two 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio for Gamers deliver. 

Other specs include the standard 8GB RAM + 256GB SSD combo, Windows 10 Home, and a full-sized gaming keyboard with a white backlight. 

The laptop is very thin and lightweight at 4.96 lbs. In addition, its chassis is simple with no frills, so the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 can easily double as a work computer. And the best part is the price, of course: the laptop is being sold for $699.99 on Amazon right now.

HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop

Last but not least, we would like to spotlight the HP Pavilion Gaming laptops. This one is the cheapest of the top 5 gaming laptops under $700 picks. The Pavilion Gaming is an affordable line with plenty to offer. It has a solid, maybe even somewhat simplistic, build, and looks very much like an Omen series HP laptop. Because of the looks and specifications, it can be used as a school or work computer and will fare well for content creation. The cheapest 15z-ec200 HP Pavilion Gaming model comes with:

• AMD Ryzen 5 5600H CPU
• 8GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM (2 x 4GB)
• 15.6-inch FHD, IPS, anti-glare, micro-edge, WLED-backlit, 250-nits screen
• 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

And you can snatch this configuration for as little as $609.99 directly on the HP site. The only downside is that the model is ready to ship no earlier than mid-December.

Bottom Line

Yes, you can game on the budget, and we hope that any one of our five gaming laptops under $700 picks caught your eye. And if you’ve got an older but still fully working notebook, there is a good chance you can still resell it, therefore reducing the cost of the upgrade a little bit. To sell your old electronics online with us, simply visit our home page and look up your model to get started.