Here we look at the best gaming laptops under 300. If you are looking for laptops that would give you gaming and multitasking abilities, here are some gaming laptops discussed which come at a budget price of $300. We look at the ideal features that a gaming laptop should have and some popular products in this category.
Do I need a gaming laptop under 300? Games you can play
There are several gaming laptops that you can get under $300. Here we list the top 6 in this segment:
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What kind of games can you expect to play on best gaming laptops under 300? Even if you do not invest in the high-end gaming laptops, this range of gaming laptops will allow you to enjoy popular games such as Witcher III, Prey, GTA V, Assassins Creed, Wolfenstein 2 and others. Running any of these games requires certain features of your laptop. For instance graphics card should be a dedicated resource; you should also have a CPU of moderate power as well as ample RAM space. Such laptops will help you to play casual games easily.
5 best gaming laptops under 300 I picked in 2018
The best gaming laptops under 300 that I have shown here have been compiled the basis of certain features. You will find essential features of standard configuration in each of the products listed below. In the next section, you discuss the features that you should look out for in a standard gaming laptop.
How I picked these top 5 gaming laptops under 300?
How are the top laptops under the gaming category selected? Here we list the main features that a standard gaming laptop should have.
- The main component is the graphics card or EGPU. This is the most vital and costly component for a gaming laptop. If you are looking at laptops in the range of $300 you would be looking at AMD or NVIDIA technologies.
- Next in line is the CPU or processor. This aspect is crucial with respect to the processing power of your laptop. Though the latest generation CPUs are always better you need to ensure that you get a laptop of the 6th Generation Intel Core when you’re buying one recently. Among laptops that come under $300, you can also get Octa Core Intel Core i7 Processor fitted laptops.
- RAM is also important in this aspect. You should aim for a computer that comes with at least 8 GB RAM.
- When it comes to HDD or SSD choice between the two should always see you opting for SSD.
Other aspects that are important are screen features as well as battery life.
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The key players: Choose your best gaming laptops under 300, in-depth reviews
Based on the features discussed above, we look at popular and loaded best gaming laptops under 300 that come under $300. We provide in-depth reviews of the products picked up for you to make an informative decision. You will find top features as well as the advantages and limitations of each product listed below.
Part #1 5 best gaming laptops under 300 2018
Quick tips for these best gaming laptops under 300
The best product chosen in the category of gaming laptops under 300 is the new HP premium laptop of 15.6 inches. You will find the salient features listed as well as what makes this laptop unique and an attractive product in the market.
Editor’s choice: 2018 newest HP Premium 15.6″ laptop review
About this gaming laptop under 300
This is the newest laptop from HP, part of the premium series. It offers 15.6 inch display screen. You will find HD resolution and w LED backlight which offers you a glossy and bright view, fitted with an AMD dual-core processor with 4 GB RAM you will find it able to handle most multitasking requirements. Whether you are running it for a long time on different games or performing basic computing tasks, it is sure to stand up to your expectations.
Performance analysis
When it comes to performance parameters HP laptop will not leave you complaining. Its glossy screen offers a bright view and HD resolution. The AMD dual-core processor ensures fast gaming. With 4 GB RAM, all your basic multitasking requirements, as well as casual gaming, can be easily performed. The 500GB capacity hard drive provides ample storage space to hold your collection of videos music and other files. For casual gaming, this laptop will offer you adequate performance.
Features you might like
The main features of this gaming laptop are:
- It comes with AMD dual-core A6 9220 processor along with AMD Radeon R4 Graphics.
- It comes with 4 GB RAM and 500GB hard drive of 5400 RPM.
- It has a built-in DVD RW burner.
- The screen is a 15.6 inch HD technology.
- Built-in accessories includes HDMI USB port multi-format SD card reader and headphone or microphone combo Jack.
- The laptop comes loaded with Windows 10 Home edition.
- It has a lithium-ion battery that offers up to 6 hours of battery life.
- It weighs 4.52 pounds and comes in jet black color.
Pros & cons
Advantages of this laptop are several:
- The AMD Radeon R4 graphics card ensures a high-quality video experience.
- The built-in speakers of studio quality will ensure a virtual surround audio experience.
- It is a lightweight and thin laptop.
- Display screen could be brighter and more vivid among limitations of the product.
Top 2: Acer Aspire E 15 FHD Notebook under 300 Dollars
About this gaming laptop under 300
In the category of gaming laptops under 300, this is a good product to consider. It comes with state of the art processor and graphics card of the latest series to offer you optimal computing and casual gaming with ease. Here we look at what features you can expect of this gaming laptop, pros & cons of the product know about so that you can compare it with others before you make a purchase decision.
Performance analysis
When it comes to analyzing the performance of this laptop there is much to consider. For instance, the fact is that it comes with a seventh generation Intel Core processor and has a wide screen full HD monitor. With comfy viewing an LED backlit screen, a 4GB memory and 1 TB HDD, you can expect excellent performance from this laptop for casual and medium level gaming and other standard computing task requirements.
Features you might like
This Asus laptop of the Aspire E series is built to offer the latest in laptop technology to cover all requirements of a standard computer user who indulges in casual gaming. Here are the salient features to expect from this product:
- It comes fitted with the Intel Core processor of the 7th generation.
- It has a wide screen of full HD, 15.6” in dimension.
- The RAM is of 4GB.
- The HDD of 1 TB will ensure adequate storage for standard and multimedia files to be stored.
- The battery life of the computer is 12 hours.
- It comes with Windows 10 Home edition.
For everyday computing and casual gaming requirements, this laptop will not leave you wanting more.
Pros & cons
The advantages of the laptop are several:
- The E series comes fitted with the latest processor and adequate drive capabilities.
- Multimedia features of the laptop are appealing.
- The aesthetic and attractive design of the laptop is an advantage to consider.
- You might find the processing speed average, especially if you load it with high-level games.
Bottom Line:This laptop would be an ideal product to look at if you are looking for a standard home computer or a casual gaming laptop. In the budget range of gaming laptops under 300, this laptop will offer standard computing capabilities with certain top-end features thrown in such as an attractive and lightweight design.
Top 3: Lenovo Ideapad 15.6″ HD Laptop
About this gaming laptop under 300
What you can expect from this gaming laptop are standard and latest processing power, graphics card features and storage capacities that will leave you with no complaints. If you are looking for a laptop that will stand the tests of time you will surely like the dimensions and features that this Lenovo Ideapad has to offer.
Performance analysis
The Lenovo Ideapad comes with high-performance features. It offers large storage capacity with 500 GB which would be ideal for standard personal computer usage. The computer is fitted with an AMD A6 processor as well as 4GB RAM. With such processing and memory, capacities will allow the laptop to function smoothly.
Features you might like
The standard features that the Lenovo Ideapad comes with are:
- It has an accelerated processor of the AMD A6 series.
- The graphics card is of AMD Radeon R4 series.
- The monitor is fitted with LED backlight and energy efficient features, 15.6 inches HD screen.
- The operating system is Windows 10.
- It comes with 4GB RAM.
- There is a built-in optical drive which makes it easy to write and read digital files.
- Built-in accessories includes Ethernet connection and HDMI port along with USB ports, combo headphone and microphone jack.
Pros & cons
The advantages and limitations of the product are:
- The Ideapad is a flagship design of the Lenovo brand.
- It pairs great looks with high performance.
- The AMD A6 processor ensures smooth performance for most tasks and casual as well as medium level gaming requirements.
- It offers several connectivity options that are quick and convenient.
- You might find the design awkward when it comes to portability of the device.
Bottom Line:This Ideapad of Lenovo is built to offer you sturdy computing capabilities. You might find the design slightly old fashioned and standard, but it will not give you the reason to complain when it comes to standard processing performance. For such reasons, Lenovo Ideapad series has been popular in the market for long.
Top 4: Lenovo Miix 320 Laptop Under 300
About this gaming laptop under 300
This is a unique product that combines cutting-edge features. It comes with a tablet-like monitor where the processor and memory drives are inbuilt-in the monitor which can be detached from the keyboard. Hence, if you are looking for a convenient and modern computer for youngsters, this is a product to consider. The tablet-like hold and portability makes it easy for kids to use it for gaming and running other multimedia applications. You will find several advantages of this 2-in-1 laptop as well as standard and top of the line computing features which come under the budget price of $300.
Performance analysis
When it comes to performance analysis of this computer, it comes with Intel Atom processor which ensures standard processing capabilities. It comes pre-loaded with Windows 10 Home edition; the drives include 128 GB with an embedded card of multimedia capabilities. The communication options are standard and the battery life of the device promises up to ten hours of operation on full charge.
Features you might like
The features of this gaming laptops under 300 are several such as:
- It comes with Intel Atom X5 processor.
- The operating system is Windows 10 Home edition.
- It has an HD touch screen with LED backlight.
- Built-in accessories in cloth wireless WLAN, Bluetooth, webcam as well as audio speakers of Dolby feature.
- Other standards include keyboard ports and slots for USB and micro HDMI amongst others.
This versatile, compact laptop will not only be your portable computing device on the go, but it would also serve for average and casual gaming pleasures. The colorful display along with good audio makes it a great multimedia device to use. It will also offer you standard performance for multitasking computing. This can serve as a budget laptop for kids and your keyboard is great for those who are learning their basic computing skills.
Pros & cons
The advantages of this product are several:
- It comes with a modern and aesthetic design.
- It is compact and easy to carry around.
- It would offer you better performance as well as standard battery life.
- It might feel a little top heavy since it is a computing tablet design.
Bottom Line:If you are looking for a modern compact laptop that can also work as a tablet then this product would suit your requirements. It has all standard features and can help you carry out casual gaming with pleasure. However, for those looking for a casual to medium level gaming, it might fall short of such requirements.
Top 5: Lenovo Ideapad 110-15ACL Laptop
About this gaming laptop under 300
Among the Ideapad series of Lenovo laptops, this product is again a popular one to consider. If you are looking for a wide screen HD quality monitor, then this laptop offers you that and much more. It can be stated as a notebook PC in the budget price of coming under $300. The processing power and graphics card capabilities are standard that will even let you consider it as a casual gaming laptop. We discuss below the features of this notebook PC and what you can expect from its overall.
Performance analysis
If you are wondering what kind of performance you can expect from this laptop, it would offer you as much as a notebook PC can. For a reasonable level of computing tasks, the storage requirements of personal video, audio, and other files as well as processing speed to carry out a popular game at good speed, this laptop will not let you down.
Features you might like
The standard features of this notebook PC are:
- It comes with an AMD A6 processor.
- It is fitted with AMD Radeon R4 graphics card.
- You will find 500 GB of HDD and 4GB RAM.
- The monitor has a 15.6 inch HD LED screen.
- Standard accessories include a webcam of 0.3 megapixel, analog microphone, DVD rewritable drive, Bluetooth, USB 3.0 and HDMI ports.
- It can offer you 3 hours of video playback.
- It comes fitted with Windows 10 Home edition.
It is an entry-level notebook PC that comes with standard features. You will enjoy casual gaming on it, but the resolution of the display could be better.
Pros & cons
Advantages of the product include:
- It is a notebook PC design that is lightweight and portable.
- It comes at a good budget price.
- Pre-loaded with Windows 10 is an advantage.
- The limitation is the low resolution of the display.
- Hardware components like processing and memory could be better.
Bottom Line:If you are looking for a modern compact laptop that can also work as a tablet then this product The above points showcase what you can expect from this Ideapad notebook PC. It is high in features and standard hardware capabilities. However, you will find it falling short if you wish to run high-level games on it..
Brief summary
The above section discusses laptops that have standard performance features. Some have better processing power and graphics card configuration than others. If you wish to look at them as gaming laptops they can offer you the best performance for casual and medium level games only.
Part #2 Best refurbished gaming laptops under 300
Buying new gaming laptops under 300 dollars is not the only option when you are looking at a budget of $300. There are several superior products of earlier series of computing brands that can offer you greater processing power and other capabilities that would help you run the latest games smoothly. Here we look at some refurbished products that promise you great performance still.
Quick tips: Benefit
If you are wondering what would be the benefits of looking at a refurbished laptop, they are many:
- The latest laptops offer slight or minor improvements in hardware components over the earlier versions.
- Refurbished laptops of good condition are as good as running new laptops.
- These come with a warranty from the refurbished supplier along with warranty from the original manufacturer if it is still valid.
- Many refurbished suppliers add-on necessary software and other upgrades to make these products attractive.
- You would get more features for the price that you would pay as compared to a new laptop with similar configuration.
Editor’s choice: Lenovo ThinkPad T430 review
About this gaming laptop under 300
Among the refurbished laptops available in the market you can look at the model of Lenovo Thinkpad T430 that has much to offer. It is built for businesses and hence it has inbuilt processing, memory and storage capabilities that makes it superior to personal PCs and laptops. I would recommend that you look at the features that this refurbished laptop offers and understand the kind of performance you could expect from it.
Performance analysis
If you look at the performance that you can expect from this Lenovo Thinkpad business laptop, it is a premium belt model that comes with Intel dual-core i5 processor along with 8 GB of memory, with other beneficial features such as Windows 10 professional edition as operating system you will not have any complaints about this laptop and its performance.
Features you might like
The standard features of this laptop include:
- Intel dual-core i5 processor and EGPU.
- It comes with 8 GB memory.
- It has inbuilt 320 GB HDD.
- Standard accessories include a webcam and a DVD drive.
- It is pre-loaded with Windows 10 professional edition.
Even being a refurbished laptop of an earlier series, this Lenovo laptop would be a great buy if you are looking for casual to a medium level gaming experience. It would offer you long-standing processing power and battery life which is an aspect that is an advantage in most Lenovo laptops even among gaming laptops under 300.
Pros & cons
Advantages of this product are several:
- It promises Long battery life.
- Good performance based on its processing power.
- Study and comfortable keyboard.
- Limitations include the dim display and small touchpad.
Bottom Line:If you are looking for superior processing power and Long battery life as the premium features, then this Lenovo laptop should certainly be considered
Top 2: Product Lenovo Yoga 2 10 inch tablet with keyboard
I would recommend looking at another compact laptop even in refurbished condition for the premium features that it offers. This is the Lenovo Yoga two series tablet which comes with the keyboard MI 10 inch screen. If you are looking for a stylish and Powerful tablet with computing capability, then this product is definitely worth looking at.
About this gaming laptop under 300
When Lenovo launched to yoga series these were considered to be lightweight, portable computing devices that are built for the new generation. Even if it is a product of an earlier series from Lenovo it still has standard computing features for you to consider it as a gaming laptop product under $300.
Performance analysis
This Yoga Tablet is high in battery life which will run up to 15 hours even. It will offer you a better grip and is a portable yet powerful computing device. It comes fitted with a lightweight screen and Microsoft Windows 8 as an operating system. Hence the tablet offers all capabilities of a basic game in laptops.
Features you might like
There are standard features to expect from this laptop such as:
- It comes fitted with a battery that is capable of running up to 15 hours.
- It is of an economic design that allows better grip.
- This refurbished laptop comes with standard accessories.
- It is packed with a 90-day warranty feature.
- 10 inch IPS display is great for streaming as well as gaming.
- Other features include an 8-megapixel rear camera along with 32 GB of internal storage.
- It is loaded with Microsoft Windows 8 operating system.
The above features showcase unique properties that this Lenovo Yoga tablet possesses.
Pros & cons
The advantages of this product are:
- Unique and lightweight design for 10-inch tablet.
- Outstanding battery life.
- Great multimedia features.
- IPS display great for gaming visuals.
The limitation of this product would be few:
- Processing power is standard and hence it is suitable only for casual level HD games.
- Multitasking capabilities would be basic.
Bottom Line:This product is a stylish computing tablet to own the reliable Lenovo brand. Even if it is a refurbished product you can expect it to run as in original condition.
Brief summary
In the above section, we looked at 2 refurbished products that you could consider as gaming laptops. Well, the original products as priced higher than the budget of $300, these products, even in refurbished condition can offer you reliable processing power, battery life and graphics card capabilities that you need in a basic gaming laptop.
If I were you, I will choose HP, here are 3 reasons
If I were you I would choose the latest HP laptop which comes with this budget.
- Being of the premium series it offers the best that you can get at this budget price.
- The fine HD resolution of the 15.6-inch screen along with AMD dual-core processor and graphics card ensures that you can carry out medium to casual level gaming with ease.
- HP has established itself as a premier computing brand even in the genre of gaming laptops.
Tips buying guide times: How to choose the best gaming laptops under 300
This category of gaming laptops can offer you a balance of useful features along with standard performance. The basic buying guide that you need to have to ensure that you make the right choice is stated below. Here the main features you need to look out for are listed that would make your buying choice easier. The products that are listed in the reviews above can also be your choices when looking at gaming laptops under the price range of $300.
7 features that we evaluate in order to make our recommendations
Here are the main features evaluated which can help you evaluate laptops in this budget price before making a purchase decision:
- Check the performance parameters such as the CPU, graphics card configuration and memory capabilities.
- Ensure that storage is the best that you can get along with options to upgrade your RAM and video card.
- The monitor is the next important aspect to consider. Nowadays, most laptops offer an HD screen, but check the display parameters; an IPS display would be optimal to enjoy great visuals of your gaming experience.
- Battery life is also an important consideration when you wish to purchase a laptop that will offer you casual gaming and other multitasking capabilities.
- Standard connectivity options and accessories that should include HDMI, USB 3.0 ports, and good quality audio speakers are a necessity.
- The laptop should have a sturdy design with screen hinges and chassis of solid make. The keyboard should be spill resistant and temperatures should be maintained even with long hours of running.
- Portability would be a useful feature that will help you carry it around wherever you go.
The above points will help you remember the vital features to check out when you are purchasing a laptop for casual to a medium level gaming.
Brand new vs. refurbished gaming laptops Under 300
There are several reasons you can use to debate whether you should buy a refurbished or a new laptop. While the risks of buying a new laptop are few, when you opt for refurbished laptops from reliable resellers the risks are minimal as well. There are also return or exchange as well as warranty coverage’s that make your refurbished laptop buying a less risky affair.
Here are the salient aspects of buying a new laptop:
- You would get the latest processing power and graphics card configurations.
- The battery life of a new laptop is optimal which goes down with age.
- Latest connectivity and accessory options are available with a brand new laptop.
- Design and finish are impeccable in a brand new boxed laptop item.
The points that come in favor of a refurbished laptop are also several:
- Refurbished laptops of a slightly older series will offer you standard processing speed; memory and hard drive as well as graphics card capabilities.
- Features such as built-in operating system, accessories and connectivity ports would be standard or of an earlier configuration.
- Battery life is usually less than a new computer or laptop of the same series or brand.
The above points showcase how you can differentiate the advantages and risks associated with a new or a refurbished laptop purchase. I would recommend a refurbished laptop buy which would be as advantageous as a new model as long as the model is refurbished, well and comes with a warranty coverage, up to a year or at least six months.
Ready for our budget gaming laptops under 300 recommendations?
Among our budget gaming laptops reviewed above, I would recommend that you opt for the HP computer if you want a performance that would be optimal at such a budget price. If you want style along with standard processing and battery life, Lenovo Yoga is a stylish product to consider or others of the tablet or notebook designs. Lenovo ThinkPad laptops, even of the refurbished kind would be a great buy when you are looking for superior processing power and speed that comes at this budget price.
Further reading time: read gaming laptops under 500 guide
Gaming Laptops Under 500:Read up on the different features that are standard on a gaming laptop and then choose the best feature packed one that comes in your budget. If you are willing to take your budget up to $500 then Acer laptops of the Aspire or the Nitro series as well as the Dell Inspiron series would offer you admirable performance.
Conclusion
The above guide should provide you a fair idea of what products to look at as per the budget price you are considering. Lenovo has several models that come at the budget price of $300 and it offers reliable processing speed and battery life that is crucial for gaming. However, HP laptops will offer you good display and graphics capabilities as well and Acer also promises reliable performance in this range of gaming laptops under 300.