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5 Best Gaming Laptop Under $300 2023 Reviews | Yes, They Are That Affordable!

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4 Reviewers

25 Hours of Research

10 Options Considered

While gaming laptops under $300 are practically unheard of, they do exist and come packed with a wide range of supreme features for their price. Here we review the best gaming laptops under $300, which are decent budget laptops but lack the power of four hundred and five hundred options.

When it comes to gaming, consoles are the top choice of buyers. However, if you wish to experience the authentic quality that a game brings to the table, gaming laptops are the way to go. As with desktops, all the top-notch gaming laptops are configured specifically to deliver premium gaming performance. At the least, they all feature a bigger screen size (15-19 inches), with a decent resolution and long battery life. Additionally, they are powered by a third-generation Intel Core processor. For a premium audio experience, get one of the best PC gaming headsets we reviewed here.

5 Top Gaming Laptops Under $300

[Best Overall]

This laptop is an affordable yet quality laptop. I'm particularly impressed by its compact and portable design, which lets me carry it anywhere

4.9/5

  • Extensive display
  • Comprehensive port connectivity
  • Alexa allows for easy laptop navigation

[Best for the Money]

One thing I love about this laptop is its excellent battery life. It lasts up to 15 hours, letting me game all day long. I was also impressed by its anti-glare display that eliminates eye strain

4.8/5

  • Long battery life
  • The anti-glare screen protects my eyes
  • Fast WiFi connectivity for streaming games

[Best in Terms of Speed]

It combines the best of two worlds – simplicity and speed. This third-generation Chromebook comes with the benefits of robust security, long battery life of 8.5 hours and the latest Intel Celeron Haswell processor.

4.7/5

  • It boots up fast
  • It’s easy to carry
  • Anti-glare HD display

This is an irresistible combination of scintillating good looks, solid graphics performance and excellent battery life. Ideal for both work and gameplay, and is a windows laptop.

4.6/5

  • The system is inbuilt with a 500 GB hard drive
  • A battery life of an astounding 6.5 hours
  • Great for multi-tasking

It is highly suitable for regular tasks like browsing, video playback and Skype. Users who wish to play games on this laptop then they should find titles obtained from the Windows Store.

4.5/5

  • Unique ergonomic design
  • Optimized sound
  • It operates quietly

Best Gaming Laptops Under 300 Dollars Reviews

This laptop is an affordable yet quality laptop. I'm particularly impressed by its compact and portable design, which lets me carry it anywhere; thus, I can play my favorite games anywhere. It also has an extensive screen that lets me play my games efficiently. 

Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-32DK Slim Laptop features are as follows:

  • High performance. This laptop is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 Dual Core processor with a high processing power for smooth gameplay, enhancing my gaming experience.
  • I have ample space for gaming. The 15.6 inches display offers enough space ideal for most games.
  • The Full HD display produces sharp, clear images, enhancing my gaming experience.
  • It is comfortable to type on this laptop's keyboard. The keyboard has an ergonomically-designed hinge that lifts the keyboard when typing, ensuring comfort and an improved experience.
  • The laptop has 4GB DDR4 RAM that lets me run my games smoothly. I can also launch several programs without affecting the laptop's performance.
  • The 128GB NVMe SSD storage lets me save my games and other media files. The SSD storage ensures I instantly launch my games and retrieve my files fast.
  • I enjoy the enhanced multimedia experience this laptop provides. It supports Acer's Purified Voice technology that eliminates background noise when gaming.
  • The laptop is compatible with Alexa, which lets me navigate and configure my laptop using voice commands.
  • The laptop runs on Windows 11 (S mode) with advanced security features that protect my laptop against malicious software.
  • This laptop has comprehensive port connectivity. It has one USB 3.2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 1, one USB 2.0, and HDMI 2.0 with HDCP support. These ports let me transfer data, charge accessories, and connect my laptop to larger displays to enhance my gaming experience.

Pros

  • Extensive display
  • No background noise when gaming and making calls
  • Comprehensive port connectivity
  • Alexa allows for easy laptop navigation

Cons

  • I was a bit uncomfortable with this laptop's touchpad positioning. It can inconvenience right-handed individuals.

[Best For The Money]

4.8/5

One thing I love about this laptop is its excellent battery life. It lasts up to 15 hours, letting me game all day long. I was also impressed by its anti-glare display that eliminates eye strain, thus protecting my eyes. 

HP Chromebook 11-inch Laptop Features

HP Chromebook 11-inch Laptop features are as follows.

  • This laptop is thin and portable. The 2.36 lbs average weight is light to carry; thus, I can game from anywhere.

  • The long battery life of up to 15 hours allows me to game all day long without recharging the laptop.

  • The powerful MediaTek mobile processor allows me to game, do school assignments, and connect with my friends. 

  • The full-sized keyboard with well-fit characters improves my typing experience.

  • I find no problem gaming on the 11inches display, although I prefer a larger display.

  • It runs on Google Chrome OS, letting me save most of my work and gaming tools online, thus enhancing security.

  • It has a MediaTek Integrated Graphics card that offers quality rendering without draining my battery.

  • I don’t have to worry about my eyes getting affected by watching the screen for long hours. The anti-glare screen eliminates eye strain, which protects my eyes.

  • This laptop is compatible with WiFi 5, which lets me connect to the internet to stream my favorite games and other entertainment essentials. 

  • The Bluetooth 4.2 wireless connectivity lets me wirelessly connect my laptop to an external Bluetooth soundbar to enhance my gaming multimedia experience.

  • I was delighted to learn that I can install and use PlayStore apps on my Chromebook. What’s more, these apps don’t affect the laptop’s performance. 

Pros

  • High processing power for gaming, school work, and connecting with friends.
  • Fast WiFi connectivity for streaming games
  • Long battery life
  • The anti-glare screen protects my eyes.

Cons

  • While 11.6 inches display is not for gaming, I’d prefer a more prominent screen with ample space.

[Best in Terms of Speed]

4.7/5

Acer ‘s new offering, the Lenovo Chromebook S330 combines the best of two worlds – simplicity and speed. It is a low-cost 300 dollar laptop that is solid for gaming and was actually a best seller in 2019. Updated on a continual basis, this third-generation Chromebook comes with the benefits of robust security, long battery life of 8.5 hours and the latest Intel Celeron Haswell processor that allows it to deliver exceptional performance when you need it the most. Additionally, its 14″ screen with anti-glare HD display promises supreme functionality outdoors.

At 3.3 pounds, Lenovo Chromebook S330 is sleek, thin laptop, and 30% lighter than its predecessors. Therefore, it’s extremely convenient to carry to far-off locations. The model comes with a 2 GB DDR3L SDRAM that’s not bad for storing a normal amount of multimedia files. It also provides an additional 100 GB of free storage space in Google Drive. Lenovo S330 is powered by the super-fast Intel Celeron MediaTek, that allows the system to boot in almost six seconds. It also lets users multi-task effortlessly for long hours. This 14-inch laptop comes with an anti-glare HD LED display for both daylight and nighttime viewing.

As compared to other gaming laptops under $300, it has a long battery life of 8.5 hours. Moreover, it doesn’t require much time to charge.

Lenovo Chromebook S330 is a suitable and handy solution for all those who don’t like paying for high-end features that they’re not likely to use. This cheap gaming laptop under $200 is a great option for our budget conscious readers, from students to road warriors. It compensates for its flaws by featuring a desirable range of perks, to the likes of an extra 100 GB storage and portability. 

Pros

  • S330 is a popular and affordable Chromebook, that combines speed and price in equal measure. Since it uses the Celeron processor, it boots up fast and saves you tons of time.
  • At 3 pounds, this next-generation Chromebook is surprisingly slim and fits compactly in your purse or bag. It’s easy to carry and works without requiring excessive power.
  • Its anti-glare HD display and crisp resolution allows you to enjoy games on the Chromebook out in the sunlight.
  • Lenovo Chromebook is powered by the Intel Celeron MediaTek processor that works superbly to load content-rich web pages at lightning speed and provide you with a splendid experience of web browsing and gaming. You can run several pages at a time effortlessly.

Cons

  • A prominent thing you should keep in mind is that this system is that it’s not available with a 4GB RAM. From the mediaTek 1.7 GHz performance point of view, this makes it stronger than the core i3 processor system.

The 2020 Newest Dell Inspiron 15 (15 i15RV-953BLK) is an irresistible combination of scintillating good looks, solid graphics performance and excellent battery life. Ideal for both work and gameplay, and is a windows laptop. The system is equipped with a 500 GB hard drive and 4GB RAM memory expandable to almost 8 GB. This gives you enough power to execute tons of multimedia work and run those power-hungry applications at one go.

Dell Inspiron 15 (i15RV-953BLK)

The major highlight of this system is its Windows 10 operating system with 64-bit. This provides the ability to enjoy a more or less refined gaming experience. The Dell Inspiron 15 i15RV-953BLK is incorporated with an Intel Pentium 2127U that makes the process of multi-tasking exceptionally smooth and quick. The Intel Graphics allows average streaming of multimedia. It has a four-cell non-removable lithium-ion battery that charges pretty fast and provides consistent power for 6.5 hours before running out of juice.

The Dell Inspiron Laptop PC may not qualify as the most competent of all the laptops but it sure is a decent device to help you with basic home and office computing, or aid you with your project work and even play older games. It has been designed specifically to showcase supreme versatility and its storage and memory is surprisingly easy to upgrade. Additionally, the long battery life is an added plus.

Pros

  • The system is inbuilt with a 500 GB hard drive, that enables you to store up to 33,300 photos, 14,000 songs or 265 hours of HD video.
  • A battery life of an astounding 6.5 hours is definitely the longest among all its predecessors.
  • Multi-tasking and running several multimedia files becomes easier with the Intel Celeron Dual-Core Processor, as well as the generous memory offered by the 4 GB Ram, that’s expandable up to 8 GB.

Cons

  • The most prominent flaw of this system is that it includes the basic Intel HD graphics. So if your basic objective with a gaming laptop is to play older games, then you needn’t worry about this con.

Featuring a sizable 15.6″ High-Definition display as well as a Windows 8 operating system, the all-new ASUS X551MAV fits the bill of an everyday notebook with performance that’s superior enough to tackle almost any task that comes its way. Geared with the latest Intel Celeron N2840 2.16 Hz dual-core processor, this notebook offers you the requisite power and speed to perform usual computing activities like gaming and studying.

ASUS X551 15.6-inch Laptop

The system has a 500 GB HDD with 5400 RPM speed that offers plenty of storage space to stock up your files, music, video, software and multimedia downloads. ASUS X511MAV is turbocharged by the Intel Dual-Core Celeron N2830 Processor. This makes it a notch above the other cheap laptops and allows it to deliver peak performance while handling multiple tasks at a time. This 15.6-inch laptop features a HD LED-lit display with the resolution of 1366 x 768. That is sufficient for viewing videos at crystal-clear graphics. ASUS X511MAV has a Windows 8.1(64.1) operating system that allows users to avail apps from the Windows 8 store instead of relying upon an optical drive.

To wrap up, the ASUS X511MAV is highly suitable for regular tasks like browsing, video playback and Skype. Users who wish to play games on this laptop then they should find titles obtained from the Windows Store. Since these titles were developed solely for Modern UI interfaces, they are expected to run smoothly on the X511MAV. Among gaming laptops under $300, this one stands out for consuming relatively less power, operating quietly and enabling the play of quite a few up-to-date 3D games like FIFA 15 and Tomb Raider.

Pros

  • You can peacefully rely on the Smart Gesture technology to provide you with a smooth trackpad navigation. Also, with the unique ergonomic design, you can easily play for hours at a stretch without tiring your hands.
  • With the ASUS X511MAV, you can choose from four preset modes- Manual, Normal, Theater and Vivid, to optimize your viewing experience. This means, you can play without straining your eyes and watch videos with razor-sharp resolution and life-like visuals.
  • This latest version has been integrated with the SonicMaster technology, to produce splendid quality of audio output from the in-built speakers. Moreover, the sound has been optimized with 5 preset modes to fit your gaming or streaming needs.
  • The ASUS operates quietly without making much noise, allowing you to engage in some exciting gameplay without waking up the whole house!

Cons

  • The keyboard of the ASUS X511MAV is a bit wobbly and mostly suitable for home use only, as prolific writers won’t be impressed by it.

The 15.6″ Lenovo IdeaPad is “best laptop under 300”, one of those cheap laptops that looks too good for its price. Apart from being sleek and stylish, it’s quite versatile and functional. Packed with superior features, this is one of the best gaming laptop deals under $300, as it’s perfect for everyday use of streaming videos and multimedia apps. The AMD A9 graphics card with 4 GB of RAM memory ensures solid image quality for casual gaming, movies and basic photo editing. You can expect a decent gaming experience when playing games like Sims 4 (provided the graphic settings are adjusted to medium or higher performance).

Processor (CPU) Manufacturer is AMD with speed 3.1 GHz that allows you to run multiple tabs at the same time. The AMD A9 graphics card provides razor-sharp image quality for internet use and casual gaming. At 15.6 inches, the laptop’s screen has an HD LED display with 1366 x 788 resolution. This enables users to play old and recent games at medium settings. The 125 GB SSD with a 4 GB RAM memory provide plenty of space for storing your multimedia files comfortably and Data transfer rate is 5 times higher than HDD. It comes pre-installed with Windows 10 and weighs 4.4 lbs, therefore, a tad bulkier than other budget laptops. The 4-cell Lithium ion battery promises up to 6 hours of battery life before running out of juice.

For people who don’t believe themselves to be ardent gamers, this is a wonderful choice. If your primary goal is the running of simple tasks smoothly and efficiently, and you don’t mind playing games like Skyrim or Minecraft at lower settings, or maybe older titles with higher resolutions, then the 2019 New Edition Lenovo is a good pick from all the gaming laptops under $300.

Pros

  • The system incorporates an AMD Dual-Core Processor that makes it smoother and faster to perform regular tasks like editing, writing, gaming and video streaming, all at the same time.
  • At 15.6″, the screen is large and features an HD LED and backlit display that is perfect for nighttime viewing or gaming when insomnia comes calling!
  • You’ll love the full, immersive sound provided unexpectedly from the stereo speakers of this budget laptop. The fairly good sound quality is sure to make your home entertainment experience incredibly satisfying.
  • With the integrated AMD Radeon R5 graphics card, you can play most of the recent games on lower resolutions.
  • The 2019 New Edition Lenovo does sport an eye-catchy exterior and weighs only 4.6 pounds very light to move.

Cons

  • Though the system is capable enough to perform simple tasks, you may not be able to count on it to fulfill all your digital fantasies with it. Considering its specs, it’s fit for carrying out simple tasks and playing the latest games with medium settings and low resolution.

The Acer Performance is a touch screen laptop that features a Windows 10 operating system. Its 11.6 inch screen makes it apt for gaming and streaming crisp videos. Unlike the popular Chromebooks and tablets flooding the market, the laptop Acer has been designed particularly to be a workhorse. Geared by an Intel Pentium N4200 Quad-core Up to 2.5GHz, it allows users to multi-task effortlessly.

The Acer is outfitted with a 2.5 Hertz Intel Pentium Quad-core processor, which is basically a standard mobile processor. It’s paired with a 4GB DDR3L memory and 64gb hard disk, that lets you multitask and run several programs, or open many tabs simultaneously. This ultra portable laptop features a 11.6-inch screen with a display that supports 1920 x 1080 native resolution. This is sufficient for streaming both 720p. HD and 1080p HD videos from online sources.

The system features a fair amount of connectivity, with one USB 2.0 and 3.0 port, one Ethernet port, and one HDMI port. The USB 3.0 ports come molded in blue plastic, to stand out from the slower 2.0 USB ports. The system includes a SuperMulti DVD burner and an SD card reader as well. Although the DVD does contribute to the system’s thickness, that may be essential for casual users that would like to use older programs typically found on DVDs. This Core i3 laptop has an integrated 3-cell lithium ion battery. This, essentially, promises a battery life up to six hours at peak performance. While that isn’t much as compared to the ultrabooks abuzz in the market, it’s good enough for a touch-enabled device.

All in all, the Laptop Acer Performance Multi-Touch offers decent value of money with its set of top-notch features. Its battery life is good enough to last you through most of your work hours, plus its budget price won’t cause you to break the bank. The touchscreen is particularly fascinating, with a display that’s bound to take the experience of gaming to a whole new level altogether. Therefore, it wouldn’t be wrong to surmise that the Acer Performance is one of the best laptops under $300.

Pros

  • The major USP of the Acer is its touch screen capability. Moreover, with Windows 10 pre-installed, you won’t really need to use the touch screen very often.
  • This device has a Dual-core processor and a 4 GB of system memory, both of which make it competent enough to run multimedia apps or stream videos without hanging up.
  • The multi-touch trackpad allows Windows 10 gestures, that is extremely handy when you’re in the midst of a lengthy game and need a whole lot of shortcuts.

Cons

  • The only drawback about this system is the absence of a non-backlit keyboard. This makes it a little less versatile in terms of usage.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for gaming laptops under 300 that provide smooth gameplay of most of the older games, without sacrificing your paycheck, then all the aforementioned gaming laptops under 300 fit the bill. For their price, they come packed with an incredible assortment of features that allow you to enjoy both work and play in equal measure. These cheap laptops are portable and provide consistent use before draining up on juice. So whether you want to compete in Torchlight or play older titles like Team Fortress 2, they’ve got you covered! However, make sure you get a decent motherboard with your machine, in fact you probably want the best motherboards for i9 9900k.

About Dusan Stanar

I'm the founder of VSS Monitoring. I have been both writing and working in technology in a number of roles for dozens of years and wanted to bring my experience online to make it publicly available. Visit https://www.vssmonitoring.com/about-us/ to read more about myself and the rest of the team.