The moment you pass the half-a-thousand dollar mark, you begin to see really powerful gaming laptops. In fact, this should be the starting point of real gamers. At $700, you will be able to find gaming laptops that can handle a sizeable number of AAA titles with minimal or no lags. With these laptops, you are sure of Full HD gaming experience and an immersive sound that will make you stay glued to your pad or keyboard for a long stretch of time.
If you are searching for the best gaming laptop under $700, you are not alone. There are thousands of gamers like you around the globe with the same intent. At this budget, you deserve a great processor, a good graphics card, and a decent screen resolution. As always we have got your back with a curated list of the best gaming laptops under 700. It is a delight for us to sweat it out just to make sure you enjoy it all. Without further chitchats, here are the features that make these gaming laptops special.
Review of the best gaming laptops under $700
Acer Nitro 5 AN515 – Best overall
Well under $700 but packs all the features that normally come with gaming laptops of higher prices, the Acer Nitro 5 AN515 was our immediate favorite. This elegant looking affordable gaming laptop runs on the 8th Generation Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with a speed of 2.3GHz accompanied by an 8GB RAM to give you superfast performance—and that is not all you will be getting from this gaming powerhouse.
Moving up to display, the Acer Nitro 5 AN515 offers you a 15.6” Full HD IPS-type display. This unmatched display quality is backed by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card which has a 4GB dedicated memory. Besides the immersive display, the Acer Nitro 5 AN515 also has a 256GB solid state drive which ensures faster game load. No matter the environment you find yourself, the backlit keyboard will help you to stay in control. You will be getting an average battery life of 5.5 hours in this 5.95 pounds gaming machine. This will definitely give you a good number of hours playing outdoor.
Pros
- Comes with the 8th Generation Intel Core i5
- Backlit keyboard for poorly-lit environment
- Advanced graphics card
- Full HD IPS-type display
- Up to 5 hours of battery life
Cons
- Low storage memory
- Processor speed is low compared to other brands
- Slightly heavy
Asus TUF Gaming Laptop – Best for cooling
A good cooling system plays the dual role of helping your gaming laptop stay cool which enhances performance as well as increasing the lifespan of your laptop. The Asus TUF comes with an anti-dust cooling system (ADC) which functions like the immune system of your laptop that keep harmful dust particles away. The redesigned Asus TUF has a thinner bezel and offer a Full HD display which draws you into the game, thanks to the AMD Radeon RX graphics coprocessor with 4GB dedicated memory.
The beauty of this budget gaming laptop of 2021 is not all on the outside. The Asus TUF comes with the AMD Ryzen 5 processor with a speed of 3.6GHz which pairs with an 8GB RAM to keep lags during gaming time at bay. This powerful gaming machine also comes with an elegant red backlit keyboard that helps you to stay in control no matter the lighting condition of your environment. Weighing only 4.85 pounds, this is one of the gaming laptops you can easily carry wherever you go. However, the under 4 hours battery life may limit you from doing so.
Pros
- Comes with the AMD Ryzen 5 quad-core processor
- Full HD display
- Red backlit keyboard for poorly-lit environment
- Anti-dust cooling system for prolonged lifespan
- High processor speed
- Lightweight ensures easy handling
Cons
- The storage space is disappointing
- Battery does not last up to 4 hours
HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop – Best for outdoor gaming
The HP Pavillion Gaming Laptop is definitely one of the best gaming laptops under $700 to die for when it comes to outdoor gaming. With over 8 hours of battery life, you can stay hooked to your favorite titles when on a long trip or camping with your friends. To make sure you enjoy some of the recent AAA games, the HP Pavillion Gaming Laptop comes with the 8th Generation Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with 2.3GHz speed which can be boosted to 4.0GHz.
This budget gaming laptop of 2021 also has an impeccable display quality. It boasts of FHD IPS-type anti-glare, micro-edge WLED display. It also has an alien green backlit keyboard that keeps you in total control in any lighting. The high picture details is partly because of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti video graphics with dedicated 4GB RAM. This laptop is slightly heavy at 5.18 pounds but won’t stop you from carrying it around.
Pros
- Up to 8 hours of battery life
- Comes with the 8th Generation Intel Core i5
- Fast processor speed
- Full HD anti-glare display
- Backlit keyboard for poorly-lit environment
- Dedicated video graphics card
Cons
- Slightly heavy
- The memory is not upgradable
MSI GL63 – Best for performance
If you are looking for a budget gaming laptop in 2021 that is rugged in performance, we recommend the MSI GL63. The first thing that will likely catch your attention is that it comes with an 8GB RAM which is upgradable up to 32GB. This pairs with the 8th Generation Intel Core i5 with a speed of 2.3 to 4.0GHz to deliver a superb performance that gives you the power to play some of the AAA titles without lags. Heavy gamers who indulge in multiplayer games will also love the HD webcam.
The MSI GL63 offers you visual details that is comparable to high-end gaming laptops. The Full HD 15.6” screen give out eDP IPS-Level display which allows you to see all the details in the background of your game. The SSD storage that comes with this affordable gaming laptop ensures your game loads faster. Gamers will also enjoy the MSI App Player which allows you to play mobile games on your laptop. The MSI GL63 is a lot of weight at 8.6 pounds and its battery lasts less than 3 hours. These are the two limitations you need to consider before going for this machine.
Pros
- Expandable RAM up to 32GB
- SSD for faster load
- Full HD IPS-Level display
- Fast processor speed
- Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce graphics card
- Comes with the 8th Generation Intel Core i5
- Backlit keyboard for poorly-lit environment
- Giant speakers and Dynaudio sound system for immersive sound
Cons
- Very heavy
- Low storage space
- Battery life is less than 3 hours making it unsuitable for outdoor gaming
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 series – Best for Price
When you place the best laptops under $700 side-by-side, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 series is definitely the cheapest. However, it is not cheap in terms of hardware features and performance. This affordable gaming laptop comes with the 7th Generation Intel Core i5 with a speed of 2.5GHz which can be turbo boost to 3.5GHz. Although not the most recent processor in the i5, it works well with the 8GB RAM to deliver a seamless gaming experience.
The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 series also gives you an excellent Full HD anti-glare IPS-type display. This high-visual clarity which is further enhanced by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card gives you an edge over your enemies. You will never lose track of your control, thanks to the elegant backlit keyboard. The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 series is 5.78 pounds in weight but if you can overcome the weight, you will be getting about 11 hours of battery life. This gives you the power to do so much more when you are outdoor.
Pros
- Full HD anti-glare IPS-type display
- High processor speed
- Budget-friendly
- Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce graphics card
- Elegant backlit keyboard
- Large storage space
- Up to 11 hours of battery life
Cons
- Slightly heavy
- Not the most recent processor
Lenovo Ideapad L340 Best for weight
While the weight of a laptop adds nothing to its performance, it can really affect how you handle it. A lightweight laptop is easier to carry around. At 4.84 pounds, the Lenovo Ideapad L340 is one of the best gaming laptop under 700 that is easy to carry around. Look beyond the weight and you will see a monster gaming laptop with the 9th Generation Intel Core i5 with a speed of 2.4GHz that works well with an 8GB RAM to give you the needed power to run majority of the latest game titles with minimal lags.
The Lenovo Ideapad L340 also comes with a large 512GB NVMe SSD which ensures fast game load time. This affordable gaming laptop will also offers enormous clarity that will enable to see all the background details of your game, thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce graphics coprocessor. The Lenovo Ideapad L340 gives you about 9.5 hours of battery life which is sufficient to take it for an outdoor spin with friends. The ambient blue backlit keyboard will also ensure that you never lose your controls irrespective of the lighting of your environment.
Pros
- Comes with the 9th Generation Intel Core i5
- Extremely lightweight and sleek
- SSD for faster game loading
- Up to 9 hours of battery life
Cons
- Processor speed is average
- Runs on 1 processor
- Storage space is average
Dell G3 Gaming Laptop – Best for dual drive
Heavy gamers who want to carry all their titles along need more than just a large storage space. They also need an SSD storage to ensure their games load fast. Only in rare cases are these two drives packed into a budget gaming laptop. The Dell G3 is one of such rare cases. With this gaming machine, you will be getting 128GB SSD and 1TB HD. The design is also stylish and incorporates a blue keyboard backlight. The Dell G3 comes with the powerful 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor with a speed of up to 3.9GHz which gives you the power to play more heavy titles with minimal lag—but that is not all.
The Dell G3 also delivers an amazing graphics, thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card with dedicated 4GB RAM. The 15.6” screen offers you full HD IPS-type anti-glare display with better color and emphasis on background details. If you are an online gamer, the improved, fast, and longer range WiFi will help you to stay connected. This affordable gaming laptop can feel a little bulky at 5.95 pounds. Nevertheless, it offers up to 6.5 hours of battery which makes it great for outdoor gaming.
Pros
- Dual drives for more storage and boot speed
- High processor speed
- Full HD anti-glare display
- Backlit keyboard for poorly-lit environment
- Dedicated GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card
- Up to 6 hours of battery life
Cons
- Slightly heavy
- Runs on only 1 processor
MSI GF63 Thin 9SCX-615 – Best for game optimization
The MSI GF63 is one of the most advance gaming machines you can get under $700. The MSI GF63 comes with a Dragon Center with a lot of tweaks that gives you the power to optimize your games by customizing your system settings. This cheap gaming laptop has a Full HD IPS-level display. The clarity is topnotch and thanks to the thin bezel, you will have a wider viewing angle. The MSI GF63 also comes with an Audio Boost technology that offers you 30% more audio details. The superior audio and visual qualities of this gaming machine work together to literarily draw you into the world of your game.
The MSI GF63 runs on the 9th Generation Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with a speed of between 2.4 and 4.1GHz. Another interesting feature of this budget-friendly gaming laptop is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card with 4GB dedicated memory. Also, you will be getting a 512GB NVMe SSD storage memory which also enhances speed. With the MSI GF63, you will be getting up to 7 hours of battery life which is great for outdoor gaming. However, the 7.6 pounds weight may make it difficult for you to carry this gaming superpower around.
Pros
- Dragon Center for game optimization
- Full HD IPS-level display
- Thin bezel for wider viewing angle
- Backlit keyboard for poorly-lit environment
- Audio Boost for 30% more audio details
- Comes with the 9th Generation Intel Core i5
- Up to 7 hours battery life
- SSD for faster game boot
Cons
- Storage space is average
- Extremely heavy and difficult to carry around
Buying Guide For The Best Gaming Laptop Under 700
At a budget of 700 dollars, not everything should matter to you. Your priority should be on performance more than anything else. The budget gaming laptops on our list of best under $700 can play a good number of AAA games without any issues. While they may not be the sleekest looking in design or lightweight for teens to pick them up with ease, we made sure they offered exceptional performance for wider game compatibility. Here are the features that we considered. You should consider them too when you are ready to buy a gaming laptop under $700.
Processor
For a budget of $700 you can comfortably get a gaming laptop with Intel Core i5. The generation of the core i5 can vary from 7th to 9th, with higher generations offering better performance. If you are going for AMD, make sure it is AMD Ryzen 5 quad-core processor. However, it is important for you not to look at these processor generations in isolation. A lower generation of processor with a higher speed is still preferable to a high generation with a lower speed. For your cheap gaming laptop to be able to play recent AAA titles without lags, you need a processor with a very high speed. Usually, you should set the minimum bar at 2.5GHz. Mind you, there are some processors that can be Turbo Boost to increase their speed.
Screen Resolution
At the budget of $700, you definitely deserve a gaming laptop that offers high resolution—and we strongly suggest that you don’t settle for anything less. The quality of the visuals and audio combine to determine how much immersive experience you will get from your gaming laptop. A Full HD should be your goal.
RAM Size
Even with the best processors, you will still experience significant lags if your RAM is not large enough. The best gaming laptop under 700 we have put together all have a RAM size of at least 8GB. Again, some gaming laptops makes it possible for you to expand your RAM. You never can tell when this will come in handy.
Hard Disk Space
A large hard disk space is good but the type of drive is also important. A 1TB hard drive will give you enough space to carry all your favorite titles. Nevertheless, when you want speed, you should be looking at solid state drives. It is unlikely that you will find a solid state drive that is up to 1TB. However, a few of the budget gaming laptops in 2021 combine both drives giving you the advantages of both worlds. Whichever you choose, it is always a great idea to have a backup drive in case anything goes wrong with your PC. It would be heartbreaking to lose all your games at the blink of an eye.
Video Graphics
Above the 500 dollar mark, you will begin to find gaming laptops that come with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card and dedicated memory. At $700, you have to make sure that your gaming laptop comes with this powerful hardware because it contributes to the visual quality and performance of your game.
Weight
Like we mentioned earlier, when you are looking for the best gaming laptops under 700, your focus should only be on those features that enhance performance. High-end gaming machines are usually heavy. However, this wouldn’t count if you play indoors and would always have your laptop on a dedicated spot.
Price
Our list of the best games under 700 features gaming laptops that are under $700 and a few that are above $700. If you can get a little more by slightly upgrading your budget, there is no reason why you shouldn’t do that.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can cheap gaming laptops play AAA games?
At a budget of $700 you will find a lot of gaming laptops that can play AAA games with minimal lags. You can expand the type of games your laptop can play by following our buying guide.
- Which is more important, higher generation of processor or processor speed?
Processor speed is more important than the generation of processor. A lower generation of processor with higher speed is still preferable to a higher generation with lower speed.
- Which type of storage drive can boost game performance?
The NVMe solid state drive (SSD) can significantly lower the load time of your game.
- What features should I look out for when I want to buy a gaming laptop?
The processor and processor speed, the graphics card, the screen resolution, and the RAM size are the most important feature you should access when buying a budget gaming laptop under 700.
- How long does the battery of gaming laptop last?
Gaming is power intensive and would drain your battery really fast. Even laptops that mention battery life of up to 11 hours may not last beyond 4 hours when you are gaming. However, for most gaming laptops, expect from 2 to 6 hours of battery life.
- Why are gaming laptops so heavy?
Gaming laptops have extra hardware components in them that you will usually not find in regular business laptops. These hardware components and larger battery usually are the reasons why gaming laptops are heavy.
Conclusion
Even when your budget is fixed, price should be the least criteria that should sway your decision. Always keep an open mind and consider the possibility that you might get a really great gaming laptop at a price slightly above $700. Rather than price, pay attention to those hardware features that can offer you a lag-free, seamless gaming experience. We have mentioned the most important features in our buying guide. If you have 700 dollar to invest in a gaming laptop, you can’t afford to make the wrong choice. Our list is the perfect place to start your search.