5 Best Laptops for Beginners in 2023 Under $1,300

Contrary to popular belief, you can get a competent gaming laptop without burning a hole in your wallet. In fact, if you’ve recently picked up gaming as a hobby, then you need not splurge thousands of bucks on your first rig. Be that as it may, it can be quite cumbersome to pick out the best laptop for beginners, given how the market is flush with enticing options. 

Thankfully, we’ve done the research for you and have come up with five enticing options that don’t cost an arm and a leg. At the same time, these laptops should be able to run most, if not all demanding games at competent settings. So, without any further ado, let’s take a closer look at good starter gaming laptops. 

But first, you might want to read about-

• Laptops with RTX 3050 GPU under $1,000.
• Top-of-the-line gaming laptops with RTX 3080 / 3080Ti GPUs.
• Gaming laptops with RTX 40-series GPUs under $1,500.

With that out of the way, let’s get started.

1. MSI Thin GF63 

• Screen Refresh Rate: 144Hz | Screen Size: 15.6-inch
• Processor: Core i7-12650H | GPU: RTX 4050 with 45W TGP
• On-board RAM: 16GB DDR4 | On-board Storage: 512GB SSD

Now, do note that the GPU offers a modest 45W TGP. Be that as it may, the unit should be able to run games at decent graphics and FPS settings. In fact, per Jarrod’sTech’s review, the laptop managed to overturn respectable FPS in games like CyberPunk 2077 at high settings. To that end, the unit was churning out around 60FPS at 1080p resolution with Ray Tracing disabled.

The icing on the cake is that the unit we’ve shortlisted comes with a beefier CPU, so you will be able to squeeze out even more performance from the machine. Speaking of which, the MSI Thin GF63 ships with Intel’s 12th Gen, Core i7-12650H processor. The CPU gets six performance cores that can turbo up to 4.7GHz and four efficiency cores.

In conjunction, the chipset can deploy up to 16 threads for strenuous workloads. That’s not all, as the laptop also comes with a 144Hz, Full HD display that should suffice for high-octane titles like Call of Duty and Apex Legends. Add to that a bevy of connectors, including three Type-A USB 3.2 connectors and a Type-C USB 3.2 port and the MSI Thin GF63 is an easy-to-use gaming laptop, especially for beginners.

2. Acer Nitro 5 

• Screen Refresh Rate: 144Hz | Screen Size: 15.6-inch
• Processor: Core i5-12500H | GPU: RTX 3060 with 140W TGP
• On-board RAM: 16GB DDR4 | On-board Storage: 512GB SSD

You see, the higher the TGP or Total Graphics Power, the better your GPU will perform. That said, GPUs with a high TGP also dissipate more heat. Thankfully, Acer has furnished the device with a dual-fan and dual-intake system, that should keep the temps in check. What’s more, the laptop also comes with a MUX switch, which interfaces the dedicated GPU to the display directly.

In doing so, the laptop doesn’t have to pass information rendered by the dGPU through the iGPU. This in turn betters the laptop’s in-game performance by up to 10 percent. Needless to say, the laptop is more than adept at running demanding, resource-hungry games. Add to that, the device comes with a competent Core i5-12500H CPU as well. The chipset in question comes with four performance cores and eight efficiency cores. 

As a result, you should be able to run CPU-bound applications effortlessly. Throw in a 144Hz, full HD display and a host of connectors and the Nitro 5 is a good pick for a good starter laptop.

3. ASUS TUF Dash 15 

• Screen Refresh Rate: 144Hz | Screen Size: 15.6-inch
• Processor: Core i7-12650H | GPU: RTX 3060 with 105W TGP
• On-board RAM: 16GB DDR5 | On-board Storage: 512GB SSD

 What’s more, the CPU’s Tjmax limit is quite high and the chipset will work as intended at up to 100 degrees. So, you should be able to push the machine to the fullest without worrying about the CPU throttling under load. That’s not all, as the laptop also comes with a beefy RTX 3060 GPU with a 105W TGP. Unsurprisingly, the machine can run most modern games at good graphics settings. But, you don’t just have to take our word for it. In fact, folks over at ultrabookreview tested the laptop and concluded that the machine could run most modern AAA games at Ultra settings on 1080p resolution. 

To give you a clearer picture, the laptop was able to run titles like Far Cry 6, Battlefield V, and Red Dead Redemption 2 at well over 80FPS at Ultra graphics preset. Rest assured, you will be able to run your favorite games on the device without a hitch. As for the rest of the specs, the laptop comes with a 15.6-inch, FHD display that refreshes at 144Hz. 

The unit comes with a MUX switch which should better your in-game FPS and even comes with MIL-STD-810H certification. As such, the laptop should be able to bear the brunt of an accidental drop or two. All said and done, the ASUS TUF Dash F15 is quite possibly, a top-notch gaming laptop for beginners. 

4. MSI Pulse GL66

• Screen Refresh Rate: 144Hz | Screen Size: 15.6-inch
• Processor: Core i7-12700H | GPU: RTX 3070 with 105W TGP
• On-board RAM: 16GB DDR4 | On-board Storage: 512GB SSD

What’s more, the Pulse GL66 brings a beefy RTX 3070 to the mix. Not only does the GPU get more VRAM than competing 3060 GPUs on the list, but it offers a maximum TGP of 105W too. Unsurprisingly, the laptop should be able to run your favorite games at stellar graphics settings. More to the point, the unit features a Full HD screen that refreshes at 144Hz too. So, if you have just gotten into playing high-octane games like Fortnite or Apex Legends, then you’ll greatly benefit from the Pulse GL66’s HRR screen. 

Moving on though, the laptop comes with a healthy assortment of connectors too. To name a few, the machine gets two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A connectors, a USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C port, an HDMI slot, and a headphone jack. All things considered, the MSI Pulse GL66 is a power-packed machine that can be snagged without burning a hole in your wallet. 

5. Alienware M15 R7 

• Screen Refresh Rate: 240Hz | Screen Size: 15.6-inch
• Processor: Core i7-12700H | GPU: RTX 3060 with 130W TGP
• On-board RAM: 16GB DDR5 | On-board Storage: 512GB SSD

What’s more, the device is backed by Intel’s Core i7-12700H CPU as well. Put together, the Alienware M15 R7 offers beastly performance. In fact, per select reviews, the laptop managed to overturn well over 120FPS in titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Red Dead Redemption 2, and GTA V. What’s more, the M15 R7 comes with a stupendous display too. To that end, the laptop gets a 15.6-inch, QHD panel that refreshes at 240Hz!

So, not only can you make the most of fast-paced shooters, but you can even revel in exceptional visuals in your favorite games thanks to the laptop’s 1440p display. What’s more, the laptop comes with the company’s Cryo-tech cooling solution, which ensures you can game for hours on end without running into any performance niggles. Pool everything together and the Alienware M15 R7 offers a well-rounded package. Unsurprisingly, it is among the best budget gaming laptops for beginners that you can buy right now. 

FAQs About Gaming Laptops for Beginners

Game On

The aforementioned gaming laptops are ideal for beginners as they don’t cost an arm and a leg. At the same time, these machines offer good performance to boot and can run the majority of AAA games at adequate settings. From where we stand, the Alienware M15 R7 is shaping up to be a great buy. That said, buyers looking to save a couple of bucks can opt for the Acer Nitro 5 as well.