Products at a Glance
How we picked
We’ve used our expertise to find the best gaming laptops under $3000. We selected the laptops by looking carefully at their specs, features, value for money, and other notable aspects that make them worth the price. We are always on the lookout for the best gaming laptops in this price range and update our list whenever we come across a better option, so make sure to check back again to explore more options.
Product Reviews
- Powerful RTX 4080 GPU
- High performance processor
- 17.3-inch display
- Storage may be low for some users
Released in 2023, the MSI Stealth 17 Studio is one of the best gaming laptops under 3000 dollars. In fact, it is one of the best MSI gaming laptops. Although the price puts it in the high-end class, this laptop seems to tick different boxes from a performance perspective.
The processor is none other than the Core i9-13900H. This processor has 14 cores and 20 threads, which work well for multitasking and general use. For gamers and creatives, the sweet spot is the processor’s maximum turbo boost of 5.4GHz. In other words, the processor can easily handle CPU-intensive games. For GPU-reliant games, the 12GB RTX 4080 offers plenty of processing power. In fact, it’s powerful enough for 4K gaming, and you won’t face any lags even while playing the latest titles at high graphical settings.
The display is also impressive. MSI opted for a 17.3-inch screen with 4K resolution. For gamers, the screen’s 240Hz refresh rate will come in handy while they play their favorite games, especially eSports titles. The screen’s brightness maxes out at 400 Nits, making it usable outdoors.
When it comes to RAM and storage, we get 32GB of DDR5 RAM paired with a 1TB SSD. The chassis is slim for a 17.3-inch laptop, while the port selection is decent. There are two USB Cs, two USB As, one SD card reader, an ethernet, and a HDMI port. In summary, this laptop delivers impressive performance with very few drawbacks.
- RTX 4070 GPU
- High storage and RAM
- Screen's refresh rate could have been better
It’s not every day you get a collaboration between a luxury car manufacturer and a laptop maker. However, in August 2023, that’s what MSI and Mercedes did with the release of the MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG. For those who may feel this was only a marketing gimmick, the specifications and performance of this high-end laptop appear to tell a different story, as they are similar to some of the best RTX 4070 gaming laptops.
The laptop comes packed with the Intel Core i9-13900H processor. The CPU has 14 cores and 20 threads, making it ideal for gaming and productivity tasks. Its frequency can also be boosted to 5.4 GHz to make things even better. The GPU in this model is the RTX 4070. Thanks to its processing power and 8GB VRAM, it’s powerful enough to run the latest games at 4K resolution, like Starfield and Lords of the Fallen.
As for the display, we have a 16-inch OLED UHD+ screen. Although the refresh rate is capped at 60Hz, it offers 100% coverage of the sRGB space. For outdoor use, the 300 Nits brightness goes up to 600 Nits in HDR mode. MSI opted for the 16:10 aspect ratio, which improves the overall gaming experience.
When it comes to storage and RAM, we get a 2TB SSD paired with 64GB of DDR5 RAM. With these in your laptop, you won’t have to worry about upgrading the storage or RAM for at least a few years.
Given the signature premium aesthetics of the Mercedes, this laptop didn’t disappoint in terms of its design. The magnesium alloy chassis accounts for its 4.14-pound weight. Also, the slim chassis has both MSI and Mercedes logos on the top lid. The Stealth logo on top is also lit with RGB lightning. Overall, it is an excellent laptop packed with powerful hardware.
- Powerful RTX 4080 GPU
- AMD processor with high cores and threads
- Bright display
- Storage may be low for some users
We think one of the best 17-inch gaming laptops under $3000 is the ASUS ROG Strix Scar. With a combination of well-selected components, Asus managed to keep the price competitive while not cutting down on performance.
The processor in this unit is the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX. It can be challenging to find processors with 16 cores and 32 threads, but that’s exactly what this processor offers, including a maximum turbo frequency of 5.4GHz. Thanks to its low TDP of 65W, it’s not only powerful but power-efficient. The GPU is the RTX 4080 with 12GB VRAM. The 175W TDP means it’s powerful enough to take on more demanding games, making it on par with some of the best RTX 4080 gaming laptops.
The screen is a 17.3-inch QHD panel with 240Hz. The high refresh rate will appeal to most games, as will the 16:9 aspect ratio. The display also offers 500 nits of peak brightness, making it suitable for outdoor usage. As for the storage and RAM, you get a 1TB SSD and 32GB of DDR5 RAM.
The keyboard is easy to type on and has 4-zone RGB lighting. Cooling is also well-thought-out, with vents on the left, right, and rea to prevent thermal throttling. The port selection encompasses everything you’d expect from a gaming laptop under three thousand dollars. In summary, this laptop offers value for money with its performance and is a decent choice for gamers.
- Powerful RTX 4080 GPU
- Bright display
- High RAM and Storage
- Design may not be for everyone
For 1440p gaming, we think the Acer Predator Helios 16 is the best option under $3000. Not only does the screen suffice, but it also gets points for performance. This high-end laptop has some of the best components in the market, making it worth the price.
Right off the bat, most users will notice this model’s processor. The Core i9-13900HX has 24 cores and 32 threads. Like other processors in the HX series, this one’s designed to give desktop-grade performances. On top of that, the processor’s base speed of 2.2 GHz can boost up to 5.4GHz. As for the RAM, it is maxed out at 32GB DDR5 RAM, and you also get a 2TB SSD for storing your data.
As for the GPU, this laptop comes with the RTX 4080, which can play AAA titles easily. With its DDR6 12GB VRAM and 165W TDP, the GPU can handle whatever you throw at it. In case you want an even better card, you can check out our picks for the best RTX 4090 gaming laptops. But you will need to increase your budget for them.
The screen is a 16-inch panel with a 1600p resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The 250Hz refresh rate is the icing on the cake, and the 500 Nits of peak brightness also makes for easier viewing, especially outdoors. Four vents on the side and rear of the chassis mean this unit has enough heat outlets. The keyboard has an RGB light, which is easily customizable. All in all, the Predator Helios 16 will play most AAA titles at 1440p resolution while handling other non-gaming tasks easily.
How to pick the best gaming laptop under $3000
Finding a gaming laptop for under three thousand dollars is challenging, as you’ll have to go through hundreds of options. You want to avoid wasting money on a laptop that costs a lot but offers no value for money. Here’s what you can expect to see in this price range and a few things you should consider before making a final decision.
GPU and CPU
For 3000 dollars or less, you’d want to go for a laptop that features a GPU and CPU from the latest generation, such as NVIDIA’s RTX 40-series graphics cards and Intel’s 13th-gen or AMD Ryzen 9 processors. In this range, you can easily find a laptop with an RTX 4080 paired with a powerful processor like the Core i9-13900H or Ryzen 9 7945HX. This is a significant upgrade from what we get in the best gaming laptops under $2000.
RAM
RAM is going to play a great role in running things smoothly on your laptop, and you’d want to make sure you’re going for a laptop that features at least 32GB of RAM. Ideally, with a budget of $3000, you should aim for 64GB of RAM. But if you have to opt for the one with 32GB of RAM for some reason, go for it, as it will be more than enough. For this budget, you’d also want to go for DDR5 RAM instead of DDR4.
Storage
If you’re getting a gaming laptop under 3,000 dollars, you want to make sure you’re getting plenty of storage. Some of the laptops will be packed with a 1TB SSD, but some models also feature a 2TB SSD. The less the storage is, the sooner you’ll have to upgrade it. If you find a good laptop that only has 1TB SSD, it will be wise to throw in some extra bucks and upgrade it to 2 TB.
Screen size
The screen size you’d want to go for is at least 16 inches, and it should let you game at 1440p or 4k. We’d recommend a 15-inch display if you were choosing from one of the best gaming laptops under $1500. But since your budget is double, you’d want to go for a display that is not only bigger in size but also features a high refresh rate, like 240 Hz. While this may not be possible with 4k screens, you can easily get this refresh rate with 1440p laptops.
Battery
We understand that gaming laptops are not meant to be something that features a great battery life, but you shouldn’t also get something that features an extremely poor battery life. If the laptop you’re getting requires you to charge it after every hour, you’ll get tired of it quickly. You’d want to get something that can last for at least three to four hours before you have to plug the charger in.
Weight
If you’re planning to carry around your laptop a lot, you’d want to consider going for a model that does not weigh a lot. Some laptops, when paired with a heavy power brick, can weigh up to 2.7 KG. This may not seem like a lot in the beginning, but you’ll start getting tired of carrying it around all the time after a while. If you want to avoid that, go for a laptop that is sleek and not bulky. But if it’s going to stay in your home all the time and you are going to take it out occasionally, then the weight won’t be an issue.
Our Verdict
We think that the MSI Stealth 17 Studio is the best gaming laptop under 3,000 dollars. It comes packed with an RTX 4080 paired with an Intel Core i9-13900H, and both of them belong to the family of the latest generation of GPUs and CPUs. Aside from that, it also features 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which not only makes it excellent for gaming but other everyday tasks as well.