Our first choice for the best gaming laptop under $800 is the MSI Cyborg 15 Gaming Laptop. Firstly, the MSI has a strong brand reputation, which is important for reliability and credibility.  MSI is a well-established brand known for quality gaming laptops, offering better assurance in terms of build quality, customer support, and potentially better cooling systems. With impressive raw specs, the MSI allows for the potential for improvement. For instance, the Cyborg 15 can be configured with up to an RTX 4060 graphics card and a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, which is excellent for a sub-$800 laptop if you can find it at that price.

The Cyborg 15 boasts a futuristic design with translucent parts, which might appeal to gamers who prefer a more distinctive look. Lastly, the 144Hz Refresh Rate is crucial. A higher refresh rate display improves smoothness for fast-paced games.

The MSI Cyborg 15 is a compelling option for sub-$800 gaming if you can find a configuration with powerful enough specs (RTX 4050 or 4060, i5 or better processor) at the right price. The brand reputation, strong performance, and unique design are all pluses.

Our second pick for the best gaming laptop under $800 is the Lenovo LOQ 15. In this price range, the LOQ 15 offers a compelling combination of decent specs (RTX 3050 or 4050 graphics, 13th Gen Intel Core i5 processor) for running most modern games at moderate settings. The model also features a 144Hz Refresh Rate. This display feature is uncommon for laptops under $800, providing smoother visuals and a better gaming experience. Lastly, the upgradability of this gaming laptop is crucial. The ability to add more RAM or storage later can extend the laptop’s usability.

In terms of cons, the average battery life of the Lenovo LOQ 15 is only 4-6 hours, which isn’t ideal for unplugged gaming. Similarly, the plastic build feels less substantial compared to other metal laptop builds. This also goes hand-in-hand with heating concerns. The cooling system might struggle with demanding games, impacting performance.

The Lenovo LOQ 15.6″ with 16GB for under $800 is a good choice for casual gaming due to its decent specs and 144Hz display. However, be aware of the limitations in storage, battery life, build quality, and potential thermal throttling. If those are dealbreakers, consider broadening your search to other sub-$800 laptops, prioritizing strong core specs, and looking for deals.

Our third choice for the best gaming laptops under $800 is the NUC Intel X15 Gaming Laptop. This laptop packs a serious punch for gamers on the go. With a powerful 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with 14 cores and an Intel Arc A550M graphics card, it can handle even demanding modern games. The 16GB of high-bandwidth DDR5 RAM lets you run multiple programs and browser tabs smoothly, while the enormous 1TB PCIe M.2 solid state drive ensures super fast boot times and data transfer. The 144Hz refresh rate display with IPS technology provides sharp visuals and smooth gameplay, perfect for fast-paced games. On top of that, it has plenty of ports for connecting all your peripherals, and Windows 11 Pro keeps things running efficiently. Whether you’re a casual gamer or someone who takes gaming seriously, this laptop has the specs to deliver a great experience.

Our fourth and final choice here is the ASUS TUF A15 Gaming Laptop – 15.6″ | 8GB. This AMD Ryzen 5-powered gaming laptop punches above its weight and price tag. The combination of this processor and the Nvidia RTX 2050 graphics card tackles modern games smoothly. Speedy DDR5 memory and a large 512GB PCIe drive ensure fast loading times and ample storage for your favorite titles. Similarly, the 144Hz display with adaptive-sync technology keeps gameplay silky smooth and free from tearing, giving you a competitive edge.

Durability is another strong point. This laptop meets military-grade standards, making it a top choice for gamers on the go. The dual-fan cooling system effectively dissipates heat during intense gaming sessions, preventing performance drops. As a bonus, you get a free 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, granting access to a vast library of games – perfect for trying new titles. With its well-rounded specs and durability, this laptop is a compelling option for budget-minded gamers who prioritize performance and a smooth gaming experience.

If you want a lightweight gaming laptop that comes within an $800 budget, then you should check out the MSI Pulse GL66 – which we think should be a budget contender for the best RTX 3050 gaming laptop.

The laptop sports a 15.6-inch screen with FHD resolution, which should deliver good quality visuals for your video games. Plus, the laptop offers a good enough refresh rate to give you a smooth gaming experience.

On the inside, the MSI laptop has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, which promises to deliver high graphics performance. Plus, you get an Intel Core i5-11400H processor, which should give you efficient performance.

As mentioned earlier, this is a lightweight laptop, and it weighs only 4.63 pounds. This may not sound too light, but then gaming laptops are usually heavy, and this one is comparatively a lighter device.

Further, as far as aesthetics are concerned, the laptop comes with a single zone RGB-lit keyboard, which should give you the “gamer” look without looking too flashy.