Best RTX 3050 laptop in 2023 – our top picks
If you’re on the hunt for the best RTX 3050 laptop, we’ve got you covered,
The RTX 3050 is an excellent GPU for those who want to get a taste of real-time ray tracing and DLSS technology without breaking the bank. The laptops that feature this GPU usually come equipped with decent processors that deliver good performance in both gaming and other CPU-intensive tasks. On top of that, most of them sport a full HD display, as the RTX 3050 is meant for 1080p gaming. You can find laptops with a higher resolution display, but we’d recommend against them unless you want to do some content creation as well. In case you want a better card, check out our top picks for the best RTX 3080 gaming laptops.
Right now, the market is filled with hundreds of RTX 3050 laptops, but not all of them are worth the money. Ideally, you’d want to go for a laptop that pairs the RTX 3050 with a decent CPU, RAM, storage, and display. To help you in your search for the right laptop, we’ve selected a few options we think are the best RTX 3050 laptops in the market.
So, without any further delay, lets dive in.
Early Christmas laptop deals
Before we continue, we’ve spotted these early Christmas laptop deals, which could be good options if you want to save some money on your new purchase.
Gaming laptops
- MSI GF63 15.6″ 144 Hz Gaming Laptop – $608 (Save $391)
- Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 – $1,379 (Save $360)
- ASUS ROG Strix G15 (2022) Gaming Laptop – $879 (Save $120)
Productivity laptops
Products at a Glance
How we picked
Our experts used their expertise to explore the market and find the best RTX 3050 laptops. They selected these laptops based on their specs, features, and other notable aspects that make them stand out from the rest. On top of that, they are constantly looking for new options with the same GPU, so make sure to visit us again to explore more RTX 3050 laptops.
Best RTX 3050 laptop in 2023 – our top picks
- Smooth 144Hz display
- Decent processor
- 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD
- Design may not be for everyone
If you’re looking for an RTX 3050 laptop that can help you run the latest games smoothly at 1080 resolutions, we recommend the Lenovo LOQ. In fact, we think it deserves to be one of the best Lenovo gaming laptops for 1080p gaming.
On the inside, the Lenovo LOQ has the RTX 3050 GPU with 6GB of VRAM. This GPU is paired with the Intel Core i5-13420H 13th-gen processor. With 8 cores, 12 threads, and a Max Turbo Frequency of 6.40GHz, this processor gives decent performance in CPU-intensive tasks. The laptop also comes with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB of storage, so you won’t have to worry about upgrading them anytime soon.
On the outside, we have a 15.6-inch FHD display with a refresh rate of 144Hz, which should give you smoother performance in all of your games, especially in fast-paced titles like Apex Legends. The display is also pretty bright, as it maxes out at 350 nits. Overall, the Lenovo LOQ is one of the best RTX 3050 gaming laptops currently available in the market. It also features up to 6 hours of battery life.
- Impressive 144Hz display
- Attractive design
- 16GB RAM
- Display is not that bright
We think that the MSI GF63 is the best budget RTX 3050 gaming laptop due to the value for money it offers. Even though it is a budget option, it still won’t disappoint you when it comes to performance.
Lies in the heart of the MSI GF63 is the RTX 3050 4GB GPU. For the processor, we have the Intel i5-11400H. Both components are powerful enough to help you run the latest games at 1080p resolution. However, don’t expect to see high frame rates in demanding games. For the RAM, you get 16GB of DDR4 RAM. The storage may be low for some users, as it comes in the form of a 512GB SSD. You can, however, upgrade it up to 2 TB, but you’ll need to throw in some extra bucks for that.
For stunning visuals, the laptop comes with a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display. With a high refresh rate of 144Hz, you can expect the display to deliver smooth and stutter-free performance. Unless you’re using the laptop in direct sunlight or bright light settings, you should be fine with the display’s maximum brightness of 227 nits. Overall, for a budget RTX 3050 laptop, the MSI GF63 delivers good performance. In case you want to explore more options from the same brand, check out some of the best MSI gaming laptops.
- 17-inch display
- 16GB RAM
- Great performance
- May be heavy for some users
If you’re looking for an RTX 3050 laptop with a big display, you’d want to get the Asus TUF F17. We think that it is the best 17-inch RTX 3050 gaming laptop that packs a punch in terms of performance.
Much like some of the best 17-inch laptops, the Asus TUF F17 sports a 17.3-inch FHD display with an FHD resolution, which should deliver clear, detailed visuals. You also get a refresh rate of 144Hz, something that will benefit you greatly in fast-paced games. While the display’s brightness maxes out at 250 nits, it is still somewhat usable outdoors, thanks to its anti-glare coating.
As far as the inside of the laptop is concerned, Asus has paired the RTX 3050 with the Intel Core i5-11400H processor. While this isn’t one of the latest processors from Intel, it is still decent enough for gaming and other everyday tasks. The GPU has 4GB of VRAM, but that should be enough to run games at 1080p resolution. For faster processing speeds, there’s 16GB of DDR4 RAM paired with a 1TB SSD.
Overall, the Asus TUF F17 is an excellent choice for those who are not a fan of small screens.
- Portable and lightweight design
- 14.5-inch 3K multi-touch display
- 32GB RAM
- Design may not be for everyone
For creators, we would recommend the Lenovo Slim 7 Pro X. This is, without a doubt, an excellent laptop that comes packed with hardware powerful enough for both productivity tasks and gaming.
The laptop is powered by the Ryzen 9 6900HS processor, which features 8 cores and 16 threads. It is designed to handle demanding tasks with ease, and it can deliver great performance in CPU-intensive games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Far Cry 6. For the GPU, it has the RTX 4050 with 4GB VRAM. To help you store plenty of data, the Lenovo Slim 7 Pro X comes equipped with a 1TB SSD. There’s also 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which contributes greatly to increasing the overall processing speed of the laptop.
As far as the display is concerned, it is what makes this laptop shine among the crowd. The laptop sports a 14.5-inch 3K multi-touch display with 400 nits of max brightness, meaning that you can use it in direct sunlight or bright settings. It also has a refresh rate of 120Hz for smoother visuals.
Overall, with an excellent display paired with a powerful GPU, CPU, and RAM, the Lenovo Slim 7 Pro X is the best RTX 3050 gaming laptop for creators. It is also around 3.5 pounds, which makes it pretty portable.
- Sleek design
- 15.6-inch display
- 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD
- Display is only 250 nits
We think that the HP Victus 15 is the best 15-inch RTX 3050 gaming laptop. Not only does the laptop feature components that are excellent for 1080 gaming, but it is also lightweight. It weighs around 5 pounds, which makes it portable.
The HP Victus 15 comes with the RTX 3050 GPU and the Intel Core i5-13420H processor, which comes with 8 cores and 12 threads. The process is good enough for multitasking and running CPU-intensive games and software. To ensure everything runs smoothly on the laptop, HP has placed 32GB of DDR4 RAM and 2TB of SSD inside the laptop.
Speaking about the outside, we have a beautiful 15.6-inch full HD display with thin bezels, which contribute to the overall sleek look of the laptop. For smoother visuals, the display features a high refresh rate of 144Hz. Its brightness maxes out at only 250 nits, but the display comes with an anti-glare coating. Overall, it is a great choice and a strong contender for one of the best HP gaming laptops.
How to pick the best RTX 3050 gaming laptop
Here are a few things to consider before making a final purchase.
CPU
Make sure you’re getting a laptop that features a CPU powerful enough to handle CPU-intensive games. Otherwise, no matter how good the other components are, the overall performance of your laptop will be slow. You’d want to go for a laptop that at least has a 13th-gen Intel processor, but you can also go for previous-generation processors if they are powerful enough. In case you want to explore more options with similar processors, check out some of the best Intel 13th-gen laptops.
Storage and RAM
More storage and RAM will make your life easier, so make sure to go for at least 1TB of storage paired with 16GB of RAM, which is the requirement of the latest games. Also, make sure to go for an SSD and not an HDD.
Display
RTX 3050 gaming laptops come with full HD displays. There are a few options that feature a higher resolution display, but the RTX 3050 is meant for 1080p gaming as it struggles at 1440p and 4K. Therefore, you’ll be fine with a full HD display with a screen size of 15 inches or above. But if you’re planning to do some content creation as well, you can go with a high-resolution display.
Portability
For portability, you’d want to go for a laptop that has a good battery life and is lightweight. Ideally, the laptop you’re getting should last for around four to six hours after a full charge. On top of that, like some of the best lightweight laptops, go for a sleek laptop that is easy to carry around.
Is RTX 3050 enough for gaming?
The RTX 3050 is suitable for gaming, particularly at 1080p resolution. It is designed to handle modern games at medium to high settings, providing a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience for most titles. However, it may struggle with the most demanding games at ultra settings or higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K.
Is RTX 3050 better than 1660 Ti?
The RTX 3050 and GTX 1660 Ti are comparable in terms of performance, with the RTX 3050 having a slight edge in some games due to its ray-tracing capabilities and support for DLSS. However, the difference between the two GPUs is not significant, and both are suitable for 1080p gaming. Your choice between the two will depend on your gaming priorities and budget.
Our Verdict
We think that the Lenovo LOQ is the best RTX 3050 gaming laptop. It comes with the 6GB variant of the RTX 3050 and pairs it with the Intel Core i5-13420H processor. On top of that, it sports a bright 15.6-inch FHD display with a refresh rate of 144Hz.