Year after year, laptops continue to get better and better. They're not only faster than last year, but designs continue to improve, and prices continue to fall. Though premium options still cost a pretty penny, you can get a very capable laptop for under $500 these days.
Picking the right one for you can still be a challenge, but we've done the hard part: testing dozens of models in our labs for things like performance, portability, build quality, and battery life. These are the best laptops we've tested this year, and the ones we'd recommend first to our families and friends.
May 27, 2017 The Best Gaming Laptop Under $1000 (2017) - Duration: 5:01. Austin Evans 1,849,213 views. The 2017 update of the 13-inch MacBook Pro ($1,299) isn't a groundbreaking refresh, but it does come with two very important new features: a reduced price and new processor options from Intel's.
Best Laptop: Dell XPS 13
Dell's XPS 13 was a game-changing laptop when it first debuted a few years ago, offering a 13-inch screen in a very compact body thanks to a screen with almost no dead space around it. The latest versions have the same design, with faster internal components and updated ports that will keep it current for years to come.
Best of all, the XPS 13 offers a wide range of options and price points. Though the sub-$800 entry-level model is a little slow, you can upgrade with faster processors, more storage, more RAM, a 2-in-1 hinge, a touchscreen—pretty much anything you want. For pretty much any buyer, the XPS 13 has something to offer. Read our review.
Best 2-in-1 Laptop: HP Spectre x360
The HP Spectre x360 isn't just one of the best 2-in-1 laptops we've ever used, it might be the best-looking laptop ever. Sleek, fast, lightweight, with a phenomenal keyboard, and a great touchscreen, the Spectre x360 has a lot going for it.
Though people desperate for the most portable option may still want to consider a detachable like the Microsoft Surface Pro, for most people having an attached keyboard is more useful. For buyers like that, the x360 is a killer choice. Read our review.
Best Gaming Laptop: Razer Blade
Of all the gaming laptops we tested this year, none blew us away like the Razer Blade. Available in a variety of configurations, the 14-inch Blade is sleek, fast, and significantly smaller than similarly powerful laptops—especially those packing an Nvidia 1060 GTX GPU with 6GB of RAM.
It's not cheap, but if you are looking for a gaming laptop that can do it all without weighing you down too much, the Razer Blade is the best of the bunch. Read our review.
Best Gaming Laptop Under $1,000: New Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming
Typically, buying an affordable gaming laptop means getting one that just can't play the newest games at high settings. The New Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming turns that on its head, with price just under $1,000 and an Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU.
With the 'New' models also offering Intel's quad core 8th-gen processors, you're getting some serious gaming prowess at a very reasonable price. It can't quite keep up with the best gaming laptops and PCs, but it's far closer than any other sub-$1,000 laptop around.
Best Laptop for the Money: New Dell Inspiron 13 7000
Not to be confused with the 15-inch Gaming version of the 7000, the 13-inch Inspiron 13 7000 is like the baby brother of the Dell XPS 13. Available in a huge range of configurations (like the XPS), the Inspiron 13 7000 offers fast processors, a premium design, and a very attractive starting price.
The name is a bit confusing, but to be clear we recommend going with one of the 'New' models, since they offer quad core 8th-gen Intel Core chips. That provides way more value—no matter which config you wind up going with. Read our review.
Best for Video Editing: New Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming
Though we've already touched on why we love the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop for gaming, we also love it as an ideal laptop for video editing. Though there are more powerful machines out there, the New Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming offers an Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU with 8th-gen Intel Core processors for under $1,000.
You'll want to add more RAM and storage for video editing, of course, but with such a low starting price and an easily upgradeable design, there's almost nothing this laptop can't do. Best of all, it doesn't look like a typical gaming laptop, so it'll fit in even in more professional, staid settings.
Best for Students: Asus Chromebook Flip
For most students, a Chromebook is a perfect fit. They're affordable, portable, and there's plenty of compatible software for writing papers and drafting presentations. Our favorite, by far, is the Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA.
Sleek, compact, and with an aluminum frame that is both handsome and durable, the C302CA is hands-down the best Chromebook we've tested. And with Chromebooks now able to run Android apps, there's no limit to what these machines can do. Read our review.
Best Budget Gaming Laptops 2017
Best Laptop Under $500: Acer Aspire E 15
Though it doesn't have the premium fit and finish of more expensive laptops, the Acer Aspire E 15 runs rings around anything in its price bracket. It offers a 15-inch screen, a 7th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, and a 1TB hard drive for just $350.
Though the body has a bit of creak to it and it only ships with 4GB of RAM, it's easily upgradeable and even has a DVD burner—something you just don't find on many laptops. If you need something faster you can upgrade to a model just over $500 that includes a GPU, but for buyers who don't need much, the Acer Aspire E 15 overdelivers. Read our review.
BestMacBook for GamingiMore2020
Apple MacBooks have never been designed to perform solely as gaming laptops. Despite this, some models are better than others for this type of use. Our favorite current model, the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i7 processor, includes numerous features that make it a terrific device for casual gamers. There are other noteworthy models we've gathered to help you choose the one that fits your needs best.
Best Overall: 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i7 processor
2019 Best Gaming Laptop
For gamers, we're recommending the least expensive of the two 16-inch models, which includes a 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz. We're picking this one because it offers a nice mix of features at a price that's far more affordable than the premium offering we highlight below.
The base 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory, 512GB SSD storage, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports. The model comes standard with an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 graphics processor that you can upgrade to an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 4GB of GDDR6 or an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 8 GB of GDDR6 for better performance.
On the obvious downside, this is still an expensive laptop. Plus, you'll need to recharge this laptop more often than the MacBook Air. And like all MacBooks, it isn't usually on sale at a discount.
Pros:
- The least expensive 16-inch model
- Pay extra for a graphics boost
- Biggest MacBook Pro display to date
Cons:
- Still very expensive
- Not the most powerful MBP you can buy
- Up to 11 hours wireless web
Best Overall
16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i7 processor
Largest display for less
The entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for the occasional computer gamer.
Source: iMore
Much lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Pro that has the same screen size, the 2019 MacBook Air weighs just 2.75 pounds, making it a great take-and-go laptop. Along with being less weighty, the MacBook Air provides an hour more of use between charges, although actual performance depends on the tasks.
We're sold on the entry-level MacBook Air, even for gaming, because of its price. Still, think casual gaming here only thanks to its slower processor and graphics card. There's also fewer Thunderbolt 3 ports on this model.
If you're purchasing a laptop solely for gaming, this isn't the one to buy. However, it will work well in a pinch when you need to take a break from your studies or work.
Pros:
- Same screen size as 13-inch MBP
- Up to 12 hours of wireless web between charges
- Excellent price
Cons:
- Only two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
- Not as powerful as MBP models
Best Value
MacBook Air (2019)
Save money and still game
Casual-casual gamers will enjoy using this MacBook Air model during the occasional break from work or school.
Source: iMore
When it comes to the 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro, $500 separates the base and most complete package. For even more, you can upgrade the machine's For the five memory, storage, and processor.
The smaller of the two MacBook Pro models is a great overall pick. At just over three pounds, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is only slightly heavier than the MacBook Air. For this, you get a better processor and graphics card, more storage availability, and a Touch Bar. You can upgrade the processor and storage. In doing so, however, you'll push the price just shy of $2,000. If that happens, you might want to consider our No. 1 pick instead.
Regardless, if a 13-inch display is what you want and you want the bells and whistles missing on the MacBook Air, this is the one to get. If you intend to spend more than one-fourth of your time gaming, it's even more vital for you to consider this model over the Air.
Pros:
- Better internals than MacBook Air
- Great mobility
- Much cheaper than the 16-inch model
Cons:
- You can't upgrade the graphics card
- Price can rise as you add components
- Is 13-inches enough?
Best Alternative
13-inch MacBook Pro (2019)
A step up
There's much to love about this model, which offers better internals than the MacBook Air.
Best Premium: 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i9 processor
If you're a hard-core Mac gamers, or want to be, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an 8‑core 9th‑generation Intel Core i9 processor and Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz is the one for you. Compared to the entry-level model, you'll get a graphics card boost and 1TB of storage. If this isn't enough, add more memory, an even better graphics card, and more storage. In doing so, the cost of this model can quickly exceed nearly $6,000, however.
Pros:
- Apple's best MacBook Pro to date
- Graphics boost, upgrades
- Up to 64GB of memory available
Best Premium
16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i9 processor
The best of the best
If you're okay with the price, no doubt this is the MacBook to get. Happy gaming!
Bottom line
In 2019, the MacBook lineup changed considerably as Apple discontinued the 12-inch MacBook and 15-inch model MacBook Pro. The change brings to four the number of Apple laptops we recommend for gaming purposes. Our favorite, the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i7 processor, should give you enough power to play your favorite casual computer games. Still, it will cost you, especially if you add extras. It's still an expensive laptop, which no doubt is something to consider too.
The base model includes a 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz with 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory, 512GB SSD storage, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports. The model comes standard with an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 graphics processor and can be upgraded to an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 4GB of GDDR6 or an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 8 GB of GDDR6 for better performance.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Bryan M. Wolfe is a dad who loves technology, especially anything new from Apple. Penn State (go Nittany Lions) graduate here, also a huge fan of the New England Patriots. Thanks for reading. @bryanmwolfe
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