Today we’re having a look at 5 of the most affordable and most powerful Gaming Laptops available today in New Zealand, with new additions from MSI, Razer, HP Omen, Asus, Aorus and Alienware all vying for the top spots! Some of the laptops in our list are very new, others are sporting lots of reviews to check out - whichever the case, all laptops below offer the excellent performance for your dollar!
Quick list! The Top 5 Gaming Laptops
- Asus TUF FX505 GTX 1650 Laptop
- HP Pavilion 15 GTX 1660 Ti Laptop
- MSi GS66 Stealth RTX 2060 Laptop
- Razer Blade Base 15 RTX 2070 Laptop
- Asus ROG Duo 15 GX550 2080S Laptop
We use the term "gaming" because all models below feature Nvidia ShadowPlay so you can capture or stream gameplay directly from the laptop while you play, without the need for additional hardware.
Having dedicated graphics also makes them excellent machines for photo and video editing - and if you are worried about battery life, don't be - you can temporarily disable the power-hungry Nvidia graphics and run off integrated graphics just like the ultrabooks do.
We'll be covering the best options with consideration for both the design of the chassis and the component specs used within, the price is our primary factor for the position on the list (price/performance for the win!).
1. ASUS TUF FX505 GTX 1650 Gaming Laptop
Kicking things off with the exceptionally well-reviewed Asus TUF Gaming FX505 which features the powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics paired perfectly with the popular Ryzen 5 3550H 4 Core / 8 Thread CPU and 16GB of fast DDR4 RAM. Storage for this model is remarkably fast also, with a 512GB PCie SSD installed, along with a 120Hz display for high FPS gaming.
Being a part of the Asus TUF range it's got that beautiful narrow bezel edging the display, and MIL-STD-810G for certified durability (For those who want to know more, you can check out the MIL-STD-810G standard here). The FX505 series has won the RedDot Design Award, a credit to their well-thought-out shape and durability, these gaming laptops ideal for both leisure and everyday work.
This Asus laptop really is super tough to beat, so good is the price/performance of this particular model that it's hard to justify spending more. The 15.6" design even allowed Asus to use a full-sized keyboard with excellent spacing, and this, combined with the performance, makes this one pretty great for business use, or at school, or for a lot of gaming... pretty much everything you want to do.
2. HP Pavilion 15 GTX 1660 Ti Gaming Laptop
Turning things up notch, next up we have the HP Pavilion 15 which features a powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Graphics, Ryzen 7 3750H 4 Core / 8 Thread CPU and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Storage for this model is fast also, with a 512GB SSD installed, along with a 144Hz display for high FPS gaming. A sleek micro-edge bezel display provides a sleek viewing experience while the front-firing speakers with audio by B&O deliver powerful sound.
The Pavilion 15 comes equipped with a dual fan system for enhanced thermal cooling, the wide rear corner vent and enlarged air inlets maximize airflow for better performance and stability, keeping the machine cooler during extended usage
The excellent specs combined with the affordable price make this model appealing for anyone running the numbers, but what makes this laptop so popular is the understated design - it's gaming grade, but without the common bling which makes it ideal for the both work and play.
3. MSi GS66 Stealth RTX 2060 Gaming Laptop
We're getting into some crazy high specification with this one, but luckily for us, every part of MSi GS66 Stealth Gaming Laptop design serves to improve system stability and efficiency while being geared for serious gaming with the latest 10th generation Intel i7 CPU + GeForce RTX 2060 GPU combo inside, so you can enjoy fast action-packed gameplay.
Reaching 240FPS is tough for a laptop, and even with the RTX 2070 inside you won't be able to hit this all the time, in every game - but in something like Overwatch with the settings just right - it's a sight to behold!
Boasting a smaller and more portable chassis than its predecessors, this new model gaming laptop design also features a large battery for superior usage when out and about. The form factor and discrete style make this a reliable ally for gamers on the go.
With this specific MSi GS66 Stealth RTX 2060 Gaming Laptop we also get a 240Hz display, to keep things looking super smooth while we scroll through massive files, or play our favourite games!
4. Razer Blade 15 RTX 2070 Gaming Laptop
Next up we have the powerful 15" Razer Blade laptop which, much like our current #3, packs impressive specifications into a very sleek body.
Although it might look similar to other Razer Blades, this specific model is rather powerful, with an RTX 2070 + Intel i7-10750H 6 Core 12 Thread CPU + 16GB 2993Mhz RAM combo pushing out frames like an absolute champion. While it doesn't have the MIL-spec durability of the Asus models, it's still very well built with excellent hinges and a frame that's built to last. It also feels wonderful to use thanks to a large, clickable glass touchpad for smooth and precise control.
Overall, this specific Razer Blade is a great choice for those looking for a gaming heart, but sleek a black Macbook like design.
5. Asus ROG RTX 2080 Zephyrus Duo 15
Finishing up our current top 5 we have this mighty Asus ROG GX550 Laptop with its insanely quick 300Hz display... and that's just one of the screens on this beast!
If you're looking for the best in the high end this is the one, there is nothing that can compare. It features an Intel 10th generation i9-10980HK running 8 cores and 16 threads, Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on the processor and provides increased performance on those cores increasing frequency as needed (by taking advantage of the power and thermal headroom) boosting automatically up to 5.1GHz, but it also has a maximum single-core frequency limit at a whopping 5.3GHz - insanely fast.
The RTX 2080 SUPER Max-Q inside is the most powerful graphics solution you can get in a laptop right now, and don't confuse this one with the original RTX 2080 either, this SUPER version isn't just a cool name, it's got more CUDA cores and higher clock speeds.
Looking for a gaming beast that feels utterly premium? Treat yourself to the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 RTX 2080 Super Gaming Laptop today!
