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, Acer, 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 excellent performance for your dollar!
Quick list! The Top 5 Gaming Laptops
- Acer Aspire 7 GTX 1650 Laptop
- Acer Nitro 5 GTX 1650Ti Laptop
- Asus TUF Dash 15 RTX 3060 Laptop
- MSI Katana GF66 RTX 3070 Laptop
- Razer Blade 14 RTX 3080 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. Previously, anything labeled "gaming" implied enough RGB to make your eyeballs bleed, thankfully that's not a condition with our list.
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. Price is our primary factor for the position on this list (price/performance for the win!).
1. Acer Aspire 7 GTX 1650 Laptop
Kicking things off with the newly released Acer Aspire 7 GTX 1650 Laptop which features powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics paired perfectly with the latest AMD Ryzen 5 5500U 6 Core / 12 Thread CPU and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Storage for this model is remarkably fast also, with a 512GB NVMe SSD installed, along with a nice 15.6" 1080P 60Hz display for comfortable gaming.
Those with a keen eye for details will have already recognised this specific laptop shares very similar stats with the previously top rated Asus TUF FX505, but the Acer model enjoys the benefits of the newer AMD CPU technology, adding to core count, thread count and max boost clock speed while consuming less power and allowing for faster RAM to be used as well - such are the perks that come with being a laptop from 2021 - nicely done Acer!
This Acer 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 Acer to use a full-sized keyboard with excellent spacing, and this, combined with the excellent 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. Acer Nitro 5 GTX 1650Ti Laptop
Next up we have the Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop which features a powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650Ti Graphics paired with the Intel 10th gen i5-10300H 4 Core / 8 Thread CPU and 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a nice 1080P display for gaming. Storage for this model is fast (yet again) with a 256GB NVMe SSD installed. A sleek narrow-edge bezel display provides a solid viewing experience and with RGB lighting on the keyboard, this laptop is pure joy to use even at night.
This Acer Nitro 5 laptop comes equipped with a powerful 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 sleek design - it's clearly got a gaming heart, with a subtle chassis design that's very attractive.
3. ASUS TUF Dash RTX 3060 Laptop
We're getting into some crazy high specification with this one, but luckily for us, every part of the ASUS FX516 TUF Dash design serves to improve system stability and efficiency while being geared for serious gaming with the latest Intel Core i7-11370H CPU + GeForce RTX 3060 GPU combo inside, so that you can enjoy fast, action-packed gameplay on the 15.6" 144Hz FHD display.
The FHD (1920x1080), anti-glare display will give you an awesome viewing experience, while maximising the full 144 fps. You'll be able to multi-task seamlessly. Having the ability to switch from streaming, to gaming, creating, and more at the touch of a button and get fantastic performance from something in this small form factor.
At just 19.9 mm thick it's rather portable, slip into a bag and you're ready for travel, plus, to earn the TUF name, this laptop has to endure rigorous MIL-STD durability standards. This high resolution, small form factor and discrete style make this laptop great for those in the boardroom by day, and gaming all night.
This specific ASUS TUF DASH RTX 3060 Gaming Laptop offers remarkable value for the performance in a sleek frame, it's ideal for daily use on the web, or for those working with large files, and also for playing our favourite games!
4. MSI GF66 Katana RTX 3070 Laptop
Next up we have the powerful MSI Katana RTX 3070 Gaming Laptop which, much like our current #3, packs impressive specifications into an elegant, subtle design.
With a new internal configuration that's signifigantly more powerful than previous models, the new MSI Katana is exceptionally powerful too, with the just released RTX 3070 + the latest Intel i7-11800H 8 Core 16 Thread CPU + 16GB of 3200MHz RAM combo pushing out frames to the 144Hz display like an absolute champion.
The MSI Katana provides high end performance that's fully capable of powering through creative tasks with ease, and can handle the running and streaming the majority of games, including AAA titles, simultaneously.
The overall design for this laptop is beautifully slim, as is the backplate and detailing, it's an extremely well built laptop, with durable hinges and a frame that's built to last. It also feels wonderful to use thanks to a large touchpad for smooth and precise control.
Overall, this new MSI Katana GF66 RTX 3070 Gaming Laptop is a great choice for those looking for a sleek, high-performance design, with specifications to match!
5. Razer Blade RTX 3080 Laptop
Finishing up our current top 5 we have this mighty Razer Blade 14 with its insanely fast RTX 3080 inside.
If you're looking for the best portable laptop with highest end performance this is the one, there is nothing that can compare. This latest Razer Blade 14 features the signature sleek design that won Razer multiple awards, uplifted by the new powerful components within.
Featuring a beautiful 14.1" 2560x1440p display, the clarity from the pixel density is incredible to behold. This laptop takes the portable experience to new levels with ground breaking thermal design which unleashes peak power from the latest AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, and that's the most powerful graphics solution you can get in a laptop right now.
Looking for a gaming beast that feels utterly premium? Treat yourself to the Razer Blade 14 RTX 3080 Gaming Laptop today!
WOAH five awesome Gaming Laptops already, and better still, this is just a small slice from the massive range of laptops available today! We'll continue to update with more of the latest as new options arrive, so be sure to keep your eyes on Hardwired News for the latest!
