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
- Asus TUF FX505 GTX 1650 Laptop
- Asus ROG Strix G15 GTX 1660 Ti Laptop
- Asus ROG Zephyus G14 RTX 3060 Laptop
- Asus TUF DASH F15 RTX 3070 Laptop
- Asus ROG Duo 15 GX551 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.
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. Asus TUF FX505 GTX 1650 Gaming Laptop
Kicking things off with the deservingly popular Asus TUF Gaming FX505 which features powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics paired perfectly with the popular AMD Ryzen 5 3550H 4 Core / 8 Thread CPU and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Storage for this model is remarkably fast also, with a 512GB NVMe SSD installed, along with a 144Hz 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 Asus 505 series has also 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. Asus ROG Strix G15 GTX 1660 Ti Gaming Laptop
Turning things up notch, next up we have the Asus ROG Strix G15 which features a powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Graphics paired with the Intel 10th gen i7-10750H 6 Core / 12 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 with excellent RGB lighting on the keyboard, and also touchpad, making this laptop pure joy to use.
The Asus ROG Strix G15 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 aggressive design - it's gaming grade, ideal for the both work and play.
3. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 RTX 3060 Gaming Laptop
We're getting into some crazy high specification with this one, but luckily for us, every part of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 RTX 3060 gaming laptop design serves to improve system stability and efficiency while being geared for serious gaming with the latest AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card combo'd inside, so that you can enjoy fast, action-packed gameplay on the 14" QHD display.
That 2560x1440 panel is ultra-fast too, reaching 120Hz! The anti-glare gives a great viewing experience even in well-lit enviroments. The powerful spec means we can multi-task seamlessly with this laptop, it gives us the ability to switch from streaming, to gaming, creating, and more at the touch of a button, it's pretty fantastic getting this higher resolution and performance from a laptop in this small form factor.
At just 1.99 cm thick it's rather portable, slip into a bag and you're ready for travel, plus, to earn the ROG name, this laptop design adheres to the rigorous quality standards that come along with it, and the discrete style make this laptop a top choice for those who often find themselves in the boardroom by day, and gaming all night.
This specific Asus ROG G14 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. Asus TUF DASH 15 RTX 3070 Gaming Laptop
Next up we have the powerful 15" Asus TUF RTX 3070 laptop which, much like our current #3, packs impressive specifications into a very sleek new body.
With a new look that's signifigantly cleaner than previous TUF models, the new TUF DASH F15 is exceptionally powerful too, with the just released RTX 3070 + an 11th Generation Intel i7-11370H 4 Core 8 Thread CPU + 16GB RAM combo pushing out frames like an absolute champion.
The TUF DASH F15's potent performance is fully capable of powering through creative tasks with ease, and can handle the running and streaming of the latest AAA games simultaneously - including support for real-time ray tracing with RTX.
Although sleeker looking than previous TUF versions, the new DASH F15 TUF features the same MIL-spec durability of the previous models. It's extremely well built with excellent 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 Asus TUF Dash F15 RTX 3070 Gaming Laptop is a great choice for those looking for a gaming heart, but sleek a black Macbook like design.
5. Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE RTX 3080 Gaming Laptop
Finishing up our current top 5 we have this mighty Asus ROG GX551 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. This latest ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 SE features the signature dual display design that won all the awards last year, uplifted by the new powerful components within.
Featuring a secondary display (fancy name ROG ScreenPad Plus) this laptop takes the portable experience to new levels. The ground breaking thermal design 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 ASUS ROG GX511 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!
