Modern gaming laptops are extremely fast, and to deliver the ultimate gaming experience, they make millions of calculations per second and use the latest hardware for graphics.
When shopping for gaming laptops, it’s easy to spend thousands of dollars, and you’ll find no shortage of expensive options. However, not everyone can afford the best laptops, and if you fall into this category, you should know that there are plenty of gaming laptops under $300 to choose from.
Since $300 is a small amount of money to spend on a gaming computer, you won’t be able to use it for the most demanding games, but it should provide enough processing power for a casual gaming experience.
What to Look For
When shopping for the best gaming laptops under $300, it’s important to get the greatest amount of value for the money spent. You should look for laptops that don’t come with extra features. The two major components for gaming are the processor and graphics card, and they’re responsible for running your favorite computer games.
The best system should be designed with a focus on these crucial components, and it should focus less on the components that aren’t as important.
For example, you don’t need a 1TB hard drive for a cheaper gaming laptop because a smaller hard drive can direct the money savings to the processor or graphics card. If $300 is all that you can spend, you should already be looking for a basic model, and you should avoid features that you don’t need.
To get the greatest gaming power, you’re looking for a basic model. Since you’ll be using the laptop for gaming, avoid products that have a touch screen. You might also want to consider something that has a solid-state drive, which is ideal for gaming.
Also, don’t worry too much about the size of the screen, as what you can do is connect the laptop up to a cheap 144hz monitor when you require a bigger viewing area for your gaming experience.
10 Best Gaming Laptops Under $300 Comparison Table
| Product | Image | Features | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 14-an013nr 14-Inch Notebook |  | AMD Quad-Core E2-7110 APU, 1.8 GHz Processor 14 inch screen 4GB RAM, 32GB Flash Storage | $$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| 2017 Newest Premium High Performance ASUS 14 Eeebook |  | Intel Celeron Dual-core processor 4GB DDR3 RAM, 32GB Flash eMMC Storage Windows 10 Home Premium 64-bit | $$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| 2017 Newest HP 15.6 inch High Performance Premium HD Laptop |  | AMD Radeon R4 graphics card 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD Front facing VGA Webcam with integrated digital microphone | $$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Acer Aspire ES 15 15.6" HD |  | 6th Generation i3 Processor 4GB RAM 1TB HDD Up to 6.5-hours Battery Life | $$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Acer CB3-531-C4A5 Intel Dual Core Chromebook |  | 2GB RAM, 16GB Flash Memory 2 GHz Intel Celeron Dual Core Processor HDMI, USB Ports plus Webcam | $ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Dell Inspiron i3558-5500BLK 15.6" Laptop |  | 4GB RAM, 1TB Hard Drive 1 HDMI output, 1 USB 3.0 port, built-in media reader Intel Core i3-5015U Processor | $$$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Acer Aspire ES 15, 15.6" HD, Intel Core i3-6100U, 4GB DDR3L, 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Home, ES1-572-31KW |  | 6th Generation Intel Core i3-6100U Processor Up to 6.5-hours Battery Life 4GB DDR3L Memory, 1TB 5400RPM HDD | $$$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| Newest Lenovo Premium Built High Performance 11.6 inch HD Laptop |  | 4GB RAM 32GB SSD 11.6" display Typical 1366 x 768 HD resolution Intel celeron N3050 dual-core processor | $ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| ASUS VivoBook X540SA 15.6-Inch High Performance Premium HD Laptop |  | Intel Pentium mobile N3700 Quad-Core processor 4GB RAM 500GB HDD Windows 10 Home 64-bit Optical drive: SuperMulti DVD/CD burner | $$ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
| ASUS E200HA Portable Lightweight 11.6-inch Intel Quad-Core Laptop |  | 32GB eMMC storage, 4GB DDR3 RAM Free 1-Year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal Intel Quad-Core Atom Z8350 1.44 GHz Processor | $ | CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON |
Below, you’ll find reviews for 10 of the top gaming laptops under $300, and by selecting a product from the list, you can save time and money.
HP 14-an013nr 14-Inch Notebook
The HP 14-an013nr isn’t the fastest laptop available, but with an AMD E2-7110 QC, it has enough processing power to handle a variety of different games. The 1.8Ghz processor contains four cores, which delivers fast multi-threading processing.
The HP 14-an013nr comes with 4GB of DDR3L-SDRAM memory, and with four gigabytes of memory, it can handle many games and applications. For increased productivity, this laptop comes with Windows 10, and the operating system boots up quickly.
If you get tired of gaming, you can use the advanced HD camera that is built into this laptop, and the 1080p HD display helps to enhance all gaming experiences. The HP 14-an013nr is equipped with DTS studio sound and features eMMC storage.
It comes with HP support assistant and uses a 14-inch screen to display content from your favorite games. It has one of AMD’s latest processors, and the overall performance from this laptop is decent for games, music, videos and applications. On a full charge, the battery will last for just over five hours, and the HP 14-an013nr only weighs 3.86 pounds.
2017 Newest Premium High Performance ASUS 14 Flagship Laptop
The ASUS 14 inch laptop features an LED backlit display, and it displays content in 1080p Full HD. This laptop has no optical drive, but it’s equipped with a 720p HD integrated webcam. The 14-inch screen isn’t huge, but it’s enough to enjoy most games.
The ASUS 14 inch laptop comes with an Intel Celeron dual-core processor, which is the N3060 model. The processor has a 2MB cache, and although its base clock speed is 1.6Ghz, it can operate up to 2.48Ghz. This product has 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and for storage, it’s equipped with a 32GB eMMC storage unit.
For better connectivity, it supports an 802.11BGN Gigabit Wi-Fi combo, which is even capable of connecting via Bluetooth 4.0. The ASUS 14 Eeebook has several USB ports, and it even has a microSD slot that reads media card, which is compatible with digital cameras.
With a total weight of only 3.2 pounds, this laptop is easy to carry, and it comes with several inputs and outputs. It has an integrated webcam and features the Windows 10 operating system.
2017 Newest HP 15.6 inch High Performance Premium HD Laptop
The HP 15.6 inch High Performance Laptop is very affordable, and with a 15.6-inch display, it offers plenty of screen real estate for any game. The glossy screen looks good and presents content in vivid color,
The processing powerhouse hiding inside of the HP 15.6 inch Laptop is an AMD A6-5200, and with a total of four cores, this processor can handle a variety of mid-range computer games. The processor is complemented with a Radeon R4 graphics card, with 2GB of graphics memory.
When combined, these components offer great multitasking and performance, and they’re suitable for PC games, music and videos. This laptop comes with 4GB of RAM, and it’s the standard amount of memory that you can expect from cheaper laptops.
There is enough RAM to simultaneously run many applications, and it will allow you to keep multiple tabs open within your favorite browser. The HP 15.6 inch Laptop has a 500GB hard drive, and the integrated AMD Radeon R4 graphics can work well for casual gaming.
Acer Aspire ES 15 15.6″ HD
The Acer Aspire ES 15 has a 6th generation Intel Core i3-6100U processor, which operates at a base clock speed of 2.3Ghz. For even faster data transfer, the processor has a 3MB L3 cache, and when used for casual gaming, it packs a serious punch.
The Acer Aspire ES 15 will display your games on a 15.6-inch HD screen, and it has a CineCrystal LED display. This product comes with 4GB of DDR3L memory, and it will store your data on a 1TB hard drive.
It comes with Windows 10 Home, and the battery is good for about 6.5 hours of run time. The Acer Aspire ES 15 features a midnight black color, and it offers enough performance for casual gaming.
To help the processor handle PC games, this laptop has Intel HD Graphics 520, which are integrated graphics. For sound, the Acer Aspire ES 15 has two built-in stereo speakers, and it’s equipped with the latest wireless technology.
With compatibility for Bluetooth 4.0, this laptop has every wireless base covered, and it comes with several convenient USB ports. The Acer Aspire ES 15 can be used for casual gaming, music and multitasking, and although it’s not the best laptop for gaming, it offers decent value for the price.
Acer CB3-531-C4A5 Intel Dual Core Chromebook
Some people will tell you not to buy a Chromebook for gaming, but the Acer CB3-531-C4A5 is a worthwhile exception. This laptop comes with a 15.6-inch display and features an Intel Celeron Dual-core processor.
For casual gaming, it’s equipped with integrated Intel HD graphics, and the 16GB SSD offers faster load times. The Intel processor operates at a clock speed of 2.0GHz, and when combined with 2GB of RAM, it helps applications run smoothly.
The Acer CB3-531-C4A5 Chromebook weighs just under five pounds, which is light enough to transport anywhere. If you decide to purchase this laptop, you should know that it doesn’t come with many of the features that you’d get from Windows.
It runs on the Chrome operating system, and it’s a great choice for young kids. In terms of gaming performance, it’s not nearly as good as some of the other products on this list, but with such a low price, it could be a great computer for young kids.
Dell Inspiron i3558-5500BLK 15.6″ Laptop
The Dell Inspiron i3558-5500BLK is close enough to $300 that we had to include it in this list, and with a 15.6-inch display, it offers plenty of screen real estate for any game. The 720p HD screen features LED backlighting, and for more enjoyable gaming, it displays vibrant, vivid colors.
This laptop comes equipped with a 5th Gen Intel Core i3-5015U mobile processor, and for enhanced gaming performance, the processor has two computing cores. A total of 4GB of memory help applications run smoothly, and the Dell Inspiron i3558-5500BLK stores data on a 1TB hard drive.
It uses Intel HD integrated graphics 5500 for enhanced gaming performance, but since the graphics are integrated, they’re not nearly as powerful as a dedicated graphics card. The Dell Inspiron i3558-5500BLK comes with several USB ports, and it even has a built-in microphone and HD webcam.
To further enhance your gaming experience, this laptop has MaxxAudio, and it comes equipped with the latest wireless technology, which is important for multiplayer games.
Acer Aspire ES 15, 15.6″ HD, Intel Core i3-6100U, 4GB DDR3L, 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Home, ES1-572-31KW
The Acer Aspire ES 15 is another laptop that just makes the budget. It’s a popular system for casual gaming, and comes equipped with a 6th Generation Intel Core i3-6100U Processor and Intel HD Graphics 520 to handle a wide range of PC games.
The 15.6-inch display is LED backlit and although the screen doesn’t deliver full HD, the 720p resolution is enough to enjoy most games and applications.
The Acer Aspire ES 15 comes with 4GB of memory and 500GB hard drive storage, it offers just enough space for your important data files.
Integrated Intel HD graphics offer an additional boost for gaming and make it easier to enjoy HD video. This computer also has an HDMI port and several USB ports, both USB 2.0 and also USB 3.0 which process information up to 10 times faster than the previous version of USB technology.
Newest Lenovo Premium Built High Performance 11.6 inch HD Laptop
When discussing the top gaming laptops under $300, we can’t forget about Lenovo, and this tiny powerhouse comes with an Intel Celeron N3050 processor.
For enhanced gaming performance, the Intel processor is designed with two computing cores, and although it’s great for casual gaming, it’s also works well for Internet, music and applications.
The Lenovo HD Laptop B01LVX99QJ has 4GB of memory, and since it’s high-bandwidth memory, it meets the requirements for most basic programs. This product comes with a 32GB SSD, which offers faster load times than you’d get from a standard hard drive.
The 11.6-inch display could be bigger, but it’s good enough for casual gaming. To process a variety of different games, this laptop uses Intel HD graphics, which are built into the processor, and for increased productivity, it features the latest Windows 10 operating system.
ASUS VivoBook X540SA 15.6-Inch High Performance Premium HD Laptop
The ASUS VivoBook X540SA has a 15.6-inch screen, and it displays content with a 720p HD resolution. The keyboard has chiclet keys, and there are several inputs for peripheral devices. If you prefer to use a microphone or headphones, then you’ll enjoy the USB 3.0 ports that are built into this laptop.
The LED HD display is great for casual gaming, and the Intel HD shared graphics will display your favorite games using vivid colors and lighting. Unlike many of the other laptops on this list, the ASUS VivoBook X540SA comes with a SuperMulti DVD burner, and it has built-in high-speed wireless technology.
The ASUS VivoBook X540SA is equipped with an integrated webcam, stereo speakers and SD card reader, and it has Windows 10 Home 64-bit. With an Intel Pentium mobile processor N3700, this laptop can handle many games, and the processor has a base clock speed of 1.6Ghz.
For faster gaming, the processor can boost up to 2.4GHz, and it has four powerful computing cores. A total of 4GB of memory helps this laptop run most games and applications, and although it’s not the best product available, it should work well for casual gaming.
ASUS E200HA Portable Lightweight 11.6-inch Intel Quad-Core Laptop
ASUS is known for making high-quality computer systems, and the ASUS E200HA is one of the best gaming laptops under $300.
The 11.6-inch screen has no trouble displaying game content, and the Intel Atom processor uses a clock speed of 1.4Ghz to handle a variety of games. When the turbo boost is activated, the Atom processor can operate at 1.92Ghz, and it delivers great value for the money.
This laptop features 4GB of DDR3 RAM and stores data on a 32GB eMMC storage unit. The battery in this laptop is designed to deliver an entire day of runtime, and it uses two complete cells to store electricity.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, powerful laptop for casual gaming, then this computer is worth considering, but to get more gaming performance, you might want to consider choosing a different product from this list.
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