Gaming laptops are getting faster and faster, keeping pace with today’s technology-savvy generation. Out of all the other specifications (like the processor), GPUs, a comfortable keyboard and solid-state storage must be considered when getting a gaming laptop under $2000 for you. Many gaming laptops have also gotten heavier with time but there are still a few that offer both performance and the ease of being a lightweight machine.
1. Razer blade 15
Razer has always brought good-looking, fast, and sturdy laptops to the market. Powered by an Intel Core i7 and amazing Nvidia’s new RTX GPUs, this can prove to be your top choice for a gaming laptop under $2000. It also exists in exciting colors like mercury white and others. It also has an advanced version which is also a good buy but sticking to gaming aptops under $2000, Razer Blade 15 rules. It also has a USB 3.1 port, a Thunderbolt 3 port, and an HDMI 2.0. mini Display Port and a Kensington Lock slot on the right side. While the headset jack takes the left side.
The display panel has a 144-Hz refresh rate, hence it avoids blur in the images. The audio output is clear but not as loud as some people would prefer it to be. Moreover, its keyboard works fine and the touchpad gives a fast and accurate response. The battery life can be a letdown for some gamers and the webcam is not very good as it does not capture every detail, but the power of the laptop compensates for it. It not only helps you have an excellent gaming experience but lets you multitask without any issues. Razer Blade 15 provides not just gaming contentment but also is promising for various other uses.
OS | Windows 10 |
Processor | Up to 9th Gen Intel Core i7 |
Graphics | Up to GeForce RTX 2060 |
15.6” Display | Up to 144Hz Full HD |
Storage | Dual Storage (NVMe + SATA) |
Memory | 16GB Dual-Channel |
Keyboard | Single-zone RGB Chroma |
Gigabit Ethernet | Yes |
Footprint | 9.25” (235mm) x 13.98” (355mm) |
Thinness | 0.78” (19.9mm) |
2. MSI stealth gs 65
MSI Stealth GS65 is very slim and owns a pretty-looking frame, turning out to be the first one to have Intel’s 8th gen, six-core Coffee Lake processor. Also, it has six cores instead of just four, like the previous generation. Its hinges let you lay it flat as it is designed for both, work and play. Sporting a slim look, it does not lack plenty of ports. The right-hand side has a USB 3.1 Type-A port, Thunderbolt 3, a Mini Display Port, HDMI, and a power jack. Adding to these are a pair of USB 3.1 Type-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, a secure lock slot, a microphone jack, and a S/PDIF jack for high-res audio. The MSI Stealth GS95 comes in 1920 x 1080 resolution. The 144-Hertz refresh rate is appreciable which keeps the latency low.
The display provides sharp details which can bring out the gaming visuals. The audio output is the best part of this laptop. You can hear every little movement during a game, like, the rustling of leaves. The overall slim look of the laptop also brings in a keyboard with narrow keys that seem to be a little too springy at first. With time, I do not think it adds to the problems of a gamer. With most gaming laptops the battery life is traded for power. Well, MSI Stealth GS65 is an exception. It has a good battery life but it does heat up after gaming sessions. Luckily, the cooling fans are quiet. Its webcam has nothing to seek attention but it also does not demote it as a laptop under $2000. Specifications~
CPU (processor) | Intel Core i7-8750H |
GPU | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q |
RAM | 16GB DDR4-2400MHz |
Screen | 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) wide-view 144Hz |
Storage | 512GB M.2 SSD |
Battery | 82 Whr |
Dimensions | 9.75 x 14.08 x 0.69 inches |
Weight | 4.14 lbs |
3. ACER PREDATOR 300
ACER PREDATOR 300 is a powerful gaming laptop that comes at a very affordable price. This also has been one of the best-selling laptops. Having Intel’s Core i7-8750H processor, it comes with a 1 TB hard drive but it can also be upgraded later depending on the user. A panel under the side of the laptop has been provided to access the drive. There is another panel for accessing the two memory slots. There are several ventilation grilles provided with ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300. So this can be used on your lap for hours without worrying about the airflow being blocked. The speakers are also present on the downward side.
The left side has a lot of connectivity options, which include a Gigabit Ethernet port, Type-C USB 3.1, HDMI, USB A 3.0, and an SD card reader. The right side has a headphone/microphone jack, two USB-A 2.0 ports, and power input. It has a decent keyboard with clearly labeled keys. The display too is a decent one. It has an IPS panel and a 144-Hz refresh rate, which is apt for gaming. Undoubtedly, its battery life is its best feature.
Graphics Memory | 4 GB |
Clock speed | 2.2 Ghz |
Graphic Processor | NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1050Ti |
Chipset | Intel HM370 Express |
Processor | Intel Core i7-8750H (8th Gen) |
Memory Layout | 2 x 4 Gigabyte |
Expandable Memory | 32 GB |
Ram Type | DDR4 |
Memory Slots | 2 |
Ram Speed | 2400 Mhz |
Capacity | 8 GB |
Play Type | LED |
Display Resolution | 1920 x 1080 Pixels |
Display Touchscreen | No |
Display Features | Full HD LED Backlit Wide view IPS Display |
Display Size | 15.6 Inches (39.62 cm) |
4. HP Omen 15t
HP‘s model of Omen 15 comes with an Intel Core i7-8750H processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q GPU with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, a 2TB 5,400-rpm HDD, a four-zone backlit keyboard and a 1080p, 144-Hz display. It weighs around 5.4 lbs and cannot be called a slim laptop. On opening it, the two hinges visible that hold the screen leaving below them a gap of a few centimeters. With such weight, it does get bulky but it supports a good variety of ports. On the left side, it has one USB 3.0 port, an SD card slot, and separate headphones and microphone inputs.
Other ports like an RJ45 Ethernet port, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a Mini Display Port, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and a security lock slot, the power jack. The keyboard is quite comfortable with evenly spaced keys. A good amount of palm rest area also exists. The 4.0 x 2.1-inch touchpad too is okay and has two discrete buttons. The audio output is clear and good but a buzzing sound might occur at higher volumes. The overall performance of the laptop is convincing with great graphics. It does not chug a huge amount of power. Unfortunately, it might heat up a little too much. Looking at the bigger picture, this manages to be a good option for gaming laptops under $2000.
Processor | Intel i7 8750H |
Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 |
RAM | 32GB of RAM |
Storage | 512GB SSD + 1TB Hard Drive |
Display | 15.6-inch 4K IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit (3840 x 2160) |
Ports | USB 3.0 (x3), USB Type-C, HDMI 2.0, MiniDiplay Port, Ethernet, DTS: X dual audio jack, SD card reader, Microphone jack |
Weight | 2.25 kg |
Dimensions | 36 x 26.3 x 2.6 cm |
Battery | 4-cell, 70 Wh Li-ion polymer |
Connectivity | Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 |
Webcam | HP WIDE VISION FHD Camera |
5. ASUS ROG Zephyrus S
This laptop is beautifully designed out of aluminum with attractive hinges. The keyboard uses a forward-facing layout, with the 2.3 x 2.9-inch touchpad placed on the keyboard’s right. The keyboard is RGB-backlit, and with a click of a button, the touchpad can be used as a number pad. Zephyrus S is one of the thinnest and lightest laptops, weighing ad measuring 4.6 pounds and 14.2 x 10.6 x 0.6 inches, respectively. To maintain its slim look, it cut down a few ports, keeping only the essential ones. Its display brings out every sort of detail on its 15.6 inches. It has a 144-Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time. The panel is also one of the brightest at 335 nits. Talking of comfort, being a lightweight gadget it is easy to carry around but the keyboard does not seem to provide much comfort. The keys are not properly leveled and there are zero units of space for the palm rest.
This can make using the keyboard for long hours a painful task. The audio output can make you happy as there is a good balance between treble and bass. Even the slightest of sounds are assessable. The battery life is fairly sufficient for a gaming laptop but it cannot be called the key feature of this laptop. Zephyrus is designed with an Active Aerodynamics System or AAS to keep its heating of it as low as possible. That is why it does not heat up much considering its aluminum body. This is one of the few laptops that offer both, great performance and an attractive look.
CPU | 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H (hexa-core, 9MB cache, up to 4.1GHz) |
Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q (8GB GDDR6 VRAM); Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
RAM | 16GB DDR4 (2,666MHz) |
Screen | 15.6-inch, Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS, Pantone Validated (144Hz refresh rate) |
Storage | 1TB M.2 PCIe x4 SSD |
Ports | 2 x USB 3.1 (USB Type-C), 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, headset jack |
Connectivity | 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 |
Camera | Full HD webcam (1080p, 60fps) |
Weight | 4.63 pounds (2.1kg) |
Size | 14 x 10.6 x 0.63 inches (36 x 26.8 x 1.61cm; W x D x H) |
Also Read: Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500