Gaming laptops are an excellent investment for avid gamers who desire an immersive experience, whether on the go or at home. However, selecting the right gaming laptop can still be a daunting task, particularly with so many options offered by many brands in the market, not to mention dozens of variants for even the same laptop model.
Fortunately, gaming laptops come in a range of prices, making it easier for budget-conscious gamers to find the right fit. Previously, we kicked things off with a budget gaming laptops buyer’s guide. In this article, we’ll examine mid-range options for different needs.
How to Choose a Gaming Laptop
Before purchasing a gaming laptop, it’s essential to consider the specs that matter most for gaming, which includes the graphics card, processor, RAM, storage, and display. A powerful graphics card with a good amount of VRAM is a must-have for gaming, as it enables the laptop to render high-quality graphics seamlessly. The processor determines the laptop’s speed and performance, while the RAM provides the laptop with sufficient memory to run games without any hiccups. Adequate storage space is necessary to store your game library, and a fast display ensures a fluid and fast visual experience.
MSI Katana 15 B12VGK-047
The MSI Katana 15 B12VGK-047 managed to cram a lot of hardware and features despite the price point. It is equipped with an Intel Core i7-12650H processor, and a powerful RTX 4070 graphics card. This potent combination allows the laptop to run most games at high to ultra settings with no hiccups. To complement the hardware, it comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a large 1TB NVME storage to store your game library.
My only gripe with the MSI Katana 15 B12VGK-047 is the quality of the display. Yes, it has a fast 144Hz refresh rate, however the colour gamut and resolution is not great. If you are running an RTX 4070, chances are you will be gaming in at least 1440p. Fortunately, you can always connect to a gaming monitor to get the best of the hardware in this powerful gaming laptop while at home.
Where to buy: Shopee and Lazada
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-55-76CR
If you like to game on larger displays, the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-55-76CR has a lot to offer. It comes with a 17.3-inch FHD display with a blazingly fast 360Hz refresh rate. In terms of hardware, it is equipped with Intel Core i7-11800H processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM which is expandable, and an RTX 3060 mobile graphics.
While the hardware package seems inferior to the MSI Katana, it is much more affordable for those who are into eSports and need a large display with fast refresh rates. Do keep in mind that 17-inch laptops are usually desktop replacements rather than portability-focused offerings.
Where to buy: Shopee and Lazada
ROG Strix G15 G513R-MHF278W (2022)
If you are looking for a more compact option while retaining high frame rates, then look no further than the ROG Strix G15 G513R-MHF278W. It has a 15.6-inch FHD 300Hz panel, which is more than enough for even the most demanding of eSports gamers.
Hardware wise, it packs an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor and an RTX 3060 GPU. You do get 16GB of DDR5 RAM instead of the slower DDR4, and it can be further expanded to 32GB. Storage wise, you get 1TB of NVME storage, which is not only fast, but also large enough to store your game library.
The key selling feature of the ROG Strix G15 is the cooling performance. Not only it has 4 fan outlets, the CPU is cooled by liquid metal instead of thermal paste. Liquid metal has far superior heat conductivity, leading to lower temperatures.
But before you buy, do keep in mind that the 2023 models with newer hardware are confirmed to launch in Malaysia in the near future. Once the next generation of ROG Strix laptops have arrived in our shores, we will update this buyer’s guide.
Where to buy: Shopee and Lazada
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the manufacturer, mid-range gaming laptops have a lot to offer on the table. You can get satisfactory triple A and eSports gaming experience thanks to fast display, powerful hardware, and robust cooling solutions.
For more buyer’s guides such as this one, please check out our full list here.
