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- Gaming laptops are becoming increasingly popular, but consumers on a tight budget have limited choices.
- Laptops under the $500 price bracket often come with several compromises, but they can still be viable options for light gaming.
- The choice ultimately depends on personal preference and requirements.
Gaming laptops have become increasingly popular thanks to the rise in demand for gaming on the go and the more traditional console-like experience of PC gaming. Although the best hardware in this segment of the market can cost upwards of $1000, most consumers are quite budget-conscious.
This can lead to a scenario where laptops under the $500 price bracket appear quite appealing, but there is the glaring question of whether these machines are worth buying in the first place.
Why it matters: The economic situation worldwide is quite poor at the moment, leaving many consumers with a tight budget for hobbies like gaming. Therefore, it is essential to make choices, such as new hardware purchases, as wisely as possible.
Problems of Budget Gaming Laptops
It goes without saying, but gaming performance is the first thing compromised when buying a laptop under $500.
These laptops sacrifice RAM and come with integrated graphics, which means that games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 are not ideal for these types of systems. Elsewhere, CPU power is also limited due to reliance on processors like AMD Ryzen 3 and Intel Core i3.
However, this type of hardware is perfectly suitable for more modest gaming. The likes of Fortnite, CS2, Rocket League, and more work well with modern integrated graphics. Another downside is the screen, as these laptops often don’t ship with the most color-accurate displays.
Users should also forget about high-refresh-rate gaming in this price point, but these downsides are more or less par for the course when working with such a limited budget.
What You Get For $500
Fortunately, there’s good news. Because gaming graphics have not taken a major leap in the last 10-15 years, older games still look really good and have a lot to offer.
This is good news since a gaming laptop under $500 can support tons of older titles that can rival the best of today’s releases. The likes of GTA 5, Doom 2016, and more should be playable on such devices, leading to potentially hundreds of hours of exciting gameplay.
As mentioned earlier, the screen may not support HDR or have outstanding brightness, but a 1080p resolution is standard in this budget. This, combined with 8GB of RAM, should still lead to a solid experience, considering the price of these laptops.
Is The Purchase Worth It?
Ultimately, the choice comes down to user preferences. Some gamers might prefer to wait and save up additional money for a better experience in the long term.
However, for those with an inflexible budget, a $500 laptop can offer plenty of fun through the lighter games of the last decade. If you’re looking to relax and play a few older games or eSports titles, a $500 laptop is likely to serve you well.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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