8 Best NVIDIA GTX 1650 Laptops to Buy in 2021 For Pure Gaming Fun
We have been covering some of the best gaming laptops for a while. So far, we have seen gaming laptops featuring new NVIDIA GPUs such as the RTX 2060 and the RTX 2070. The RTX series is based on the new Turing architecture and offers real-time ray tracing and AI-enabled enhancements in supported games. However, not every gamer needs these new features, and all they care about is playable frame rates. To that effect, NVIDIA recently announced the availability of the GTX 1650 and GTX 1660 Ti GPUs for gaming and multimedia notebooks.
The GTX 1650 is also based on the Turing architecture but does not offer any ray tracing or AI enhancements. However, it performs significantly better than the previous generation equivalent, the GTX 1050. GTX 1650 gaming laptops can run most modern AAA titles at a minimum of 40 to 60 fps at FHD in Very High or even Ultra settings depending on the game. Adjusting some of the visuals can further increase frame rates close to 100 fps.
Laptops featuring the GTX 1650 have recently started becoming available both from popular OEMs and custom PC makers. While Intel processors power a majority of these laptops, some of them have started adopting AMD's latest Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 35W CPUs to provide a value advantage without compromise in performance. While these laptops are still relatively new, they have shown consistent performance in benchmarks, which prompted us to look at the current best offerings in the market.
So, with that information, here are the 8 best GTX 1650 laptops that you can buy in 2021 for a great experience that doesn't dent the wallet.
1. Asus TUF Gaming FX505DT
A well-specced gaming laptop can easily cost an arm and a leg. But not anymore. Asus has recently announced the TUF Gaming FX505DT that offers a well-rounded gaming performance at a relatively easy price. FX505DT belongs to the TUF Gaming family of notebooks, which implies military-grade construction and resistance to hard drops. The FX505 comes in several models, including the DU, DY, and DT variants. Unlike most gaming laptops, the Asus FX505DT is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 3750H quad-core CPU that offers a boost clock up to 4 GHz for an excellent performance. The default configuration comes with 8 GB of RAM, but you can expand to 32 GB if needed. The Asus TUF Gaming FX505DT comes with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. The GTX 1650 belongs to the same Turing generation as the GeForce RTX lineup with the omission of ray tracing and AI features. Storage options range from 128 GB to 512 GB of PCIe NVMe drives along with a 1 TB HDD. Asus also offers a 120 Hz IPS-like FHD panel that offers a smooth viewing experience without jitters. The panel is bright, and the colors are life-like.
Gaming on the FX505DT is a pleasure. Most latest AAA games can run at least 60 fps on Very High or Ultra settings at 1080p. You can reduce a setting or two within the game for higher frame rates to ensure a 100 fps+ gaming experience. When you are not gaming, the AMD Ryzen 7 CPU does a very good job of providing enough horsepower for creative applications. Apps such as Adobe Photoshop and After Effects that are heavily CPU-dependent run very well on this laptop. All in all, the Asus TUF Gaming FX505DT is the laptop to get if you are looking for an excellent 1080p gaming performance that doesn't break the bank.
- Pros: Excellent FHD gaming; Good specs; Value for money
- Cons: Keyboard needs getting used to; Fan noise can get high on Turbo mode
2. MSI GF63 Thin
MSI's high-end gaming laptops are big and bulky, but the mid-range gaming notebooks are quite slim. The MSI GF63 Thin offers excellent gaming performance for way less than what an MSI notebook typically demands. The GF63 Thin sports a rigid construction that is also lightweight and easy to carry. The keyboard is well spaced out but supports only a red backlight. Like most other MSI laptops upgrading the internals is very easy and just requires popping off the back lid. The MSI GF63 is powered by the 9th gen Intel Core i5-9300H, which is perfectly fine if you are only looking at gaming. You get an assortment of RAM and storage options to configure the memory up to 64 GB.
The MSI GF63 offers the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU. NVIDIA Max-Q is a power-efficient variant of the GPU that focuses on increased battery life and improved thermals. The Max-Q variant is clocked slightly lower than the original GTX 1650, so expect to see a performance hit of about 20% in most games. That being said, the scores won't be too drastically affected, and you can still game pretty well on this GPU.
MSI offers a 15.6-inch FHD panel that is good at color reproduction but is only a 60 Hz panel, so those willing to push frame rates beyond this might be disappointed. That being said, the GTX 1650 Max-Q would not be able to push above 60 fps at Very High in modern games, so this shouldn't be much of an issue.
- Pros: Good mid-range gaming performance
- Cons: Single-color backlight only; Upgrading can void the warranty
3. Acer Nitro 5
The Acer Nitro 5 is a very good gaming laptop featuring the GTX 1650 GPU. It is relatively affordable at around $1000 compared to the more premium options from the Predator series. CPU options range from the 9th gen Intel Core i5-9300H to the Core i7-9750H. The Core i5 version should suffice if you are looking for gaming use primarily. If you foresee doing some content creation that can make use of more multi-threading, the Core i7 makes a better proposition. Either way, the GTX 1650 is a viable option for lag-free 1080p gaming at 60 Hz. The default configuration gives you 8 GB RAM, which can be expanded up to 32 GB. You can also choose from a range of SSD and HDD combinations too.
The Nitro 5 is equipped with an Acer ComfyView FHD LCD display. It is not a high refresh rate display, but it should do just fine if your objective is to game at 60 fps. The Nitro 5 offers a dual-fan cooling system that helps keep temperatures under cool. Acer also offers a CoolBoost feature that ensures adequate fan speed under load. With a 55 Wh battery, the Acer Nitro 5 should last at least 6 hours on the road for web browsing.
Gaming performance is on par with most other laptops on this list. Most modern AAA titles such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry 5, GTA V, Battlefield V, etc., can run close to 60 fps at Very High or Ultra settings. Games such as Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon can even run at 120 fps at Very High settings. Temperatures tend to hover around the 65 to 75 degrees C mark, which is tolerable. The notebook lacks Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, so if you plan to use a more powerful eGPU, you're out of luck.
- Pros: Good mid-range gaming performance; Runs cool under load
- Cons: No Thunderbolt 3 port
4. Aorus 5
Generally, most GTX 1650 gaming laptops offer mid-range specs that are just about right for the money, but if you are looking at something more powerful that can work for tasks other than gaming, the Aorus 5 has you covered. This GTX 1650 laptop offers some serious hardware, including an Intel Core i7-9750H 8-core CPU, 16 GB RAM, a 256 GB Intel NVMe SSD, and a 144 Hz true IPS panel that is offered in both 15.6 and 17.3-inch versions. Despite the slim profile, the Aorus 5 offers a good port selection. There is no Thunderbolt 3, but you can get a USB Type-C port that can also double-up as a DisplayPort out. Aorus offers an RGB keyboard layout that is well-suited for gaming. Audio is taken care of by the Nahimic 3 DAC that offers a virtual 7.1 surround experience. Aorus includes Killer Wireless LAN 1550 and DoubleShot Pro for advanced networking features and packet prioritization. To keep the thermals cool, the Aorus 5 uses a Windforce Thermal System that efficiently drives heat out of the chassis.
Overall, the performance of the Aorus 5 in gaming is excellent. However, you will need to evaluate if you really need to spend the extra money for a 144 Hz display as the GTX 1650 cannot really take advantage of it in modern games. That being said, the extra CPU power and IPS panel can be useful for those looking at creative workflows.
- Pros: Color-accurate display; Powerful CPU
- Cons: No Thunderbolt 3
5. Dell G5 5590
The Dell G5 5590 belongs to the non-Alienware gaming series and offers excellent gaming performance and competitive prices. The Dell G5 incorporates features found in most modern gaming laptops, including a gamery design, octa-core Intel 9th gen CPU, 16 GB RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. The GTX 1650 is a non-Max-Q variant, which should allow for unhindered performance in most modern games. The G5 does not offer a high refresh rate display, so you'll have to make do with a conventional 60 Hz IPS panel. It should still be sufficient if you enable V-Sync from within the game settings. The colors are good for normal use but don't expect XPS-levels of accuracy. The GTX 1650 performs great in benchmarks and will suffice for gaming at FHD High settings in most modern AAA games. Dell has ensured there is adequate cooling for both the CPU and the GPU to minimize throttling so you can play without any major performance sacrifice. However, that comes at the price of loud fan noise.
The best part about the Dell G5 5590 is its battery life. With a 60 Wh battery, you can easily get an 8-hour runtime for regular tasks, which is great for a gaming notebook. Port selection is also good, and with the presence of a Thunderbolt 3 port, it is easy to hook up an eGPU for even more gaming horsepower. So overall, the Dell G5 5590 is one of the best performing GTX 1650 laptops in the market and can even beat some of the GTX 1060 laptops of last year in some titles.
- Pros: Very good gaming performance; Good port selection
- Cons: Can get hot and loud under load; Mediocre screen
6. Sager NP6855
Clevo barebones are usually reserved for the more powerful gaming PCs, but the Sager NP6855 offers a custom gaming laptop featuring the 9th gen Core i7-9750H and the GTX 1650. The Sager NP6855 comes in multiple RAM and storage variants. It also offers a single-zone RGB backlit keyboard along with Intel Wireless-AC and Bluetooth. Apart from HDMI, you can also use the USB Type-C port to offer a DisplayPort-out to a compatible monitor. So, in essence, you can have three displays at a time, and the GTX 1650 has enough horsepower to drive all of them without hiccups. The NP6855 also offers RAID storage so that you can create drive arrays for additional performance. Cooling is well provided for with ample intake and outlet vents. Unlike most mid-range notebooks, the Sager NP6855 offers good quality built-in speakers and can drive high-amplitude headphones for an immersive gaming experience.
One of the advantages of Clevo-based notebooks is their serviceability, and Sager is no different. It is very easy to remove the bottom hatch and update the SSD, HDD, RAM, or Wi-Fi card to eke out even more performance. If you are looking to experience Clevo notebooks at an easy price, the Sager NP6855 is an easy recommendation.
- Pros: Good performance; Easy upgradeability
- Cons: None as such
7. Asus ROG Strix GL531GT
The Asus ROG Strix GL531GT is fresh off the stables this year and comes fully packed to the brim with features. Unlike many other ROG notebooks, the ROG Strix GL531GT is very slim. You get the 9th gen Intel Core i7-9750H CPU, an NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, 16 GB RAM, and a massive 1 TB SSD out of the box. A cool aspect of this laptop is that it offers a virtual Numpad in the trackpad area itself. So, you benefit from well-spaced keys and get to use a comfortable Numpad when working with spreadsheets. The keyboard is RGB backlit, and Asus has gone a step further by illuminating even the bottom sides of the chassis with a light bar for that exotic gaming look. You can sync the RGB to other Asus Aura Sync-compatible peripherals as well. The 15.6-inch display is not a complete IPS panel, but the near-borderless display offers a truly immersive experience.
Port selection is very good for a laptop at this price, and although there is no Thunderbolt 3, Asus has still managed to offer a Type-C connector. Cooling is taken care of by dual 12V fans that can operate in three fan modes that can be configured from within the Asus Armory Crate software. These include Silent, Balanced, and Turbo modes. Fan noise is hardly evident in Silent, but Turbo kicks up the fans to full speed, and you might actually need to use headphones not to notice it. Another unique aspect of the cooling system is that the fans offer dust protection by channelizing dust through a dedicated tunnel so that it doesn't clog the fan blades. Overall, if you are looking for a nearly maxed-out GTX 1650 laptop, the Asus ROG Strix GL531GT makes for a good purchase.
- Pros: Excellent gaming performance; High capacity storage
- Cons: Not a true IPS display
8. CyberpowerPC Tracer III Xtreme
The CyberpowerPC Tracer III Xtreme is not the slimmest GTX 1650 gaming laptop out there but has a lot going under the hood to warrant the extra dimensions. The Tracer III Xtreme offers a top of the line Core i7-9750H CPU and a GTX 1650 GPU. RAM options start from 8 GB but can go all the way up to 64 GB if needed. Similarly, you can configure the SSD storage from 240 GB to a massive 2 TB. The Tracer III Xtreme differs from other custom GTX 1650 gaming laptops in the fact that it offers a fully mechanical RGB keyboard.
Gamers love mechanical keyboards as they offer better tactile feedback and can take quite a bashing compared to conventional membrane keyboards found in a majority of the notebooks. Buyers get to choose between a 15.6-inch or a 17.3-inch 144 Hz high refresh rate display for a smooth viewing experience. The panel does not support G-Sync as the GTX 1650 doesn't have enough power for it, but you can enable V-sync in games to ensure that the GPU frame rate matches the refresh rate of the display. Bear in mind that the GTX 1650 can push above 120 fps only in older games at FHD Ultra settings, so to game above 100 fps in newer titles, you may have to tone down some of the visual settings.
Needless to say, the CyberpowerPC Tracer III Xtreme is a very good performer in most games. It has also had enough power to drive a VR headset, such as the HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift if you purchase games via Steam VR. All this performance and features come at a very reasonable price point, so we have no hesitation in saying that the Tracer III is easily one of the best GTX 1650 notebooks in the market today, with some very good reviews.
- Pros: Good performance for gaming; 144 Hz panel
- Cons: A bit bulky than usual
So, that was an overview of some of the best GTX 1650 gaming laptops to buy. The GTX 1650 should suffice if you are looking at FHD High gaming at close to 60 fps. You can go much higher as well, but for that, you need to tone down some of the visual settings in the games. The GTX 1650 does not offer ray tracing, so if you are looking for the added realism in games, you might want to look at some of the RTX 2070 or higher gaming laptops. The GTX 1650 is also ideal if you are looking at some GPU-accelerated creative workflows that could benefit from a dedicated GPU.
With that, we hope that this article has addressed your needs for a capable GTX 1650 gaming laptop. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions, and we'll get back to you at the earliest.