Gaming laptops are not an easy buy. They are typically expensive since they are more powerful and built specially for intensive gaming. With the best gaming laptops on the market, you can rest assured that you won’t experience any lag while playing, encounter screen freeze issues or face sudden laptop shutdown due to insufficient RAM. However, if you are on a shoestring budget and cannot buy a premium-end gaming laptop at the moment, we have a solution – refurbished gaming laptops. Yes, that’s right. We’ve found the 3 best refurbished gaming laptops to solve your problem.
After learning about this interesting category of gaming laptops and evaluating the acceptance of gamers toward them, we prepared a list of 10 refurbished gaming laptops that are trending in 2023. We further tested each refurbished gaming laptop to narrow down your choice to the 3 top refurbished laptops on the market. The fewer the choice, the easier it is to make an informed purchase.
In this guide, we’ll list the 3 best refurbished gaming laptops on the market and discuss our experience with each product. We’ll also list their pros and cons. For those who are new to the refurbished gaming laptop category, we’ll talk a little about refurbished gaming laptops. Read on to know more.
Top 3 Refurbished Laptops on the Market
- Refurbished Gaming Laptop with Best RAM Size – Acer Nitro 5
- Most Powerful Refurbished Gaming Laptop – Lenovo Ideapad L340
- Best High-End Refurbished Gaming Laptop – Acer Predator Helios 300
How to Select the Best Refurbished Gaming Laptop – Buying Guide
As you have seen in this guide, it’s not easy to select the right refurbished gaming laptop. There are multiple factors that you need to consider while making the purchase. So, if you find a refurbished gaming laptop, which you think could be a good buy, here’s what you need to check:
Which processor does it have?
A gaming laptop’s ability to support different games depends on its processor. Therefore, when buying a refurbished gaming laptop, ensure that you aim for an i5 processor at least. However, the processors should not be the sole criteria for purchasing a gaming laptop. A powerful processor coupled with an effective graphics card is the best remedy to a fantastic gaming experience.
Which graphics card does it have?
Most gaming laptops comprise either of these 2 graphics cards: AMD Radeon or NVIDIA GeForce. Both graphics cards are equally good and can efficiently handle AAA titles without blurs or lags.
What is the display resolution?
The display quality can affect the immersiveness of a game. Blurry/grainy images can spoil your gaming experience and make it challenging for you to spot enemies. So, ensure the refurbished gaming laptop you are planning to buy has a Full HD Resolution.
Does it have a warranty?
Warranty is one of the most critical factors you should look for when purchasing a refurbished gaming laptop since its actual condition is not known to you. A warranty is an assurance that any issue with the laptop will be taken care of or you can request for a replacement/refund if the laptop does not work upon delivery.
How much hard drive space are you getting?
Avid gamers with a vast library of gaming titles require a lot of hard drive space. Gaming laptops typically come with 2 types of drivers: hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs). SSDs are smaller but ensure your game load faster. Therefore, ensure the refurbished laptop you are planning to buy has at least 512 GB space. Many laptops allow you to increase the hard drive space later.
How good is the battery life?
Almost all the refurbished gaming laptops on our list provide at least 4-5 hours of battery life in case of intensive gaming. Even though the battery life should not be a major concern if you are playing indoors, it can be an issue if you are using your laptop outdoors.
Is the laptop lightweight and compatible?
This is more of a personal choice. Many gamers prefer laptops that are lightweight and portable. However, the “to each their own” idea would apply here. Most high-end gaming laptops, such as Acer Predator Helios 300 are bulky as they comprise solid hardware. So, if you want a high-end gaming laptop, be ready to bear its weight.
3 Top-Rated Refurbished Gaming Laptops on the Market
The acceptance of refurbished gaming laptops has spiked in the last 10 years. And, manufacturers and retailers are working tirelessly to bridge the gap between the demand and availability of refurbished gaming laptops.
Let’s now discuss the 3 best refurbished gaming laptops in detail.
1. Acer Nitro 5: Refurbished Gaming Laptop with Best RAM Size
Pros
- Budget-friendly refurbished gaming laptop
- 1 TB harddrive provides ample storage space
- Large virtual memory
- Complete HD display
- CPU doesn’t get heated even after using the laptop for 5-6 hours continuously; comes with NitroSense that maintains the CPU and GPU temperature
- Built-in speakers provide crystal clear audio and a powerful sound
Cons
- No built-in
- Not VR compatible
- Functions only on 1 processor
The RAM size should be one of the most critical points of consideration while purchasing a refurbished gaming laptop. Bigger the RAM, the smoother will be the gaming experience.
Acer Nitro 5 is one of the best refurbished gaming laptops on the market. Firstly, The laptop is not only popular for its performance but also its RAM size. With Acer Nitro 5, you will never experience a lag or sudden shutdown while playing. The 8 GB RAM won’t let such issues arise. Moreover, you can run multiple programs at once.
Secondly, the laptop comes with a 1 TB harddrive. So, there’s ample space to accommodate your data. However, it does not have a DVD drive; so, if you want to use a DVD, you’ll have to connect an external drive and use it.
We tested the laptop with games, such as GTAV, World of Warcraft, Just Cause 4, and many other steam titles, and the gaming experience was great at 1080p.
Like many high-end gaming laptops, Acer Nitro 5 comprises the AMD Radeon RX560X graphics card. Also, all the programs run decently on both Windows 10. Overall, Acer Nitro 5 is a good refurbished gaming laptop, which is affordable and high-quality.
2. Lenovo Ideapad L340 – Most Powerful Refurbished Gaming Laptop
Pros
- Minimalistic design
- Comes with full-size keyboard, which has a beautiful backlight
- Portable and lightweight
- One of the most powerful refurbished gaming laptops on the market
- Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDI GeForce graphics card can handle a large variety of games; even the most graphic intense ones
- Battery life is great for a gaming laptop
Cons
- Build quality isn’t the best
- No bracket or cable for additional hard drive
Out of all the refurbished gaming laptops we tested, we found Lenovo Ideapad L340 to be the most powerful gaming laptop, which is also budget-friendly.
Firstly, the laptop is powered by the latest Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDI GeForce graphics card. What an excellent combination, isn’t it? Therefore, Lenovo Ideapad L340 comes with all the power required to outsmart your opponents with faster moves. We experienced no lag or laptop freezing issues.
Secondly, the laptop comes with Dolby Audio technology that takes your gaming experience to a new level. The sounds are so real that we completely got lost in our games; unaware of our surroundings.
Thirdly, there are 2 interesting features of this laptop that we loved, i.e., the 2 distinct laptop usage modes and Lenovo Vantage Eye Care Mode. Lenovo Ideapad L340 provides users with the option to use 2 distinct modes: “Quick” for gaming and “Quiet” for working. Each mode looks and feels different. The Lenovo Vantage Eye Care Mode automatically adjusts your display’s color tone and minimizes blue light emission to reduce eye strain (much needed for gamers).
Overall, Lenovo Ideapad L340 is a powerful gaming laptop. We tested the laptop with games, such as Overwatch and No Man’s Sky Beyond, and experienced no issues on the highest settings. Also, the laptop is perfectly priced for its great features and specifications.
3. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best High-End Refurbished Gaming Laptop
Pros
- Looks and feels sleek, stylish and sturdy
- 144 Hz screen provides excellent display quality
- WiFi is incredibly fast
- Powerful NIVIDIA GeForce graphics card
- Does not get heated even after 4-5 hours of continuous playing
- Good battery life; capacity is 25% more than the previous laptop model
Cons
- Noisy fan
If you are looking for a refurbished gaming laptop not because of budget constraints, then the Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop can be a great buy. While it is more expensive than the other refurbished gaming laptops on our list, it’s worth the high price.
Firstly, the deadly combination of the Intel Core i7-9750H processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti graphics card and custom-made 4th Gen AeroBlade 3D Fan Technology makes the laptop truly a blessing for gamers. You can play pretty much any AAA title at max/ultra settings at reasonable frame rates. We played games, such as Darksiders Warmastered Edition and Witcher 3 on the laptop, and the games look fabulous in motion; thanks to the NVIDIA GeForce graphics card.
Secondly, the build quality is pretty good. The top (backside of the screen), keyboard and palm-rest area are metal; the screen bezel and bottom side are plastic. We really liked the design because had the bottom side been metal, it would have become like a hotplate during intensive gaming. The keyboard is big and the keys are placed well apart from each other. The trackpad is large and sensitive. However, it doesn’t comprise the mouse buttons. The screen’s 144 Hz refresh rate is a compelling feature and allows rock-solid motion. The colors and contrasts are pleasing to the eyes.
All in all, Acer Predator Helios 300 is one of the best but expensive refurbished gaming laptops on our list. The 144 Hz display is great for the price, backlight bleed is average, speakers provide great sound quality, keyboard is suitable for typing and playing, and the laptop as a whole is sturdy, durable and lightweight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Refurbished Gaming Laptops
Refurbished laptops comprise all the features that you would find in a new gaming laptop at a much budget-friendly price. Why invest in a new laptop when you can get all the compelling features and specifications at a lower price?
Yes, you can trust refurbished gaming laptops, especially if you are purchasing it from a reputable seller or it comes with warranty.
Final Words
There are several questions that can cross your mind when purchasing a refurbished gaming laptop. However, as you have seen in this guide, you can make an informed purchase by carefully assessing the factors that you should consider while selecting the right refurbished gaming laptop.
Based on our first-hand experiences with the 3 refurbished gaming laptops listed in this guide, we simply loved Acer Predator Helios 300. It’s difficult to describe the experience with this gaming laptop in mere words. Even though it is expensive, it’s worth every dollar you spend on it. It’s hard to get such an amazing processor and graphics card combination. If you are an avid gamer, we bet you’ll love this laptop.
