With the holidays approaching, I'm a student in the market for a new laptop to use at home. I’m looking for something that can handle light gaming—like indie titles and older games—while also being reliable for my studies and everyday tasks. I’d love to hear reviews or recommendations on the best laptops that balance performance and affordability. Specifically, I'm interested in options that are student-friendly and perform well for both gaming and academic needs. Any suggestions or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!
MacBook Air.
Have you looked at the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3? I got mine last spring for around $750 and it's perfect for what you're describing. Handles my engineering software smoothly, and I can play games like Stardew Valley and Hades without issues. Battery life is decent (4-5 hours for normal use) and it doesn't scream "gaming laptop" with its design. The GTX 1650 handles light gaming well, and 16GB RAM means you can keep plenty of Chrome tabs open for research.