If on the “Best Gaming Notebook List of 2017”, I’m going to take it seriously. Especially with all the “best” laptops being a consistent source of news these days. Having said that, this could make you all the more “standoffish” when it comes to actually purchasing machinery of this caliber. Gamers want the portable, fully functioning, and powerful gaming rigs, in all their signature neon red glory. But in reality, many of us look into these products and notice a “well heck” moment- where you and the rig are staring each other in the face and that’s when you’re accepting the fact that choosing is harder than imagined. Will you choose to get something that sacrifices staple laptop features for those graphics you crave; those graphics that are required to run your brand new game at top speed? The proof is in the pudding, and yes, we sometimes feel like we have to make a trade-off decision between ultra portable form factors, battery life, and ultra-thinness, in exchange for the better graphics required for playing.

The Acer Nitro 5 Spin is coming in just in time- just in time for those who aren’t the most serious of players (you can build your own rig for that), but just right for those entry-level gamers who need an entry-level laptop. Money is important to a lot of folks, and it shouldn’t completely sacrifice the option of purchasing a machine that does the job. The Nitro Spin 5 from Acer sports a 15.6-inch IPS display, and, get this- an eighth gen (have I even been able to say that yet?) Intel Core i7 CPU processor. Alongside that glory, you’ll find a PCIe SSD up to 512GB, and for graphics, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050. See how this guy isn’t exactly a pushover?

For $999 it can be yours. Just make the decision of whether it’s right for you; and there’s more to be determined, so stay put. The Nitro 5 Spin carries the name because it rotates completely upon itself for contortionist fun, and although that 8th gen CPU is lovely to hear, it’s still not something an actual true gaming-level breed would call for. Hence, this particular laptop isn’t on any “top ten best gaming laptop” lists. Those are big shoes to fill, and like the Dell Inspiron 15 7557, similarly priced at $849.99 from the Dell store, the Nitro 5 Spin won’t leave you penniless. It is actually quite similar to the Dell counterpart in that its 15.6-inch display is a 1920 x 1080p, and it offers quite a bit of a storage upgrade. Another perk that Acer matches includes a good 10 hours of battery life.

Any way you word it, Acer is putting this gaming laptop out in the ether for those who want casual gaming and budget-friendly pricing. So, its lower positioning on the Acer mobile-gaming totem pole do mean graphics will max out before things get too crazy. However, on the accessory and loose-end spectrum, there are a pair of Dolby Audio Premium speakers, and Acer’s very own “Coolboost” tech, allocated via two system fans. Finally, expect the usual 802.11 ac Wi-Fi; and ports like an HDMI 2.0, one USB 3.1 Type-C, one USB 3.0, and two USB 2.0 ports. Anything you’d need, peripheral or connection-wise, you’ve got it covered. And as far as purchase, the Acer Nitro 5 series has been available in the United States since July, meaning that starting price of an incredible $799, is long gone.