If you’re in the market for a brand-new full-size multimedia or gaming laptop and you only have a budget of around $1000 – $1100, in my opinion you’re money would be best spent on some of the available options built on Intel Kaby Lake-H hardware platforms and Nvidia 1050/1050Ti graphics.
These computers get 15 or 17-inch screens and enough power to handle all sorts of daily activities, as well as demanding work loads and games, albeit if you’re primarily interested in gaming you should consider upping your budget by around $200 and going for a notebook with Nvidia 1060 graphics. That’s because while the 1050/1050 Ti chips will allow you to run smoothly almost any modern game at FHD resolution, you’ll have to trim down the details in some cases. Gaming on QHD or UHD resolutions is out of their league though, and they are not VR Ready either.
This article explains what to expect from the 1050/1050 Ti mobile chips, where they shine and where they come short, but also gathers all the important laptops built on the Kaby Lake-H + Nvidia 1050/1050Ti combo, with details on each one’s particularities.
There are three main different versions of the Nvidia GTX 1050 mobile chip, as you can see from the specs sheets below, where I also added the GTX 960 and 1060 chips for comparison:
| GTX 1050 2GB | GTX 1050 4GB | GTX 1050 Ti 4GB** | GTX 1060M 4GB | GTX 960M 4GB | |
| Architecture | Pascal | Pascal | Pascal | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Pipelines | 640 | 640 | 768 | 1280 | 640 |
| Core Speed* | 1354 MHz | 1354 MHz | 1354 MHz | 1506 MHz | 1029 MHz |
| Boost Speed* | 1493 Mhz | 1493 MHz | 1354 MHz | 1708 MHz | 1097 MHz |
| Memory | 2 GB GDDR5 | 4 GB GDDR5 | 4 GB GDDR5 | 4 GB GDDR5 | 4 GB GDDR5 |
*Core and Boost Speeds can be altered by each OEM, so they might differ from unit to unit
** a 2 GB version of the GTX 1050 Ti is also available with vert few configurations
The GTX 1050 chips replace the GTX 960Ms as options for mainstream laptops, but while they have a fairly similar TDP (~50 W), they run at higher frequencies and as a result, are 20 to 50% faster in benchmarks and games. The 1050 Ti chips are more power hungry (~70W TDP), but also 15-25% more powerful than the 1050s, as you can see from the numbers below.
| GTX 1050 2GB* | GTX 1050 4GB | GTX 1050 Ti 4GB | GTX 1060M 4GB | GTX 960M 4GB | |
| 3D Mark 11 | – | ~7500 points | ~9000 points | ~12300 points | ~5500 points |
| 3D Mark – Fire Strike | – | ~5450 points | ~6700 points | ~9600 points | ~4000 points |
| Tomb Raider – FHD Ultimate | – | ~81 fps | ~90 fps | ~139 fps | ~52 fps |
| Shadow of Mordor – FHD Ultra | – | ~48 fps | ~57 fps | ~86 fps | ~29 fps |
| Bioshock Infinite – FHD Ultra | – | ~66 fps | ~73 fps | ~100 fps | ~44 fps |
| Witcher 3 – FHD Ultra | – | ~22 fps | ~26 fps | ~38 fps | ~15 fps |
*We’ll update this section once we get to test at least one laptop with the 2 GB version of the Nvidia GTX 1050 chip. Expect the results to be close to those of the 4 GB version, however some games will require more than 2 GB of memory to run at high-settings.
Take these scores as a reference comparison between the graphics chips, as due to the multiple available configurations and OEM tweaks, they vary from laptop to laptop. The results are based on our own reviews, as well as the average scores from Notebookcheck.net, who have a larger pool of tested units.
OK, so now that you have a general picture of what to expect from Nvidia 1050 and 1050 Ti laptops, here the options to choose from. You’ll find our reviews by clicking on the links on their names, as well as more details, user reviews and up-to-date prices by clicking on the “configurations and latest prices” link in each case. Keep in mind this list is a continuous work in progress, so if you spot any errors or know any device that should be in here and it’s not, please get in touch in the comments section at the end.
| Model | Screen | Hardware | Graphics | TB3 | Weight |
| Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G | 15.6-inch TN / IPS FHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 5.73 lbs / 2.58 kg |
| aggressive aesthetics with red and black elements, thick(1.26″), chunky and heavy, GTX 1050 Ti models will ship with an IPS screen, but 1050 models will get a TN panel, good emissions and solid performance, 52 Wh battery | |||||
| Starting price: $799 – configurations and latest prices |
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| Alienware 13 | 13.3-inch TN HD, IPS FHD matte or QHD OLED touch |
Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 2GB & 1050 Ti 2GB | Yes | 5.8 lbs / 2.6 kg |
| rather thick and bulky for a 13-incher, Alienware TactX keyboard, port for the Alienware Graphics Amplifier, Optimus, dual M.2 storage, 76 Wh battery, only available with a Core i5 processors in configurations with GTX 1050/1050Ti graphics, also available with GTX 1060 graphics | |||||
| Starting price: $999 – more details and potential discounts |
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| ASUS FX553VD or FX553VE | 15.6-inch IPS FHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 2GB/ 4GB or 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 5.51 lbs / 2.5 kg |
| FX553VD comes with Nvidia GTX 1050 2GB or 4GB graphics, while FX553VE comes with GTX 1050 Ti 4GB graphics; the two are otherwise indentical, with IPS FHD screen, plastic built bodies (~1.25 thick), backlit keyboards and 48 Wh batteries | |||||
| Starting price: TBA | |||||
| ASUS FX753VD or FX753VE | 17.3-inch IPS FHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 2GB/ 4GB or 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 6.17 lbs / 2.8 kg |
| 17-inch versions of the two models above | |||||
| Starting price: TBA | |||||
| ASUS ROG Strix GL553VD | 15.6-inch IPS FHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 5.60 lbs / 2.54 kg |
| classic ROG Strix aesthetics seen on previous generations, thick(1.26″), bulky and heavy, good quality FHD IPS screen on all models, RGB keyboard, optical drive, dual storage (M.2 + 2.5″), 1050 4GB and 1050 Ti 4 GB configurations, easy access to storage and memory, decent emissions and solid performance, fan pulsates and speakers are pretty crappy, 48 Wh battery | |||||
| Starting price: $1099 – configurations and latest prices |
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| ASUS ROG Strix GL753VD | 17.3-inch IPS FHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 6.48 lbs / 2.94 kg |
| an oversized version of the GL553, with similar features, specs and traits; bright screen with average color reproduction, still bulky and only gets a 48 Wh battery | |||||
| Starting price: $1099 – configurations and latest prices |
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| Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming 7567 | 15.6-inch IPS FHD or UHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 5.76 lbs / 2.62 kg |
| new design from the older Inspiron 7599, with many red elements; not as thick as other options (~1″), but still heavy; IPS screen with FHD or UHD panels; dual storage (M.2 + 2.5″), 2.1 speaker system; 74 Wh battery; starts at $799, but the difference vanishes once you speck it up to match the rivals (Core i7 CPU, more RAM, SSD storage) | |||||
| Starting price: $799 – configurations and latest prices |
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| Dell XPS 15 9560 | 15.6-inch IPS FHD matte or UHD touch | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB | Yes | 3.96 lbs / 1.79 kg |
| updated version of the XPS 15 9550, with a Kaby Lake processor and Nvidia 1050 graphics; two screen options available: FHD matte or UHS touch; two internal configirations available as well: one with a 56 Wh battery, an NVMe storage slot and a 2.5″ bay, an another with a 97 Wh battery and just the NVMe storage slot; the latter version is heavier, at around 4.5 lbs; the latter version is also bundled with the UHD screen, as you can’t get the large battery and the FHD display at the time of this update; starts at $999, but you’ll have to pay around $1200 for the cheaper version with Nvidia graphics and around $1600 if you want the large battery configuration; gets Thunderbolt 3, but only limited to 2x PCIe lines | |||||
| Starting price: $1199 – configurations and latest prices |
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| HP Omen 15 | 15.6-inch IPS FHD or UHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 4.85 lbs / 2.2 kg |
| sober black design, average profile (~1″ thick) and fairly low weight; FHD or UHD IPS matte screens; dual storage (M.2 + 2.5″); versions with Nvidia GTX 1050 2GB graphics might also be available; 63 Wh battery | |||||
| Starting price: TBA |
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| HP Pavilion Gaming 15 | 15.6-inch IPS FHD or UHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB | No | 4.77 lbs / 2.16 kg |
| plastic build and silver aesthetics; average profile (~0.95″ thick) and fairly low weight; FHD or UHD matte screen; dual storage (M.2 + 2.5″); 62 Wh battery (?); keep an eye on the fan noise and potential throttling under load; versions with Nvidia GTX 1050 2GB graphics also available; starts at under $1000, but the base version comes with a Core i5 processor and GTX 1050 2GB graphics | |||||
| Starting price: $999 | |||||
| HP Pavilion Gaming 17 | 17.3-inch IPS FHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB | No | 6.51 lbs / 2.95 kg |
| oversized version of the Pavilion gaming 15 mentioned above | |||||
| Starting price: $999 | |||||
| Lenovo Legion Y520 | 15.6-inch IPS FHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 4GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 5.51 lbs / 2.5 kg |
| gaming design, with black and red elements; average thickness (~1″) and weight; IPS FHD matte screen; dual storage (M.2 NVMe + 2.5″ bay); red backlit keyboard; 45 Wh battery; | |||||
| Starting price: $899 | |||||
| MSI GS63VR 7RF Stealth Pro | 15.6-inch FHD or UHD | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 Ti | Yes | 3.95 lbs / 1.8 kg |
| very thin (0.69″) and light for a 15-incher, SteelSeries keyboard, average build quality, FHD matte or UHD panel with 100% AdobeRGB gamut, 1xM.2 storage and 1×2.5″ bay, 57 Wh battery, GTX 1060 models also available | |||||
| Starting price: TBA – configurations and latest prices | |||||
| MSI GS73VR 7RF Stealth Pro | 17.3-inch FHD GSync 120 Hz or UHD | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 Ti | Yes | 5.35 lbs / 2.4 kg |
| thin (0.77″) and light for a 17-incher, SteelSeries keyboard, average build quality, FHD matte with GSync and 120 Hz refresh time or UHD panel with 100% AdobeRGB gamut, 1xM.2 storage and 1×2.5″ bay, 65 Wh battery, GTX 1060 models also available | |||||
| Starting price: TBA – configurations and latest prices |
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| MSI GE62VR 7RE & 7RD Apache Pro | 15.6-inch FHD or UHD | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 2GB/4GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 5.3 lbs / 2.4 kg |
| much thicker (1.1″) and heavier than the GS63, SteelSeries keyboard, average build quality, FHD matte or UHD panel with standard gamut, no details on GSync support, 1xM.2 storage and 1×2.5″ bay, 51 Wh battery, optical drive, GTX 1060 models also available | |||||
| Starting price: TBA – configurations and latest prices | |||||
| MSI GE72VR 7RE & 7RD Apache Pro | 17.3-inch FHD GSync 120 Hz or UHD | Kaby Lake Core HK / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 2GB/4GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 6.0 lbs / 2.7 kg |
| much thicker (1.15″) and heavier than the GS73, SteelSeries keyboard, average build quality, FHD matte with GSync and 120 Hz refresh time or UHD panel with 100% AdobeRGB gamut, 1xM.2 storage and 1×2.5″ bay, 51 Wh battery, optical drive, GTX 1060 models also available | |||||
| Starting price: TBA – configurations and latest prices |
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| MSI GL62M 7RE & 7RD | 15.6-inch FHD matte | Kaby Lake Core HQ / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 2GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 4.85 lbs / 2.2 kg |
| rather thick (1.2″), but not very heavy; SteelSeries keyboard; average build quality; FHD matte panel; 1xM.2 NVME storage and 1×2.5″ bay; small 41 Wh battery | |||||
| Starting price: $899 – configurations and latest prices | |||||
| MSI GL72 7RE & 7RD | 17.3-inch FHD GSync 120 Hz | Kaby Lake Core HK / max 32 GB RAM | GTX 1050 2GB & 1050 Ti 4GB | No | 5.95 lbs / 2.7 kg |
| 17-inch version of the GL62; SteelSeries keyboard; average build quality; standard IPS FHD matte screen or optional 120 Hz panel; 1xM.2 NVMe storage and 1×2.5″ bay; small 41 Wh battery | |||||
| Starting price: $1099 – configurations and latest prices |
In the end, expect to pay roughly $1000 and even less for a modern laptop with Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics, a quad-core Intel processor and in most cases SSD+ HDD storage. Such a configuration will allow you to play games at FHD resolution with High settings right now, as well as in the next 1-2 years.
If you can spend around $100 extra, you’ll be able to buy a GTX 1050 Ti configuration, which offers a 15-25% boost in games.
But then, for around $1250 you can find laptops with Nvidia GTX 1060 3GB graphics (Asus FX502VM, MSI GP62MVR Leopard), and for around $1300-$1350 you’ll find notebooks with the 6 GB version of the Nvidia GTX 1060 chip. More about all these GTX 1060 laptops in this post, while this one covers the available options with Nvidia 1070 and 1080 graphics.
Bottom point, you must figure what you want from your laptop if you’re after the best bang for your buck. If your aim is primarily gaming, personally I’d look at those GTX 1060 options, even the 3 GB variants, over the 1050s. However, if you want a good all-rounder, only plan on playing games from time to time and don’t mind doing it on Medium settings, there’s better value for you in a more affordable GTX 1050 configuration. Just don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for discounts, most OEMs offer price cuts on their units and that can influence the desirability of a particular model.
That’s about it for this post, but I must once again stress that it is a continuous work in progress, so if you spot any errors or know of any device that should be in here and it’s not, please tell us about it in the comments section below.