Lenovo LOQ RTX3050 at R9,500 is the clearest laptop pick for South African players who want Call of Duty on a Windows 11 machine without spending like they are buying a high-end rig. It is the only listed option with RTX3050 graphics, which matters more for the game than choosing a slimmer office-style notebook with a faster-looking CPU name.
Best short answer for this buy
The Lenovo LOQ RTX3050 at R9,500 is the gaming-first choice because RTX3050 graphics give it a better base for smooth 1080p play than the ASUS ExpertBook P1503 i5 at R9,858. The ExpertBook i5 can make sense for schoolwork, browsing, and light everyday use, but the Lenovo LOQ is the one to start with when the game is the priority.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 i7 at R13,400 and ASUS Vivobook X1504VA i7 at R13,999 are stronger productivity picks if you want an i7 laptop for study, office tasks, and general Windows 11 use. They are not the first recommendation here because no dedicated gaming graphics are listed for them, so the higher price does not automatically mean a better gaming buy.
SA gaming room reality
On a student desk or shared gaming room table, the Lenovo LOQ RTX3050 at R9,500 makes more sense than chasing the ASUS Vivobook S14 OLED at R10,719 purely for its OLED display. OLED is lovely for movies and sharp everyday viewing, but RTX3050 is the more relevant spec when the machine needs to handle actual play.
The ASUS ExpertBook P5405 at R12,700 sits better as a tidy work-and-study laptop than as the main gaming recommendation. For this use-case, spend around the RTX3050 spec before paying extra for a more business-focused model.
Ready to choose the right laptop?
Use ASUS ExpertBook P1503 i5 at R9,858 as the laptop shortlist benchmark, then check whether its listed spec matches the space, workload, and upgrade path.