The 4 Best Budget And Cheap Gaming Laptops – Summer 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best Budget 14-Inch
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Best Budget 15-Inch
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Best Cheap 15-Inch
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Best Cheap Chromebook
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Jul 13, 2023 at 02:31 pm
By Ryan Lim
Shopping for a gaming laptop can be challenging, as gaming is a demanding task with many requirements. First and foremost, you need to look for a system with a powerful CPU, a dedicated GPU, and a good cooling system to reach high, consistent frame rates. You also want a laptop with a high-quality display to see a clear image in fast-paced games, a comfortable keyboard that won’t cause fatigue on long gaming sessions, and a fast SSD to reduce loading times. These things add up, making gaming laptops far more expensive than your typical thin, light ultraportables. That said, good budget options are available, costing around $1,000 or less. We’ve made a list of a few that we’ve tested below to get you started. The list is short for now but will grow as we review more laptops.
We’ve tested over 80 laptops, and below, you’ll find our recommendations for the best budget gaming laptops you can get. You can also check out our recommendations for the best budget and cheap laptops, the best laptops for college, and the best gaming laptops.
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Best Budget 14-Inch Gaming Laptop
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)
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Gaming
8.3
Portability
7.3
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync
Typing Quality
Storage Drive Performance
9.
4Thermals And Noise
5.1
Serviceability
7.7
See all our test results
The best budget gaming laptop we’ve tested in a 14-inch size is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022). It isn’t a budget model per se; however, because it was released in 2022, and there’s a newer model, it’s often on sale for around $1,000 to $1,200 USD, putting it squarely in the budget category. If you missed the sale, it’s worth looking around or waiting a bit, as it’s a really good deal at its sale price. It has a fast AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU, and you can choose between an AMD Radeon RX 6700S or 6800S GPU. Both configurations provide a smooth gaming experience in AAA titles at 1440p.
The display is a 16:10 QHD+ IPS panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It has a fast response time to deliver a clear image in fast-moving scenes and supports FreeSync to reduce screen tearing. There’s only a single 1TB storage option, which isn’t a lot considering the size of modern games, but it’s user-replaceable, so you can just swap it for a larger-capacity SSD later on.
The battery lasts only around an hour or so when gaming; this is normal, as gaming is a pretty intensive task. The only other complaint is that this laptop gets hot and loud under load.See our review
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Best Budget 15-Inch Gaming Laptop
Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021)
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Gaming
8.2
Portability
5.3
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync
Typing Quality
Storage Drive Performance
9.1
Thermals And Noise
7.2
Serviceability
7.6
See all our test results
If you want a gaming laptop with a larger 15-inch screen, go with the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021).
It isn’t very portable, as it’s a little bulky and heavy, but it feels very well-built, especially for a gaming laptop in its price range. You can configure this laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H or Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, and there are multiple GPU options, from an entry-level NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 to an RTX 3070. If you want to play games with ray tracing on, we recommend getting a model with an RTX 3060 or 3070, as the RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti can’t maintain high frame rates due to ray tracing’s high performance cost. Memory and storage max out at 32GB and 1TB, respectively, and both are user-replaceable.As for the display, you also have multiple options. The 165Hz 1080p or 1440p panel will provide the best visual experience, as they have the fastest response time and support variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing; however, make sure you pair it with a GPU that can take advantage of the high refresh rate, like the RTX 3060 or 3070. The keyboard feels great to type on and won’t cause fatigue during those long gaming sessions, and it’s backlit, so you can locate your keys when gaming in the dark.
Ports include four USB-As, two USB-Cs, an HDMI 2.1, and an Ethernet port. The USB-C port doesn’t support Thunderbolt 4 since this is an AMD system.See our review
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Best Cheap 15-Inch Gaming Laptop
HP Victus 15 (2022)
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Gaming
8.0
Portability
5.9
Variable Refresh Rate
No
Typing Quality
Storage Drive Performance
9.4
Thermals And Noise
8.0
Serviceability
8.4
See all our test results
Our best cheap gaming laptop pick is the HP Victus 15 (2022). This 15.6-inch laptop has an Intel Core i5 or i7 12th Gen CPU and various NVIDIA discrete GPUs, including the GTX 1650, RTX 3050, or 3050 Ti.
All three GPUs can push 60fps in most games. However, we highly recommend getting a model with an RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti, as they have better raw performance to handle newer games and support DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). This upscaling feature boosts frame rates in supported titles. Of the four 1080p display options, the 144Hz panel with 100% sRGB is the best. It isn’t a particularly fast 144Hz panel but still good for the price, and it looks more colorful than the other display options.As for the overall build, this laptop is mostly plastic but feels sturdy. It has a comfortable full-size keyboard, an Ethernet and HDMI 2.1 port, and Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity. The keyboard doesn’t get too hot when gaming, and the fans are quiet. Unfortunately, USB-C ports lack Thunderbolt 4 support even though this is an Intel 12th Gen laptop, and there’s no fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera for quick logins. The battery lasts only around an hour or so of gaming, so you’ll have to play plugged in most of the time.
See our review
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Best Cheap Gaming Chromebook
Acer Chromebook 516 GE (2022)
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Gaming
5.2
Portability
7.6
Variable Refresh Rate
No
Typing Quality
Storage Drive Performance
5.2
Thermals And Noise
9.1
Serviceability
6.0
See all our test results
The best gaming Chromebook we’ve tested is the Acer Chromebook 516 GE (2022). Unlike Windows gaming laptops, this device runs Chrome OS and is designed specifically for cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW. Cloud gaming means that all the processing takes place on NVIDIA’s server—or whichever company provides the service—and the image is streamed to your device, like any other video streaming service.
The laptop comes with a three-month trial of GeForce NOW. You can play games from the Google Play Store, but know that these titles are made for smartphones and tablets running on an ARM processor, so they might not always run properly. Also, some of them lack keyboard, mouse, and controller support.The laptop feels well-built, and while it’s on the bulkier side, it isn’t too heavy. It sports a nice 16-inch QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It gets bright enough for use in most indoor settings, and its response time is good, resulting in a clear image in fast-moving scenes. The keyboard feels spacious, doesn’t get hot under load, and has RGB backlighting. Don’t get too excited; it only has a single lighting zone. You get Wi-Fi 6E and an Ethernet port, which is great because cloud gaming performance heavily depends on your internet connection. Battery life is short at around six hours of light use or an hour of gaming, so keep the charger close.
See our review
4
The battery lasts only around an hour or so when gaming; this is normal, as gaming is a pretty intensive task. The only other complaint is that this laptop gets hot and loud under load.
It isn’t very portable, as it’s a little bulky and heavy, but it feels very well-built, especially for a gaming laptop in its price range. You can configure this laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H or Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, and there are multiple GPU options, from an entry-level NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 to an RTX 3070. If you want to play games with ray tracing on, we recommend getting a model with an RTX 3060 or 3070, as the RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti can’t maintain high frame rates due to ray tracing’s high performance cost. Memory and storage max out at 32GB and 1TB, respectively, and both are user-replaceable.
Ports include four USB-As, two USB-Cs, an HDMI 2.1, and an Ethernet port. The USB-C port doesn’t support Thunderbolt 4 since this is an AMD system.
All three GPUs can push 60fps in most games. However, we highly recommend getting a model with an RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti, as they have better raw performance to handle newer games and support DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). This upscaling feature boosts frame rates in supported titles. Of the four 1080p display options, the 144Hz panel with 100% sRGB is the best. It isn’t a particularly fast 144Hz panel but still good for the price, and it looks more colorful than the other display options.
The laptop comes with a three-month trial of GeForce NOW. You can play games from the Google Play Store, but know that these titles are made for smartphones and tablets running on an ARM processor, so they might not always run properly. Also, some of them lack keyboard, mouse, and controller support.Notable Mentions
- ASUS TUF Dash F15 (2022):
The ASUS TUF Dash F15 (2022) is a good alternative to the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021). It’s available with faster Intel 12th Gen. CPUs, but its GPUs run at a lower TGP (Total Graphics Power), meaning they won’t perform as well as the same GPUs on the Lenovo. Also, it doesn’t support variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing and has fewer USB ports for peripherals.
See our review
It’s available with faster Intel 12th Gen. CPUs, but its GPUs run at a lower TGP (Total Graphics Power), meaning they won’t perform as well as the same GPUs on the Lenovo. Also, it doesn’t support variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing and has fewer USB ports for peripherals.Recent Updates
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Jul 13, 2023:
Added the Acer Chromebook 516 GE (2022) as the ‘Best Cheap Gaming Chromebook’. -
Jun 13, 2023:
Replaced the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021) with the HP Victus 15 (2022) because the HP is available with newer, faster CPUs. -
May 16, 2023:
Verified that all picks are valid and still available. No change in recommendations.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget gaming laptops you can get. We factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you prefer to make your own decision, here’s the list of all of our laptop reviews. Keep in mind that most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it’s best to see the full review for information about other variants.
Best cheap gaming laptops | Laptop Mag
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(Image credit: Future)
1. The List in Brief
2. Best Overall
3.
Best Performance + Battery
4. Best Battery Life
5. Best Display
6. Best RTX 3050 Laptop
7. How to Choose
8. How We Test
9. Why Trust Laptop Mag
The best cheap gaming laptops can provide good performance while staying on budget, but finding them can be a daunting task. However, daunting doesn’t mean impossible. There are a bunch of viable choices to consider. And despite their prices, these cheap laptops can do just about everything their more powerful brethren can, including supporting VR headsets and playing AAA titles at solid frame rates.
And while the newest laptops with the more powerful components may be out of your budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a gaming laptop with last-gen’s specs, which are still plenty powerful (for a reasonable price).
We’ve compiled a list of the best cheap gaming laptops because we know gaming is an expensive hobby.
With all the games and peripherals to consider, it can get pricey really fast.
Over the course of a year, we review over 100 laptops, covering every price point and use case. When it comes to cheap gaming laptops, we evaluate a number of criteria including gaming and overall performance, display, battery life and of course, value.
Whether you’re looking for a gift for the gamer in your life or want an affordable way to frag on the go, here are the best cheap gaming laptops under $1,000.
The Quick List
Best Overall
1. Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
The best cheap gaming laptop overall
The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is equipped with an AMD Ryzen R7 4800H CPU and AMD Radeon RX 5600M graphics. The surprisingly capable performance can hold its own against even the most demanding of AAA titles, and battery life is solid.
Read more below
Best performance + battery life
2.
HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr
The best performance + battery
The HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr is an entry-level gaming laptop with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GPU, with an agile SSD and great battery life. It’s a one-two punch of action-packed performance.
Read more below
Best battery life
3. Acer Nitro 5
The best battery life
The Acer Nitro 5 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5-4600H CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, and up to 8GB/256GB of solid state storage. In our testing, it lasted more than 11 hours on a single charge, which is fantastic for this price point.
Read more below
Best display
4. Asus TUF Gaming FX705
The best display
The Asus TUF Gaming FX705’s beautiful 17.3-inch, 144-Hz display is vivid and bright, and its Core i7 CPU and GTX 1060 GPU provide excellent all-around performance.
Read more below
Best RTX 3050 laptop
5. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
The best RTX 3050 laptop
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a budget gaming laptop that offers decent performance thanks to its RTX 3050 GPU, and it’s a great option for beginner gamers of any age.
Read more below
Best Overall
(Image credit: Future)
1. Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
Best overall performance and software
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen R7 4800H
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5600M
RAM/Storage: 16GB/512GB SSD
Display Size/Resolution: 15.6/1920 x 1080
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Blistering CPU performance
+
Strong graphics (compared to budget gaming)
+
Great battery life
Reasons to avoid
–
Middling graphics (compared to mainstream gaming)
–
Dim and dull 60Hz display
–
Chunky design
The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is a great mainstream gaming laptop thanks to its wild CPU performance, awesome battery life and bright 15.
6-inch display. With its AMD processor, the system continuously blew out the competition. The notebook also impressed with its battery life, lasting over 7 hours. Throw in an AMD graphics card that can hold its own on even the most demanding AAA titles and you’ve got a certified winner.
Plus, the laptop has a display that’s equal parts bright and vivid along with a seriously comfortable keyboard. And we’re fans of the iridescent silver paint slathered over the hood and the healthy port offering, which lets you attach all of your necessary peripherals. The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is one of the best gaming laptops you can get for the price.
See our full Dell G5 15 SE (2020) review.
Best Performance + Battery Life Combo
The HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr is a cheap gaming laptop that offers solid power and great battery life. (Image credit: Future)
2. HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr
Best performance + battery life combo
Specifications
CPU: 2.
6-GHz Intel Core i7-9750H CPU
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB of VRAM
RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Display Size/Resolution: 15.6/1920 x 1080
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Affordable
+
Solid gaming and overall performance
+
Great battery life
Reasons to avoid
–
Dim, somewhat dull display
The HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr is an entry-level gaming laptop with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GPU, with an agile SSD and great battery life, all wrapped up in a striking, fairly portable design. Its combination of specs, power and endurance earned the laptop a place on our top cheap gaming laptops under $1,000 page.
The Pavilion 15 is not to be slept upon simply because it’s a budget system. It packs some powerful specs which means the notebook can play games at good frame rates. And at nearly 6 hours of battery life, it’s got endurance to spare. It also manages to stays pretty cool, even while gaming.
Still, if you’re looking for a surprisingly powerful entry-level system at a great price, the HP Pavilion 15 should be at the top of your list.
See our full HP Gaming Pavillion 15-dk0046nr review.
Best Battery Life
The Acer Nitro 5 is a cheap gaming laptop with stellar performance and battery life. (Image credit: Future)
3. Acer Nitro 5
A gaming laptop with over 11 hours of battery life
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5-4600H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 with 4GB of VRAM
RAM/Storage: up to 8GB/256GB SSD
Display Size/Resolution: 15.6-inch/1920 x 1080
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Long battery life
+
Strong CPU performance
+
Ridiculously affordable
Reasons to avoid
–
Mediocre graphics
–
Dull display
–
Muddy audio
If you’re looking for a gaming laptop for a ridiculously cheap price, look no further than the Acer Nitro 5 (AMD, 2020).
For just under $700 the Nitro 5 offers class-leading battery life, a powerful AMD Ryzen 5-4600H processor and a comfortable keyboard. But this laptop’s real claim to fame, like most modern AMD-laden laptops is the battery life. The Nitro 5 clocks in at 11 hours and 9 minutes, a time previously unheard of in a gaming laptop.
Thanks to the AMD processor, the Nitro 5 offers serious performance, especially for a laptop in its price range. The Nvidia GTX 1650 GPU means that you’ll have to play your AAA titles at lower settings to get decent frame rates. You’ll make a few compromises, like a dim display, but for a sub-$700 gaming system, there are more hits than misses.
See our full Acer Nitro 5 (AMD, 2020) review.
The Asus TUF Gaming FX705 is a cheap gaming laptop that’s large and in charge.
Best Display
4. Asus TUF Gaming FX705
Strong performance, vivid display, great price
Specifications
CPU: 2.3-GHz Intel Core i5-8300H CPU
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU with 4GB of VRAM
RAM/Storage: 8GB/128GB PCIe m.
2 SSD with a 1TB 7,200-rpm hard drive
Display Size/Resolution: 15.6/1920 x 1080
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Vivid and crisp 144-Hz display
+
Comfortable keyboard
+
Excellent performance
Reasons to avoid
–
Poor webcam
–
Weak speakers
The TUF Gaming FX705 is a good choice for anyone who wants a large, midrange, yet cheap gaming laptop. The FX705’s 17.3-inch, 144-Hz display is vivid and detailed, and its Core i7 CPU and GTX 1060 GPU provide excellent all-around performance. The laptop also has a comfortable keyboard with customizable lighting, plenty of ports and over 4 hours of battery life, which is impressive for a gaming laptop at any price point.
We were thoroughly impressed with the laptop’s 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 display with its 144Hz refresh rate. Not only did the laptop deliver incredibly smooth frames, it’s also bright and vivid. It’s great for watching movies and playing games. Overall, the Asus TUF Gaming FX705 is a solid midlevel gaming laptop that offers excellent performance at a reasonable price.
See our full Asus TUF Gaming FX705 review.
Best RTX 3050 Laptop
(Image credit: Future)
5. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Best RTX 3050 laptop
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 6600H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU
RAM/Storage: 8GB with a 256GB PCIe SSD
Display Size/Resolution: 15.6/1920 x 1080
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Decent gaming performance
+
Solid speakers
+
Under $800
+
Long-lasting battery life
Reasons to avoid
–
Shocking lack of color depth
–
Display could be brighter
–
Mediocre for productivity
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a budget gaming laptop that offers decent performance thanks to its RTX 3050 GPU, but the inadequate display will turn some away. If you don’t care how deep your colors are or how bright your screen can get, this is the laptop for you, especially if you’re willing to settle for playing games at medium graphics settings.
If that sounds harsh, keep in mind it is under $800, which makes it a decent choice for those looking to save their money first and foremost. However, the money you save is also why the IdeaPad Gaming 3 embodies “budget gaming laptop” in nearly every way, as you’re making some serious sacrifices to performance and visual fidelity. At the very least though, the speakers are surprisingly crisp and the battery lasts quite a bit longer than the competition.
See our full Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 review
How to Choose One of the Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
When shopping for a gaming laptop, there’s a lot to consider. To help you choose a system, here are five key points to keep in mind when choosing a system.
Budget: What you get for the money
You can find good inexpensive gaming laptops for under $1,000. However, more powerful mainstream gaming laptops are often priced between $1,500 and $2,000. Premium systems typically cost more than $2,000 and come stacked with a host of high-powered goodies such as high-powered specs and tricked-out software.
Screen Size: 15 inches is the go-to
It’s very rare that you’ll find a 13 or 14-inch gaming laptops nowadays as smaller bezels and lighter frames have paved the way for seriously thin-and-light gaming laptops. That means the days of chunky 15.6-inch laptops putting a strain on your back are over (almost).
From there, you have the 17.3-inch desktop replacements that like their smaller counterparts are becoming super svelte. But there are still the big behemoths that don’t skimp on the specs. However, weighing upwards of 8 pounds, those big boys are made for your home gaming station.
Screen Resolution: 1080p for high refresh rates, 4K for detail
When it comes to gaming laptops displays, you want to strike a balance between frame rates and aesthetics. And in case you’re planning to get a truly mobile system battery life is also deserves consideration. We recommend checking out a system with a 1080p resolution. Panel makers are now serving up screens with high refresh rate, topping out at 360Hz with a 3 millisecond response rate.
But don’t count out 4K screens yet as we’re starting to see laptops with 4K displays with 120Hz. Keep in mind that laptops with lower resolutions tend to have longer battery life overall.
Refresh rate: 120Hz is the sweet spot
Depending what kind of games you’re playing, particularly first person shooters and MOBA, you’ll take anything that will enhance accuracy. Surprisingly, the higher a display’s refresh rate is, the more accurate your shot become. It’s a phenomenon that we’ve experienced first hand during many demos. And while 60Hz is passable, right now we recommend investing in a panel with at least a 120Hz refresh rate.
Intel or AMD?
A couple of years ago, the answer to this question would have been undoubtedly Intel. But AMD has made a furious comeback with its new Ryzen CPUs, which are delivering great overall performance. Thanks to the architecture in the new Ryzen chips, they’re super power efficient without sacrificing productivity.
The Ryzen 5000 series CPUs have consistently impressed with its performance versus battery life.
Not to be outdone, Intel’s 11th Gen chips are nothing to sneeze at. Laptop manufacturers have started rolling out systems with the Intel’s 11th Gen H-series Tiger Lake chips. The 10-nanometer chips are extremely powerful, but still at the low-end of the spectrum with the overclockable HK-series CPU, due to launch soon. Why do you want to invest in an overclockable processor, because with the touch of a button, you can squeeze even more power out of the system. It comes in handy when you’re multitasking or playing a really demanding game.
Battery Life: At least 4.5 hours
Unless it’s plugged in, gaming laptop battery life tends to be very short, especially when gaming. However, gaming laptop battery life has gotten increasing longer over the years. So much so, that anything under 4.5 hours is considered below average. But we’ve just reviewed our first gaming laptop that’s lasted into the double digits.
With results like that, we expect gaming laptops will match their non-gaming counterparts sooner than later. Our most power-efficient gaming laptop ran over 11 hours and sits on our longest-lasting laptops page.
Specs: 1080p / Core i5 / 16GB Are Best Bets
You can spend a lot of time delving into specs, but here are the key components to think about. If you just want really good mainstream performance, go for a Core i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 1080p screen.
How We Test the Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
We put each laptop through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers and heat management.
In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the laptop’s display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 4.
3 and 5.0 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.
To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Dirt 3 benchmark with medium settings at 1080p resolution.
We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 10 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise.
These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop’s materials to the feel of its touchpad.
Why Trust Laptop Mag
Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games.
We’re not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.
We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.
Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.
Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world’s largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we’re the group’s specialist for all things mobile tech.
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Sherri L. Smith has been cranking out product reviews for Laptopmag.com since 2011. In that time, she’s reviewed more than her share of laptops, tablets, smartphones and everything in between. The resident gamer and audio junkie, Sherri was previously a managing editor for Black Web 2.0 and contributed to BET.Com and Popgadget.
Top expensive and inexpensive gaming laptops – reviews, ratings, ratings play your favorite games anywhere on it. A simple laptop is not enough to comfortably play games, they need a much more productive device that has an increased battery capacity, a powerful processor, a separate video card chip, large-capacity fast RAM, and a screen with a high hertz and resolution.
Their price also differs from office solutions in a big way due to the presence of top gaming stuffing. Let’s look at expensive and inexpensive gaming models that are currently popular.
The top of the best gaming laptops in 2021-2022 from MetaRankings.ru includes both cheap models and the most expensive ones with top specifications. All of them are optimized for a comfortable game both in software and hardware. They can also have a variety of fillings, from a processor to a video card. We selected laptops from a variety of manufacturers and do not give preference to a particular brand. For us, the most important thing is how well this or that model is suitable for PC games.
Contents:
- Best Inexpensive Gaming Laptops 2021-2022
- ASUS TUF Gaming F15
- MSI GF63
- Acer Nitro 5 AN515
- DELL G5 15 5590
- HP PAVILION 15-dk
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- Acer Aspire 7
- DELL G3 15
- Best Expensive Gaming Laptops 2021-2022
- ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 17
- MSI GE76 Raider
- GIGABYTE AORUS
- Razer Blade Pro 17
- Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
- Alienware R1
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
- MSI GS76 Stealth
Best Inexpensive Gaming Laptops 2021-2022
Don’t chase the cheapest models, they often don’t match the gaming specs and can be very disappointing in the future.
We have selected inexpensive gaming laptops that will satisfy the needs of undemanding gamers.
ASUS TUF Gaming F15
ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a series of gaming laptops in an inexpensive price segment with good technical characteristics. It is built on 15-inch 144-Hertz IPS screens with modern Intel Core i5 11400H mid-range processors, 8 GB of RAM, a 512 GB high-speed SSD, and graphics cards from GeForce GTX 1650 to GeForce RTX 3050 with 4 GB GDDR6 video memory.
Pros:
- Good 144Hz IPS display
- Nice looking playful design without unnecessary frills
- Balanced, undemanding 6-core processor
- A good discrete graphics card that can handle most modern games
- Nice m.2 SSD
Cons:
- Noisy cooling system
- High graphics card temperatures in demanding games
- No HDD and mounting hardware
- Poor quality case plastic
Prices:
MSI GF63
GF63 is a low cost gaming notebook series from MSI, one of the leaders in gaming solutions.
The GF63 is also based on the Intel Core i5 family of processors, has a 144Hz IPS display, 8GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 MAX-Q discrete graphics and up to RTX 3050 Ti with 4GB GDDR6 video memory. This is a balanced entry-level solution that should satisfy undemanding gamers.
Pros:
- Nice 144Hz IPS display
- Can add another m.2 drive and RAM
- Good 6-core processor
- Reasonably light body with modern design
- Narrow display bezels
- HDD mount available
Minuses:
- Brand case
- Too hot for demanding games
- Uncomfortable touchpad
- No RGB keyboard backlighting (red backlighting with three levels of brightness)
Prices:
Acer Nitro 5 AN515
The Nitro 5 is Acer’s range of affordable gaming laptops that are powered by Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 family gaming processors and can have a 144Hz IPS display, up to 16 GB of memory, as well as a discrete NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card.
This is also a balanced device that has everything modern gamers need on board, including a high-speed SSD, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth version 5.0.
Pros:
- Good looks
- Modern play filling
- Ability to select AMD Ryzen 5
- Good keyboard and comfortable touchpad
- Narrow display bezels
- Customizable RGB keyboard backlight
processor
Cons:
- Display color gamut only 53%
- The cooling system does not always cope with its duties
- Fans 9 loud0012
Prices:
DELL G5 15 5590
The DELL G5 15 5590 is another affordable gaming laptop that makes our top picks. This is a well-balanced model that includes an attractive, sophisticated design, a powerful processor of the Intel Core i7 9750H family, 8 GB of expandable RAM, a 1 TB HDD and a 256 GB SSD, a 144 Hz display, and a discrete NVIDIA graphics card GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB of video memory.
Pros:
- Good price for game stuffing
- Good matrix with good colors
- Attractive appearance
- Intel Core i7 processor in budget model
- Narrow display bezels
- Beautiful RGB backlit keyboard and touchpad
Cons:
- More weight than competitors
- Not the most productive HDD
- Unpleasant glare at the edges of the screen, which is only visible on a black background
Prices:
HP PAVILION 15-dk
An excellent inexpensive gaming laptop from HP that is not inferior to competitors.
It is built on a 4-core Intel Core i5 10300H processor, has 8 GB of RAM with a frequency of 2933 MHz, a good IPS display, a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics card with 4 GB of GDDR6 video memory, an M.2 SSD with a capacity of 512 GB. Its battery capacity is 52.5 Wh
Pros:
- Attractive appearance
- Good matrix with good colors
- Attractive appearance
- Good cooling system for CPU and video card
- Battery backup time
- There is a slot for expanding the RAM
Cons:
- Not very pleasant to hold the laptop on your knees because of the transverse rubber feet
- Slightly rattling keyboard keys
- The charger is connected to the right, which can interfere with the mouse
Prices:
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Lenovo’s IdeaPad Gaming 3 is Lenovo’s low-cost gaming laptop that looks like a regular office laptop, which many will like, especially middle-aged gamers who don’t need extra gaming design elements.
It has a good 15-inch IPS display, a 4-core Intel Core i5 10300H or Ryzen 7 4800h processor, 8 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, and a discrete graphics card is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4 GB of high-speed GDDR6 video memory.
Pros:
- Looks like an expensive office laptop
- Good juicy display
- On/off button in a convenient location
- Excellent keyboard with good RGB lighting
- Good battery life
- There is a slot for expanding the RAM and SSD-drive
Cons:
- Very easily soiled body, which instantly leaves fingerprints
- Screen only 60 Hz
- Cooling system can’t handle demanding games
Prices:
Acer Aspire 7
The Acer Aspire 7 is also an inexpensive gaming laptop that has a simple, uncluttered look more like an office solution, which should appeal to undemanding gamers. This is a well-built 15-inch laptop that has a 6-core Intel Core i7 9750H processor, 8 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, and its graphics card is a budget but powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB.
Pros:
- Nice clean look
- Housing does not collect fingerprints
- Good performance at a modest price
- Good sound for a budget laptop
- Good cooling system that does most things
Cons:
- Low screen brightness with backlighting at the edges
- The hot air blower is on the right, where your mouse hand can be. The charging cable also gets warm
- No RGB keyboard backlight (white light only)
Prices:
DELL G3 15
The DELL G3 15 is a good budget gaming laptop with decent specs and nice looks. It has a 4-core Intel Core i5 10300H processor, a 120 to 300 Hz IPS display, 8 GB of fast RAM, 256 GB of SSD storage, and the graphics card, as in other low-cost solutions, is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB of memory .
Pros:
- Good balanced laptop with a small price
- Nice screen with vibrant colors
- Two colors to choose from – white and black
- Convenient on/off button
- Comfortable large touchpad
- Decent sound for the price
Cons:
- Short battery life
- No HDD holder
- Noisy operation of the cooling system of the processor and video card
Prices:
The best expensive gaming laptops in 2021-2022
for demanding iron.
We tried to select, though expensive models, but which are balanced and will satisfy the needs of the most demanding players.
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 17
ROG Strix SCAR 17 is ASUS’ top gaming laptop with advanced gaming features. It has a 17″ 300Hz high-quality IPS display, an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-core processor, up to 64GB of fast 3200MHz RAM, up to 2TB of fast SSD storage, and this model’s discrete graphics card is NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 with 16 GB of GDDR6 video memory.
Pros:
- Ultimate gaming solution with top performance
- Excellent 17″ 300Hz IPS screen
- Great design in the best tradition ROG
- Rich set (branded carry bag included)
- Great keyboard with beautiful RGB lighting
- Excellent deep bass sound for its category
Cons:
- Plastic case. For this money you want more premium materials
- Hot CPU that runs up to 90 degrees in demanding games
- High price
Prices:
MSI GE76 Raider
GE76 Raider is MSI’s top value gaming laptop that won’t disappoint the most demanding gamers and couldn’t pass up our selection of the best.
On board it is a 17-inch 120 Hz 4K matrix, a top-end 8-core Intel Core i9 11980HK processor, 64 GB of RAM that runs at a frequency of 3200 MHz, a high-speed 2 TB M.2 SSD, and is responsible for the graphics top-level discrete graphics card NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16 GB of memory. It also has a metal body and very nice RGB lighting on the front side.
Pros:
- Ultimate gaming solution with top performance that should last for several years for the most demanding gamers
- Excellent 17″ 4K screen
- Beautiful RGB backlit keyboard and front stripes
- Excellent surround sound from Nahimic Audio
- Good battery life
- 2 slots for RAM and SSD drives
- Great build
Cons:
- Noisy cooling system at maximum speed
- Hot CPU that can overheat in demanding games
- High price
Prices:
GIGABYTE AORUS
The GIGABYTE AORUS gaming laptop is also on our list of the best expensive laptops.
This line has a high-quality screen with a resolution of up to 4K and a refresh rate of 300 Hz, the processor is an 8-core Intel Core i7 11800H, up to 64 GB of RAM is also on board, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q with 8 GB of memory is responsible for graphics, and the keyboard in this line is mechanical with switches from Omron, which greatly distinguishes it from competitors.
Pros:
- Stylish appearance
- Windforce Infinity Next-gen Efficient Cooling System
- Excellent 300-hertz screen
- Omron Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard Switches
- Webcam shutter
- 2 RAM and 2 SSD slots
- Very fast SSD
Cons:
- Inconvenient location of the webcam
- The keyboard is mechanical, which means that a noisy person sleeping nearby will not appreciate it
- Flat sound. Not enough volume
Prices:
The Razer Blade Pro 17
The Blade Pro 17 is a top performance gaming laptop from Razer, one of the leaders in gaming peripherals.
This is a stylish performance device that has in its characteristics an 8-core 16-thread Intel Core i7 11800H processor, up to 64 GB of RAM, 1 TB of SSD storage, a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card with 8 GB of memory, and most importantly, It has a high-quality 17-inch screen with a refresh rate of 360Hz.
Pros:
- Strict all-aluminum body without unnecessary gaming elements
- Excellent RGB backlit keyboard
- Excellent 360 Hz display
- Excellent build. Nothing creaks or backlash
- Good sound
Minuses:
- Marked body, which collects fingerprints well, but does not scrub well
- The cooling system does not cope with its duties in demanding games
Prices:
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
The Legion 5 Pro is Lenovo’s top gaming laptop series. This series can be equipped with an 8-core Intel Core i7 11800H or AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, up to 32 GB of RAM, up to 2 TB SSD with GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card with 16 GB of video memory.
The series of notebooks also has a clean look and a 16-inch high-quality QHD display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a refresh rate of 165Hz.
Pros:
- Ultimate performance for modern gamers
- Excellent screen with good resolution and refresh rate
- Excellent vapor chamber cooling system that does its job well
- Aluminum housing
- Nice glass touchpad
- Quiet operation of cooling fans
Cons:
- Flat sound with lack of bass
- Do not install more than 32 GB of RAM
Prices:
Alienware R1
This is Dell’s top gaming laptop series. This is a very powerful gaming machine that is equipped with processors up to Intel Core i9-11980HK, has up to 64 GB of RAM, up to 2 TB of SSD storage, and the screen is a 17-inch 4K display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
Pros:
- Alienware 9 heritage style0012
- Good cooling system
- Excellent display with top gaming performance
- Top processor and graphics card
- Large comfortable touchpad
- Expandable Memory and SSDs
- Excellent low profile mechanical keyboard with beautiful RGB backlighting
Cons:
- A rather noisy cooling system that has 4 fans
- Mechanical keyboard, which means that it makes more noise than usual and can interfere with a sleeping person nearby
Prices:
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
ROG Zephyrus G15 is a series of thin and light gaming laptops with top specifications from ASUS.
Crafted from aluminum alloy, this 15-inch laptop features a stunning 144Hz IPS screen, an AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS octa-core processor, up to 32GB of RAM, and a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB graphics card.
Pros:
- Powerful filling in a thin body
- Housing made of practical aluminum alloy
- Good performance display
- Beautiful RGB backlit keyboard
- Good comfortable touchpad
Cons:
- The cooling system does not cope well with demanding games
- Difficult to get to the memory to expand it
Prices:
MSI GS76 Stealth
The MSI GS76 Stealth is also a compact and lightweight gaming laptop model with top specifications from the Taiwanese company. It is built on an 8-core 16-thread Intel Core i7 11800H processor, 32 GB of RAM, and a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 with 16 GB of video memory acts as a video accelerator. It also installs a fast SSD-drive up to 2 TB.
Pros:
- Compact size
- Excellent speaker sound from Nahimic Audio
- Stylish appearance in a metal case
- Top processor and graphics card with support for modern graphics technologies
- 300 Hz screen
- Excellent keyboard with beautiful backlighting
Cons:
- Notebook cooling system does not do its job well in demanding games
- Hot air escapes from the sides, which may cause some discomfort to the mouse hand
Prices:
Best Budget Gaming Laptops in 2023
Dreaming of the coolest gaming laptops but not sure which laptop to choose? Do not despair, we have analyzed many options for you in order to finally write the top 10 budget laptops for gaming.
How much will each laptop cost? The top is compiled by price category: from inexpensive to premium segment.
- HP 250 G7
- Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15AST
- HP 15-db1232ur
- HUAWEI MateBook 13
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- Asus VivoBook 15 X512FL
- HP Pavilion Gaming 15-dk1067ur
- MSI GF63 Thin 10SC GF63 10SC-635XRU
- ASUS TUF Gaming F15 FX506LH-HN197T
9000 9 Lenovo Legion 5 17IMH05
HP 250 G7 all other laptops by the number of various configurations.
Buyers are offered a fairly extensive selection of gaming processors: from Pentium to Core i7. The range of graphics accelerators is also a joy, with both nVidia GeForce Mx and Intel UHD Graphics available. RAM is a little more modest in choice: from 4 GB to 8 GB of RAM. Storage capacity starts at 128 GB and ends at 1000 GB + 128 GB. Storage options: SSD and HDD. You can buy them separately or use them together for maximum benefit.
The HP 250 G7 has a standard display size of 15.6 inches. Created using SVA-matrix technology, so the screen has slightly increased viewing angles. The screen has a matte finish that eliminates annoying reflections.
Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15AST
The Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15AST is an inexpensive gaming laptop that has managed to find a lot of positive reviews. Customers love the stylish look that pairs amazingly with thoughtful design. The laptop has an AMD A4 9 dual-core processor125 and RAM from 4 GB. Will he be able to keep up with the new games? Definitely.
But at maximum settings it can start to slow down.
The screen diagonal is 15.6 inches, the main resolution is about 1920×1080. Inside the built-in innovative cooling system.
Average price up to 30000.
HP 15-db1232ur
The HP 15-db1232ur is a good laptop running on an AMD Ryzen dual-core processor base along with 8GB of RAM. These indicators allow you to run various software, any games and instantly respond to user requests without any delays or slowdowns. The laptop has an AMD Radeon 530 graphics card, with which you can run new games by choosing medium graphics settings. Windows 10 Home preinstalled. Another undoubted plus is the widescreen 1366×768 screen. The picture is just space! Energy-intensive battery allows you to work autonomously up to 9hours even during active use.
HUAWEI MateBook 13
HUAWEI MateBook 13 is one of the best laptops due to the fact that it is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with four cores. If you choose the maximum package, you get 6 GB of RAM and 2 GB of NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card.
You don’t have to worry about your laptop slowing down. Getting him to slow down is hard enough. He does a great job with a wide range of tasks. The hard disk capacity is 256 GB. but you can always increase the memory size using external drives.
The main feature that distinguishes HUAWEI MateBook 13 from other laptops is unlocking not with a password, but with a fingerprint.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a powerful gaming laptop powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor with six cores and twelve threads. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics card starting at 4GB GDDR6. RAM is 8 GB.
Display screen 15.6″ size 1920×1080. The laptop has a wireless network Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 5. The design of the model itself is quite simple and concise, ideal for those who prefer minimalism.
Lenovo Legion 5 17IMH05
Looking for the best laptops at a low price? Then we suggest considering another option Lenovo Legion 5 17IMH05.
Included in the category of the middle class. Processor Intel Core i5-10300H 4 x 2.5 – 4.5 GHz, memory is 1500 MHz., RAM is about 8192 MB. The display is 17.30 inches and has a glossy finish. Perfect for you if you are considering a model that can work for a long time without recharging. It will perfectly cope with modern games in Full HD quality without freezing or slowing down.
Asus VivoBook 15 X512FL
Asus VivoBook 15 X512FL – runs on an Intel Pentium Gold processor, but in general it all depends on how many cores you choose: two or four. If you prefer the most complete package, you get the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 graphics card. Thanks to it, the model is able to reproduce and draw graphics with average characteristics, with absolutely no slowdowns. The main screen resolution is 1920×1080, the coverage depends on the model. For example, matte or anti-reflective. Here, choose according to your personal preferences.
HP Pavilion Gaming 15-dk1067ur
HP Pavilion Gaming 15-dk1067ur is one of the top cheap gaming laptops.
The laptop is powered by AMD Ryzen 5 4600H 6 x 3 – 4 GHz processor, memory is 1500 MHz, RAM: 8192 MB and has dual channel mode. The laptop display is 15.60 inches display. Perfect for evaluating the best gaming innovations, it will not freeze and slow down. The system is fast thanks to the NVMe SSD. The laptop has a built-in battery, so it can work for quite a long time without recharging.
MSI GF63 Thin 10SC GF63 10SC-635XRU
If you are looking for gaming laptops up to 60000, then the MSI GF63 Thin 10SC GF63 10SC-635XRU is a great option. The laptop is powered by a tenth-generation Intel Core i7 \ Core i5 processor, the video card is represented by a GeForce RTX 3050 with 4 GB of video memory and a TGP of 40 watts. Perfect for gaming at medium settings with a screen resolution of 1080p. The main center of the screen is slightly bent to the center of the keyboard, the lid can open 160 degrees. If you do not want to overpay for gaming performance, then pay attention to this option.