The myth – you need a big desktop PC with numerous power bricks and abundant RGB accessories to enjoy your favorite gaming titles. The market has seen a lot of powerful yet compact gaming laptops for now. Surely, they are better alternatives than those costly gaming PCs. Not only are these gaming rigs portable, but they also boast stunning refresh rates, sturdy builds, and top-notch performance. Not all of these machines are created equally. Therefore, you should check out an overall comparison among processors and their power metrics before deciding to buy one. Fortunately, this guide makes the job easy for you. After all, we have been testing many cheap gaming laptops and mentioned the benefits and drawbacks of owning them in this post.
It is 2024, gaming laptops are on another level. Because of their improved hardware setups and more robust components, these laptops offer gaming experiences on par with PCs but within an acceptable price. However, since there is so much variety to choose from, it can be difficult to pick out the right budget gaming laptop. Therefore, we have brought you the best picks from these models. From small and lightweight to high-performance gaming powerhouses, we have all the options covered so you can find out what is best for you.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
Best Budget Gaming Laptop Overall
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Hold on before you scroll any further; meet the powerful yet affordable gaming laptop – the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15. It may not be the newest kid on the block, but it’s still the best of the cheap gaming world. There may have been more recent models since, but the G15 still reigns supreme thanks to its outstanding specs and design.
With the muscle of a top-end AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, this laptop is among the most powerful yet for playing even some latest games at decent frame rates. The display itself is a true delight, delivering all the fine details with breathtaking clarity at 165Hz. The laptop’s beautiful, minimalist design makes it an absolute must-have for any dedicated gamer. The battery life lasts up to 7-8 hours, allowing you to game on the go without it dying mid-game session.
That quality shines through in its sleek design and sturdy build, but without shouting “gamer” to the world. Although appearance can be deceiving, this gaming rig is battle-ready for anything you throw at it. What’s even better? It is not overly expensive. With its unbeatable value-to-performance ratio, this laptop demands a spot on any serious gamer’s shopping list.
Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-58-725A)
Best Value Gaming Laptop
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The Acer Nitro 5 is an excellent mid-range gaming notebook for those seeking to enter the world of PC gaming but have limited funds. The hardware specifications of the Nitro 5 are pretty good, and it has a nice-looking design that hides its affordable price. While it doesn’t pack the power of its pricier rivals, you’ll still find plenty here for consistent performance across a variety of gaming levels.
At the budget gaming end, it’s got stiff competition in the form of a Nitro 5 with Intel Core i7-12700H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU alongside 16GB DDR4 memory and a speedy 512GB SSD. It might not be a competent gaming laptop under $1500, but you can get some reasonable performance if you play on adjusted graphics settings. Besides this, the battery life of this model is also nice compared to what most low-priced devices offer.
This gaming laptop doesn’t scream “Look at me!” Though it’s built into an all-plastic base, it makes up for it with solid performance, a nice backlit keyboard, and a decent selection of ports. In other words, it’s one of the best values in general-purpose screens you can buy for impressive gaming sessions. While the screen and battery life could use some work, the Acer Nitro 5 (2022) is a great option for gamers on a tight budget.
Read our complete Acer Nitro 5 review.
MSI Katana GF66
Best Cheap 15-inch Gaming Laptop
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Are you tired of breaking the bank just to get your hands on a high-performance gaming PC? Look no further than MSI Katana GF66 – the competent cheap laptop for budget-conscious gamers in today’s pricey market. With a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU and an eight-core Intel Core i7 CPU, this machine offers unbeatable performance at a fraction of the cost of other entry-level systems. If you’re a thrifty gamer, this Katana GF66 will change the way you play forever.
When it comes to selecting a gaming laptop, a decent display size is a prerequisite. The MSI Katana GF66 is a great choice due to its 15.6-inch display. The laptop also comes with red keyboard backlighting that adds a touch of gamer glamour. For gamers who are on a tight budget but have a considerable gaming library, the MSI Katana GF66 is an ideal choice. Its affordability and impressive features make it a dream come true for avid gamers.
Alienware m17 R5
Best Cheap Large-Screen Gaming Laptop
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If you crave a bigger screen for gaming purposes, then this 17-inch laptop with Dolby Vision will impress you. It offers gorgeous crystal-sharp images with a good refresh rate. Additionally, we came across unparalleled GPU and CPU performances during testing. On top of that, the clamshell design of this device provides an aesthetically pleasing experience.
The famous sci-fi style with its circled back LED lights and sophisticated lid emblem remains mostly unchanged from the previous generation. It’s a one-of-a-kind gaming rig that’s guaranteed to turn heads without being too ostentatious. When it came to doing gaming and real-world tests, this computer provided the best framerates and smooth gameplay. But it’s not just about the figures; this notebook looks great too, as is customary for an Alienware product. It’s a bit cumbersome, but that’s to be expected from a gaming laptop designed to replace a desktop PC. You can play games for up to 6 hours without having to worry about refilling the juice.
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Best Affordable 16-inch Gaming Laptop
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Lenovo has outdone itself with the Legion 5 Pro, which won’t force you to sell your organs for that. This 16-inch computer packs a serious punch thanks to the inclusion of AMD’s powerful Ryzen 7 5800H CPU combined with Nvidia’s powerful RTX 3070 8GB graphics card, and it shows in its stellar performance across the board in our benchmarks. This gadget features a streamlined body and delivers great performance in many demanding games, even at its full 2560×1600 resolution. For gamers, the Legion 5 Pro’s 165 Hz screen is the key to unlocking the device’s full potential.
Due to its powerful hardware and advanced features, it’s a great pick for gamers who value speed and efficiency above everything. The octa-core 7th Ryzen processor offers great computing power, with clock speeds of up to 4.4GHz and energy-saving low-power modes. This is especially true when included Nvidia’s GPU is on working. Moreover, the 16GB of RAM running at 3200MHz and the 1TB solid-state drive (SSD) together provide maximum productivity under typical conditions.
In terms of battery, the Legion 5 Pro might not be the one for you. Our tests have shown that it can only last just over three hours when running moderate-to-high-demanding tasks, so you’ll need to charge it up before heading out. And if you’re a gamer, you will be disappointed in this regard – the battery barely survives for two hours during a gaming session. This laptop is not designed for extended gaming periods without plugging in a power adapter. But still, this Legion 5 Pro offers plenty of other great features that make it worth considering.
Read our complete Lenovo Legion 5 Pro review.
How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop?
If you have a good sum of spare income such as $2000-$3000—you will have no trouble selecting the best gaming laptop. However, people with a smaller budget will have a harder time picking a decent gaming device. But thankfully, the market currently offers a wide selection of powerful and efficient processors and graphics cards at acceptable costs. Due to the availability of cutting-edge hardware, today’s $1,000-$2000 gaming notebooks can compete with desktop PCs in terms of power while yet being easily portable.
As was once universally true, you can still count on getting higher performance for your money with AMD equipment. AMD Ryzen laptops are the best option for individuals who value cost-effectiveness without losing performance, thanks to their attractive price tags and great specifications.
When it comes to raw performance, Nvidia graphics cards are unrivaled. But it doesn’t mean that you should completely ignore the AMD cards. In this list, we have included some models that are packed with powerful AMD configurations but don’t cost a lot of money. Moreover, which RTX card you should roll with depends on what kind of gaming vibe you’re after. If you are not a serious gamer and are happy to play at 1080p settings, then RTX 3060 is more than enough to deal with the things. But if you wish for 4K gaming, then you should set your sights on the RTX 3070 or higher.
Because of its direct effect on both speed and performance, RAM is another crucial part you can’t ignore. To make sure the laptop is suitable for your needs, don’t forget to carefully check out its storage capacity, display, and amount of available ports. Think about how the laptop will look and feel in your hands, and whether or not you care about the visual appeal of RGB lighting. When taking your gaming on the move, the battery life becomes even more important. You should do your homework before buying a gaming rig because even high-end models can lack exceptional battery life.
