Are you looking for the best gaming laptop under $600? Then, you don’t need to go anywhere. This ultimate guide has brought a lot for you and helps you to choose any of the fine budget gaming laptops to meet your demands. To be honest, $600 is a decent amount when buying a laptop and you can get a model among the best budget laptops available in the market. Below, we have listed a few best gaming laptops under $600 that feature strong hardware components to give you a good overall performance and fine experience.
As technology advances, so do gaming laptops. Our team of experts never stops researching the top-of-the-line gaming laptops that are available within your budget. To make it easier for you, we have put together this comprehensive list of the best gaming laptops under $600 that you should definitely consider when looking for a suitable device to suit your needs and budget. This detailed review will provide you with all the necessary information regarding each laptop so that you can easily choose the perfect one that suits your preferences and requirements.
Best Gaming Laptops Under $600: Our Picks
- HP Victus 15
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- ASUS TUF Gaming F15
- MSI GF63 Thin (2022)
- ASUS VivoBook 15
- Acer Aspire 5
- HP 17 (CN0025NR)
- HP Pavilion Gaming
- ASUS VivoBook F512
All of these given laptops are selected after doing a lot of research by considering their performance, build, design, and price. They offer a wide range of options for different needs such as gaming, multimedia editing, or everyday tasks. The best gaming laptop under 600 dollars is well capable to make your life easier. If you are looking for a laptop that can play games with reasonable graphics, this list is the best place to start.
1. HP Victus 15: Overall Best Gaming Laptop Under $600
The HP Victus 15 is an absolutely phenomenal gaming system for under $600. The highlight is its 12th Gen Intel i5-12450H processor, which has eight cores of processing power and can easily hold up against the i7 9th or 10th generations. For gamers looking to stay on budget without sacrificing performance, this laptop offers amazing value in a comparable package. Even better, the design and build of this laptop make it lightweight and compact enough to take with you on your gaming sessions without adding extra weight or bulk to your backpack.
The amount of memory is 8GB, which we usually get in cheap gaming laptops. On the other hand, 512GB of fast SSD is a good addition because it’s enough to install modern titles while keeping your other data. Since it’s marketed as a gaming device, its primary purpose must be to facilitate enjoyable gameplay. For the GPU part, there is Nvidia’s mid-range GeForce GTX 1650 4GB graphics card which gives satisfactory results. This card is superior to 1050 Ti and good enough to run many games at 60fps with the right in-game graphics settings.
The Victus 15 is subtle in appearance, featuring only a little “V” on the bottom lid. The 15.6 inches 1080p full HD display is another good feature included in this HP notebook, and the 144 Hz refresh rate makes visuals more appealing and crisp. Additionally, the keyboard is backlit, which almost every gamer wants, and the keys are perfect for type. With 5.06 pounds in weight, it’s not a truly portable laptop but still easy to put in a bag and carry during travel. Remember, don’t consider it a high-end gaming PC, as it’s a competent device for budget users.
Pros
- Greatly worth the value
- 1080p FHD 144Hz display
- Powerful 12th Gen i5 CPU
- Run most PC games smoothly
- Lightweight and portable
- Contain all ports including MicroSD card slot
Cons
- Lacks fingerprint reader
- Battery only lasts 2-3 hours
- Not for high-end gaming
2. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3: Best Lenovo Gaming Laptop Under $600
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a great budget-friendly gaming laptop and the perfect choice for any gamer looking for an AMD Ryzen CPU. It has a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD performing at impressive speeds that are perfect for multitasking and high-performance gaming. It has good configurations and is perfect for any gamer who needs a strong machine that won’t break the bank. It’s also ideal for work and daily browsing as this laptop is extremely reliable in handling all levels of tasks.
To overcome gaming demands and provide top-notch graphics, it features Nvidia’s RTX 3050 Ti GPU, which lets this model be picked in this gaming laptop category. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 thrives on its budget as it performs better than many competitors. It has a fast 5th generation Hexa-core CPU with six cores and a top-notch RTX graphics card that allows it to run the most current games on low or medium graphics at 60fps. It’s a decent notebook for gamers and creators who usually work with editing tools.
The design and performance of this laptop are nothing short of remarkable. As a whole, the laptop is an excellent and decent investment. The keyboard included is backlit with an excellent trackpad that makes typing easy and comfortable. Moreover, this Lenovo gaming laptop is lighter than ASUS TUF F15, allowing you to carry it around easily. Even though there is no SD card slot and the display connection is only restricted to HDMI 2.0, there are still all typical ports for you alongside a USB Type-C. The battery life is a weak point of this system as it is below standards and can survive only a few hours.
Pros
- 5th generation AMD Ryzen CPU
- Top-notch Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GPU
- Multitasking is possible
- Backlit keyboard with good trackpad
Cons
- Poor battery life during gaming
- No SD card slot
3. ASUS TUF Gaming F15: Best Value Gaming Notebook Under $600
Whenever we consider top-class gaming machines, one name that comes to our mind is the ‘ASUS TUF’ series. So, look at this latest ASUS TUF Gaming F15, which we have considered in this list of best gaming laptops under $600. Generally speaking, you will rarely find a system like this under this budget which comes with powerful hardware specifications and is the second-best option after HP Victus 15 with Intel CPU. In its build, you will get a strong Intel Core i5-10300H processor, GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, and a quick 512GB SSD.
This CPU gives you the same performance you will experience with i7 8th or 9th Gen chipsets. Moreover, the GTX 1650 is available, it offers decent results during gaming sessions and other editing tasks. Some modern intensive PC games, such as Fortnite, CS:GO, League of Legends, PUBG, and Valorant can run on lower or medium settings easily without any problem. You can’t expect more when you are on a short amount.
The new ASUS TUF F15 looks great in design, but it doesn’t bring that true gaming appearance that’s been plaguing the industry for a while now. The 1080p FHD IPS display is a good match for the hardware inside it. Notably, the 144Hz refresh rate offers excellent graphics and viewing experience. Overall, the screen is bright with in-depth clarity and doesn’t strain the eyes while reading. Furthermore, a backlit keyboard is available with WASD keys highlighted in white to give a unique look. For connectivity, you will find an HDMI 2.0, two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.2 port, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Pros
- Nice looking sturdy build
- Strong CPU and GPU combination
- Reasonable 144Hz IPS display
- Comes with a backlit keyboard
- Great ports collection including USB-C
Cons
- Not for professional gamers
- 8GB RAM is limited but upgradable
4. MSI GF63 Thin (2022): Best Budget Gaming Laptop Under $600
The MSI GF63 Thin (2022) can compete with both midrange and high-end laptops in terms of price and performance thanks to its extensive range of features. But to be honest, if you’re ready to spend roughly four figures, you will have a lot of premium choices. However, this GF63 (11SC-693) model comes with a powerful Intel Core i5-11400H processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 card for only $549, which is a significant upgrade from the poor chipsets and GPUs often found at this cost. Thanks to its 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, it’s no sweat to have numerous windows open at once or play games with no lag.
But to keep their prices so low, MSI has had to make a few major sacrifices. It has a mediocre display, a keyboard with no good tactile feedback, and an outdated look. The MSI’s palm rest and lid are made of aluminum, while the rest of the chassis is made of plastic. It has a mediocre display, a keyboard with no good tactile feedback, and an outdated look. The quality of its 15.6″ IPS screen makes it less than suitable for competitors as it only has a 60Hz refresh rate, which isn’t enough to make the action in games look fluid. You should consider the above-mentioned laptops for better display.
The battery can last up to 4-5 hours when doing the usual work but definitely, expect it to drop fast during the gaming. In terms of ports, there is one USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port and a 120-watt power adapter on the left. Besides the USB connector, is an LED light that indicates the battery charging status. While on the right side, there are two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, separate 3.5 mm headphone and microphone jacks, and an Ethernet port. If you are an entry-level gamer or want a low-cost machine to perform some heavy tasks, it’s good to go with this.
Pros
- Worth your price
- Strong processor and graphics card
- Good for heavy tasks
- Light and easy to carry
Cons
- Mediocre 60Hz display
- 256GB storage is insufficient
- Not for competitive gaming
5. ASUS VivoBook 15: Best Portable Laptop for Gaming Under $600
The ASUS VivoBook 15 (F512JA-AS54) is not actually a laptop that is designed for gamers but it’s a fine model to consider for this budget. This F512 has a new style and some high-end design characteristics that are often featured on the company’s flagship devices. The 15.6-inch 1080p display has fine visual quality and color replication which is acceptable at this price tag. This laptop is built completely of plastic and weighs only 3.5 pounds, which is very light to keep it up with you whenever you go outside.
Considering the hardware, it comes with an Intel Core i5-1035G1U processor, integrated Intel UHD Graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage. All these components let the system perform smoothly for everyday tasks such as running programs, watching videos, web surfing, doing study/office work, and even some light gameplay. But, you will see the laptop becomes hot and notice the fan noise during heavy workloads, such as playing high-end games or doing editing tasks. Fortunately, it’s not extremely loud and irritating, but still, it is observable.
The typing experience on the keyboard is quite nice on this VivoBook 15. There is also a NumPad alongside the keys, although smaller in size. The notebook’s downside is the color of the keys, which makes it hard to read the text and differentiate them. However, it’s not a big deal when your keyboard is backlit. In terms of battery life, you will get approximately 7-8 hours out of it. However, the charger itself is somewhat large and cumbersome. If you need a system with a big screen and good specs but are on a tight budget, the ASUS VivoBook 15 is one of the cheap gaming laptops under $600.
Pros
- Thin, lightweight, and portable
- Strong 10th Gen i5-1035G1 CPU
- Includes some premium features
- Decent battery life
- Great ports selection
Cons
- Completely plastic body
- Fan generates noise
- Not good for heavy games
6. Acer Aspire 5 (2022): Best for Business
Acer is a well-known brand in the gaming device industry and their latest addition to the Aspire 5 lineup, this $600 laptop delivers strong performance. It comes with top-notch 5th Gen AMD Ryzen 5 5500U six cores CPU which beasts the i7-1160G7 in performance. It is better to go with a laptop having an AMD chipset when your main purpose is gaming because AMD has offered a lot in these processors not only for gamers.
Acer Color Intelligence brings vivid, lifelike colors to a 15.6-inch IPS screen. If you use your laptop continuously for many hours when playing titles or doing other important work, you can utilize the Acer BlueLightShield so your eyes will be protected from strain even after so much focus on the screen. The other best thing about this one of the top budget Acer gaming laptops is its slim body which makes it a good portable machine. There is also a fine selection of ports available for attaching the different external devices. It comes with perfect built-in speakers that offer great sound quality.
Your laptop may slow down during heavy workloads, especially during multitasking. You can expect this because only 8GB of DDR4 RAM is not enough to play games, browse, download, or run other software simultaneously. On the other hand, there is no shortage in the storage end as you will get a massive 512GB of a solid-state drive. Furthermore, there is a backlit keyboard and the speakers produce excellent sound. The battery can last many hours and you don’t need to think about its next charge for a while.
Pros
- Nice slim body
- 6 cores AMD Ryzen processor
- Amazing visuals quality
- Perfect for basic games and business
Cons
- Gets hot during heavy tasks
- Complete plastic build
7. HP 17 (CN0025NR): Best Wide Screen Gaming Laptop Under $600
For gamers who are more concerned with performance and space, the 2022’s new HP 17 may be a weird choice. But if you ask me, it is a good laptop with an affordable price which can provide good overall productivity. This machine features an Intel Core i5-1135G7 chipset with an Intel Iris Xe graphics card. This GPU is well enough to run some popular modern games, and you can also do graphically demanding activities. Regarding the gaming performance, it depends on the game’s system requirements and whether your hardware meets those specifications or not.
The 8GB of DDR4 memory combined with 256GB of SSD allows the computer to process quickly and efficiently. If you even need a bigger screen than the usual 15-inch, this model is for you because of its large 17.3 inches HD+ display which offers impressive viewing angles. However, the screen quality is not what it appears to be. It’s only a standard LCD panel with a bit extra brightness than its counterparts. The HP 17 weighs just 4.53 pounds, making it possible to carry with you when traveling.
Unfortunately, there is backlighting in the keyboard, and the color of keys and text makes it hard to recognize. However, the keyboard’s button clicks have a great feel. Moreover, it includes two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, an HDMI slot, and an audio jack, but there is no SD card slot. In terms of battery life, you will not disappoint whatsoever. The battery can easily survive for 7-8 hours on a single charge. Considering the good gaming laptop for under $600, the HP 17 is a decent option available.
Pros
- Bigger 17 inch screen
- Good display brightness
- Long-lasting battery
- Pre-installed Windows 11
Cons
- Lacks backlit keyboard
- Keypad is hard to use
8. HP Pavilion Gaming: Best Premium Notebook Under $600
The HP Pavilion laptop is a great choice for gamers on a budget who need an affordable system that can run most games and handle other tasks like web browsing and media streaming. It offers more than just gaming performance, with its lightweight design and convenient backlit keyboard making it perfect for late-night typing sessions. Thanks to its solid specs, the HP Pavilion is able to deliver good results in most AAA titles without putting too much strain on your wallet. It might not be as powerful as some of the leading gaming laptops, but it still delivers plenty of value at a very reasonable price point.
The powerful 5th generation AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and the Nvidia GTX 1650 GPU are all good specifications to play demanding games, despite their comparatively modest prices. You can enjoy old classic PC games even at higher settings. But you should need to adjust your in-game graphics at a low or medium level to run the latest intensive titles. The one drawback is that it only comes with 256GB of SSD storage which is short for true gamers who usually install a lot of their favorite games.
The 1080p IPS display is decent, has full HD quality, and is 15.6 inches in size. Under this budget, it is fine with true vivid colors. Even though the built-in speakers are not particularly impressive, you can attach the better ones using the headphone or audio jack. The battery life is not awful; it can last around 5 hours when browsing and watching videos. But for gaming, it is best to have a charger attached to it to save the battery.
Pros
- Sleek and appealing design
- Excellent choice for the price
- Strong AMD processor
- Can run most titles smoothly
- Features backlit keyboard
Cons
- Limited RAM for gamers
- Speakers are not impressive
- Display has poor viewing angles
9. ASUS VivoBook F512: Best ASUS Gaming Laptop Under $600
Laptops like the ASUS Vivobook F512 are not specially built for gaming. But, if you are only interested in playing basic games, it seems more like a temporary solution. Although, you can’t go wrong with this budget gaming notebook from VivoBook regarding mobility and convenience. This laptop body is made of plastic, and it’s a robust and portable device which means you can also take it anywhere you go. The 15.6-inch full HD NanoEdge display is very reasonable for a laptop of this class, and the 1080p FHD resolution is also fine. However, the quality of the screen remains woeful. The IPS panels are not exactly known for their charm. As far as mobility matters, this one weighs just 3.7 pounds.
Although the AMD Ryzen Ryzen 5 3500U CPU is not the most expensive high-end chipset available, it can handle most of the work you perform on it. If you do not intend on playing any high-end games, the AMD Radeon Vega 8 GPU is a fine inclusion in the build. Remember, you won’t be able to play any of the latest titles at a higher level and graphics quality. The fans can generate a little noise during multitasking or heavy workload, but they are still very quiet.
The 8GB DDR4 RAM is a good addition but only 6GB is usable overall instead of the full 8GB because 2GB is completely reserved for the built-in GPU. It’s best to upgrade it to 16GB at least. Despite its modest size, the 256GB SSD provides the fastest loading times for Windows 10. However, the battery life is ordinary and survives for some hours. Overall, this is a decent notebook for the money, and I highly suggest it to anyone looking for a budget-friendly product.
Pros
- Fast PCIe NVMe SSD
- Great value for money
- Very thin and lightweight
- Solid build quality
- Can run most low-end games smoothly
Cons
- Fan generates noise during heavy usage
- Limited RAM and storage for gamers
Things to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Laptop Under $600
When deciding to buy a new gaming laptop, there are several things to consider. Not only you should think about the specs and features, but also the budget you have for it. Before purchasing a laptop, be sure to check out the reviews for it and if it has a warranty.
Buying a gaming laptop is not an easy task. There are many different components to check out such as CPU, GPU, design, display, and price-to-performance ratio. You should need to consider the amount of RAM, storage, and connectivity options. Further, it’s also important to look for the audio and built-in speaker. Another important thing in the case of a portable computer is the battery life as it will make the laptop last longer during long gaming sessions. Check out the below things which you should need to know before you buy the best gaming laptop.
Processor
Performance is the most important factor for any system. The CPU is the brain of the computer, so it’s important to buy one that has high computing power because it will affect the overall productivity of your laptop. The included CPU is the most necessary part because it determines how fast the device can run the processes.
Intel’s i7 or i9 processors are specially designed for high-end models and can handle heavy workloads easily. If you are a professional gamer or eSports player, then you should consider a system with such a CPU. However, for basic gaming, office work, study, and other everyday tasks, you will be fine to go with the Core i5 or AMD Ryzen processor. So, considering the right chipset according to your demands and budget is crucial.
Graphics Card
Graphics cards are the most important component of a good gaming laptop as they determine how well the game will run. There are many different options to consider when buying a graphics card. For example, you should decide if you need to work with office documents or play games that require high-quality graphics. If you’re playing games on a laptop without much power, then you can go for the lower-end option that is affordable. However, if you want to play high-end games with higher graphics demands, then it’s better to invest in a more expensive option.
It’s important for the graphics card to be good enough for creativity as well as gaming. For a $600 price tag, you can get yourself a laptop that is suitable for most of your needs. The more powerful the graphics card, the better it will be for playing titles. It is also crucial to consider a laptop that offers smooth gameplay and doesn’t have any lagging or glitches during intense combat.
RAM
In order to run the most demanding programs and games, the amount of RAM makes a huge difference. A laptop with 8GB of RAM definitely costs more than a laptop with 4GB RAM, but it will be able to multitask for longer periods of time and run more intensive applications. Investing in a computer with more RAM can pay off in the long run if you are trying to game on your computer often. It allows the computer to run multiple things simultaneously.
The laptops require more memory due to the fact that laptops have smaller screens with lower resolutions. RAM soaks up power in order to give the user what they need. A gaming laptop that has 8GB of RAM is recommended for light gamers but it should be best to upgrade it to 16GB for heavy gameplay. But the good gaming laptop under $600 comes with 8GB of memory which is upgradable as per your demands.
Storage
One important feature of a laptop is storage. This is essential for storing the games and other data that you’ll use most often. A gaming notebook will usually have between 256GB to 512GB of SSD storage, which is more than enough space for most people.
For gamers, a good amount of storage is a must-needed thing. The simple reason is that almost every modern game occupies a lot of storage, these come in many GBs. Considering this, a gamer needs a lot of space to install and store his favorite games. Moreover, SSDs have largely replaced HDDs as the preferred storage medium. For now, almost every company releases its laptops with pre-installed SSDs because these are very faster than hard drives.
Display Resolution
People should also take into consideration the display resolution of a laptop. Nowadays, you always need to look for a model which comes with a 1080p FHD display having 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution because it’s a fine and common resolution for gaming laptops. This resolution will be able to display almost all games in their full glory. A lower panel will not do anything but make your gameplay look blurry. If you are going to play graphically intensive titles like Fortnite, PUBG, or Mass Effect, you’ll need at least a 1080p resolution. Nowadays, the 15-inch screen is a usual size for laptop displays and they support full HD resolution.
Battery Life
Buying a gaming laptop for under $600 can be tricky. There are cheaper options available with comparable specifications but they may not last as long on battery power. So, if you want a powerful laptop that can take you through hours of gameplay, look at the battery life of your purchase before buying it.
If you are an avid gamer, then you should consider buying a gaming machine that has a quick-charge battery and can last long enough to keep up with your gaming sessions. Generally speaking, none of the notebooks’ batteries can survive for many hours when you are playing games. However, it’s recommended to find a laptop with at least 6-8 hours of battery life during normal usage. If you’re not sure how long the battery lasts, check out the reviews from other people who have bought that specific model.
Is the Best Gaming Laptop Under 600 USD Worth It?
Depending on what you are looking for and what your current budget is, it can be easy to justify buying a more expensive gaming laptop under $1500 or even more high-end which costs $2000 rather than a cheaper one. However, if you need most features that come in these laptops and you don’t have a lot of money to spend, then it might be time to look into purchasing a less expensive one.
Gaming laptops are a great replacement for desktop computers because you can even carry them anywhere you go and you don’t need to sit in a single place. But regarding the functionality and gaming performance, no doubt a good PC is more powerful than a laptop. However, you have to comprise in this regard. Keep in mind that you can’t expect that these cheap gaming laptops under $600 can run all demanding video games. But they can perform for many of them at lower or medium settings or even some games at high graphics.
Laptops are becoming more and more common as primary devices. Many people use them for many purposes, such as for study, office, editing, and gaming. So it’s important to know your options when you are trying to find the best notebook. There are a few things you should consider when buying a gaming laptop: battery life, GPU, CPU, RAM, and storage.
Conclusion
Every budget device comes with its limitations and $600 gaming laptops are no different. You can play most games at 60 or above frame rates with the proper tweaks in the settings. But, most budget models will suffer if you try to run any highly graphically demanding game on it. There is no need to panic, as plenty of them don’t require high graphics, and these affordable systems are perfect for playing them.
If you’re in the market for a new gaming machine, look no further than the HP Victus 15. However, if you are even short of a $600-$700 budget, you can check our list for the best gaming laptops under $500. These are our recommendations for the best gaming laptop under $600 in 2023; that’s all from our side. Now, it is up to you to choose the right option.
