The Best Budget Gaming Laptop Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
No laptop is a true gaming machine unless it comes with a dedicated graphics processor (GPU), as opposed to the integrated graphics built into most laptops’ main processor (CPU). For us—and sellers of laptops—that’s the bright line that divides a gamer from a pretender.
While this is true, Intel’s latest Core Ultra CPUs and their Intel Arc integrated graphics have proven that IGPs can now reliably play games at decent settings. Will this change the calculus for buying an affordable gaming laptop?
Ultimately, most of you will still want at least the lowest-end dedicated GPU in a gaming laptop, as there’s still a big gulf between it and an Intel Arc IGP. That said, the traditional $1,000 line that defined budget gaming systems has blurred, with costs rising, but we’ll run down what to look for, sticking as closely to that figure as possible. Read on for a breakdown of our current best budget gaming laptops for 2024, all given PCMag’s thorough testing regimen, followed by a guide to what to look for in the right laptop for you.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
MSI Cyborg 15 (2023)
Best Budget Gaming Laptop for Most Buyers
Why We Picked It
At $999, the MSI Cyborg 15 delivers a fine balance of just what you need in its price class. It smartly uses modern entry-level parts in the right combination to provide a decent 1080p gaming experience, and its downsides are minimal for the cost. The 13th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, while not chart-toppers, are cutting-edge components in this price range and ensure steady frame rates even at high settings. The build is sturdy enough, and the battery life is respectable, too.
Who It’s For
We can widely recommend this system to average gamers shopping on a budget. Many of us can’t spend more than $1,000 on a system, and this sits right at that limit. As long as you set your expectations reasonably, this is a smart pick for those seeking a top-end value and steady performance. The upsides are clear for the cost, and the concessions aren’t deal-breakers, though some buyers may chafe against the 512GB storage.
PROS
- $999 price in our Core i7/RTX 4050 test unit
- Able to play at the highest 1080p settings
- Peppy processor for the money
- Decent build for a budget gaming rig
CONS
- RTX 4050 GPU didn’t wow versus RTX 3060s
- Display is dim and disappointing
- Sharp chassis edge can dig into wrists during typing
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Gaming |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-13620H |
| Processor Speed | |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU |
| Graphics Memory | 6 GB |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.9 by 14.1 by 9.85 inches |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 7:16 |
Learn More
Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51-59MT)
Best Gaming Laptop for the Very Tightest Budgets
Why We Picked It
Simply put, this is the best gaming laptop you can get while spending the least right now. The Nitro V 15 starts at $699.99, and even our superior review configuration only rang in at $849.99. Its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and Intel 13th Gen Core i5 processor mean you can enjoy steady 1080p gaming on this machine for comfortably under $1,000, where other budget picks sit. It sweetens the pot with plenty of ports and long battery life, making it the best pick for the tightest budgets.
Who It’s For
Our best overall budget gaming pick will get your more power, but sometimes that’s not a saver’s goal. Minimizing compromise is key in cooking up a usable cheap gaming laptop. So while the CPU isn’t the fastest, and 512GB of storage may be a tad restrictive, that doesn’t stop the Nitro from hitting its marks for the price. Popular multiplayer titles are smoothly playable, and the latest AAA titles will run, even if you need to lower some settings. A true budget shopper, or maybe a younger gamer getting a first laptop, should be pleased with the Nitro.
PROS
- Attractive price
- Suffices for 1080p gaming
- Wide selection of ports
- Lengthy battery life
CONS
- Lagging processor performance
- Limited 512GB SSD
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Gaming |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-13420H |
| Processor Speed | |
| RAM (as Tested) | 8 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU |
| Graphics Memory | 6 GB |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 1.06 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches |
| Weight | 4.66 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 9:51 |
Learn More
Lenovo LOQ 15
A Solid Alternative to the Acer Nitro V 15
Why We Picked It
Lenovo’s LOQ line represents its entry-level gaming offerings. The $949 base model comes with a snappy AMD Ryzen 5 7000-series processor, which is plenty of power at this tight of a budget. Our upgraded review configuration bumps this to a Ryzen 7 chip, but if the base model is the absolute maximum you can spend, it’s a generally effective laptop. The somewhat hefty plastic chassis hardly impresses, but you can’t have it all at this price—and know that the deal gets even better if you can snag a LOQ on sale.
Who It’s For
If you’re shopping on a tight budget for yourself or the gamer in your life, this is one of the cheapest options that we still rate well. Yes, $949 isn’t a super-low price—”budget” doesn’t quite mean what it used to, these days—but the baseline is higher for gaming systems. Laptop prices have risen in general, and the Lenovo LOQ 15 has the right balance of pros and cons for students and others on a limited budget.
PROS
- Excellent keyboard for the money
- RTX 4050 drives reliable 1080p performance
- Well priced
CONS
- Basic gaming-laptop display
- All-plastic construction
- Heavy for its size
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Gaming |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS |
| Processor Speed | 3.8 GHz |
| RAM (as Tested) | 8 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | G-Sync |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU |
| Graphics Memory | 6 GB |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11ax, Bluetooth |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 1.01 by 14.2 by 10.4 inches |
| Weight | 5.4 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 5:17 |
Learn More
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16
Best Budget Gaming Laptop With a 16-Inch Screen
Why We Picked It
Most 17- and 18-inch laptops live in a pricier domain these days, but 16-inch laptops have emerged to fill in the gaps. The Predator Helios Neo 16 provides a larger screen than the many budget 15-inch gaming laptops out there, while keeping the price surprisingly low. We tested a $1,199 model with an Intel Core i5-13500HX processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, which pushed this system to impressive performance for its cost. The overall chassis is a bit hefty, but the laptop’s 165Hz display, big and bright, makes it worth it.
Who It’s For
Gamers on a budget who also want a desktop-replacement-class laptop can’t do much better right now. You won’t find many screens larger than 15 inches at this price, so this is a rare full-fledged battle station for $1,200 or less. The RTX 4050 has its performance limits, so don’t expect high-end gaming frame rates, but it’s a more-than-capable 1080p machine.
PROS
- Impressive performance for the price
- Exceptionally bright display
- Touchpad is a joy
- Plenty of ports
CONS
- Bigger and heavier than its competitors
- Predator Sense software could be better
- Weak speakers
- Cramped keyboard layout
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Gaming |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-13500HX |
| Processor Speed | |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 16 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1200 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | G-Sync |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 165 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU |
| Graphics Memory | 6 GB |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 1.18 by 14.2 by 11 inches |
| Weight | 5.7 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 4:53 |
Learn More
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8
A Solid Alternative to the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16
Why We Picked It
Rather than a cut-price version of our main 16-inch pick, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 is a slightly more expensive model for those who can push their budget further. In our $1,299.99 model, you’ll find a lot of features that you’d associate with a higher cost, like a Core i7 HX chip, a GeForce RTX 4060 with G-Sync, and a wide array of ports. Of course, you’ll come across some downsides—the battery life is short, a 512GB SSD isn’t a lot of storage, and the RTX 4060 could be tuned up—but it’s a decent deal, overall.
Who It’s For
If you’re a gamer shopping in that gray area between a true entry-level model and a near-midrange machine, you may find this to be the sweet spot. The Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 is not the cheapest option around, but it’s well short of a $1,500 laptop, and it combines some benefits of each to a decent end result. Value shoppers looking to borrow some features and performance from a higher price tier will be pleased.
PROS
- Multiple affordable configurations with various options
- Handsome, low-key design without garish gamer RGB
- 16-inch screen with 165Hz refresh, Nvidia G-Sync, and vibrant color
- Plenty of ports including USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet, and HDMI
CONS
- Disappointing performance for the price
- GeForce RTX 4060, as implemented, struggles to beat the cheaper RTX 4050 by a meaningful margin
- 512GB SSD doesn’t have room for large game downloads
- Shorter battery life than competitors
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Gaming |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-13700HX |
| Processor Speed | |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 16 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 2560 by 1600 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | G-Sync |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 165 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU |
| Graphics Memory | 8 GB |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 1.05 by 14.3 by 10.25 inches |
| Weight | 5.6 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 6:25 |
Learn More
Asus TUF Gaming F17 (2022)
Best Budget Gaming Laptop With a Giant Screen
Why We Picked It
You won’t find many budget laptops at this screen size right now, but the Asus TUF Gaming F17 is holding firm as a solid 17-incher with attractive pricing. Its $899.99 price is lower even than some smaller-screen gaming laptops, mostly because it’s rocking some past-generation parts. It won’t remain available forever, but if you can grab a unit while it’s still around, you’ll be getting a good deal and an uncommon true budget 17-inch laptop.
Who It’s For
Not so heavy for a 17-inch laptop, the TUF Gaming F17 provides a capable mainstream gaming experience, a good port selection, and of course a big screen. If you are replacing a desktop (or buying a laptop instead of one), and this is the main PC you’ll rely on, it’s a good and inexpensive all-rounder.
PROS
- Affordable price
- Competent mainstream gaming performance
- Large 144Hz display
- Good connectivity
- Upgradable RAM and storage
CONS
- Previous-generation Intel CPU and 8GB memory limit performance
- Cheap-feeling plastic design
- Thick and hefty, with brief battery life
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Gaming |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-11400H |
| Processor Speed | |
| RAM (as Tested) | 8 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Screen Size | 17.3 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | Adaptive Sync |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU |
| Graphics Memory | 4 GB |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.92 by 15.71 by 10.59 inches |
| Weight | 5.73 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 4:29 |
Learn More
MSI Katana 15 (2023)
Best Configurable Budget Gaming Laptop
Why We Picked It
Our tested review unit of this system, at $1,599, is one of the best values around for what it offers. But if you’re shopping on a strictly lower budget, its $999 starting configuration will be much more appealing. You can grab a 12th Generation Intel Core i5 processor and even Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics for a bit over $1,000, which is a tough deal to beat. You must always make some concessions in the budget tier—the build isn’t anything to write home about—but it’s hard to argue against going for the best performance possible for your dollar.
Who It’s For
Not every system that comes rocking higher-power components stretches its base model down to $999, giving this system a lot of flex if you’re looking to spend around $1,000, or a touch more. We wouldn’t call the amped-up model we reviewed cheap, as exciting as a 13th Gen Core i7 and RTX 4070 system is, but the lesser configurations will satisfy for playing mainstream games while remaining within your budget.
PROS
- Serious value
- Fast and stable performance
- Consistent, snappy keyboard
CONS
- Dismal display
- Brief battery life
- Underwhelming design
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Gaming |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-13620H |
| Processor Speed | |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 TB |
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS-Level |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU |
| Graphics Memory | 8 GB |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.98 by 14.13 by 10.20 inches |
| Weight | 5.05 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 5:31 |
Learn More
Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Best Gaming Chromebook
Why We Picked It
Gamers on a budget no longer need to deal with entry-level gaming silicon running slighter versions of their favorite PC games. Cloud streaming gaming Chromebooks, when paired with a cloud gaming service like Nvidia GeForce Now as well as a fast and steady internet connection, can play some of the latest games at the highest detail settings, as if they had a high-end desktop GPU at home. The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is among the first of these gaming Chromebooks, and it sets a high bar for the subcategory.
Who It’s For
With plenty of ports, a fantastic 120Hz display, an RGB keyboard with anti-ghosting, and superb game streaming performance with an Intel Core i5-1240P CPU, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a surprisingly viable alternative to a regular budget gaming laptop. If you’re not willing to pony up for a proper gaming laptop but live in an internet-rich area, definitely consider this gaming Chromebook.
PROS
- Superb performance in gaming (and everything else)
- Powerful hardware for a Chromebook, from processing to storage
- Rich port selection
- RGB keyboard with anti-ghosting tech
- Gorgeous 120Hz display
CONS
- No touch screen
- USB-C ports aren’t Thunderbolt 4
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop Class | Chromebook |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1240P |
| Processor Speed | |
| RAM (as Tested) | 8 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 256 GB |
| Screen Size | 16 inches |
| Native Display Resolution | 2560 by 1600 |
| Touch Screen | |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Graphics Processor | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Graphics Memory | |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.84 by 14 by 9.8 inches |
| Weight | 3.75 lbs |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 9:41 |
Learn More
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap Gaming Laptops for 2024
Even on a budget, we assume you want to do more than play games at low settings—you have a Steam account, and you ache to play some of the latest AAA games in all their glory. That’s where a dedicated graphics processor (GPU) comes in. It’s the starting point for getting serious about gaming on a notebook.
If you’re truly serious and insist on playing all your games at very high detail settings and the highest possible screen resolution (for most entry-level laptops, that’s 1,920 by 1,080 pixels, assuming you’re playing on the laptop’s screen and not an external display), you’re just going to have to shell out some bucks, especially if you want that laptop to stay game-viable at those settings for more than a couple of years.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
High-end future-proofing like that demands top-end graphics silicon: Nvidia’s mighty GeForce RTX 3070 and 3080 were the latest and greatest by the end of 2021, and the RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti launched on laptops in early 2022. You will still find these in some systems today, but now, the newest GeForce RTX 40 series defines most gaming laptops. Getting one of the top-end RTX 40-series GPUs (like the RTX 4070 and 4080) still means big spending, though, and at current prices, they are well outside of the budget range, with most models containing them closer to $2,000 than $1,000.
Take comfort, though, that times have changed. You don’t necessarily need one of the top-line GPUs for steady gaming performance. With scarce compromise, you can enjoy some very respectable gaming at 1080p in machines a notch or two down from the GeForce RTX elite.
Lower-end RTX 40-series GPUs, notably the GeForce RTX 4050 and 4060, have largely replaced the GeForce RTX 30-series options (though you may still find them in some base configurations). These are the GPUs you’ll find in most budget gaming laptops sold today. Pricing fluctuates, but these machines are available for just under or just above $1,000, depending on the retailer and any sales. Budget-priced gaming laptops are now an established category, not outliers, and have been embraced by the major players. We’ve tested models from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI, as well as a few others.
Here’s how to make sense of their components—and get the most for your money.
Components in Cheap Gaming Laptops: What to Look For, Part by Part
Our first bit of advice? If gaming’s your primary focus and your budget does dead-stop at $1,000, get the best GPU you can for the money, and let everything else follow from there. That may be at the expense of another spec or two—a little less storage, say, or a Core i5 processor instead of a Core i7.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Just remember most notebooks aren’t upgradable, apart from their primary system memory (RAM, not to be confused with the graphics memory) and in some cases, the storage. You’re going to be stuck with the screen, the graphics chip, and the processor you buy now, so evaluate these parts wisely. If you can stretch your budget a bit to get the next-tier-higher component, it can pay dividends in terms of usable life.
Which CPU Should You Get in a Cheap Gaming Laptop?
Some of today’s games, especially in the strategy and simulation categories, tend to hammer the processor. Dual-core processors are a thing of the past, for good reason: Some AAA games call explicitly for quad-core CPUs as a minimum.
Regardless, a maxed-out Core i7 or Core i9 CPU is less crucial for gaming than it is for processor-intensive tasks such as video editing and media-file production work. This is because you’ll get plenty of gaming pep even from Core i5 CPUs. Intel’s 13th Gen chips launched in 2023, and as expected, they increase both power and efficiency. A Core i7 is a super-efficient processor that we’d argue, while helpful to have and a marked performance difference may be slight overkill for casual gamers stuck to a tight budget. A modern Core i5 chip will more than likely serve you just fine in a budget gaming laptop.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Today, Intel’s 13th Gen chips are found in most budget systems. For now, a fraction of the laptops you see in our recommendations still use older chips, but 13th Gen has taken over, even in the budget tier.
Adding to the complexity, Intel’s first Core Ultra processors are here, complete with dedicated AI processing core clusters called neural processing units (NPUs). The first generation of these chips, “Meteor Lake,” is unlikely to be a huge factor in budget gaming laptops, but first tests are promising. The same can be said, for the time being, of the 14th Gen “Raptor Lake Refresh” processors, whose “HX” chips will be used in high-end machines.
Meanwhile, on the AMD side of the fence, things are looking up. Previously, AMD CPUs and GPUs were rarely seen in midrange and high-end laptops, but they were ideal fits for budget laptops (because the components were generally value plays, to begin with). Even then, there weren’t too many laptops with AMD chips.
Today, you can get Zen 4 architecture-based Ryzen 7000 laptops, with 8000-series models trickling in as well, and some have made their way down to the budget tier. Long story short, we now see more laptops with AMD’s Ryzen 5 or 7 mobile CPUs than ever, but Intel is still more common overall.
How Much Memory Is Enough for Gaming?
Given an around-$1,000 budget, 8GB is the minimum memory you should settle for. (We haven’t seen less in a machine with dedicated graphics for some years now.) Some sub-$1,000 machines with dedicated graphics won’t have any more than that, but 8GB is adequate for most moderate use and mainstream gaming. It used to be that 8GB of RAM was far more common than 16GB, but even in the budget tier these days, you’ll find many of our picks include 16GB.
Whether the laptop’s RAM is user-upgradable later on, and what the ceiling is, are further facets to investigate. That said, even if you can upgrade the memory, the laptop may have memory modules occupying both slots, which would mean replacing them when upgrading later. It’s best to get what you need upfront.
How Much Storage Is Enough in a Cheap Gaming Laptop?
Even in the budget tier, laptops now default to using solid-state drives (SSDs) as opposed to hard drives (HDDs). The occasional 17.3-inch-screen model might offer a small-capacity SSD boot drive alongside a secondary-storage platter hard drive, but by and large, standalone SSDs now reign supreme. (Note that most budget gaming laptops under a grand will be 15.6-inchers.)
(Credit: Molly Flores)
You can still opt for this dual-drive approach if you can find it and afford it, but it isn’t the norm any longer. If you can find such a laptop, the smaller, faster SSD would be home to the operating system and a few favorite games, and the larger, more economical hard drive would host the rest of your games and other programs that don’t need quick loading times. (It’s possible to split your Steam and other game libraries across drives.) Some larger-bodied budget gaming laptops let you add the second drive yourself inside an empty 2.5-inch bay. That can be the most economical choice since 2.5-inch hard drives of significant capacity are easy to find for less than $100.
In a gaming laptop, an SSD plus a hard drive is the best of both storage worlds. This is especially recommended given how large modern game installations have become, ballooning over 100GB at times. Your small SSD will fill up quickly, so 512GB is the minimum you should aim for in a gaming laptop.
In terms of gaming performance, the storage subsystem affects game load times and in-game level changes. It can be of special importance in open-world games, where huge environments are loaded in real time. Thus, having at least some fast, SSD-based storage is desirable. To our eyes, you should only opt for an SSD boot drive at this point. The difference in performance “feel” between a hard drive and an SSD boot drive is too big to ignore. (See our picks for the fastest SSDs.)
Optical drives are extinct on new gaming laptops at any screen size these days. Even if you have lots of games on disc, know that you can always use an external USB DVD/CD drive in a pinch, and they cost just $20 or so.
What Kind of Display to Get in a Cheap Gaming Laptop?
You should keep four specs in mind when looking at a given gaming laptop’s display panel: the screen size, the native resolution, the refresh rate, and the panel type.
As we noted earlier, 15.6 inches is the general screen size rule for most gaming laptops that cost around $1,000. This size is a good compromise in ways that extend beyond cost. Sometimes, gaming on the biggest laptop screen possible—there is a spread of 16-, 17-, and 18-inch machines these days—is the way to go. They aren’t as portable, though (many of these notebooks weigh six pounds or more), and the lightest ones tend to be far from the cheapest.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
A 15-inch gamer still won’t be an ideal daily traveler, but most are a lot more manageable than their larger kin. Also, today’s 15-inch gaming rigs are better suited for use in true mobile fashion—that is, off an AC power plug—than those of past years. Some hit six or more hours of battery life, albeit in everyday productivity use or playing back video; gaming will trim that number considerably. (See our picks for the laptops with the best battery life.)
As for the screen’s native resolution, 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (commonly called 1080p) is the norm in budget-priced and mainstream gaming machines. The more pixels you need to push, the more graphics power you need, and a savvy maker of gaming laptops won’t outfit a laptop with a screen whose native resolution the GPU can’t do justice. So the scarcity of higher-than-HD screens in budget gaming machines is no accident. Not only do such screens cost more and sap more battery life, but the graphics chips found in under-$1,000 gaming rigs wouldn’t power gameplay on them very well. (Screens with resolutions much higher than 1080p tend to look small and squinty at the 15-inch size, anyway.)
Display Details: Refresh Rate and Panel Type
Like the native resolution, you should take note of the panel’s refresh rate. If the refresh rate (which is measured in hertz, or Hz) is being called out as a feature on a given laptop, that means it’s likely higher than the baseline 60Hz. Most ordinary laptop screens stick to 60Hz, which means they redraw the onscreen image 60 times per second and thus can display up to 60 frames per second (fps) of in-game performance. (In other words, if your graphics chip can produce 90fps in a given game, you’ll see only 60 of those frames.)
Just about all new gaming notebook screens these days, though, can display at 144Hz or more. This feature originally arrived only in costly gaming laptops, but by now, it’s standard fare even in budget models. All our picks offer at least 120Hz, and most go to 144Hz or beyond. These high refresh rates can be beneficial for some extremely fast-paced games, particularly titles played competitively online, including stalwarts such as CS: GO, DOTA 2, and Overwatch, as well as Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Still, unless you’re attempting to become a professional gamer or get ranked globally in a particular popular title, a fast screen isn’t strictly necessary. Plenty of gamers are still “stuck” with 60Hz displays, after all, if they haven’t bought a new PC in the last few years, or if they’re playing on a non-gaming laptop. Still, with high-refresh panels now the norm even in budget gaming machines, the lack of one now indicates an older model to avoid.
Another spec to watch for is panel type. You’ll want to go for an in-plane switching (IPS) panel if possible, as they generally offer the best off-center viewing angles and colors. Some gamers are content with cheaper twisted nematic (TN) panels, which make you settle for narrower viewing angles—but then, you’re probably seated directly in front of the screen, so that’s not an issue. TN panels can offer slightly faster response times.
A final note about touch input. Despite the undeniable convenience of touch screens for Windows, they are not the norm on gaming machines, and we don’t know of any GeForce- or Radeon RX-based gaming models in the under-$1,000 class with a touch screen. (See our picks for the best touch-screen laptops.)
What Is the Best GPU to Get in a Cheap Gaming Laptop?
The dedicated graphics chip is the backbone of any gaming computer. Even in budget gaming machines, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX line has supplanted its GTX predecessor; you will find these in the vast majority of new gaming laptops.
In 2023, the laptop versions of the GeForce RTX 40-series desktop GPUs debuted, starting in the expensive part of the market first in machines like the beastly MSI Titan GT77 (2023).
This generation now represents the majority of GPUs you’ll find in new laptops in 2024, at all price ranges, with some RTX 30-series options occasionally sticking around in the least expensive base models. Below, you’ll find a rundown on the specific GPUs you’ll find.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
In particular, you should expect to see mostly the new RTX 4050 GPU in this price range, plus a few RTX 4060 models. Despite initial guidance that some RTX 3060 and RTX 4060 models would be available for less than $1,000, current prices see most of them above that mark; the RTX 4050 is the most popular GPU in the around-$1,000 tier right now. That said, hunt around for a good enough deal or sale, and it’s possible to find a handful of RTX 3060 or 4060 machines for under a grand, now and then.
So, what can you expect from these GPUs? The RTX 4050 laptops vary from one to the next, but we’ve generally found it to be a capable 60fps-plus performer in mainstream and more demanding games, so long as you stay at 1080p (which is what most budget gaming laptops are limited to, anyway, if you rely on their built-in screens). That’s what has made it such a fitting pick for this category.
If you can snag an RTX 3060- or RTX 4060-based budget laptop in this range, know that it’s a marked step above the lower GPUs. This GPU cruises over 60fps in most games, and can meet that mark even in demanding AAA games. Most of the time, it won’t even require you to lower settings, though the most straining titles may need some compromise. If you can find a laptop at the “60” level for a similar price to others, it’s worth making it the priority in your decision.
Additionally, as far as GTX vs RTX goes, ray tracing is an advanced lighting technique that only GPUs with the RTX moniker carry the hardware to pull off. The GPUs at the top of the hierarchy (the RTX 3080 and RTX 4090, for example) are superior for performing this technique, as it will drag down your frame rates, but any RTX machine is technically capable. This is especially true with DLSS, an Nvidia visual feature that helps relieve the graphics burden at higher resolutions. Being able to pull this off on budget laptops at all is an impressive feat, and shows how this category is healthier than ever in terms of performance.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Naturally, the performance potential of the full-size GeForce RTX 30-series and 40-series desktop graphics cards is such that the mobile versions of the same name can’t hope to keep up given the space and thermal discrepancies. (See our examination Laptop vs. Desktop GeForce RTX 4090: How Much Do Nvidia’s Top GPUs Differ in Performance?) Additionally, manufacturers can outfit a given laptop GPU at a variety of wattages to fit a specific laptop’s design and thermal needs, often resulting in differing real-world performance from that given GPU.
This can even apply to the same GPU in two different laptops; one may push the power ceiling because the laptop is larger, while another may limit its performance to fit in a smaller chassis. You can read about these complicated performance nuances if you want to learn more, but know that looking at independent reviews with individual performance testing for laptops is more important than ever.
As for Nvidia’s competitor AMD, its dedicated graphics chips are less common in budget gaming laptops (or higher-cost ones, for that matter), even as its Ryzen processor success rises against Intel. Some laptops do offer AMD CPUs paired with Nvidia GPUs, and you’ll occasionally find a few among our picks. AMD announced its newest mobile GPUs, the Radeon RX 7000 series, in early 2023, but we don’t see nearly as many of them as we do GeForces, and rarely in cheap laptops.
Don’t Forget the Keyboard: Lighting and Layouts
One of the typical features that sets apart a gaming laptop is a colorful, backlit keyboard. These vary quite a bit from model to model, with more elaborate backlighting going hand-in-hand with higher prices and a higher general level of other components.
Most budget gaming laptops will employ single-color backlighting (most often, red or white) to keep costs down. The next step up is lighting programmable by zone, with three or four blocks of the keyboard independently customizable in different colors, but this is not common in budget machines. Keyboards with per-key, individually programmable lighting are the province of high-end machines only.
(Credit: Kyle Cobian)
Also, look at the key layout. Models with an isolated cluster of arrow keys or well-defined WASD keys get bonus points, in our book. Also, because most budget gaming laptops are 15.6-inch models, check for a dedicated number pad to the right of the main key area, if you prefer to have one—or not, for that matter. Some machines of this screen size will have one, some won’t. (A 17-inch laptop almost invariably will, however.)
So, What Is the Best Cheap Gaming Laptop to Buy?
At the top of this article and below, we’ve mapped out our top-rated models to investigate. As mentioned, some of the configurations sent to us for testing were above $1,000; this is virtually unavoidable given today’s market. Some remain under that mark, while others rise and fall below that line depending on availability, deals, and generally fluctuating costs.
Also, note that most of these models are a single version of a machine in a varied line. So use the linked reviews as guidelines, not absolutes, when assessing each laptop family. You may not get quite the level of performance we did if key components were downgraded to get the price below $1,000. But you should get a solid idea of the various laptops’ screens, build, and input quality from our reviews.
In addition to poring over our reviews and checking out the vendors’ sites, using the price filters at a reseller like Newegg.com can help you see different configurations at different price points. Some manufacturers offer lots of differently weighted versions of the same laptop (say, more storage in one config, a better GPU in another). Playing with the filters on these sites can be an illuminating exercise in give-and-take.
Want to round out your PC gaming experience? Also check out our picks for the best gaming mice and top gaming headsets, as well as our picks for the best gaming laptops overall, price aside.
