Tech specs are usually overrated when picking a PC, but not when it comes to gaming systems. Purchasing a cheap gaming laptop is definitely a case where you have to get the most bang for the fewest bucks without sacrificing your gaming experience. It’s a careful balance, though, as doubling your RAM or getting a better graphics card will impact your budget.
The closer you get to the $1,000 price point, you’ll likely get more than just the basic gaming laptop specs: maybe a newer processor, 16GB of RAM, or a 512GB solid-state drive. However, if you’re watching every dollar, you’ll have to make do with those bare minimum specs.
Two other important considerations are weight and battery life, neither of which is a gaming laptop’s specialty. The notebooks on this list fall on either side of the 5-pound mark, but if you’re planning to take the laptop on the go, a lighter system might be of greater importance to you. You also shouldn’t expect miracles when it comes to battery life, as more powerful components being pushed to the max by PC games will chew through a charge. However, if staying unplugged as long as possible is crucial, serious consideration should be given to the Asus TUF A15’s impressive 12-hour battery.
Buy this budget gaming laptop…
If you need…
Asus TUF A15
A well-rounded and budget-friendly gaming laptop. The Asus TUF A15 has an impressive 12-hour battery life and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card.
Dell G15 Ryzen Edition
A budget gaming laptop that is still high-value. With a 10-hour battery life, RTX 3050 graphics card, and a price tag under $1000, the Dell G15 Ryzen Edition is a lot of bang for your buck.
Acer Nitro 5
A budget and beginner-friendly gaming laptop. With a price tag just under $800, the Acer Nitro 5 is an excellent choice for PC gaming newcomers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a decent rig.
MSI Bravo 15
A budget-friendly and AMD-based gaming laptop. The MSI Bravo 15 is built with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU and an AMD Radeon RX 6500M graphics card.
HP Victus 15
A budget-friendly and Intel-based gaming laptop. The HP Victus 15 can be configured with up to a 13th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU and an RTX 3050 graphics card.