The 5 best budget gaming laptops: Level-up for less

To determine the best cheap gaming laptop, we examined and evaluated its CPU, GPU, battery life, RAM, and display. View these high-quality, low-cost gaming laptops from leading manufacturers like Dell, ASUS, HP, and more.

Gaming laptops can be rather pricey, but even premium manufacturers like HP, Asus, and Dell have affordable and entry-level versions for those who want to play games on the move or have a respectable gaming experience without breaking the bank.

I made an effort to keep my selections for low-cost gaming laptops around $1,000 for this list, but given the chip scarcity and stock problems, don’t be shocked if stores start to raise prices a little bit. Fortunately, there are certain laptops that enable you to customize it while still costing less than $1,100, such as the HP Omen and HP Victus. To help you choose the finest gaming laptop that fits both your budget and your playstyle, I selected both Intel and AMD-based laptops.

Asus ROG Strix G15

Best cheap gaming laptop

Since Asus is one of the greatest names in gaming laptops and the ROG Strix G15 shows that you can acquire a nice machine without having to skip this month’s rent, we selected it as the best-budget gaming laptop. It has a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU for processing graphics. Additionally, it supports up to 32GB of RAM, allowing you to upgrade memory as needed in the future. The 15.6-inch display’s natural refresh rate of 144Hz and 3ms response time allows for silky-smooth action even during intense action sequences. Additionally, thanks to Adaptive-Sync technology, the display dynamically changes its refresh rate to match the best settings for your favorite contemporary games, reducing screen tearing and stuttering and improving gaming performance. When multitasking, you can set up a second display using the USB-C connector, or you can broadcast from your laptop while playing games and keeping an eye on the conversation or your streaming software without continually alt-tabbing. You will have plenty of time to rack up Apex Legends victories thanks to the 8-hour battery.

Pros:

Great battery life
User upgradeable
VRR compatible
Wi-Fi 6

Cons:

Heavy
Only one USB-C port
Only supports up to 32GB RAM

Dell G15 Ryzen Edition

Best value gaming laptop

Even while this gaming laptop has a retail price that’s comfortably around $1,000, it still has a tonne of high-end technology. It has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H CPU, giving you more than enough power to play the newest AAA games. Only 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD are included in the standard configuration, but you may increase these components on your own later if you require additional memory and storage. Buttery smooth action is provided by the default 120Hz refresh rate, and the 1080p screen’s anti-glare coating enhances viewing angles by reducing reflections from overhead lights. You have access to lightning-fast wireless internet rates with Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, giving you the advantage you need to win action-packed online games. Additionally, the G15’s 10-hour battery life enables you to utilize it as a workstation throughout the day or to play games all night.

Pros

Great battery life
Wi-Fi 6
User upgradeable
Alienware Command Center

Cons

No USB-C charging/display output
Heavy
Only supports up to 32GB RAM

HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop

The best budget gaming laptop for battery life

If you don’t mind using an outdated GPU, this AMD-based gaming laptop is a great investment and the epitome of “budget-friendly.” Even if the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card isn’t the most advanced or doesn’t meet performance standards set by a more potent video card, it can nevertheless run nearly any Triple-A game without issue. One of the best battery lives you’ll find on a gaming laptop is 9 hours, allowing you to play all day without worrying about finding a nearby power outlet. The main limitation is that the laptop only supports up to 16GB of RAM if you decide to increase it later. This is more than enough for most games, but you’ll need more RAM if you want to utilize the laptop for tasks like 3D modeling and rendering.

Pros:

Excellent battery
Great price, even at higher configurations

Cons:

Only supports up to 16GB RAM
Wi-Fi 6 costs extra
Lackluster refresh rate

Acer Nitro 5

The best budget gaming laptop for beginners

The Acer Nitro 5 model features some welcome enhancements over earlier editions of the Nitro 5, which used Intel Core i5 CPUs. You’ll be able to play all but the most graphically demanding games with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card and an 11th-generation Intel Core i7 processor. You can access the internet more quickly thanks to Wi-Fi 6 connection, and DTS:X audio produces richer, more immersive audio without the use of headphones. With dual cooling fans and four vents, it also has better heat dissipation than prior versions, which keeps your laptop running at its best temperatures for a longer period of time. With an 8-hour battery life, you can play your favorite games all night long without worrying about plugging anything in.

Pros:

Decent battery life
DTS:X audio
Wi-Fi 6
144-Hz display
User upgradeable

Cons:

Heavy
Only supports up to 32GB RAM
Only supports Crucial brand components

HP Omen

The best budget gaming laptop for customization

The HP Omen basic model is one of the most affordable gaming laptops available right now, and if you’re okay with an outdated GTX 1650 GPU, it’s a good machine. You may, however, upgrade to an RTX 3050 Ti and still spend less than $1050. You may select from a variety of other reasonably priced upgrades, such as 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, or you can update the laptop yourself, later on, to take advantage of discounted parts. This laptop has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for faster internet speeds and more reliable wireless peripheral connections, such as headsets and mice, so you won’t have to worry about losing team communication in the middle of a game or your mouse disconnecting at a crucial time. You may play till late at night thanks to the battery’s up to 9 hours of use on a full charge.

Pros