What separates a true gaming laptop from the rest? It starts with a dedicated graphics processing unit (GPU), the laptop equivalent of a desktop graphics card. That requirement sets a floor on pricing: current-generation gaming laptops rarely dip below $800. Still, not everyone needs a maxed-out rig built for enthusiasts. Today’s market offers more capable, reasonably priced options than ever before. We've been testing gaming laptops for decades, evaluating them for performance, usability, and value, separating the deals from the duds through our rigorous, repeatable tests in productivity and gaming benchmarks. Our current top budget-friendly gaming laptop pick is the MSI Katana 15 HX, but we've gathered more options for various priorities and budgets. Below our recommendations, check out our comprehensive buying guide for everything you need to know to get the best machine for your money.
Overview
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![MSI Katana 15 HX]()
Best Budget Gaming Laptop for Most BuyersMSI Katana 15 HX
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![Acer Nitro V 16 AI]()
Best Big-Screen Budget Gaming LaptopAcer Nitro V 16 AI
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![HP Victus 15 (2025)]()
Best Budget Gaming Laptop for ConfigurabilityHP Victus 15 (2025)
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![Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-41-R2Y3)]()
Best Gaming Laptop for the Very Tightest BudgetsAcer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-41-R2Y3)
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![Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2025)]()
Best Gaming ChromebookAcer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2025)
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![MSI Katana 15 HX]()
Best Budget Gaming Laptop for Most BuyersMSI Katana 15 HX
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Staying as close to the $1,000 mark as possible is a badge of honor for budget gaming laptops in this increasingly expensive market, and the Katana earns that award admirably. Its Intel Core i7-14650HX processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 reach new heights in gaming performance for this type of laptop, and DLSS 4 image enhancement tools will take you the rest of the way in demanding games that support it. It's not a blazing-fast enthusiast machine, by any means, but it can more than comfortably power mainstream 60fps-plus gaming experiences across a range of titles.
Who It's For
Mainstream gamers: The MSI Katana 15 HX is the ideal affordable gaming laptop for most buyers. If you just want to load up some of the most popular games available and get playing, the Katana is a fine fit. Just find a graphics preset that runs smoothly to get into modern PC gaming for as little as possible.
Gamers in college: This Katana budget laptop is also a good fit if you're a college student who plays PC games. It can run any new PC games smoothly with the help of DLSS, powering your PC gaming hobby, and it's fast enough to handle the processing required for schoolwork and multitasking, making it up to the rigors of a college workload.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches Graphics Memory 8 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i7-14650HX RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 144 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 8:11 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 5.29 Wireless Networking Bluetooth Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More MSI Katana 15 HX Review -
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Credit: Joseph Maldonado
![Acer Nitro V 16 AI]()
Best Big-Screen Budget Gaming LaptopAcer Nitro V 16 AI
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Acer has lorded over the land of budget gaming laptops for a long time, and now the affordable Acer empire expands to 16 inches with its latest Nitro V system. This laptop delivers steady, smooth 1200p gaming performance for as low as $750 on sale, making it the most affordable big-screen gamer we’ve tested recently. The Nitro earns its spot on this list thanks to a speedy-refresh panel that its entry-grade GPU can keep pace with, supported by impressive battery life and a keyboard you can truly play on.
Who It's For
Budget gamers who want a big screen: This is the best gaming laptop right now if you want a larger display for as little cash as possible. If you can’t muster more than $900 for a roomy 16-inch screen, and you would love to spend even less, then the Nitro V is the gaming laptop to pick.
First-time PC gamers: This laptop is a fine choice if you're just getting into PC gaming or as a child's first gaming laptop. The Nitro’s bargain-basement price lets you lay down minimal cash while providing a steady, reliable basic PC gaming experience.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 0.96 by 14.2 by 10.9 inches Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1200 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor AMD Ryzen 5 240 RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 180 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 12:07 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 5.38 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6 Learn More Acer Nitro V 16 AI Review -
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![HP Victus 15 (2025)]()
Best Budget Gaming Laptop for ConfigurabilityHP Victus 15 (2025)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The HP Victus 15 is a great gaming laptop that starts well below $1,000, but we like that you can choose your own adventure with a wide range of configurations. It's an excellent choice if you want to keep the price low or tack on extra features at additional cost. Our test model was modestly upgraded to an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, 16GB of memory, a 1TB SSD, and an RTX 4050 GPU, resulting in a reasonably capable entry-level gaming system. It presents long battery life and high build quality for the price.
Who It's For
Money-strapped gamers: The HP Victus 15 is among the best cheap gaming laptops for PC gamers on a very tight budget. Gaming is an expensive hobby in general, so the Victus allows you to spend as little as possible on a gaming laptop without resorting to a Chromebook. The low starting price is key, as it gets you through the door with a gaming-ready system that's cheaper than almost any other we've reviewed recently.
PC gamers who love options: With a variety of Victus 15 systems to pick from, this HP laptop is a top pick if you're looking for an affordable, customizable gaming laptop. HP's website sells a variety of Victus 15 systems, including a few models tailored for configuration fiends. You can select from a variety of processors and other specifications to create a model that suits your needs and budget, ideal if you require more power than the base model provides.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 0.93 by 14.1 by 10 inches Graphics Memory 6 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 144 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 12:13 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 5.06 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More HP Victus 15 (2025) Review -
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![Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-41-R2Y3)]()
Best Gaming Laptop for the Very Tightest BudgetsAcer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-41-R2Y3)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
This Acer Nitro V 15 loadout is no market dominator but rather the cheapest 1080p gaming laptop we could find while supplies still last. If you're looking to spend as little as possible on a gaming laptop, this is the one to grab before they run out. The rig comes with lots of ports, a long-lasting battery for a laptop of its class, and still-potent-enough components to game at 1080p with mid-level detail settings. It also has just enough SSD space for a rotating library of large PC games or lots of smaller retro or casual games. However, laptops with this generation of hardware inside are no longer being newly manufactured, so grab one soon if you want a chance at the savings.
Who It's For
PC gamers highly focused on price: This is the gaming laptop to buy if all you care about is saving as much money as possible. It's available at a little lower price than our other tight-budget pick, possibly for a limited time. Before the memory and storage shortage really sends gaming-laptop prices soaring, grabbing a model like this Acer Nitro V 15 right about now-ish might be a smart idea.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 Boot Drive Type Hard Drive Class Budget Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 1.08 by 14.28 by 9.45 inches Graphics Memory 6 Graphics Processor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU Native Display Resolution 1920 by 1080 Operating System Windows 11 Home Panel Technology IPS Processor AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS RAM (as Tested) 16 Screen Refresh Rate 144 Screen Size 15.6 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 9:48 Variable Refresh Support None Weight 4.6 Wireless Networking 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Learn More Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-41-R2Y3) Review -
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![Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2025)]()
Best Gaming ChromebookAcer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2025)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The second iteration of Acer's gaming edition Chromebook, the 2025 Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is built for cloud game streaming. It's stuffed full of gamer-friendly features, like a new CPU for boosted performance, a high-resolution IPS screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, Wi-Fi 6E and Ethernet support for smooth streaming, and an RGB keyboard with anti-ghosting for fast-paced input. But it's also a high-quality Chromebook overall, with excellent productivity performance and AI-enhanced features under the Chromebook Plus brand. Plus, at its list price, it's the most affordable gaming machine you'll find, so long as you're OK without a proper GPU.
Who It's For
Streaming-focused gamers: This deluxe laptop is built for existing Chromebook fans who want to game or gamers who want to ditch the bulky laptop or desktop for an affordable, portable Chromebook. The design balances portability, productivity, and gaming with a cost-conscious price but still includes RGB eye candy.
ChromeOS hounds looking for some laptop-chassis bling: Most Chromebooks are sober productivity machines, but the Chromebook Plus 516 GE features a few gamer-signal design elements, such as RGB key backlighting and a highlighted WASD key cluster.
Specs & Configurations
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 256 Boot Drive Type SSD Class Chromebook Class Gaming Dimensions (HWD) 0.84 by 14.0 by 9.8 inches Graphics Processor Intel Graphics Native Display Resolution 2560 by 1600 Operating System Chrome OS Panel Technology IPS Processor Intel Core i5-120U RAM (as Tested) 8 Screen Refresh Rate 120 Screen Size 16 Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) 9:16 Variable Refresh Support Yes Weight 3.75 Wireless Networking Bluetooth 5.2 Wireless Networking Wi-Fi 6E Learn More Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2025) Review -
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Best For | Best Budget Gaming Laptop for Most Buyers | Best Big-Screen Budget Gaming Laptop | Best Budget Gaming Laptop for Configurability | Best Gaming Laptop for the Very Tightest Budgets | Best Gaming Chromebook | Best Budget Gaming Laptop for Most Buyers | Best Big-Screen Budget Gaming Laptop | Best Budget Gaming Laptop for Configurability |
Class | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming, Budget | Chromebook, Gaming | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming |
Processor | Intel Core i7-14650HX | AMD Ryzen 5 240 | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS | AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | Intel Core i5-120U | Intel Core i7-14650HX | AMD Ryzen 5 240 | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS |
Processor Speed | ||||||||
RAM (as Tested) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Boot Drive Type | SSD | SSD | SSD | Hard Drive | SSD | SSD | SSD | SSD |
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 | 512 | 1 | 512 | 256 | 512 | 512 | 1 |
Secondary Drive Type | ||||||||
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | ||||||||
Optical Drive | ||||||||
Screen Size | 15.6 | 16 | 15.6 | 15.6 | 16 | 15.6 | 16 | 15.6 |
Native Display Resolution | 1920 by 1080 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1080 | 1920 by 1080 | 2560 by 1600 | 1920 by 1080 | 1920 by 1200 | 1920 by 1080 |
Touch Screen | ||||||||
Panel Technology | IPS | IPS | IPS | IPS | IPS | IPS | IPS | IPS |
Variable Refresh Support | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | |
Screen Refresh Rate | 144 | 180 | 144 | 144 | 120 | 144 | 180 | 144 |
Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU | Intel Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU |
Graphics Memory | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | |||
Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Dimensions (HWD) | 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches | 0.96 by 14.2 by 10.9 inches | 0.93 by 14.1 by 10 inches | 1.08 by 14.28 by 9.45 inches | 0.84 by 14.0 by 9.8 inches | 1 by 14.1 by 10.3 inches | 0.96 by 14.2 by 10.9 inches | 0.93 by 14.1 by 10 inches |
Weight | 5.29 | 5.38 | 5.06 | 4.6 | 3.75 | 5.29 | 5.38 | 5.06 |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Chrome OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 8:11 | 12:07 | 12:13 | 9:48 | 9:16 | 8:11 | 12:07 | 12:13 |
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap Gaming Laptops for 2026
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: Joseph Maldonado)High-end future-proofing like that demands top-end graphics silicon: Nvidia's GeForce RTX 40 series defined most gaming laptops for the last few years, and the RTX 50 series (which launched in 2025) has taken over. Getting one of the top-end RTX GPUs (like the RTX 4080, 5080, or 5090) still means big spending, though. At current prices, they are well outside the budget range, with most models containing them selling for much 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 steady gaming at 1080p in machines a notch or two down from the GeForce RTX elite.
Lower-end RTX 40-series GPUs, like the GeForce RTX 4050 and 4060, were the most common budget GPUs over the last few years. You may still see these in the least expensive systems (or older laptops with stock remaining, but the RTX 50 series has largely supplanted them.
The lower-end RTX 50-series GPUs (such as the RTX 5070, RTX 5060, and RTX 5050) landed after their high-end siblings; the RTX 5050 and 5060 are the most commonly sold GPUs in new budget systems. Pricing fluctuates, but the cheaper of these machines are available for less than $1,000, while others approach $1,600 (depending on the retailer and any sales). We consider entry-level pricing to top out around $1,300, so some of those systems fall outside the scope of our cheap gaming laptop picks. A $1,600 laptop with an RTX 5060 may differ from a $1,300 RTX 5060 laptop because it also includes a fancy screen, a ton of storage, or other extras.
Budget-priced gaming laptops are now a well-established category, not outliers, with investment from all the major players. We've tested models from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, and a few others. We're always testing new gaming laptops.
Here's how to make sense of their components—and get the most for your money.
Cheap Gaming Laptops: What to Look For, Component by Component
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 or a Core i5 processor instead of a Core i7.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Remember, most notebooks aren't upgradable except for their primary system memory (RAM, not to be confused with graphics memory) and, in some cases, storage. You will be stuck with the screen, graphics chip, and processor you buy now, so evaluate these components wisely. Stretching your budget for the next tier up can pay dividends in usable laptop lifespan.
Which CPU Should You Get in a Cheap Gaming Laptop?
Some of today's games, especially in the strategy and simulation categories, tend to put a heavy load on the processor. That said, a maxed-out Core i7 or Core i9 CPU is less crucial for gaming than for processor-intensive tasks, such as video editing and media production. This is because you'll get plenty of gaming pep even from Core i5 CPUs. Intel launched its 13th Gen chips in 2023, and as expected, they increased both power and efficiency. The 14th Gen followed shortly after. While 14th Gen's quick HX processors pop up often in higher-end machines, the occasional entry-level system, such as the MSI Katana 15 HX, also runs these chips.
Adding to the complexity, Intel also sells chips under its newer brand, Core Ultra, with dedicated AI processing core clusters called neural processing units (NPUs). The first two generations of these chips, "Meteor Lake" and "Lunar Lake," have not been widely available in budget gaming laptops, though their performance is decent. "Arrow Lake" chips (Core Ultra 200 series processors) launched in 2025 and are a bit more prevalent in gaming systems, as they focus on performance.
Most recently, Intel launched its Core Ultra 300 "Panther Lake" processors, which prioritize onboard graphics tiles for superior integrated performance. Gaming systems are less likely to opt for these processors and run a discrete GPU instead, and they're even less likely to appear in cheap systems. See our first tests of this platform for more information.
In any recent generation, a Core i7 or Ultra 7 is a highly efficient processor that, while beneficial and offering a marked performance difference, may be overkill for casual gamers on a tight budget. A modern midrange chip will likely serve you just fine in a budget gaming laptop. If you can afford the upper end of entry level, you'll appreciate the extra speed of 7-tier, including for workloads beyond gaming.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Meanwhile, things are looking up on the AMD side of the fence. Previously, AMD CPUs and GPUs were rare in midrange and high-end laptops, but they were ideal fits for budget laptops (because the components were 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 and newer Ryzen 8000 models; some have made their way down to the budget tier. AMD also sells its own NPU-bearing Ryzen AI chips (the first series being the Ryzen AI 300, with Ryzen AI 400 expected in 2026), but the adoption story for gaming is inconsistent at best. These are generally found only in more expensive laptops, so Ryzen is less relevant for cheap gaming systems. We do see more laptops equipped with AMD's Ryzen 5 or 7 mobile CPUs than ever, but Intel remains the more common choice overall in gaming laptops.
How Much Memory Is Enough for Gaming?
Given an around-$1,000 budget, 8GB is the absolute minimum memory you should settle for. Some sub-$1,000 machines with dedicated graphics won't have any more than that, but 8GB will suffice for some moderate gaming use. However, even most budget gaming systems have transitioned to 16GB as a baseline; it used to be the "nice to have" amount of RAM, but some games now even require 16GB.
Given the choice, you should opt for 16GB over 8GB if the cost difference isn't much. That may be easier said than done, however. The ongoing memory shortage due to AI infrastructure investment has greatly increased RAM prices, meaning that a bump to 16GB will likely be more costly than it was in the recent past. We still recommend it (perhaps over some other upgrades if necessary) since it will help your performance across the board.
Further facets to investigate include whether the laptop's RAM is user-upgradable later and what the memory ceiling is. Regardless, 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 up front. Also, check out our guide for how much memory different types of PCs really need.
What About Storage?
Even in the budget tier, laptops now default to solid-state drives (SSDs) rather than hard drives (HDDs). We used to see a combination of a smaller SSD (to serve as a boot drive with Windows and essential programs or games) and a larger traditional HDD (to host the bulk of your library), but we stopped seeing traditional hard drives in systems some years ago.
Now, any dual-drive combination is almost certainly twin SSDs. Small and midsize laptops will opt for just one SSD, while a few larger systems may run two or more drives, if you can afford it. (Note that most budget gaming laptops under a grand will be 15.6-inchers or 16-inchers.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)You'll need as much storage as possible, given how large modern game installations have become, often ballooning to more than 100GB. Even more modest titles will run in the 20GB to 30GB range, while the average AAA blockbuster is often 60GB or more. Your small SSD will fill up quickly, so 512GB is the bare minimum you should aim for in a gaming laptop's boot drive, and 1TB is much better.
The good news about the near-universal switch to SSDs? Your storage subsystem impacts game load times and in-game level changes, and SSDs deliver much faster load times compared with hard drives. Not all SSDs are created equal (some have significantly faster read and write speeds than others), but on average, even budget gaming laptops now have much quicker drives than in the past. That can be particularly important in open-world games, where huge environments load in real time, or in multiplayer games where you're frequently loading into different lobbies. (See our picks for the fastest SSDs.)
Optical drives are extinct on new gaming laptops across all screen sizes these days. If you have legacy games on disc you just can't quit, 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 Do You Need for Gaming?
You should consider four key specifications when evaluating a gaming laptop's display panel: screen size, native resolution, refresh rate, and panel type.
As noted earlier, a screen size of 15.6 or 16 inches is the general rule for most gaming laptops, costing 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. Models with this screen size aren't as portable, though (many weigh 5 pounds or more), and the lightest ones tend to be far from the cheapest.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)A 15-inch or 16-inch gamer still won't be ideal for daily travel, but most are a lot more manageable than their even larger kin. Also, today's standard gaming rigs are better suited for true mobile use—that is, off an AC power plug—than those of past years. Some devices achieve six or more hours of battery life, albeit in everyday productivity use or playing back video; gaming will significantly reduce that number. (See our picks for the laptops with the best battery life.)
As for the screen's native resolution, 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (1080p) is the norm in budget-priced and mainstream gaming machines. The more pixels you need to push, the more graphics power required, and a savvy maker of gaming laptops won't outfit a laptop with a screen whose native resolution the GPU can't handle effectively. So, the scarcity of higher-than-HD screens in budget gaming machines is no accident. Not only do such screens cost more and drain more battery life, but the graphics chips found in sub-$1,000 gaming rigs also don't power gameplay very well.
Display Details: Refresh Rate and Panel Type
As with the native resolution, you should note the panel's refresh rate. If a laptop advertises its refresh rate (measured in hertz, or Hz) as a feature, it's likely higher than the baseline 60Hz. Most ordinary laptop screens are limited to 60Hz, which means they redraw the on-screen image 60 times per second and display up to 60 frames per second (fps) of in-game performance. (In other words, if your graphics chip can produce 90fps in a game, you'll see only 60 frames.)
Most new gaming notebook screens can display at 120Hz or higher refresh rates. This feature was initially available only in high-end gaming laptops, but it's now standard even in budget models. All of our picks offer at least 120Hz, and some go up 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, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Marvel Rivals.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Still, a fast screen isn't strictly necessary unless you're attempting to become a professional gamer or get ranked globally in a particular popular title. 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 are playing on a non-gaming laptop. Still, with high-refresh panels now the norm even in budget gaming machines, the lack of one indicates an older model to avoid.
Another spec to watch for is panel type. If possible, opt for an in-plane switching (IPS) panel, as they generally provide the best off-center viewing angles and color reproduction. Some gamers are content with cheaper twisted nematic (TN) panels, which force you to 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 are not aware 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's 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 is the king of the castle; you will find these in most new gaming laptops.
In 2023, the laptop versions of the GeForce RTX 40-series desktop GPUs debuted, initially in the high-end market. With few exceptions, though, it's the newer RTX 50 series you'll find in most of our picks here.
While you may find older (or really cheap) systems with the RTX 4050 GPU or RTX 4060 in stock, new budget gaming laptops focus on the RTX 5050 and RTX 5060. Depending on the builds and configurations, you can expect laptops with these GPUs to range from $900 (for cheaper RTX 5050 laptops) to $1,600 (for nicer RTX 5060 laptops). Ideally, you'll pay closer to $1,300 for an RTX 5060 system, and anything above that comes with an RTX 5070 (which straddles the midrange price point below the RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090).
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)So, what can you expect from these GPUs? The RTX 4050 and RTX 5050 laptops vary from one to the next, but we've generally found them to be capable 60fps-plus performers 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 them such a fitting pick for this category. For an RTX 4050, you will very likely have to turn a few visual details off (or lower the presets from maximum to high or medium, depending on the game). The RTX 5050 is better at reliably achieving smooth frame rates, and Nvidia's DLSS technology (more on that in a moment) can help run more demanding games.
If you can snag a budget laptop based on an RTX 4060 or RTX 5060 in this range, expect a marked step up from the xx50 tier. This GPU class consistently exceeds 60fps in most games and can maintain that level even in demanding AAA titles. 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 price similar to others, it's worth making it your priority.
With the new generations of GPUs, we have two more crucial topics to discuss: ray tracing and DLSS. The "R" in "RTX" stands for ray tracing, an advanced lighting technique that only Nvidia GPUs with the RTX moniker (and the very latest AMD Radeon RX mobile GPUs) have the hardware to perform. The GPUs at the top of the hierarchy (chiefly the RTX 4080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090) are superior at handling this demanding work, but any RTX machine is technically capable.
The same applies to DLSS, an Nvidia visual feature that helps alleviate the graphics burden at higher resolutions. Having support for it on budget laptops at all is an impressive feat and shows how this category is healthier than ever in terms of performance. With the RTX 50 series GPUs, Nvidia's main focus was doubling down on DLSS effectiveness and AI efficiency rather than raw power improvements, launching DLSS 4 alongside the new GPUs. Since then, Nvidia updated the technology again with the even more effective DLSS 4.5.
This new DLSS technology is significantly more capable of boosting frame rates, particularly with its Multi-Frame Generation feature, which can insert more artificially generated frames alongside rendered frames than ever, thereby greatly enhancing frame rates. While you may notice some visual downsides, and enthusiasts may look down their noses at "artificial" frames, it's a boon for budget gamers, who can turn on fancy settings or run games at high frame rates with less powerful hardware. This makes even an entry-level GPU like the RTX 5050 a smooth performer in cutting-edge titles, and it is significantly more capable than the RTX 4050.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Naturally, Nvidia's full-size RTX desktop graphics cards have such a high performance potential that the mobile versions of the same name can't hope to keep up, given the space and thermal discrepancies. (See our examination Laptop versus Desktop GeForce RTX 4090: How Much Do Nvidia's Top GPUs Differ in Performance?) Additionally, manufacturers can implement a given laptop GPU at different peak wattages to suit a specific laptop's design and thermal requirements, often resulting in differing real-world performance across models with the same 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. We've found the listed TGP makes a big difference in end performance. If you want to learn more, you can read about these complicated performance nuances. However, reading independent reviews with individual performance testing for laptops is more critical 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 processors are gaining ground against Intel. Some laptops offer AMD CPUs paired with Nvidia GPUs, and you'll occasionally find a few among our picks. AMD released its Radeon RX 7000 series in early 2023, but it didn't feature in many models, and no successors have arrived since. Intel has made some modest strides with its discrete Arc GPUs on desktops, but they are not a significant factor in the gaming laptop market. It's almost entirely Nvidia's game.
Don't Forget the Keyboard: Lighting and Layouts
One of the typical features that sets a gaming laptop apart is a colorful, backlit keyboard. These vary significantly from model to model, with more elaborate backlighting often accompanied by higher prices and a higher overall level of other components.
Most budget gaming laptops use single-color backlighting (often red or white) to decrease costs. 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 typically reserved for high-end machines only.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)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 or 16-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, and some won't. (A 17-inch laptop almost invariably will, however.)
Ready to Buy the Best Cheap Gaming Laptop?
Throughout this article, we've outlined the top-rated models to investigate. As mentioned, some configurations sent to us for testing exceeded $1,000; this is virtually unavoidable given today's market conditions. Some remain under that mark, while others rise above or fall below it depending on availability, deals, and 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 achieve the same level of performance we did if key components don't match to keep the price below $1,000. Regardless, 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 multiple versions of the same laptop with varying specifications (e.g., more storage in one configuration, 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? Check out our picks for the best gaming mice and headsets, as well as our picks for the best gaming laptops overall, price aside.