It's easy to look at the best gaming laptops and think you'll never be able to afford them. After all, some top-end specs (like a 4K display) can easily cost upwards of $4,000 these days. However, you can get a solid portable PC gaming system without shelling out thousands of dollars; you just need to know what to look for. While there are so many sub-$1,000 laptops out there that are labeled as "gaming" laptops, those are a minefield of shoddy manufacturing, old specs, and used gaming laptops.
TL; DR – These Are the Best Budget Gaming Laptops:
I picked out gaming laptops that can actually play games, starting at $2,000 and working my way down, focusing on devices that are more affordable than top-end laptops but still deliver a premium PC gaming experience. Just keep in mind there are a few things you're probably not going to be able to find in a budget gaming laptop.
Premium display technologies like OLED and Mini-LED are probably the first thing to go out the window with a lower price tag. When you buy a gaming laptop from a manufacturer's website, downgrading to a 1080p display is the fastest way to shave some cash off the price of entry. And let's be real here: You really don't need a 4K display on a gaming laptop, even if you're shelling out for one of Nvidia or AMD's latest GPUs. Opting for 1440p will save you money without sacrificing much noticeable detail at all.
Speaking of, keep in mind that just because a budget gaming laptop has a GPU with the same name as a desktop graphics card, you're not going to get the same level of performance. Mobile GPUs consume a lot less power just by virtue of needing to operate on battery power, and thus typically deliver much less performance. So, while an RTX 4070 Super can deliver solid 1440p gaming performance in a gaming PC, you're going to want to limit yourself to 1080p gaming with the laptop version – trust me.
Additional contributions by Georgie Peru, Danielle Abraham, and Jacqueline Thomas
1. MSI Crosshair 16 (2025)
Best Budget Gaming Laptop
Product Specifications
Display
16" (1920 x 1200) 165Hz
CPU
Intel Core i7-14650HX
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
RAM
16GB DDR5 5,600MHz
Storage
1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
Weight
5.51 pounds
Dimensions
14.13″ x 10.49″ x 1.1″
PROS
RTX 4070 GPU
14th Gen Intel processor
Plenty of memory and storage
Excellent value
CONS
A bit bulky
While $1,400 might stretch the definition of "budget," I think you'll agree that the MSI Crosshair 16 HX is a fantastic value for what you're getting. It's designed to offer outstanding performance, great battery life, and overall impressive specs, making its asking price quite reasonable for what you're getting.
Truth be told, I was surprised to find that MSI priced this laptop so affordably for what it's packing. It comes with a 14th Gen Intel processor, complete with 16 cores and 24 threads for killer multitasking performance. It also features a top clock speed of 5.2GHz, which directly translates to more frames per second.
This goes hand in hand with its RTX 4070 GPU. In conjunction with its FHD screen, this graphics card and processor combo is custom tailored to keep your frame rate in the triple digits (at least in many games). The RTX 4070 is designed to offer great performance in the mid-range and is often found in gaming laptops with higher resolution screens; 1200p still looks great here and is easier to run, allowing the RTX 4070 to shine.
And don't forget: Because it's running an RTX 40-series GPU, it can also leverage DLSS and frame generation to push performance even further. While multi-frame generation is limited to the RTX 50-series, you aren't likely to need it here with how well-matched its hardware is.
Its potent component combo doesn't end there. MSI has also equipped it with 16GB of fast DDR5 memory and a 1TB NVMe SSD. This system offers snappy performance even while multitasking and is even up to the task of streaming if you dream of becoming the next Twitch all star. On top of all that, it also comes with a 90Wh battery to keep you up and running all day long (though for the best gaming performance, you should still plan on plugging in like any other gaming laptop).
The trade-off here is weight. Coming in at 5.51lbs, the Crosshair 16 HX isn't light and is also fairly bulky at 1.1 inches thick. In other words, it hews much closer to a traditional gaming laptop than the thin and light designs that have been in vogue lately. Still, in virtually every other way, it blows the competition out of the water and well earns its $1,400 price point.
2. Lenovo LOQ 15 AMD Gen 10
Best Gaming Laptop Under $1,500
Product Specifications
Display
15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 250
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060
RAM
32GB DDR5 5,600MHz
Storage
512GB NVMe PCIe SSD
Weight
5.1 pounds
Dimensions
4.2" x 10.2" x 0.9"
PROS
RTX 5060 performance and RTX 50-Series features
High refresh rate display
Fair size and weight
Solid value overall
CONS
Mediocre battery life
Limited screen brightness
If your budget can stretch to the $1,500 range, the Lenovo LOQ 15 AMD Gen 10 is ready to offer impressive gaming performance on a budget with a handful of smart trade-offs. But make no mistake, what this laptop has to offer makes it well worth your consideration.
This laptop, oddly named though it may be, demonstrates that Lenovo knows what matters most to gamers on mid-sized budgets. It offers a high refresh rate 1080p screen that can reach up to 144Hz, an GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, and 32GB of memory. Stretching your budget to about $1,510 (as of this writing) will also allow you expand to a full terabyte of storage, but both of these can be upgraded down the line if you prefer to keep the price close to $1,300.
And the truth is, for most gamers, you really don’t need to invest in those expanded capacities up front if you’re comfortable opening up the chassis and adding your own. The processor and graphics card are perfect partners for a smooth gaming experience at 1080p. Its AMD Ryzen 7 250 is roughly equivalent to the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U, which was one of the CPUs of choice in gaming laptops over the last couple years. Partnered with the RTX 5060 and its suite of performance enhancing features (DLSS and Multi Frame Generation), this is a system that will let you dial up settings without seeing your frame rate crater… within reason, of course.
So, what are the trade-offs? Brightness and battery life. The screen can reach 300 nits of peak brightness, which might be fine for indoors but you might struggle if you’re gaming outdoors or in direct sunlight. The battery is also a paltry 60 watt hours. For productivity, our reviewer, Jon Martindale, found that a full workday was a stretch (read the full review here). For gaming, you’ll want to plug in. Performance isn’t great without it and drains the battery much more quickly.
Since you’ll probably be using this system plugged in for gaming, its limited battery life is less of a concern and feels like a fair trade off. What you get in return is well worth the it. The Lenovo LOQ 15 is great value that demands a closer look if its values align with your own.
3. Acer Nitro V ANV16 (2025)
Best Gaming Laptop Under $1,000
Product Specifications
Display
16" (1,920 x 1,200), 165Hz
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
16GB DDR5 3,200MHz
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
Weight
5.51 pounds
PROS
Well-priced
Very capable for gaming and use as a daily driver
Full-size RGB keyboard
CONS
Limited port selection
Disappointing battery life
Making its debut this year, the laptop to beat under $1,000 is the Acer Nitro V ANV16-41-R5K2. This laptop features a stellar CPU and GPU combination to deliver great gaming performance on its high refresh rate 1200p display. There are some sacrifices with this one, but its gaming performance definitely makes up for its limitations.
Here's the thing: This is the laptop you choose if performance is your top priority and you're on a tight budget. It packs an 8-core Ryzen 8845HS processor, fully capable of driving the latest games to the full potential of its RTX 4060 graphics card. It's not common to see such a combination at this price, but between the two, you can count on running most games at high settings on its FHD screen.
On top of this, it also has 16GB of fast DDR5 memory to ensure you can run multiple apps at a time with snappy performance and won't find yourself bottlenecked even in the most demanding games this year. Acer was generous with storage too, outfitting this laptop with a 1TB NVMe SSD so you can install multiple games and enjoy speedy loading times.
But here's how Acer pulled this combo off: It pared back on its port selection, offering only two USB-A ports and a single USB Type-C around the back. Thankfully, it follows the USB 4 protocol for power delivery and video, so you can swap its bulky charger with a smaller GaN charger and matching USB cable.
And you will definitely need that chargers. This laptop only comes with a 59Wh battery. Acer rates it at only offering 7 hours of uptime, which seems optimistic from my experience with this hardware. If you plan on gaming over battery, it will almost certainly run dry in less than a single hour.
So you'll need to carry the charger with you, but in exchange, you can count on much better frame rates on its 165Hz screen and better graphics in the process. If you don't mind carrying the charging brick, this laptop is a killer pick for the price.
4. Steam Deck OLED
Best Gaming Laptop Around $500
Product Specifications
Display
7.4" (1280 x 800), 90Hz, OLED
CPU
AMD Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz
GPU
AMD 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6GHz
RAM
16 GB LPDDR5
Storage
512GB NVMe SSD, 1TB NVMe SSD
Weight
1.41 pounds
Dimensions
11.7″ x 4.6″ x 1.9″
PROS
Extremely portable
Easy to set up and use
Beautiful OLED screen makes games look better than ever
CONS
Not all games are compatible by default
I know, I know: The Steam Deck OLED, which we reviewed a 9/10, isn't actually a laptop. But for just north of $500, it's still one of the best ways to get into PC gaming on the go. The OLED version brings a massively upgraded screen to the Steam Deck, making games look better than ever, even without turning on ultra settings.
The Steam Deck OLED isn't about sheer power. Its been out for a while and isn't running the latest hardware, but when it comes to value, it's hard to beat. Because it's so popular, it has a wide library of games that run well on it. Some games like Cyberpunk 2077 even have dedicated graphics modes specific to the Steam Deck. Valve also helps with this process with its own compatibility rating that you'll find on the product page of most games available on the Steam store. With a click, you can easily tell how well a game should be expected to run and any potential issues that you may encounter.
Because the Steam Deck OLED runs on SteamOS, you can count on a clean user experience that's designed specifically for the Steam Deck. It feels much more unified and intuitive than most competing PC handhelds, which run Windows and emulate a mouse cursor to navigate. This does mean that not every game is compatible, which is something worth considering before committing to a purchase. Hundreds upon hundreds of games are, however, and that list is growing all the time.
If you're looking to play the latest games at high settings, this probably isn't the choice for you, but then that would be the case for any gaming laptop around this price point. If you're willing to spend a bit more, the ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go are excellent alternatives with newer, faster hardware. Neither offer the Steam Deck's beautiful OLED screen, however.
5. Gigabyte G6X
Best Gaming Laptop with 32GB of RAM
Product Specifications
Display
16” FHD (1,920 x 1,080) 165Hz
CPU
Intel Core i7-13650HX
GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
32GB DDR5
Storage
2TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
Weight
5.64 pounds
Dimensions
14.21″ x 10.19″ x 0.98 ~1.13″
PROS
Lots of memory and storage
Large, fast screen
CONS
Heavy to carry
Low brightness
If you're looking for lots of memory and storage on a budget, look no further than the Gigabyte G6X. When I reviewed this laptop, I remarked that it wasn't the thinnest or lightest but that it offered plenty of RAM and storage space and pretty great gaming performance at a reasonable cost. If you don't mind that bit of extra weight – a common theme among budget gaming laptops – this is a portable gaming PC that won't force you to upgrade because you’re multitasking too much or too hard, or downloading too many games.
With 32GB of system memory, it offers more than most gaming laptops around this price. You'll be able to play games with the browser open in the background or stream without the system becoming sluggish in the process. A 2TB SSD means that you can download twice as many games before you need to pick and choose compared to most of the competition in this budget range. It also comes with a slightly larger 16-inch screen that runs at 165Hz for smooth gameplay with less motion blur.
All of those features do come at a cost, however. It's not exactly ligh,t coming in at 5.64lbs, and is on the thicker side at 1.13 inches toward the hinge. Screen brightness also leaves something to be desired, topping out at 250 nits, which makes gaming in direct sunlight out of the question. For indoor use, its combination of specs is hard to beat without paying substantially more, which makes it a solid recommendation.
Budget Gaming Laptop FAQ
What makes a great budget gaming laptop?
A great budget gaming laptop has to offer the right components at the right price. If you’re searching for an affordable gaming laptop, chances are you’re not going to be getting a machine with the latest CPU and graphics card. However, you might find something close enough that means you can play the latest games without spending a minor fortune.
Many people tend to opt for gaming laptops over gaming PCs because laptops generally take up less space, are more portable, and can be more affordable. For this reason, it’s important to take into account the weight and size of the laptop you’re prepared to lug around.
Ultimately, it’s about finding the balance. Spend a little more and you could quite easily move from playing games on medium settings to max settings by stretching your budget just tad. If you’re not interested in the latest AAA titles, then you can save well-earned dollars and choose a laptop with DDR4 RAM instead of DDR5 RAM, for example.
Are budget gaming laptops worth it?
It depends on what you want to use your budget gaming laptop for. If you want to play casual games on the go and use a laptop for productivity, then you can easily pick up an entry-level gaming laptop. For more demanding games, you’ll need to spend a bit more. The difference between an entry-level gaming laptop and a great gaming laptop could be a generation jump in CPU, faster and better RAM, and of course, a dedicated GPU that can handle what you throw at it.
Should you buy a PC handheld instead?
That’s really a personal preference, but when comparing the Steam Deck to a gaming laptop, quality gaming laptops still edge out the best PC handhelds in overall performance.
If you’re looking for ultimate portability and convenience, a PC handheld, like the Steam Deck OLED or the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme, is much lighter, more compact, and easier to use than a laptop. PC handhelds can also be cheaper, but gaming laptops offer better value thanks to their versatility – you can do a whole lot more than just game. Plus, they support a wider gaming library, have more included features, and are just more powerful overall.
Gaming laptops come in different configurations to best suit your needs, be it better graphics, a larger display, or more memory, while PC handhelds are much more limiting. You can also often upgrade components of a laptop down the road to improve performance. That’s not to say PC handhelds are at all bad – just very different from a gaming laptop, so what you choose boils down to your needs.
When is the best time to buy a gaming laptop?
Even some of the cheaper gaming laptops are expensive purchases, but there are a few times throughout the year where you can find amazing gaming laptop deals. The most obvious times are Prime Day and Black Friday when major gaming laptop brands have the majority of their sales, but the summer is also a great time to find back-to-school sales. Check out our guide to the best times to buy a laptop for more information.
How much should you spend on a budget gaming laptop?
We're in the middle of huge price jumps across the PC market, whether that's gaming laptops, PCs or components. Unfortunately, that's made a huge impact on what a budget gaming laptop even is. Decent gaming laptops with a recent GPU start at around $1,000 and go up from there. There's some wiggle room below that, but then you start entering the territory of non-traditional gaming laptops like the Steam Deck OLED – which isn't a gaming laptop, but it's a portable gaming device that'll play your PC games, so it's close enough in my book.
Regardless, when you're spending less than $2,000 for a brand-new gaming laptop in 2026, you're going to need to make compromises, which can be hard to do if you don't know what to look for. Generally, you should figure out what resolution you want to play games at and how much graphics and CPU horsepower you need to actually drive that resolution.
For screen resolution, a 1080p and some 1440p displays hit the sweet spot between price and required GPU beefiness. It is really the only option for a value-oriented gaming laptop. Even if you could score a cheap laptop with a high-resolution 4K panel, the GPU inside won't be able to run games at that resolution, so prepare yourself for 1080p and some 1440p gaming.
When it comes to storage, try to steer clear of laptops with a lone solid-state drive. Heck, even a model with a 256GB SSD offers barely enough space to keep multiple games installed and at the ready, so you might be stuck getting a system with a slower, yet much more spacious, spinning hard drive.
One more thing: Just because it's a laptop doesn't mean you need to take its name literally. The best experience with a laptop usually isn't on your lap but at a desk. Do yourself a favor and check out our guide to the best gaming desks to find one to suit your needs – and perhaps a laptop cooling pad to boost your performance – and don't forget to check out our favorite gaming chairs to sit in with your new laptop.
- If laptops aren't your speed, check out the best gaming PC deals to save on a tower.
MacBooks vs. Gaming laptops
MacBooks are exceptional laptops that excel in many areas with their powerful Pro models focused on professional and creative use, but when it comes to gaming, Apple isn’t there yet. That said, the latest Apple-developed silicon in MacBooks is mighty powerful and graphically capable. Gaming laptops, on the other hand, are meant for gaming first and foremost, so these rigs are equipped with beefy GPUs, CPUs, and RAM ready to tackle all the action. There’s also much more choice in hardware and features when it comes to laptops.
While you can play some games on a Mac, one of the biggest drawbacks to MacBook gaming is MacOS’ lack of support for many of the most popular gaming titles, which often run on the Windows platform. Apple has introduced a porting toolkit to bring more PC games to Mac along with “Game Mode” on MacOS Sonoma. Apple is making strides in the gaming world, but at the present moment, gaming laptops still reign supreme. See our guide to gaming PC vs. Mac for more info.
Gaming laptops vs. Gaming PCs
Of course, gaming laptops are a whole lot more portable than a gaming PC, but there are plenty of other features that differentiate the two. To start, a gaming PC is much easier to upgrade and repair, while you’re often stuck with the internals of your laptop. That means a desktop delivers more bang for your buck and has a longer lifespan before going obsolete. Though laptops and PCs may appear to offer the same CPU and GPU, the hardware is slightly different with PCs coming out ahead in terms of performance. Check out our gaming PCs vs. gaming laptops guide for more info.
Integrated Graphics May Finally Be Worth Considering
When you're shopping on a budget, a gaming laptop that can do a little bit of everything can often be the best solution. And thanks to advancements in onboard graphics from both Intel and AMD, it's possible to have the best of both worlds between gaming and productivity while also enjoying better battery life and portability. There are trade-offs, but integrated graphics are no longer worth writing off for gamers willing to stick to the latest generations of CPUs.
This new category of laptops comes by way of the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors and the AMD Ryzen AI Max series. Both feature significantly more powerful integrated graphics that leverage the latest onboard graphics from each manufacturer. Intel denotes its processors featuring this technology with an “X” in the product's name, while AMD is currently limited to the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and its recently revealed Ryzen AI 400 series processors.
In her review of the Asus ZenBook Duo (2026), utilizing the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H and Intel Arc B390 “Battlemage” graphics, our tech expert Jackie Thomas found that it was able to play demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 above 60 frames per second on high settings – and that’s before enabling frame generation, which could push it even higher. I found similar results in my review of the Asus ROG Flow Z13, outfitted with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and Radeon 8060S graphics. That puts gaming performance in the neighborhood of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 laptop chips.
Christopher Coke has been a regular contributor to IGN since 2019 and has been covering games and technology since 2013. He has covered tech ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and gaming monitors, headphones, IEMs, and more for sites such as MMORPG.com, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science, USA Today’s Reviewed, and Popular Mechanics. Find Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.
