The best gaming laptops just keep getting better, with more advanced features, better designs, stronger internals, and even improved battery life. And in addition to these top-of-the-line gaming laptops, affordable gaming laptops are also reaping the rewards. You can now have the best cheap gaming laptops that chew through modern 1080p titles fast, and some can even deliver high frame rates while working on them.
Many of the best cheap gaming laptops strike such a healthy balance between performance and affordability thanks to Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 16 series GPUs from Nvidia, which deliver high performance at a modest power consumption that doesn’t let the laptop batteries groan under pressure. Even some high-end GPUs have found their way to laptops for inexpensive gaming.
Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
So whether you are just looking for an affordable device that can keep up with the occasional game, or if you want a lot on a laptop that can deliver 1080p at 144fps, you will find something for you here.
1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 14" VR Ready FHD Gaming Laptop,8 cores AMD...
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS(beat 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H), 8 Core processor up to 4.20 GHz, features machine intelligence that anticipates your needs. Discover true responsiveness with 8 cores and 16 threads for ultimate performance.
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS(beat 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H), 8 Core processor up to 4.20 GHz, features machine intelligence that anticipates your needs. Discover true responsiveness with 8 cores and 16 threads for ultimate performance.
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, Backlit keyboard, Virtual Reality Ready with required specs to run Virtual Reality hardware and software and is compatible with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality Ultra.
- 14" Full HD display, windows 10. 12GB DDR4 RAM; 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD.
- Chiclet keyboard with white backlight allows you to enjoy comfortable and accurate typing, even in dim lighting.
- Wireless/Wired connectivity (WiFi 6 - 802.11 ax), 2 x USB 3.0 Type A Ports, 1 x USB Type C Charging Port, 2 x USB 3.2 Type C Port, 1 x HDMI Output, Virtual Reality Ready, Weighs 3.64 lbs. and measures 0.7" thin. No Webcam, No DVD. Eclipse Gray.
For those who are looking for something slim and attractive, we have chosen the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. When it comes to the best gaming laptops, the Zephyrus is modest in white or grey with a minimalist design. But with the Ryzen 4900HS from AMD and the GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q from Nvidia in our test device, you get a strong overall and gaming performance. It may not be the best device on the market in terms of graphics performance, but for most people, it is the best value for the money.
The battery life is also exceptionally long for a gaming laptop, and the keyboard is clickable and comfortable. However, the fan sometimes turns off, even when you are sitting on the desk, and this system does not have a built-in webcam. Overall, this is one of the best cheap gaming laptops that you can buy right now.
2. Dell G5 15 SE
Dell G5 SE 5505 15.6" FHD IPS High Performance Gaming Laptop, AMD...
- AMD 4th Generation Ryzen 5 4600H Processor (6-core, 3.0 GHz Up To 4.0 GHz, 8 MB Cache), 16GB DDR4 Memory, 512GB PCIe SSD
- 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare Display, AMD Radeon RX 5600M
- 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet, 802_11_AC, Bluetooth 4.2, Card Reader, HD Audio with Stereo Speakers, Webcam
- AMD 4th Generation Ryzen 5 4600H Processor (6-core, 3.0 GHz Up To 4.0 GHz, 8 MB Cache), 16GB DDR4 Memory, 512GB PCIe SSD
- 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare Display, AMD Radeon RX 5600M
- 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet, 802_11_AC, Bluetooth 4.2, Card Reader, HD Audio with Stereo Speakers, Webcam
- 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Type-A, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Mini DP, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone/Speaker/Line-Out Jack
- Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 Home 64-bit, 51WHr 3-cell lithium_ion, 5.51lb, Supernova Silver Cover
If you are looking for an affordable but well-prepared gaming laptops, the Dell G5 15 SE 2020 is worth considering. Its simple name hides a high-performance device in a quite neat and modest case. And despite its price, it can keep up with some more expensive gaming laptops, especially with 1080p. You can expect very playable frame rates in the form of Shadow of the Tomb Raider when running at maximum settings.
Dell has opted for a pure AMD configuration, with a Ryzen 5 4600H or 4800H for the processor tasks and the Radeon RX 5600M for graphics. With up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD memory, the Dell G5 15 SE 2020 is an extremely powerful gaming laptop. For the best specifications, you have to pay $1,049, but this price also gives you a fast display with a 144 Hz refresh rate. A plastic case may not scream “first-class”, but it still looks pretty sharp and can even do double duty as a powerful working machine when needed.
3. HP Pavilion Gaming 15
HP Pavilion Gaming 15 Laptop, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, AMD Ryzen 5...
- REALISTIC GAMING GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated). Get all the power you need for a fast, smooth, power-efficient gaming laptop experience. 15.6-inch diagonal Full HD IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit display, 250 nits, 45% NTSC (1920 x 1080) with 60Hz refresh rate; 79% screen to body ratio
- REALISTIC GAMING GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated). Get all the power you need for a fast, smooth, power-efficient gaming laptop experience. 15.6-inch diagonal Full HD IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit display, 250 nits, 45% NTSC (1920 x 1080) with 60Hz refresh rate; 79% screen to body ratio
- AMD RYZEN MOBILE PROCESSOR: Uplift your performance and multitask seamlessly with accelerated power and efficiency, while enjoying stunning HD visuals. AMD Ryzen 5 4600H Processor, 3 GHz base clock up to 4 GHz max boost clock
- HIGHER BANDWIDTH MEMORY & FAST BOOTUP WITH SOLID-STATE DRIVE: Boot up in seconds, transfer files without waiting hours, and enjoy a speedier laptop gaming experience with the internal 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive (2 accessible M.2 slots, 1 available), and higher bandwidth, speed and efficiency with 8 GB DDR4-3200 MHz SDRAM (1 x 8 GB, 2 accessible memory slots upgradable to 32 GB , 2 x 16 GB)
- THIN, LIGHTWEIGHT AND PORTABLE GAMING LAPTOP WITH LONG BATTERY LIFE (unpackaged): 14.17 inches (W) x 10.12 inches (D) x 0.93 inch (H); 4.37 pounds. Up to 12 hours and 30 minutes (mixed usage); up to 11 hours (video playback); up to 8 hours and 45 minutes (wireless streaming), 3-cell 52.5 WH LI-ion polymer battery
- LAPTOP GAMING CONNECTIVITY: With a Wi-Fi 5 (2x2) WLAN adapter and Bluetooth 5.0, all your connections are rock solid. MU-MIMO supported SuperSpeed USB Type-C 5Gbps signaling rate, SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate, USB 2.0 Type-A (HP Sleep and Charge), Ethernet (RJ-45), 3.5mm Headphone/microphone combo, AC Smart pin, HDMI 2.0, multi-format SD media card reader
- BACKLIT KEYBOARD: Keep going comfortably even in darker laptop gaming environments. Full-size, island-style, acid green backlit, shadow black keyboard with numeric keypad
- OPERATING SYSTEM AND WARRANTY: Windows 10 Home and 1-year limited hardware warranty with 24-hour, 7 days a week web support when shipped from and sold by Amazon.com
- ADVANCED THERMAL MANAGEMENT: Optimized thermal design and IR sensor keeps your gaming laptop cool to touch, without affecting acoustics
- BIOS RECOVERY AND PROTECTION: Automatically checks the health of your gaming computer, protects against unauthorized access, secures local storage and recovers itself from boot-up issues
- ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS: Low halogen, mercury-free display backlights, arsenic-free display glass in this ENERGY STAR certified, EPEAT Silver registered HP Pavilion Gaming 15 Laptop
HP Pavilion Gaming 15 is an entry-level gaming laptop with a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 4600H and Nvidia GeForce graphics card, a nimble SSD, and excellent battery life, packaged in an eye-catching, portable design. The combination of specification, performance, and endurance has earned the laptop a place on our best cheap gaming laptops list.
The Pavilion 15 is not suitable for relying on, as it is an inexpensive system. It has some powerful specifications, which means the laptops can play games at reasonable frame rates. And with a battery life of almost 6 hours, it has the necessary endurance. It also stays pretty cool when playing games. However, if you’re looking for a surprisingly powerful entry-level model at an affordable price, the HP Pavilion 15 should be at the top of your list.
4. Asus ROG G531GT
Asus ROG G531GT 15.6 Inch FHD Gaming Laptop (9th Gen Intel 6-Core...
If you’re ready to add some extra weight to your gaming laptops, the ROG G531GT offers excellent specifications for the money. Although the G531GT often falls below $1,000, it has a six-core Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. These are exactly the kind of specifications you have to look for in a modern laptop. This ROG also comes with the same GTX 1650, which is the standard for gaming laptops in this price range. The G7 is slimmer and sleeker, but the extra memory and storage offer added value.
5. Lenovo Legion Y545
Lenovo Legion Y545 Gaming Laptop Computer, 15.6" FHD, 9th Gen Intel Hexa-Core...
The Lenovo Legion Y545 delivers strong gaming and overall performance with a muted, business-like look – all at an affordable price. Featuring an Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti graphics processor and an Intel Core i7 CPU, the Legion Y545 is the best value gaming laptops to keep the competition at bay. Instead of an eye-catching light show, Lenovo chose a sophisticated, subtle design that fits it into an office environment or a LAN party.
The laptop’s discreet Nvidia graphics chip delivers surprisingly high performance with above-average results. And when you’re not playing games, the laptop’s Core i7 processor is more than capable of creating spreadsheets, doing light video editing, and of course watching movies on the beautiful 1080p screen. And despite the price, the laptop also offers a comfortable keyboard and great sound. In short, it is one of the best cheap gaming laptops.
6. Acer Nitro 5
Acer Nitro 5 15.6 FHD Gaming Laptop, 9th Gen Intel Quad Core...
- 15 6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
- Intel 9th gen Quad-Core i5-9300H processor (2.4 Ghz base frequency, Up to 4.1GHz, 4 Cores, 8 Threads, 8GB Cache).
- 15 6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
- Intel 9th gen Quad-Core i5-9300H processor (2.4 Ghz base frequency, Up to 4.1GHz, 4 Cores, 8 Threads, 8GB Cache).
- ** [Professionally Upgraded by LASER] ** 16GB DDR4 Memory, 256GB NVme Solid State Drive (SSD) Plus 1TB Hard Disc Drive(HDD).
- LAN: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port); Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax; Backlit keyboard. 1 USB Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 USB 3.0 port (featuring Power-off charging) ; 2 USB 2.0 Ports; 1 HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP support
Nitro 5 is another laptop from Acer in this list, and it comes from Acer’s one of the most popular Nitro series launched specifically for gaming. Speaking of design, it’s in black with a red accent, which makes it look as good as it works. It features a 15.6-inch Full-HD (1080p) IPS display with LED backlighting that delivers stunning images from a wide-angle. It is equipped with a 9th generation Intel Quad-Core i5-9300H processor paired with 16GB RAM. To take your games to the next level, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card is available.
In terms of storage capacity, it comes with a 256GB SSD drive, which may not be enough for many, but it allows you to expand your storage space with the available hard drive bay. To improve performance during intensive work sessions, Acer CoolBoost technology features two fans. And to deliver a better multimedia experience, it features Waves MaxxAudio and a keyboard with red backlighting. Overall, this is one of the best cheap gaming laptops.
7. Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, Intel i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060...
- Aspect Ratio:16:9
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0 GHz) with Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
- Overclockable NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time, 300nit Brightness & 72% NTSC)
- Aspect Ratio:16:9
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0 GHz) with Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
- Overclockable NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time, 300nit Brightness & 72% NTSC)
- 16 GB DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory, 512GB NVMe SSD (2 x M.2 slots; 1 slot open for easy upgrades) & 1 - Available Hard Drive Bay
- 4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard | Wireless: Killer Double Shot Pro Wireless-AX 1650i 802. 11ax Wi-Fi 6; LAN: Killer Ethernet E2600 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN; DTS X: Ultra-Audio; 4th Gen All-Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan
- Connectivity technology: Bluetooth
The Predator Helios 300 is one of the most affordable laptops if you want to work with the Kali Linux system. We have now written about this laptop for various software, making it versatile for almost anything you would need on your laptop. It has a 15.6-inch full HD widescreen LED-backlit IPS screen and an exceptionally good looking backlit keyboard. To add even more, it runs on an Intel i7-10750H 6-core processor, which is generally an excellent experience.
It runs on 16 GB DDR4 RAM, which seems to be an excellent gateway for Kali Linux. The memory capacity is about 512 GB NVMe SSD. If you want to place an extra HDD or just another SSD, this laptop has an extra lock on the back. You can adjust it as you like. To add even more to this fantastic display, it comes with an incredible NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card with up to 6GB of GDDR5 memory.
8. MSI GF63
MSI GF63 Thin 9SC-066 15.6" Gaming Laptop, Thin Bezel, Intel Core i7-9750H,...
- Display: 15.6 inches Fhd (1920 x 1080), IPS-Level 60Hz 45 percent ntsc thin Bezel 1920x1080 16:9
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 [Max-Q] 4G GDDR5
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9750h 2.6 - 4.5GHz
- Memory: 16GB (8 gram x 2) DDR4 2666MHz 2 Sockets; Max memory 64GB
- Display: 15.6 inches Fhd (1920 x 1080), IPS-Level 60Hz 45 percent ntsc thin Bezel 1920x1080 16:9
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 [Max-Q] 4G GDDR5
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9750h 2.6 - 4.5GHz
- Memory: 16GB (8 gram x 2) DDR4 2666MHz 2 Sockets; Max memory 64GB
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
The MSI GF63 was developed for people who want to play but don’t want to spend a fortune on it. You get reliable performance thanks to the Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia graphics. It offers excellent performance at a reasonable price, which allows you to play most modern games at low settings. It is a perfect choice for the best cheap gaming laptops.
But don’t sleep, the MSI can play most modern games thanks to the Nvidia GeForce 1050 Ti GPU housed inside. But its greatest strength is the Core i7 CPU, which puts it one step ahead of the competition. The GF63 is a solid laptop and offers excellent performance at a low price. However, this is a laptop for casual gamers. People looking for more robust performance should look for a cheap gaming laptop with slightly more powerful specifications.
9. Acer Aspire 7
Acer Aspire 7 Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, 9th Gen Intel...
- 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor (Up to 4.1GHz)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display
- 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory & 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor (Up to 4.1GHz)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display
- 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory & 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Backlit Keyboard | Wireless: 802. 11ac Wi-Fi featuring 2x2 MU-MIMO technology (Dual-Band 2. 4GHz and 5GHz) | LAN: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Acer Aspire 7 is a powerful yet portable laptop with enough power to play titles like Far Cry 5 and Overwatch. We see the same processor in other devices on the list, a Core i7-9750H from Intel. The processor has a clock speed of 2.6GHz but can run up to 4.5GHz with Turbo Boost. The GeForce GTX 1050 is equipped with a total of 3 GB VRAM, which is enough for casual gamers. The combination of 16 GB DDR4 memory and 512 GB makes this laptop a true performance wonder.
When using high-end applications like Premier or Da Vinci Resolve, you don’t have to worry about delays or huge rendering times. 512 GB is also a reasonable amount of storage space. Overall, this is one of the best cheap gaming laptops.
10. MSI GF65 Thin
MSI GF65 Thin Gaming Laptop (Intel i7-9750H, 32GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD,...
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H Six Core Processor (12MB Cache, 2.6GHz-5.0GHz) 45W
- RAM: 32GB DDR4 2666MHz | Hard Drive: 512GB NVMe Solid State Drive
- Keyboard: Single Backlight with Anti-Ghost Key+ Silver Lining | Operating System: Windows 10 Home x64
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H Six Core Processor (12MB Cache, 2.6GHz-5.0GHz) 45W
- RAM: 32GB DDR4 2666MHz | Hard Drive: 512GB NVMe Solid State Drive
- Keyboard: Single Backlight with Anti-Ghost Key+ Silver Lining | Operating System: Windows 10 Home x64
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6 | Display: 15.6" Full HD IPS-Level 120Hz 45%NTSC Thin Bezel Display (1920 x 1080)
- 32GB RAM Upgrades | 3-Year CUK Limited Warranty (View warranty section below for more details.)
If you are someone who has to travel a lot, you prefer a portable gaming laptop. The MSI’s GF65 thin is your perfect choice under $1000 if you’re looking for impressive performance to play popular titles like GTA V, gaming-grade hardware, and utility-based design. Like the above-mentioned devices, this MSI laptop uses an Intel Core i7-9750H, a basic clock speed of 2.6 GHz.
You should also note that the processor can reach up to 4.5 GHz with Turbo Boost. 6 GB GDDR6 VRAM from NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti can also provide you with first-class graphics performance. One of the less important parts of the laptop is RAM and memory allocation. 8 GB of DDR4 memory is sufficient for most games, but you must limit the quality to the default settings. On the contrary, MSI has 512 GB of full SSD memory, which makes a big difference.
The company has a super cool display included. The 15.6-inch full HD (1080p) display has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, apart from the 1920 x 1080 resolution. In combination with the thin bezels on both sides, the panel offers a breathtaking and immersive gaming experience. Overall, this is one of the best cheap gaming laptops.
