Best gaming laptop on a budget
The competition in the gaming laptop market can be fierce, and finding the best value gaming laptop can be even more difficult. If you’re trying to save money, your first instinct might be to go with a budget gaming laptop. But being inexpensive doesn’t mean it’s the best value. There are plenty of other considerations when choosing the best gaming laptop on a budget, and this guide will help you find the right machine without overspending on what you don’t need.
Asus ROG Strix G15
The Asus ROG Strix G15 is one of the best gaming laptops you can get on a budget. It has great performance, a sleek design, and a matte IPS display. Plus, the keyboard is backlit and has RGB lighting. The only downside is that the battery life could be better.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz | Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD | GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 3050 4GB DDR6 | Display: 15.6-inch FHD | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Battery life: 8 hours
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
The Dell G15 Ryzen Edition is the best gaming laptop on a budget. It has great features for the price, including a large screen, great battery life, and a powerful processor. Plus, it comes with a free game! The only downside is that it’s not as slim as other laptops on the market.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | RAM: 8GB DDR4 3200MHz | Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 | Display: 15.6-inch FHD | Refresh Rate: 120Hz | Battery Life: 10 hours
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 HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop is a great option if you’re looking for the best gaming laptop on a budget. It’s powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and has 8GB of RAM, making it perfect for playing the latest games. Plus, the Pavilion comes with a 1TB hard drive, so you’ll have plenty of storage space for all your games. The Pavilion also has a 15.6-inch Full HD display to see all the action. And if you need to connect to the internet, the Pavilion comes with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, so you’ll be able to stay connected no matter where you are.
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
Acer’s Nitro 5 is a great mid-range gaming laptop, offering good performance at a reasonable price. It’s not the most powerful machine out there, but it’s more than enough for most games. In addition, it has a nice 15.6-inch Full HD display and a comfortable keyboard. So if you’re looking for a budget gaming laptop, the Acer Nitro 5 is a great option.
CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Storage: 512GB SSD | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti | Display: 15.6-inch FHD | Refresh Rate: 144Hz | Battery life: 8 hours
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 HP Omen is one of the best gaming laptops you can buy on a budget. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD display, an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Plus, it has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics for smooth gameplay.
Pros
Great battery
Affordable configurations
User upgradeable
Wi-Fi 6
Bang & Olufsen audio
Cons
Only one USB-C port
RGB backlighting costs extra
No fast charging
Buying Guide
The HP Omen is one of the best gaming laptops you can buy on a budget. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD display, an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. It has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics and Windows 10 pre-installed. You can also get it with a 4K display for an extra $100.
Top 3 Gaming Laptops Under $800
Asus ROG Strix GL503VD-DB74: This is one of the best gaming laptops under $800 that you can find. It has a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA GTX 1050 4GB graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. Plus, it comes with a free game!
What is the best budget gaming laptop?
If you’re looking for the best budget gaming laptop, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to decide what type of games you want. Are you looking for something that can handle heavy-duty games like Fallout 4 or Witcher 3? Or are you looking for something more suited for casual games like Candy Crush or Minecraft?
Tips for buying a Gaming Laptop
Acer Aspire E 15
Lenovo Ideapad 330s
Dell G5 15
ASUS TUF FX504GE-ES72
MSI GV62 8RD-200
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping for a gaming laptop on a budget:
1. Make sure the graphics card is powerful enough to handle the games you want to play.
2. Get a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM.
3. Choose a processor that is at least an Intel Core i5.
4. Pay attention to the display resolution and ensure it is at least 1080p.