Rolling out the red carpet for our favorite picks of affordable gaming laptops in 2023.
Bridging the gap between high-octane gaming and your wallet is no joke. Traditional laptops? Piece of cake. Get one with a pleasing design, feather-light weight, decent features, and a battery life that doesn’t quit on you. Job done.
But, gaming laptops? Choosing the right gaming laptop is much more complicated.
You’ll need a graphics card that can handle demanding games, and a processor that is very fast and strong. Moreover, you’ll also need a storage device that can load things quickly with fans that keep the laptop from overheating and a screen that shows smooth and clear images. It’s like a superhero team-up in laptop form! And the price tag for these extraordinary machines can easily whizz past the $1,000 mark.
Because gaming laptops are a big investment, it’s crucial to strike a balance between performance and price. Since the internet is full of lists about the best budget gaming laptops around $1000, we’ve decided to shake things up a bit. We’re going to introduce you to laptops that bring power and affordability under the same roof.
We’ve also broken down in other blogs for the best gaming laptops under $800 and under $2000.
Budget vs Premium Gaming Laptops: Spot the Difference
CPU: Imagine the CPU as the brain of your laptop. High-end gaming laptops boast superhuman brains like the Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 series. Budget gaming laptops, meanwhile, have brains designed for lighter tasks – think Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 series.
RAM: Here’s the deal – high-end laptops are multi-tasking maestros with 8-16 GB RAM. Budget gaming laptops? Well, they’re more like the ‘one thing at a time’ type, featuring between 4-8GB RAM.
GPU: The high-end gaming beasts come with a dedicated Nvidia GeForce or AMD Radeon graphics card. On the other hand, budget gaming laptops usually come with an integrated graphics card.
Cooling System: Fancy gaming laptops have multiple fans as their cooling system, blowing off steam faster than a teapot. Budget gaming laptops have a simpler one or two-fan system that might sometimes make your laptop feel like it’s running a fever.
Battery Life: High-end laptops are power-hungry monsters with a battery life that lasts 2-4 hours. Budget gaming laptops? More like energy-efficient champs, boasting 6-8 hours of battery life.
External Ports: High-end gaming laptops are like a Swiss Army knife, loaded with external ports. They’ve got more ports than a seaport. Budget gaming laptops, on the other hand, have fewer ports, keeping them minimalist.
Portability: When it comes to size, high-end gaming laptops are more like Hercules – heavy and bulky. Budget gaming laptops are more on the nimble side, lighter, and slimmer.
Display Refresh Rate: High-end gaming laptops have a refresh rate that’s like a hummingbird’s wings – a blazing 144 Hz to 240 Hz. Budget gaming laptops have a more relaxed pace, with a refresh rate between 60 Hz to 120 Hz.
Material: Now, we’re talking about build quality. For budget gaming systems, expect to see more plastic than at a LEGO factory. Despite that, the budget-friendly gaming laptops we’re endorsing are sturdy enough to weather your gaming storms for years to come.
Best Budget Gaming Laptops
Acer Swift 3 – $600
Kicking off the list with the most affordable laptop, the Acer Swift 3, priced at a mere $600. This laptop is an ideal choice for gamers on a shoestring budget who seek decent gaming capabilities.
Despite its price, the Acer Swift 3 boasts an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U CPU. While it might not be the most powerful chip available, it’s certainly competent enough for most tasks and lightweight games. Coupled with 8GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD, you will have no trouble running games like League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, FIFA, and even a few rounds of Valorant.
Acer Nitro 5 – $750
Stepping up the ladder, we have the Acer Nitro 5, retailing at $750. This laptop has gained significant popularity in its price range due to its formidable specs and performance. Armed with an Intel core i5-13500H and 16GB RAM, it provides all you need to play a majority of the games on the market, as long as your funds haven’t been entirely drained on the laptop purchase. It carries Acer’s signature gaming laptop design with a robust cooling system to ensure smooth gameplay.
Vivobook 14 OLED – $1000
Stepping into the over-$1000 category, we have the ASUS Vivobook 14 OLED priced at $1000. It stands as an upgrade from the Acer Swift Go, sharing similar features but improving upon them. It is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and a high-quality OLED 8K screen with a slightly slower refresh rate of 90 Hz.
While it offers significant gaming capabilities, the Vivobook 14 OLED’s sleek design and robust performance also make it suitable for those balancing full-time work and gaming. Thus, it caters to non-hardcore gamers who also require a laptop for professional use.
Acer Swift Go 16 – $800
For a slightly higher investment, the Acer Swift Go 16 can be yours for $800. Although it might not be as potent as the Nitro 5, equipped with the same i5-13500H but without a dedicated GPU, it compensates for this with a superior display. The device features an OLED 3.2K screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring crystal-clear images and a seamless gaming experience. Your in-game opponents won’t be able to hide easily on this screen!
ASUS TUF Gaming F15 – $1000
At a price tag of $1000, the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a laptop that caters to more hardcore gamers. With a sturdy build, thin edge display, integrated webcam, and noise-canceling microphone, it serves both gaming and professional needs. The sleek design makes it suitable for office workers who game in their free time. The performance offered by the RTX 3050 Ti and i7-11800H is hard to beat in a laptop of this price range.
HP Victus 15.6″ – $1200
Let’s step up the game with the HP Victus, a new player in the gaming laptop arena, priced at a competitive $1200. Under its hood, it houses the 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H, which boasts 10 cores for optimal performance and efficiency.
The visual prowess of the Victus is showcased on its 15.6″ FHD IPS display with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, and driven by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti. This combination allows for smooth, fast-paced gameplay, enhanced by the support of DirectX 12 Ultimate for a supreme gaming experience.
ASUS ROG Strix G15 – $1400
The ASUS ROG series has consistently been a cornerstone in the gaming laptop industry, acclaimed for its reliability and excellent cooling system. The ASUS ROG Strix G15, priced at $1400, is no exception, offering exceptional performance and durability.
Its defining feature is the ultra-slim display which, despite its aesthetic and functional appeal, unfortunately, does not accommodate an integrated webcam. However, if you can overlook this minor shortfall, the Strix G15 can offer remarkable value. It’s equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX processor, 16GB RAM, and a display with a 165Hz refresh rate, delivering an unparalleled gaming experience.
MSI Katana GF66 – $1400
Sharing the same price bracket at $1400, the MSI Katana GF66 offers an impressively powerful hardware configuration. With an Intel Core i9-12900H processor and an NVIDIA RTX 3070Ti graphics card, the performance it promises seems almost unbelievable for a laptop at this price point.
While its aluminum construction ensures a sleek and modern aesthetic, it does somewhat compromise on the feel of robustness when compared to other laptops in this range. Nevertheless, if maximum performance is your top priority, the MSI Katana GF66 provides an excellent choice.
Acer Predator Helios 16 – $1700
The Acer Predator series has earned a reputation for its powerful gaming laptops, and the Helios 16 is a testament to this legacy. Priced at $1700, it hosts an Intel Core i7-13700HX processor and an RTX 4060 graphics card and delivers a 2K resolution on its 165Hz G-SYNC display. This robust combination guarantees seamless gameplay even for the most demanding games currently on the market. In the sub-$2000 range, the Predator Helios 16 stands out as a clear front-runner, boasting both the power and visual fidelity desired in a high-level gaming laptop.
Legion Pro 5 2023 and Alienware M15 R7 – $2000
As we venture into the over-$2000 price bracket, we encounter two gaming powerhouses: the Legion Pro 5 2023 and the Alienware M15 R7.
The Legion Pro 5 2023 embodies a minimalist aesthetic, offering a sleek, non-bulky design that appeals to those seeking a more understated style in their gaming gear. But don’t let its looks deceive you because this laptop is an absolute beast when it comes to performance. Fitted with a Core i9-13900HX processor and an RTX 4070 graphics card, the Legion Pro 5 2023 is a testament to high-end gaming capabilities.
The Alienware M15 R7, a product of Dell’s Alienware series, is often seen as a dream acquisition for gamers worldwide. Its signature design, highlighted by the iconic Alien logo, has etched its mark on gaming history. In terms of performance, the M15 R7 is nothing short of spectacular, despite not carrying the latest tech. Powered by an Intel i7-12700H processor and an RTX 3060 graphics card, it’s more than capable of handling any game or task with ease.
