best budget gaming laptop

If you’re looking to find the best budget gaming laptop, chances are you’re not looking to buy the absolute cheapest laptop on the market. A $300 PC may seem like a good deal, but you’ll likely end up with an underpowered system that can barely run Windows.

Let alone your favorite games at full resolution and graphics settings. A more affordable option will typically be something along the lines of $600 to $1000, which can net you some serious power, but also some very noticeable flaws in build quality and screen quality, particularly at lower price points.

Budget Gaming Laptops: What to Look For, Part by Part

Don’t buy a gaming laptop simply because it has a shiny design. There are multiple parts that make up a good, or even great, gaming machine. These include a processor (CPU), graphics card (GPU), memory (RAM), screen, and speakers, among others.

Depending on your requirements, you can choose any number of these components as your deal-breakers when buying a new laptop. For example, if you play games for long hours and have to rely on smooth gameplay for a competitive edge over others then perhaps.

You should look at getting an SSD with more storage as opposed to opting for additional RAM. Most of us gamers can’t afford to build our own top-of-the-line machines from scratch. And, if you’re looking for a solid game experience.

You won’t be happy with low-end graphics cards and processors that don’t deliver on their promises. That said, there are some great, affordable options out there—if you know what to look for in each part of your PC.

Here's how to pick parts that are both well under your budget limit and high quality enough to help your games run smoothly without breaking a sweat.

The Processor: Yes, It's Important, But Don't Overbuy

Processor speed and power matter; that's why we have laptops, to begin with. However, if you don't play demanding games or do complex programming, there's a chance that your processor is already powerful enough for what you need it to do.

If not, make sure you invest in a new laptop with something at least on par with an Intel Core i5 (or equivalent AMD). Higher-end processors will have higher core speeds, and depending on what you do with your computer, that can be an important thing.

But if you just surf social media and watch videos, save your money; a processor with a lower speed but more cores is good enough. For example, Intel’s Core i7-7700HQ has four cores and eight threads of power compared to AMD’s FX-9830P,

Which has eight cores (eight threads) but only 3.2GHz of processing power. Both are equally suitable for video editing tasks—but Intel is about 30 percent faster in such cases. The processor is typically referred to as a CPU, which is short for Central Processing Unit. The CPU takes all your computer's instructions and runs them through a piece of hardware called an arithmetic logic unit (ALU).

That performs operations in order to run any kind of software program you can think of. Nowadays, there are two main players in processors: Intel and AMD.

System Memory: In This Range, Go Eight

The processor is often a crucial factor in deciding which laptop is right for you. But just because a computer has an Intel Core i7 quad-core processor doesn't mean it will be right for your needs. These processors consume far more power than their lower-end counterparts.

So if you're looking to game on your new laptop, you need to make sure that both your battery life and graphics card are powerful enough to provide a good experience.

You may find that even with a top-of-the-line CPU, your graphics card can't keep up with games at high settings in HD—if that's what you're going for—so don't bother shelling out extra money unless you're certain you'll use those specs.

For a desktop, it’s not essential to have a huge amount of memory, especially if you don’t plan on running any large programs or resource-intensive games. However, having enough system memory will help your computer run more smoothly overall.

With that in mind, consider adding an 8GB module to your build—that should be enough for most daily tasks. As an alternative, you could save money by opting for a four GB module instead.

It’s up to you which option is best; both will perform just fine. Either way: Don’t bother spending more than $50 on extra RAM at this point (more on that later).

1. Acer Predator Triton 300 SE

For those looking for a great experience but who don’t have an unlimited budget, The Acer Predator Triton 300 SE may be just what you’re looking for. The Laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 3750H with an Intel UHD Graphics 630.

If you're into creating content, then it also comes with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q 6GB of dedicated graphics. With these specs and other features that are worth $1200, having a price tag of only $919 makes it one of the best budget gaming laptops on our list.

If you’re looking for a gaming machine but don’t want to splurge, Acer’s Predator Triton 300 SE could be just what you need. Under its sleek metal chassis, it packs a 7th Generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor that can kick into turbo mode to reach up to 3.8GHz.

The real-world difference will be negligible, though, as both processors achieve roughly similar scores in benchmark tests. Also included is 16GB of DDR4 RAM and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics with 6GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM.

The entry-level Triton 300 SE model of Acer’s Predator lineup of laptops offers great value for an impressive amount of power, but can be a bit loud. With an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive paired with a 1TB hard drive.

It is one of the most powerful cheap gaming laptops on the market. The combination should offer you smooth gameplay on AAA titles on medium to high settings with graphics set to medium or high at 1080p resolution.

And with its included PredatorSense software you can track your system performance as well as unlock CPU overclocking (from 2.8GHz to 4GHz) and also adjust fan speeds to balance power usage and noise output while playing games.

2. MSI Katana GF66

This is a fantastic model from MSI. It features an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive for under $1000. That’s pretty insane for what you get here, which is one powerful machine that isn’t going to break your bank either.

This is a great choice if you are a gamer on a budget but want something that will play high-end games with no problems whatsoever.

The MSI Katana GF66 is one of our favorite laptops for its high performance and reasonable price. The laptop provides a discrete-level graphics card and 8GB DDR3 RAM.

1TB hard drive, and a 15.6-inch screen that produces crisp images in a variety of light settings. Although we prefer more hard drive space, you can add more storage by plugging in an external hard drive or SD card reader.

Overall, we think it’s one of the best budget gaming laptops on the market and is highly recommended by users. This is probably going to be one of your top choices if you’re looking for a budget-friendly gaming laptop.

It offers some pretty good hardware at an affordable price. The build quality isn’t as solid as on more expensive models, but it does have its positives. For example, one of its best features is that it comes with a removable battery.

So you can swap out batteries when they die instead of having to plug in and charge them all over again. The MSI Katana GF66 can also handle a light upgrade if you’re willing to invest more time into modifying it.

Meaning that even though it has a lower entry price than other models on our list, it will still be able to perform better once you do invest in upgrades.

3. ASUS TUF Gaming A17

The $1,000 17-inch ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is a pretty solid option for most gamer's needs. It’s built around a very competitive 7th generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core processor, with 12GB of DDR4 RAM and a decent 256GB SSD.

The battery life isn’t spectacular, but it still got almost six hours in our 1080p video playback test. This can be considered the best budget gaming laptop for less than 500 dollars.

The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is one of your best options when looking for a high-quality, durable, and lightweight budget laptop. It’s powered by an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD hard drive.

It has a 17.3 Full HD display with an anti-glare coating and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card to provide stunning visuals onscreen—even in high settings.

For increased functionality, it features dual USB 3.1 ports and an audio jack so you can plug in headphones and connect to Bluetooth speakers if needed! The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is available for purchase at $799 on Amazon!

The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is a good mid-range gaming laptop that's more than capable of handling games like Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and DOTA 2. Despite its affordability and features, though, it’s not without its shortcomings.

It has a fan that gets loud during intense sessions, so you’ll want to wear headphones if you plan on using them for any extended period of time. And as with many other budget laptops on our list.

It’s sporting a lower-than-HD display with poor viewing angles. It also lacks an SSD or 1TB of storage space – in fact, there are no hard drives at all.

4. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i

Costing less than a thousand dollars, you won’t find many laptops that provide as much bang for your buck as Lenovo's IdeaPad Gaming 3i. This PC is powerful enough to handle games like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Battlefield 4 on high settings.

But it can also run efficiently if you need to perform other tasks. And thanks to its Nvidia graphics processor, you’ll also be able to play console-quality games without sacrificing quality.

Unlike most laptops in its price range, it includes a 1TB hard drive and 8GB of RAM, which means you won’t have trouble installing applications or storing pictures and videos on your device.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is a full-featured laptop that doesn’t charge an arm and a leg for performance. It boasts a full HD display, built-in Wifi, Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports, and a memory card reader.

Add in its cool customizable LED lights and you have yourself one of the best value laptops available. The processor isn’t as fast as some of its more expensive competitors but if all you’re looking for is basic computing power then you should be satisfied with its performance.

It only has 4 GB of memory but since it can accommodate 8 GB RAM you could upgrade at any time in order to improve your experience if need be.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is a superb, mid-range gaming machine. It has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive for under $900.

That’s a great deal for all of those pieces you get. If you want to step up your game, even more, there’s always the option to upgrade it to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of hard drive space by adding just $250 more.

5. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

The Legion 5 Pro is Lenovo’s top-of-the-line offering and as such, it comes with a premium price tag. It features great performance, an excellent display, and a battery that can last you up to 4 hours on one charge.

However, its battery life isn’t as great as that of some of its rivals. Additionally, its fans are a bit loud when they kick in so if quietness is a priority then you may want to look elsewhere. Overall though, it’s hard not to recommend The Legion 5 Pro from Lenovo;

If you’re looking for something with plenty of power but at an affordable price then it could be for you. The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is one of the most affordable options for a high-end gaming laptop. 

Starting at $1299, it can play games like Overwatch and Minecraft on ultra settings. The Legion 5 Pro comes equipped with Intel Core i7 processors, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1050TI GPU, 15.6 display with an IPS panel, and more.

For a more portable version, you can get the $999 model that only comes equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor but has a 14 display with G-sync support. Either way, you're getting a lot of value for your money here and will have no problem running most AAA titles on high or max settings.

The Legion Pro is an excellent example of a mid-priced, high-quality gaming laptop. With a 17-inch 1080p screen and 8th Gen Intel i7 processor, it has all of the power you need to play games at its highest settings.

Plus, with plenty of storage space and a decent GPU for less than $1,000, you’ll be able to play for hours without breaking your wallet.

6. Evoo LP-7

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a high-end gaming laptop that offers good performance, great build quality, and solid battery life at an affordable price. The Helios 300 boasts a speedy Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256GB SSD alongside a 1TB HDD.

It features a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display with excellent viewing angles, impressive audio output, and RGB backlit keyboard as well as an excellent GPU in Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. All these specs make it one of the best cheap gaming laptops you can buy for under 500 dollars.

At 2.5 pounds, it’s a bit heavy for a gaming notebook, but with its powerful 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics card, it’s still worth looking at. Plus, you can get it in silver or black.

(If you want to see what other laptops were top-rated by Wirecutter, check out our guide.) For example, an Evoo LP-7 will set you back $1,100 — but comes with a speedy 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti discrete graphics card to boot. 

The only downside is that battery life is limited to 4 hours — though that should be enough for most people during a workday away from an outlet.

One of the best affordable gaming laptops on Amazon is actually an Evoo LP-7 system, which is $400. It has a 17-inch 1080p screen, 1TB hard drive, and 8GB RAM.

Its graphics card is even powerful enough to play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at playable frame rates, according to customer reviews. This model only weighs 5 pounds and can be purchased online.

7. Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022)

The Helios 300 is an affordable, portable, and powerful gaming laptop that’s designed for esports—and it performs exceptionally well on less-demanding titles like League of Legends. The model I tested featured a 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor.

A 256GB solid-state drive, 16GB of RAM, and a 15.6-inch 1080p display. There are many things to love about it—and few to dislike (such as mediocre battery life). It’s also relatively lightweight at 6 pounds, so you can easily slip it into a backpack and carry it around campus or work.

If you’re looking for a cheap and high-quality Windows 10 notebook, look no further than Acer Predator Helios 300. This is a brilliant combination of price and performance that won’t leave your wallet or nerves broken in case of purchasing.

This gaming laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card with 6GB GDDR5 VRAM. In other words, it has the power to handle any AAA game from last year.

Even at 4K resolution. With 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD + additional hard drive bay for extra memory and space for games, you can run them smoothly without significant lags or slowdowns.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is our top choice for an affordable gaming laptop. It has a nice design, strong performance, and features that make it easy to upgrade.

It’s one of our favorite affordable gaming laptops available today. The model we tested retails for around $900, but you can find it in stores for as low as $750 or less, depending on sales.