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Over the past few years, gaming laptops have only gotten better and better. Top models can play the most demanding releases, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, at high settings with stable frame rates. But as gaming laptops get better, they also get more expensive. This means that shopping for the best budget gaming laptops — models that’ll play great games without destroying your wallet — is trickier than ever.
That’s why we’re here to help. Through a combination of testing and research, we’ve picked nine of the best budget gaming laptops you can buy, ranging in price from less than $800 to around $1,200. Our top recommendations include staples like the Acer Nitro 5, which offers fantastic Nvidia RTX 30-series graphics for a low price, and new favorites with high-end RTX 40-series hardware like the HP Victus 16, which features a massive amount of customizability to fit any price range.
Our top picks for the best budget gaming laptops
Best overall: Acer Nitro 5 – See at Amazon
The Acer Nitro 5 can be configured for under $800 while still being powerful enough to play all of the latest games.
Best for everyday use: Acer Aspire 7 – See at Acer
The Acer Aspire 7 isn’t typically marketed as a gaming laptop, but it offers great graphics and a slim design for a low price.
Best for $1,000: Gigabyte G5 – See at Amazon
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the Gigabyte G5 is one of the best budget gaming laptops you can get for around $1,000.
Best with an RTX 4050: MSI Bravo 15 – See at Amazon
The MSI Bravo 15 is equipped with a powerful RTX 4050 graphics card and more RAM than most other budget gaming laptops.
Best for high-end hardware: HP Victus 16t-r – See at HP
When on sale, the HP Victus 16t-r can be configured with a top-tier RTX 4060 GPU and an Intel i7 CPU for less than $1,200.
Best for vibrant visuals: Dell G15 – See at Amazon
The Dell G15 is configurable with a bright 400-nit screen and powerful Intel 13th generation CPUs.
Best for battery life: Asus TUF A15 – See at Amazon
Asus’ TUF A15 boasts a military-grade shock resistant design, and delivers impressive battery life that can last for around eight hours.
Best for cloud gaming: Acer Chromebook 516 GE – See at Best Buy
Though its specs can’t match those of a traditional gaming laptop, this Acer Chromebook is perfect for streaming cloud gaming services like Xbox Game Pass.
Best laptop alternative: Asus ROG Ally – See at Best Buy
The Asus ROG Ally is a handheld gaming PC that offers an even more portable experience than a laptop.
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