You Don’t Need to Spend a Fortune to Get a Great Gaming Laptop

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It’s easy to assume that you need to shell out thousands of dollars to get a great gaming laptop. The best of the best often cost quite a pretty penny, it’s true: They have the latest processors and graphics cards, and might even pack all that into a svelte, Macbook-esque package.

That doesn’t mean you need to spend much to buy a good gaming PC, though. Even with a budget of $1,000, you’ll be able to secure a shiny new laptop that can run graphically demanding games like Alan Wake 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3. (You may not be able to run them at the highest graphics settings, but I promise they’ll still look quite sharp.) Finding a good, cheap laptop takes a little homework, though. We’ll lay out what to consider when buying a gaming laptop, and help you find the best gaming laptop under $1,000.

Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000

• Best Overall: Gigabyte G5 (2024)

• Best Value: Asus TUF F15

• Best Performance: Dell G15 (Dark Shadow Gray)

• Best 17-Inch Display: Asus TUF Gaming F17 (2023)

• Best AMD / Best Display: Lenovo Legion 5

What to Consider

A laptop, gaming or otherwise, is an investment. It’s important to make sure you get something that meets your needs and last at least a few years. To really know that for certain, you have to take a look at your prospective PCs’ specs lists, which give you a sense of what’s under the hood. If that sounds intimidating, we’ll highlight the most important things to look for, and explain how they work.

Reckon you can stretch to a bigger budget? Check out our pick of gaming laptops under $1,500.

GPU

More than any other component, the best indicator of gaming performance in a laptop is its graphics processing unit, or GPU, which handles image and video rendering for your PC. In games, it churns out the polygons, creating what you see on screen.

Two hardware manufacturers design GPUs for gaming laptops, Nvidia or AMD. There isn’t too much separating the two at this price point, but Nvidia chipsets seem to be more popular in gaming laptops. That said, AMD GPUs are often more affordable while providing near comparable performance, particularly at the budget to mid range.

Nvidia GPUs are designated by four-digit numbers: The first two set the generation of the card–10, 20, 30 or 40–and the second two indicate the model number, ranging from the budget-tier “50” model to the ultra-power “90” model. The Nvidia RTX 4090, for example, is the most powerful GPU around.

AMD follows a similar naming pattern for its GPUs, where the first digit denotes the generation, of which there are three levels going from 5,000 to 7,000, with the 7 series being the best. The second digit indicates performance level. Right now there are only three Nvidia laptop GPUs, but the 6,000 series spanned from 6300 to 6850. As of April, 2024, the RX 7900M and 7900 XTX are AMD’s most powerful laptop GPUs.

In our price range, we’re mostly looking at the current budget-tier cards (Nvidia 4050 and 4060 or AMD 7600), and last-gen budget cards (Nvidia 3050 and 3060 or AMD 6600.) Unless the price is very low, we recommend looking for a current-generation card in a laptop around $1,000. Hold out for the Nvidia 4060 if your laptop features a larger screen.

CPU

Part orchestral composer, part number cruncher, your laptop’s central processing unit (CPU) is always busy behind the scenes, processing tasks, commanding hardware, and allocating resources. While playing a game, the GPU handles the lion’s share of game graphics, while the CPU processes game logic and physics.

As with GPUs, there are two names in laptop processors, Intel and AMD. While their performance is comparable, AMD CPUs often yield better battery life and cooler temps, while Intel usually offers better performance.

Within our budget, you’re mostly looking at Intel i5 Core and AMD Ryzen 5 processor, which are generally quite capable when paired with a decent GPU. If you plan to play the latest and greatest games, it may make sense to step up to an Intel i7/ AMD Ryzen 7: The more powerful processor is better equipped to handle more complex games with ease and are better future proofed for titles to come. That said, getting an i7 / Ryzen 7 CPU isn’t a given within our budget, so be prepared to compromise or spend a little extra.

Memory

Random-access memory (RAM) provides a quick and easy space for your machine to hold the files and assets your game needs as you play—think character models and in-game textures—rather than having to trundle back to the hard drive to seek out these resources. A healthy amount keeps your games running snappy and smooth.

We recommend looking for a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM, which ensures a decent frame rate and responsiveness at the highest possible setting. That said, as prices decline, you’re increasingly likely to find machines with only 8GB, which can have a marked performance and framerate drop when dealing with more modern and complex games such as multiplayer or open world titles..

Display

The right screen is important for so many reasons, it brings you into the game, creates that “wow” factor with bold colors and sharp textures, and generally gives your laptop the ability to make your games look their best.

The most important choice you have to make around your laptop display is screen size, not only because it makes your games easier to see, but because screen size dictates your laptop’s physical size and weight. If you’re after something highly portable, a smaller 14-inch display might be the way to go. On the other hand, big, heavy gaming laptops with a 17-inch screen suck you in with the ability to see more detail, though they tend to be heavy, unwieldy, and more expensive.

More often than not, a 15.6- or 16-inch screen gives you a balance between the deep immersion of a big screen and the ability to slip your PC into a backpack. Plus, you can always invest in a larger gaming monitor if you want that big-screen experience.

Size isn’t everything, though. It’s also important to look at your laptop’s resolution, or the number of pixels it uses to create what’s on screen. Nearly all budget laptops are going to have a 1080p (Full HD) display, though some laptops have popularized the taller 16:10 aspect ratio, denoted by 1200p resolution. However, almost everyone gets on fine with a 1080p display, particularly when paired with a budget GPU.

Lastly, gamers should pay extra attention to the display’s refresh rate. Measured in Hertz (Hz), refresh rate tells you how often the screen can update itself with a new image each second, effectively capping the number of frames of animation your game can use. Having a screen with a 120Hz refresh rate or higher ensures that your game always runs as smoothly as your CPU and GPU allows.

How We Selected

I’ve been playing games my entire life, and was raised as a PC gamer. Ever since taking my first desktop PC apart and installing a new graphics card, I’ve owned various desktops and laptops, and ensured that each one featured a decent GPU for gaming. My dual passions–computing and gaming–led me to review PCs, laptops and games for a variety of publications, including Stuff, Forbes, and PCGamesN.

To pick the best gaming laptops on a strict $1,000 budget, I scoured the internet for the latest laptops with strong GPUs, capable CPUs, and decent displays with fast refresh rates that fit within our budget. Since we’re talking about mid-tier machines, not all of them can play every AAA game on “ultra” or even “high” settings: I made sure to highlight where a laptop might be better for light or casual gaming.

For the products I haven’t personally used, I’ve performed extensive research, reviewing content from expert sources and dozens of user reviews.

G5 Gaming Laptop

Underneath Gigabyte G5’s unassuming shell, there’s a very capable gaming machine. It features an Intel i7-13620H CPU paired with a mid-series GeForce RTX 4050, which should be good enough to run Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl justice on medium settings. Pair that with a bright 15.6-inch, 1080p display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, and you have a well-rounded gaming experience.

While I was thrilled with general performance, the G5 offers fairly meager battery life. (While there are power-sipping laptops, gamers should generally be prepared to plug in their charger when they sit down to play.) I’m also not a huge fan of how it looks, but that’s just me being picky. Overall, the Gigabyte G5 is a perfect snapshot of what you should expect from a gaming laptop at this price point.

Tuf F15 Gaming Laptop

There are good laptop deals and there are great laptop deals. Paying $649 for a laptop with a dedicated GPU is the latter. Admittedly, that sets the bar low. Like many of our picks, the Asus TUF F15’s low price stems from older components, including an Nvidia GeForce 3050 GPU and 11’th generation Intel Core i5 CPU, which is getting a little long in the tooth. Given that, you may need to dial back your settings for new AAA games like Elden Ring.

That said, Asus’ TUF line are popular budget gaming laptops for a reason. They feature a stylish look and a durable design that lives up to the name: With a MIL-STD-810H rating, it’s made to handle drops, vibrations, humidity, and extreme temperatures. Ultimately, the F15 offers good performance for most PC games, save for the latest and greatest, and does so without denting your wallet.

G15 Gaming Laptop

Looking to squeeze as much performance out of your gaming laptop? The Dell G15 is the most powerful laptop I’ve seen within our budget. Packed with a 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, it is likely the best GPU-CPU pairing you can get for a grand before Black Friday. All that power demands a fairly thick and heavy frame for cooling, so bear that in mind if you’re a frequent traveler.

It also has a 15.6-inch 1080p display, but with an incredible, esports-grade 360 Hz refresh rate. Very few laptop screens offer this kind of performance at any price point, forget about our budget. Realistically, this is overkill for most players, since only a few modern games will be able to run at such high frame rates, but this is definitely the move for aspiring esports competitors.

TUF Gaming F17 (2023) Gaming Laptop

If you’re looking for the biggest screen in a portable gaming rig, take a good look at Asus’ TUF Gaming F17. Our value pick’s big brother is a built behemoth, sporting a large 17.3-inch screen with minimal bezels and a respectable 144 Hz refresh rate.

Like TUF F15, the F17 features last-gen budget processors–a GeForce RTX 3050 and a 12th-generation Intel iCore i5–which limits its capacity with graphically intensive games. Still, it’s enough for those looking to indulge in indies, classics, and graphically flexible games such as Horizon Zero Dawn and Rocket League.

Naturally, expect the battery to be somewhat lacking for a laptop of this size, so be prepared to be tethered to the mains for longer play sessions.

Legion 5 Gaming Laptop

Though rare, it is possible to get a 1440p display on a gaming laptop for under a grand. The 15.6-inch, 1440p display on the Lenovo Legion 5 puts 50 percent more pixels into each frame than our other picks, creating sharper, more detailed games. It also features a faster-than-average 165 Hz refresh rate for smooth animations.

Thanks to its Ryzen 7 and GeForce RTX 4060 processors, it has the horsepower to take advantage of that impressive screen and make plenty of graphics-heavy blockbusters look beautiful. Plus, thanks to the RTX 4060’s deep learning super-sampling (DLSS) technology, which uses AI to generate additional frames of animation, even ultra-demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 looks sharp on this system. Even if battery life is mediocre, the Legion 5 represents a great laptop that stands out even in an increasingly crowded mid-range market.

Rog Strix G15 (2022) Gaming Laptop

Watch people’s heads turn as you boot up your Asus ROG Strix G15, with its RGB light bar and keyboard casting some serious personality onto an otherwise plasticky frame. It also looks the part of a gaming laptop thanks to its pronounced double hinges, asymmetric top panel with a dotted design that sports the Zephyrus logo.

Its last-gen RTX 3050 and Ryzen 7 processors hinder its triple-A gaming capabilities, but the MUX switch goes a little way to mitigate that. This toggle allows the GPU to bypass the CPU and output directly to the display, which reduces latency and boosts frame rates.

Still, if your intention is to drop into the latest games, such as Helldivers 2 and Starfield, we’d advise you to opt for something with a more powerful GPU, like the Nvidia RTX 4060. The Strix G15 works wonders for less performance intensive games like Disco Elysium or Sea of Stars, and look good doing it.

Thin GF63 Gaming Laptop

At just over four pounds, the MSI Thin GF63 is well-suited to students and anyone who wants to bring their gaming PC everywhere. It’s a cheap, no-frills laptop that offers the relatively high performance of a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 and Nvidia GTX 4050, which should run most games smoothly in 1080p. Its black design with red trim on its logo and keyboard means you can take it to the office or class without arousing suspicions.

Of course, there are concessions that have chiseled the price down—the speakers lack oomph, the screen could be brighter, and the chassis gets very hot. Still, for a compact rig with a mid-range current gen GPU, there’s plenty to love here.

Katana 15 Gaming Laptop

New to PC gaming? The MSI Katana 15 offers a great way for console players and new gamers to dip their toes in the PC gaming pond. It’s a solid laptop that handles games well with its Intel Core i7-13620H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. The design is a choice: It has a fairly bland, all-black chassis with some ultra-bright translucent WASD keys that stand out on an already-backlit keyboard.

It’s also not the thinnest laptop around–nearly five pounds–so be prepared for a bit of a workout on your commute. Still, it offers great value and performance compared to many of its peers. Plus, with Nvidia’s 40-series GPUs comes DLSS, which boosts many games’ performance.

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