So you want a gaming laptop, but you don’t have the budget to spend thousands on the latest high-end machines? All is not lost! Many companies are now making pretty good gaming laptops for less than $1,000.
To do this, they borrow design and technology from their flagship products but downgrade certain elements, such as the processors, to deliver a more affordable model. While they won’t compare to the top-of-the-range gaming machines, you can certainly get something decent.
Read on as we review our top picks for the five best gaming laptops for under $1,000. We’ll also share our key criteria for picking a decent gaming laptop on a budget.
Product Overview
Acer Nitro 5
HP Pavilion 15.6
Lenovo Legion 5
HP Victus 16.1
Dell G15 5511
5 Best Gaming Laptops For Under $1,000
All models of gaming laptops are up-to-date and meet all the requirements of modern games and programs, so you can be calm! )
1 Acer Nitro 5
The Acer Nitro 5 stands out as one of the most affordable “decent” gaming laptops, available for well under $1,000 even when it is not on sale. It has the minimum requirements for decent gaming, but not too much on top of that.
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics
- i5 Intel Core processor
- 15.6 FHD Screen
The Acer runs off a reliable i5 Core processor. If you have already gamed with an i7 you will be disappointed, but it is almost impossible to get an i7 for less than $1,000. On top of that, it runs an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics processor with dedicated RAM, which is considered respectable. The hardware is designed for you to start playing the latest AAA games right away without any tweaking.
The screen is 15.6 inches and offers full HD quality, but while the screen is a good size for mobility, the design of the laptop overall is a bit bulky which won’t appeal to all users. Most users will like the smooth and usable trackpad and the backlit keyboard with a separate number pad, even if the keys are on the small side.
It comes with the standard 8GB of RAM but a generous 256GB of internal storage, which will appeal to those playing various games on the go. It also has an impressive battery life, lasting around 5 hours on a single charge.
If you are looking for an affordable gaming laptop that isn’t much beyond basic gaming, you will be very satisfied with this option from Acer.
2 HP Pavilion 15.6
The HP Pavilion has long been a “go-to” machine for those looking for an affordable gaming laptop, delivering decent quality for well under $1,000. While the laptop is thicker than most non-gaming laptops, it has a sleek design.
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- 15.6 inches FHD
This laptop runs off an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, which is more than up to the job though certainly not as powerful as more expensive options. It partners this with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics processor, which delivers great image quality at 144 Hz. This offers a sufficiently fast refresh rate for most games to look pretty spectacular on the 15.6-inch FHD screen.
The backlit keyboard is springy and responsive and makes good use of its limited space. It is also surprisingly both cool and quiet. There is nothing worse than a hot laptop on your lap or a wiring fan drowning out your sound.
It comes with a respectable 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of ROM, but what is less impressive is the battery life. Expect to get just a few hours of cord-free gaming in before needing to find a power socket.
If you are looking for an affordable gaming laptop for right now, the HP Pavilion is reliable. It may have a limited future, though, since it doesn’t offer the latest graphics processor.
3 Lenovo Legion 5
If you are looking for an affordable gaming laptop with as many features that match the more expensive options as you can squeeze in, Lenovo offers a lot of bang for your buck with the Legion 5. Prices do fluctuate, but frequent discounts mean that it often falls below $1,000.
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor
- 16.5-inch FHD screen
The Lenovo Legion principally stands out for three reasons. First, it runs off an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, which is faster and more agile than the i5 processors of other laptops around its price point. It couples this with a generous 16GB of RAM, as opposed to the standard 8GB at this price, and 512GB of ROM.
Add to this that it uses one of the more advanced Nvidia graphics processors, specifically the GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, and you have a very powerful and up-to-the-minute machine on your hands.
The True Strike keyboard feels durable and responsive when you are playing, but overall, Lenovos don’t have a reputation for being the most durable machine. That may put some off, but we think this one is worth the risk.
The Lenovo Legion is probably the highest-spec gaming laptop that you can get around the $1,000 mark.
4 HP Victus 16.1
The HP Victus is another affordable laptop that gives you a lot of bang for your buck when you are looking for gaming options, but the cheaper versions of the Victus aren’t always easy to find as there are more expensive options on the market as well.
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics
- i5 Intel Core processor
- 16.1-inch FHD display
While the HP Victus still runs off an i5 intel core, it runs a future-proof Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics processor. This pushes through to a 16.1-inch full HD display with lots of features for better image quality such as micro-edge, anti-glare, and 178-degree wide viewing angles.
This is coupled with a very impressive battery. You can charge from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes, and the laptop can last for up to 7 hours on a single charge. That is something to write home about!
This all comes in a nice package with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of ROM, and a springy backlit keyboard.
Better respected than Lenovo, if you want an HP laptop and the latest graphics card all in a package for less than $1,000, this one is worth checking out.
5 Dell G15 5511
No list would be complete without an offering from Dell, though they are better known for more expensive laptops. If you love the Dell brand, though, this budget option will impress.
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics
- i5 Intel Core processor
- 15.6-inch FHD screen
This is basically a budget version of Dell’s Alienware laptops, offering “almost as good.” You get an i5 Intel Core processor rather than an i7, and the excellent Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 instead of the 3060 that is standard with many Dell laptops.
As well as a great FHD 15.6-inch screen, the laptop also has dual speakers with nahimic 3D audio, ideal for gaming. The laptop also keeps cool with a dual air intake.
With 8GB of RAM and 512GB of ROM, this is a great little machine capable of playing the latest AAA games. The only disappointment is that it is just not as good as the other (more expensive) Dell laptops that you will no doubt look at.
Dell is a great brand, and this is a great affordable gaming laptop. End of story.
Want to game on your Android TV box?
Buying Guide
There are lots of things to consider when choosing a gaming laptop. Do you have a brand that you like? Do you want a big screen or something portable? Do you enjoy a funky backlit keyboard?
When it comes to performance, though, there are three main things to consider.
Graphics Card
The quality of the graphics card will dictate how well your laptop can deliver a high-quality, smooth, and continuous gaming experience.
While there are some outliers, almost all gaming laptops use Nvidia GeForce graphics processors as they are considered the best on the market. The question is which one?
Most of your gaming laptops under $1,000 will use a 16-series processor which is excellent especially up to 1080p and has a good virtual memory for smooth graphics. These processors are set to become obsolete, though, because Nvidia has already produced better ones.
More expensive gaming laptops tend to use 3050 or 3060 Nvidia processors, which do much better at full 4K. They also use ray tracing that generates interactive images based on lighting, shadows, and reflections. If you can find one of these processors in a more affordable laptop, that is great news. It means that your laptop will probably remain current for longer.
Core Processor
Your laptop needs a decent core processor to hold everything together. While expensive gaming laptops usually have an i7 processor, it is rare to see anything above an i5 in a laptop for under $1,000.
The i5 is up to the job, but if you have already used an i7 you will probably notice the downgrade in performance with the i5.
Display
Beyond choosing the size you want (15.6 inches is standard for most gaming laptops), it is important to consider the refresh rate. You need a high refresh rate for games to appear smooth and continuous.
Expect a 144 Hz refresh rate on the most affordable gaming laptops. This is good but does not compare so well with the 240 Hz you can expect with more expensive laptops, but bear in mind most standard monitors only offer 60 Hz.
Find our recommendations for the best Bluetooth gaming controllers here.
FAQs
Are gaming laptops worth it?
If you want to play AAA games on your laptop, you need to invest in a gaming laptop. Standard laptops generally don’t have the display or the graphics processor for a smooth gaming experience, but a gaming laptop will be powerful enough to do that and also let you do other standard activities.
How long do gaming laptops last?
If you buy a high-end gaming laptop, you can expect it to have a life of 4-6 years as new games are released. If you buy a more affordable option, you can anticipate a 3-4 year life as components become too dated to play modern games.
The Verdict
Gaming laptops are notoriously expensive, and many passionate players are happy to pay but not everyone has that luxury. Fortunately, you can get something decent for gaming for less than $1,000.
The key is to look for a decent core processor and graphics processor and manage your expectations for what you can expect to get for the price.
We recommend that you start your search by looking at the reliable Acer Nitro 5 or the high-end but affordable Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop.
