When most people think of gaming laptops, they imagine high-end gaming machines with the latest graphics card, processor and so on. And of course, gaming laptops of that caliber are going to come with a hefty price tag. However, it is possible to get a budget gaming laptop that still lets you play the latest AAA titles, without spending thousands of unnecessary dollars. If you’re searching for the best budget gaming laptop, you’ve come to the right place. All of our recommendations come in at a palatable $1,250 or less, meaning you can still enjoy an immersive gaming experience, at a much more affordable price. They all boast speedy SSDs, dedicated graphics cards and generous screen sizes, which are must-haves when investing in a budget gaming laptop.

Best budget gaming laptops for 2025

Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

Dell was one of the first PC makers to combine a decent amount of graphics power in a sub-$1,000 system. The latest G15 builds on that experience. It starts at $800 with Intel’s 13th-gen i5-13450HX, an RTX 3050 laptop GPU and 8GB of RAM, making it one of the best budget gaming laptop choices around. We’d recommend bumping up to the $1,000 model with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 165Hz 1080p screen with NVIDIA’s G-SYNC technology, ensuring high fps and smooth gaming performance.

While it’s no Alienware, the G15 carries over some of that premium brand’s design cues with a sharp, angular case and LED-backlit keys. It’s also surprisingly sturdy for the price, with a durable chassis that should hold up to years of use. And while it doesn’t go all-in on RGB, it still delivers an attractive gaming aesthetic without over-the-top lighting effects.

$900 at Dell

Acer

The Acer Nitro 5 is another great affordable gaming laptop option, though we’ve yet to see it get Intel’s 13th-gen chips. Still, the 12th-gen model is no slouch: It’s equipped with 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA’s RTX 3050 and 512GB of storage. Just like Dell, Acer has plenty of experience building PC gaming machines, so this will likely survive years of extreme play. The Nitro 5’s multi-colored RGB backlit keyboard and rear red accents also give off a stronger gamer vibe than the G15. Side note: Acer’s Nitro 16 may also be worth considering if it dips below $1,000, since it features newer CPUs and GPUs and improved Wi-Fi capabilities for better online gaming.

$1,000 at Best Buy

The HP Victus 15 is the ideal affordable gaming laptop for someone who doesn’t want to be seen with a gaming laptop. Its all-black chassis is sleek and understated, making it a great option for those who need a laptop for both gaming and web browsing. The laptop display is impressive for the price, offering a 144Hz FHD screen that helps maintain smooth frame rates in fast-paced games.

Under the hood, it still packs enough graphics power to handle modern titles, featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, NVIDIA’s RTX 3050 Ti, 16GB of RAM and SSD storage of up to 4TB. It also includes a solid selection of connectivity options, including USB-C and HDMI 2.1, so you can easily hook it up to an external monitor. While it may not have flashy RGB lighting, its solid performance and subtle design make it a great choice for gamers who want a balance between work and play.

$899 at Amazon

What is a budget gaming laptop?

To get a high-end gaming experience, you can easily spend $5,000 on a fully tricked-out notebook like the Razer Blade 18. But when it comes to the best budget gaming laptops, we’re focusing on the other end of the pricing spectrum: laptops under $1,000. It used to be tough to find a gaming option with decent performance at that price point but, as PC prices have fallen, they no longer seem like unicorns.

Stepping up a bit to systems between $1,000 and $2,000 puts you firmly in mid-range territory, which is beyond the scope of this guide. Still, it’s worth keeping an eye out for sales that can push those higher-end models below $1,000. Be sure to check out our guide to the best gaming laptops for a general overview of what to look out for in these more expensive systems.

Are cheap gaming laptops worth it?

Cheap gaming laptops are definitely worth it if you’re trying to save money and are being realistic about what you can get at this price range. You can expect to find Intel and AMD’s latest (but not greatest) CPUs, as well as entry-level GPUs like NVIDIA’s RTX 3050. Budget models are also typically paired with FHD screens running at a respectably high refresh rate of 120Hz or beyond — ensuring smooth frame rates in your favorite games. There are some exceptions though: Dell’s G16 (currently discounted to $900) is notable for its 16-inch quad HD+ screen.

Many cheap gaming laptops also skimp on specs like RAM and hard drive space. We’d recommend getting at least 16GB of RAM and SSD storage of at least 512GB. Modern games need a decent chunk of memory to run, and they also tend to be large, so you wouldn’t be able to fit much alongside Windows 11 on a 256B SSD. You might be tempted to jump on one of those dirt-cheap gaming laptop deals from Walmart or Best Buy, but it’s just not worth it if you’re stuck with 8GB of RAM or a tiny SSD.

As for build quality, expect to find more plastic than metal on budget gaming machines. Still, the best budget gaming laptops we’re recommending should be sturdy enough to last a few years. Affordable systems will also be heavier and thicker than mid-range and higher-end models, and often don’t have the best Wi-Fi or connectivity options. Battery life is another trade-off, though even the most expensive gaming laptops can struggle with longevity.

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