5 Best Budget Gaming Laptops of 2024 (Tested & Ranked)

Finding the best and cheapest laptop for gaming in 2024 is easier than ever, thanks to powerful, budget-friendly options that deliver smooth gameplay without breaking the bank. Whether you're a casual gamer, student, or budget-conscious player, this guide covers the top-performing, most affordable gaming laptops under $1,000, along with key specs to look for.

Why Buy a Budget Gaming Laptop?

Gaming laptops under $1,000 have become incredibly popular due to the following:
✔ Affordable entry point for new gamers
✔ Decent performance for esports & AAA games (medium settings)
✔ Portability for gaming on the go
✔ Versatility for work, school, and entertainment

Best budget gaming laptops now feature GTX 1650/1660 Ti GPUs, Ryzen 5/i5 CPUs, and 8-16GB RAM—enough for Fortnite, GTA V, Valorant, and more.

Key Features of a Great Budget Gaming Laptop

1. Processor (CPU), or your laptop's brain

• Intel Core i5-12450H / AMD Ryzen 5 5600H (Best for budget gaming)

• Intel Core i7 / Ryzen 7 (Better for multitasking & future-proofing)

2. Graphics Card (GPU) – Most Important for Gaming

• NVIDIA GTX 1650 (1080p gaming at medium-high settings)

• GTX 1660 Ti / RTX 3050 (Better performance for under $1,000)

• AMD Radeon RX 5600M (Great alternative to NVIDIA)

3. RAM – Smooth Multitasking & Gaming

• 8GB RAM (Minimum for most games)

• 16GB RAM (Ideal for AAA titles & streaming)

4. Storage – SSD vs. HDD

• 256GB-512GB SSD (Faster load times, smoother performance)

• 1TB HDD + SSD combo (Extra storage for games)

5. Display – Refresh Rate & Resolution

• 1080p (Full HD) at 60Hz (Standard for budget laptops)

• 120Hz/144Hz (Better for competitive gaming)

6. Cooling – Avoid Overheating & Throttling

• Dual-fan systems (Essential for long gaming sessions)

• Ventilation & heat pipes (prevent performance drops)

Top 5 Best Cheapest Gaming Laptops in 2024

1. Acer Nitro 5 – Best Overall Budget Gaming Laptop

✅ Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-12450H / AMD Ryzen 5 5600H

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650

• RAM: 8GB (Upgradable to 16GB)

• Storage: 512GB SSD

• Display: 15.6" 1080p 144Hz

Why Buy?
✔ Best performance under $800
✔ Great cooling & upgradability
✔ High refresh rate for competitive gaming

2. ASUS TUF Gaming A15 – Most Durable Budget Pick

✅ Specs:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti

• RAM: 16GB DDR4

• Storage: 512GB SSD

• Display: 15.6" 1080p 144Hz

Why Buy?
✔ Military-grade durability
✔ Excellent battery life
✔ Strong GPU for the price

3. Lenovo Legion 5 – Best Performance Under $1,000

✅ Specs:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H

• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3050

• RAM: 16GB DDR4

• Storage: 512GB SSD

• Display: 15.6" 1080p 165Hz

Why Buy?
✔ RTX 3050 for ray tracing support
✔ Premium build quality
✔ High refresh rate display

4. Dell G3 15 – Best for Work & Play

✅ Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-12500H

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650

• RAM: 8GB DDR4

• Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD

• Display: 15.6" 1080p 120Hz

Why Buy?
✔ Hybrid storage for extra space
✔ Sleek, professional design
✔ Good battery life

5. HP Pavilion Gaming 15 – Best Budget Thin & Light

✅ Specs:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650

• RAM: 8GB DDR4

• Storage: 512GB SSD

• Display: 15.6" 1080p 60Hz

Why Buy?
✔ Lightweight & portable
✔ Solid battery life
✔ Great for casual gaming

Gaming Performance: What to Expect from Budget Laptops

Verdict:

• GTX 1650 → Best for esports & older AAA games

• GTX 1660 Ti / RTX 3050 → Better for modern AAA titles

FAQs – Best Budget Gaming Laptops (2024)

✅ Acer Nitro 5 (GTX 1650 + Ryzen 5) or ASUS TUF A15 (GTX 1660 Ti).

✅ Yes, but at medium settings (50-60 FPS). RTX 3050 models handle them better.

⚠️ Bare minimum—upgrade to 16GB for smoother performance in modern games.

✅ SSD is a must (faster load times). Some laptops offer SSD + HDD combos for extra storage.

⚖️ AMD Ryzen = Better value | Intel Core i5/i7 = Slightly better battery life.

✅ Yes! Most allow RAM & SSD upgrades, but GPU is usually fixed.

Final Verdict: Best Cheap Gaming Laptop in 2024

Final Tip: If possible, aim for a GTX 1660 Ti or RTX 3050 for better future-proofing!