Is finding a budget gaming laptop that is capable of good gaming performance impossible? Do you need to spend more than $2000 to enjoy video games on the go? Not quite. While getting 60 FPS on 1080p on gaming laptops used to be much harder, thanks to the latest gen GPUs and CPUs, things got way cheaper. To make your research even easier, we compiled our choices of best gaming laptop deals for you.
Gaming seems like an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t need to be. These cheap laptops are not only powerhouses in terms of performance, but some of them are even capable of heavier tasks like VR gaming. So, it is entirely possible to have a satisfying gaming experience with high framerates on high graphic settings on these slim gaming laptops.
Notebooks also have the advantage of coming with the display and the keyboard, along with the fact that you don’t have to assemble it yourself. What we briefly reviewed here today are the 10 affordable gaming laptops we chose with care after extensive testing and research, and most of them are between the $800 – $1300 range. For those with a bit higher budget, we have better, more high-tier options as well.
While making this list of gaming laptop reviews, we considered 2 main areas: a laptop’s gaming performance (graphics and processing power, display frequency, storage, etc.) and its functionality as a notebook computer (battery life, weight, display size, etc.). It is also important to note that the number 1 isn’t better than number 2. Each product has a different price tag and it often reflects in their performance, so choose the one that better suits your budget.
We also included a summary table of the gaming laptops we covered here so you can have an overview of the features of each product and compare them to your interest. We have various options from different brands like ASUS, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, MSI, Razer, and HP. Plus, while the point of a gaming laptop is to carry your games with you no matter where you go, any one of these machines can easily be your main rig.
| Sl. No. | Laptop | Screen | Processor | Graphic Card | RAM | Storage |
| 1 | Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-53-72XD Gaming Laptop | 15.6″ Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display | 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | 16GB Dual-Channel DDR4 | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| 2 | ASUS TUF Gaming A15 | 15.6” 144Hz Full HD IPS-Type | AMD Ryzen 7 4800H | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe SSD |
| 3 | Lenovo Ideapad L340 | 15.6 Inch FHD IPS Display | Intel Core i5-9300H Processor | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | 8GB DDR4 RAM | 512GB Nvme SSD |
| 4 | MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 | 15.6″ FHD, 144Hz 3ms, Thin Bezel | Intel Core i7-10750H | NVIDIA RTX2070 | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| 5 | Lenovo Legion Y545 | 15.6″ FHD | Intel Hexa-Core i7-9750H Up to 4.5GHz | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5 | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 1TB HDD + 256GB PCIE SSD |
| 6 | Razer Blade 15 CNC Aluminium Laptop | 15.6″ FHD 1080p 144Hz | Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD |
| 7 | ASUS ROG Strix G15 | 15.6” 240Hz FHD IPS Type Display | Intel Core i7-10750H | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| 8 | Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop | 15.6″ Full HD IPS Display | Intel Core i5-9300H | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | 8GB DDR4 | 256GB NVMe SSD |
| 9 | HP OMEN 15-dc1020nr (VR Ready) | 15-Inch | Intel i7-9750H Processor | NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti (6 GB) | 8 GB DDR4 | 256 GB SSD |
| 10 | MSI GF65 Thin 9SEXR-250 | 15.6″, 120Hz | Core i7-9750H 2.6 – 4.5GHz Intel 9560 Jefferson Peak (2×2 802 11 ac) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6G GDDR6 | 8GB DDR4 | 512GB Nvme SSD |
So, without further ado, let’s grab our backpacks, charge our laptops, and take a look at these best budget gaming laptops under 2000 USD.
1. Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-53-72XD
Acer’s Predator series is well-known among gamers for delivering top-quality, high-performance gaming products. Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop is not an exception to this rule as it is packed with features. In terms of GPU, Helios 300 has the latest-gen RTX 2060 running inside. This is more than enough to play most modern games on 1080p resolution with high graphic settings.
Its processing power certainly matches its other features as Helios 300 has a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core processor. Plus, with 16 GB RAM, you are unlikely to run out of RAM anytime soon. Its most impressive feature is certainly its 144 Hz display, though, which is uncommon among gaming laptops. This high-frequency display also uses the IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology, which provides visibly livelier and more accurate colors.
On top of all of these amazing features, Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop’s slick design, RGB lights, and Acer’s signature Predator logo behind the display are also sure to turn a few heads if you are outside. In conclusion, the new Helios 300 is one of the best gaming laptop deals for its price range for now.
Pros:
+ Amazing 1080p gaming performance
+ 144 Hz IPS display
+ Great design
Cons:
– 512 GB SSD is not enough storage space
2. ASUS TUF Gaming A15
Asus TUF Gaming A15 is the definitive “No.” to the question of “Do I need to spend a fortune to get a good gaming laptop?”. Asus once again managed to squeeze everything a gamer may need inside a notebook. Starting with the GPU, we have the classic RTX 2060, which is the perfect choice for this price range. While you won’t be able to crank up the ray tracing settings, it provides excellent performance for 1080p gaming on high graphics.
For our processor, we have the octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 4800H. The main advantage this APU has over Intel CPUs is that it is considerably more energy-efficient. When you pair that with Asus TUF Gaming A15’s massive 90Wh battery, you get unusually long battery life for a gaming laptop, which is around 2 hours for gaming and 8 hours for web browsing.
When you combine these features with 1 TB SSD and 16 GB RAM, you get a system that is qualified to power a 15-inch 144 Hz IPS display, which this AMD gaming laptop also has. All things considered, Asus TUF Gaming A15 is the best gaming laptop for the money when it comes to the $1200 price range at the moment.
Pros:
+ Amazing 1080p gaming performance
+ Long battery life
+ 144 Hz IPS display
Cons:
– AMD Ryzen 7 4800H is too much for RTX 2060
3. Lenovo Ideapad L340
If our first two options were a bit too expensive for you, don’t worry; now we are moving down to the $900 price range. Lenovo Ideapad L340 serves as a perfect example of a cheap and thin gaming laptop. Starting with the GPU as our most important feature on a gaming PC, Lenovo Ideapad L340 comes with a GTX 1650. This is the perfect mid-tier GPU as it is powerful enough to provide smooth framerates on almost every modern game, but you may need to turn down your graphics settings sometimes.
Since Ideapad L340 isn’t trying to be the most powerful gaming laptop in the world, it features the Intel Core i5-9300H processor and 8 GB of RAM, which are enough to not bottleneck the performance. The 512 GB SSD won’t hold many modern games, though.
Design-wise, Ideapad L340 isn’t the flashiest gaming laptop out there, but it certainly looks elegant with its black matt finish. Plus, it has a very comfortable keyboard, so if you use external keyboards for laptops, you may want to ditch them for this.
All in all, is Lenovo Ideapad L340 the best budget gaming laptopout there? Maybe no, but it is one of the best.
Pros:
+ Good gaming performance
+ Affordable
+ Compact and elegant
Cons:
– It could’ve had more storage
4. MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062
If you are looking for a truly high-performance gaming laptop, MSI’s latest GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 is exactly what you need. As it is the only notebook with an RTX 2070 in our list, it is undoubtedly the most high end gaming laptop for its $1400 price range. While RTX 2070 can be a bit too much for 1080p gaming, it also means that you can turn up the graphics and ray tracing settings even higher without going below 60 FPS.
Of course, with a powerful GPU comes other powerful features: 10th gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor, dual-channel 16 GB RAM, and 144 Hz IPS display. When it comes to storage, though, the default 512 GB SSD is certainly not enough, so you may consider buying an additional 2.5” SATA SSD.
Appearance-wise, it has a classy matt black finish, but the standout here is the per-key backlighting, which makes it so that all keys have mixed colors. So, in terms of sheer gaming performance, MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 is simply the best gaming laptop under 1500 USD for the time being.
Pros:
+ RTX 2070
+ Per-key backlighting looks unique
+ High price/performance ratio
Cons:
– Needs more storage space
5. Lenovo Legion Y545
Just like Acer’s Predator series, Lenovo’s Legion series products have always delivered in terms of gaming performance. Legion Y545 is easily one of their most versatile products, though, because instead only focusing on gaming, it practically does everything at once.
For starters, its mid-range GTX 1650 GPU easily provides +30 FPS on 1080p with medium to high graphics settings in most modern games. But if you are also into hobbies that require high processing power, this gaming laptop also comes with a 9th Gen Intel Hexa-Core i7-9750H which can go up to 4.5 GHz. On top of the standard 16 GB RAM, it also has a 1 TB HDD and 256GB SSD, so you won’t run out of storage fast.
Lenovo Legion Y545’s design is also one of the best we’ve seen among other best buy gaming laptops. It has a very stylish and elegant gray finish and the thin bezels around the display let you fully focus on your games. Ultimately, Lenovo Legion Y545 isn’t the most powerful gaming laptop out there, but it certainly is one of the most versatile.
Pros:
+ Decent gaming performance
+ Looks very stylish
+ Has a lot of storage space
Cons:
– There are more powerful gaming laptops around the same price
6. Razer Blade 15 CNC Aluminium Laptop
Talking about Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop is hard because the thing about the Razer Blade 15 is that it has a lot of different configurations. For simplicity, though, we will review the RTX 2060 model with the 10th Gen i7.
Razer Blade 15 has always been known for its high gaming performance, sturdy build, and above-average battery life. It is safe to say that the new 2020 models continue this legacy. Performance-wise, RTX 2060 is capable of handling pretty much anything on the 1080p display on high graphics settings. The hexa-core 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor can go up to 5.0 GHz during heavy loads to give you that extra edge in terms of performance.
A 144 Hz display accompanies these high-performance features to let you see those extra frames. Better yet, the bezels around the display are ultra-thin, which makes the screen look way better and does not disrupt the view. This care in terms of designs also reflects on the general build quality of the laptop too as Razer Blade 15 is one of the sturdiest gaming laptops out there.
All in all, if you want a high-quality, high-performance gaming laptop with long battery life, Razer Blade 15 is a great choice.
Pros:
+ Excellent build quality
+ High gaming performance
+ Amazing design
Cons:
– Expensive for its specs
7. ASUS ROG Strix G15
While the vast difference between 60 Hz gaming and 144 Hz still blows some people’s minds, technology is far ahead of us; we already have 240 Hz displays. And when 144 Hz doesn’t exactly cut it, try ASUS ROG Strix G15.
We need to be clear from the start: This gaming laptop is designed for competitive gamers. A 240 Hz only works if you can get 240 FPS, and that will only make a great difference in competitive shooters like CS: GO and Overwatch.
From its remarkable design to near high-end specs, this gaming laptop makes its purpose very clear from its features. Its RTX 2070 and Intel Core i7-10750H combo can easily run every modern game on 1080p on high graphics settings. It also has a massive 1 TB of SSD to make sure you don’t run out of space easily.
ROG Strix G15 has Asus’ classic ROG design, with its thin bezels, matt finish, RGB lighting, and the obligatory ROG symbol behind the display. If you are into twitch-shooters and want to be able to join a competitive match on CS: GO no matter where you go, ASUS ROG Strix G15 is your gaming laptop.
Pros:
+ 240 Hz refresh rate
+ Excellent gaming performance
+ Eye-catching design
Cons:
– Poor battery life
– Mediocre build quality
8. Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop
If your budget is even lower than $700, Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop will be your saving grace. But its substantially lower price shouldn’t fool you as this gaming laptop is just as skilled in terms of handling your video games.
From its looks, build, and features, this is a midrange gaming laptop. Its GTX 1650 graphics card, while also a midrange GPU, can still run most modern games on good graphics settings on 1080p. The 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H is also a good partner to this system because it easily fulfills its job as a midrange CPU.
Of course, to lower the price, Acer had to make sacrifices. When we look at its specs, it is easy to see that these sacrifices were mainly the 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD. While 8 GB RAM is still enough for most games, 256 GB SSD will be filled up quickly, so keep that in mind.
While its low price certainly comes with some caveats, its gaming performance for its price very hard to match, which makes it the best gaming notebook under $700.
Pros:
+ Affordable
+ Good gaming performance
+ Great battery life
Cons:
– Low RAM and storage
9. HP OMEN 15-dc1020nr
HP’s gamer-focused product line OMEN has received new members last year, and the HP OMEN 15-dc1020nr was one of the most promising gaming laptops among them. OMEN laptops always prioritized a black & red color scheme, and beyond that elegant design, we have a very strong gaming notebook.
HP OMEN 15-dc1020nr’s GPU choice is GTX 1660 Ti, which is a very close little brother for the RTX 2060. This means that you can still turn up the graphics settings to high on most games without worrying too much. Its Intel i7-9750H processor still holds up great too, so you won’t run out of processing power for a couple of years.
Its 8 GB RAM can be seen as a shortcoming, but you can always add more RAM if you feel like it’s limiting your gaming performance. The 256 GB SSD will be a problem, though, if you are planning on downloading more than several games. It makes up for these with its great-looking design, high gaming performance, and build quality.
Among our affordable gaming laptops, HP OMEN 15-dc1020nr holds a strong place with its high price/performance ratio and simple yet elegant design.
Pros:
+ High price/performance ratio
+ Great design
+ Excellent build quality
Cons:
– Low RAM and storage
10. MSI GF65 Thin 9SEXR-250
MSI seems to have set its priorities to creating the most high-value products in the gaming market. One of their latest gaming laptops, GF65 Thin 9SEXR, still stands as one of the best examples of this. It is one of the cheapest gaming laptops to feature RTX 2060, at a price tag around $1100. It accomplishes this while cutting back as little as possible from the most important features, proving that MSI is one of the best gaming laptop brands.
Its RTX 2060 combined with Intel Core i7-9750H can easily power your gaming sessions with high frame rates for many years to come. GF65 also features a 120 Hz IPS display if you are into more competitive games that require higher frame rates. Of course, while the 512 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM can be seen as certain negatives here, it is important to keep in mind that these are done intentionally to keep the price down. Still, adding SSD/RAM later yourself is a chore, and we get that.
When you take the DLSS 2.0 support into account too, which helps you get higher FPS, MSI GF65 Thin 9SEXR earns our last spot for our list of the best cheap gaming laptops.
Pros:
+ Very high gaming performance for its price
+ 120 Hz IPS display
+ Supports DLSS 2.0
Cons:
– 8 GB RAM
Above we’ve listed our top 10 choices for the best budget gaming laptops in the market right now. From 240 Hz gaming laptops built for professional gamers to mid-level affordable gaming notebooks, you can find a wide range of various products suited for different people. We believe you will find what you are looking for, no matter what your expectations are. Of course, there are many more great laptop deals than these. Plus, the industry is constantly evolving with the releases of the new GPUs, CPUs, and so on.
If you cannot find a gaming laptop suitable for your needs above, don’t worry. After you set your budget, if your priority is gaming, look for a good GPU first. Since Nvidia is pretty much dominating the mobile graphics market right now, look for graphics cards like GTX 1060, GTX 1660, GTX 1070, RTX 2060, and RTX 2070.
Unless you are interested in a particular job or hobby that requires a strong CPU, you don’t need to stress too much about a gaming laptop’s CPU since manufacturers always put strong enough processors that will support the graphics card of the laptop. For RAM, try to aim for 16 GB. If this is not possible, though, don’t worry; most games still run fine with 8 GB RAM, but this won’t last much longer.
After that, you need to make sure that you have enough storage space to store all of your games. Most modern AAA titles are larger than 50 GB, so having at least 512 GB of storage helps a lot. Of course, the higher this number is, the better.
If you are into competitive FPS games like CS: GO, Overwatch, and Valorant, you can also search for 144 Hz gaming laptops. While these are often a bit more expensive, the competitive advantage of being able to see 144 frames per second is huge, so keep this in mind. With these guidelines, you too can choose your affordable gaming laptop suited to your budget.
We truly hope that this comprehensive guide helped you choose one among our 10 budget gaming laptops under 2000 USD. Have fun playing your games with freedom and remember, your battery drains very quickly while gaming.
