Gaming laptops provide an immersive gaming experience, but they come at a cost. In order to enjoy decent frame rates and high settings, this type of investment may cost quite a lot of money.
Most affordable laptops designed specifically for gaming feature 1080p displays. This resolution offers an optimal balance between visual quality and graphics processor usage.
MSI Cyborg
The MSI Cyborg gaming laptop offers one of the least expensive ways to acquire an Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series GPU, providing playable frame rates in a compact, attractive design. While it did not earn our Editors’ Choice award due to newer RTX 4050 GPU laptops on offer at comparable price points, it remains an attractive and cost-effective solution for gamers on tight budgets.
This 15.6-inch display provides standard gaming fare with full HD resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, however, the 720p webcam above the screen is unremarkable; even in good lighting conditions it struggles to produce clear images while missing support for Windows Hello face recognition and fingerprint logins.
The 12th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor features an improved hybrid core architecture that pairs six performance cores with four efficiency cores for improved multitasking and application performance. Its single fan whirs during heavy use but never becomes loud or bothersome; keyboard feels sturdy with full size layout that includes NumPad; its light blue backlighting has three levels of brightness that you can toggle using F9/FN keys if desired;
Lenovo LOQ 15 AMD Edition
Lenovo’s LOQ gaming laptop line provides an attractive balance of specs at an accessible price point. Starting at $650, this model can be configured with either an Intel Core i5-13500HX or AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS processor, up to 16GB DDR5-4800 RAM (2 x 8GB), and up to a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD for superior performance in games like Total War: Three Kingdoms as well as playability at 1440p resolution resolution. We tested the latter configuration and found it delivered excellent 3DMark Night Raid scores as well as solid performance across titles like Total War: Three Kingdoms as well as playability at 1440p resolution!
The LOQ’s 144Hz display is serviceable, though only offering up a peak brightness of 353.4 nits which seems dim compared to other budget gaming laptops. Battery life was disappointing as our test unit only managed 5 hours and 17 minutes.
The build quality of the LOQ is impressively good. While you won’t find an aluminum unibody chassis like on its competitors, its thick plastic chassis possesses a rugged feel that outshines expectations at this price point.
Steam Deck OLED
If you own an LCD Steam Deck, switching over to an OLED model could be worth your while. Though Valve has not made major enhancements in terms of performance or battery life, their new OLED model offers improvements in stamina, screen display quality, cooling performance and stamina.
OLED models feature an AMD APU that boasts 30% power savings compared to earlier generations of OLED screens, providing less heat, quieter fans and extended battery life thanks to its new chipset. While that may not translate directly to improved gaming performance, it should still benefit your overall user experience by saving power consumption by up to 30%.
Other upgrades include an improved touch screen responsiveness, haptics on trackpads and a slimmer case. Furthermore, Wi-Fi 6E support should enable faster download speeds than in previous models.
OLED display is the standout star here; its color reproduction, 1,000nit HDR brightness level and 90Hz refresh rate all offer amazing value for money. Prices begin at $550 for 512GB versions while those including an antiglare shell start at $650; LCD versions can also be had for as low as $349 each.
HP Victus
The HP Victus brings desktop power in an elegant, portable package. Equipped with Intel 12th Gen processors and cutting-edge graphics cards that deliver smooth gameplay in demanding AAA titles, its HD webcam with Temporal Noise Reduction lets you connect with friends and fellow gamers online.
The Victus may not be as lightweight as some of its rivals in this category, yet it still remains relatively cool during extended gaming sessions thanks to ample venting on its sides and back. Our test unit barely experienced any throttling while running Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield simulations.
Performance in 3DMark 11 was also strong, placing the Victus within striking distance of other RTX 4050 laptops and boasting an outstanding battery life – lasting longer than most competitors – so you can game anywhere without constantly looking out for power outlets. HP includes its One Year Limited Hardware Warranty as well as Support Assistant software to assist with diagnostics, updates, and live support on all its laptops; thus providing peace of mind when purchasing.
Asus TUF A15
Asus TUF series laptops make an excellent entry-level gaming solution, capable of handling most games at 60fps or above. In addition, these notebooks make for excellent content creation options with plenty of power at their disposal and a display which works well even under bright light conditions.
The 15.6-inch IPS-level screen with 144Hz refresh rate is designed for gaming and provides an outstanding viewing experience. Adaptive sync technology matches monitor and GPU refresh rates to eliminate visual tearing for smooth gameplay without visual stutter. Furthermore, the display offers accurate color reproduction (99% sRGB) and features an effective Blue Light level to protect eyesight.
For fast-paced action, the A15 features an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of dedicated memory – offering users the ultimate gaming experience through Direct Light Source Substitution and real-time Ray Tracing technologies.
The A15’s chassis is composed of magnesium alloy, and has been subjected to rigorous MIL-STD-810G tests to ensure it can withstand drops and other stresses without suffering damage. You can now rest easy knowing you can securely slip it into your bag or place it over your shoulder without fear of permanent damage to its fragile surfaces.
