Purchasing a new gaming laptop typically necessitates large sums of money. There are several reasons for this, including a strong processor, high-end graphics, and a top-tier display. However, you may be paying extra for a brand name or an ultra-portable design, which many people do not require. Indeed, you don’t have to pay top cash these days to have a fantastic gaming laptop. In this post, we examine and rank the best cheap gaming laptop on the market.
These low-cost versions may not be the most visually appealing or portable, but concessions are inevitable. They’ll still provide you with the fantastic gaming performance you seek while still giving you enough money to buy some games and accessories.
We’ve set a price maximum of £1,000 or the US $1,000 here, although some will be available for far less. Under £500/US$500 is ideal but unlikely due to the high cost of necessary components such as a decent graphics card. However, this is not a hard and fast rule; we may add some somewhat more costly laptops.
All of the laptops below have been thoroughly tested and evaluated by our experienced staff. We also utilise them as if they were our own in order to get practical experience. Learn more about how we put laptops through their paces.
Best Cheap gaming laptop for 2022
Here we make a list of the high-performance cheap gaming laptop in 2022. These are the top cheap gaming laptop available right now.
#1. Acer Nitro 5 (AN515)
Pros
- 1080p gaming is fantastic.
- A sturdy keyboard
- The refresh rate of 144Hz
Cons
- The battery life is mediocre.
- The display is colourless.
The Acer Nitro 5 is the cheap gaming laptop available, and it boasts excellent components for the price. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is an excellent standard graphics card capable of handling everything at 1080p, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H is an excellent CPU for multitasking and productivity. The laptop is cool and quiet, and the keyboard is pleasant.
Of course, the low price comes at a cost elsewhere. The screen, while being 144Hz, is washed out, and the battery life is inadequate. You also don’t get many more features. However, if you want a low-cost gaming laptop with strong core performance, this is a fantastic option.
#2. Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro (2022)
Pros
- excellent 16-inch display.
- ‘Thin and light, yet not frail’
- long battery life.
- Good performance
Cons
- Inadequate keyboard
- Speakers who are underwhelming
- There are more powerful options available.
- Today’s best prices: $449.99 at Microsoft | $1,084.99 at Amazon
If you’re looking for a cheap gaming laptop with a wide display, the IdeaPad 5 Pro is for you. Its 16-inch panel features a resolution of 25601600 and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It’s undeniably the device’s centrepiece, but it’s far from the sole reason to buy it. The Ryzen 7 and RTX 3050 combo provide good gaming performance; all but the most demanding titles are viable.
It’s also compact and lightweight when compared to other gaming laptops. This makes it convenient to carry about, yet the gadget isn’t fragile. It also does not appear to be a gaming gadget, which many purchasers would welcome. Battery life is not jeopardised either.
The keyboard and speakers aren’t the nicest, but you’ll most likely be connecting external devices when gaming anyhow. If you can get past those drawbacks, the IdeaPad 5 Pro is well worth considering.
#3. Asus TUF Gaming A15
Pros
- Outstanding CPU and GPU performance.
- stunning 1440p display
- Battery life is adequate.
Cons
- Poor construction quality
- The trackpad is mediocre.
For a long time, Asus TUF laptops have been a solid go-to for a cheap gaming laptop, and the new A15 is no exception, despite a slightly higher starting price. To give exceptional gaming performance, an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU from the newest 6000 Series is combined with a powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU. Another feature is the 15.6-inch 1440p display, which has a refresh rate of 165Hz.
However, Asus has verified that a 300Hz option, as well as setups featuring the RTX 3070 and 3070Ti, are on the road. The latter should make the A15 considerably less expensive than £1,000 or $1,000.
You’ll also get a good keyboard, a good selection of connectors, and even a good battery life when you’re not gaming. If you don’t mind average build quality and a subpar trackpad, the A15 is an excellent choice.
#4. Dell G5 15 Gaming
Pros
- Excellent battery life.
- The refresh rate of 144Hz
- Excellent CPU/GPU
Cons
- The design is chunky.
- The display is colourless.
- Inadequate keyboard and trackpad
The Alienware laptops are too pricey to be included in this list, but the remainder of Dell’s portfolio includes cheap gaming laptop. The G5 isn’t perfect, but it’s the most affordable option. We tested a Core i7 model with an RTX 2060, but for a much lower price, you can buy an AMD Ryzen 5 with a Radeon RX 5600M.
The screen, like others, is a little faded out, but it features a 144Hz refresh rate and other strong components. Plus, for a change, the battery life is adequate. A hefty design is okay, but we would prefer a better keyboard and trackpad.
#5. MSI GF63 Thin (2022)
Pros
- amazingly inexpensive
- narrow and light in comparison.
- Good gaming performance
- Excellent keyboard
Cons
- Most AAA games are unplayable.
- Many competitors are faster.
- The display and battery life might be improved.
- Amazon has the best price today: $738.60.
If mobility is the primary reason for purchasing a gaming laptop rather than a desktop PC, the newest GF63 Thin is an excellent choice. MSI has packed all of the essentials for a great gaming experience onto a 15.6-inch laptop that is only 0.5 inches thick and 1.86kg.
Most lightweight laptops are confined to discrete GPUs, but the Nvidia RTX 3050 here means that most mid-range games are well within reach—especially when teamed with 12th-generation Intel CPUs. You will, however, suffer if demanding titles is your thing.
Other advantages include a good port selection and a good keyboard, implying that this Windows 11 machine might easily serve as your primary laptop. However, despite the 144Hz refresh rate, the Full HD IPS display isn’t as spectacular as we’d hoped, and the battery life is dismal. Given its low price, the GF63 Thin is definitely worth considering. However, other selections in this chart may be a better fit for you.
#6. Acer Nitro 5 (A517)
Pros
- large 120Hz screen
- Effective elements
Cons
- The display is colourless.
- SSD for small devices
- Amazon has the best price today: $721.00.
The Acer Nitro 5 is a wonderful pick if you want performance but don’t mind mobility. It’s just under our price restriction. We examined the 17-inch model, which is a desktop replacement but will fit in a large backpack if you need to transport it. You should also keep an eye out for the 15-inch A515.
The features include an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 and a 120Hz refresh rate for a great gaming experience. Just keep in mind that the screen doesn’t have the finest colour performance and that the single storage option is a 256GB SSD.
#7. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i
Pros
- Design that is appealing
- Excellent keyboard
- The refresh rate is 120Hz.
Cons
- Ports are limited.
- SSD for small devices
- The display is colourless.
- Today’s best price is $615.00 at Amazon.
The IdeaPad can be used for gaming, and Lenovo’s least expensive model is the best. It starts with a GTX 1650 graphics card and a Core i5 processor that is good enough for regular use. It’s also remarkable how lovely the 3i looks, plus it’s quiet and has a good keyboard.
There’s a lot to appreciate here, including a 120Hz refresh rate, but there are some drawbacks, such as a dull display, single-channel RAM, and a tiny SSD. Overall, these aren’t too big of problem, so the IdeaPad Gaming 3i is a great choice if you can’t afford anything else.
#8. HP Omen 15
Pros
- GPU in its entirety.
- Massive SSD
- Memory with two channels
Cons
- The display is colourless.
- a softer keyboard
- The battery life is mediocre.
- Amazon has the best price today: $1,199.99.
It’s a little too expensive for us, but if your budget allows, you should definitely think about it. Aside from its fresh appearance, the HP Omen 15 is quite powerful, with a great AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia’s GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, which is not even a scaled-down Max-Q version.
That’s a lot of horsepower for the money, and you also get dual-channel RAM, a massive 1TB SSD, and additional features like Wi-Fi 6. We’d prefer a better screen because it’s a touch washed out, but with a 144Hz refresh rate, the Omen 15 is still a good buy at this price.
FAQs
Are low-cost gaming laptops worthwhile?
A nice, cheap gaming laptop may be found, but it will have performance restrictions when compared to more costly laptops. Because the components required for a great PC gaming experience are costly, even entry-level gaming laptops are still routinely priced between $700 and $1,000. Also, because these models use lower-quality parts, they may not be able to handle today’s demanding AAA games well enough for future releases.
Cheap gaming laptops are worthwhile to consider if you frequently play older games or titles that aren’t graphically demanding, or if you’re fine with playing at lower graphics quality to maintain rapid frame rates. They’re also a good choice if you need a laptop for business or school but still have enough graphics capability for casual gaming in your spare time.
What features should I look for in a cheap gaming laptop?
For the finest gaming experience with a budget gaming laptop, make sure you purchase the cheapest graphics power from the outset, as this cannot be expanded afterwards, unlike RAM or storage.
A cheap gaming laptop with an entry-level Nvidia GTX 1650 generally starts at about $700, but due to the present chip scarcity, prices have risen and supplies have been depleted. That CPU provides sufficient graphics capability to play the most demanding games in medium settings. A laptop with a GTX 1650 Ti, 1660 Ti, or perhaps a 3050 Ti for a better gaming experience will cost between $800 and $1,000 (or even a bit more).
If you’re looking for a cheap gaming laptop on a tight budget, go with an Nvidia GTX 1650 graphics chip. If you can spend closer to $1,000, you’ll be better off in the long term since you’ll be able to play more demanding games now and in the future.
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