Affordable Gaming Laptops: Power Without the Price Tag

Diving headfirst into the world of PC gaming doesn’t necessitate emptying your bank account. A wealth of capable gaming laptops are available for under $1,000, offering impressive performance and a smooth gaming experience without forcing you to compromise excessively. While prices in the tech world fluctuate rapidly, possibly pushing some of our selections slightly above the $1,000 threshold depending on when you are looking, there are many excellent and budget friendly options available. If you are open to considering a wider selection or simply wish to explore more possibilities, we encourage you to check out our comprehensive list of top gaming laptops across all price ranges.

Why Trust Our Recommendations?

Our dedication to laptops is reflected in our very name. PCWorld prides itself on its extensive experience and expertise in the laptop domain. Since 1983, we have been providing in-depth coverage of PCs. We now meticulously review over 70 laptops annually. All of the laptops featured in this article have been personally tested and thoroughly vetted by our team of expert reviewers, who adhere to rigorous usability standards. We are committed to reviewing PC laptops across all price points to help you find the perfect machine to suit your specific needs and budget.

Top Picks for Gaming Laptops Under $1,000

Here is a rundown of some of our top picks for budget-friendly gaming laptops:

Acer Nitro V 16: The Best Overall Value

Pros: Excellent performance for the price, large and fast IPS display, powerful RTX 4060 GPU.

Cons: Battery life is limited, gamer aesthetic may be too flashy for some.

The Acer Nitro V 16 stands out as an exceptional sub-$1,000 laptop. Its spacious IPS display is both large and responsive, while the RTX 4060 GPU provides ample power to run most games smoothly at Medium or High graphics settings. In our testing, the Nitro V 16 achieved a respectable 136 frames per second on the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark. The 16-inch 1920×1200 display boasts a 165Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth, fluid gameplay.

This laptop is ideal for anyone seeking an affordable device that doesn’t sacrifice performance. The display is well-suited for action-packed games, and the RTX 4060 GPU is capable of running any modern game effectively. The battery life is typical for a gaming laptop at around four hours on a single charge, and the design may be too bold for some. However, if you can accept those minor drawbacks, the Nitro V 16 delivers exceptional value.

Alternative Options: The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition and the HP Victus 15.

MSI Thin GF63: Lightweight and Portable Gaming

Pros: Lightweight and portable, good performance, spacious 1080p display.

Cons: Could be better build quality.

The MSI Thin GF63 weighs just over four pounds, making it remarkably portable for a gaming laptop. Most gaming laptops weigh between five and six pounds. The MSI Thin GF63 combines portability with a powerful Intel Core i5-12450H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, allowing you to run most games on Medium or High graphics settings. The 15.6-inch 1080p display has a refresh rate of 144Hz for smooth visuals.

The MSI Thin GF63 is a great choice for students, as it is lightweight enough to carry between classes and powerful enough for everyday tasks like watching Netflix, writing papers, and gaming.

Acer Nitro V 15: Connectivity Champion

Pros: Abundant connectivity options, respectable gaming performance, fair price.

Cons: Limited RAM, mediocre display.

The Acer Nitro V 15 is a well-rounded gaming laptop with a wealth of connectivity options, appealing to users who prefer to connect to external monitors or peripherals. Most of the ports are located on the left side of the laptop, including a Gigabit Ethernet port, an HDMI 2.0 port, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port. There’s also an additional USB-A 3.2 port and a 3.5mm audio jack, bringing the total USB-A port count to three.

Internally, the Acer Nitro V 15 features an Intel Core i5-13420H CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4050 6GB GPU. This combination delivers more than enough graphics power for most games. It achieved an average of 105 frames per second on the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark, a notable improvement over laptops with RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti graphics.

The limitations of the Acer Nitro V 15 are its limited RAM (8GB) and mediocre display. However, if you can overlook these minor flaws, it offers fantastic value for its price.

Alternative Option: The Lenovo LOQ 15.

PCWorld’s Laptop Testing Methodology

The PCWorld team puts each Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that rigorously test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and other critical aspects. Our goal is to push the laptop to its limits and compare its performance against other laptops we have tested.

Key Benchmarks:

• GPU Performance: Measures the graphics processing capabilities of the laptop.
• CPU Performance: Evaluates the central processing unit’s speed and efficiency.
• Battery Life: Determines how long the laptop can operate on a single charge.

Our comprehensive testing methodology ensures that we provide you with accurate and reliable information to help you make an informed decision.

Considerations for Choosing a Gaming Laptop

When selecting the right gaming laptop, you should carefully consider your intended use. Do you primarily plan to play lightweight indie games or visually demanding AAA titles? Will you also use the laptop for work?

It is possible to achieve reliable performance from a gaming laptop priced under $1,000. But you’ll need to carefully consider its individual components. A powerful GPU is not necessary for games like Fortnite. You can run even the newest games at 1080p resolution with entry-level graphics cards by adjusting the in-game visual settings from Ultra to High or Medium. This will allow you to achieve 60 frames per second in modern games, while still maintaining visual fidelity.

FAQs

Are Chromebooks good for gaming?

Generally, Chromebooks are not ideal for gaming. While they can handle web and Android games, they cannot run high-powered AAA games due to their lack of Windows compatibility and insufficient graphics power. However, Google is working to bring cloud gaming to Chromebooks in the future.

Can you game on a laptop with integrated graphics?

Yes, the latest processors with integrated graphics can run a fair number of modern PC games at reasonable settings. Intel’s newer Iris Xe line of processors and AMD’s Ryzen series have demonstrated the ability to run some of the latest games at 1080p and 30fps.

What size gaming laptop should I get?

The ideal size depends on personal preference and intended use. If you plan to travel frequently, a smaller ultraportable laptop in the 13- to 14-inch range is preferable. However, for a dedicated gaming machine, a 15- to 17-inch laptop would be ideal. Also, check the weight of the laptop before purchasing it. Ultra-thin laptops can weigh as little as 2 pounds, while beefy gaming computers can weigh three or four times that amount.