The Most Affordable Gaming Laptops: Top Picks 2024
The Rundown
1. Best Overall: HP Pavilion Gaming 15.6-Inch Micro-EDGE Laptop, Intel Core i5
A new computer is meant to be more than just a tool; it's an expression of your personality and a reflection of you. The HP Pavilion Gaming 15.6-Inch Micro-EDGE has the features you need to take your gaming and productivity to the next level. With its thin design, powerful Intel Core i5 processor and 8 GB RAM, this laptop will keep up with your needs for hours on end. Read Review
2. Best Bang For The Buck: ASUS TUF Gaming F17 Gaming Laptop, 17.3” FHD IPS-Type Display
The ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop, F17 delivers a powerful yet lightweight design for hours of intense gaming. The low-profile chassis of the TUF Gaming Laptop enables comfortable long gaming sessions, while the 17.3" Full-HD IPS display provides a sharp and brilliant image. Read Review
3. Best Reliable: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15 Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 15 Laptop features a 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU to supercharge your favorite games. Slingshot your gaming visuals with 120Hz refresh rate for tear-free gaming. Equipped with 8GB 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM memory and 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD storage, this laptop is the perfect machine for multitaskers who want speed and power on-the-go! Read Review
4. Best Durable: HP - Pavilion 15.6" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 - 8GB Memory
The HP Pavilion 15.6" Gaming Laptop is ready to play, work and party with a large, vivid 15.6" Full HD micro-edge display. It offers powerful AMD Ryzen 5 performance and 8GB of memory to get you up and running quickly. Its long battery life lets you game on the go for hours without the need for a plug and its compact size means it's easy to carry around or take on the road. Read Review
When it comes to gaming, you want the best performance and visual appearance on your laptop. And that’s where gaming laptops come into play — they offer an outstanding balance of performance and visual aesthetics. However, getting a good gaming laptop is not an easy task.
There are so many options available in the market today, which makes it difficult for buyers to choose their favorite brand. But don’t worry! We’ve done some research and have sorted out some of the most affordable gaming laptops that can handle almost any game you throw at them without breaking a sweat. So if it’s been a while since you’ve had your hands on one of these bad boys, now is the perfect time to get out there again and start playing!
Our team had to focus on researching for 16 hours to get such results for readers. This study uses customer star ratings and customer interviews on their product experiences. In addition, our HP Pavilion Gaming 15.6-Inch Micro-EDGE Laptop, Intel Core i5 with ultra-fast 256 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive is one of the most remarkable models available, and it comes highly recommended by us. We also show the other fantastic alternatives with a complete guide worth your consideration below.
RELATED: We've found the top most portable gaming laptop based on 3,018 customers’ feedback. Our top picks & buying guides help you to get budget-friendly products.
Our Top Picks
- Advanced thermal Management: optimized thermal design and IR sensor keeps your laptop cool to the touch, without affecting acoustics
- Memory and storage: 8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (upgradable with 2 accessible Memory Slots) and Fast boot-up, file transfer and a snappier experience with the internal 256 GB pcie(r) nvme(tm) M.2 Solid State Drive
- Fast and easy multitasking: experience high-grade Graphics and processing power that meets your gaming and multitasking needs for the latest games including Fortnight, PUBG, and Overwatch
- Thin and light (unpackaged): 14.17 inches (W) x 10.08 inches (D) x 0.92 inch (H); 4.92 pounds
- Fast Processor: 9th Generation intel(r) core(tm) i5-9300h Processor, quad-core, 2.4GHz up to 4.1GHz with Intel's) Turbo Boost
- Ports: USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C(tm), 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, RJ-45, HDMI, headphone-microphone combo
- Operating System and Warranty: Windows 10 Home and 1-Year Limited hardware warranty with 24-hour, 7 days a week Web support
- Battery life: up to 8 hours and 15 minutes (mixed usage); up to 6 hours and 45 minutes (video playback); up to 5 hours and 30 minutes (wireless streaming).
- Bios recovery and protection: automatically checks the health of your PC, protects against unauthorized access, secures local storage and recovers itself from boot-up issues
- Realistic graphics: nvidia(r) geforce(r) GTX 1650 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated). enjoy new levels of gaming realism and performance with real-time ray-tracing technologies. Vr/mr ready. 15.6-Inch diagonal FHD IPS Anti-Glare micro-edge WLED-backlit Display (1920x1080) with 60Hz refresh rate
- 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | 8GB DDR4 2933MHz RAM
- 17.3” Full HD (1920x1080) IPS-Type display
- Durable MIL-STD-810H military standard construction
- Quad-core Intel Core 15-10300H Processor (8M Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 4 cores)
- Comes with Windows 10 Home and a FREE upgrade to Windows 11 (when available1)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6 Graphics up to 1585MHz at 80W TGP
- 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU to supercharge your favorite games. Slingshot your gaming visuals with 120Hz refresh rate for tear-free gaming
- 8GB 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM memory and 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD storage
- 2 x 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio for Gamers; spacious gaming keyboard with white backlight
- Connectivity: RJ45 Ethernet, 2x2 WiFi 802.11 ax, Bluetooth 5.0; 720p HD webcam and microphone array with privacy shutter; HDMI, USB-C
- Fueled by the revolutionary AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series mobile processor, this IdeaPad gaming laptop delivers the wins. With 6 ultra-responsive cores, it's the new standard for gaming performance in innovative, thin, and light laptops
- 15.6" Full HD Micro-edge display
- 256GB solid state drive (SSD)
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600H Processor
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics
- 8GB system memory for advanced multitasking
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 [Max-Q] 4G GDDR5
- Processor: Intel Core i5-9300h 2.4 - 4.1GHz
- Display: 15.6" Fhd (1920*1080), IPS-Level 60Hz 45%ntsc thin Bezel 1920x1080 16: 9
- Memory: 8GB (8G*1) DDR4 2666MHz 2 Sockets; Max Memory 64GB
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
- IMPRESSIVE MEMORY: Alienware's first 15.6-inch gaming laptop with 3200Mhz memory. This model even lets gamers upgrade their memory post-purchase, using the two available SO DIMM slots
- FOR SMOOTH HIGH-SPEED GAMING ACTION: Game with our fastest 15.6-inch G-SYNC displays ever, now with the option of an incredible 360Hz refresh rate and Advanced Optimus technology
- HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE: This i7 gaming laptop is built with 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processors that deliver powerful performance for uninterrupted gameplay
- PREMIUM SUPPORT: We've made it easy to move all the good stuff over to your new PC, with 6 months of Dell Migrate
- STUNNING VISUALS: Built with powerful discrete graphics, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ensures clear gameplay
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR LAPTOP - Show off your personality with Aura-sync per-key RGB keyboard and light bar, and swappable armor caps, while an ROG Keystone II lets you save your gaming presets for quick access.
- CLEAR COMMUNICATION - 3D AI Noise Canceling Microphone removes background noise for you and your teammates, while Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos give you the best sound and visual fidelity
- SAY GOODBYE TO SLOW LOAD TIMES - Store your entire game library on 1TB of swift PCIe 4.0 SSD and alt-tab almost instantly with 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM.
- RTX REALISM. IT’S ON - This Windows 11 gaming laptop is equipped with the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti laptop GPU with a max TGP of 150W and ROG Boost up to 1460MHz, to give you the most realistic ray-traced graphics and cutting-edge AI features like NVIDIA DLSS.
- POWER UP - a large 90WHr battery lets you game from anywhere and 100W USB-C fast charging support keeps you topped up on the go
- LIGHTNING FAST VISUALS - See everything with a swift 15.6” FHD/300Hz IPS type display and 3ms response time
- CONNECT TO EVERYTHING - Wi-Fi 6E with RangeBoost, Bluetooth 5.2, 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB 3.2 Type-C (Gen2), 2x USB 3.2 Type-A (Gen1), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm Audio Jack, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN
- PEERLESS PROCESSING POWER - Speed through laptop gaming, streaming, and creating with the 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H Processor (6 P-cores and 8 E-cores) with 24M Cache and up to 5.0GHz clock speed.
- ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING - The SCAR 15 takes cooling up to a notch, adding premium Thermal Grizzly liquid metal, Arc Flow fans, and 0dB Ambient Cooling
- MUX SWITCH BOOST - A MUX Switch lets the GPU communicate directly with the display, increasing performance and decreasing latency
- 【Ports】1 x USB 3.0 Type-C; 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A; 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A; 1 x HDMI; 1 x RJ-45; 1 x Media Card Reader; 1 x AC smart pin; 1 x headphone/microphone combo
- 【Operating System】Windows 11 Home
- 【Processor】 AMD Ryzen 5 5600H 3.30GHz 6-Core Processor (16MB L3 Cache, up to 4.20GHz), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics
- 【Screen】15.6" diagonal Full HD Display (1920 x 1080), 144 Hz, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare
- 【Memory & Storage】The PC memory has been upgraded to 16GB DDR4 SDRAM for enhanced high bandwidth to easily switch back and forth between open applications; Hard drive has been upgraded to 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for fast boot up and speedy data transfer
- STAY CONNECTED – Whether you need to jump on a quick work call or coordinate with your team, do it in the clearest way possible with an HD camera, featuring Temporal Noise Reduction which eliminates unwanted background noise.
- OPTIMIZED FOR PLAY – Game or stream longer without slow-down thanks to the updated thermal design—perfect for keeping your device cooled even when your gameplay heats up.
- REFINED DESIGN – Take the hyper-portal HP Victus Laptop anywhere and show off its iconic Mica Silver finish.
- PLAYER FOCUSED KEYBOARD – Elevate your play on a full-sized, all-in-one gaming keyboard, complete with plenty of finger space, a bigger touchpad for more accurate clicking, and a dedicated OMEN Gaming Hub key.
- GAMING HQ – Powered by OMEN hardware and OMEN Gaming Hub, you’ll easily control and customize every facet of this gaming laptop.
- MODERN GRAPHICS – Enjoy all your favorite games in stunning detail with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU, featuring 4 GB of dedicated memory (2). Reduce frustrating lag and image ghosting with a display that combines a 144Hz refresh rate and 1080p resolution for smooth, crisp gameplay (3) (4).
- PACKED FULL OF POWER – Experience desktop-level performance and capabilities with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Mobile Processor (1) and 16 GB of DDR4 memory.
- SUPERCHARGED GTX GRAPHICS - Gameplay graphics are silky smooth with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6 so you can stay immersed in the game even in the most graphically intensive moments
- SWIFT VISUALS – Stay one step ahead of the competition thanks to its 144Hz 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Type Display
- SELF-CLEANING TECH - This ASUS Gaming Laptop is equipped with Self-cleaning dual fans with anti-dust technology to extend system longevity
- MILITARY GRADE TOUGHNESS - Durable MIL-STD-810H military standard lives in the TUF line as the devices are tested against drops, vibration, humidity and extreme temperatures to ensure reliability
- READY FOR ANYTHING - Use your gaming laptop to stream and multitask with ease thanks to an Intel Core i5-10300H with 8M Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 4 cores and 8GB of blisteringly fast 2933MHz DDR4 RAM on Windows 11
- FUTUREPROOF YOUR DEVICE - Featuring an Easy Upgrade Design with a pop-open screw, you can easily add or replace memory and storage
- AMPLE STORAGE FOR ALL YOUR GAMES - Store all your game library, and load them fast on your 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD to take advantage of the full RTX gaming experience
What to Look For in a most affordable gaming laptops?
You may think purchasing seems simple, and it sometimes does the opposite! Studying the outcome of most affordable gaming laptops will take a considerable amount of time. Also, there are multiple sides of most affordable gaming laptops you need to check. That’s the reason why we’re all ready to assist you with most affordable gaming laptops issue.
You should pay more attention to the following criteria of most affordable gaming laptops in 2024:
OS
Assessing The Battery Life
Display Quality
Keyboard, Touchpad, And The Feel
Specs, Innards, And Processing Power
Structure And Size
Accessory Compatibility
RELATED: Check out our list of the most durable gaming laptops available on the market. We've tested and compared the top models to help you find the best one for your gaming needs.
FAQs
Which Screen Size Is The Best For A Gaming Laptop's Display?
This will have the most immediate impact on your choice of build. Picking the size of your screen dictates the size of your laptop. A 13-inch machine will be a thin-and-light ultrabook, while a 17-inch panel almost guarantees workstation stuff. At 15-inches, you are looking at the most common size of the gaming laptop screen.
Should I Get A 4K Screen In My Laptop?
No, 4K gaming laptops are not the best choice for games. The standard 1080p resolution means that the generally slower mobile GPUs are all but guaranteed high frame rates, while companies are slowly drip-feeding 1440p panels into their laptop ranges. A 1440p screen offers the perfect compromise between high resolution and decent gaming performance. At the same time, a 4K notebook will overstress your GPU and tax your eyeballs as you squint at your 15-inch display.
Do I Need To Worry About The CPU Of A Gaming Laptop?
That really depends on what you want to do with your laptop. An 8-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen chip will allow you to do a whole load of productivity on the road, but it won't be beneficial for gaming. That's one of the reasons Intel has launched its Tiger Lake H35 chips; they're quad-core, 8-thread CPUs, but they're clocked high to deliver high-end gaming performance when paired with something like the RTX 3070.
Is It Possible To Use An Ultrabook As A Gaming Laptop?
The term Ultrabook is a tricky one, as it was essentially drawn up by Intel to suggest that any slimline machine running an Intel processor and an SSD should be considered premium. The times have changed since then, and some super cheap machines can technically slide as ultrabooks these days which means the term generally covers expensive laptops running powerful configurations with a small form factor.
These machines do often still ship with standard Intel graphics chips, which means they likely won't be running the Nvidia and AMD GPUs that tend to set gaming laptops apart.
Which Component Is The Most Critical For A Gaming Laptop?
When it comes to gaming, the obvious answer is the graphics card, but that's where things have gotten a little more complicated recently. With GPU performance now so dependent on cooling, you have to pay attention to what wattage a graphics card is limited to and what chassis it's squeezed into.
As we said at the top, a graphics card in an 18mm chassis will perform markedly slower than one in a far chunkier case with room for higher performance cooling.
Are You Able To Purchase A Gaming Laptop That Has An RTX GPU?
If you're looking for a gaming laptop, Nvidia's RTX chips are currently in their 30-Series. That means that the vast majority of gaming laptops on the market are sporting them. That doesn't necessarily mean you need one if you're just playing smaller games on a budget, in which case a GTX 1650 is still a worthy consideration. However, if you're buying a gaming laptop today, the choices on offer will revolve around the RTX 30-Series line.
Is It Worth Paying For High-resolution Panels On Laptops?
We love high refresh rate screens on gaming laptops, and while you can't guarantee that your RTX 3060 will deliver 300 fps in the latest games, you'll still see a benefit in the general look and feel running a 300Hz display.
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