Consider what components and designs matter most when deciding on a gaming laptop. Early gaming laptops were bulky desktop replacements with cumbersome chassis and large power bricks; nowadays manufacturers offer slim laptops packed with powerful PC hardware like the 2024 Asus Zephyrus G14 for portability.
Storage space is also key – aim to have at least 512GB SSD to store your games, though more space may become necessary quickly with AAA titles taking up more space than expected.
1. MSI Thin GF63
MSI’s GF63 Thin proves you don’t need to spend four figures on a gaming laptop. At under $1,000, it boasts an Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics – making this device far superior than many low-wattage chipsets or integrated graphics seen at this price point.
However, this model comes at a cost: its thin screen has thick top and bottom bezels and lacks visual interest; keyboard feels stiff while touchpad is small. Furthermore, this budget machine comes equipped with only 8GB RAM as standard but upgradeable options may be available later on.
Its RTX 40-series GPU can handle everyday esports and mainstream games at medium settings, while struggling with more demanding ones at Ultra settings. We tested Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra settings and averaged 24fps which is playable but well below competition. Furthermore, extended gaming sessions become very hot while its speakers were flat bass tinny; yet unlike many rivals this didn’t suffer thermal throttling or overheating issues.
2. Acer Nitro V 15
The Nitro V 15 may not be an all-powerful PC, but it makes up for it with solid performance at its price point. It can run most titles from last generation consoles at high detail settings and 1080p resolution while handling newer ones that don’t push cutting-edge visuals with ease. Furthermore, our battery endurance test found four hours of playback when looping a 4K file of Tears of Steel movie file continuously for four hours straight – quite an impressive figure indeed!
PCMark 10 scores put the Nitro V 15 on par with other budget gaming laptops we’ve tested, though more recent models offer superior scores. Cinebench R15 results were slightly better but overall still disappointing given its price point.
The Nitro V 15 offers an adequate screen, yet its audio quality leaves much to be desired. The built-in speakers lack volume and emit harsh metallic sounds at higher frequencies – if gaming with this laptop is your intent, headphones or external speakers would likely be preferable.
3. Asus TUF A15
The TUF A15’s rugged aesthetic isn’t for show alone; according to Asus, this machine can withstand shocks, drops, humidity and extreme temperatures without incurring damage. Furthermore, its keyboard tray feels sturdy with very little flex while its trackpad dips only when pressed hard – not loud like some thermal management systems can be! Finally, its thermal management system keeps CPU and GPU temperatures within reasonable levels while enabling reasonable speeds for operating purposes.
This laptop doesn’t come without compromises. Its 15.6-inch IPS display won’t compare favorably to top models on the market and its 144Hz refresh rate may seem slow for hardcore gamers. Luckily, AMD processor-NVIDIA GPU pairing makes this laptop perfectly budget friendly while Adaptive-Sync technology ensures no more lag and visual tearing occurs during gameplay.
Other drawbacks of the TUF A15 include poor speakers and a soft touchpad, though I didn’t find it the worst I’ve used; nonetheless, its unreliable click zones and stiff middle section that sometimes lose responsiveness were issues I encountered while using it. Even so, the TUF A15 offers great value as a gaming laptop capable of both gaming and content creation, although Asus could do more to reduce memory use and enhance responsiveness through software optimizations.
4. Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8
The Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 gaming laptop is an impressive piece of hardware designed to meet most gamers’ needs. It boasts an eye-catching 2K display that easily exceeded our 300-nit brightness test while offering complete coverage of sRGB color gamut coverage. In addition, its AMD Ryzen processor and GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card deliver top performance.
Lenovo stands out from competitors who overload RGB lighting on every surface by opting for restrained styling and limited bling; only its Legion logo on the front lid and some keyboard backlighting make for any noticeable accents compared to systems that look like they belong in Vegas wedding receptions.
The Pro 5i has plenty of ports, such as USB-C and HDMI, and charges quickly; however, its battery life was less than impressive; we recorded just two hours and 43 minutes during our testing; well below its typical six-hour mark. This may have something to do with its weak webcam and lack of biometric security – although there is a dedicated kill switch and its 720p camera is compatible with Tobii Experience eye tracking software that enables its eye-tracking software in compatible games and programs.
5. Gigabyte G6X
Gigabyte’s G6X offers outstanding gaming performance at an outstanding value, including plenty of storage and memory capacity for just $2509. While lacking 4K display or an IR camera for sign-in, its Intel Core i7-13650HX and Nvidia RTX 4060 processors should make short work of most games. Furthermore, its 1TB SSD offers sequential read/write speeds of 5186MB/s and 4810MB/s respectively; two M.2 slots supporting Gen 4 speeds and the Wi-Fi chip being located underneath one.
This display may not offer as bright or colorful an experience as some of its competition, but it still covers an adequate portion of the DCI-P3 color gamut – perfect for gaming titles such as Borderlands that tend to look murky on lesser panels.
The keyboard is slightly rough around the edges but still feels fine to type on, while its clickpad is enjoyable to use. At 2.5kg in weight, its presence will certainly be felt when transporting it – though its sturdy case won’t flex too much during daily use.
