If you want to buy top gaming laptops under $1000 at a lower-mid price range, then it will be a difficult task. Because at this price range, you will get a variety of options from different brands. In this budget, you will get decent frames on the latest AAA titles at 1080p on low-medium settings. PC gaming will be expensive as you need a rig for playing & shelling out for every game. However, several gaming laptops are available for under $1,000. These are equipped with a 1080p display, a solid CPU and a discrete GPU. You can use the laptops for esports & competitive video games.
What is a Gaming Laptop?
A gaming laptop refers to a small personal PC that comes with its own built-in screen. These laptops are mainly designed for enabling gaming on the moves and in such spaces where you will not have access to a desk. These are the same as business laptops at their core. But they come with many upgraded features allowing the users to play games.
These gaming laptops can give high-performance speeds, substantial memory capacity, triple-A graphics, and fast processing power. The design of these laptops is done keeping in mind the advanced gaming needs. Due to the presence of high-end hardware, they are usually available at a much higher price range than entry-level laptops.
Key Parts of a Gaming Laptop:
There are four major aspects of a gaming laptop, including the operating system, screen size, processor, & graphics card. But if you want to purchase the best mode, you need to consider other features as well. Remember, modern PC games need extra processing power for smooth running. Video processing is a major difference between a specialist laptop for gamers & a standard laptop.
Gaming computers include a video card that can increase the image quality. These laptops come with a dedicated RAM, a GPU, & a cooling system. On the other hand, a normal PC comes with an onboard graphics controller & fans. So, it can be said that a laptop which is especially for gaming, comes with extra power. In addition, it includes all attributes which are essential to play games in high quality & at high speeds. Let’s know about these parts in detail with their function.
The Operating System:
It is a very vital aspect of any Laptop. The OS or operating system not only enables you to run the PC, but also determines which game you can play on the laptop. This indicates that there may be a few games which you want to play, but these don’t support your system. That’s why, before purchasing, first you need to check which games can be played on the laptop. Nothing can frustrate you more than purchasing a gaming computer which is incapable of playing your preferred game.
The Graphics Card:
After the operating system, this one is the second most essential component of a gaming laptop. GPU or Graphics Processing Unit enables you to play games with higher graphics settings & enabling additional visual effects. This component processes the data and transmits the signal to the monitor for delivering the images on the screen. The process may appear very stressful to you while running games. So, you should choose a GPU with dedicated memory, which we know as VRAM (video memory). You can use a 9th or 10th-generation Nvidia graphics card which ensures that you can play games at your preferred level. Regarding memory, people mostly say that more memory can give you more space. But the average gaming enthusiast can do all essential things with 4GB of VRAM. However, 6GB is a better choice.
The Screen:
Are you playing earth-shattering games with sound effects & excellent graphics? Then, you obviously want to experience this on the largest screen size. You can get an excellent gaming experience with a gaming laptop screen. However, for those users who are very much inclined, it is possible to connect a bigger screen to the laptop through an HDMI cable. But the disadvantage is that the performance will be affected. If you do so, purchase a desktop PC instead.
Screen Brightness:
It is an area that is overlooked in laptops and desktops. But you must have a screen with a bright display that stops you from squinting when the sun shines on it. However, gamers playing in the dark dungeon and who generally don’t see the light of day must not need to consider this factor that much. 320 nits is the good maximum display brightness. If it is below 240 nits (the average is 220 nits), it is not good for the laptop.
Screen Resolution:
This term means the size of the screen, i.e. how large it is. When you buy a gaming laptop, you require a minimum resolution of 1920 x 1080 to play games. If the resolution is less than that, the graphics will not be sharp enough.
Touch Screen Function:
A few gaming laptops come with touch screens that will be a benefit, if you love to play Candy Crush, Darkest Dungeon, or Galaxy of Pen & Paper.
Peripherals And Extras:
Gaming laptops should support additional options that are not supported by standard laptops. The laptop you are buying should accept peripherals like a headset and a wireless mouse that can be connected through USB ports & Bluetooth cards. Moreover, the gaming laptop will be able to get connected to the internet and LANs via Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Therefore, you can play games wherever you want.
Internal Cooling:
Unlike standard laptops, these gaming laptops are equipped with improved cooling options like improved venting or more powerful fans. As Hardware is pushed to its limits for long periods, it might create heat when you play high-end games.
How Much is a Gaming Laptop?
Like PC hardware, the price of gaming laptops will vary based on the design and brand. The price of a good quality gaming laptop starts from £500. But the expensive ones can cost more than £3,000. If you don’t want to run every game at maximum while streaming and recording simultaneously, there is no need to use the most expensive models. Choose a £700 laptop that comes with the proper specs, as these laptops will allow you to run most games at max settings.
How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last?
Depending on the hardware lifespan, gaming laptops last from five to ten years. Modular construction is a very interesting feature of laptops specially designed for gaming. Laptops get outdated quickly. Therefore, you may need to purchase a new model after some years to play the latest games.
Benefits & Drawbacks of Gaming Laptops Against Normal Laptops:
If it comes to selecting a gaming laptop over a regular model, you must know its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, look at these pros and cons to decide which product is right for you.
Benefits:
High speeds: These devices are designed especially to provide the required speed. When you play games, you need to overcome your opponents. That’s why speed is very much necessary. Several tasks are there which need to be processed simultaneously when you play games. And to complete these tasks, you must have a high-end CPU.
RAM: With the help of RAM, computers can perform several tasks like loading applications, browsing the internet, editing a spreadsheet, or experiencing the latest games. Memory permits you to switch between these tasks quickly.
Graphics: Gaming laptops that come with top-quality graphics cards, offer high-resolution quality images and allow you to have an amazing gaming experience. The cards offer support for games & graphics-related software. As a result of which the tasks run smoothly without any interruptions.
Sound: Audio quality is essential when you play games. Usually, the sound quality in a gaming laptop is better than a standard laptop.
Upgradable parts: Just like PCs, a few laptops are more flexible and have upgraded parts. That means you can change memory, processors, mouse, touchpads, and peripherals. So, there is no need to replace the laptop in future, what you have to do is to upgrade this. But it is for only a few models. Most laptops are not good for upgrading.
Durability: The gaming laptops are designed in such a way so that these models will be sturdier and more durable than normal laptops.
Drawbacks:
Battery life: Compared to normal laptops, these have much less battery power. When you are going to use the laptop, ensure that there is a power source near you always.
Weight: These laptops weigh more compared to the standard laptops. Therefore, ensure that you have a good laptop bag to carry the additional weight. These might be bulky because function gets more priority over design, since extra exhaust fans must be installed on laptops to compensate for all heat produced whilst you play games.
Performance: Laptops generally cannot deliver the same performance level that desktop PCs can give you. These use phone versions of graphics cards & other components. So, users can get overall low performance.
Screen size: As these are portable, the screen size will be limited. But users will be able to connect the laptop to a screen via an HDMI cable. But remember, it will put a heavy load on your graphics card.
Additional costs: As a gamer, to get an amazing gaming experience, you may need to use a specialist gaming mouse or keyboard along with other accessories. That means you incur extra costs. Whether you are serious about gaming, purchase a backlit keyboard to throw an ‘all-nighter’.
Can a Gaming Laptop be Used As a Regular Laptop?
Yeah, you can use a gaming laptop like a normal one. You should know that a gaming laptop is capable of doing everything which a normal laptop can do. Even gaming laptops let you play games. These are usually equipped with a CPU, temporary storage space (RAM), and permanent storage space, including a hard drive, SSD or cloud storage.
Usually, gaming laptops come with stronger components like more storage and RAM. The reason for that is games demand hardware resources. However, both types of laptops can be used for normal day-to-day home & office admin tasks, internet shopping, and streaming.
However, if you are willing to play games, a standard model will be able to handle it, but it depends upon the game you play on it. Currently, the latest games require much more power and functionality. In these cases, a powerful laptop is necessary to experience AAA games at their best.
How Do You Use A Gaming Laptop?
Like other laptops, you can use a gaming laptop for regular tasks & entertainment purposes. These come with the same OSs used on regular laptops or PCs. People mainly purchase these to play games. Therefore, they want such a model which can deliver the best performance in terms of sound, top-quality graphics and speed. Different features, such as durability, system specifications, etc., make the gaming laptops exceptional.Internet surfing, web browsing, emails, chatting, etc., are usual tasks people generally do on standard laptops. Just like PC’s keyboard, a few models have hard keyboards because of the gamers’ demand who like special keyboards & mice for controlling their playing.
Should You Buy A Cheap Gaming Laptop?
Your gaming laptop can be used for job, studies or casual computing. These may be a sensible investment than traditional gaming consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X. You can use the devices for casual to semi-intense gaming. The laptops let you play AAA games like MW2, God of War Ragnarok and Madden 23, though not always at the highest settings. Are you a serious gamer? Then, you must purchase a laptop between the middle & high price range.
What Gaming Performance Can You Expect From A Laptop Under $1000?
Usually, if you buy a gaming laptop under $1000, these can offer a solid performance. But you should not expect to play in the highest game settings. In most cases, gaming laptops feature an Nvidia RTX 30-series graphics card and a Ryzen 5 CPU and can offer a solid 1080p performance which might reach 1440p.
A few brands excel in specific areas. Therefore, you have to consider the brand of the laptop before purchasing it. For instance, you can go for Dell or HP laptops. These are perfect for gaming. Whereas, ASUS and Acer are names of a few brands that have a heavy gaming focus.
Can a Gaming Laptop Be Used For Work?
Yes. Although gaming laptops are mainly designed for gaming, just like regular laptops, you will be able to use these laptops for work as well. There are even a few high-end laptops which can be used for doing animation or editing purposes.
Top Gaming Laptops under $1000:
Asus Vivobook Pro 15 – Best Overall:
Description:
Due to its exceptional price-to-performance ratio, this model got the top rank in this list of top gaming laptops under $1000. The product is equipped with a Ryzen 7 CPU, an RTX 3050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, & a 512GB M.2 NVMe hard drive. The best thing about the laptop is at such a low price, using this laptop, you can get the power & performance you need. It is the 15.6-inch OLED display which makes the model stand out in the market. This outstanding display can provide crisp visuals as well as a near-perfect contrast ratio.
The model is not intended to beat other models in terms of design or build quality. Instead, the manufacturer tried to load the model with so much power that the design does not matter at all.
Features:
Design and build quality: The model comes in blue color and with a matte metallic finish.
Keyboard and trackpad: Although you will get a decent key feel, the key caps will feel cheap. Although there are some drawbacks, its affordability manages this.
Display, audio: The model comes with an awesome 15.6-inch 1080p OLED non-touch display. Whereas, its maximum contrast ratio is 427720:1.
Pros:
Outstanding performance
Excellent display
Rugged design
Good battery life
Cons:
The fingerprint scanner is not reliable
Poor port selection
HP Victus 15 – Best budget option:
Description:
Although it is not as powerful as other models available in the market, the best thing is what this model lacks in terms of performance, its availability at affordable prices makes up this. This is one of the cheapest options that provide discrete graphics – an older GTX 1650 model.
60 FPS can be out of reach on the model of most modern games. However, it is possible to play games at lower graphics settings.
Features:
Keyboard and Trackpad:
This model comes with a big keyboard along with a numpad. The edge-to-edge design of this model allows you to get the best performance from the laptop’s interior. It indicates that most keys come in large sizes though the number is shoved into the left side. Despite the respectable size of the numpad, these are slightly narrow. Besides, some right-side keys like Shift & Backspace are a bit small.
Display, Audio:
The display of this model offers 1080p resolution. Although the picture quality is not so good, on the 15.6-inch display, the 1080p resolution looks sharp enough. However, the display’s colour accuracy and gamut should be improved. Sometimes, this model cannot handle the whole sRGB colour gamut. Whereas color accuracy is dull. 1050:1 is the contrast rate which is decent but not exceptional. Its maximum brightness is 250 nits. That low level of brightness can be overwhelmed by a sunlit window or bright overhead lighting. That’s why, it is necessary to have some degree of light control to view comfortably.
Pros:
Affordable
Awesome keyboard and touchpad
Respectable processor performance
Handle most games at 30 FPS
Cons:
Not good build quality
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook – Best Chromebook for Gaming:
Description:
When you try to buy a laptop for gaming, you usually may not think of Chromebooks. However, it is not your fault. High-end Chromebooks can double as gaming devices with the advent of cloud gaming services. But you can find a few Chromebooks costing more than affordable gaming laptops. These put them out of reach for most. If you are looking for a product less than $600, go for this model. It features a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a bright 16-inch 2560×1600 display.
If you have a decent internet source and want to pay a monthly fee for a cloud gaming service, then you can stream modern games to the Chromebook from the cloud.
Features:
Design & Build Quality:
By looking at this model, you will never understand that the Chromebook is designed especially for gaming. This model comes with simple gray exterior plastics along with a matte gray contrasting strip.
Keyboard and Trackpad:
The spacious keyboard layout makes this model exceptional. Whereas, on the right-hand side, you will find a numpad that comes with half-sized keys. While the key travel is long, the layout can offer a lot of room to stretch. But key action may seem to you mushy. This model is equipped with Google’s special row of function keys that allow users to access different functions like volume, brightness, & browser refresh.
Connectivity:
This model leans into USB-C with two ports which are compatible with USB Power Delivery & DisplayPort Alternate Mode. With the help of these two USB-C ports, it is possible to charge the laptop. It comes with two USB-A ports that can be used with older wired devices.
Pros:
Bright 2560×1600 display
Perfect wireless & wired connectivity
Good display
Powerful speakers
Cons:
The design isn’t so impressive
Mediocre keyboard & touchpad
MSI Katana 15:
Description:
The model is available at $999 and features Intel Core i7-13620H & Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050. These two exceptional features make the product a robust 1080p gaming machine. In addition, the company comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM & a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD. Whereas the availability of decent speakers on this model should be appreciated. Although the 1080p display is not so good, the 144 Hz refresh rate is expected to be a boon to esports players who want to have a smooth gaming experience.
Features:
Design:
This one of the top gaming laptops under $1000 is constructed of high-sheen plastic all around along with a high level of flex in the display lid and a keyboard deck. The company imprints its logo on the lid along with including artificial flathead screw embellishments. You can see pixel-style design elements imprinted under the display, as well as on the edge of its lid & on the chassis’s sides.
Gaming Performance:
It is equipped with an Intel Core i7-13620H Raptor Lake processor, an entry-level GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of DDR5-5200 RAM (2 x 8GB) & a 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD. The frame rate is hovering about 70-80 FPS.
Display:
The product has a 15.6-inch IPS panel featuring a fast 144Hz refresh rate & a 1080p resolution. If you look straight on, the screen appears bright. But there is a little drop in brightness at the extreme angles to the left or right.
Pros:
Excellent 1080p gaming performance
Good speakers
Cons:
Battery life is short.
Acer Nitro 5 (2022)
Description:
It is one of the great gaming laptops which is available for under $1,000. If you are looking for a budget-friendly model, then you should go for this one. In this price change, you can have 16GB of RAM in the product and based on performance, it is excellent. Besides, the 512GB SSD allows you to hold a few games. The display reaches 144 Hz, which is faster than other models in the class.
This is one of the best gaming laptops under $1000. It is equipped with an empty 2.5-inch drive bay. Moreover, the model comes with a SATA cable in the box. That means you can add a hard drive or SSD to make room for more games. Whereas many laptops in this range are not capable of providing room for extra storage.
Features:
RGB keyboard and NitroSense Key:
It includes a 4-zone RGB keyboard which makes Acer Nitro 5 exceptional. In addition, the model features WASD and arrow keys that make easy visibility for the clutch moments.
Sound Barrier:
The laptop can offer excellent audio quality with a more immersive experience via the dual 2W speakers. Its DTS:X Ultra ensures that you get clear sounds.
Coolness Under Fire:
This budget-friendly laptop is equipped with a dual-fan cooling function. In addition, it comes in a quad-exhaust port design. If you want a few additional controls, pop open the NitroSense utility app.
ExceptionalSpecs:
This one of the top gaming laptops under $1000 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS hexa-core series processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics. This combination ensures that it can easily compete with other laptops in the market in this price range. Additionally, it includes 8 GB RAM that lets you upgrade to a maximum of 32GB of DDR5 4800 RAM.
Visual Intensity:
Everything looks outstanding in full HD AMD with FreeSync that keeps the frames tight and in sync. Besides, the 3ms response time as well as the 144Hz lighting quick refresh rate ensures that the game sessions will be unmatched, unbroken & fluid.
Excellent Connectivity:
The Intel Killer E2600 Ethernet Controller and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity ensure that you can easily handle the online competition. Your task is to connect all peripherals to multiple ports like HDMI 2.1, the new powerful USB, and the latest USB 3.2 standard with Gen1 & 2 support.
Pros:
Budget-friendly
Outstanding design
Excellent gaming performance according to the price
Cons:
Multiple bloatware
Factors You Need to Consider Before Purchasing a Gaming Laptop Under $1000:
If it comes to choosing the best gaming laptop, it totally depends on what you are willing to do on it. Let’s look at the factors which are necessary to consider before you choose the best gaming laptop under $1000.
GPU:
When it comes to this factor, you should remember that you can’t swap out GPU or upgrade this later. Therefore, it is essential to be choosy about your pick. This component determines how well the machine will be able to run games. However, there is no need to have the best of the best one for getting the most reliable gaming performance. For instance, the GTX 1650 is an entry-level GPU which is budget-friendly. Besides, it is quite sufficient for 1080p gaming with mid-to-high graphics settings. You can expect to have lower frame rates on newer titles. Do you want some more power? Then, you can choose the modern RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti. Fortunately, these features can be seen on gaming laptops under $1,000. Sometimes, you can observe a discount on an RTX 3060-powered laptop under $1,000. However, it is hardly seen.
CPU:
Just like GPU, you can not upgrade the processor. That’s why you must be selective. If you choose Intel, it is better to go with an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7. AMD users need to go with a Ryzen 4000 or 5000. It is necessary to choose a processor which has at least four cores. However, go for those processors which have six cores or more.
RAM:
Remember that you must need at least 8GB of RAM. Suppose you are capable of affording 16GB of RAM. If it happens, then go for it. As memory is upgradable, it is possible to swap it out and add more later.
Storage:
This factor impacts the number of games & applications a user can install on the laptop. You can upgrade storage like RAM and swap it out later. However, you must try to have at least 512GB of SSD storage with a hard drive. The reason is that AAA titles have consumed huge space. With the help of SSDs, loading games is possible quickly because data remains stored on chips instead of spinning disks.
Display:
Under $1000, you can expect 1080p display quality with a 60Hz or 144Hz refresh rate. When you choose the best budget gaming laptops, you can not get the best display for sure. The reason is that manufacturers might cut corners to keep the price low. Do you have a dim display? Then, buy an external monitor to plug into this.
Battery life:
These laptops are known for their poor battery life. The reason is that the laptops use a lot of power. The gaming laptops are also heavier than standard models as these require more space for heatsinks & other cooling components. The laptops usually last between 4-6 hours once you charge them. But remember that the battery life relies on your usages.
Are Budget Gaming Laptops Worth It?
Although a few cheap gaming laptops are available in the market, when it comes to performance, these laptops have performance limitations compared to expensive laptops. The components which you need to get an excellent PC gaming experience are costly. Whereas the entry-level gaming laptops which are available from $700 to $1,000, use lower-end components. You can use cheap gaming laptops to play older games or those which don’t have any demand in the market. Go for these low-budget laptops, if you are fine with playing games at reduced graphics quality so that you can maintain fast frame rates. These models are the perfect options when you need a laptop for work or school.
The Bottom Line:
The article covers the best gaming laptops under $1,000 along with elaborating all the important aspects that you need to consider before purchasing the right model. While a few companies choose lower-end GPUs, others cut costs with small SSDs. If you make the right choices, you can enjoy PC gaming on a budget – although you have to turn down some settings or reinstall a few games.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Chromebooks good gaming laptops?
It relies on the type of gaming you are willing to do. Generally, these are not capable of making good gaming laptops. However, they can handle web games & Android games. But a Chromebook will not cut this if you want to play the latest high-powered AAA games. It comes down to two aspects— these do not run Windows and do not include enough graphics power.
Can you play games with integrated graphics?
You can run many modern PC games using the latest processors with integrated graphics. For instance, Intel’s newer Iris Xe line of processors featuring integrated graphics can run the latest games at 1080p & 30fps.
What size laptop is best?
It depends on your preference and the purpose you want to use. If you plan to travel a lot with the laptop, the best option for you will be a small ultraportable size of 13″-14″. People willing to use this as a gaming machine should choose laptops in the 15- to 17-inch size range. However, it is necessary to check the laptop’s weight.
