LoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleBest Cheap Gaming LaptopLenovo LOQ 15Read more$1,300 Walmart (RTX 5060, 512 GB)
The Cheapest Gaming Laptop Worth BuyingMSI Cyborg A15Read more$999 Amazon (512 GB)
The Nicest Cheap Gaming LaptopAlienware 15 Gaming LaptopRead more$1,200 Dell (RTX 5050)
There was a time not so long ago when you could buy a decent gaming laptop for around $800. It wouldn't be pretty, but it could play modern games at decent frame rates and provided an entry point to PC gaming for a broader demographic.
These days, those same laptops cost $400 or $500 more. Meanwhile, the newer generation of entry-level gaming laptops has arrived, often offering similar performance for even more money—or by compromising the overall quality of the system. But there are a few standouts I've tested worth mentioning. And while it may not feel like the best time to buy a cheap gaming laptop, prices may only increase in the future.
For more laptop picks, check out our Best Cheap Laptops, Best Gaming Laptops, Best Windows Laptops, and Best Laptops guides. Make sure to read our comprehensive guide on How to Choose a Gaming Laptop.
Updated August 2026: I've reevaluated all the picks to reflect new prices and context. I've also added testing from the Alienware 15 and Lenovo LOQ 15 Essential Gen 11.
Photograph: Luke LarsenPhotograph: Luke LarsenPhotograph: Luke LarsenPhotograph: Luke LarsenChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistLenovo
The Lenovo LOQ 15 has been the best deal in gaming since it came out at the beginning of 2026, and that remains true today. It comes with an Nvidia RTX 5060 laptop graphics card, for one thing, meaning you get solid frame rates in games without needing to depend on image upscaling through Nvidia's DLSS technology or frame generation. The performance advantage over RTX 5050 laptops, like the Acer Swift V 16 (see below), is substantial—anywhere between 11 and 40 percent depending on the benchmark. I was impressed by the performance across a suite of games, even though the system gets undeniably loud under heavy load.
The display is even more surprising, though. So many gaming laptops around (or above) $1,000 (and cheap laptops in general) use dim, crummy-looking screens with terrible colors. Sorry, not sorry. But the LOQ 15 looks fantastic by comparison. It's still only 1920 x 1080 resolution, but the colors are more vibrant and cover 100 percent of the sRGB color space. It can also be cranked up to 347 nits of brightness, which is bright enough as long as you're not gaming by a window. The significantly better screen makes the LOQ 15 a far better option as a laptop that can be used for school or work just as enjoyably as it is for gaming. On that note, I love the clicky keyboard too, which feels tactile and fast to type on. Even the touchpad has a smooth, responsive surface.
The price has increased over the past six months, though. It used to sell for under $1,000, sometimes as low as $900. Now, the best deal is over at Walmart for $1,200, which also comes with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. As much as it hurts to say, this is still the best deal in gaming laptops—and it's not close.
Photograph: Luke LarsenSave to wishlistSave to wishlistMSI
If you want to go cheaper without giving up more performance, there's one clear option to consider: the MSI Cyborg A15. Despite only costing $999, it comes with the same RTX 5060 as the LOQ 15. That will be enough for many who are looking first and foremost for decent gaming performance at a discount.
There are two significant compromises, though, when compared to the LOQ 15. The MSI doesn't have the high-quality IPS display, sporting the same desaturated color spectrum as the Acer Nitro V 16 and Alienware 15 (more on those below). It also uses a lower-quality 720p webcam compared to the 1080p one on the LOQ 15. It even comes with one fewer USB-A port.
Still, there's a lot to like. The touchpad and keyboard are both nice, and if you like a colorful machine, the Cyborg gives you three-zone RGB backlighting. It's also a more portable design, with a smaller footprint and thinner chassis—even slightly lighter. I tested the RTX 5050 model, but right now it's only being offered in a 1-terabyte configuration, so it's a bit more expensive. The RTX 5060 with 512 GB at $999 is easily the most power you'll find at that price.
Photograph: Luke LarsenPhotograph: Luke LarsenPhotograph: Luke LarsenChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistAlienware
There's a lot to like about this new entry in Alienware's lineup. It's pretty and well built, with decent performance and a really nice keyboard. Of all the gaming laptops on this list, I like the design and simple aesthetic of this the best. But it has the same display quality problem as the MSI Cyborg A15. Colors are desaturated and ugly, and everything has a green tint. That would be more understandable if the overall cost was $1,000 or less like the Cyborg A15, but at this price, it's harder to accept.
Alienware does sell an RTX 4050 version for $999, but that GPU only has 6 GB of VRAM. I wouldn't recommend that model at this point if you want to play anything remotely heavy. As prices continue to rise on new gaming laptops, $1,200 may quickly become the new floor for RTX 5050 laptops. But that GPU performs well in the Alienware 15, a bit better than in the Cyborg A15. But if you like the Alienware ethos and want a laptop that looks a bit more refined, the Alienware 15 is good for what it is. It also saves you $300 against an Alienware 16 Aurora with very similar performance.
There are a few other affordable gaming laptops I haven't tested yet that are worth considering. Asus and Dell both have RTX 5050 options, but neither is under $1,000. The Asus ROG A14 is out there, but it is currently only available with an RTX 5060.
Other affordable RTX 5050 laptops include the Omen 16, which is currently selling for $1,100. I haven't tested that device in a while, but it's a solid deal. The cheapest deal I've seen is the HP Victus 15 with the RTX 5050, which is only $999. If you want to upgrade to the next level of GPU performance, such as an RTX 5070, you'll see a significant jump in price. One of the cheapest RTX 5070 gaming laptops is the Asus ROG Strix G16, which sells for $1,760. That should give you an idea of how performance scales up from what is considered “budget.” Read our Best Gaming Laptops guide for more high-end picks.
Here are two other affordable gaming laptops I've tested that are worth mentioning:
Photograph: Luke LarsenLenovo LOQ 15 Essential Gen 11 for $1,850: If the version of the LOQ 15 I recommended above isn't available, I would consider this one more seriously. If (and when) that older model goes out of stock, my opinion here will change. But as it stands, it's hard to justify this “newer” laptop, which pairs a three-year-old GPU with a three-year-old CPU (the Core i7-13650HX). The good news is the display is on par with the other LOQ 15, which is a step up in color from the Alienware 15. But the deal-killer is the included 135-watt power adapter. Like the Acer Nitro V 16 below, it loses power when playing games in Performance mode despite being plugged in. That means the extra 10 to 15 percent of higher frame rates you get in Performance mode is on a time limit. Also, at its full price of $1,850, it's way overpriced, so wait for a discount.
Photograph: Luke LarsenAcer Nitro V 16 for $1,040: Much can be forgiven if the price is low enough, but unfortunately, the Acer Nitro V 16 isn't as cheap as it once was. The display is bright enough and has a fast 180-Hz refresh rate, but the colors are an issue. As I saw in my tests, the color accuracy and gamut are wildly off, resulting in some funky, desaturated coloring. The other big issue with the Acer Nitro V 16 is the power supply. Like the LOQ 15 Essential, it also only comes with a 135-watt charger rather than a larger 180-watt brick that most RTX 5050 laptops have. While the smaller power brick is nice, it means you can't run intensive games in Turbo mode without draining the battery—even while plugged in. I was told that the updated 2026 model would fix this problem, but it still lists a 135-watt charger. I was fine to overlook that issue when the laptop was selling for less than the competition, sometimes as low as $750. At its current price, though, you're better off with the MSI Cyborg A15.
What You Should Look For in a Cheap Gaming Laptop
Most cheap gaming laptops share a lot in common. They're all usually between 0.8 and 1 inch thick and tend to have bare-bones gaming-capable hardware. Here are some of the key specs to look for:
Display: 15-inch or 16-inch display. Depending on the aspect ratio, they'll have basic displays with a standard 1920 x 1080 or 1920 x 1200 resolution. You won't find higher-resolution panels on gaming laptops under $1,000. Also, take a look at the refresh rate. 144 Hz is the standard, but the higher the better for less motion blur and smoother animation. While OLED and mini-LED are more common in higher-end gaming laptops, all budget-oriented options use LED IPS.
CPU: The latest processors from Intel and AMD will all be here, and in the budget tier, the differences aren't as significant as in higher-end options. For AMD, that's usually either the Ryzen 5 220 or Ryzen 7 250. Intel's latest gaming chips in this price range are the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H or Core Ultra 7 240H. While Intel has announced its next-gen Core Ultra Series 3 chips, these haven't come out yet.
GPU: We're currently in Nvidia's RTX 50-series graphics cards, which came out at the beginning of 2025. In gaming laptops under $1,000, you'll be stuck with either the RTX 5050 or 5060. These likely won't be replaced until at least 2027, so it's safe to buy these for now.
Memory: You want at least 16 GB of RAM, and that's typically what you'll be stuck with in budget gaming laptops. Many gaming laptops let you upgrade RAM yourself later, though with the price of stand-alone memory these days, it might not be a bad idea to configure it with 32 GB upfront.
Storage: Gaming laptops start at 512 GB, and that will be enough for most. Upgrading to 1 terabyte isn't a bad idea, though, whether that's configured up-front or done yourself later. You can always store games on an external hard drive, but with the size of games these days, the more storage you have, the better.
The laptops above are the cheapest gaming laptops you should buy, but as you'll discover with some research, there are some even lower-priced options out there—some as low as $500 or $600. Most come with older graphics cards and processors, meaning you're getting a dip in performance. This is especially true if you buy something like an RTX 3050 or 2050. The RTX 50-series is the latest version, which came out at the beginning of 2025. The RTX 40-series was announced in 2023, meaning anything older than that is well over three years old. I wouldn't recommend anything that old, especially not if it was already budget-oriented. I haven't seen anything cheap enough that would make me think you shouldn't go with one of the RTX 50 series options above instead.
Here at WIRED, we test budget gaming laptops the same way we test high-priced ones. Gaming comes first, and we run a series of in-game benchmarks to establish a baseline that can be compared apples-to-apples, including titles from different genres like Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel Rivals, and Monster Hunter: Wilds. This spits out a score, yes, but while it's running, we pay attention to factors like fan noise, internal temperatures, and surface temperatures. We also test the game in more realistic scenarios to get a feel for how all the elements of the system come together, including the screen. We also use other CPU and GPU benchmarks like 3DMark Steel Nomad and Cinebench to evaluate performance.
Speaking of the screen, we use a colorimeter to test the breadth and accuracy of the colors, the peak brightness, and the contrast. These are all important and contribute to the overall experience of using the laptop both in and out of gaming. We also test battery life in local video playback. This is not so much for gaming, but more to see how well it works for other work or for school. We also test out the speakers and webcam to see how they hold up.
Lastly, we handle these laptops to get a sense for durability, build quality, and usability. That means typing on the keyboard, swiping on the touchpad, opening and closing the hinge, carrying it from place to place, and applying pressure to the lid and palm rests. Add in the included specs, price, and configuration options, and it comes together in something that I'd either personally recommend or not. For budget-oriented devices, price is given more weight in this evaluation. If one gaming laptop costs more than another, it needs to add something that offers a qualitative benefit.
Luke Larsen is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED, covering laptops, PCs, Macs, monitors, and the wider PC peripheral ecosystem. He’s been reporting on tech for over a decade, previously at Digital Trends as the senior editor in computing, where he spent seven years leading the publication’s daily coverage. ... Read MoreProduct Writer & ReviewerTopicslaptopsShoppinglaptopComputersWindows PCsPCsGamingThe Best Gaming Mouse for Every Kind of GamerFrom wired to wireless to ultralight, we've tested dozens of gaming mice to find the best for work, your next MMO, and everything in between.Henri RobbinsOur Favorite Smartwatches Do Much More Than Just Tell TimeThese WIRED-tested wearables reduce your reliance on a phone while keeping you connected.Boutayna Chokrane The Best Vacuum Cleaners We’ve Ever TriedLooking for all our top recommended vacuums? Here are our favorites in every category, from cordless models to robot vacs. Nena Farrell Stay Safe With These Personal Safety AlarmsMake some noise for safety with our favorite alarms, from keychain sirens to wearable bracelets.Boutayna Chokrane The Best Cordless Vacuums for Cleaning Your Entire HomeClean your house without the constraint of a power cord, thanks to these stick vacuums. Nena Farrell Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office ChairsUpgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy, WIRED-tested seats.Julian ChokkattuThe Best MagSafe and Qi2 Power Banks for Your PhoneKeep your iPhone or Qi2 Android phone topped up with one of the best portable chargers.Simon HillWhich GoPro Hero Camera Should You Buy?You’re an action hero, and you need a camera to match. We guide you through all the models, plus accessory recommendations and hidden software tricks to try.Scott GilbertsonThe Best Portable Power Stations for Blackouts, Camping, or Van LifeWhether you’re going off-grid or safeguarding against blackouts, these beefy, WIRED-tested batteries can keep the lights on.Simon HillQuell the Heat With Our Favorite Window Air ConditionersThese are the AC units we’ve trusted to cool our homes for months, if not years.Matthew KorfhageThe Dyson Vacuums Worth BuyingFeeling the pull of a new clean machine? We’ll help you make sense of Dyson’s whirlwind vacuum lineup. Nena Farrell Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office ChairsUpgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy, WIRED-tested seats.Julian ChokkattuWired CouponsCanon Promo Code10% Off Canon Promo Code + Up to 30% Off
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