Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000 – Powerful Gaming Experience

With an increasing number of players and gamers looking for gaming laptops under 1000, popular brands have come with several models with interesting configurations that can efficiently run all the newest AAA releases at high to medium graphic settings. No wonder, such laptops have become a massive hit within the gaming community and have been getting awesome user reviews.

This article covers some of the best gaming laptops under 1000 with their pros, cons and a peek into what goes under their hood.

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-79TD is the best gaming laptop under 1000 as of right now since it comes with a powerful i7 processor coupled with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti and a 15.6-inch display. This laptop can help you get the best possible gaming experience whether you choose to play Far Cry 6, Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty Warzone, Minecraft, Sims 4, or other similar titles. In fact, it should be able to deliver a performance that is at par with costlier gaming laptops.

Before I spill the beans and list out the top-rated gaming laptops under 1000 dollars, here are the minimum specifications that you should be looking for when trying to buy one within this budget:

Processor	Intel Core i5 and higher OR AMD Ryzen 5 and higher
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or higher
RAM	At least 8GB
Storage	At least 512 GB

If you want a machine with better specifications than those mentioned in the table above, then you need to raise your budget and have a look at the top-rated gaming laptops under 1500.

Without any further ado, let’s get straight into the list of the most popular gaming laptops under 1000 bucks.

List of Best Gaming Laptops Under 1000

Here are some of the top-most models that you can source within the price tag of 1000 bucks and still be able to enjoy a decent gaming performance (whatever title you choose to play).

1. Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-79TD

The first pick on our list of gaming laptops under 1000 includes the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop. It’s Acer’s budget mid-tier gaming laptop that features Intel’s Core i7 11th generation processor (i7-11800H) which comes with 8 cores and 16 threads. If you go down this list, you will find that this is the most powerful processor which justifies the top position of this gaming laptop here. It makes this machine capable of processing and rendering almost any title effortlessly. This is the best processor that you can lay your hands on within this price bracket.

Acer accompanied such a high-end processor with Nvidia’s latest RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. It’s needless to say that this GPU can help you enjoy amazing visuals, graphics, and images elevating your gaming experience to the next level.

I must mention here that a couple of machines on this list come with this GPU but when used along with Intel’s Core i7 11th generation processor (as in this model), it can deliver a high-quality and immersive gaming experience.

The GDDR6 4GB VRAM alongside the high cores of the CPU makes this laptop run almost every new title at 1080p 60fps with ease.

Just like the internals, the laptop does not disappoint you when it comes to its display as well as it features a 15.6 inches IPS display of 1920x1080p resolution with an incredible refresh rate of 144 hertz.

Out of the box, the Acer Nitro 5 comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM only. However, it has two DDR4 slots which means you can upgrade the RAM and make it go up to 32GB.

This device comes with great scope for upgradation as far as storage is concerned. This is because it comes with 2 M.2 Slots with one of them being equipped with 512GB NVMe drive and the other being available for future upgrades. In addition to this, it also has a Hard Drive Bay available so that you can have an SSD installed, in case you need it in future.

Talking about battery power, this model boasts an 8-hour-long battery power. This, by any standard, is quite good for productivity work but when it comes to gaming I don’t think this model is going to last for more than 3-4 hours at stretch. Considering the fact that gamers like to play with their devices plugged into the power socket, this should not matter much to you.

Furthermore, if you are concerned about its noise levels and heating problems then hear this out; this gaming laptop uses Acer CoolBoost technology which increases fan speed and gives it a boost of 10% which decreases the temps of GPU and CPU by default.

I have gone ahead and tested some of the gaming titles on this device and the results are as follows:

Games	FPS	Settings	GPU Temperature
Apex Legends	80+	High/Mid – 1080p	71°C
GTA 5	80+	Normal – 1080p	64°C
Doom Eternal	85+	Nightmare – 1080p	73°C
ARK Survival Evolved	55+	Max Settings – 1080p	71°C

In a nutshell, if you are looking to get recent hardware equipped in your laptop then look no further as Acer has got you covered here. As you can make out from the table above, in most cases it is capable of delivering an FPS rate of more than 60.

For those who love playing SIMS 4, I have tested this device by playing this title and I can confirm that it can manage an FPS of more than 80 with the GPU temperature staying within the normal range. I have no qualms in saying that it is one of the most recommended laptops for SIMS 4 too.

This model from Acer deserves to be on top of this list since it comes equipped with a powerful processor and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti processor which is one of the best that you can get within this price bracket. Coupled with a good display screen and a decent refresh rate, this machine is capable of getting an FPS rate of more than 60 in the case of most gaming titles.

At a price of less than $1000, this machine is truly a steal and you must grab it with both hands (while the deal lasts).

Click on the button below to order it now.

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2. Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6

Acer has been producing laptops since the early 2000s and since then they are known for producing laptops with hardware diversification. Here, the second entry on this list of best gaming laptops under budget includes the Acer Swift X.

The major highlight of this gaming laptop is its Ryzen CPU. It features an 8C/12T CPU (Ryzen 7 5800U) which is based on zen 3 core architecture. This CPU is almost as powerful as other high-end processors series of Intel i7 11th generation. What makes it highly powerful is its multicore rendering feature.

For content creators and gamers, Acer has come up with the new RTX 3050 Ti 4GB graphics card which is capable of running and streaming effortlessly in 2022.

The 16GB LPDDR4X memory equipped with the laptop gives you the upper edge when playing games that demand high memory.

Not only the high memory, but this laptop does not disappoint you with the storage also as it features a 512GB NVMe drive that is fast enough to load your data in a matter of seconds. The best part is that you have an additional slot available for upgrade in case you need more storage.

Moving on, here are the test results with regard to various gaming titles (for FPS and GPU temperature)”

Games	FPS	Settings	GPU Temperature
Call of Duty Warzone	80+	Low – 1080p	75°C
Fortnite	100+	Medium- 1080p	76°C
GTA 5	60+	High – 1080p	74°C
Apex Legends	60+	MAX – 1080p	72°C

The only place where this laptop lacks is its display. Even though it features a very good quality IPS display with 100% sRGB display and 300 nits brightness but its refresh rate goes only up to 60 hertz which is good enough for gamers out there.

Other than this, this laptop features a power-packed combination of internals that are good enough to perform for the next couple of years.

Last, but not the least, this model comes with a 59 Wh battery inside it that boasts 12-hour running time on productivity work. As far as gaming is concerned, it should last you about 5-6 hours at a stretch. At the same time, the battery should run for at least 9 hours when on performance mode (while gaming).

This model is highly deserving of one of the top spots on this list because of its powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. That it comes with 16GB RAM is another plus in its favor. Not to mention, it also bears 512 GB NVMe SSD to ensure fast and quick rendering and loading of your preferred titles. Currently, it is a little costlier than the top model mentioned here and deserves to be reviewed at the second spot.

Click on the button below to order it now!

Comparing Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-79TD and Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6

While on the face of it, both of these seem almost similar. As a matter of fact, Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6 seems like a better choice since it has more RAM (16GB) and the same GPU as Acer Nitro 5. However, you need to pay close attention to what goes beneath the cover to understand the difference between the two.

Yes, I am talking about the processors that power up these machines.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800U that powers up Acer Swift X SFX14-41G-R1S6 pales in comparison to Intel’s Core i7 11th generation processor (i7-11800H) that is at the core of the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop mentioned above.

I have had the privilege of testing both these laptops (even though it cost me a lot of money since I had to buy both of these models), I can safely say that Acer Nitro 5 is the real beast out of the two.

Here are some results from my research:

Key Advantages of Intel Core i7 11800H over AMD Ryzen 7 5800U

• First and foremost, Core i7 11800H can support up to 128 GB DDR4-3200 RAM. Even though AMD Ryzen 7 is also compatible with DDR4-3200 RAM, Core i7 can support more storage.
• Secondly, Core i7 11800H bears at least 8MB larger cache size as compared to its Ryzen counterpart.
• Core i7 11800H comes with a newer PCI Express version 4.0
• Last, but not least, Core i7 11800H comes with a 5% higher Turbo Boost frequency (4.6 GHz vs 4.4 GHz)

Key advantages of AMD Ryzen 7 5800U over Intel Core i7 11800H

• AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is more energy efficient. Under trials, it is known to have consumed 44% less energy in comparison. While it is known to have consumed 25 Watts, Core i7 11800H is known to have consumed 45 Watts in a stipulated time period.
• Not just this, it also comes through a highly modernized manufacturing process and bears 7 nanometers as compared to 10 nanometers (for Core i7 11800H)

It doesn’t take much to understand the difference between the two processors here.

Secondly, Acer Nitro 5 also has a better display and can manage a refresh rate of 144 as against that of 60 (for Acer Swift X).

Last, but not the least, as of now, Acer Nitro 5 is more economically priced as compared to Acer Swift X.

Click Here to Order Acer Nitro 5 NOW!

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3. Asus TUF Dash 15

The Asus TUF Dash 15 features pretty much the same features as the first pick above and that is why it has made it to the third spot on this list.

Intel’s Core i7 11th generation makes sure that the laptop does not lack when it comes to processing power as this CPU has a boost frequency of 4.80 GHz. Alongside the CPU, it features the same Nvidia’s RTX 3050 Ti graphics card which has 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM. (The major difference between Acer Nitro 5 mentioned above and this device is that while Acer Nitro 5 comes equipped with 11th Gen Intel Core i7 11800H, this device is powered by Intel Core i7-11370H processor. Even though Acer Nitro 5 wins in this regard, the Intel Core i7-11370H processor can also help deliver a seamless performance in case of most gaming titles.)

The combination of these internals can run all the new titles at 1080p resolution without causing any major complications.

If you are a competitive gamer then here is this for you; the laptop has 15.6 inches 144Hz IPS display with adaptive sync to minimize the screen tearing and provide you with a seamless gaming experience.

For the RAM and ROM, it features the same 8GB DDR4 memory stick alongside the 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD which in our opinion is fast and enough to store a couple of your favorite games.

Easy Customization

One of the biggest plus points of this device is that it offers a great level of customization. All you need to do is simply flip over the machine and unscrew its screws to carefully remove the black cover. This gives you access to the RAM and SSDs of the device. Even though it comes with 8GB RAM soldered onto the motherboard, it also has an open slot so that you can add as much as 64GB additional RAM to it. Having said that, for most people a further 8GB upgrade should be more than enough.

When I got my device shipped, it has an Intel NVMe SSD at 512GB of storage. I further upgraded it and added a second SSD as storage for the sole purpose of playing games so that it did not use up the main OS drive.

Here are some of the results that I got while testing a couple of gaming titles on this ASUS model:

Games	FPS	Settings	GPU Temperature
Forza Horizon 5	70+	Ultra Settings – 1080p	78°C
Far Cry 6	60+	Ultra Settings – 1080p	75°C
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla	70+	Medium – 1080p	80°C
Apex Legends	90+	High – 1080p	73°C

The only issue with this device is that it might get a little annoying because of its noisy fans when you put a lot of pressure on this machine but other than that there is nothing to complain about. A worth considering option I’d say.

I almost forgot to tell you about one of its biggest plus points. This machine comes with an incredible battery life of 16 hours on productivity work. While gaming it can last anywhere from 5-8 hours at a stretch.

This device is another great addition to this list of best gaming laptops under 1000. It can deliver great performance since it comes equipped with one of the most powerful processors (in this price bracket) coupled with one of the finest GPUS available right now. The only issue with this device is that it does not come with a webcam. Other than that, it’s a great deal. I must mention here that because of its powerful configuration, this model finds its way into the list of top-rated gaming laptops under 1200 too.

Click on the button below to order it now!

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4. Gigabyte A5 K1

Our recommended pick comes at number fourth by Asus. Its 240Hz display along with its high-end internals make it our favorite pick among the rest of the laptops.

The Gigabyte A5 K1 gaming laptop features all of the top-notch specifications that any gamer would ask for. The highlight of this gaming laptop is its full high-quality IPS display of 15.6 inches that has a refresh rate of 240 hertz.

This laptop is heaven for all the gamers who play competitive titles like Valorant, CSGO and Dota 2, etc.

The laptop features a high-end Ryzen 7 5800U processor which comes with a base frequency of 1.9GHz and goes up to 4.4GHz on boost clock.

The Ryzen 7 5800U accompanies an Nvidia RTX 3060 6GB graphics card. I tried and tested different titles on this gaming laptop and the results left us wondering. One of the reasons behind that is its Graphics card which happens to be the best on this list of gaming laptops under the 1000 dollar mark. Even though RTX 3050 Ti is also a good GPU, RTX 3060 is certainly capable of delivering a performance that is a notch higher.

This laptop certainly gains a couple of brownie points for featuring this amazing graphics card.

I have personally tested a couple of gaming titles on this device. Shadow of the Tom Raider gave me 60+ frames and GTA V gave 100+ frames on high settings. Some of the of the other results are as follows:

Games	FPS	Settings	GPU Temperature
Battlefield V	60 – 70	High/Mid – 1080p	74°C
Cyberpunk 2077	40- 45	High – 1080p	74°C
Doom Eternal	100 – 120	Max- 1080p	85°C
Valorant	135 – 145	High – 1080p	80°C

The laptop is even capable of running these games at 1440p resolution if you plan to install an external monitor with it.

This device does not fall short even when it comes to memory and storage. Coupled with a 16 GB RAM, it outperforms most other laptops on this list with its 1TB PCIe SSD. What it means is that it has more than enough room for storing, rendering, and enduring seamless performance in the case of most gaming titles.

All in all, this laptop is a monster. The design of it is not gaming-centered so you can also consider it for your office usage as well.

The only weak point of this device is that it does not have long battery life. While gaming it is likely to last as much as 2-3 hours. In comparison to the models mentioned above, this kind of falls rather short. But again, it should not matter much since most players prefer playing with their devices plugged into the power socket so that they do not run out of battery at crucial moments in the game.

What makes this laptop stand out on this list is its powerful GPU. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is even more advanced than GeForce RTX 3050 Ti albeit by just a few notches. This is a laptop that comes with a powerful CPU and can help you experience a good gaming experience. At a price tag of less than a 1000 bucks, it is certainly a good buy. Click on the button below to buy it now!

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5. Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop

Next on this list is Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop. I would like to admit that I am cheating a little bit with this entry as its price is slightly over $1000 at its full retail value. However, I just couldn’t resist adding it to the list mostly because of its incredibly powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and its Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card with a 4 GB GDDR6 VRAM (which falls in line with most of the other laptops mentioned here).

Its processor offers a monstrous 3.3 GHz base clock speed and an overclocked clock speed of up to 4.2 GHz which is perfect for gamers looking to play heavy online multiplayer games with their friends.

The graphics card on the other hand offers fully realistic graphics with real-time ray tracing that just makes gaming that little bit more exciting. The system also boasts an adequate 16 GB DDR4 RAM which is enough for most multiplayer games out there right now. This makes it at par with Acer Swift X (in terms of RAM) mentioned above. Storage is also good since it comes with a 512 GB NVMe SSD. You would agree with me when I say that it is more than enough to store many titles and their expansion packs.

As per my tests, these are the results with regards to a couple of gaming titles:

Games	FPS	Settings	GPU Temperature
Borderlands 3	55 – 60	High – 1080p	70°C
Control	70- 80	Medium – 1080p	66°C
Days Gone	75 – 85	High- 1080p	69°C
Hitman III	90 – 100	Ultra – 1080p	68°C
Red Dead Redemption II	60 – 70	Medium – 1080p	75°C

The overall chassis itself is a work of art and possesses special durability that’ll allow you to game on this laptop for some years to come.

All in all, when it comes to solid mid-range gaming laptops, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better machine than the Lenovo Legion 5 with its powerful processor and colorful, bright display with a 165 Hz refresh rate and <3ms response time that almost eliminates any sort of input lag.

This machine boasts of a battery life of 6 hours on productivity work and it should last for about 2-3 hours on gaming, which is not the best considering the fact that some of the models mentioned above come with better battery life.

Our only suggestion for budget gamers is to try and buy this laptop when it’s on sale as you may be able to get a better price and may not have to stretch your budget.

This is another excellent model that deserves to be a part of this list. Even though it is priced slightly higher it comes with all the features that should be there to ensure a good gaming experience. Click on the button below to get this laptop now!

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6. Victus 16 Gaming Laptop

When it comes to gaming laptops under $1000, the value for money that the HP Victus offers is unmatched. That’s because it offers a couple of features that appeal to every type of gamer.
First and foremost, it’s 16 inches Full HD screen that consists of an IPS display.

The laptop itself comes with multiple configuration options but I’ve gone with the cheapest one that consists of an 8 GB DDR RAM and a 512 GB NVMe SSD.

And you know what, it still runs faster than most entry-level systems. Which you can mostly attribute to its super fast and powerful AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor with its 3.3 GHz base clock speed and an Nvidia Geforce RTX 3050 graphics card that offers realistic in-game graphics which ultimately enriches the entire gaming experience.

I have tested some games on Victus 6 and bring you the FPS and max GPU temperature on those games. The conclusion is that if you run the modern games on medium settings it will give you more than 60 FPS and on older titles, this laptop can give you up to 100 FPS.

Games	FPS	Settings	GPU Temperature
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	45 – 60	Ultra – 1080p	74°C
RDR 2	40 – 50	High – 1080p	73°C
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020	40 – 60	Medium – 1080p	71°C
Mafia: Definitive Edition	50 – 60	High – 1080p	68°C
Far Cry 5	80 – 90	Ultra – 1080p	75°C

On top of that, the Victus also boasts a surprisingly comfortable keyboard with beautiful RGB backlighting that not only enhances the looks of your laptop but also provides you with a comfortable typing experience.

Lastly, its subtle design and professional-looking chassis also make it a suitable choice for use in a professional setting like an office. All these features for less than $1000 are indeed a steal, which is why the HP Victus is one of the overall best gaming laptops out there.

This device comes with a battery life of 10 hours on normal productivity work and while gaming it should last anywhere from 4 to 5 hours.

This is another laptop that should be on this list. It not only comes with a cheaper price tag but is also powered by a good processor and GPU that can churn out an amazing gaming experience. It has more than enough memory and storage as well to deal with some of the most demanding titles. Grab this laptop by clicking on the link below!

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7. MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop

Most gaming laptops under the $1000 price range are usually entry-level systems that fulfill the minimum requirements for online multiplayer gaming. And the MSI GF63 Thin gaming laptop is no different. It is the best budget model that you can lay your hands on and yet it comes with some interesting configurations.

It does possess some features that give it that slight edge over basic entry-level laptops which is why I decided to include it in this list. If you decide to opt for the lowest-tier configuration you may as well be able to find a model that goes as low as $700.

However, I try to provide my readers with the most bang for their buck which is why I’ve gone with a configuration that consists of a 10th gen Intel core i5-10300 processor, an RTX 3050 graphic card, and a 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB NVMe SSD.

Here are some results when I tested this device by playing a couple of popular gaming titles on it:

Games	FPS	Settings	GPU Temperature
GTA 5	45 – 80	Max – 1080p	63°C
Valorant	95 – 130	Medium – 1080p	53°C
Rainbow Six Siege	140 – 200	Medium – 1080p	75°C
CS: Go	150 – 200	High – 1080p	55°C
Control	60 – 80	High – 1080p	80°C

The only small issue we have is with its processor that’s slightly less powerful and slower than most of the other systems on this list. On the other hand, this specific laptop may have the most beautiful display in the entire list that consisting of a 15.6-inch screen with a Full HD IPS display and a 60Hz refresh rate.

The battery life of this machine is somewhere around 6 hours and 30 minutes and while gaming it should last between 2-3 hours.

Overall, the laptop boasts some impressive but limited configuration options that make the GF63 one of the best laptops under $1000.

This model finds a place on this list mainly because of its low price. Having said that, it also bears good configuration to ensure a seamless gaming experience. Even though its processor and GPU fall slightly short in comparison to other models mentioned above, it still manages a decent gaming experience for those looking for a good gaming laptop on a budget.

Get your MSI GF63 by clicking on the button below!

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8. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

Even though the popular consensus of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is that it’s quite inferior to the latest IdeaPad 3i model but for budget gamers looking for a mid-range laptop that provides them with an affordable but enriching gaming experience, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 more than holds its own.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600H and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti configuration especially offers gamers an excellent gaming experience due to their realistic-looking graphics and superior processing speed. However, like most budget gaming laptops in its price range, the IdeaPad 3 also compromises in some aspects to make itself more affordable.

For example, in the configuration I’ve chosen, the laptop comes with only 8 GB of DDR4 RAM in a single channel configuration which can be quite low for gamers looking to play multiple games on the same system.

But if you decide to look past the lower frame rates, you’ll find that this specific laptop is indeed one of the best options when it comes to fast-performing gaming laptops under $1000 and one that provides comfortable gaming at 1080p.

However, if you do require that extra bit of RAM then I would recommend opting for the 16 GB RAM configuration. The only weak point of this device is that it does not have long battery life. At the most, it is going to last for more than 2-3 hours while gaming. With its price below 800, it fits into the list of most popular gaming laptops under 800 too.

Following are some of the results that I got while testing a couple of gaming titles on Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 with regards to FPS and maximum GPU temperature:

Games	FPS	Settings	GPU Temperature
Watch Dogs: Legion	45 – 60	Very High – 1080p	75°C
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	55 – 67	Ultra – 1080p	73°C
Cyberpunk 2077	28 – 36	Ultra – 1080p	75°C
Assassins Creed Odyssey	32 – 39	Ultra – 1080p	73°C
Mafia Definitive Edition	55 – 70	High – 1080p	77°C

While running the games on different settings the temperature goes up on max settings which means the fans have to increase the speed that make the laptop louder. Following are the 3 modes you can hear the sound in the audio provided below.

• 1 – 2 seconds (Quiet Mode)
• 3 – 6 seconds (Balanced Mode)
• 7 – 11 seconds (Full Performance Mode)

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What To Look For In a Gaming Laptop Under 1000 Dollars?

When looking for a gaming laptop that comes with a price tag of below 1000 bucks, here’s what you should be looking for:

RAM

No system is complete without an ample amount of memory that can store all the data of all the different games you may want to play and a laptop is no different. However, I have to admit that when you compare RAM with all the other components of a laptop, in terms of importance RAM is pretty low down in the pecking order.

The reason being that the RAM of a laptop is easily replaceable and can even be added onto which means you can opt for a smaller RAM at the beginning and then add more later on.
Most under $1000 laptops come with only 8 GB of RAM, but if you look hard enough you’ll eventually find a laptop under $1000 that boasts 16 GB DDR4 RAM which would be ideal.

GPU

There’s no question about it, the GPU of a laptop is essentially its most important feature and the feature that sums up the overall worth of the laptop. Not only does a GPU decide how well your system will run a particular game, the frame rate you’ll get, the resolution that you’ll be able to play at, but it’s also one of the few components of a laptop that can’t be switched out or replaced afterward meaning you only get to choose your GPU once.

This is why it is essential for every buyer to pick and choose the GPU they need as carefully as possible and take all their requirements into consideration. Most budget laptops that start from $700 contain the Nvidia GeForce RTX 1650 or the 1650 Ti that provides solid performance at 1080p resolution, though you may need to switch to low or medium graphic settings. If you’re lucky you may be able to find entry-level laptops that possess the RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti and are under $1000. Luckily for you, I’ve gone through the trouble of collecting and displaying all the laptops under $1000 that possess the RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti in the list above.

CPU

The CPU or central processing unit is the component of a laptop that ultimately decides how fast and smooth games run on the laptop. And just like the GPU, the CPU cannot be replaced or changed later on either which means that just like the GPU, buyers need to carefully choose the type of processor they need in their system. Suitable CPUs for gaming laptops, in general, are 11th gen core i5 or i7 if it’s an Intel processor or at least a Ryzen 4000 or 5000 if you’ve decided to opt for an AMD processor.

Also, make sure to opt for processors that possess at least 4 cores if not six or more as a general rule of thumb.

Display

It’s widely believed that manufacturers think that the display of a laptop is the most important component and one that ultimately decides if a buyer will opt for the specific laptop.
Which I have to admit is a pretty solid statement as buyers who don’t know much about laptops may look at the display of each system first and buy the first laptop that has an impressive display. However, I also believe that consumers have become smarter overall and know what they want in a laptop even before they start looking.

Regardless though, budget gaming laptops under $1000 offer minimalistic 1080p displays that have a refresh rate ranging from 80 Hz to 144Hz (the latter is quite rare and difficult to find).
You shouldn’t expect to find any laptops in this price range with better displays either because this is probably the component that manufacturers cut the most corners in to keep their manufacturing costs low.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Cheap Gaming Laptops Worth it?

Most modern AAA gaming titles these days are quite demanding in terms of processing power and graphics which is why entry-level cheaper gaming laptops don’t necessarily hold up to the more expensive laptops. On the other hand though, budget gaming laptops are powerful enough to give gamers that minimalistic gaming experience which is enough most of the time, especially for gamers who can’t afford the really expensive ones.

But yes if you do want the full enhanced gaming experience you’ll have to opt for a gaming laptop that is above the $1000-$1500 price range.

Which Component is Most Important in a Cheap Gaming Laptop?

There’s been much debate on what the most important component is in a gaming laptop, especially a budget gaming laptop. However, in my mind, the GPU or graphic card is undisputedly the most important component as unlike the processor, memory or storage, it can’t be upgraded or replaced later.

Thus, buyers have the difficult job of carefully picking a budget laptop with a configuration that supports a suitable graphics card that can run most modern graphics-heavy games. The cheapest gaming laptops with an entry-level Nvidia RTX 1650 graphics card usually start at $700 and can be more depending on all its other components. Whereas a system that possesses the RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti is usually rated at close to $1000.

Do Cheap Gaming Laptops have Good Displays?

Cheap gaming laptops can indeed have beautiful displays. In fact, most of the gaming laptops in this list have absolutely stunning full HD IPS displays along with an incredible refresh rate of over 100 Hz.

As a general rule of thumb, manufacturers pay most attention to perfecting the display of a specific laptop before moving on to the other components because that’s most often the first component buyers look at when buying the perfect gaming laptop for themselves.

However, I would advise finding a laptop close to the $1000 price mark because the laptops below this price mark are known to not possess particularly sharp displays.

Conclusion

So, there you have it folks, that was my list of the best gaming laptops under $1000. In the end, I hope that you were able to find what you were looking for in this incredibly varied list that contains something for everyone in terms of price, performance and graphics.

I do understand that budget laptops, especially those under $1000, don’t necessarily stack up against the more expensive laptops that have more processing power and better graphics cards.
However, for the relatively inexperienced gamers or the casual gamers who like occasionally playing games for fun, these entry-level laptops will allow you to experience some of the best games of our generation for a relatively affordable price.