5 Best Budget-friendly Gaming Laptops To Buy in 2023
With over 3 billion gamers worldwide, the laptop industry has witnessed a surge in demand for gaming laptops. A survey predicted that the global gaming laptop market was expected to reach 18.42 billion U.S. dollars by 2032. This exponential growth in the laptop industry has made it significantly easier to discover the best budget-friendly gaming laptops.
You may find it challenging to choose the best gaming laptop, as specific requirements must be met for gaming purposes. Your primary concern should be selecting a laptop with a powerful CPU (central processing unit) and a dedicated GPU (graphics processing unit).
These two components are crucial for achieving a consistent and high frame rate while playing games. Additionally, gaming takes a lot of the laptop’s energy; thus, having a dependable cooling system is necessary to avoid overheating when the game gets intense.
In this article, we have enlisted the 5 best budget-friendly gaming laptops with all the essential features after extensive research and practical use.
Dell G5 15 Gaming
The Dell G5 15 has all that you need in a budget-friendly gaming laptop. With its wild processing system, CPU performance, and exceptional battery life, it is way ahead of the league of many expensive laptops. During our testing, it demonstrated amazing processing and gaming speeds and remained cool during intense gaming. Moreover, its 7-hour battery life allowed us to try several games on it without interruption.
One of the user-friendly features it has is its comfortable keyboard. Dell provides a wide range of customization options, so you can tailor it to your specific needs. The good news is that it can be upgraded to the 13th-generation Intel Core 17 CPU. Moreover, its performance can be enhanced with the addition of the RTX 4060 GPU. These additional features make this laptop a rare find in this price range.
Unless you’re a die-hard gamer, it’s an all-rounder product that gives outstanding performance without breaking the bank.
Pros
- 7-hour battery life
- Powerful Performance
- Customizable options
Cons
- Heavy-body
Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15
The Lenovo Legion 5Gen is the best choice for gamers who prefer playing on a big screen at affordable rates. With its 5-inch large screen, you can enhance the gaming experience; however, due to its immense size, it isn’t portable-friendly. Nonetheless, it compensated for this issue with the solid build quality of its body, which I found quite impressive, given the affordability factor of this gaming laptop.
When it comes to performance, the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen gives you some fantastic options. You can choose between an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H or Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, and there’s a range of GPU choices, starting from the entry-level NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 all the way up to the powerful RTX 3070. Plus, you can upgrade both the memory (up to 32GB) and storage (up to 1TB). Also, this laptop allows for a user-friendly replacement.
Now, let’s talk about the display options. If you’re all about visual fidelity and responsiveness, you have a couple of enticing choices. The 165Hz 1080p or 1440p panels offer the best visual experience, boasting fast response times and support for variable refresh rates to minimize annoying screen tearing. You can increase the potential of displays by pairing them with GPUs like the RTX 3060 or 3070.
Lenovo really nailed it with the keyboard on the Legion 5 Gen 6 (2021). Typing feels fantastic, and even during those long gaming sessions, your fingers won’t tyre out.
You’ll also find a good variety of ports, including four USB-As, two USB-Cs, an HDMI 2.1, and an Ethernet port. Just keep in mind that the USB-C port doesn’t support Thunderbolt 4, as this laptop is powered by AMD technology.
Pros
- Great Gaming performance
- Comfortable keyboard
- Strong body
Cons
- Not portable-friendly
Acer Nitro 5
I found the Acer Nitro 5 quite the steal for budget-conscious gamers. What caught my attention right away was the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. Its system can handle just about any game at 1080p, and it’s paired with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, which is great for multitasking and work stuff. Sure, they’re not the absolute latest, but trust me, they’ve got plenty of power to keep you gaming for years to come.
One thing that pleasantly surprised me was how cool and quiet this laptop stays, even during intense gaming sessions. Its keyboard is a little noisy, however, gives you a pleasant typing experience.
We found that the screen isn’t the most vibrant and can look a bit washed out. And don’t expect a marathon battery life for continuous gaming. Plus, it’s not loaded with extra fancy features.
But if your main focus is snagging a gaming laptop that won’t empty your bank account while delivering solid performance, the Acer Nitro 5 is a solid choice.
Pros
- Great Gaming performance
- Comfortable gaming keyboard
- Stays cool
Cons
- Short Battery Life
Asus TUF Gaming A15
When we got our hands on the Asus TUF A15, we found it an absolute gem for those who are looking for a budget-friendly gaming laptop. It is a blend of affordability and quality.
One of the standout features is its 15.6-inch FHD display with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate. It not only looks great but also supports Dolby Atmos for an immersive audio experience. And let’s not forget that eye-catching RGB keyboard that adds a touch of flair to your gaming setup.
Another quality worth mentioning is its solid body, which meets MIL-STD-810H durability standards, so those occasional spills or bumps won’t ruin your day.
With all the other features, you’ve also got an AMD Ryzen 7 6000 series CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Plus, with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, Asus also offers a MUX switch, allowing you to switch between integrated and discrete graphics for better battery life and power efficiency. Speaking of which, the battery life on this laptop is pretty impressive, giving you up to 12 hours of use on a full charge.
All in all, the Asus TUF A15 is a fantastic choice for gamers looking for a budget-friendly gaming laptop without sacrificing performance or durability.
Pros
- Impressive Performance
- RGB Keyboard
- Long Battery
Cons
- Noisy Keyboard
HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr
Let’s talk about the HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr. This gaming laptop may fall into the entry-level category, but don’t let that fool you because it has some seriously amazing features.
With an Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia GeForce GPU, it’s more than capable of handling your gaming needs. Plus, it has a nimble SSD that ensures speedy performance, and the cherry on top is its impressive battery life. This combination of specs and power is what makes our list of the best gaming laptops come under budget. Moreover, it manages to stay cool even during intense gaming sessions.
With nearly 6 hours of battery life, it’s clear that this laptop is no slouch when it comes to endurance. So, if you’re on the hunt for a surprisingly powerful entry-level gaming laptop that won’t drain your wallet, the HP Pavilion 15 deserves to be at the top of your list.
Pros
- High processor
- SSD
- Budget Friendly
Cons
- Small screen
User Guide: How To Choose The Best Gaming Laptop
Before you consider buying a laptop, you should have knowledge about the essential features of a gaming laptop. This way, you will be able to choose the best laptop according to your preferences.
CPU
When buying a gaming laptop, pay attention to the CPU, which acts as the laptop’s brain. Look for greater clock speeds and more cores for quicker performance and multitasking. If you plan on gaming and streaming, choose at least an Intel® CoreTM i7 processor. Consider CPUs that can be overclocked, such as the Intel® CoreTM i9–10980HK, for optimum power. If mobility and battery life are important, look into power-efficient CPUs such as Intel’s U-series. Your choice is determined by your gaming requirements, so make an informed decision for an enjoyable gaming experience.
GPU
When looking for a gaming laptop, consider the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). It’s important for fluid gaming and high resolutions. Check if your GPU and CPU can handle the game settings you choose. Choose a GPU that can match your high-refresh-rate screen for the greatest experience. If you’re interested in sophisticated graphics, such as ray tracing, use benchmarks to see how it impacts speed. A powerful CPU-GPU combination is essential for gaming, so pick wisely depending on your gaming requirements and tastes.
Storage
Prioritise SSD storage above HDD storage when selecting a gaming laptop. SSDs are speedier, more durable, and have a faster loading time. Look for NVMe SSDs for fast performance or SATA SSDs for a decent balance.
RAM
When purchasing a gaming laptop, keep RAM (random access memory) in mind. Here’s a brief reference:
- 2–4GB: Ideal for simple chores and older games.
- 8GB: Suitable for mid-range gaming and standard business applications
- 16GB of storage space is ideal for newer games, multitasking, and streaming.
- 32GB: Ideal for intensive multitasking and content production.
Choose the appropriate quantity based on your requirements for a pleasant gaming experience.
Laptop Cooling
Don’t ignore cooling when purchasing a gaming laptop. Because of technological developments, even thin and small laptops may now provide strong gaming performance. Cooling systems include vents, fans, and other components, although their efficacy varies. Check real-world reviews for a laptop’s cooling capabilities to verify it can withstand the heat during heavy gaming sessions. So, for a well-informed buy, check beyond specifications and examine reviews.
Conclusion
Since a gaming laptop is a substantial purchase, take your time researching different models and their features. It’s more than simply a buy. By following our gaming laptop purchasing guide, you’ll be well aware of how to make an informed decision and quickly identify the finest alternatives that meet your budget and gaming tastes.
