Choosing the right gaming laptop is no easy task. With numerous brands vying for your attention, it’s easy to get lost in a maze of specs and flashy ads. However, picking the right brand can help narrow down your options and ensure you get a laptop that suits your needs and budget.
How To Choose the Best Cheap Gaming Laptop
Buyers looking for a budget laptop should follow these steps before proceeding to checkout.
Each laptop manufacturer has its own unique strengths and potential drawbacks, and it’s crucial to understand these before making a purchase. Some laptop brands are known for their high-end performance and cutting-edge technology, while others offer more affordable options without sacrificing too much in terms of quality.
Additionally, different brands may have specific features or design elements that appeal to different types of users. To help guide your purchase, let’s break down the top laptop brands in the gaming arena, highlighting their strengths and potential drawbacks.
ASUS
ASUS is a revered name when it comes to computers. ASUS motherboards are some of the best for gaming, and if you’re building a PC, ASUS components are sure to impress. On the portable side of technology, ASUS laptops cover every use case with their expansive lineups. ASUS ROG laptops often target the highest ends of PC gaming, featuring potent hardware and innovative features like dual-screen models. Their TUF line offers more budget-conscious options that still deliver solid gaming experiences.
The ASUS ROG lineup itself breaks into three other lines: Strix, Flow, and Zephyrus. These lines focus on performance, portability, and display fidelity, respectively. Beyond gaming, ASUS also excels with its Zenbook series, known for sleek ultrabooks that prioritize portability and elegance, and the Vivobook lineup, offering versatile everyday laptops at various price points.
ASUS is committed to innovation. More than that, though, ASUS is obsessed with pure performance. If you’re looking at the most powerful gaming laptops, you’re sure to run into a couple of ASUS names. A ROG laptop like the ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D is sure to satisfy a gamer’s thirst for portable performance. Packed with an RTX4090 and a 16-core Ryzen 9, the Scar 17 X3D delivers top-tier performance which is displayed in its full glory, thanks to the 2K 240Hz display.
ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D embodies the Republic of Gamers’ (ROG) commitment to cutting-edge performance and bold design. This gaming powerhouse features AMD’s revolutionary 3D V-Cache processor and top-tier NVIDIA graphics, pushing the limits of what’s possible in a laptop.
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
- GPU
- Nvidia RTX 4090
- RAM
- 32GB
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 17.3-Inch 2K 240Hz Display
Acer
Acer, a long-time rival of Asus, is a laptop veteran known for pushing the envelope of affordability. However, in the past decade, Acer has also started manufacturing high-end gaming laptops. Acer doesn’t make core components like motherboards or graphics cards, but it sure knows how to put the components together.
Acer’s gaming presence is spearheaded by the Predator series, known for bold designs and powerful configurations catering to both enthusiasts and esports players. The Nitro series provides more accessible gaming options without sacrificing core performance. Beyond gaming, Acer shines with its Swift line, featuring thin and light laptops that prioritize productivity and portability. The Aspire series offers well-rounded everyday machines ideal for work, studies, and casual entertainment.
Acer stands out for its value proposition. They often deliver competitive specifications at attractive prices compared to rivals across various product lines, taking the spotlight on best budget gaming laptops. A laptop like Acer Nitro V serves as a hybrid work and gaming laptop, with modest specs that can comfortably run most games, and a price tag that won’t break the bank.
Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop
$671 $800 Save $129
The Acer Nitro V series embodies Acer’s focus on delivering capable gaming experiences at accessible price points. Powered by a 13th gen Intel CPU and 8GB DDR5 RAM, it offers solid components and performance without breaking the bank.
- CPU
- Intel Core i5 13420H
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3050
- RAM
- 8GB DDR5
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6″, 1920x1080p
Razer
Razer has cemented its position as a premium gaming brand, offering laptops synonymous with cutting-edge specs and eye-catching designs. Their focus with their laptop lineup, the Razer Blade, is unapologetically on performance, packing the latest Intel or AMD processors alongside powerful NVIDIA GPUs.
Razer Blade laptops are equipped with advanced display technologies. The 2024 Razer Blade 16, for instance, comes with a stunning QHD OLED display, which, when paired with the top-shelf graphics card, offers an exceptional visual experience. Another thing that sets Razer laptops apart from other gaming laptops is Razer’s persistence with its sleek design language, making the Razer Blade lineup some of the lightest and thinnest gaming laptops.
Razer’s Blade series of laptops are high-performing machines that don’t compromise on anything. However, Razer laptops are certainly not budget-friendly laptops. But, for gamers who prioritize performance above everything else and are willing to invest heavily in their setup, Razer laptops are an excellent choice.
Razer Blade 16 (2024)
Razer Blade laptops are known for their sleek design, premium build quality, and powerful performance cleverly crammed into a portable frame. The Razer Blade 16 is the 2024 iteration of this lineup, winning over a huge portion of other gaming laptops by a mile.
- CPU
- Inel Core i9 14900HX
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4090 Laptop
- RAM
- 32GB DDR5
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 16″, 2560x1600p
MSI
MSI, like Razer, is a gamer-centric brand. However, unlike Razer, MSI has a long history of manufacturing core computer parts such as motherboards and graphics cards. MSI’s laptop lineup covers a wide spectrum, from the ultra-premium Titan series, boasting desktop-grade power, to more balanced options like the Raider and Stealth lines. The Sword and Katana series provide a gateway into MSI’s gaming ecosystem without compromising core performance. Beyond gaming, their Creator series offers tailored solutions for content creation and design professionals.
The Taiwanese tech giant has a reputation for providing solid, no-nonsense products. MSI isn’t usually the innovator and MSI laptops rarely come with never-seen-before technology. Despite this, MSI laptops do what they do reliably.
MSI’s design language is often bold, and their gaming laptops can come on the larger, heavier side. If you’re fine with a desk-oriented beast with flashy RGB accents and value raw power, MSI has plenty to offer. For instance, the MSI Titan GT77 is a 17-inch behemoth packing a 13th-gen Intel CPU and an RTX 4090, perfected with a 4K mini-LED display.
MSI Titan GT77 17.3′ Gaming Laptop (Core i9, RTX 4090)
MSI’s Titan series showcases raw, no-compromises performance. These laptops prioritize pushing technological boundaries and house the latest desktop-class components. The MSI Titan GT77 proudly invades the top-tier PC territory with its raw performance.
- CPU
- Intel Core i9-13980HX (8 P-Cores, 16 E-Cores)
- GPU
- RTX 4090 16GB GDDR6 175W
- Memory
- 64GB DDR5
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 4K (3840 x 1920), Mini-LED, 144Hz
Alienware/Dell
Dell is a giant in the laptop industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio that caters to a vast range of users. Their popular XPS line is renowned for its premium build quality, stunning displays, and legendary battery life housed in sleek designs. The Inspiron series provides everyday laptops for work, home, and entertainment across various price points. For business users, Dell offers the Latitude series, emphasizing security, manageability, and reliability.
Dell’s Alienware sub-brand has become legendary in gaming circles. Alienware laptops feature unique, futuristic designs that set them apart. Many consider Alienware laptops, like the Alienware m18 AMD the fastest gaming laptops on the market.
While some Alienware models are incredibly expensive due to top-of-the-line components, there are more affordable configurations for different budgets. Dell, and subsequently Alienware, is also known for its strong customer support and customizable configurations, allowing you to tailor a laptop to your exact specifications.
Alienware m18 AMD Gaming Laptop
$2200 $2800 Save $600
Alienware is famous for its bold, futuristic designs that cater to gamers who want a machine that looks as powerful as it performs. The Alienware m18 AMD takes this design philosophy to heart, with its customizable chassis, AlienFX lighting system, and aggressive styling.
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4080
- RAM
- 32GB DDR5
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 18-inch, 1920×1200
Lenovo
Lenovo is a renowned technology brand that offers a diverse range of laptops catering to various needs and preferences. The ThinkPad series is synonymous with business laptops, while the Yoga series boasts flexibility with its 360-degree hinges. Lenovo’s IdeaPad line is a well-rounded everyday laptop for students, families, and general use.
When it comes to performance, Lenovo’s Legion series is their dedicated gaming line, designed to deliver powerful performance and features catering to the needs of gamers. While delivering raw power, Lenovo designs Legion laptops with more understated aesthetics than some of their flashier gaming rivals. You’ll find RGB lighting for a touch of gamer flair, but the overall build often favors durable materials and sleek lines.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 delivers impressive performance in a sleek and lightweight design, making it a great companion for both gaming and productivity. Legion laptops also frequently feature excellent cooling systems to ensure components can run at their best without throttling. While not always the absolute bleeding edge of power, they consistently provide good value for the money.
Lenovo Legion Slim 5
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 prioritizes a balance between portability and performance. It’s designed to be a capable gaming laptop that can also be used for everyday tasks without feeling bulky or cumbersome. Call it a jack of all trades.
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
- GPU
- Nvidia RTX 4060
- RAM
- 16GB
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 14, 2880 x 1800
Apple
Apple’s MacBooks aren’t typically known as gaming powerhouses, yet with the advent of their M-series chips, they are turning heads. The M1, M2, and M3 chips (with Pro and Max variations) offer remarkable performance and fantastic energy efficiency, leading to longer battery life. These parameters together, make Apple’s MacBooks productivity powerhouses ready for even the most demanding tasks like video rendering. There’s a reason why the MacBook is one of the most popular computers on Amazon.
Although gaming options on laptops running MacOS are still more limited in comparison to Windows laptops, compatibility is steadily improving. As a solution, Apple has released a Game Porting Toolkit for developers to make their games available on MacOS without any difficulty. Even now, there are plenty of video games playable on Mac.
The sleek design and build quality inherent to Apple are hard to beat. If you crave a portable machine that handles your creative work smoothly and are happy with a less expansive game library, a MacBook with an M-series chip could be a top contender. However, be prepared to pay a premium price for that Apple logo.
Apple MacBook Air 15.3-inch Laptop with M2 chip
$1499 $1899 Save $400
The MacBook Air M2 embodies Apple’s philosophy of sleek design, seamless user experience, and excellent battery life packed within thin and light form factors. While gaming on macOS isn’t as convenient as on Windows due to compatibility limitations, Apple is making strides in improving game support.
- CPU
- Apple M2
- GPU
- Apple M2
- RAM
- 16 GB
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15 inches, 2880 x 1864
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