Do you always find yourself having to game on the go? Do you want the flexibility to 360 no scope noobs any place, any time? Is the Nintendo Switch too baby shit for you? (It’s not; get over yourself.) Then a gaming laptop is the way to go. PC gaming has thrived in recent years, giving PC gamers access to fantastic exclusives, early releases, and the largest VR library in the industry. Gaming laptops are also perfect for those of us who don’t have space for a desktop, or who want the mobility of a laptop with the power of a gaming PC. Oftentimes, that can cost a small fortune. But we’ve got you covered, with the eight best gaming laptops for your budget—half of them under $1,000.
BEST FOR PENNY HOARDERS
Acer Nitro 5 AN515 15.6″ FHD Gaming Laptop
Aceramazon.com
$969.00
$779.00 (20% off)
BUY
While the Acer Nitro 5 is the cheapest gaming laptop on this list, it’s still a completely sufficient machine. It’ll work with all your Steam games and still offer pretty good visuals, making it an option with a lot of power for those who need to limit their spending.
BEST FOR MULTITASKERS
Acer Aspire 7 15.6″ FHD Casual Gaming Laptop
BU7
With similar power to the Nitro 5, a better processor, and a more toned-down look, this laptop is a really solid pick for those searching for both a work and gaming hybrid. It also includes a fingerprint reader, which is always convenient.
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 15.6″ FHD Gaming Laptop
BUY
A thin, convenient design and a fantastic 1TB of storage make this Lenovo a work horse that will have you up and gaming with ease in no time. While the design doesn’t scream gamer, the price of this laptop for the power is a smart trade-off.
HP Omen 17″ FHD Gaming Laptop
BUY
A recent sale and significant price cut brings this HP gaming laptop down to the under-$1,000 range. Its more gamer-centric design and 17-inch screen is ideal for those looking for a bigger, bolder display.
BEST FOR LIGHT PACKERS
ASUS ROG G531GT 15.6″ Gaming Laptop
BUY
This Asus shows off a thin design with some red flair and carbon fiber texture. It has extremely smooth gameplay and great power for long gaming sessions.
BEST FOR VR BUFFS
Dell G5 15.6″ FHD Gaming Laptop
BUY
The G5 is right in that sweet spot for a lot of people. While it’s a little larger and chunkier than some of the other models on this list, the design is still definitely impressive. The processing power works very well—even with VR—making this a more affordable, higher-end laptop, while only sacrificing a bit on the ease of transport.
Dell Alienware M15 15″ Gaming Laptop
Dell
dell.com
$1,449.99
BUY
The new M15, while not the thinnest laptop on this list, definitely gets down there. Its thin size is coupled with that Alienware design flair, including customizable LEDs and some slick embezzled edges. Smooth processing power and a quieter cooling system make this a great option for gamers with more cash.
Razer Blade 15.6″ FHD Gaming Laptop
Razeramazon.com
$1,494.99
BUY
This Razer model is one of the thinnest, slimmest laptops on the market. While it is pricier than the other models on the list, this option has impressive processing and graphical power, and is extremely light—making it incredibly portable.
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