We recently discussed top gaming laptops in detail. Not surprisingly, they don’t come cheap. In a post-COVID world, we are still dealing with overpriced computer components. While you can always go for a custom-built desktop for gaming, they aren’t always viable for globe-trotting gamers. Fortunately, there are some best gaming laptops under the 1000 USD budget.

In this article, we are going to review five viable options available in the market. We have rated them based on their gaming performance and their price tag. This way, you get a much better idea of the value they offer. So, if you are on a tight budget, and looking for a solid gaming laptop, below are our top recommendations.

1. HP Pavilion 15.6″ FHD Gaming Laptop

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Nope, it’s not your average midsize notebook. This is HP Pavillion 15, one of the best laptops for gaming under 1000 bucks. The screaming bright keypad and its unique design are the biggest giveaway’s that it’s a gaming machine. There are some Large rear vents to keep the laptop cool. Other than that, the all-black chassis feels pretty tame – in a good way, though.

It’s highly customizable. The base configuration comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for $799. You can then add a Core i7 and GTX 1660 Ti while still staying within the budget. Conversely, you can opt for 32GB RAM & 1TB SSD version which costs 999.99$. It comes with AMD 6-Core Ryzen 5 4600H, offering slightly better performance than a Core i5-9300H chip. All support Wifi 6.

This laptop gives a respectable battery performance when video streaming (6 hours during our tests) with all the components maxed out. However, you will likely get half for general video gaming, depending on your optimization and game settings. That’s pretty common for gaming lappy, though.

Unlike competitors, there are no extra gaming-related features such as macros or cooling control. But, it’s an overall very well-balanced and thin machine with tons of customization options to keep you well within your budget. You can utilize it for gaming as well as school and office work.

Buy Here: Amazon

2. Lenovo Legion 5

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Lenovo’s Legion 5 is an upgrade on the Lenovo Y540. The Y540 remained a top choice for many gamers for quite a while due to its design and value. This upgrade makes a minor change to the design outside. It’s mostly the inside that has undergone significant changes.

The version at hand boasts an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H 3.0GHz 6-Core Chip, which outperforms Intel Core i7-10850H. It also has GTX 1650 Graphics, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 1TB HDD, along with a backlit keypad and Wifi 6 support. 5.6″ FHD 120Hz IPS screen provides a smooth full-HD video gaming experience. And this laptop is all rounded out by a plethora of ports.

After making a few battery and settings tweaks (no wifi, 50% brightness, 100% audio, power saver mode), we set it up for the video playback test. Surprisingly, Legion 5 outlives its competition with a battery life of nearly 8 hours. That means Legion 5 will last an entire day of school or office work. As for gaming, expect half the battery life. Still better than others.

Overall, it’s a solid all-rounder at a fair price. The available hardware configuration gives you a smooth 1080p gaming performance. And if you want to use it for regular office/school work, its excellent battery life keeps you back the entire day.

Buy Here: Amazon

3. Acer Nitro 5

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Acer Nitro 5 is an ace. It delivers actual 60fps gaming performance if you dial back the settings a bit. And packs in some nice extras such as direct controls for cooling & power. Its size is also pretty slim, which makes gaming on the go a great experience.

Inside, the laptop packs a 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H process, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB DDR4,  and 256GB NVMe SSD. The 15.6″ Full HD IPS Display, while not dazzling, is undoubtedly a decent option for gaming. Acer Nitro 6 also has a backlit keyboard and comes with built-in Alexa & Wifi 6 support.

Unscrew the bottom, and you see a second M.2 slot for another SSD, along with a 2.5-inch drive bay. This gives it plenty of options for expansion in the future. In our battery tests, we were able to run a video on loop with the same battery and settings tweaks for as long as 15 hours. That’s truly insane. In contrast, you won’t see the battery lasting that long while gaming; expect a long battery life.

Sure, It’s a bit short on storage for bigger video games, but the Acer’s Nitro 5 is the best among the bunch. This economical gaming laptop delivers lively 1080p gameplay for less than $800. Plus, it’s highly upgradeable.

Buy Here: Amazon

4. Asus TUF Gaming FX505DT 15.6″

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The combination of AMD’s Ryzen 5 3550H processor with Nvidia’s economical yet capable GTX 1650 GPU turns this laptop into one of the best laptops for gaming under 1000 USD. To top it all, Asus has thrown in some bells and whistles into the mix as well.

The ASUS Tuf FX505DT features 8GB of RAM and a faster WD’s 256GB SSD to give you better performance. Additionally, it has 15.6 inches 1080P 120Hz display. You read that right. It’s the 120Hz refresh rate display that forced us to include it in our article. Otherwise, there are certainly better options (with less refresh rate, of course) in the market. Even if your game isn’t hitting this refresh rate, it adds a level of smoothness to every title.

Other gaming luxuries included in this model are RGB gaming backlight LEDs, Nvidia’s GFE’s ability to optimize performance, anti-dust cooling system, durable keyboard, and super thin bezels around the display. All these add a bit of oomph to this 2019 model.

The battery life leaves you to want for more, though. When you are playing videos, it lasts for 4-5 hours, depending on your settings. So, expect 2 and a half hours when gaming. However, it’s still a very capable and durable budget gaming laptop. Just don’t expect it to run the latest AAA titles.

Buy Here: Amazon

5. Dell G5 (5590)

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Dell’s G series is considered budget Alienware. They come cheap with some hardware compromises but are still very much capable of playing demanding video games. While there are two other models in the same range, G 15 15 hits the sweet spot to build quality, design, and price-to-performance ratio.

The laptop comes with an impressive Core i7-10750H processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB PCIe SSD. You can go with other configurations as well, depending on your budget. They also have a backlit keyboard and a plethora of ports to keep you well connected at all times.

Moreover, the 15.6 inches FHD (1920×1080) display has a 250nits brightness and 120Hz refresh rate, making your games super smooth whether you are indoors or outdoors. Besides, it has a kicker 10-hour battery life (depending on your usage).

So, if you’re after a laptop with a robust build, a decent display, well-matched hardware, and smooth performance in the latest games, Dell G5 (5590) is your ideal choice. Not to mention, it supports the latest gaming features such as ray tracing.

Buy Here: Amazon

Best Gaming Laptop Under 1000 USD – Buyer’s Guide

Below are some critical considerations before settling on a budget gaming laptop.

GPU

GPU determines your laptop’s gaming performance. Don’t compromise on this aspect if you are into action and multiplayer games. While you shouldn’t expect the latest GPUs on a budget laptop, make sure it has at least a dedicated graphics card to handle your gaming needs.

CPU

CPU is the brains of a laptop. Laptop manufacturers usually fit in budget gaming laptops with a less powerful CPU. It also improves battery life. However, never go with a CPU based on an 8th gen or lower chip. Otherwise, you won’t be able to play resource-consuming gaming titles.

Display

Gaming is all about visuals. But, budget laptops for video games don’t come with 4K displays or support 144Hz (or higher) refresh rates. You can find several good budget laptops under 1000 with a 120 refresh rate. We included two in our list. As for the size, 15 inches display is ideal for gaming on the go. Anything bigger, and you run into the risk of lugging around too much weight. Not helpful for portability!

RAM and Storage

The bare minimum requirement for RAM is 8GB. Anything less, and you will always be hitting a roadblock when trying to play a game these days. Modern laptops also come with the latest NVMe SSD for storage. It is faster and offers better performance as well. You can easily find 256GB SSD without overstepping your budget of 1000 USD. Anything higher will be the icing on the cake. To store more games, make sure your laptop has an empty Sata or M.2 slot. This way, you can upgrade it whenever you want.

Final Thoughts

This brings us to the end of the article. After reading this information, we hope you can find your best laptop for gaming under 1000. These are the top 5 options in the market at the moment. Casual gamers who like multiplayer gaming sessions will get the most out of these options. However, if you want better graphics & performance, shell out some extra cash on these best gaming laptops (link best gaming laptops article here).

About the author

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Syed Asad

Asad is passionate about all things tech. He brings you reviews of the latest gadgets, devices, and computers