In the quest for gaming supremacy, a top-notch laptop is a gamer's best ally. But let's face it, not everyone is looking to break the bank for the latest tech. This is where gaming laptops under $1000 come into play, offering a balance of performance and affordability. Perfect for both casual and serious gamers, these laptops ensure that users don't have to spend a fortune to join the gaming elite.
From a plethora of budget-centric gaming laptops available with various configurations, it cannot be easy to get the right one that gives more while costing less. While some laptops compromise on the GPU, others may do so when it comes to CPU, RAM, or display. Therefore, this guide is all about finding that sweet spot, where cost meets quality, and serious gaming is just a click away.
The Best Gaming Laptops for 2024
The best gaming laptop for you will come down to budget, expected performance, and workload. Let's dive in and find your new gaming laptop.
Game ZXC's Picks for the Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000
Acer Nitro 16 Gaming Laptop
The Performant All-Rounder
Acer Nitro 16 Gaming Laptop brings a perfect configuration for gaming at 1080p that can play most titles on ultra settings. The latest Ryzen APU combined with the RTX 4060 GPU helps it achieve high fps numbers that provide a smooth gaming experience on its 16" display. The bezel-less screen, thin body, and RGB-backlit keyboard further add to its aesthetics.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060 Laptop
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 16", 1920x1200p
- Network
- Wifi 6E
- Brand
- Acer
- Model
- AN16-41-R1WE
- Keyboard
- RGB-backlit
- Offers a powerful, yet efficient 8-Core AMD Ryzen 7 CPU
- Offers up to 140W of TGP on its mid-range RTX 4060 GPU
- Offers an above-average 165Hz QHD IPS display
- Limited to 512GB of NVMe storage by default
For a price tag around $1000, nothing beats the Acer Nitro 16, which has capable hardware paired with one of the best, if not the best, displays one can pick up on a laptop with a limited budget currently. While the 7840HS is a capable laptop APU on its own, thanks to the Radeon 780M iGPU on offer, the bundled RTX 4060 with a TGP of up to 140W and cooling to match kicks things up a notch, and in a great way.
With 8GB of VRAM to back it and an excellent QHD display to flex the RTX 4060 and its DLSS 3/3.5-based gains, the Nitro 16 offers a configuration that is regularly found in higher-priced laptops. While it earns plenty of goodwill by offering a well-rounded CPU and GPU configuration to an excellent cooling system to keep things humming, it does make a significant compromise when it comes to SSD storage, offering a somewhat low 512GB of NVMe storage in a segment where one should aim for 1TB in general.
With that being said, the Nitro 16 is an excellent gaming laptop that runs cooler than most of its similarly configured competition and the SSD can easily be upgraded, making it an excellent contender for the best gaming laptop for users with a budget of $1000.
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GIGABYTE 15.6" G5 Gaming Laptop
Value-Centric Performance
The GIGABYTE 15.6" G5 Gaming Laptop comes packed with a mix of old and new in a potent combination that is hard to beat in terms of value for money especially when on sale.
With a powerful Intel Core i7 13th generation CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, and an FHD 144Hz display in addition to 1 TB of NVME storage paired with 16GB of DDR5 memory, the G5 gaming laptop delivers on multiple fronts while also being focused on connectivity with plenty of ports on offer.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- Intel 13th Gen Core i7 13620H
- GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB 75W
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5 RAM
- Storage
- 1 TB PCI-E 4.0 SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6' FHD 144Hz
- Network
- Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Model
- G5 KF5-H3US354KH
- Battery
- Li-ion 54Wh
- Camera
- 720P HD Video Camera
- Speakers
- 2x 2W Speaker
- Dimensions
- 14.2(W) x 9.4(D) x 0.89(H) inch
- Weight
- 4.59lb
- Power
- 150W AC Adapter
- Display type
- IPS
- Offers an excellent 10-core 13th generation Intel Core i7 CPU
- Has plenty of SSD space on offer
- Supports Wi-Fi 6E, Gigabit Ethernet, and BT 5.2 for connectivity
- Has relatively limited battery life in play
- The RTX 4060 on offer has relatively limited TGP in play
For users needing a faster CPU for gaming, the GIGABYTE 15.6" G5 Gaming Laptop comes well-endowed with a deca-core Intel Core i7 13620H CPU. It leverages a 6+4 performance and efficiency core configuration that, combined, offers 16 threads, making for great multi-core performance to match its strong gaming potential.
With 1TB of NVMe SSD storage in play and a well-defined set of I/O, in addition to Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2, and Gigabit Ethernet, the G5 offers a robust set of connectivity to meet the needs of casual and competitive gamers alike. It does compromise considerably when it comes to the battery it houses, with a 54 WHr battery potentially limiting time significantly for gaming sessions on the go, if they are even viable for most titles without dialing back.
This could also be a key factor in reigning in the RTX 4060 on offer with a TGP of 75W, which could be a limiting factor for performance, even when plugged in, on an otherwise well-balanced gaming laptop.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop
Reliable Current-Gen Hardware
The entry-level model of the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 gaming laptop features the latest RTX 4050 laptop GPU and Zen 3-based Ryzen 7735HS CPU with 8 cores and 16 threads. The laptop offers an FHD 15.6" screen with a 144Hz refresh rate IPS-level panel and is ready to provide smooth gaming performance without breaking the bank.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6", 1920x1080p
- Network
- WiFi 6
- Brand
- Asus
- Model
- FA507NU
- Display type
- IPS
- Houses a power-efficient, high-clocked 8-core Ryzen 7 CPU
- Complies with military-grade build quality standards
- Offers a relatively high TGP RTX 4050 GPU (140W)
- Lacks the RTX 4060
Users looking for a sturdier option than average that can take a bit more of abuse in terms of use and wear and tear can turn to the mid-range ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop that offers a balanced CPU/GPU combo while conforming to the MIL-STD-810H engineering standard that exhibits its rugged nature and build quality.
It also offers a mid-range 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU paired to a high TGP RTX 4050 GPU that allows it to outperform most of its peers, while throwing a decent 144Hz FHD IPS display into the mix. One can argue that most of the A15's competing laptops offer an RTX 4060 GPU in the same price range, which offers better performance and 8GB of VRAM versus the 6GB in play here.
For most users however, the TUF Gaming A15 offers a rugged laptop with superior durability and balanced hardware, making it a great choice for users aiming to buy one at just over $1000 currently.
Gigabyte G5 KF Gaming Laptop
Budget GPU-Focused Play
GIGABYTE G5 KF provides a powerful Alder Lake mid-range CPU with the RTX 4060 to conquer the gaming world on a budget. Its high refresh rate screen, LED-backlit keyboard, and sturdy build quality for a fair price make it a wonderful gaming laptop for budget gamers.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- Intel Core i5 12500H
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060 Laptop
- RAM
- 16GB DDR4
- Storage
- 512GB SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6", 1920x1080p
- Network
- WiFi 6E
- Weight
- 4.59 lbs
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Model
- G5 KF
- Battery
- 54Wh
- Keyboard
- LED-backlit
- Offers an impressive RTX 4060 GPU for its price range
- Runs cooler than most of its competition
- Has easy-to-access RAM and SSD slots for upgrades
- The battery life on offer can be a crippling factor
- The RTX 4060 onboard is power-limited to 75W of TGP
For users looking to save money and avoid making any compromises when it comes to the GPU, the Gigabyte G5 KF Gaming Laptop makes for an interesting proposition. It throws in an RTX 4060 with an Intel Core i5 12500H, 16GB of RAM, and a smaller 512GB SSD. The laptop also comes with a relatively FHD 144Hz display, though Gigabyte does not specify the underlying tech in play.
The G5 KF runs cooler than most of its competition, thanks to its lower-end CPU and power-limited GPU (the RTX 4060 is capped at 75W of TGP), but still delivers decent performance, along with the added VRAM in tow. Users might have a bigger gripe about Gigabyte offering a very small battery that clocks in at 54 WHr only, making it hard to have any meaningful gaming sessions on the go, even with its power limits in tow.
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Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop
The Bare Essentials With An IPS Display
Acer Nitro V brings a balanced configuration to make sure it fulfills any kind of day-to-day requirements related to work and gaming. The laptop is powered by the 13th gen Core i5 CPU, 8GB DDR5 RAM, and a fast 512GB SSD. The 15.6" 144Hz IPS display is powered by the Geforce RTX 3050 laptop GPU that is sufficient to play most games at 1080p with satisfactory frame rates.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- Intel Core i5 13420H
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3050
- RAM
- 8GB DDR5
- Storage
- 512GB NVMe SSD
- Battery
- 57Wh
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6", 1920x1080p
- Camera
- 720p
- Network
- WiFi 6
- Brand
- MSI
- Model
- ANV15-51-532J
- Display type
- IPS
- Connectivity
- Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth 5.1
- Offers a balanced CPU/GPU combination
- Has a better-than-expected FHD IPS display that does 144Hz
- Runs cooler and quieter than most of its peers
- 8GB of DDR5 RAM is not adequate for modern titles
- 4GB of GPU VRAM might be a limiting factor
The Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop is the answer for players looking for a gaming laptop that one can get without spending a full $1000, while still being able to play most titles in 2024 with ease. The Nitro V offers a respectable RTX 3050 GPU with 4GB of dedicated VRAM, in addition to a powerful 8-core Intel Core i5 13420H CPU, to round off its value-centric pitch.
As a gaming laptop on a budget, the Nitro V does cut corners, but some of them can be mitigated by adding more DDR5 RAM and SSD space easily. Other issues, however, including a smaller battery than most of its competition and a GPU that is limited to 4GB of discrete memory, could be problematic for users buying the Nitro V as their primary gaming PC for the foreseeable future.
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GIGABYTE AORUS 7 9KF
An Esports-Centric Play
GIGABYTE AORUS 7 9KF boasts an impressive 360Hz refresh rate display paired to a mid-range gaming laptop configuration that targets MOBA players in particular given its particular configuration.
It comes well-equipped in the memory and storage department for its price range and leverages a capable Intel Core i5 CPU with a mid-range RTX 4060 in a configuration that should hold its own with most, if not all upcoming titles in the near future.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- Intel Core i5 12500H
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060 Laptop
- RAM
- 16GB DDR4
- Storage
- 512GB SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 17.3", 1920x1080p
- Network
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Model
- Aorus 7 9KF-E3US513SH
- Battery
- 99Wh
- Keyboard
- RGB-backlit
- Offers an impressively high refresh rate
- Offers a high TGP
- Has an impressive 99WHr battery
- Will struggle to close in on 360Hz in most titles
For users looking to play competitive esports titles like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, League of Legends, and DotA 2, the GIGABYTE AORUS 7 9KF Gaming Laptop has them covered with an impressive 17.3 inch FHD 360Hz display that allows for fluid gaming while minimizing tearing across the board.
The laptop is powered by a 105W TGP RTX 4060 and a mid-range Intel Alder Lake-based Core i5 12500H CPU which is more than adequate for these titles. Users must note that more demanding titles such as Call of Duty Warzone are easily playable, but are not going to approach anywhere close to the refresh rate that the laptop currently offers given its hardware limitations in play.
For esports players looking to play competitively, the GIGABYTE AORUS 7 9KF Gaming Laptop offers excellent value for money. It leverages a large 99 WHr battery and a higher TGP GPU to maximize its thermal gains from a relatively larger chassis than most of its peers, which sit at or near the 16-inch mark currently.
Choosing the Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000
When scouting for gaming laptops that cost less than 1000 dollars, users have a lot to consider, including, but not limited to:
- Performance and Graphics: Having a powerful CPU and GPU allows users to crank up the visual effects of the titles they play and be able to play them at a significantly higher frame rate. The latter is particularly important for competitive multiplayer games, where it allows users to feel games are more responsive to their needs.
- Battery Life and Portability: A somewhat decent battery life on offer while gaming and a form factor that allows for portability are key for a gaming laptop to provide the functionality it promises. Modern gaming laptops do not have an all-day battery and, in general, things only get worse when undertaking a demanding activity in terms of CPU or GPU overhead, like gaming.
- Build Quality and Design: A durable yet functional design for a laptop is an important factor when it comes to gaming, which often sees far more wear and tear when it comes to its CPUs and GPUs, as well as accessories including the keyboard, connectivity, and expansion slots. All of this, given the less modular nature of gaming laptops versus PCs, demands a robust and reliable design from the get-go to avoid users having to return units or having trouble down the line over relatively insignificant issues in the future.
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FAQ
Q: Can gaming laptops under $1000 run games smoothly?
Yes, many sub-$1000 gaming laptops are equipped with capable processors and graphics cards, allowing smooth gameplay for most modern games at medium settings.
Q: Are there any lightweight gaming laptops under $1000?
Yes, there are options available that balance gaming performance with portability, although they might not be as powerful as their heavier counterparts.
Q: Are gaming laptops under $1000 good for tasks other than gaming?
Absolutely, these laptops often have powerful processors and ample RAM, making them suitable for a variety of tasks including graphic design and video editing.