We researched and tested countless laptops to find the best gaming laptops under $1,000. Even within this lower price range, there are a lot of feature-packed laptops on the market, and they offer everything from custom cooling solutions to the ability to upgrade (some) existing hardware specs (e.g. RAM). While it’s true that they can’t compete against top-of-the-line gaming rigs, these notebook PCs are still capable of handling a majority of modern games with no problems at all. So, if you have a maximum budget of $1,000 and are planning to dip your toes into the world of gaming, here are some of the best gaming laptops available. The 15.6-inch Full-HD panel sports a 1080p resolution and uses “In-Plane Switching” (IPS) technology for accurate color reproduction across all viewing angles. For connectivity and I/O, the laptop includes 802.11ax Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, USB Type-A, USB Type-C, and 3.5mm audio. The Nitro 5 also features a fully backlit keyboard, and its red lighting accentuates the machine’s two-tone color scheme even further. Among other noteworthy features are stereo speakers (with “Waves Maxx” audio enhancements), and integrated twin cooling fans that work with Acer’s “CoolBoost” technology to keep the laptop cool even when it’s under heavy workloads. This laptop is a bit on the bulkier side, but it performs well at an affordable price. While there are different configurations available, the one you can find for under $1,000 (on sale and refurbished) includes an Intel i7 six-core CPU with 2.6Ghz processing speed, a GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card with 6 GB dedicated GDDR6 memory, 16GB of DDR4 SDRAM, 512GB SSD storage drive, and a Lithium ION battery with 6-hour max runtime. While this configuration is the cheapest available, there are plenty of options that allow for higher-end specifications, although this will lead to a higher price tag. The lowest-tier version of the Predator Helios 300 will not only let you play the best games, but you should be able to run them on high settings as well. A Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD Drive, and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card with 3GB dedicated memory helps this machine plays the latest games and can easily run reports for work. The 4.92-pound device offers up to 10 hours of battery life and has a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS anti-glare display. The design is simple and timeless, so it can double as a work computer that will not draw too much attention. The 15.6-inch FHD screen looks great, although it maxes out at 1080p resolution. It includes an Intel i5 (or better) processor, GeForce 1650 graphics card, and the 8 GB DDR4 RAM should give you enough power to play most games. The dual 1.5W speakers with Dolby Audio sound better than most budget laptop speakers, but the battery is on the shorter side at around 5 hours. Overall, this laptop stands ready to get you gaming. The 17-inch FHD 120hz display produces a clear and detailed picture. You have enough power to play most modern titles, as it has an Intel i5 2.6GHz processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and a GeForce 1650 graphics card. The included 512 SSD is a larger drive than most laptops offer at this price point, and this helps to make up for the shorter battery life, which is around 5 hours. The cooling fans tend to be a little loud when fully revved up, but this is more of a minor annoyance than anything else. One of the best features is just how thin this laptop is without feeling cheap, which makes it great for traveling. The panel has a 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in super-smooth gameplay with almost no motion blur. The laptop is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 5 3550H processor, working alongside 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 256GB of PCIe SSD storage. You also get an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB of discrete GDDR5 RAM for all your gaming needs. Connectivity and I/O options include Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, USB Type-A, and 3.5mm combo audio. The TUF FX505 is a well-built laptop, a fact that is further cemented by its MIL-STD-810G certification. The machine’s dual cooling fans help improve thermal performance, and two “anti-dust” tunnels at their edges force out dirt and dust improving long-term reliability. The major downside to this laptop is its port layout, as they are cramped on the left hand side. But, this is a small complaint considering its performance. For gaming, the Pavilion 15 features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM. The laptop’s 15.6-inch Full-HD IPS panel is surrounded by thin side bezels that make for an immersive viewing experience. As far as connectivity and I/O are concerned, you get Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, Gigabit Ethernet, USB Type-A, USB Type-C, HDMI, 3.5mm combo audio, as well as a multi-format card reader. Other features worth mentioning include an HD webcam, dual-array microphones, and front-firing stereo speakers tuned by Bang & Olufsen. The 15.6-inch Full-HD IPS display features a 120Hz refresh rate, giving you an ultra-smooth gaming experience without any motion blur. As for connectivity and I/O options, there’s Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-A, USB Type-C, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio included in the package. The GF65 Thin also comes with a fully backlit keyboard and boasts an advanced cooling system that uses up to six heat pipes (for cooling both CPU and GPU) to ensure optimal performance even under heavy workloads. All of this goodness comes packed in a slim frame that looks great with its airbrushed finish. Additional factors we take under consideration are the strength and quality of wireless connectivity and audio quality. To test battery life, we stream video at maximum brightness to measure runtime, along with general usage over the course of a day. Finally, we look at the value proposition and competition, to see how sub-$1,000 gaming laptop stacks up against rivals in a similar price range. Most of the gaming laptops we test are purchased by us; only newer ones are sometimes provided by a manufacturer, but that has no impact on our objective evaluation.
About Our Trusted Experts
Erika Rawes has been writing professionally for more than a decade, and she’s spent the last five years writing about consumer technology. Erika has reviewed roughly 125 gadgets, including computers, peripherals, A/V equipment, mobile devices, and smart home gadgets. Erika currently writes for Digital Trends and Lifewire. A technology journalist with more than six years (and counting) of experience, Rajat Sharma has tested and reviewed dozens of laptops over the course of his career so far. Before joining Lifewire, he was associated as a senior technology editor with two of India’s largest media houses - The Times Group and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. David Beren has been covering the tech industry for more than a decade and has accumulated extensive experience in PC, laptop, and mobile tech. He’s written for a number of top tech sites and also managed content for lead mobile companies like Sprint and T-Mobile. Jeremy Laukkonen is a tech journalist with a knack for making complex subjects easily digestible. He specializes in laptop and PC technology, and also runs his own automotive blog.
What to Look for in a Gaming Laptop
SSD
The effect of a slow hard drive on the overall gaming experience is severely underrated. Look for a gaming laptop with a blazing fast SSD, and you can say goodbye to slow load times and other similar headaches. It’s also perfectly fine to go with a model that includes a hybrid drive or both a HDD and an SSD, as long as you store your games on the SSD.
IPS display
When budget is a big concern, shelling out for a fancy monitor immediately after buying a brand new gaming laptop is no fun. Look for a model that includes an IPS display that’s capable of handling at least a 1920 x 1080 resolution. You may need to settle for a 15-inch screen at this price point, but it’s worth stepping up to a 17-inch model if you can.
Powerful GPU
An exceptionally slow CPU can create a bottleneck, but an underpowered GPU is far more likely to ruin your gaming experience. Look at the games you want to play, and shoot for a GPU that’s at least in the neighborhood of the recommended specifications.
