The Best Budget-Friendly Gaming Laptops
Gaming PC? That’s so 2020. Save some cash on a good, travel-friendly rig with these ReadNExpo-tested Picks.
FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE.
- ACER NITRO 5 – Best Overall Gaming Laptop
- DELL G15 – Best Battery Life
- ASUS TUF DASH 15 – Top Notch Quality & Design
- HP VICTUS – If You Want A Big Display
Gaming laptops aren’t exactly what we’d call Under Budget or Affordable. Nevertheless, they are frequently more affordable than creating your own gaming PC, complete with peripherals, and have the added advantage of being considerably more portable. Yes, you may spend far more than INR 2,07,216 on a fully equipped laptop, but the lower end of the market still offers good value (around INR 83,000). On a variety of cheap gaming laptops, we tested a wide variety of games before narrowing the list down to the best.
We gave RTX graphics cards from Nvidia, laptops with at least an 11th-generation Intel or 5000-series AMD Ryzen processor, and 16 GB of RAM top priority. With these specifications, a benchmark of roughly 60 frames per second (fps) in 1080p resolution is the goal. Graphically rich titles and upward of 120 fps in competitive games.
Best Overall Gaming Laptop
Acer Nito 5
Everything you could possibly want in a cheap gaming laptop is embodied by the Nitro 5. The 144-Hz screen with its 1080p resolution may appear a little plain, but it is perfect for practically all types of gaming. The keyboard is competitive with the best despite being relatively inexpensive (for a gaming laptop); there is enough of key travel and pleasant clicks. The Nitro makes the most of its specifications, frequently significantly outperforming competitors with comparable setups. It can play graphically demanding games at 60 frames per second on low to medium settings, while less demanding games can even go as high as 144 frames per second. Also, it doesn’t get too hot or loud.
Although it is only slightly portable, this machine still weighs close to 5 pounds. For getting around the house, it works best. There is a good assortment of connectors, including three USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a dedicated charging port, a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, a headphone jack, and an Ethernet port. There are only a few of minor drawbacks: the trackpad could provide a little bit more feedback.
Specs to look for: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 7, 16 GB of RAM, 512-GB SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti or 3060
Best Battery Life
DELL G15
The G15 is a big laptop that is easily the ugliest of the bunch. But what makes it unique is the performance of its AMD CPU, which enables this device to achieve a battery life of approximately eight to nine hours when performing regular productivity tasks and occasional mobile gaming. Although you should always be plugged into a wall outlet for the optimal performance, the ability to operate for several hours on battery power is quite useful if you need to join the weekly gaming night but are far from a power source. This device can’t be used when travelling because of the cumbersome and huge bundled charger.
With our recommended specifications (see below), you’ll be able to get 120 fps at medium graphics settings in most games, and the keyboard is pleasant and the 1080p 120-Hz screen works nicely. At high settings, you should get about 60 frames per second for games that demand more processing power. Despite being one of the heavier laptops on this list, it disperses heat evenly and doesn’t make obnoxious noises. Where it falls short of competitors is with its tiny trackpad and a design that is rather easy to scuff.
Specs to look for: Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 7 5800H or 6800H, 16 or 32 GB of RAM, 512-GB or 1-TB SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
Top-Notch Quality & Design
ASUS TUF DASH 15
The Asus TUF Dash F15 makes the most of its components, whether you choose an RTX 3050 Ti graphics card or an RTX 3070 graphics card, which is more expensive. With a delightful combination of great key travel and tactile feedback, it boasts one of the nicest gaming keyboards available on a laptop, period. Particularly when compared to competitors, the display is clear and detailed. It has a headphone jack, an HDMI, three USB-A ports for Ethernet, and a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port despite being extremely small (less than 20 mm). The Dash F15 also adds some style if you cringe at the appearance of most low-cost gaming laptops.
The top part of the keyboard can get a little heated under heavy use, but it rarely gets too loud. Consider the TUF Gaming A15, a similar AMD model, for a tiny performance hit but improved battery life.
Specs to look for: Intel Core i7, 16-GB RAM, 1-TB SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
If You Want A Big Display
HP VICTUS
It’s more difficult to locate larger displays for less money, and, to be told, the difference between a 15-inch and 16-inch screen isn’t really big. But if you are in need of the larger screen area, the HP Victus 16 is a good option. The Victus 16 doesn’t look garish because, like the TUF Dash F15, it offers more style than other affordable machines. This laptop prioritises keyboard feedback above key travel, resulting in shallow but satisfyingly crunchy keys.
The large display comes out on top. The 16-inch screen’s 1080p resolution, 144-Hz refresh rate, and minimal bezels on the edges make it a desirable display for gaming and productivity. With the recommended hardware (listed below), Apex Legends at 1080p with basic graphics settings will run at 144 frames per second, and Borderlands 3 with high settings will run at about 60 frames per second.
Specs to look for: Intel Core i5 or i7, 8 or 16 GB of RAM, 512-GB SSD, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
