In terms of graphics, storage, speeds, and cooling systems, there’s no doubt that gaming computers have an edge over regular PCs. It comes as no surprise that the former costs more than the latter because of the perks you get. However, the evolution of gaming laptops has changed the gaming industry completely. Gaming laptops almost have the same benefits as a gaming PC, but they’re made to be portable. Furthermore, they no longer cost a fortune. Nowadays, it’s easier to find gaming laptops under $1000. In fact, you can buy laptops for at least $700.
Albeit not as efficient as the very expensive ones, they still offer decent gaming perks allowing you to play AAA titles seamlessly. It means that you are not limited to low-resolution games even if you purchase gaming laptops under $1000.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Laptop
These factors are completely subjective and dependent on what games you prefer playing and the level of performance you prefer. Choosing a laptop is similar to choosing a gaming mouse or any peripherals. Firstly, you need to check the recommended and minimum system specs required for your favorite games to run smoothly. It usually gives a rough estimate of what specs you need.
If you’re strictly on a budget and still want the best bang for your buck, we recommend the following specifications for gaming laptops under $1000.
- Minimum – Intel Core i5 (9th gen) / AMD Ryzen 5 (3rd gen) processor or later
- Minimum – Nvidia GTX 1050 / AMD RX 560x graphics card or later
- A Minimum of 8GB of RAM
- Optional – minimum of 120Hz refresh rate display
- Optional – 512GB solid state drive (SSD)
Note that laptops with lower than the abovementioned specs may struggle running more demanding and modern games even at average settings. So make sure to choose something that’s above average.
Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000 Price Point
You don’t have to spend a lot when it comes to buying gaming laptops in 2022. Thanks to the technological advancements in the past years, budget-friendly gaming laptops under $1000 are now available almost anywhere you go. To start, below are our recommendations that you should check out first.
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55-53E5
Perhaps the best value gaming laptop under $1000, the Acer Nitro 5 is among the few models that come with NVIDIA RTX 3050 graphics with a 144Hz refresh rate on a 1080p display. This refresh rate means that games can run more smoothly and vividly. Throw in an Intel Core i5-10300H processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB NVME SSD, the Acer Nitro 5 is able to run most, if not all, modern AAA games in high resolution without too many hiccups.
Considering the price point, it’s inevitable that the company cuts off on some specs to achieve better performance. The 256GB SSD storage may be below average for a gamer’s PC library but it is still relatively fast and can be expanded with an external drive.
Lenovo Legion 5 Ryzen 7
If you’re not so picky about brands, you will find the Lenovo Legion 5 Ryzen 7 as one of the best gaming laptops under $1000. Packed with an NVIDIA RTX 3050Ti, 16GB RAM, and Ryzen 7 5800H processor, maxing out most of today’s AAA titles will be a breeze. Plus, the 165Hz refresh rate in a 1080p display creates an even smoother gaming experience.
Unfortunately, the Lenovo Legion 5 Ryzen 7 only comes under $1000 if it’s on sale from different shops. Fret not because this happens almost on a weekly basis. Sans the discount, this budget gaming laptop goes a little over $1000; at around $1050. But considering the specs you will get, the extra bucks will come a long way.
HP Pavilion Ryzen 5
If you’re in the market for a laptop that costs a little over $700 with a 1080p display, the HP Pavilion Ryzen 5 is one to check out. At this price point, there will be some limitations to the laptop’s specs; and that’s to be expected. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600H CPU with 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, and 256GB SSD is enough to play many AAA titles at moderate settings. Upping the display and whatnot is still plausible. However, the refresh rate is clocked at just 60Hz so demanding games will run at a relatively slow frame rate.
ASUS ROG Strix G15
While the Lenovo Legion 5 previously mentioned goes a little over $1000 without a sale, the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is well under the thousand bucks range. So if you’re running low on budget but still want something on par with the Legion 5, the ASUS ROG Strix G151 is one of the best gaming laptops under $1000.
It comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H CPU, NVIDIA RTX 3050 graphics card, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Its display has a 1080p resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate. Albeit having a relatively weaker processor and slower refresh rate than the Lenovo Legion 5, the ASUS ROX Strix G15 is still a beast. So more demanding titles can still run smoothly even at high settings.
MSI GF65 Thin 9SD-252
With all the current hardware built inside gaming laptops, it’s only natural that a majority of them are on the heavier side of the scale. But if you’re out for a thin variant that can still run demanding modern titles smoothly, then the MSI GF65 Thin 9SD-252 is one to check out!
MSI is one of the very first manufacturers of gaming laptops; hence most of its laptops come at a relatively cheaper price but with good enough specs. The MSI GF65 Thin runs on a 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it has an Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 512GB SSD, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti 6G. These specs are not the most recent but are still more than capable of running many modern AAA titles without a hitch.
The Verdict for Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000
Gaming computers and accessories like gaming keyboards and even chairs evolve faster than we think. With such an advancement in technology, gaming computers are easily overshadowed by newer ones. With some pros and cons, these gaming laptops under $1000 are still beasts in their own rights. So if you’re in search of budget-friendly laptops that can run many modern games smoothly, you better give our recommendations some thoughts.
For reviews and guides about the latest when it comes to tech, stay tuned here in PlayPC.
