Gaming laptops can cost a lot of money if you’re going for top of the line specs, but they can also easily be had for under $999 or less. Granted, you won’t be getting top-tier performance like you would with the Razer Blade 14. You can however pick up gaming laptops $999 or less that still run games well. You may have to adjust some settings, but overall performance can still be decent.
That being said, finding a gaming laptop for $999 or less can feel daunting. And we get it. There’s a lot of options out there and it can be hard to sift through them. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best gaming laptops to choose from that will come in at or under that $999 price tag.
This way you’ll be set up to play your favorite games and save some money in the process. Now, if you don’t need a portable gaming PC, then you’re likely better off getting a desktop. But if you do want something you can use at home and elsewhere, a gaming laptop is the way to go.
Best Gaming Laptops For $999 Or Less
Acer Nitro 5 (AN517-55-5354)
If you need something cheaper than the Razer Blade and Alienware laptops that’s still capable, than Acer has you covered with the Nitro 5. This model also offers an RTX 3050 GPU so your performance should be pretty decent across most games. It also comes with a larger SSD than the previous model of this laptop that we had listed. As this one now makes the jump from a 256GB SSD to a 512GB SSD. This model is running an Intel Core i5-12500H CPU, and comes with 8GB of RAM and it has the same size and resolution display with a 144Hz refresh rate.
It supports WiFi 6 too, so if you have a compatible router your speeds should be decent. Provided your internet plan also offers higher speeds. The dual fans should keep it cool to an extent and you’ve got a range of different ports available as well.
Lenovo Legion 5
- Price: $849
- Where To Buy: Amazon
Lenovo’s Legion laptops have become quite good in recent years and this model of the Legion 5 is no different. Admittedly, you’re getting a less powerful graphics card in here, but you do get 16GB of RAM, plus a 256GB SSD and a 1TB HDD so you get way more storage than the other three laptops so far.
That’s the tradeoff with this model. For the GPU, the Legion 5 comes with a GTX 1650 and for the CPU it’s running an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H. The cool thing is Lenovo has a few different configurations of this laptop available on Amazon, and all but one of them are under $1,000. So you can pick the one that fits you best. They all come with the GTX 1650 though.
The display size is 17.3-inches, but Amazon doesn’t list the refresh rate. You can get this laptop directly through Lenovo with an NVIDIA 30-series GPU, but to get it with the same storage specs and same amount of memory you’ll pay over $1,000.
Dell G15 5511
- Price: $969
- Where To Buy: Amazon
Now we have Dell’s G15 5511 which is another RTX 3050 laptop. Normally this one retails for $1,049, but Amazon currently has it on sale for $999.98. In addition to the RTX 3050, it’s running with an Intel Core i5-11400H CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 120Hz 15.6-inch FHD display.
In comparison to some of the other laptops on this list, most of the specs across the board are similar. Especially with those that have the same GPU. But in all honesty this might be one of the best options. The G15 is a great gaming laptop with a good track record of performance for the money, and it has Dell’s amazing support in case anything goes wrong.
Like the others it’s a bit weighty at 5.37 pounds, but that’s part of what you’re going to get by paying a little bit less.
MSI GF63 (2022)
- Price: From $899.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon
One of MSI’s newest laptops had to make it on the list because it comes with some decent specs and MSI tends to put out some pretty good gaming laptops. This one comes with an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU as opposed to an RTX 3050, and it starts at 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
It also comes with a 15.6-inch FHD display, and Intel Core i5-10500H CPU, Windows 11 Home, the ever familiar backlit keyboard that every gaming laptop tends to have, and it weighs about 4.10 pounds. You get most of the same ports you’ll find on the others, though this one only has two USB ports instead of three.
For the money, this is one of the more portable options due to its lower weight. And it should still run games fine. Plus thanks to the higher RAM you can easily run more programs simultaneously.
HP Pavillion 15-dk0020nr
The last two options on this list come from HP, starting with the Pavillion 15-dk0020nr. At $784, you’re paying a little less and getting a little less. Instead of an RTX 3050 you get a GTX 1650 which still performs well for games if you tune the settings down some. By how much will depend on each game and you’ll have to play that by ear as you load games up for the first time.
In addition to the GTX 1650 GPU, it comes with an Intel Core i5-9300H CPU, a 256GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch display with FHD resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. For memory, you get 8GB of RAM, and HP says the battery will last for up to 8 hours. However, don’t necessarily expect it to last that long if you’re just playing games on it. The 8 hours is likely more for daily tasks.
Still, a solid option for $784 if you need to spend less money. If you can afford a bit more than one of the other laptops is a better value.
HP Victus
- Price: $829
- Where To Buy: Amazon
Rounding out this list is an RTX 3050 option from HP. The HP Victus comes with pretty comparable specs to the majority of laptops on here, with the NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, an Intel Core i5-11400H CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.
It also has a 16.1-inch FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate. This is also a nice option if you’re wanting a gaming laptop that doesn’t really look like a gaming laptop. Thanks to its more basic design and the lack of an RGB keyboard.
We do think some of the other options on here are a better buy, but this one isn’t bad for the money.
2023-01-21 15:07:30