A high price tag immediately comes to mind when thinking of gaming computers. Yet, laptop gaming becomes more and more affordable. Nowadays, you can find a budget gaming laptop with decent hardware and a reasonable price. And sure, it might not blow you away with massive storage and long battery life. But it will have a sound graphics card and a powerful processor–all you need for an uninterrupted game.

Below, we have listed some of our best budget gaming laptops to buy this year.

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

One of our list’s cheapest and solid budget gaming laptop options is the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3. This reliable, no-frills computer also made our top gaming laptops under the $700 list last year.

The IdeaPad Gaming 3 comes in a variety of AMD Ryzen and Intel Core 11th generation processors paired with NVIDIA discrete graphics. But as expected, the RAM caps at 8GB. As for storage options, you can choose between the 256GB and 512GB PCIe SSD. 

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is an all-around solid portable gaming computer. The 15.6-inch FHD display is perfect for laptop gaming, and the model weighs less than 7 pounds. Besides, 120Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB color spectrum perfectly suffice for crisp and vivid images. 

As a result, this budget-friendly gaming laptop can run most modern games at a playable frame rate. It also has a decent selection of I/O ports, a responsive precision trackpad, and a full-size backlit keyboard with good key travel. 

Lenovo had a $699.99 special on their IdeaPad 3 Gaming series at the end of 2021, but today the price starts at $869.99, which is still relatively affordable for what you get.

Why we like it:

• Minimal looks allow to utilize it as a work computer.
• Good screen size with 100% sRGB.
• Many processor options to choose from.

Dell G15 Ryzen Edition

Dell is probably one of the most affordable tech brands, making it the most popular one. In addition, they have a vast selection of laptops, ranging from low-cost, like Inspire series, to high-end Alienware computers. 

However, Dell introduced more affordable G-series gaming laptops to directly compete with their much more expensive Alienware series. Our favorite budget gaming computer of the line is the Dell G15 Ryzen Edition.

This model made our best budget gaming laptops list for its premium hardware. The Dell G15 Ryzen Edition packs Cezanne generation AMD Ryzen processors and powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-series graphics, allowing gamers to play the latest AAA titles. 

The cheapest Dell G15 configuration is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H one, with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 video card. You can find it for as low as $799.99 at Best Buy. 

This configuration comes with the 15.6-inch 120Hz anti-glare display for a better viewing angle and reduced reflection. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 for ultra-fast wireless internet speeds.

Why we like it:

• Great battery life.
• Fast and responsive gaming performance.

Acer Nitro 5

The Acer Nitro 5 has the best quality-to-price ratio, making it a top choice for a budget gaming laptop. Thanks to its quality components, the model can easily compete with some mid-range gaming desktops. It comes with AMD Ryzen and 11th generation Intel Core processor options, NVIDIA GeForce GTX, and RTX 30-series discrete graphics. Because of these specs, the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop can handle the most graphically demanding titles. 

RAM options can range from 8GB to 32GB DDR4 SDRAM. As for storage, you can make your pick from 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations. And the 15.6-inch IPS FHD display offers a blazing 144Hz refresh rate. 

The Acer Nitro 5 supports Wi-Fi 6, has an improved heat dissipation, and lasts for up to eight hours on a single battery charge. 

Overall, it is an excellent choice for shoppers on a budget looking for a cheap, powerful gaming laptop.

Why we like it:

• Fast Wi-Fi 6 internet.
• Multiple configurations.
• Great battery life.

Bottom Line

By now, we all accepted the fact that gaming gear is expensive. But in 2022, gaming enthusiasts don’t have to spend a ton of money on a good-performing computer. Instead, large tech companies like Dell, Acer, and Lenovo now sell budget gaming laptops, ranging from entry-level models to affordable hardware for seasoned gamers. We picked some of the cheapest and more capable options to make your search a little easier in this post.