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It wasn’t so long ago that gaming laptops were the worst way to get into PC gaming. Sure, they afforded you some level of portability, but at their core, they were a terrible value. Even half a decade ago, gaming laptops were heavy and bulky, sacrificing battery life for mobile GPUs that couldn’t hold a candle to their desktop siblings. Their designs would get you laughed out of any board room or business meeting, and the price tag often meant paying twice as much for half the performance of prebuilt gaming desktops. Fortunately, gaming laptops have evolved tremendously in more recent years, and they’ve slowly become an excellent option for anyone who needs the portability of a laptop with the power of a desktop PC. Their design language has become far more neutral, with metallic blacks and accent colors instead of the extreme greens and reds. Battery life isn’t quite as solid as you might find on an ultrabook, but in the best gaming PCs, you’re now able to squeeze out up to five or six hours of regular use, helping to make a gaming laptop actually feel like a laptop. Most importantly, mobile GPUs aren’t the laughingstock of PC gaming anymore. Nvidia’s Max-Q line of GPUs come close to rivaling their full-fledged counterparts, while some cards even reach desktop status without the requirement for throttling. The price of gaming laptops has also changed, and it’s now possible to find a great gaming PC for well under $1,000. You shouldn’t expect the most advanced 4K displays and ultra-high specs on these laptops because such a price point would be suitable for 1080p gaming. Check out our guide to the best gaming laptops under $1,000.
The Acer Swift X might’ve not made it onto this list in the past because it cost over $1,000, but you can now get it for about $930 as of July 2022. It’s perfect for those who don’t want the out-of-this-world designs of other gaming laptops that will catch people’s attention in public because it features a sleek and modern design. You can trust that the laptop will give you a smooth gaming experience because of its AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor that features Zen 3 Core Architecture. When it comes to its GPU, it’s equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card that promises realistic ray-traced graphics and innovative AI features. The laptop’s 14-inch Full HD IPS display is enough for gaming on the go, and its 100% sRGB color gamut ensures you get the most vibrant and accurate colors possible. The Acer Swift X has 16GB RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, which are outstanding for a budget option. Users might not need to use earphones with the laptop because it has impressive dual front-facing speakers with DTS Audio. You can also ask the laptop to do basic commands for you since it has Alexa support. The keys on the laptop are large enough to type comfortably, and you get a fingerprint reader for quick and convenient security. It features an air inlet keyboard that delivers more airflow, and you can use a keyboard shortcut to change the fan speed. The laptop has two USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack, but it lacks an ethernet port. Acer claims the laptop can last about 12 hours per charge, but you can expect that number to go down if you plan to do continuous gaming.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor Vibrant 1080p display with 100% sRGB color gamutDecent battery lifeFingerprint readerExcellent airflow16GB RAM and 512GB SSD
Fans can get noisePg-Up and Pg-Down could have better placementsTrackpad could be larger
Choosing the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i means you will max out your budget because it costs $999.99, but we believe it’s worth the price. Its Intel Core i5-12500H processor packs a punch, and you can trust that it will be sufficient for you to have an enjoyable gaming experience. The laptop is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, which delivers magnificent visuals whatever game you’re playing. You will undoubtedly feel immersed in your game because you get a large 15.6-inch Full HD display. The laptop’s 8GB DDR4 RAM ensures all your programs run smoothly, and you will get to store all your essential files without worrying too much about space since the laptop has 512GB of SSD storage. The Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i has ample ventilation and cooling capabilities that protect it from overheating, and you can expect it to have a quiet operation. It has a microphone and 720p HD camera privacy, so you can use it for video calls in your spare time. In terms of connectivity, the laptop has one USB 3.2 Type-C port, two USB 3.1 Type-A ports, one HDMI port, one Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. The laptop can surpass 7 hours of usage when doing light tasks, but you’ll only get around 2 hours of continuous gameplay when you leave the laptop unplugged.
Excellent Intel Core i5-12500H processorFantastic designGreat port selection512GB of SSD storage
Disappointing battery lifeUnderwhelming webcamGPU could be betterCould use more RAM
The Acer Nitro 5 is among the best budget gaming laptops on the market in 2022 because of the specs you get for its price. The laptop features a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H processor that guarantees a snappy and responsive performance, and you can expect breathtaking visuals from its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. You will be satisfied with your gaming experience with the laptop and won’t even need an external display because of its large 15.6-inch LED-backlit display. You can expect all your action-packed scenes to look crisp and clear because of the display’s 144Hz refresh rate. The laptop only has 8GB DDR4 RAM, but you can quickly expand it to up to 32GB if you have extra cash to spend. Its 256GB NVMe SSD storage is pretty decent, but if you’re a gamer who plans to store tons of games and videos, you might need to buy an external hard drive. The Acer Nitro 5 promises an excellent network performance because of its Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 and Ethernet E2600. Gaming on the go can require a lot of power from your laptop, but what’s fantastic about the device is that it has an enhanced thermal performance because of the Acer CoolBoost technology. The laptop has a decent port selection because you get Type-A ports, a Type-C port, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. When you’re not playing games, you can set the computer to its Alexa Show Mode, which turns it into an Echo-like device for convenient voice commands even when you’re across the room. Since this is a budget option, you shouldn’t expect much in terms of battery life. The Acer Nitro 5 will give you almost 3.5 hours of playtime when playing a game like Guardians of the Galaxy at 50% brightness.
Excellent cooling systemDecent CPU and GPU for its priceSpacious keyboardAmple portsLarge display with 144Hz refresh rate256GB SSDAlexa Show Mode
Could use more RAMDisappointing battery lifeMight be too heavy and thick for some
You might be shocked that the Lenovo Legion 5 made it onto this list because of its impressive specs that would make you assume it’s a more expensive laptop. This gaming laptop features a 15.6-inch FHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate that promises superb motion handling. It features an AMD Ryzen 5-4600H processor that promises superior power, and you will love how your entire system will be responsive thanks to its 16GB DDR4 RAM. Its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 1650Ti GPU delivers decent graphics for its price, but it’s best for casual gamers rather than hardcore/professional gamers. The Lenovo Legion 5 doesn’t compare to other more affordable options in terms of storage space because you get a 512GB SSD and 1TB HDD. Like many modern laptops, it comes with a 720p HD webcam with a privacy shutter and dual array microphones. It also has dual 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, which give you a decent audio experience for its price. The laptop features one USB Type-C port, four USB Type-A ports, one HDMI port, one RJ-45 port, and a headphone jack. Gamers won’t be too disappointed with the laptop’s battery life because you can get as much as six hours of gameplay per charge.
15.6-inch FHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate Decent CPU and GPU16GB RAM512GB SSD and 1TB HDD
Battery life could be betterRivals have newer graphics cardsLimited availability
For those who prefer gaming on larger laptops, you can opt for the Asus TUF Gaming F17. It features a 17.3-inch FHD IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Its size might not make it the most portable option on the market, but at least you will have a more enjoyable gaming experience thanks to the larger screen. The laptop runs on a quad-core Intel Core 15-10300H processor with a maximum speed of 4.5GHz. It’s not a surprise that it has a low-end NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPU since you’re getting it at a more affordable price than other gaming laptops on the market. The laptop has 512GB of SSD storage and a total of 8GB of RAM. When you feel like upgrading your laptop’s hardware, you can easily access its different parts thanks to its simplified chassis. The Asus TUF Gaming F17 can handle long hours of gaming thanks to its cooling and ventilation capabilities. One unique thing about the laptop is its excellent speakers that deliver enhanced sound and bass. Thanks to its DTS: Ultra technology, you can expect it to offer a 7.1-channel virtual surround sound experience. Users also won’t be disappointed with the laptop’s port selection because it comes with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a USB 2.0 Gen 1 Type-A port, an HDMI port, an RJ-45 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Sadly, the Asus TUF Gaming F17 has a short battery life, so you will most likely find yourself looking for a power outlet whenever you want to play games on the laptop.
Large 17.3-inch FHD IPS display144Hz refresh rateDecent CPU and GPU performanceExcellent speakers with DTS: Ultra technology512GB SSDFantastic port selection
Disappointing battery lifeCould use more RAMLarge size makes it less portable
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