Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,500
Gaming laptops often come with a hefty price tag, but they don’t have to drain your savings. In recent years, features once exclusive to premium gaming laptops have become accessible in mid-range and budget-friendly models. You can now find a laptop with a fast SSD, a high refresh rate screen, and a GPU capable of handling 1080p gaming—all for under $1,500.
There’s a lot you can expect when shopping within this price range. Many Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,500 feature Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 GPUs, paired with Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen 8000 processors. Occasionally, you might find great deals on slightly older hardware, but be sure to avoid models offering only 8GB of RAM or 256GB of storage at this price point—better configurations are available.
With one of the Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,500 in this category, you can expect smooth gameplay at 1080p resolution, handling demanding titles at high or ultra settings. These laptops also provide excellent performance for esports enthusiasts, making them a solid choice for gamers on a budget.
1. Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen (9)
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-14650HX |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 (8GB GDDR6, 1,890 MHz boost clock, 140W maximum graphics power) |
| Display | 16-inch, 2560 x 1600, 165 Hz, G-Sync |
| Weight | 5.51 pounds (2.5 kg) |
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
|---|---|
| + Well priced | – Below average battery life |
| + Solid gaming performance | – No biometric features |
| + Bright screen | – Single-channel RAM |
| + Comfortable keyboard and touchpad | |
| + Good port selection |
If you prioritize a bright and fast display, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (Gen 9) could be an excellent choice. Its 16-inch, 2560 x 1600 screen features a 165 Hz refresh rate and G-Sync support, delivering smooth visuals. With a peak brightness of 354.6 nits, the display stands out as one of the brighter options in its class.
The laptop also shines in performance and usability. Powered by an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU and an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor, it offers impressive gaming capabilities. Additionally, the keyboard and touchpad provide a comfortable experience, whether you’re gaming or tackling daily tasks. The ample variety of ports adds to its versatility.
However, Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,500 there are a few trade-offs. The battery life is less than stellar, which is common among gaming laptops. Biometric security features are also absent, which may be a drawback for some users. The reviewed unit, priced at $1,313.99, included 16GB of RAM. While sufficient, the single-channel configuration might slightly impact performance, though this can be upgraded in the future.
2. ASUS TUF Gaming A14
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 8 8845HS |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 |
| Display | 14-inch, 2560 x 1600, 165 Hz |
| Weight | 3.22 pounds (1.35 kg) |
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
|---|---|
| + Barely bigger or heavier than an ultrabook | – Ryzen 8000 CPU is about to be outdated |
| + Great battery life | – Disappointing speakers |
| + Understated design |
The Asus TUF Gaming A14 stands out as a remarkably slim gaming laptop, part of a growing trend toward lighter, more portable machines that blend seamlessly into any setting.
This model marks a significant evolution for the TUF Gaming series, traditionally seen as a more budget-friendly alternative to the premium Strix and Zephyrus lines. Despite its affordability, the A14 boasts a sleek and understated design, with dimensions and weight comparable to many ultrabooks.
Equipped with a 100W RTX 4060 GPU, the laptop handles modern games at moderate settings with ease. Additionally, its battery impressed by lasting over 10 hours for non-gaming tasks, making it a versatile choice for work and play.
3. Hp Victus 16
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 |
| Display | 16.1-inch, 1080p, 144 Hz |
| Weight | 5.15 pounds (2.34 kg) |
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
|---|---|
| + Long battery life | – Need to find it on sale for best value |
| + Bright display | – Speakers could use improvement |
| + Comfortable keyboard | |
| + Mature design |
The HP Victus 16 offers solid gaming performance, a bright 16.1-inch display, and long battery life, making it an excellent option at its price point. Its keyboard is particularly noteworthy, providing a comfortable typing and gaming experience.
The design is clean and understated, making it versatile enough for both gaming and professional settings. The display is impressively bright, measuring 313 nits, which slightly exceeds expectations for this class of laptop.
One key to maximizing the value of the Victus 16 is purchasing it at the right time and place. Deals on HP’s website often make it more affordable, and certain retailers, like Costco, offer enhanced configurations. For example, a version with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an RTX 4060 is regularly priced at $1,399.99. Comparing options across retailers can help you find the best deal to suit your needs.
4. Acer Nitro 16
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 |
| Display | 16-inch, 1920 x 1200, 165 Hz, G-Sync |
| Weight | 5.95 pounds (2.7 kg) |
Acer Nitro 16 Review
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
|---|---|
| + Competent gaming performance | – Subpar webcam |
| + Bright G-Sync screen | – Hollow speakers |
| + Solid battery life | – Lots of bloatware |
| + Quiet fans | |
| + Lots of ports, including USB 4 |
The Acer Nitro 16 delivers impressive performance, a vibrant display, and extended battery life (for a gaming laptop) at an affordable price point under $1,000.
The $999 configuration we reviewed featured an AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, offering competitive results in various benchmarks. The 1920 x 1200 resolution, 165 Hz display with G-Sync support stood out, making it ideal for high-frame-rate gaming. With a brightness level of 371 nits, it outshines many competitors in its class. Additionally, it includes USB 4, the latest iteration of USB Type-C technology.
Although this budget-friendly laptop performs well, there’s room for improvement in the audio quality and webcam performance. However, for under $1,000, the Nitro 16 offers an excellent balance of value and features.
5. Msi Catana 15
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13620H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 |
| Display | 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080, 144 Hz |
| Weight | 5.51 pounds / 2.5 kg |
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
|---|---|
| + Strong 1080p gaming performance | – Short battery life |
| + Good speakers | – Washed-out display |
| + Excellent value |
The MSI Katana is an affordable gaming laptop that fits comfortably within a $1,500 budget, offering impressive features at a price of just $999. The configuration we tested included a Core i7-13620H processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, delivering strong 1080p gaming performance.
For this price point, the laptop also provides 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, which is a great value. However, the build quality of the chassis could use some refinement.
While the display isn’t the most vibrant, its 144 Hz refresh rate makes it well-suited for competitive gaming. Additionally, the speakers deliver surprisingly good sound quality for a device in this price range.
What to Look for in the Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,500
GPU: The graphics card in your gaming laptop plays the most significant role in delivering smooth gameplay and high detail levels. If you find a laptop with an RTX 4070 for under $1,500, consider it a fantastic deal. However, under typical circumstances, the best GPUs available in this price range are the AMD Radeon RX 6800M or the Nvidia RTX 4060. Both options ensure smooth 1080p gaming at high or ultra settings and can even handle ray tracing effectively. The RTX 4050 is also a decent option for 1080p gaming but is less ideal for ray tracing.
Screen: Gaming laptop displays typically range from 14 to 17 inches, with 15 inches being the most common. For under $1,500, expect a 1080p resolution and a refresh rate between 120 Hz and 165 Hz. These specifications are ideal since most systems in this price range aren’t powerful enough to handle higher resolutions or frame rates that exceed these refresh rates. Pay attention to color quality and brightness for a better visual experience. If you find a 2560 x 1440 display, it’s a bonus but rare unless there’s a significant sale.
CPU: The CPU is less critical than the GPU in this price bracket. You’ll usually see Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processors in this range, often from the previous generation, such as Intel 13th Gen Core or Ryzen 7000 series chips. Some laptops may come with Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processors, which are still more than sufficient for gaming and everyday tasks.
RAM: Most gaming laptops under $1,500 come with 16GB of DDR4 or DDR5 RAM, which is more than enough for most users. For laptops priced under $1,000, you might encounter models with only 8GB of RAM. If you opt for an 8GB model, consider upgrading it later, as additional RAM sticks typically cost $40 to $80. Note that some laptops, especially slimmer ones, have soldered RAM, so make sure to purchase enough upfront to future-proof your system.
Storage: Expect 512GB NVMe SSDs in the best laptops under $1,500. While this offers solid performance, it might not provide enough storage space for multiple large games. If you find a laptop with a 1TB drive, that’s a big advantage. For budget laptops under $1,000, many models only include 256GB drives, which might not be sufficient for the operating system and modern AAA games. You can always upgrade with a secondary drive or replace the primary SSD, with 1TB SSDs often costing under $100.
Bottom Line
There can be noticeable performance differences even among gaming laptops with similar specifications. For example, systems with the same GPU and CPU may vary in performance based on their cooling capabilities. A laptop with a better cooling system can maintain higher clock speeds, leading to better frame rates and overall performance.
When choosing a gaming laptop under $1,500, raw performance isn’t the only factor. Consider the design, keyboard and touchpad feel, and screen quality. These aspects can differ significantly between models, so researching thoroughly before making a decision is worth it.
