For casual gamers, students, and budget-conscious buyers, Best cheap gaming laptops in 2025 offer impressive 1080p performance without breaking the bank. These laptops deliver smooth gameplay for esports titles like Fortnite and Valorant while doubling as reliable devices for schoolwork and streaming.
Our top picks—Acer Nitro 5, Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, HP Victus 15, ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (budget model), and MSI Thin GF63—excel in affordability, performance, and portability. We evaluated them based on CPU/GPU power, FHD displays with 60Hz+ refresh rates, portability (under 5.5 lbs), and prices between $500 and $900, making them ideal for budget gamers.
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Why Choose a Cheap Gaming Laptop?
Benefits of Cheap Gaming Laptops
Cheap gaming laptops provide solid 1080p gaming for esports and light AAA titles at budget-friendly prices, per PCMag. They’re perfect for playing Rocket League, Valorant, or Minecraft while handling school assignments or streaming.
Key features include Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPUs, NVIDIA GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 GPUs, 8–16GB RAM, 256–512GB SSDs, and FHD displays with 60Hz+ refresh rates. Priced from $500 to $900, these laptops offer exceptional value for students, casual gamers, and first-time buyers.
Top 5 Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
Here’s our curated list of the top five cheap gaming laptops, balancing performance, display quality, portability, and affordability for 1080p gaming.
Acer Nitro 5 – Best Overall
- Take your game to the next level with the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor. Get immersive and competitive performance fo…
- RTX, It’s On: The latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti (4GB dedicated GDDR6 VRAM) is powered by award-winning architecture …
- Picture-Perfect. Furiously Fast: With the sharp visuals of a 15.6” Full HD IPS display with a lightning-quick 144Hz refr…
- Features: Intel Core i5-12500H, NVIDIA GTX 1650, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD 144Hz, Windows 11 Home.
- Pros: Strong 1080p performance (60–80 FPS in Fortnite), 144Hz display, reliable Acer brand, per CNET.
- Cons: Average battery life (~5 hours), plastic build.
- Best For: Casual gamers seeking value and performance under $800.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 – Best for Smooth Gameplay
- 【Processor】AMD Ryzen 5 5500H Processor (4 Cores, 8 Threads, 2MB L2 / 8MB L3 Cache, Base at 3.3 GHz, Up to 4.2 GHz Max Tu…
- 【Graphics】NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 4GB GDDR6.
- 【Display】15.6 inch FHD (1920×1080) IPS 250-Nits Anti-glare Display, 45% NTSC.
- Features: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H, NVIDIA RTX 3050, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD 120Hz, Windows 11 Home.
- Pros: Smooth 120Hz display, solid performance (70+ FPS in Valorant), per TechRadar.
- Cons: Slightly heavy (4.9 lbs), basic design.
- Best For: Gamers prioritizing high frame rates in esports titles.
HP Victus 15 – Best Value
- 【Memory & Storage】16GB high-bandwidth DDR5 RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 512GB…
- 【AMD Processor】AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS ( 3.3 GHz base clock, up to 4.55 GHz max boost clock, 16 MB cache, 6 cores, 12 threads…
- 【Display】15.6″ diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz Anti-Glare, 1080p Full High Definition resolution for smooth, crisp gam…
- Features: Intel Core i5-12450H, NVIDIA GTX 1650, 12GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD 60Hz, Windows 11 Home.
- Pros: Affordable, decent gaming performance (50–60 FPS in esports), comfortable keyboard, per PCMag.
- Cons: 60Hz display limits smoothness, 12GB RAM less ideal for heavy multitasking.
- Best For: Budget gamers seeking reliability and value.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (Budget Model) – Best for Durability
- READY FOR ANYTHING – Jump right into the action with Windows 11, an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX…
- SWIFT MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask faster with 8GB of DDR5-5600MHz memory and speed up loading times with 512GB of PCI…
- NEVER MISS A MOMENT – Keep up with the pros thanks to the fast FHD 144Hz display. Adaptive-Sync technology reduces lag, …
- Features: AMD Ryzen 5 4600H, NVIDIA GTX 1650, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD 144Hz, Windows 11 Home.
- Pros: Durable MIL-STD-810H build, 144Hz display for fluid visuals, per Tom’s Hardware.
- Cons: 8GB RAM may need upgrading, average battery (~5 hours).
- Best For: Gamers needing a robust laptop for esports gaming.
MSI Thin GF63 – Best for Portability
- Powered Up: The 12th Gen. Intel Core i5 processor to deliver maximum efficiency in gameplay, Multi-task work and product…
- It All Starts Now: Enjoy the latest generation Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. *MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro f…
- Smooth Display: The 15.6” 144Hz display delivers the fast refresh rate for smooth and vibrant gameplay.
- Features: Intel Core i5-12450H, NVIDIA RTX 2050, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD 144Hz, Windows 11 Home.
- Pros: Lightweight (4.1 lbs), good performance for light games, per RTINGS.com.
- Cons: Weaker GPU limits AAA gaming, basic cooling system.
- Best For: Casual gamers needing a portable budget laptop.
How We Chose the Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
Criteria for Selecting Top Cheap Gaming Laptops
We selected these laptops based on:
- Performance: Intel i5 or Ryzen 5 CPUs with GTX 1650/RTX 3050 GPUs for 1080p gaming, per PCMag.
- Display: FHD IPS screens with 60Hz+ refresh rates for smooth visuals, per Tom’s Hardware.
- Portability: Under 5.5 lbs for mobility, per TechRadar.
- User Feedback: High ratings (4.0–4.5/5) from Amazon, Reddit (r/gaminglaptops, r/buildapc), and X posts.
- Value: Prices ($500–$900) balance gaming performance and affordability, per RTINGS.com.
Keywords: how to choose cheap gaming laptop, budget gaming laptop criteria
Sources: PCMag, Tom’s Hardware, TechRadar, RTINGS.com
Quick Comparison of Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
| Model | Price | CPU/GPU | Display | Weight | Best Use |
| Acer Nitro 5 | ~$$$ | i5-12500H/GTX 1650 | 15.6″ FHD 144Hz | 4.8 lbs | Casual Gaming |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | ~$$$ | Ryzen 5 5600H/RTX 3050 | 15.6″ FHD 120Hz | 4.9 lbs | Smooth Gameplay |
| HP Victus 15 | ~$$$ | i5-12450H/GTX 1650 | 15.6″ FHD 60Hz | 4.3 lbs | Budget Gaming |
| ASUS TUF Gaming A15 | ~$$$ | Ryzen 5 4600H/GTX 1650 | 15.6″ FHD 144Hz | 4.8 lbs | Durable Gaming |
| MSI Thin GF63 | ~$$$ | i5-12450H/RTX 2050 | 15.6″ FHD 144Hz | 4.1 lbs | Portable Gaming |
Benefits of Cheap Gaming Laptops
Why Choose Cheap Gaming Laptops?
Cheap gaming laptops offer:
- Affordable 1080p Gaming: 50–80 FPS in esports titles like Rocket League, per CNET.
- Portability: Lightweight designs (under 5.5 lbs) for school or travel.
- Multitasking: 8–16GB RAM and 512GB SSDs handle gaming and productivity.
- Value: Priced $500–$900, ideal for students and casual gamers.
Windows 11 compatibility ensures support for modern games and software, making these laptops versatile for budget buyers.
What Users Say About These Cheap Gaming Laptops
Feedback from Amazon, Reddit (r/gaminglaptops, r/buildapc), and X posts:
- Acer Nitro 5: Praised for value and 1080p performance (4.3/5 on Amazon), battery life (~5 hours) noted, per CNET.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3: Loved for 120Hz display and smooth gameplay (4.2/5 on Lenovo), basic design mentioned, per TechRadar.
- HP Victus 15: Valued for affordability (4.1/5 on Amazon), 60Hz display criticized, per PCMag.
- ASUS TUF Gaming A15: Appreciated for durability and 144Hz display (4.2/5 on Amazon), RAM upgrade suggested, per Tom’s Hardware.
- MSI Thin GF63: Noted for portability (4.0/5 on MSI), weaker GPU for AAA titles, per RTINGS.com.
Common concerns include battery life, GPU limitations for AAA games, and build quality.
Maximize Your Cheap Gaming Laptop
Tips for Optimizing Your Cheap Gaming Laptop
Maximize performance with these tips, per TechRadar:
- Acer Nitro 5: Optimize for 60+ FPS in esports titles using NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3: Leverage 120Hz display for competitive gaming; enable G-Sync.
- HP Victus 15: Use a cooling pad for extended gaming sessions.
- ASUS TUF Gaming A15: Upgrade to 16GB RAM for better multitasking.
- MSI Thin GF63: Adjust settings for light games like Valorant to boost performance.
- General Tips: Update GPU drivers, use external cooling, and install games on SSD for faster load times.
Conclusion
The Acer Nitro 5, Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, HP Victus 15, ASUS TUF Gaming A15, and MSI Thin GF63 are the best cheap gaming laptops in 2025. The Nitro 5 leads for overall value, IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers smooth gameplay, Victus 15 excels in affordability, TUF A15 ensures durability, and Thin GF63 prioritizes portability. Choose based on your needs—gaming performance, portability, or budget—and enjoy epic 1080p gaming. Shop now on Amazon, Acer, or Lenovo for a budget-friendly gaming upgrade!