best budget laptop for gaming deliver reliable 1080p performance for casual gamers, students, and budget-conscious buyers, offering an affordable way to enjoy esports titles like Fortnite, Valorant, and Rocket League. These laptops also support light multitasking for schoolwork or streaming, making them versatile for everyday use.
Our top picks—Acer Nitro V 15, HP Victus 15, Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (budget model), and MSI Thin GF63—excel in value, performance, and portability.
Evaluated based on CPU/GPU power, FHD displays with 60Hz+ refresh rates, portability (under 5.5 lbs), and prices between $500 and $900, these selections draw from trusted sources like PCMag, CNET, and TechRadar.
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Why Choose a Budget Gaming Laptop?
Benefits of Budget Gaming Laptops
Budget gaming laptops provide affordable 1080p gaming for esports and light AAA titles like CS:GO and Minecraft, while also handling productivity tasks, per PCMag. They’re ideal for students and casual gamers, offering 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 between $500 and $900, these laptops deliver excellent value for budget buyers seeking gaming and multitasking capabilities.
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Top 5 Best Budget Laptop for Gaming in 2025
Here’s our curated list of the top five budget gaming laptops, balancing performance, display quality, portability, and affordability for 1080p gaming.
Acer Nitro V 15 – Best Overall
- 【Powerful Storage】: 32GB DDR5 SDRAM Memory, 1TB Solid State Drive
- 【Acer Nitro V 15 Gaming Laptop 13th Gen i7】: 13th Gen Intel 10-core i7-13620H Processor
- 【Strong Graphics and Display】: 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS 144Hz, Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB Graphic
- Features: Intel Core i5-13420H, NVIDIA RTX 3050, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD 144Hz, Windows 11 Home.
- Pros: Strong 1080p performance (60–80 FPS in Fortnite), vibrant 144Hz display, reliable brand, per CNET.
- Cons: Average battery life (5–6 hours), plastic build.
- Best For: Casual gamers seeking performance and value under $800.
HP Victus 15 – Best Value
- 【Power Up Your Play】HP gaming laptop windows 11 pro equipped with the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor 10C16T, up…
- 【Advanced Dedicated Graphics】This laptop computer features the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 dedicated graphics card with 8GB …
- 【Ample Memory and Storage】HP laptop gaming updated capacity to 32GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB NVMe SSD, providing fast data acces…
- Features: Intel Core i5-12450H, NVIDIA GTX 1650, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD 60Hz, Windows 11 Home.
- Pros: Affordable, decent esports performance (50–60 FPS in Valorant), comfortable keyboard, per PCMag.
- Cons: 60Hz display limits smoothness, 8GB RAM restricts multitasking.
- Best For: Budget gamers prioritizing cost over refresh rate.
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 7535HS, NVIDIA RTX 3050, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD 120Hz, Windows 11 Home.
- Pros: Smooth 120Hz display, solid performance (70+ FPS in CS:GO), per TechRadar.
- Cons: Slightly heavy (4.9 lbs), basic design.
- Best For: Gamers needing high frame rates for competitive titles.
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 life (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), decent 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 Budget Laptops for Gaming
Criteria for Selecting Top Budget Laptops for Gaming
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.
Quick Comparison of Best Budget Laptops for Gaming
| Model | Price | CPU/GPU | Display | Weight | Best Use |
| Acer Nitro V 15 | ~$$$ | i5-13420H/RTX 3050 | 15.6″ FHD 144Hz | 4.8 lbs | Casual Gaming |
| HP Victus 15 | ~$$$ | i5-12450H/GTX 1650 | 15.6″ FHD 60Hz | 5.0 lbs | Value Gaming |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | ~$$$ | Ryzen 5 7535HS/RTX 3050 | 15.6″ FHD 120Hz | 4.9 lbs | Smooth Gameplay |
| ASUS TUF Gaming A15 | ~$$$ | 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 Budget Laptops for Gaming
Why Choose Budget Laptops for Gaming?
Budget 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 light productivity tasks.
- 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 Budget Laptops for Gaming
Feedback from Amazon, Reddit (r/gaminglaptops, r/buildapc), and X posts:
- Acer Nitro V 15: Praised for value and 1080p performance (4.3/5 on Amazon), battery life (5–6 hours) noted, per CNET.
- HP Victus 15: Valued for affordability (4.1/5 on Amazon), 60Hz display criticized, per PCMag.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3: Loved for 120Hz display and smooth gameplay (4.2/5 on Lenovo), basic design mentioned, per TechRadar.
- 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 Budget Gaming Laptop
Tips for Optimizing Your Budget Gaming Laptop
Maximize performance with these tips, per TechRadar:
- Acer Nitro V 15: Optimize for 60+ FPS in esports titles using NVIDIA Control Panel.
- HP Victus 15: Use a cooling pad for extended gaming sessions to manage heat.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3: Leverage 120Hz display for competitive gaming; enable G-Sync.
- ASUS TUF Gaming A15: Upgrade to 16GB RAM for better multitasking.
- MSI Thin GF63: Adjust settings for light games like Valorant or Rocket League to boost performance.
- General Tips: Update GPU drivers, use external cooling, and install games on SSD for faster load times.
Conclusion
The Acer Nitro V 15, HP Victus 15, Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, ASUS TUF Gaming A15, and MSI Thin GF63 are the best budget laptops for gaming in 2025. The Nitro V 15 excels for overall value, Victus 15 offers unmatched affordability, IdeaPad Gaming 3 prioritizes smooth gameplay, TUF A15 ensures durability, and Thin GF63 is ideal for 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!