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Wondering about the best cheap gaming laptop on the market? We’ve got you covered with two standout options catering to different budget levels. If you’re diving into the world of gaming laptops for the first time and have a budget of $1,000, look no further than the Acer Nitro 16. An upgraded and larger version of the well-loved 15.6-inch Acer Nitro 5, the Nitro 16 is currently available for $1,000 at Newegg. Boasting the latest technology from AMD and Nvidia, this laptop features an AMD Ryzen 5 7000 series CPU and GeForce RTX 4050 graphics. The expansive 16-inch, 16:10 display provides an immersive gaming experience, setting it apart from other budget options that often feature last year’s components.

For those willing to stretch their budget beyond $1,000, the Dell G15 or G16 Gaming Laptop is our recommendation. The G15 models come with a 15.6-inch, 16:9 panel, while the G16 units offer a 16-inch, 16:10 display. Both laptops feature a robust dark gray chassis made of a mix of plastic and aluminum. Although lacking flashy, gaming-specific design details, the subtle design allows these systems to seamlessly transition between being a mobile gaming rig and a reliable workhorse laptop.

Acer Nitro 16 budget gaming laptop on a white background

Best cheap gaming laptop for $1,000

Acer Nitro 16 (Update: Out of Stock)

$1,000 at Newegg

$900 at Dell

dell-g15-and-g16

Best cheap gaming laptops for only a bit more than $1,000

Dell G15 or G16

$900 at Dell

HP Victus 15 gaming laptop with keyboard backlighting

Best cheap gaming laptop for first timers

HP Victus 15

$750 at HP

The ROG Strix G15 open and angled to your right, with the RGB illumination on the keyboard and underglow, default ROG wallpaper on a white marbled surface against an orange background

Cheap gaming laptop with best design

Asus ROG Strix G15

$1,000 at Asus

Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 budget gaming laptop on a white background

Cheap gaming laptop with big, bright and fast display

Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8

$1,035 at Lenovo

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop open, facing forward and sitting on a gray microfiber-covered chair.

Cheapest laptop with RTX 4050 graphics

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

$655 at Lenovo