Best Gaming Laptop Under 800 Dollars 2024 (Expert Reviewed)

Budget gaming laptops have come a long way in recent years, they now offer impressive performance at a more affordable price. If you’re in the market for a gaming laptop that won’t break the bank. I have rounded up the best gaming laptop under 800 dollars.

From the ASUS TUF 15 to the Acer Nitro 5 this list of cheap gaming laptops are perfect for gamers playing less demanding games like The Sims 4, World of Warcraft or FIFA 23.

Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop

I recently had the opportunity to test the latest Acer Nitro 5 budget gaming laptop, and I must say, I love its performance, especially considering its budget-friendly nature. When I fired it up, I was impressed with the speedy hardware it boasts, featuring an Intel Core i5-12500H processor and an NVIDIA RTX 3050 laptop graphics card.

The 15.6-inch FHD 144 Hz display caught my eye immediately. I love how vibrant and smooth the visuals are, making gaming sessions even more enjoyable. The 4-Zone RGB backlit keyboard, complete with highlighted WASD keys, adds a touch of style to the gaming setup.

Connectivity is another area where the Acer Nitro 5 shines. I found the Bluetooth and Intel Wi-Fi 6 to be top-notch, providing fast and reliable wireless connectivity. Being able to stay connected online without any lag enhances the overall experience.

During my testing, I also noted the availability of two M.2 SSD slots and the option to install a hard drive in the 2.5″ bay, providing ample storage possibilities. While the initial 8GB of RAM is decent, it can be upgraded to 32GB which is a nice bonus.

This is particularly useful for demanding tasks like video editing and streaming. Having that kind of memory allows for smoother multitasking and better overall system performance.

When it comes to gaming, the Acer Nitro 5 delivered admirably. I tested it with games like GTA 5, Apex Legends, and Fortnite, and I was pleased with its performance on medium settings. Even with more demanding games, the laptop held its own on low graphics settings, making it a reliable choice for a variety of gaming experiences.

ACER NITRO V5 SPECS:

• Display: 15.6″ FHD 144Hz Gaming Laptop
• Processor: Intel Core i5-12500H (8-Cores)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• RAM: 8GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB Gen 4 SSD
• Keyboard: 4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Color: Black
• Weight: 5.5 lbs

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ASUS TUF 15 Gaming Laptop

The ASUS TUF 15 budget gaming laptop is another model I recently got my hands on, I purchased it for testing and now it sits in my daughters room who loves it. I could sense its capability to handle any game, a true powerhouse that caters to the demands of gamers.

Under the hood, the ASUS TUF boasts a blazing-fast Intel Core i7-11370H processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a spacious 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. The inclusion of the NVidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card ensures that even the most power-hungry games run smoothly.

The ASUS TUF has a sleek black design, crafted with military-grade materials, and this immediately caught my attention. It not only adds a touch of style but also makes it one of the more durable gaming laptops in this price range. I appreciate the attention to build quality.

One of the standout features for me is the fast internet speeds facilitated by the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology. Staying connected online was a breeze, and this is a crucial aspect for seamless gaming. The colorful display further enhances the gaming visuals, making the graphics pop and creating an immersive environment.

ASUS TUF SPECS:

• Display: 15.6″ FHD 144Hz Gaming Laptop
• Processor: Intel Core i7-11370H (8-Cores)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• RAM: 8GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• Keyboard: 4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Color: Black
• Weight: 5.3 lbs

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HP Victus 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop

The HP Victus is a decent 15-inch gaming laptop, and a popular choice for budget-conscious gamers like myself. It offers the ability to power through the latest games with intense graphics is truly impressive. I found myself easily immersed in gaming sessions.

Equipped with an NVidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card and a speedy Intel Core i5-13420H gaming processor, this laptop delivers a gaming experience that exceeds expectations for its price range. The 32GB of DDR4 RAM, combined with a spacious 512GB solid-state drive, ensures smooth performance and ample storage for all my gaming needs.

One notable feature is the inclusion of the latest Windows 11, offering additional gaming features that enhance the overall user experience. Navigating around the laptop was a breeze, thanks to the swift and user-friendly interface.

What sets the HP Victus apart is the impressive HP OMEN gaming hub software. It puts control in the hands of the user, allowing me to manage the fan system, customize keyboard lights, and monitor bandwidth usage. The easy-to-use interface also facilitates the installation and updating of the latest games, adding convenience to the gaming experience.

HP VICTUS 15 SPECS

• Display: 15.6″ FHD 144Hz Gaming Laptop
• Processor: Intel Core i5-13420H (Up to 4.6GHz)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• RAM: 32GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB PCIe SSD
• Keyboard: RGB Backlit Keyboard
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Color: Dark Blue
• Weight: 4.8 lbs

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Lenovo Ideapad 3 Gaming Laptop

Having recently tested the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, I can confidently say it’s a solid choice for beginners entering the gaming scene. The powerful processor, the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H and an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU delivers great performance.

During my experience, the combination of 8 GB of DDR5 RAM and a 256GB NVMe storage while not the largest, still provided snappy responsiveness and quick load times.

While the laptop doesn’t offer extensive upgrade options, the addition of a hard drive bay for extra storage is a welcome feature. I appreciate the consideration for users who might need additional space for their growing game library or other files.

One aspect to note is that the battery life isn’t the best, but it’s in line with the expectations for a gaming laptop. It’s designed to be connected to an AC outlet during gaming sessions, ensuring optimal performance. Despite its budget-friendly nature, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 does have some limitations when it comes to high-fidelity gaming. I

t may struggle to deliver the frame rates needed for more demanding titles. However, for gamers with a tighter budget, it provides a reasonable gaming experience.

It’s worth mentioning that if you’re looking for superior gaming performance and are willing to raise your budget, Lenovo offers a more expensive alternative, the Lenovo Legion 5. This higher-end option is better suited for those who prioritize top-notch gaming experiences and are willing to invest a bit more in their gaming laptop.

Still, this budget Lenovo laptop is not the best choice for high-fidelity gaming, as it will struggle to deliver the frame rates needed. For that, it would be best to raise your budget and go for the more expensive option, the Lenovo Legion 5, which offers superior gaming performance.

Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 SPECS

• Display: 15.6″ FHD 120Hz Gaming Laptop
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 6600H CPU
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 256GB NVMe Solid State-Drive
• Keyboard: Single Zone Backlit Keyboard
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Color: Onyx Grey
• Weight: 4.1 lbs

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MSI Cyborg 15.6-inch Gaming Laptops

Another budget laptop suitable for gaming I was eager to try out is the new MSI Cyborg gaming laptop is a gem for its price. Powered by Intel’s 12th Gen i7-12650H 10-core CPU and Nvidia’s RTX 4060 GPU. Priced under $900, it seemed like a killer rig.

After unboxing the laptop, I’m blown away by how well it performs across everything from eSports titles to the latest AAA games. That Intel Core i7-12650H paired with DDR5 RAM offers decent frame rates that are butter smooth thanks to the combo.

I’m also impressed by MSI fitting some premium features like per-key RGB lighting and a super-fast 1TB SSD into a sub $1500 package. The clean, professional aesthetic and solid build quality also hit the mark for me.

At just 4.2 pounds, the Cyborg 15 remains surprisingly portable as well for on-the-go gaming. For gamers seeking powerhouse 1080p gaming performance without having to spend too much, the MSI Cyborg 15 checks off all the right boxes.

Between its speedy 12th Gen Intel and NVIDIA hardware, fast display and thoughtfully designed chassis, it raises the bar for value packed gaming machine.

MSI Cyborg gaming laptop SPECS:

• Display: 15.6″ FHD 144Hz Gaming Laptop
• Processor: Intel Core i7-12650H (10-Cores)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
• RAM: 32GB DDR5
• Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD,
• Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Color: Black
• Weight: 4.2 lbs

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How To Choose A Budget Gaming Laptop?

With gaming laptops becoming more affordable and powerful, it is possible to get great performance for under $800. However, some laptops will offer better performance than others, so its imperative you choose right. Here are five tips for choosing the best laptops.

RAM and Storage Capacity

RAM is critical to any gaming laptop as it allows games and other applications to run smoothly. So it is imperative to choose a budget laptop with at least 8GB of RAM. If possible, upgradeable to either 16GB or 32GB of RAM. This will ensure that your games run properly even when multitasking.

Anything less than 8GB of RAM installed, the computer will struggle with modern games. You may experience lag if the laptop has more than one of two programmes running simultaneously.

For storage, an HDD (Hard Drive Disk) with 512GB+ capacity should provide enough space for game installations and saves. But an SSD (Solid State Drive) will provide you with much faster loading times and better performance compared to a laptop just relying solely on a HDD.

Most budget laptops have at least 256GB SSD installed which is more than enough for most casual gamers. Also, look out for gaming laptops that feature M.2 drives. This means you can add a 2nd solid-state drive if you need more storage space down the line.

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Ample GPU and CPU power

The Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) is responsible for rendering graphics in-game, so ensure that your chosen gaming laptop has a mid-tier dedicated GPU from either NVIDIA or AMD. Graphics cards such as the GTX 1050 or 1060 or AMD RX 580 should provide enough power for most modern titles under full HD resolution settings.

However, these GPUs do not offer advanced features such as ray tracing. So consider an NVidia GeForce RTX 3050 if you want to run AAA games with these advanced features. For even more graphics power, look at cheap laptops with the NVidia RTX 3050 TI graphics card.

Choosing a good processor is as important as the GPU. For processor requirements, opt for at least a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or higher and ensure it has at least 4 Cores. If you prefer to game with an AMD CPU, an AMD Ryzen 5 processor or higher would fit into your budget. These CPUs offer optimal speeds while still keeping thermals under control.

For more gaming power, consider an Intel Core i7 processor is a great choice but expect to pay a little more for your computer. For AMD based budget laptops, do not consider anything less than an AMD Ryzen 5 4000 CPU that offers decent gaming performance and good battery life. 

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Check Out Display Options

A high-quality display will ensure a smooth gameplay experience, especially in modern game titles. A Full HD 1080p screen resolution (1920×1080) display would be the minimum that should be considered. Anything less could be a hindrance to your gaming experience.

Despite all the advancements, like 1440p and 4K resolutions, a Full HD (1080p) screen is still the most popular computer screen resolution and offers a playable gaming experience.

The refresh rate of the display is also critical as this determines how often the image on the screen is refreshed. The higher the refresh rate, the better your games will look. At this price point (budget laptops under $800), a 120Hz refresh rate is the most common. However, you may also come across 60Hz screens, this is something I do not recommend for gaming today.

Budget Gaming laptop Minimum Spec

Component	Minimum Specification
Processor (CPU)	9th Gen Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 4000
Graphics (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or AMD RX 5500M
RAM (Memory)	8 GB RAM (DDR4 or higher)
Storage	256GB SSD
Display Size	Full HD (1080P)
Refresh Rate	120Hz

There you have it my recommendations for the best budget gaming laptops in 2024. If you have any questions please reach out I would be happy to help. Alternatively, subscribe to my newsletter. I promise to only include emails worth opening in your inbox.

Helpful Content: Not made a decision? Than you might want to consider reading through my gaming laptop buying guide. I am confident that you will find some ideas there.

Sources:

• CPU Data: CPU Benchmark.net
• CPU & GPU Data: User benchmark
• GPU Data: Video Benchmark.net