Top 11 Budget Gaming Laptops in 2020

A budget gaming laptop is the best choice for avid gamers; who are tight on budget. The trend of gaming is rising exponentially and enthusiastic gamers are constantly demanding more interesting games and better gadget features every day.

Gaming companies and gadget manufacturers have upped the ante and seized this opportunity to create better stuff regularly to satisfy their customers growing demands.

A decent budget-friendly gaming laptop needs to have adequate power to play games comfortably and the right size to carry around with ease.

Even though the desktop remains the ultimate gaming equipment for many computer gamers, sometimes you need something which is more portable; especially if you are constantly on the move.

When you plan to buy an affordable gaming laptop; you should not just look at the specifications. You need to look at the entire laptop as a package, including the built-in keyboard, battery capacity, hard disk and the display quality.

Buying a laptop online has many advantages. Any laptop can be compared in detail with multiple different brands and models to ultimately select the best. You also get special offers, discounts and free accessories from time to time.

How to Choose the Best Budget Gaming Laptop?

The following are some of the important parameters you need to check when you plan to buy a budget gaming laptop online or at a store.

The following points will help you to decide the best budget gaming laptop to suit all your specific needs and budget criteria.

Some Quick Tips to Keep in Mind

  • A Good GPU: Most of the modern games are totally dependent on the GPU. It cannot be easily upgraded in laptops. A good GPU will enable you to play the best games at high settings.
  • RAM Upgrade Option: Check out whether the laptop has a RAM upgrade option. Many gaming laptops do let you upgrade your RAM and storage.
  • Choose Resolution and Speed: The 1080p resolution laptops deliver a clear picture and impressive gaming visuals. It’s also important to stick to IPS and NTSC panels. This will ensure that you get anti-glare features. Such laptops can be viewed from any angle.
  • Get a good keyboard: If you want to play your games on something tactile, durable and responsive, it is essential to have a well built and ergonomically suitable keyboard.
  • Battery life: Very few gaming laptops get 8 hours or more on a single charge. Good power can ensure great performance. 
  • Cooling: Any electronic gaming laptop generates some heat and requires a proper cooling solution. Most of the modern gaming laptops have multiple fans, copper tubes and vents to improve cooling. They help to provide a lag-free gaming experience. 
  • Audio: Sound is an important feature we often ignore. A good audio hardware; can provide an immersive gaming experience that will have an advantage, especially when playing multiplayer games.
  • Connectivity: Online gaming is very much dependent on a good network connection. A poor connection will hamper the speed and reliability of gaming. It is important to get a laptop that can handle intensive online gaming. A 4G or 5G compatible device would be pertinent for a smoother gaming experience.

Once you buy the laptop it is also essential to buy the appropriate laptop accessories to increase the efficiency and productivity of the laptop. You can buy laptop accessories online from various online stores and select the best products to suit your laptop and make it safer, better and more efficient.

Some of the Best Performing Budget Gaming Laptops

1. Asus TUF FX505DT AH51

The Asus TUF FX505DT AH51 gaming laptop is a powerful Windows 10 Gaming Laptop. It combines excellent gaming performance with an extended life, with the help of its patented anti-dust cooling system.

The durable and lightweight ASUS TUF FX505DT is one of the reasonably priced gaming laptops in the TUF Gaming family. It is able to handle most of the latest games with ease and multitask quite efficiently.

Asus TUF FX505DT AH51

It has the AMD Ryzen Processor and an 8GB RAM size that provides a superior gaming experience. 

It is equipped with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 16-series graphics, and a quad-core Ryzen 5 processor to always ensure a smooth performance.

The Asus TUF FX505DT has one of the fastest Wi-Fi standards powered by the latest Intel 802. This 11AC Wave 2 boasts of superior data transfer speeds of up to 1.7Gbps.

It also has an incredible 15.6″ Full HD IPS Level Nano edge display. To top it all, it’s RGB-backlit gaming keyboard is highly durable and optimized for gaming. This laptop has undergone a series of military-grade durability tests and successfully survived all the challenging conditions.

It incorporates a portable design being a gaming laptop with a weight of only 2.2 kgs. This is definitely a great gaming laptop which also offers maximum value for money.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.6 Inches FHD

Max Screen Resolution

1920 X 1080, matte

Processor

AMD Ryzen 

RAM

8 GB DDR4

Memory Speed

DDR4 SDRAM

Hard Drive

Solid State Hard Drive

Graphics

AMD,8 GB, PCI-E

Chipset Brand

AMD

Card Description

Solid State Hard Drive

Graphics Card Ram Size

4 GB

Wireless Type

Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

Number of USB 2.0 Ports

1

Number of USB 3.2 Ports

2

Operating System

Windows 10 Home (64 bit)

Item Weight

4.9 lbs

Product Dimensions

14.2 X 10.3 X 1.0 inches

Processor Brand

AMD Ryzen 5

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 SDRAM

Batteries

3 Lithium-Ion Cells/ 48 Watt Hours

Who should Buy this Laptop?

This is one of the best ASUS budget gaming laptops available at a reasonable price. It packs enough power to deliver a decent performance. The patented anti-dust cooling (ADC) system helps it to enjoy an extended lifespan. ASUS is a reliable brand in the field of gaming and hence go for it if it suits your budget and requirements.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 2020

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop comes with a 15.6-inch display that has a resolution of 1080X1920 pixels. It is powered by a high-speed Intel Core i5 processor.

It is a Windows 10 home laptop that can enable you to use it for all your personal and professional work apart from gaming. You can easily store your favourite games and valuable data.

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 2020

The Nvidia GeForce card powers the graphics to deliver a stunning display at 120Gz. This laptop features a simple styling and a solid build to deliver a superior performance at all times.

This is an entry-level gaming laptop. The keyboard is comfortable to use and the keys are sculpted neatly. The light blue backlight looks cool and gives off an appealing glow.

The touchpad is quite stable and responsive but it is placed slightly on the left. The battery lasts quite long to provide a great uninterrupted gaming session.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.60-inch FHD

Max Screen Resolution

Full HD 1920 x 1080 with IPS 120Hz

Processor

Intel Core i5 10th Gen 10300H

Graphics

Nvidia GeForce

Coprocessor

4GB GDDR6 GeForce GTX 1650

Chipset Brand

NVIDIA

Wireless Type

Bluetooth, WiFi, 802.11ac

Number of USB 3.1 Ports

1

Number of USB 3.0 Ports

2

Operating System

Windows 10 Home

Item Weight

4.84 pounds

Product Dimensions

359.00 X 249.60 X 24.90 (mm)

Item Dimensions L x W x H

14.13 x 9.83 x 0.98 inches

Processor Brand

Intel

Processor Count

4

Computer Memory Type

DDR SDRAM

Hard Drive Interface

Solid State

Batteries

Li-po 45 W (9 Hours Average Life)

Who should Buy this Laptop?

This Lenovo budget gaming laptop is quite efficient and meets all the basic gaming requirements. It definitely has a good processor and provides a great battery life compared to the other brands.

It is strong and reliable while being user friendly. Go for it if you prefer a decent gaming laptop with a long battery life to stay on the move.

3. ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA506IH-AS53

This ASUS TUF laptop is one of the most versatile budget laptops that can provide a decent gaming experience. The AMD Ryzen APU is powerful and it is combined with the Nvidia graphics to create a brilliant gaming combination.

It comes with a military-grade design that is stylish but functional. It helps the laptop to remain protected with the honeycomb design. That also helps to keep the laptop from sliding around. The 15.6-inch screen offers a 1080p display with 144Hz.

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA506IH-AS53

The battery can last for over 6.5 hours under normal use. You can play most of the games in the medium or high setting which renders the game at 46 fps. The backlit gaming keyboard is well designed and highly durable. This laptop is quite well built and sturdy to provide a great overall gaming experience.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.6 Inches

Max Screen Resolution

1920 x 1080 pixels

Processor

AMD Ryzen

Memory Speed

3200 MHz

Graphics

NVIDIA / GDDR6

Coprocessor

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650

Chipset Brand

NVIDIA

Card Description

Dedicated

Graphics Card Ram Size

4 GB

Wireless Type

Bluetooth, 802.11ac

Number of USB 2.0 Ports

1

Number of USB 3.0 Ports

3

Operating System

Windows 10 Home

Item Weight

5.07 pounds

Product Dimensions

14.5 X 10.1 X 0.98 cms

Processor Brand

AMD

Processor Count

6

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 SDRAM

Hard Disk Description

Flash Memory Solid State

Batteries

Lithium Battery Energy Content

48 Watt Hours

Number Of Lithium Ion Cells 3

Who should Buy this Laptop?

This is an excellent gaming laptop that offers value for money without compromising on the design and performance. It offers a decent gaming experience and comes at a reasonable price. Buy it for its excellent build quality and compact design.

4. MSI GF65 Thin 9SD-251

The MSI GF65 lets you dominate the game with a higher clock speed. It is designed with a thin hair brushed aluminium aesthetics and excellent hardware along with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX which is fully geared up for the gaming battle.

The thin-bezel based gaming display offers unprecedented speed and clarity. It is also the fastest gaming display with the most vibrant and dynamic visuals.

This laptop has incorporated a revolutionary cooling technology that works harmoniously and minimizes the heat to provide a superior gaming experience.

MSI GF65 Thin 9SD-251

The system has maximized airflow to enable continuous gaming without any heating issues. The battery has a 7-hour charge to provide a long-lasting gaming session.

This laptop comes with the windows 10 home edition and the latest dedicated chipset. The high-resolution audio provides an incredible audio experience that takes your gaming to the next level.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.6 FHD Inches

Max Screen Resolution

1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9)

Processor

Intel

RAM

8GB

Memory Speed

2666 MHz

Coprocessor

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti

Chipset Brand

NVIDIA HM 370

Card Description

Dedicated

Graphics Card Ram Size

1 GB

Number of USB 3.0 Ports

4

Operating System

Windows 10 Home

Item Weight

4.10 lbs

Product Dimensions

14.13 X 9.99 X 0.85 inches

Processor Count

4

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 SDRAM

Batteries

3 Cell (51 Whr)

Who should Buy this Laptop?

If you prefer a well-built laptop with a long battery life and good speed just go for the MSI brand which is a specialist in the gaming laptop segment. It offers great graphics and an immersive gaming experience.

5. Lenovo Legion 5 15ARH05 Ultimate

The Lenovo Legion 5 offers the ultimate gaming performance in the budget range laptops. The latest AMD Ryzen processor is faster and delivers unprecedented gaming speeds. It is also great for multitasking and some serious entertainment. This laptop can improve productivity levels and boost your creativity too.

The NVIDIA GeForce graphics are powered by one of the most advanced architectures to provide incredible gaming realism in most of the latest games.

Lenovo Legion 5 15ARH05 Ultimate

This laptop cools and dissipates heat with a dual-channel thermal mechanism which also includes dedicated copper heat pipes that deliver efficient cooling.

The 15.6 FHD with IPS display is smooth and provides a great visual experience along with the 144Hz refresh rates for a dynamic action and seamless display.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.6 Inches

Max Screen Resolution

1920 x 1080

Processor

AMD

Memory Clock Speed

3200 MHz

Graphics Card Interface

Integrated

Coprocessor

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650

Chipset Brand

AMD

Card Description

Dedicated

Graphics Card Ram Size

4 GB

Wireless Type

Bluetooth, 802.11ac

Number of USB 3.2 Ports

4

Operating System

Windows 10 Home 64

Item Weight

2.3 kg

Product Dimensions

14.3 X 10.22 X 0.87 inches

Graphics Card Interface

Integrated

Processor Brand

AMD

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 SDRAM

Batteries

Approx 7 hours life/ Li-po 60Wh

Who should Buy this Laptop?

This laptop is great for gaming and it comes at a reasonable price. It has a decent speed and offers a long battery life. It is designed with high-quality materials that last long and perform well. It comes from the Lenovo brand which was earlier a part of IBM. Go for it if it suits your budget and intense gaming requirements.

6. HP Pavilion Gaming 15-Dk0020nr

This HP Pavilion laptop operates quite fast and it is easy for multitasking. You can experience high- grade graphics combined with the excellent processing power required to play games like Fortnight, PUBG and Overwatch. The optimized thermal design with dual fan helps to keep the laptop cool during the intense gaming sessions.

The 9th Generation Intel(r) Core(TM) i5-9300h Processor powers this device with Turbo boost to enjoy new levels of realistic gaming. It offers a perfect balance to manage both personal and professional work smoothly.

HP Pavilion Gaming 15-Dk0020nr

The sleek micro-edge bezel along with the 15.6-inch diagonal FHD IPS Anti-Glare screen offers a dynamic viewing screen with a 144 Hz refresh rate.

The HP Pavilion is a top budget gaming laptop that offers up to 8 hours of battery life under normal working conditions. It is thin and light and can be taken around easily. This laptop comes with the efficient Windows 10 home operating system.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.6 Inches

Max Screen Resolution

1920 x 1080

Processor

Intel Core i5

Memory Speed

2400 MHz

Hard Drive Size

256 GB 

Coprocessor

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650

Chipset Brand

NVIDIA

Card Description

Dedicated

Graphics Card Ram Size

4 GB

Wireless Type

802.11ac

Number of USB 3.1 Ports  

1 USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gb/s signaling rate,
Power Delivery 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4,
HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A

Operating System 

Windows 10 Home

Item Weight  

2.22 kg

Product Dimensions 

36 X 25.6 X 2.34 cm (wxdxh)

Graphics Card Interface

Integrated

Processor Brand

Intel

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 SDRAM

Hard Disk Description

Flash Memory Solid State

Batteries

Lithium Battery, Upto
8 Hours

Who should Buy this Laptop?

Buy this HP Pavilion if you want a laptop with a decent speed that can handle most games with ease. It is thin and lightweight and also has a good battery life of about 8 hours. It’s great for multitasking and has an excellent build quality.

7. MSI GF63 Thin 9SCX-005

The MSI GF63 comes with a compact chassis that offers a more immersive gaming experience. This laptop has a perfect blend of form and function to deliver optimum results. The main chassis is made of metal but the bottom is built with a combination of metal and plastic.

It also has a unique X shaped ventilation hidden at the underneath. The All-new Nahimic 3 offers a crystal clear audio output to take your gaming to the next level. Now, your music, movies or conference calls will never sound the same again with MSI GF63.

This gaming notebook features an 82% screen-to-body ratio with bezels that are just 4.9mm. Therefore, what you get is a 15.6-inch elegant display in a 14-inch frame which is quite compact. The keyboard’s feedback is excellent, and key travel is awesome and provides a comfortable feel.

MSI GF63 Thin 9SCX-005

You can play Overwatch on high settings at 1080p with a consistent 124fps. Graphic intensive modern titles like Far Cry 5 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider will prove to be a little more challenging, scoring 51 and 47 FPS respectively at 1080p high settings.

You can lower a few settings for games like these. The rest of your older games can be played at 1080p with 60 FPS or higher for a thrilling gaming experience.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.60″

Max Screen Resolution

1920 x 1080 (Full HD)

Processor

Core i5

RAM

8.00 GB

Memory Speed

2666 MHz

Hard Drive

256.00 GB SSD

Graphics

NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1650 Max-Q

Sound

Stereo Speakers, Nahimic 3 sound technology

Chipset Brand

Intel HM370

Card Description

DDR4 SDRAM

Wireless Type

802.11ac; Bluetooth

USB Ports

1 – USB 3.2
3 – USB 3.2 Type A

Operating System

Windows 10 Home

Item Weight

4.10 lbs

Product Dimensions

14.13 X 9.99 X 0.85 inches

Processor Brand

Intel Core i5 (9th Gen)

Batteries

51 WHr Li-Polymer Battery, 3 cell

Who should Buy this Laptop?

This MSI laptop is a great gaming laptop with good graphics and a robust build quality. It can handle tough gaming situations. It is compact and lightweight and comes at a budget price. Choose this for good speed, reliability, excellent battery backup and size.

8. Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-5812

The Acer Nitro 5 comes with a deadly combination of style, features, speed and performance. It is amazingly powerful and is powered by the Intel Core i5 processor. The keys have a great tactile feel to make your gaming more entertaining. The red-backlit keyboard is exciting and fun especially in dimly lit surroundings.

This laptop also comes with great audio capabilities with its Waves MaxxAudio technology. It brings the games to life and creates a vibrant gaming environment. It is also good for listening to music, watching movies and multitasking.

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-5812

You can get the Nitro gaming accessories to experience a different level of gaming. The 15.6 inch Full HD screen offers an immersive gaming experience; with its stunning display and graphics, powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM.

Be in total command of the gaming action and explore infinite possibilities with this great budget gaming laptop.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.6″

Max Screen Resolution

1920 x 1080

Processor

Intel Core i5

RAM

8 GB

Hard Drive

256 GB

Graphics

GeForce® GTX 1650

Chipset Brand

NVIDIA

Card Description

Dedicated

Wireless Type

IEEE 802.11ax, Bluetooth

Number of USB 2.0 Ports

1

Number of USB 3.1 Ports

2

Operating System

Windows 10 Home

Item Weight

5.51 lb

Product Dimensions

14.3 X 10 X 1.02 inches

Processor Brand

Intel

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 SDRAM

Batteries

8 hours, 4 Cell

Who should Buy this Laptop?

This laptop is an allrounder. It has most of the features and specifications required for a decent gaming experience. The Nitro gaming accessories are great and fulfil the desires of the avid gamer. Go for this one if you love to have a durable and incredible gaming laptop with builtin Alexa function too.

9. HP Pavilion Gaming 16-A0020nr, 2020 Model

This gaming laptop is powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphic card that enables it to game or stream at ultra speeds. The 16.1-inch screen is one of the biggest screens available for a gaming laptop. It offers the Full HD IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit display for a brilliant display.

The 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10300H Processor with Quad-Core can take gaming or content creation to the next level. It also comes with the Intel Turbo Boost technology. The solid-state drive enables quick boot up and faster transfer of files.

This laptop is thin, lightweight and easily portable with a long battery life of up to 10 hours with mixed usage. The full size, island-style, acid green backlit keyboard is reliable and feels great.

HP Pavilion Gaming 16-A0020nr, 2020 Model

It also features enhanced heat-pipe design to provide efficient cooling for comfortable and longer gaming sessions. The Bios recovery and protection system automatically checks the health of the system and helps it to recover from booting issues. This laptop has an energy star rating and does not impact the environment.

Specifications

Screen Size

16.1″ diagonal FHD

Max Screen Resolution

1920 x 1080

Processor

Intel® Core™ i5-10300H

RAM

8 GB (2 x 4 GB)

Hard Drive

512 GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD

Coprocessor

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650

Chipset Brand

NVIDIA

Card Description

Dedicated

Graphics Card Ram Size

4 GB

Wireless Type

Bluetooth, 802.11ac

Ports

1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C® 5Gbps signaling rate (DisplayPort™ 1.4);
1 SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate

Operating System 

Windows 10 Home 64

Item Weight  

2.34 kg

Product Dimensions 

37 X 26.25 X 2.35 cm

Processor Brand

Intel

Processor Count

4

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 SDRAM

Batteries

3-cell, 52.5 Wh Li-ion

Battery life mixed usage

Up to 10 hours and 30 minutes

Who should Buy this Laptop?

Buy this laptop for HP reliability and performance. It offers an excellent battery life and a big 16.1 inches FHD screen.

10. MSI GF63 Thin 9SCX-459

The MSI GF63 9SCX-459 is a slim and light laptop powered by Intel Core i7; that delivers a great performance. This laptop is designed for people who love to game but don’t want to spend a fortune on gaming products. This laptop is very suitable for the entry-level gamer who wants to try new games and learn quickly.

This laptop comes with a brushed aluminium finish and a black keyboard sporting a red trim around each key. The island-style keyboard is perfect for gaming. The display bezels are 4.9 millimeters to provide a wide and immersive 15.6-inch viewing experience.

MSI GF63 Thin 9SCX-459

The 1080p display is detailed and clear but could be better if it was brighter. The dual bottom-firing speakers do offer a decent audio experience for gaming and entertainment.

The Nvidia GeForce 1050 GPU can handle most modern games at low settings, but it may lag once you crank up the graphics quality. It maintains around 23 frames per second, below the 30 fps threshold, when you play Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the highest settings. You can also play Grand Theft Auto V at a smooth 35 Fps.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.6 Inches FHD

Max Screen Resolution

1920 X 1080 pixels

Processor

IntelCore i7

Memory Speed

2666 MHz

Hard Drive

1 TB (7200RPM)

Graphics

NVIDIA

Coprocessor

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q

Chipset Brand

NVIDIA

Card Description

Dedicated

Wireless Type

Bluetooth, 802.11 ac

Number of USB 3.2 Ports 

3

Operating System 

Windows 10 Home

Item Weight

4.10 lbs

Product Dimensions

0.85 X 14.13 X 9.99 inches

Processor Brand

Intel

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 SDRAM

Batteries

3 Cell (51 Whr)

Who should Buy this Laptop?

Buy this laptop if you are a novice gamer. It comes at a reasonable cost and offers a decent gaming experience. It can handle most of the modern games; but at a low graphic setting.

11. ASUS ROG G531GT-BI7N6

The ASUS ROG G531 is a cool gaming laptop that can meet the expectations of most budget conscious gamers. It comes with the Windows 10 operating system that can help you with your personal and professional work.

The 15.6 Full HD display boasts of 1920 X 1080 resolution that offers impressive colour and clarity. The LED display is highly energy efficient.

This laptop comes with a powerful 9th Gen Intel Core i7 mobile processor that delivers incredible speeds along with the 8 GB RAM.

ASUS ROG G531GT-BI7N6

The RGB backlit keyboard is comfortable and accurate and makes gaming a thrilling experience even in dim lighting conditions. The ASUS ROG series is designed for gaming and has proven to be a great gaming partner for most passionate gamers.

Specifications

Screen Size

15.6 Inches

Max Screen Resolution

1920 x 1080

Processor

Intel UHD Graphics 630

RAM Speed

2666 MHz

Memory Speed

4.5 GHz

Graphics

NVIDIA

Coprocessor

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650

Chipset Brand

NVIDIA Card

Card Description

Dedicated

Wireless Type

802.11ac

Number of USB 3.0 Ports  

1

Operating System

Windows 10 Home

Item Weight

5.29 lbs

Product Dimensions

14.2 X 10.8 X 1.02 inches (WxDxH)

Processor Count

6

Computer Memory Type

DDR4 – SDRAM

Batteries

4 Hours, Lithium Metal

Who should Buy this Laptop?

This ASUS laptop is an all-rounder and can perform well in most conditions. It is highly reliable and durable. It can handle most of the modern games quite easily. Buy this if you are looking for a decent gaming laptop with good looks and feel. It is compact and sleek and offers good value for money.