TOP 5 Best Gaming Laptop under 1000 [2020 Buyers Guide]

In this article, we’re going to look at the top five gaming laptops under 1000 available on the market today. We made this list based on our own opinion, research and customer reviews. We’ve considered their quality, features, and values when narrowing down the best choices possible.

5. ASUS TUF Gaming FX505GT

ASUS TUF Gaming FX505GT is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that emphasizes frame rates while letting go of other features. But do not worry, ASUS made sure you will not even miss them that much. Also, even though it is a cheap laptop, it indeed does not feel like one. This laptop comes with a 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9399H mobile processor with a smart quad-core and eight-way processing performance. It is equipped with Intel Turbo Boost Technology that guarantees extra dynamic power when you need it while increasing energy efficiency when you do not.

The device also includes wireless-AC connectivity, RGB backlit keyboard, and Windows 10 Home 64-bit. It comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution that boasts impressive color and clarity. It has an energy-efficient LED backlight. For its graphics, it uses NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. It is backed by 4GB GDDR5 dedicated video memory to give you a fast and advanced GPU to fuel your games. Finally, it offers an ample selection of ports. With FX505GT, you will have one COMBO audio jack, two Gen 1 Type-A USB 3.2, one Type-A USB 2.0, an HDMI port, an RJ45 LAN port, and a charging port.

Its pros are:

• It can play all high-end games in 1080p and 60fps
• The storage is expandable
• It provides a range of port selection

However, the cons are, - The display may struggle outdoors; and - It comes with an all-plastic body. Nevertheless, ASUS TUF Gaming FX505GT is an ideal budget gaming laptop. It is perfect for new gaming enthusiasts looking for an entry-level device to jumpstart their gaming experience.

4. Acer Nitro 5

Get a higher level of gaming experience with Acer Nitro 5. This budget-friendly laptop combines all the essential supporting features and functions that only aim to maximize your gaming. One of these features is its impressive 15.6-inch Full HD widescreen LED-backlit IPS display and its hard-edged futuristic design that includes an iron-red backlit keyboard. It is equipped with an 8GB DDR4 Memory and a 1TB 7200Rpm SATA hard drive. For connectivity, you have one USB Type-C port, one USB 3.0 port that features Power-off charging, two USB 2.0 ports, and one HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP support.

This gaming laptop uses fast and powerful AMD Radeon RX 560X Graphics with 4GB of GDDR5 Video Memory. It supports AMD FreeSync for external displays through the HDMI 2.0 port. To make things even better, it works with the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U mobile processor. Together, they will bring you to your victory. You will also do not worry about staying cool. This laptop comes with NitroSense that makes it easier to monitor the CPU/GPU. Meanwhile, you can turn on Coolboost to heighten the fan speed to avoid frame drops. Finally, Dolby Audio Premium and Acer TrueHarmony Plus are also part of this laptop to provide you incredible sound depth and liveliness.

Its pros are:

• It offers easy storage upgrade
• Its IPS display provides good viewing angles
• It can stay cool and quiet when in operation
• It has a good battery life

However, it has a dim display while battery-powered. If you are looking for a budget laptop that gives excellent value for money, consider Acer Nitro 5. It effectively combines all the right elements to provide the best gaming experience at an affordable price.

3. ASUS ROG G531GT

ASUS ROG G531GT may not have the looks that Acer Nitro 5 has, but it is still a good pick if you want something fast and reliable. It comes with 8GB RAM and a 512GB hard drive. A 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-9750H processor also powers this laptop, and its CPU speed can go up to 4.5GHz. Moreover, its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB dedicated graphics card is perfect. It is ideal for achieving that fantastic gaming experience. Its 15.6-inch IPS LCD panel provides 1080p full HD resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 3ms response time.

The display is moderately bright, so if you prefer gaming indoors, this is suitable for you. This laptop can surely handle daily usage and multitasking smoothly. And, of course, every kind of game is playable, even the high-end ones. G531GT offers several connectivity options. It has Bluetooth, three USB-A 3.1 ports, one Ethernet port, one headphone jack, and three USB-A 3.1 ports. It has a decent battery life too. It can last for more than four hours on basic usage and 1.15 hours on gaming. Charging time takes only one and a half hours.

Its pros are:

• It has a fast CPU speed;
• Its hard drive offers a lot of space;
• It is light and compact; and
• Its thermal design keeps it cool during gameplay.

However, the cons are, - It does not come with a DVD/CD drive; and - it has no number pad. ASUS ROG G531GT is perfect for those who want a cheap but fast gaming laptop. Also, its compact size is suitable for hassle-free traveling.

2. Lenovo Legion 5

Lenovo Legion 5 is part of the Lenovo Legion series together with Legion 5i. The only difference between these two laptops is that Legion 5 uses AMD hardware while Legion 5i comes with Intel. Powered by AMD Ryzen 7-4800H Octa-core, Legion 5 provides a pretty good performance. It caters well to creative loads like video and photo editing. But more importantly, it delivers 60+ frame rates in modern AAA titles and 150+ fps on e-sport titles when in high settings. Its 15.6-inch screen shows a perfect sRGB 144hz display. Moreover, it provides a great gaming experience through its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6 graphics card.

Legion 5 has an ample selection of ports scattered around its sides. These ports include four USB ports that include three Type-A and one Type C. They all support the USB 3.2 Gen 1 standard. It also caters to DisplayPort functionality via USB C, though you will have to an adapter separately. Its battery uses a 60Wh cell that gives it around six hours of regular use with medium brightness. Not bad for a budget laptop. Charging usually takes more than two hours. However, thanks to the Vantage app, you can reduce it to two hours if you enable fast charging.

Its pros are: 

• It is durable
• It has an excellent battery life
• It provides excellent thermal efficiency
• It delivers good CPU and GPU performance

However, the cons are, It does not have an SD card reader; and It does not support USB-C charging. Lenovo Legion 5 is perfect for anyone looking for an affordable gaming laptop with longer battery life. It also offers a sleek design and fantastic performance.

1. MSI GF65 Thin 9SD-252

MSI GF65 Think 9SD-252 is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that will indeed allow you to game to your full potential. Powered by the Intel Core i7 processor and equipped with 8GB RAM, this laptop runs AAA titles smoothly at high speeds. You can also see detailed visuals from its 15.6-inch display thanks to its NVIDIA GeForce GTX1660Ti graphics card. This laptop also comes with refined aesthetics. Its thin and light aluminum hair-brushed finish is sure to give you that futuristic vibes that perfectly suit a gamer like you.

Moreover, it is thin and light. You can easily take it anywhere with you so that you can game whenever you feel like it. For a complete gaming experience, this laptop provides high-resolution audio. It supports up to 129KHz / 24bit sample rate. Lastly, storage will not be a problem as it comes with a 512GB SSD. A single full charge can last up to 4 to 5 hours of regular everyday usage. This is a decent battery life provided that it came at a low price. As for connectivity, you have two USB Type-A 3.2 Gen1, two USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1, a 3.5 combo jack, and an Ethernet port.

Its pros are:

• It comes with a sleek design
• It is built with a 120Hz display
• The matte display reduces reflections and fingerprints
• The slim bezels provide a sizeable screen-to-body ratio
• It has a good battery life

However, the cons are, The trackpad depresses over if you rest a finger on it; and The charger is a bit heavy. If you are looking for an affordable laptop with the fastest gaming display, MSI GF65 Think 9SD-252 is the laptop you should be going for.