The Best Budget Gaming Notebooks
To make this list, a notebook must meet two requirements first and foremost. First, given that this is a list of affordable notebooks its price shall not exceed 1,500 Euros. Keep in mind that the prices listed in the table below are updated daily and can thus differ from day to day. And second, these laptops must be equipped with a mid-range gaming-capable GPU, such as a GTX 1650 or an RX 5500M, capable of running most recent games in FHD (1920 x 1080) in medium to high details smoothly. More powerful GPUs, such as the GTX 1660 Ti or the RX 5600M, should thus be capable of running most current games smoothly in 1080p and maximum settings. Other gaming top lists:
- The Best Gaming Notebooks (particularly powerful gaming notebooks)
- The Best Thin & Light Gaming Notebooks (lightweight and thin gaming notebooks)
The Best Budget Gaming Laptops
The table above contains an overview over the best budget gaming laptops for less than 1,500 Euros reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed
Editors' Comments
In February, the new Dell G16 2024 displaces our previous number 10 (Acer Nitro 5), otherwise no new, inexpensive laptop is added to our list. However, the new Dell G15 5530, for example, narrowly misses the entry threshold of currently 86 percent with 85 percent. We're still keeping an eye on the numerous and mostly still expensive new products on the market, such as the Razer Blade 16 or the Blade 14 or the impressive HP Spectre x360 16 convertible.
Interesting models that we have reviewed in more expensive configurations, but which would be candidates for the list with weaker equipment:
Former top ten devices:
- Acer Nitro 5 (86 %, 06/23)
- Medion Erazer Crawler E40 (85 %, 11/2023)
- Dell G15 5530 (84 %, 06/2023)
- Gigabyte G7 KE (83 %, 001/2023)
- Medion Erazer Scout E20 (83 %, 05/2023)
- MSI Cyborg 15 (82 %, 04/2023)
- Gigabyte G5 KE (81.8 %, 04/2023)
- Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZC (84.9 %, 08/2022)
- HP Pavilion Gaming 17-cd2146ng (82.7 %, 09/2022)
- Gigabyte A5 K1 (82.3 %, 09/2022)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IAH7 (82.8 %, 10/2022)
1st – Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 (R5 5 7645HX, RTX 4050)
In the currently smallest version with Ryzen 5 and RTX 4050, the cooling in the Legion Pro can show what it is capable of. The result is a gaming notebook that can keep up well in the entry-level class and is not too loud at the same time. Thanks to additional software, there are also other interesting possibilities.
The strength is the versatility. The Legion Pro 5 plays quietly, but can easily hold a candle to the strongest models with the same hardware with a click.
Various configurations of the model are widely available online now. In the US, a variant with a Ryzen 7 7745HX and RTX 4070 is listed on Amazon for around $1.500.
Pricecompare
2nd – Lenovo LOQ 16 (i7-13620H, RTX 4060)
Lenovo tries its hand at a new name for inexpensive gaming laptops compared to the more expensive Legion models with the LOQ series. For the supposedly inexpensive Lenovo LOQ 16 (1,500 Euros), the manufacturer mainly saves on features and materials compared to the more expensive Legion series. Furthermore, the LOQ is a bit heavier and clunkier, but the performance is right.
The Lenovo LOQ 16 with QHD display is a capable and relatively inexpensive gaming laptop that hardly lacks anything in this price range, but it still needs to be optimized in terms of battery, fan behavior or the control center.
At the time of writing, the LOQ 16 is available on Amazon US with various configurations. Alternatively, users can order the device via Lenovo's online store.
Pricecompare
3rd – Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41 (R5 7535HS, RTX 4050)
Ryzen 5 7535HS, GeForce RTX 4050, USB 4 and a bright 16:10 display (16 inch, WUXGA, 165 Hz, G-Sync) represent the highlights of the relatively inexpensive (~$1,300) Nitro 16. The already very good battery runtimes of the predecessor are even surpassed - under the right conditions.
Acer presents a well-rounded gaming notebook from the entry-level sector with the Nitro 16.
Currently, interested users can order the model via online retailers. Amazon US has various configurations of Acer Nitro 16 on its list, a variant with R7 784HS and RTX 4060 costs around $1,030.
Pricecompare
4th – Aorus 15 YE5 (i5-12500H, RTX 3080 Ti)
The Aorus 15 YE5 uses the latest generation CPU and GPU to offer a price of just €1,399 with the ex-flagship card RTX 3080 Ti. However, the case and other features are very modern. From the outside, it looks modern and flat, even Thunderbolt 4 and DDR5 are included in the inexpensive package.
The Aorus 15 YE5 offers very strong gaming performance at an affordable price without looking cheap, unlike some of its cheaper competitors. The last-gen GPU is particularly impressive in 3D, but there is a lack of efficiency and therefore runtime.
At the time of writing, the Aorus 15 YE5 is not yet available at any online retailers in the US.
Pricecompare
5th – Asus TUF Gaming A15 (R7 7735HS, RTX 4050)
The TUF Gaming A15 from Asus offers good performance for gaming in 1080p thanks to the AMD Ryzen processor and GeForce RTX 4050 laptop. The IPS panel with 144 Hz also delivers a good performance.
The new Asus TUF Gaming A15 is a good gaming notebook in the base version and the RTX 4050 laptop offers enough performance for the 1080p display.
At the time of writing, the TUF A15 FA507 is available on Amazon US for $980.
Pricecompare
6th – XMG Apex 15 (R7 7840HS, RTX 4050)
The XMG Apex 15 scores with moderate noise development, relatively low energy consumption and a nevertheless high performance level (Ryzen 7 7840HS, GeForce RTX 4050). In addition, there are good runtimes and a reasonable price level, starting at about €1,100 (~US$1,165).
Medion delivers a coherent gaming notebook from the entry-level segment with the Erazer Scout E20. The fan control should still be readjusted.
The XMG Apex 15 (Late 23) can be individually assembled and purchased in Schenker's online store. The present test device has a price of about 1,450 Euros. The prices start at around 1,100 Euros.
Pricecompare
7th – Lenovo LOQ 15 (i7-13620H, RTX 4050)
The LOQ 15IRH8 is Lenovo's attempt at a distinctive, powerful, yet affordable gaming laptop. Despite its low cost, the LOQ 15 Core i7 is equipped with a 165 Hz QHD G-Sync display and a 1080p webcam. The QHD panel in particular impresses with much better colors and response times than the FHD 144 Hz option.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 Core i7 hardly leaves any wish unfulfilled. If you are looking for a powerful gaming laptop with a 1080p display in the price range of 1500 Euros, this gamer should definitely be on the shortlist. Only in the area of case quality and temperature development you should not expect too much.
Currently, Lenovo offers various configurations of LOQ 15 on its online shop. In the US, users can also order the device via Best Buy or Amazon.
Pricecompare
8th – Captiva Advanced Gaming I74-121 (i5-13500H, RTX 4060)
The Captiva Advanced Gaming (Clevo V150RND) doesn't use the very fastest processor, but it still leaves no doubts about the 3D performance of its slightly above average RTX 4060. Thus, the manufacturer focuses on the essentials: gaming performance.
The Captiva Advanced Gaming I74-121 offers high 3D performance at a fairly low price. There are some drawbacks, especially in terms of equipment.
The Captiva Advanced Gaming I74 is currently not yet available in the US.
Pricecompare
9th – Asus TUF Gaming A17 (R9 7940HS, RTX 4070)
The design may seem unassuming, unlike the livelier ROG series, but the focus on speed and simplicity is exactly what gamers on a tighter budget are looking for. The Asus TUF Gaming A17 is one of the most affordable 17.3-inch gaming laptops with GeForce RTX 4070, and impressively, it's powered by the Zen 4 Ryzen 9 CPU, so users don't have to compromise on processing power despite the low price. The powerful combination of CPU and GPU make this model an easy recommendation for all gamers who want to maximize their performance-per-euro ratio.
The Asus TUF Gaming A17 is able to balance price, performance and from factor well, as long as you find the right configuration. SKUs with a 1,080p panel have significantly weaker colors than the 1,440p options.
The Asus TUF Gaming A17 costs around $1,400 to $1,500 on Newegg. Alternatively, users can purchase the device via Amazon US.
Pricecompare
10th – Dell G16 (i7-13650HX, RTX 4060)
Compared to Dell's Alienware series, the Dell G16 is more of a mid-range gaming laptop. The 2024 model does not rely on Intel's new Gen14 or its ultra CPUs, but the price is relatively low and the display is decent on paper. The Dell G16 7630 looks somewhat simpler and is cheaper than Dell's Alienware series. Nevertheless, the performance is good, and it is also really good that the gamer remains quieter than many of its competitors when gaming.
The Dell G16 7630 is a fairly large and heavy mid-range gamer with good performance and a quiet appearance. However, Dell could still improve in terms of features and workmanship.
Currently, Amazon US offers a variant of Dell G16 7630 for around $1,400. Alternatively, there are various configurations of the Dell's laptop on its own website.
Pricecompare
Top 10 in Comparison
Test Results
Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 (R5 7645HX, RTX 4050) | Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 | Acer Nitro 16 AN16-41-R7YE | Aorus 15 YE5-54DEB34SH | Asus TUF A15 FA507 | SCHENKER XMG Apex 15 (Late 23) | Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 Core i7 | Captiva Advanced Gaming I74-121 | Asus TUF Gaming A17 FA707XI-NS94 | Dell G16, i7-13650HX, RTX 4060 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | ||||||||||
Display P3 Coverage | 71.6 | 70.5 | 80 | 97.7 | 64.9 | 67.5 | 66.3 | 64 | 39.7 | 67.5 |
sRGB Coverage | 99.8 | 98.9 | 99.4 | 100 | 96.5 | 97.6 | 96.6 | 93.2 | 59.1 | 98.5 |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 72.9 | 72.6 | 77.4 | 85.9 | 66.6 | 68.9 | 67.7 | 66 | 41 | 69.3 |
Response Times | ||||||||||
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 12 ? | 7.2 ? | 11.2 ? | 18.9 ? | 30.4 ? | 13.2 ? | 5 ? | 5 ? | 39 ? | 7.6 ? |
Response Time Black / White * | 5.2 ? | 7.4 ? | 5.2 ? | 11.7 ? | 20.8 ? | 8.8 ? | 8.41 ? | 7.55 ? | 26.9 ? | 10.4 ? |
PWM Frequency | ||||||||||
Screen | ||||||||||
Brightness middle | 543 | 407 | 415 | 357 | 288 | 336 | 373 | 346 | 255.9 | 369 |
Brightness | 516 | 369 | 380 | 322 | 271 | 307 | 365 | 324 | 248 | 344 |
Brightness Distribution | 87 | 85 | 84 | 81 | 91 | 77 | 90 | 90 | 91 | 89 |
Black Level * | 0.58 | 0.45 | 0.36 | 0.38 | 0.17 | 0.38 | 0.33 | 0.35 | 0.21 | 0.26 |
Contrast | 936 | 904 | 1153 | 939 | 1694 | 884 | 1130 | 989 | 1219 | 1419 |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.35 | 1.43 | 4.71 | 2.27 | 1.9 | 1.96 | 4.19 | 4.12 | 4.51 | 3.04 |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.22 | 3.58 | 6.98 | 4.72 | 3.3 | 5.07 | 8.47 | 7.78 | 20.77 | 5.56 |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.31 | 1.07 | 2.68 | 0.61 | 0.9 | 1.27 | 1.07 | 1.22 | 1.82 | 2.35 |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.03 | 1.13 | 3.6 | 3.67 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 5 | 4.81 | 3.2 | 3.38 |
Gamma | 2.38 92% | 2.5 88% | 2.182 101% | 2.38 92% | 2.32 95% | 2.017 109% | 1.93 114% | 2.31 95% | 2.08 106% | 2.47 89% |
CCT | 6452 101% | 6526 100% | 7153 91% | 7899 82% | 6535 99% | 6644 98% | 7520 86% | 7633 85% | 6054 107% | 6040 108% |
Noise | ||||||||||
off / environment * | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23.3 | 24 | 23.69 | 23 | 27.9 | 23 |
Idle Minimum * | 23 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 23.3 | 25 | 29.03 | 23 | 28.5 | 23 |
Idle Average * | 23 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 23.3 | 29 | 29.03 | 25.67 | 29.8 | 23 |
Idle Maximum * | 24.42 | 27.66 | 27 | 26.42 | 23.3 | 33 | 29.03 | 25.67 | 29.8 | 27.96 |
Load Average * | 34.94 | 53.62 | 42 | 43.5 | 29.6 | 36 | 48.7 | 38.52 | 34.8 | 27.96 |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 43.79 | 53.5 | 43 | 46.77 | 43 | 48 | 48.5 | 54.17 | 57.1 | 47.89 |
Load Maximum * | 50 | 53.5 | 45 | 50.21 | 43 | 53 | 48.7 | 54.17 | 57.3 | 47.89 |
Heat | ||||||||||
Maximum Upper Side * | 45 | 48 | 51 | 43 | 48.9 | 52 | 46.4 | 41 | 40 | 49 |
Maximum Bottom * | 54 | 59 | 63 | 50 | 44.6 | 47 | 59.2 | 42 | 33.6 | 58 |
Idle Upper Side * | 36 | 28 | 34 | 33 | 27.1 | 33 | 34.4 | 32 | 26.6 | 35 |
Idle Bottom * | 38 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 27.5 | 33 | 36.2 | 35 | 24.4 | 35 |
Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
H.264 | 325 | 385 | 650 | 317 | 747 | 496 | 366 | 296 | 381 | |
WiFi v1.3 | 333 | 376 | 660 | 319 | 701 | 425 | 353 | 315 | 548 | 378 |
Witcher 3 ultra | 47 | |||||||||
Load | 88 | 134 | 101 | 59 | 97 | 96 | 103 | 76 | ||
Reader / Idle | 721 | 506 | 1180 | |||||||
Power Consumption | ||||||||||
Idle Minimum * | 13 | 17.2 | 19 | 13.4 | 8 | 6 | 18.52 | 18.4 | 6.2 | 11 |
Idle Average * | 17.4 | 19.3 | 20 | 19.3 | 12.1 | 11 | 22.54 | 20 | 21.8 | 14.8 |
Idle Maximum * | 21.8 | 21.2 | 23 | 20 | 12.5 | 14 | 29.79 | 20.7 | 22 | 16.8 |
Load Average * | 96.4 | 90 | 80 | 150 | 74.9 | 65 | 94.5 | 85 | 59.2 | 103.7 |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 125 | 168 | 125.8 | 196 | 136.6 | 136.5 | 154.4 | 164 | 189.7 | 185 |
Load Maximum * | 204 | 211 | 184 | 218 | 185 | 195 | 190.4 | 219 | 247.8 | 255 |
* ... smaller is better