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Disclosure: We may earn money from the products mentioned in this post.
Building a PC isn't for everyone, and sometimes you just need something which is pre-built and ready to go. You might even need a powerhouse that is portable so you can game on the go. If that sounds like you AND you're also on a tight budget then we've got the right post for you. Come and check out our top 5 gaming laptops under $1,000 .
We've taken everything into consideration, the specification, the design, build, brand, screen and most importantly can it withstand typical everyday usage. But as i'm sure you're aware we don't like long introductions so without further ado let's get into our list.
1. Dell G3 15
| Technical Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Core i5 – i7 (8th Generation) |
| GPU (Graphics Card) | Nvidia GTX 1050 – GTX 1060 |
| RAM | 8GB – 16GB |
| Screen | 15.6-inch Full HD IPS Anti-Glare (1920×1080) |
| Internal Storage | 128GB – 256GB SSD |
Starting our list off is a strong entry from Dell, the G3 15. It is arguably their most famous gaming lineup to date. Whilst there are plenty of options available for this model, most fall under the $1,000 mark making them very affordable gaming laptops.
If you have more money to spend then there are plenty of options to improve the internals with.
Our only issue is with the build quality, it could be made better but that's about it really. If you can get past that then this is by far the most value for money gaming laptop that you can get.
One small thing to bear in mind, is that if you pick up the base model which features an Nvidia GTX 1050 4GB then you will only typically be able to reach nearer the 30 FPS mark for newer games when they are maxed out.
We also wouldn't highly rate the design, Dell laptops have never historically pushed aesthetic boundaries. If you're looking for a laptop that will make you stand out from the crowd then this one might not be your best bet.
Saying that, for the internals you get and the price you pay, you will struggle to find a new affordable gaming laptop at this price point without making some major sacrifices.
2. Acer Nitro 5
| Technical Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Core i5 – i7 (7th – 8th Generation) |
| GPU (Graphics Card) | Nvidia GTX 1050 – GTX 1050 Ti / AMD RX 560X |
| RAM | 4GB – 16GB |
| Screen | 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080) |
| Internal Storage | 256GB SSD or 1TB HDD @ 5400 rpm – 128/256GB SSD + 1TB HDD |
Acer have a long history of providing exceptional value laptops and for a good reason, they do it very well.
The Acer Nitro 5 is no exception to this rule, with the base model on Amazon packing a GTX 1050 Ti and a 7th generation Intel Core i5 all for just over $700.
Acer have tried to make it look stylish with the black and red mix and match but we feel it makes it look a bit tacky. Much like the previous Dell laptop, you won't be able to play demanding games comfortably at max settings. On the plus side, you are sold a promise of up to 8.5 hours of battery life. But as expected this is only if for extremely light usage.
The dual fan cooling system does a fairly good job of keeping the entire system cold even under high load. It would do better with slightly more room, but being a 15.6-inch laptop it did better than we expected.
The screen isn't the best we've used but it's not bad either. We would recommend using external speakers or a headset as the audio isn't particularly breathtaking.
It's another solid laptop from Acer and one that makes other models think twice about what internals they should be offering for a certain price bracket.
3. Dell Inspiron 15 7000
| Technical Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Core i5 – i7 (7th Generation) |
| GPU (Graphics Card) | Nvidia GTX 1050 – GTX 1050 Ti |
| RAM | 8GB – 32GB |
| Screen | 15.6-inch Full HD IPS (1920×1080) |
| Internal Storage | 256GB SSD |
Dell's second entry on our list is from their legendary Inspiron range. The Inspiron 15 7000 is arguably the best sub-$1,000 laptop there is, but only just and by a few dollars.
Whilst the previous two laptops offer an incredibly affordable gaming laptop experience, the Inspiron 15 7000 pushes the $1,000 mark to the limit.
Packing a 7th generation Intel Core i5-i7 and rocking a GTX 1050 Ti you shouldn't find it hard to keep up with modern games. The unique cooling design does wonders for this model, we found that under extreme load the laptop kept a cool head.
It can even be customised to include up to 32GB RAM, for all of you media enthusiasts. The display is pretty special too, it's IPS and anti-glare which means you won't have any unnecessary eye strain to worry about.
If you're not equipped with any external audio system then don't fear. The integrated speakers and built-in sub-woofer pack quite the power and offer a reasonable audio experience.
This is another stellar Inspiron model from dell, the design is a bit hit and miss but everything else is truly spectacular. It is the best sub-$1,000 laptop money can buy but it really does stretch your budget. Our opinion is still that the spare change left from the previous two laptops is a better deal.
4. Acer Predator Helios 300
| Technical Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 (8th Generation) |
| GPU (Graphics Card) | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Screen | 15.6-inch Full HD IPS @144Hz (1920×1080) |
| Internal Storage | 256GB SSD (Upgradeable) |
You might look through the technical specification above and wonder why is this laptop not at the number 1 spot? It's got a GTX 1060, an IPS screen with a 144Hz refresh rate and a brand spanking new i7 8th generation CPU.
The simple truth is that this laptop isn't always sold at a sub-$1,000 price. It's often sold at $1,050 or slightly higher so you'll not always find it for this price range. But when you do, be sure to buy it immediately. There isn't a single laptop that has the specs the Acer Predator Helios 300 has for the price bracket.
It is a very affordable gaming laptop for the performance it offers, you will even be able to play new games at high settings at a fairly stable 60 fps.
Build quality could do with improvement, but this is something that we often see Acer sacrifice for some additional hardware boosts.
Even with the powerhouse underneath the hood, Acer quote an up to 7-hours worth of battery life which is quite a claim. Again, when it comes to cheap gaming laptops be sure to take this numbers with a pinch of salt. The battery life drops like a rock once you start to put the laptop under load.
RAM comes in at a more than respectable 16GB @ 2666MHz and your storage is provided by a 256GB SSD. However, those who wish to do some serious gaming will likely need an immediate upgrade on the storage in order to store your games library.
Not often do we get a 144Hz monitor in this price bracket, but is it a treat and a half.
This is definitely the best and most affordable gaming laptop if you consider the hardware that it comes with. Unfortunately the pricing inconsistencies makes us unable to place it at our number 1 spot. If you're fine with going slightly over budget then definitely consider this as your best gaming laptop.
5. ASUS TUF FX504 Gaming Laptop
| Technical Specifications | |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 (8th Generation) |
| GPU (Graphics Card) | Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Screen | 15.6-inch Full HD IPS Anti-Glare (1920×1080) |
| Internal Storage | 256GB SSD M.2 SSD |
Wrapping up our best gaming laptops list is the ASUS TUF FX504 which features an 8th Generation i7 along with the ever powerful GTX 1050 Ti.
There's not really much we can say wrong about this gaming laptop but at the same time not much good. It's internals are exceptional for the price but on the downside the cooling isn't able to effectively manage the power output.
The design is a bit tacky and not to our taste, but that's not to say it isn't to yours. You do get an IPS anti-glare screen which is a nice addition.
The dual speaker setup is actually a nice touch and provides a good amount of clarity that we don't usually see in cheap gaming laptops.
It's a safe choice, the internal hardware is solid and will get you good performance across a range of games.
That about wraps up our post on the best gaming laptop you can get. We hope you've enjoyed it and potentially learned something new.
If you're moving off the idea of having a cheap gaming laptop then why not have a look at building your own gaming PC with our other helpful posts:
– Best Gaming Mouse 2019
– Best Gaming Keyboard 2019
– Best RAM for Gaming
– Best PC Case Under $100 for 2019
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