That being said, finding a gaming laptop for $999 or less can feel daunting. And we get it. There’s a lot of options out there and it can be hard to sift through them. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best gaming laptops to choose from that will come in at or under that $999 price tag. This way you’ll be set up to play your favorite games and save some money in the process. Now, if you don’t need a portable gaming PC, then you’re likely better off getting a desktop. But if you do want something you can use at home and elsewhere, a gaming laptop is the way to go.
Best Gaming Laptops For $999 Or Less
Acer Nitro 5 (AN517-55-5354)
Price: $769.99Where To Buy: Best Buy
If you need something cheaper than the Razer Blade and Alienware laptops that’s still capable, than Acer has you covered with the Nitro 5. This model also offers an RTX 3050 GPU so your performance should be pretty decent across most games. It also comes with a larger SSD than the previous model of this laptop that we had listed. As this one now makes the jump from a 256GB SSD to a 512GB SSD. This model is running an Intel Core i5-12500H CPU, and comes with 8GB of RAM and it has the same size and resolution display with a 144Hz refresh rate. It supports WiFi 6 too, so if you have a compatible router your speeds should be decent. Provided your internet plan also offers higher speeds. The dual fans should keep it cool to an extent and you’ve got a range of different ports available as well. Acer Nitro 5
Lenovo Legion 5
Lenovo’s Legion laptops have become quite good in recent years and this model of the Legion 5 is no different. Admittedly, you’re getting a less powerful graphics card in here, but you do get 16GB of RAM, plus a 256GB SSD and a 1TB HDD so you get way more storage than the other three laptops so far. Lenovo Legion 5
Dell G15 5511
In comparison to some of the other laptops on this list, most of the specs across the board are similar. Especially with those that have the same GPU. But in all honesty this might be one of the best options. The G15 is a great gaming laptop with a good track record of performance for the money, and it has Dell’s amazing support in case anything goes wrong. Like the others it’s a bit weighty at 5.37 pounds, but that’s part of what you’re going to get by paying a little bit less. Dell G15 5511
MSI GF63 (2022)
One of MSI’s newest laptops had to make it on the list because it comes with some decent specs and MSI tends to put out some pretty good gaming laptops. This one comes with an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU as opposed to an RTX 3050, and it starts at 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It also comes with a 15.6-inch FHD display, and Intel Core i5-10500H CPU, Windows 11 Home, the ever familiar backlit keyboard that every gaming laptop tends to have, and it weighs about 4.10 pounds. You get most of the same ports you’ll find on the others, though this one only has two USB ports instead of three. For the money, this is one of the more portable options due to its lower weight. And it should still run games fine. Plus thanks to the higher RAM you can easily run more programs simultaneously. MSI GF63
HP Pavillion 15-dk0020nr
The last two options on this list come from HP, starting with the Pavillion 15-dk0020nr. At $784, you’re paying a little less and getting a little less. Instead of an RTX 3050 you get a GTX 1650 which still performs well for games if you tune the settings down some. By how much will depend on each game and you’ll have to play that by ear as you load games up for the first time. In addition to the GTX 1650 GPU, it comes with an Intel Core i5-9300H CPU, a 256GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch display with FHD resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. For memory, you get 8GB of RAM, and HP says the battery will last for up to 8 hours. However, don’t necessarily expect it to last that long if you’re just playing games on it. The 8 hours is likely more for daily tasks. Still, a solid option for $784 if you need to spend less money. If you can afford a bit more than one of the other laptops is a better value. HP Pavillion 15-dk0020nr
HP Victus
Rounding out this list is an RTX 3050 option from HP. The HP Victus comes with pretty comparable specs to the majority of laptops on here, with the NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, an Intel Core i5-11400H CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It also has a 16.1-inch FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate. This is also a nice option if you’re wanting a gaming laptop that doesn’t really look like a gaming laptop. Thanks to its more basic design and the lack of an RGB keyboard. We do think some of the other options on here are a better buy, but this one isn’t bad for the money. HP Victus
