The Best Budget Gaming Laptops This Year

As we dive into the world of budget gaming laptops, it's essential to consider the top picks that offer an excellent balance of performance and affordability. In this article, we'll explore the best budget gaming laptops available this year, covering their features, pricing, and availability.

First up, we have the Lenovo LOQ 15 and 16, which are currently the best budget gaming laptops on the market. The build quality is sturdier compared to other options, and these laptops come equipped with premium features such as the MUX switch and advanced Optimus, which automatically boosts FPS in games. The screens also feature G-Sync for smoother gameplay. The RTX 4050 version with an 8-core Zen 4 processor has been listed on the gaminglaptop.deals website for $750 USD, making it a highly competitive option.

Acer's Nitro 5 is another top contender in the budget gaming laptop segment. With its RTX 4050 graphics and a similar pricing strategy to Lenovo's LOQ, the Nitro 5 offers a great gaming experience. However, it falls short compared to the LOQ when available for the same price, due to the older processor and lack of advanced features like G-Sync and Optimus.

HP's Victus is another laptop that deserves consideration, especially with its lower-tier RTX 2050 graphics option priced at $500 USD on sale. This is a steal compared to other options, offering good performance for those with limited budgets. However, the overall build quality isn't quite as nice as the LOQ and Nitro, and the Victus's high-end RTX 4050 model is too expensive.

Now that we've covered some of the top budget gaming laptops, it's essential to consider other options before making a purchase. Dell generally doesn't offer lower-end options in the budget segment, with their G15 and G16 gaming laptop range being closer to mid-range. Even with good sales, the G15 with RTX 4050 is still $900.

In contrast, Gigabyte offers a more affordable option with its G5 laptop featuring an RTX 4060. While this does come at a lower price point than some of the top budget laptops, it's hard to recommend due to the lack of advanced features and build quality compared to the LOQ and Nitro. MSI also has a range of cheaper gaming laptops available, but their build quality is often subpar.

MSI's GF63 is one example of a cheap gaming laptop that still manages to play games despite its low price point. However, this is largely due to the chassis not changing in over three years, resulting in a very cheap feel with a low-quality screen. If budget is a concern, it's worth considering options like MSI's GF63, but be prepared for compromises on build quality and performance.

The Lenovo LOQ 15 and 16 offer an excellent balance of performance and affordability, making them top picks in the budget gaming laptop segment. With their premium features, sturdy build quality, and competitive pricing, these laptops are a great option for those looking to upgrade their gaming experience without breaking the bank.

Gigabyte's G5 is another option worth considering, although its lack of advanced features and build quality makes it harder to recommend. While it may be cheaper than some of the top budget laptops, the performance difference is significant, especially when compared to the LOQ and Nitro.

Acer's Nitro 5 offers a great gaming experience, but falls short compared to the LOQ when available for the same price. Its older processor and lack of advanced features like G-Sync and Optimus make it less desirable than some other options.

HP's Victus is another laptop worth considering, especially with its lower-tier RTX 2050 graphics option priced at $500 USD on sale. This is a great option for those with limited budgets, offering good performance without breaking the bank.

Dell generally doesn't offer lower-end options in the budget segment, with their G15 and G16 gaming laptop range being closer to mid-range. Even with good sales, the G15 with RTX 4050 is still $900, making it a less desirable option compared to some of the other laptops on this list.

Gigabyte's RTX 4060 offers more VRAM than the top budget laptops, but its lower power consumption and lack of advanced features make it harder to recommend. The performance difference between an RTX 4050 and an RTX 4060 is significant, especially when compared to full-powered RTX 4050 laptops.

MSI's GF63 is a cheap gaming laptop that still manages to play games despite its low price point. However, this is largely due to the chassis not changing in over three years, resulting in a very cheap feel with a low-quality screen. If budget is a concern, it's worth considering options like MSI's GF63, but be prepared for compromises on build quality and performance.

In conclusion, when it comes to budget gaming laptops, there are several great options available this year. The Lenovo LOQ 15 and 16 offer an excellent balance of performance and affordability, making them top picks in the segment. Gigabyte's G5 is another option worth considering, although its lack of advanced features and build quality makes it harder to recommend. Acer's Nitro 5 offers a great gaming experience, but falls short compared to the LOQ when available for the same price.

Before making a purchase, it's essential to consider other factors beyond just graphics performance. Build quality, display quality, and features like G-Sync and Optimus can all impact the overall gaming experience. Dell generally doesn't offer lower-end options in the budget segment, with their G15 and G16 gaming laptop range being closer to mid-range.

Ultimately, when it comes to budget gaming laptops, there are several great options available this year. By considering factors beyond just graphics performance, you can find a laptop that meets your needs and budget without breaking the bank.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enThese are the top 3 best budget gaming laptopsthis year!We’ll start out with the best and work ourway down the list.Then afterwards I’ll share the worst modelsthat you should avoid!First up we’ve got the LOQ 15 and 16 fromLenovo, which are the best budget gaming laptopsright now.The build feels sturdier compared to the otherswe’ll cover, and you’re getting premiumfeatures that are normally found in much moreexpensive gaming laptops, like the MUX switchand advanced optimus, which automaticallyboosts FPS in games.The screens even have G-Sync for smoothergameplay.The RTX 4050 version with 8 core Zen 4 processorhas gone on sale for just $750 USD.This is very competitive compared to otherbrands, and is why we’ve got it listed onthe gaminglaptop.deals website.The link is below to save money on your nextgaming laptop.There’s also a cheaper LOQ with RTX 3050graphics, but honestly, I think the 4050 isworth spending 20% more money on if you canafford it, because the 4050 is 38% fasterin games and supported games can use framegeneration with the 4050.The next best budget gaming laptop this yearis Acer’s Nitro 5.We’ve also had this laptop with RTX 4050graphics listed on the gaminglaptop.dealswebsite for $750, just like Lenovo’s LOQ.The Nitro is a nice gaming laptop overall,especially compared to some of the otherswe’ll get to later, but it’s not as goodcompared to the LOQ if they’re availablefor the same price.The Nitro has more of a gamer aesthetic, butalso a last gen processor, and it does nothave advanced optimus or G-Sync.It still has a MUX switch, the full powered4050 runs modern games well, and overall buildquality is still decent considering it’sall plastic, just like the LOQ.It’s pretty much the same as the Nitro 5from last year.All they’ve really done is put the latestNvidia RTX 40 series graphics inside, whereasthe LOQ is a new design this year.Just before we get into the models you shouldavoid, we’ve got HP’s Victus in thirdplace.The RTX 4050 Victus is too expensive comparedto the previous laptops covered, and the overallbuild quality isn’t quite as nice comparedto the LOQ and Nitro in my opinion.Where the Victus really shines is with thelower tier RTX 2050 for just $500 USD on sale.This is $250 cheaper compared to the previousoptions, so I wanted to include it for thosewith a tighter budget.This is as cheap as you’ll find a brandnew entry level gaming laptop today.The RTX 2050 performs the same as the RTX3050, despite the different name and the 3050usually costing more, so it’s quite goodif you’ve only got 500 bucks to spend andcan’t extend the budget.I’ve chosen to focus on gaming laptops withRTX 4050 graphics, as that came out this year.And I’ve also favored models that tend tohave good sales.You can definitely save more money on cheaperRTX 2050 or 3050 gaming laptops, but withjust 4 gigs of VRAM compared to 6, well Ijust don’t think they’re going to ageas well with future games.So the 4050 has an edge.Alright so which laptops should you avoid?The last thing you want to do is make a mistakewhen spending your hard earned cash on a newgaming laptop.ASUS’s TUF series is hard to justify atthe moment.Whether we’re talking about the A15 withAMD processor, or F15 with Intel processor,it’s just too expensive.Fortunately, this can change, and price asideit is a good laptop.I mean the RTX 2050 version with a CPU from2 generations ago is still $700.You’d be way better off getting one of theearlier RTX 4050 laptops for just $50 extra,which will destroy it in games.Or that HP Victus is $200 less for the sameGPU but a better CPU.Now that said, overall I think the currentgen TUF laptops are better than current genVictus laptops, but the RTX 4050 TUF is justa rip off at the moment.Hopefully we see some nice Black Friday salessoon.ASUS also has the TUF A16, which is basicallya TUF A15 but with a slightly bigger 16:10screen and Radeon RX 7600S graphics insteadof Nvidia.Best case, so far the A16 has gone on salefor $800 USD, so 50 bucks more expensive comparedto some of our RTX 4050 laptops.Based on our testing, the 7600S is prettysimilar in games compared to the RTX 4050,so if you have to spend more for the A16 thenit doesn’t seem worth it.Dell generally isn’t a great option in thebudget segment because they don’t reallyhave lower end options.Their G15 and G16 gaming laptop range is closerto what I consider mid-range.Even with a good sale, the G15 with RTX 4050is still $900.I mean it’s possible to get a Gigabyte G5with RTX 4060 and double the RAM for the sameprice, granted with a lower tier CPU, andthe Dell has better build quality.To be fair, Gigabyte’s lower powered RTX4060 ends up performing close to full poweredRTX 4050 laptops in games.But the 4060 has more VRAM, which will beuseful as games start getting more demanding.Gigabyte’s G5 is kind of hard to recommendas well though.Again the main problem is there are RTX 4050laptops for $150 less like the Lenovo LOQor Acer Nitro 5 which perform similarly ingames, but also have better build qualityand more features like the MUX switch, andeven advanced optimus in the case of the LOQ.Again the 4060 with the G5 does get you moreVRAM, but it’s hard for me to recommendwhen it’s worse in most other regards.MSI certainly has a lot of cheaper gaminglaptop options, but their build quality justfeels the worst compared to all the otherbrands.The GF63 in particular is often one of thecheapest gaming laptops available, but that’sbecause the chassis hasn’t changed in whatmust be more than 3 years.It just feels super cheap with a low qualityscreen, but if it’s all you can afford,well, it will still play games.This is an older screenshot from a few weeksago, but we had the RTX 4050 version on thegaminglaptop.deals website for $669, whichis the cheapest we’ve seen a 4050 laptopso far.The catch is its RTX 4050 is lower powered,so it doesn’t perform anywhere near as goodcompared to other laptops with full powered4050s, which in the case of Acer’s Nitro5 is just $80 extra, or 12% more money for20% to 40% more FPS in games.Not to mention a much higher quality feelingdesign and better features.There’s way more to picking a gaming laptopthan just getting the best graphics you canafford.Check out this video next to find out everythingyou should consider before spending your hardearned cash.Otherwise I’ve got full reviews on all ofthese laptops covered in more detail withthe links below.\n"