We remember when playing games on a laptop used to be a huge no-no, or merely hard to do unless you were planning on getting into some minesweeper or solitaire. However, with the continued advancement of technology nowadays, the best gaming laptops hold some power higher than most desktops were able to handle as early as ten years ago. When buying computers or laptops, it can definitely get a bit costly, which is why today we decided to direct our shopping guide towards laptops for gaming under $1,000.
Gaming laptops are usually equipped with a stronger processor and more memory than typical work-based or leisure laptops for “regular” usage because, well, gamers merely need higher speed and better performance for their gaming sessions. Especially if you’re playing some demanding games like first person shooters or RPG’s, the graphics with newer versions of these are continuing to demand more and more power from the unit you’re on.
In order to enable convenient usage, the majority of these laptops are also lightweight and smaller in dimension than regular laptops. They have some other additional and useful functionalities such as backlight of keys for gaming in darkness, a more durable chassis in order to withstand being moved around often (great if you travel a lot or LAN with your friends), and other highlights we’ll list later with each model. The battery life is also something that manufacturers are trying to make as durable as possible because gamers tend to use laptops for multiple hours in a row (we’ve seen some improvement but still think there can be some work done; however, if you’re by a power outlet, you’re fine).
All of the video cards in the following laptops we feel were quite feasible for most games. When it comes to memory, we highly recommend grabbing a gaming laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM. The hard drive however is a different story — the higher isn’t necessarily the better, but pay attention the type of hard drive. We really like Solid-State Drives (SSD) since they’re numerous times faster than optical drives (HDD), but any will do since hard drive space isn’t important for playing games unless you plan on storing music and movies on your laptop as well.
Either way you go — you’re getting an overall ease of use as well as versatile machine on your hands to game and we’re glad you came to us for help in choosing your gaming laptop. If you need a wireless gaming mouse to accompany your laptop, check out that guide next. Don’t forget to check out our best wireless gaming headsets as well for some even more convenience while you play.
The best gaming laptops under $1,000
Asus ROG GL552
- Recommended Model: GL752VW-DH71
- Screen Size: 15″
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6700HQ 2.6GHz (6th gen.)
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Hard Drive: 1 TB
- Check current price: US | UK
The Asus ROG GL552 is our pick for one of the best gaming laptops under $1000 for quite a few reasons. Although it hovers just at our desired price range, the specs (as you can see above) are monstrous. As compared to others in this price-range, it has the most internal memory, RAM, and powerful processor we’ve seen thus far. The screen size is also pretty solid at 15″ (most others are slightly below this — although screen size ultimately depends on personal preference). For construction, the entire cover is enforced with aluminum, which gives it great longevity and welcoming durability (quite important for a laptop, especially if you’re traveling if you ask us). The ROG and Asus logos are in the middle, and it is slightly thicker than its descendant but is still thin and slender. There are 4 rubber legs on the bottom to keep the laptop firmly on the surface. There is an interchangeable battery and a mechanism for its release as well as a large service cover to approach disc, memory and M.2. On the bottom are also perforations for fresh air. It’s reviewed very highly by many — the Asus ROG GL552 comes out to be our pick for the best gaming laptop under $1,000 due to the amazing specifications and overall construction it brings us. It also made its way into Laptop Mag’s best gaming laptops article (their budget-friendly pick).
Alienware 13 R2
- Recommended Model: AW13R2-1678SLV
- Screen Size: 13″
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M (with 2 GB GDDR5)
- Processor: Intel Dual Core i5-6200U 2.3 GHz
- RAM: 8 GB (DDR3L SDRAM)
- Hard Drive: 500 GB (+ 8 GB SSD)
- View prices: US | UK
Here’s our second pick for the best laptop for gaming at under 1,000 dollars, and although the screen is a bit smaller and you have a bit less RAM than the previous Asus model listed, it is still very solid considering it’s an Alienware computer. The user can customize the backlight, and the Intel Core i5 Processor in combination with NVIDIA GPU delivers lots of power (same video card as the previous pick), which is mandatory for gaming performances. The cover is made of a durable combination of carbon fibers and plastics that come with 2 strips of led lighting with an alien head in the center as a logo. This laptop comes with incredibly high-resolution, which every gamer will appreciate (3200 with 1800 panel). Its sweet touch screen with ten points is very responsive and swift if you’re ever in the mood for that. The Alienware 13 R2 is a high-quality 13-inch gaming laptop that comes with some come cool features that definitely put it in the category of best gaming laptop under $1,000 dollars. It’s also extremely lightweight at just under 5 lbs.
Dell Inspiron 15 7000
- Recommended Model: i7559-763BLK
- Screen Size: 15.6″
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M (with 4GB GDDR5)
- Processor: Intel Quad-Core i5-6300HQ 2.3 GHz
- RAM: 8 GB DDR3L
- Hard Drive: 256 GB (Solid-State)
- Check pricing: US | UK
Thanks to its very high-quality Core i5 processor in combination with the excellent Nvidia video card, Dell’s Inspiron 15 7000 series makes its way high in our ranks. This is a laptop that will first catch your eye with its slick matte black lid, accentuated by their beloved red Dell logo in the middle. If you are more into attracting attention, you can also get a Hibiscus Red model since we’ve seen some color choices out there as well. When it comes to visuals, its 1920 x 1080p wide-angle display with anti-glaring function might appear dim, but you will nevertheless enjoy the attractive color range. This laptop will deliver lots of speed and action with specs that rival many computers that were made up to a few years ago — you’re good to go with most games on here, let alone the solid-state drive (SSD’s are awesome and preferred now over normal hard drives). The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is one of the best gaming laptop under $1,000 when it comes to delivering quality specs both for gaming and other online activities.
HP Pavilion Touch 15t
- Screen size: 15.6″
- Video Card: Intel HD Graphics 520
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6200U Dual Core (6th gen.)
- RAM: 8GB DDR3L
- Hard Drive: 1TB (5400 rpm)
- Check price: US | UK
We all know that HP brand name, and this one has been recommended quite a few times in those popular best laptop shopping guides. It is equipped with a super-sleek keyboard and nice quality HD touch screen that will function quite long (a lot longer than many in its class) thanks to its long-lasting battery (4-cell 41WHr Lithium-ion). The laptop’s cover is sleek and attractive with its textured surface and blue details. On the side you will find an HDMI port, USB inputs, SD card, Ethernet port and optical drive. It comes with a display with 1366 x 768 p, which will deliver nice graphics during action gaming and more. If you are looking for the best gaming laptop under $1,000 dollars that’s within the lower price-point of all of these models (one of the cheapest in here), then don’t forget about the HP Pavilion Touch 15t. You’ll be saving some money as well as be getting some solid specifications and a long-lasting battery.
Razer Blade Stealth QHD
- Recommended Model: RZ09-01682E20-R3U1
- Screen size: 12.6″
- Video Card: Intel HD Graphics 520
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6500U 2.5 GHz (6th gen.)
- RAM: 8 GB (LPDDR3-1866MHz)
- Hard Drive: 128 GB (SSD – PCIe M.2)
- View prices: US | UK
This thing is a beast, and we’re huge fans of Razer (even though they tend to be a bit more higher-end and expensive than others). PC Gamer also included this in their gaming laptop guide. If you can get away with the smaller screen size of this one, the touch display is sharp with touch function. It is lightweight (nearly 3 lbs.) and ultra thin (about .52″) and will definitely be a convenient companion during travel (especially considering its battery life of 10 hours of non-stop usage). The Razer Blade Stealth (QHD) is equipped with an RGB keyboard that comes with a backlight for keys (we saw this make an appearance in our best gaming keyboards article, too). This laptop comes with a whopping 2,560 x 1,440 p resolution that will give you some impressive colors during game play or video\movie watching. The Razer Blade Stealth QHD is the best gaming laptop under 1,000 bucks that will deliver excellent performance in a sleek, all-aluminum body. Just make sure it’s priced under $1,000 at the time of purchasing since it tends to fluctuate around our desired range.
Lenovo Ideapad 700
- Recommended Model: 80RU00FEUS
- Screen size: 15.6″
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
- Processor: Intel Core i5 6300HQ 2.3 GHz
- RAM: 12 GB
- Hard Drive: 256 GB (SSD)
- View price: US | UK
For those who play some demanding games and need as much RAM as they can get (and probably merely more than they need with this count), the 12 GB built into this one should say enough for you, let alone that it is a Lenovo build. Equipped with a decent Intel i5 processor, combining with the RAM and Solid-State Drive will deliver some amazing performance as well as process data with impressive speed. The laptop’s 15.6″ display comes with 1920 x 1080 p resolution that is FHD IPS Anti-Glare. and the keys additionally come with a convenient backlight that comes in very handy in darker settings and situations. You will find a pair of 3.0 USB ports, an Ethernet port, a headset jack and an SD card reader. The battery with 5 hours of life will enable a decent gaming session if you don’t have a power outlet. The Lenovo Ideapad 700 is definitely one of the best gaming laptops under $1000 dollars — just look at those specs. Not to mention it has a famous Lenovo build, which will lat you quite a long time if you take proper care of it (they’re built like tanks).
Acer Aspire
- Recommended Model: E5-573G
- Screen size: 15.6″
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 940M (with 2GB VRAM)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 5200U 2.2 GHz
- RAM: 8 GB (DDR3L SDRAM)
- Hard Drive: 1 TB (5400 rpm)
- Check pricing: US | UK
This is another one of the cheapest gaming laptops in here, so if you were concerned with saving some money yet still acquiring a decently feature-packed model, here’s a great choice. Equipped with a very solid i5 processor and GeForce video card, you can count on speed and functionality for most games out there. The screen is also one of the bigger displays in this guide and you’re getting full HD 1920 x 1080 for vivid colors that will enable sharp effects during game play. It is also pretty lightweight and thin with a minimalist design that will strike everyone as an excellent choice when you are looking for a compact gaming laptop you can carry with yourself wherever you go. The battery life of up to 5 hours so it isn’t the longest-lasting, but you’re getting what you pay for and will still have a sufficient amount of fun time in a single use without needing your power cable. If you are looking for quick and efficient gaming laptop, don’t forget to take into account the Acer Aspire because with its specs, this laptop definitely falls into the category of the best gaming laptop for those on a budget.
Asus K501UW
- Recommended Model: AB78
- Screen size: 15.6″
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6500U 2.5GHz (Turbo to 3.1 GHz)
- RAM: 8 GB (DDR4 SDRAM)
- Hard Drive: 512 GB (SSD)
- View prices: US | UK
Here’s another Asus gaming laptop under $1,000 to check out. Powered by a high quality video card and Intel Core i7 processor, you can count on swift responsiveness during all types of demanding action gaming with this. Like quite a few others in this shopping guide, it has an ideal laptop build, especially if you’re traveling here and there with it — sleek, thin and lightweight (weighs about 4.5 lbs.). The cover is metallic and textured and will function great on all surfaces. The screen size (1920 by 1080 resolution) is of the highest within this class as we’ve seen thus far (anything below 12″ would be tough to game with, in our opinion). It also has your needed and essential ins and outs — two USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, a headphone out\audio-in combo, an RJ45 LAN jack, HMDI port, and extra card reader. We’re also huge fans of the whopping Solid-State Drive. The Asus K501UW is definitely one of the powerful contenders in the category of the best gaming laptops under $1000 dollars.
MSI GL72
- Recommended Model: 6QD-001
- Screen size: 17.3″
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6300HQ Quad Core (2.3 to 3.2GHz)
- RAM: 8 GB (DDR4)
- Hard Drive: 1 TB (5400RPM)
- Check pricing: US | UK
If you’re into big screen sizes and hard drive capacity, here’s a solid gaming laptop for you. You can count on some great performance and speed every serious gamer needs with this one — the video card is pretty standard among its competitors and the i5 is quad-core so you’ll be quite fine for most games. Its 17.3″ full HD screen with 1920 x 1080p resolution will deliver bright and vivid colors and visually improve your gaming experience (it’s the biggest in this guide). When you look on the sides, you will find 2 USB 3.0 ports and 1 2.0 USB port, a video port, HDMI, audio ports as well as a headset jack, so you’re also getting the essentials. At almost 6 lbs, this isn’t the lightest gaming laptop on the market, but it is still very handy and convenient for transportation around wherever you go. If you still weren’t feeling our previous picks, don’t forget about the MSI GL72, especially if you want a big screen.
HP Omen
- Recommended Model: 15-5210NR
- Screen size: 15.6″
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
- Processor: Intel Core i7-4720HQ 2.6 GHz
- RAM: 8 GB (DDR3L SDRAM)
- Hard Drive: 256 GB (SSD)
- Check pricing: US | UK
The HP Omen is usually seen for a bit more expensive price tags than our targeted budget in this guide, but keep your eye out for a few (especially the model recommended) for a few that enter the $1,000 dollar and under mark. The body of these are made of faux carbon fiber accentuated with a cool red Voodoo logo on the cover. On the right side of the laptop you have the HDMI port, USB 3.0 port, Ethernet and SD card reader, while on the left side there are two USB 3.0 ports secure lock slot and a headset jack. The Omen comes with a competent 1920 x 1080p display that will serve you well during gaming, while the red backlight of keys looks very attractive and definitely in combo with other features puts this laptop in the category of the best laptop for gaming under a thousand dollars. The HP Omen is a gaming laptop that will positively surprise you thanks to its powerful gaming performance and almost 7 hours of battery life packed in a lightweight, appealing design. We have this one last because the prices can be hit or miss, so it depends on when you check.
