Best Budget Gaming Laptops (2025) To Get Now

Best Budget Gaming Laptops 2025

If you love playing games on your gaming laptop or desktop but don’t have a lot of money to spend, then you’ve come to the right place. Buying a gaming laptop that’s good for you and also affordable can be tricky, but it’s doable. That’s why I’ve looked around to find the best budget gaming laptops you can buy right now. These are a few of the best gaming laptops you’ll have the most fun with, and you won’t need to spend a lot of money for them. Let’s check them out!

 

 

Best Budget Gaming Laptops (2025)

 

1 – Dell G16

★ ★ ★ ★

Best Budget Gaming Laptops 2025
(image credit: Dell)

 

SPECS

  • Display: 16-inch QHD+ 240Hz (2560 x 1600p)
  • CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i9
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
  • Memory: 16GB DDR5
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Ports: Thunderbolt 4, 3x USB 3.2 Type-A, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1
  • Other: 720p webcam, backlit keyboard, VR Ready

THE GOOD STUFF

  • Impressive gaming performance
  • Impressive quality display
  • Excellent keyboard
  • Decent battery life

THE BAD STUFF

  • Heavy gaming laptop at 2.8kg
  • Disappointing heat management
  • 720p Webcam not the best

For a budget gaming laptop, Dell crammed a lot of features and functionality into the Dell G16. With a GeForce RTX 4060 graphics and a fast Intel Core CPU inside, the Dell G16 managed to perform impressive on normal use as well as with the best gaming performance experienced on Full HD.

It’s difficult to find fault with the Dell G16 when it comes with a excellent “Cherry MX” keyboard, a gorgeous 16-inch 1600p IPS display with a refresh rate of 240 Hz, and a good variety of ports to connect to your devices.

With budget gaming laptops you can expect a few snags. First, the Dell G16 feels more like a desktop replacement thanks to its weight of 2.8 kgs (6.2 lbs.). Next, the webcam is looks and feels outdated, and the video doesn’t look good from the other side. Lastly, the heat generated from prolong use is not managed well enough, and will start to feel you feel uncomfortable.

These, however, are comparatively small criticisms of an affordable  gaming laptop, such as the Dell G16, that excels in terms of performance under a fair price.

 

 

2 – MSI Katana 15 (2024)

★ ★ ★ ★

Best Budget Gaming Laptops 2025
(Image credit: MSI)

 

SPECS

  • Display: 15.6-inch 144Hz IPS FHD (1920 x 1080p)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050/4060/4070
  • Memory: 16GB DDR5
  • Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
  • Ports: USB-C 3.2, 2x USB-A 3.2, USB-A 2.0, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm Combo-Jack
  • Other: 720p webcam, backlit keyboard

THE GOOD STUFF

  • Good gaming performance 
  • Decent display with fast refresh rate
  • Decent keyboard
  • Speakers sound average

THE BAD STUFF

  • Short battery life
  • Mediocre design

The MSI Katana 15 (2024) is a great choice if you want to play games on a laptop without spending a lot of money. It’s not the fanciest looking laptop out there; in fact, it actually looks a bit like older gaming laptops.

However, it’s perfect for people who don’t want to spend over US$2,000 to play the newest games on the highest settings. It performs well on a Full HD gaming laptop, meaning games will look good and run smoothly.

There are a few trade-offs, like its mediocre looks and shorter battery life, but these are minor compared to the good gaming experience it offers. You won’t feel held back by its limitations when you’re playing.

Overall, the MSI Katana 15 (2024) is one of the best budget gaming laptops because it balances good looks, performance, and price. It’s an ideal first gaming laptop for many, and a definite recommendations to buy now. 

 

 

3 – MSI Cyborg 15

★ ★ ★ ★

Best Budget Gaming Laptops 2025
(Image credit: MSI)

 

SPECS

  • Display: 15.6-inch 144Hz IPS FHD (1920 x 1080p)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050
  • Memory: 16GB DDR5
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Ports: 2x USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio
  • Other: Touchscreen, backlit keyboard 

THE GOOD STUFF

  • Impressive gaming performance
  • Impressive quality display
  • Excellent keyboard
  • Decent battery life

THE BAD STUFF

  • Heavy gaming laptop at 2.8kg
  • Disappointing heat management
  • 720p Webcam not the best

The MSI Cyborg 15 is another budget gaming laptop that offers a lot for its price, especially if you’re new to PC gaming or on a budget.

What’s great about it is that it looks good, has strong performance, and costs less than $1,000. The screen also has a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, which is great for gaming. You can even use it for everyday work, as long as it’s plugged in. 

What’s not great about it, however, the screen could be brighter and show more colors. Also, the battery life doesn’t last very long when unplugged. 

Overall, the MSI Cyborg 15 is definitely worth considering because of its good performance for the price and its unique style.

 

4 – Acer Nitro V

★ ★ ★

(image credit: Acer)

SPECS

  • Display: 15.6-inch 165Hz IPS FHD (1920 x 1080p)
  • CPU: Intel Core i5 or i7
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070/4050
  • Memory: 16GB DDR5
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Ports: 2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, Ethernet, headphone jack, HDMI
  • Other: 720p webcam

THE GOOD STUFF

  • Compact design
  • Includes DLSS options to boost performance
  • Includes special key to disable touchpad
  • Average battery life
  • Decent performance for general productivity

THE BAD STUFF

  • Disappointing performance for gaming
  • Loud fans due to NitroSense software
  • Display not so great due to low color accuracy

The Acer Nitro V 15 isn’t a great gaming laptop. It doesn’t have many special features, and its overall performance isn’t as impressive. Even though it can handle some games thanks to a feature called Nvidia DLSS, it’s not powerful enough for demanding tasks like video editing or 3D design.

Plus, the screen doesn’t show colors very well. The laptop even struggles with basic things like “Browse” the internet unless you turn on “performance mode,” which makes it too loud to use comfortably. Fortunately, there are better options in the market. First is the MSI Cyborg 15 which is a good choice for its price. Next is the Dell G16, which is a bit more expensive and having its own minor issues, still provides a solid gaming experience.

Overall, I recommend you consider it before purchase. Look at other options. Don’t buy the Acer Nitro V 15 just yet. You’ll get much more for your money with the other options mentioned.

 

 

5 – Asus TUF A15 (2024)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Best Budget Gaming Laptops 2025
(Image credit: Asus)

 

SPECS

  • Display:15.6 in FHD IPS 144Hz (1920 x 1080p)
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 or 9
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
  • Memory: 16GB DDR5
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Ports: audio jack, 2 x USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Type-C, USB 2.0 Type-A, HDMI 2.0b
  • Other: 720p webcam

THE GOOD STUFF

  • Impressive gaming performance
  • Good value
  • Impressive battery life
  • Lots of input ports

THE BAD STUFF

  • Quite heavy
  • Noisy fans

The Asus TUF A15 is an excellent and affordable gaming laptop. It really hits the sweet spot between strong performance and a good price. It’s great for gaming at 1080p resolution. It’s built using tough, durable material, and has many different input ports. This makes it a popular choice, especially for those who play competitive sports games.

What not so great is a number of things. Firstly, the cooling fans can get noisy. It quite heavy thanks to the extras, such as the build material and the number of input ports. 

In the end, If you don’t mind the minor things, I recommend you purchase the Asus TUF A15 gaming laptop. It’s not as good as the more expensive gaming laptops, but if you’re a first-time gamer, looking for a one of the best budget gaming laptops, this is a must buy.   

 

 

Lastly

So there you have it. These are some of the best budget gaming laptops you can grab right now without spending a fortune. They may have compromises, however, they’ll give you good power for playing your favorite games without making your wallet cry. Remember, the best one for you will depend on what games you like and whatever else you need your gaming laptop to do on a daily basis.

Let’s hear from you on the comments below. Are you looking for an affordable gaming laptop? What are your opinions with them? Are they worth trying out? Leave your comments below with answers to these questions or make comments on anything related to budget gaming laptops.    

Then afterwards, click on the each button to learn more about these awesome gaming laptops. And if you want to, go ahead and buy. Don’t wait any longer to jump into the action! Find your perfect budget gaming laptop and start playing today! Until next time 😀

 

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