Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account. When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. You can like posts to share the love. 
Join 
Not everyone’s dropping two grand on a gaming laptop. And honestly, you don’t have to. I’ve seen firsthand what budget gaming laptops can do. I’ve helped students set up rigs under a thousand and watched them run Warzone, Fortnite, and Elden Ring without frying their fans or their wallet.
The trick is knowing which ones give you real performance and which ones are just shiny plastic. These five laptops are the best cheap gaming laptops I’d recommend right now if you want to keep the budget tight and still get legit FPS.
Best Overall Cheap Gaming Laptop Under $700
This one caught me off guard. A friend grabbed the A15 for under seven hundred and runs Apex Legends at high settings and gets stable 100 FPS. With the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and RTX 3050, this thing punches way above its price.
You get a 144Hz display that actually looks good, solid thermals, and that signature TUF durability. It also runs Valorant, Fortnite, and even Jedi Survivor on medium settings without breaking. Easily the best value rig I’ve seen this year for that price.
Best Cheap Gaming Laptop For Under $550
I helped someone on a tight budget grab the Victus 15 and they’ve been running Warzone, Overwatch 2, and Halo Infinite just fine. The Intel Core i5-12500H and RTX 3050 combo is legit at this price.
This is the sleeper pick. It’s not flashy, but it handles most modern titles at medium settings. You might need a cooling pad for long sessions, but the screen is good, the keyboard is solid, and the price is unbeatable.
Best Big Screen Cheap Gaming Laptop
If you want that 17.3-inch display without giving up performance, the TUF F17 is the move. It’s running the same i5-12500H and RTX 3050 setup as the smaller models, but that big screen makes a difference in immersive games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Battlefield 2042.
You can still get 60 to 90 FPS on medium settings, and the laptop holds up thermally thanks to that TUF build. It’s big, but not bulky. And it’s clean enough to use for school or work too if needed.
Best Cheap Gaming Laptop With RTX 4050
This one is sneaky powerful. For under nine hundred, you’re getting an i7-13620H with an RTX 4050. That combo runs Elden Ring and Red Dead Redemption 2 without stutter. If you’re into open world games or heavier AAA titles, the Nitro V 5 handles them without choking.
I saw a breakdown online where it pulled over 90 FPS in Modern Warfare III at high settings. You also get Wi-Fi 6, decent battery life, and a build that doesn’t feel cheap. Easily one of the strongest options if you’re hovering around the $850 range.
Best Slim Cheap Gaming Laptop
If you want something that’s a little cleaner and more portable but still ready for games, the MSI Thin 15 gets it done. It comes with an i5-12450H and RTX 4050, which makes it perfect for titles like Destiny 2, The Witcher 3, and even Hogwarts Legacy on balanced settings.
It’s slim, lighter than most, and doesn’t scream gaming laptop. You can carry this into class or work and nobody bats an eye. But once it boots into Steam, it’s ready to go. The keyboard’s comfortable and the thermals stay in check.
Final Thoughts
Cheap doesn’t mean weak anymore. These laptops prove you can get solid performance, good screens, and enough power to run your favorite games without going broke.
If you want the best all-around under $700, the ASUS TUF A15 is the move. For the absolute lowest price that still plays, go with the HP Victus. If you need more screen or power, the TUF F17, Nitro V 5, and MSI Thin 15 all hold their own.
These aren’t wishlist laptops. These are the ones people are buying, playing on, and winning with. Every one of them gets the job done without frying your budget.
