Top-of-the-line gaming laptops can come with a hefty price tag, some even reaching up to $3,000. However, you don’t necessarily need to break the bank to get a fantastic gaming laptop. In 2024, more budget-friendly options are emerging with high refresh rate displays, sleek designs, and the latest hardware components.
After thorough testing of various laptops, including pricier models, we found that the cost-effective Gigabyte Aorus 15 (BMF-52US383SH) stood out among the 12 laptops we evaluated. It delivered reliable performance while maintaining cool temperatures both internally and externally.
Our Recommendations
Our top choice
This laptop boasts the latest generation of hardware, outperforming some of the pricier models tested. It maintains solid frame rates for seamless gameplay and remains quiet and cool to the touch.
Budget-friendly option
The Acer Nitro 5 is the best affordable gaming laptop we reviewed, though it may not handle the latest demanding games as well as our top pick. It also offers half the storage capacity and features a less impressive screen.
This model is essentially the same as the AN515-44-R99Q but features a quad-core Intel processor instead of a hexa-core AMD processor. We recommend it if the AMD variant is unavailable or if this one is more cost-effective.
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Affordable Price
We focus on laptops priced under $1,500—while not exactly “cheap,” gaming laptops can often be quite expensive.
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Exceptional Performance
Consistent, top-notch performance is essential, as long as the laptop maintains proper temperatures during intense gaming sessions.
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Modern Hardware
The more recent the graphics card and processor, the longer you can enjoy playing demanding games in the future.
