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Our comparison table only shows our top 5 picks. You can find the other recommendations within this article.
Hello and welcome to our list of 10 best gaming laptops under $1500.
When it comes to playing games there can be nothing better than a gaming laptop on which you can spend your time and enjoy all your games.
However, various specifications are essential and you must check all of them before you buy a gaming laptop.
The following is a guide that will help you find the best budget gaming laptop for you. We have pinpointed the basic and very crucial specs that a gaming laptop should have so that you know exactly what features to look out for when shopping around for your new gaming gadgets.
A high price tag doesn’t always mean that the product you get is of higher quality. I’m sure we have all at some point treated ourselves to something expensive thinking it will last a lifetime, only to have it fall apart after just a few months of use.
Shopping around and making smart decisions can be the difference between spending a fortune on your gaming laptop or getting yourself a top-quality laptop at a more affordable price. Luckily we have done most of the hard work for you and whittled it down to the top 10.
If you have a specific budget like under $1500, it is important to know that you can buy an outstanding laptop for such a price if you have sufficient knowledge about the options that are available in the market.
A gaming laptop is a perfect combination of highly advanced and latest hardware that’ll give a gaming experience similar to the desktop.
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The gaming world and most games are highly influenced by the processor. In other words, you can say the faster and latest processor has many advantages. With the help of it, you can easily install and play even more complicated games.
For this purpose dual-core processor by Intel can be preferred because of their remarkable performance. The minimum speed of the processor must be at least 2 GHz or more for the best gaming experience. Rest of the things you can amend according to your budget for a gaming laptop.
The memory of the system is also known as RAM or Random Access Memory. This component is the second most important while buying a gaming laptop.
This onboard memory is quite essential to run the gaming programs smoothly on your device. At present in some powerful laptops, you can easily find 16 GB RAM for a faster response while playing sophisticated games.
Larger hard drives are better for storing multimedia files. There is no need to spend money on external hard drives if inbuilt hard drives have great storage capacities.
However, it hardly matters when it comes to performance and for storage, you can, later on, update or connect external devices to your laptop. In the price range of $1500, many brands are offering more than 1 TB storage hard drive.
Is 1 TB SSD enough for gaming purposes? It all depends on what you are looking for. Managing files can be a real pain and having a 1to SSD is good because files go directly to the SSD automatically.
Another pro of a 1 TB SSD is that you don’t have to hear the sound of loud spinning hard drives which could interfere with your concentration and gaming. Another storage solution is an NVME, this is an SSD that works with a PCIe to transfer data back and forth from the SSD’s.
A good graphic card is a key to enjoying heavy graphical games. Without the graphic card, there is a lot of heavy gaming stuff that might not even work on the laptop. The graphic card must have its own storage on the board for smoothly running the game.
Especially if you are fond of playing 3D games on your laptop, there must be an advanced graphic card. Gaming can be enjoyed with these advanced graphics cards and you must avoid integrated graphics you if have really high expectations from your gaming laptop.
If you are a big gaming fan and spend a lot of time gaming, then surely you will want your gaming laptop to be aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to use, right? Here are a few physical features you should look out for when shopping around for your gaming laptop;
Gaming laptops these days are made sleeker and lighter than ever before. Purchasing a thin and light gaming laptop keeps your gaming room looking more modern, even if the laptop you get isn’t one of the newest models on the market.
More importantly, light gaming laptops are incredibly easy to carry around and can be taken from place to place without any trouble at all. This gives you more of a portable gaming experience with the option to game on the go.
Getting a gaming laptop with an IPS display will make the laptop more aesthetically pleasing and will also improve your gaming experience. An IPS display is a screen that displays high-quality images and has great color and viewing angles. Needless to say that your gaming experience will be taken up a notch with a laptop that has an IPS display screen.
Is your gaming laptop going to stay at your gaming station for the majority of the time? or do you need it to be compact enough to pop in your rucksack while you travel? For those of you that are going to keep your laptops stationary for the majority of the time should go for a gaming laptop that is slightly on the larger size so that it looks like a feature in the room that it’s kept in.
A 17-inch screen is a good size for a laptop that is going to be kept stationary. The best 17-inch laptops will still be thin, lightweight, and aesthetically pleasing, all while giving you added screen space for better viewing.
Top Tip: Larger gaming laptops are a good option if you are purchasing a gaming laptop that is also going to be the laptop used by all the family daily.
Examples of Great Graphics Cards
Knowing what graphics cards to go for can be tough if this is your first gaming laptop and you haven’t used a graphics card before. Here are two examples of graphics cards you may want to use in your gaming laptop and a summary of their main features;
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU Gaming Card
The NVIDIA RTX cards are slightly newer than the NVIDIA GTX cards, therefore, making them a popular option for gamers. Here are some of the top specs for the GeForce RTX 2060 card.
AMD Radeon RX 5700
When we talk about graphics, NVIDIA is something you will see a lot of. NVIDIA is the inventor of the GPU, these are graphic processing units that are used in computers and laptops.
Graphics NVIDIA cards are graphics cards that design GPUs for gaming purposes. GeForce is NVIDIA’s main GPU and is purchased on a global scale by gaming enthusiasts, professionals, and more. When it comes to graphics, NVIDIA GeForce cards and Radeon products are trusted by gamers to deliver.
Laptop Processor
The laptop’s processor, or its CPU, is your laptop’s core. Having the right processor can be the difference between having a slow and sluggish or fast and reliable gaming laptop. Things that are as simple as loading apps or having multiple apps open at once can be almost impossible with a slow processor.
Generally, it is the older computers and laptops that have slow and dated processors. Most gamers will be downloading games, apps, and other information for their games, so it is worth knowing your stuff and having an idea of what processors will live up to your expectations.
The Intel Core i7 9750h, intel 9th generation, and intel 10th gen are examples of CPUs that have a great reputation. The Core i7 9750h was announced on April 30th, 2019, making it a new edition to the CPU market and is already favored by many gamers.
Just because you are looking for a gaming laptop on a budget, doesn’t mean that you should settle for a laptop that has a poor gaming performance. The best gaming laptops for under 1500 will have just as high gaming performance as higher-priced laptops and may even be a little easier for you to use.
Make sure the laptop you get resets quickly, doesn’t lag, and a fast response time. These are all features that contribute to highly enjoyable gaming performance.
One can easily buy great gaming laptops under 1500 and here we have reviewed each one of the best gaming notebooks with their specifications and extraordinary features.
The CUK MSI GS63 Stealth is light in weight and the brand is a gamer favorite around the world. There is no competition to this beast when it comes to the best gaming laptops under $1500.
The processor of this laptop is fully capable of handling even the most complicated games and crucial tasks. It is powered by an Intel Core i7-8750H and an ample 32 GB of RAM.
You should have no issues with storage given the combination of a 512GB SSD and a 1TB (1024 GB) hard drive. This gives you both speed and massive storage capacity. Having a large hard drive is an advantage and gives you the freedom to store more games without spending extra money on external storage.
The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch FHD display with 1920 by 1080 pixels of resolution and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1060 GPU. This is a good combination for gaming. The display is also ready for virtual reality applications.
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The Alienware AW15R3 comes with a lightweight body so it can be carried around easily. In addition, the design is also fantastic with a large keyboard and you can use it for many other professional tasks other than gaming.
It features 15.6 inches full HD screen and it is Anti-Glare with a 300-nits display. You will enjoy any type of game on 1920 by 1080 pixels.
It is one of the most advanced gaming laptops with the latest Intel Core i7-7300HQ processor. The advanced technology of Turbo Boost will increase overall processing performance while preserving battery life when the laptop is not being heavily used.
For a smooth and easy experience, Windows 10 is pre-installed and it also comes with USB 3.0 ports which means you can easily connect external devices. It is well built with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU and you can easily run even the most complicated games.
For storing data in bulk, a hard drive of 1TB is provided with 7200RPM which is the most advanced technology for the hard drive. It also includes an HDMI port so you can easily connect it with a big screen.
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MSI is known as one of the top gaming laptop producers in the world and their GV series are among the best economy gaming laptops you can buy. For under $1,500, you are getting a full HD 17.3-inch display, powered by some of the latest GT 10 series NVIDIA graphics.
Despite packing in some of the latest most powerful techs, MSI has managed to keep the weight down to just 5.95 pounds and a 1.2-inch thick case.
They also still squeeze in all the ports you need, including USB 3.1 Type C ports, USB 3.1, USB 2.0, Mini Displayport, HDMI out, and a Killer E2400 LAN port. They’ve even included a multi-format card reader.
The 17.3-inch full HD displays some vivid graphics with the cutting edge NVIDIA GTX 1060, making it a gaming wonder, it also supports VR. Storage is vast with a 256GB SSD and a fast 7200RPM 1TB HDD.
With 16GB of RAM and that over-clocked i7 processor, this MSI is a powerhouse of productivity and gaming.
If you need the best at a budget, MSI offers all the goods. A hex-core CPU and new, improved, Cooler boost technology ensure that this laptop will breeze through anything you throw at it. With the usual red-backlit keyboard and simple design from MSI, this laptop announces your gaming intentions for all to see.
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The Acer Predator Helios 300 is undoubtedly one of the best gaming laptops under $1500 and all of its features including its overall look and design are really impressive. The 17-inch display features a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels.
You can easily enjoy all kinds of games on this top-notch gaming machine. It comes with the latest version of the Intel Core i7 processor and it can handle just about anything.
On top of that 16 GB of DDR4 RAM is loaded in it along with 256 GB of SSD for quickly loading your games.
Other than SSD, it also packs 1 TB of HDD so you can easily store all your multimedia files in it. When it comes to running games, it is as smooth as it gets on a laptop thanks to its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU.
Windows 10 with home edition is installed for better and easy working. Its 3 hours of battery life is more than enough if you’d like to play your games while traveling.
For better connectivity, there are 4 USB 3.0 Ports available with one power-off charging port. One additional display port is also available. With an SD card reader, you can easily transfer your data from another device.
The quality of the Webcam is HD with 1280 by 720 resolutions. Killer Ethernet E2400 is available for gaming connectivity with the latest WiFi and MIMO technology which will certainly help with the performance.
Predator True Harmony Plus sound system is inbuilt so that you can easily enjoy your gaming even without the external audio system.
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With the Omen, HP has really gone to town with a machine that is less than an inch thick and weighs in at 5.4 pounds. Although it may not be the thinnest gaming laptop around, it is certainly one of the most affordable in this class.
The display is a 15.6″ FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) which gives good resolution and excellent color accuracy. The only area it fails a little in is the brightness, it only has a rating of 256-Nits compared to the impressive 320-Nit panel of the Razer Blade 14.
As you would expect from an 8th generation Intel CPU and 12GB of RAM, multitasking performance is solid on this laptop. Some users may find the storage limiting at only a 128GB SSD although, it does boast impressive read and write speeds.
The NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti is the real star here allowing games to run at the highest settings with impressive frame rates.
There may be more powerful gaming laptops available, but not many will match the portability and performance of this Omen at this price (well under $1500).
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The ASUS ROG Strix Scar II is one of the best gaming laptops under $1500. It’s an earlier model in the Strix Scar series, but still very capable. It is specially designed for advanced gamers with high-end hardware configuration.
One can do just about anything on this machine thanks to its Intel Core i7 processor. On top of that, it features 16 GB of DDR4 RAM which will further boost your gaming speed.
With 1TB hard drive space, you don’t have to worry about anything while storing multimedia files or installing huge games on it. The companion 256GB SSD means that you also get fast boot and application load times. It’s the best of both worlds.
It is well equipped with a 15.6-inch display and 1920 by 1080 pixels of screen resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. This refresh rate is rare in this price range. A gaming laptop must have a great graphics processor and the Strix Scar II comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GPU that will handle high-end gaming without a problem.
The battery life isn’t great at 2 to 3 hours. If operation away from power is an important feature for you, then you may want to consider a different model. For connectivity, you will get 1 HDMI 2.0 Port, 1 Mini Display Port, 802.a/c wireless type, and 4.1 Bluetooth.
There are 5 USB 3.0 ports available for connecting your external devices. Overall, it has all the features of gaming-centric and the laptop is relatively lightweight at about 5.3 pounds.
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The Acer Aspire 7 will cost you under $1000, which is impressive given its top-notch configuration. It’s great value for the money.
Its design is quite attractive with shiny black color and its ultra-slim body is lightweight and extremely easy to carry around.
The 15.6-inch display features an FHD screen with IPS technology. The processor packed inside is 8th generation Intel Core i7 along with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM. The SSD will give you fast boot and application load times and you can also save all your huge movies and games on its 1 TB HDD.
It also features NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti GPU for an exceptional gaming experience. Windows 10 is pre-installed for a smooth experience along with a little bit of bloatware.
With up to 7 hours of battery life, you can easily work or play a game while you’re away from the plug. Of course, the battery life may be shorter depending on the game.
There are four USB ports, including a USB 3.1 (Type-C) port, which gives you the freedom to connect ample external devices with your computer. USB 3.1 ports are perfect for fast data transfer or external monitors as well. The laptop also supports Bluetooth 4.1 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi connectivity.
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ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501 is a powerhouse contender for the best gaming laptop. The body is ultra-slim with a beautiful design and color is perfect for gamers as well as professionals.
The 15.6-inch display with 144Hz refresh rate is perfect and exceptionally good for gaming and we highly recommend this machine due to its display.
The latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with the latest hexa-core technology gives you the freedom to enjoy gaming and fast processing.
With 512 GB of SSD, you can quickly save and load all your work, games, movies, etc. For an extraordinary gaming experience, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 drives the display.
It also boasts a backlit keyboard with Aura RGB switch keys technology. Battery life is nothing to brag about at 2 to 3 hours. Whether this is sufficient depends on how you will use the laptop.
The shorter battery life is consistent with the high-end specifications of this laptop and the price point. If you don’t mind being plugged in most of the time, this is an excellent gaming choice.
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HP OMEN 15 is yet another one of the best gaming laptops under $1500 by HP with all the gaming-centric features. It features a 15-inch UHD display with a resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels along with anti-glare technology.
It also features an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor along with 2 TB of HDD and 128 GB of SSD which is practically too much for anyone.
For a smooth gaming experience, it includes NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU. For better connectivity advanced LAN, 802.11 wireless type, and Bluetooth 4.0 are inbuilt. Windows 10 is also installed to handle most of the latest games.
The keyboard and touchpad are both designed uniquely featuring an accelerometer sensor and backlit. It includes two speakers so you can easily enjoy quality music and movies in your free time.
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The ASUS Gaming Thin and Light Laptop is a budget gaming machine that’ll cost you around $1100 and it comes with all the latest features and ample storage capacity.
Its design has been appreciated by gamers worldwide and it includes a Dual Fan system that’ll keep the laptop cool all the time even while playing complicated games.
It not only keeps the device cool but also boosts the performance drastically.
It comes with a 15-inch full HD display, a 7th generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor, and Windows 10.
When it comes to storage drives, it has both, 128 GB of SSD and 1 TB of HDD for storing all your high-end games and movies.
Nothing matters more than a GPU in a gaming notebook and it includes an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 3 GB of onboard memory. Battery life is decent with 4 hours of backup and it also packs ports like HDMI, USB 3.0, an SD card reader.
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So these are our picks for the best gaming laptops under $1500. We’re sure that you won’t regret buying one of the gaming machines on our list.
If you have any doubts regarding these notebooks then feel free to get in touch with us through comments or contact us and we’d be more than happy to help.
Gaming Laptop FAQ’s
Q: Are gaming laptops worth it?
A: It all depends on how much time you spend gaming. If you spend more than two hours gaming every day, you should invest in a gaming laptop.
Q: How RAM do I need for gaming?
A: 8 RAM is sufficient for those of you that are very light gamers. 16 RAM or more is preferred, especially if you play games with lots of graphics.
Q: Are ASUS gaming laptops good?
A: ASUS has several gaming laptops available, some have a very high price point while others are more affordable. Regardless of which ASUS laptop you are thinking of buying, they are considered a very good brand and are reliable and generally long-lasting.
Q: Are gaming laptops good for everyday use?
A: Yes, gaming laptops are great for everyday use. In fact, they are usually faster and have a higher memory capacity than your standard laptop, therefore making them a brilliant option for a household laptop.
Q: How long do gaming laptops last?
A: when looked after properly, gaming laptops will last upwards of 5-6 years. The laptop owner has a responsibility to care for the laptop adequately to last this long.
Q: Can playing games on a laptop ruin it?
A: Your laptop will not get ruined by playing games on it, however, its lifespan may go down as a result. Playing games on your laptop may cause it to overheat more often than if it were to be used for everyday purposes. And over time this may cause problems.
Q: What is the most important part of a gaming laptop?
A: The graphics card is often the most important part of a gaming laptop as the way the graphics look is a massive part of the gaming experience.
Q: What does a gaming laptop need?
A: Storage space, a lot of RAM (minimum 16 RAM for serious gamers), a powerful CPU, and the right GPU for your needs. These features are also what set aside a regular laptop from a gaming laptop.
Q: Can Lenovo laptops play games?
A: Yes, Lenovo laptops can be used for gaming purposes. Gamers talk highly of the Lenovo 14 inch Flex 3 Multi-touch Comfortable Notebook and the Lenovo Legion. Core i7 and i5 models are preferred.
Q: Do gaming laptops overheat?
A: All laptops overheat to some degree. Gaming laptops display intense graphics and use a lot of power, they are commonly used for many consecutive hours making them prone to overheating.
Hardware-intensive games are also major culprits for overheating laptops. If this is happening to you a lot, look into ways you can keep your laptop cool.
Q: How hot is too hot for a CPU?
A: An ideal room temperature is 73 degrees Fahrenheit, this is not only for your computer’s sake but for yours too! If your room is hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit your computer’s CPU can be permanently damaged. The same goes for keeping your laptop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q: What ports do I need?
A: Ports are only relevant for gamers that want to connect to television screens and hard drives. Most gaming laptops have this option.
Q: How long will the battery last?
A: On average gaming laptops have around 2 hours of battery life when fully charged. Any laptops that have a longer or shorter battery life are few and far between.
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Marcus has a graduate degree in computer engineering and has many years of experience in cutting-edge technology research and development in both startups and Fortune 500 corporations. In his free time, he enjoys RTS gaming.