10 Best Gaming Laptops Under 1000

Wally Nowinski
editor

Our experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our laptop database and find the best gaming laptops under 1000 available in 2024. Here are our top picks.

Our criteria for the best gaming laptops under 1000:

  • Operating System: We limited the search to Windows laptops.
  • Usage: We focused on gaming laptops.
  • Budget: We chose a medium budget of $750-1,000, which should cover an entry level gaming laptop.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized laptop recommendation
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10 Best Gaming Laptops Under 1000

1
Gigabyte 15.6”

G5

BEST RATING
Engineering & Design:
4.4
Gaming/AI: B+
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thick, med. heavy
Battery: Poor




Expert Summary
The Gigabyte G5 is a laptop positioned in the lower midrange price bracket offering solid performance for gaming and general use with a main processor of Intel i7 and Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU. It comes with a reasonable amount of storage and memory, suitable for multitasking and demanding applications. The laptop features a 15.6-inch IPS display that does not support a touchscreen but offers a full HD resolution and a high refresh rate for smooth visuals. The battery life is not particularly long, which may affect portability, and it weighs just over four and a half pounds, making it moderately comfortable to carry around. It includes multiple modern connectivity options such as USB-C and an Ethernet port, has a number pad on the backlit keyboard, and supports hardware ray tracing for gaming. It is released in May 2023 and comes with a Windows 11 Home operating system pre-installed. It scores well in various performance and quality aspects, especially for gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering use. However, keep in mind that the screen's color accuracy might not be the best if you're looking for professional-grade color work.
Pros
  • Decent general performance
  • Good for 3D and machine learning
  • Fair portability
  • Solid build quality
  • Backlit keyboard with number pad
Cons
  • Average battery life
  • Heavy for frequent travel
  • Screen not very bright
  • Limited color coverage
2
BEST RATING
Engineering & Design:
4.6
Gaming/AI: A-
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Very Good
Portability: Very thick, heavy
Battery: Fair




Expert Summary
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with a midrange price point, offers a balance of performance and features suited for versatile users, especially those interested in gaming and demanding tasks. It comes equipped with a large storage capacity, adequate RAM, a high-end Intel i7 processor, and an Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card, supporting hardware ray tracing and DLSS for enhanced visual fidelity. The device boasts a significant battery capacity, a 16-inch IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a high refresh rate, ensuring smooth motion and a sizable workspace. However, with a weight over 5 pounds and a battery life offering modest hours of typical usage, its portability is compromised. Windows 11 Home comes pre-installed, and the laptop features multiple USB-C and Thunderbolt ports, ensuring extensive connectivity options. The laptop also includes a quality keyboard with a number pad and backlit keys, alongside good speakers and heat management systems. Despite its suitability for intensive gaming and high-performance tasks, its bulk should be considered if frequent mobility is necessary.
Pros
  • Powerful Intel i7 processor
  • High-performance Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU
  • Large 16-inch display
  • High 165Hz refresh rate
  • Good build and heat management
Cons
  • Moderate 5-hour battery life
  • Heavy, weighing over 5 pounds
  • Display not 4K resolution
  • Not extremely portable
3
Lenovo 16”

Legion Slim 5

BEST RATING
Keyboard Quality:
4.6
Gaming/AI: A-
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Very Good
Portability: Thick, heavy
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is marketed at a midrange price with a 16-inch IPS display that doesn't support touch but has a high refresh rate, making it good for fast motion which can appeal to gamers. It has a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 main processor and Nvidia RTX graphics, making it suitable for engineering, 3D rendering, machine learning, and intensive gaming. With 16GB of RAM and 1024GB of storage, it's well-equipped for general use and demanding tasks. It's fairly portable despite being a larger gaming laptop, and it has a solid battery life for typical usage. This laptop also offers an array of ports, including USB-C charging and HDMI, a backlit keyboard, and is equipped with hardware ray tracing and DLSS technologies. It's expected to handle heat well, has a very good keyboard and webcam but is heavier than ultrabooks, which could be a downside for those who prioritize lightweight devices.
Pros
  • High-performance AMD Ryzen processor
  • Powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU
  • Large 16-inch display with high resolution
  • Comfortable backlit keyboard with number pad
  • Good heat management and build quality
Cons
  • Not the most portable at over 5 pounds
  • Brightness and color coverage could be better
  • No touchscreen options
  • Lacks Thunderbolt and USB4 support
4
Eluktronics 15.6”

RP-15

BEST RATING
Engineering & Design:
4.5
Gaming/AI: B+
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Very Good
Portability: Very thick, heavy
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Eluktronics RP-15 is a midrange gaming laptop with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, aimed at high performance in 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. It offers a 15.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2560x1440, a high refresh rate for smooth visuals, and solid color coverage, making it suitable for content creation and engineering tasks that benefit from accurate colors. However, with a weight of nearly 5 pounds and a battery life suited for limited on-the-go use, it's not the most portable option. It's well-suited for intensive gaming and engineering but might be more than needed for general use.
Pros
  • Powerful main processor
  • High-quality GPU for gaming
  • Solid build quality
  • Good selection of ports
  • Backlit keyboard with numpad
Cons
  • Mediocre battery life
  • Average portability
  • Can get quite warm
  • Fan noise may be noticeable
5
Gigabyte 15.6”

G5

BEST RATING
Engineering & Design:
4.3
Gaming/AI: B+
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thick, med. heavy
Battery: Poor




Pros
  • Has high-refresh-rate display
  • Supports Nvidia RTX graphics
  • Features backlit keyboard with numeric pad
  • Offers multiple USB-C ports
  • Good for 3D and machine learning tasks
Cons
  • Modest battery life
  • Heavier compared to ultraportables
  • Not touchscreen enabled
  • No Thunderbolt or USB4 ports
6
ASUS 16”

TUF Gaming A16

BEST RATING
Battery Life:
4.7
Gaming/AI: B+
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thick, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is a laptop designed for gaming, with a sturdy build and a look tailored to gamers. It offers good general and engineering performance with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and AMD RX 7600S graphics, suitable for tasks from everyday use to more demanding engineering software and gaming. The screen is a sizable 16 inches with a high refresh rate, which ensures smooth visuals. While this device comes with a midrange price, it balances that cost with a large battery for extended playtime and a high-resolution IPS display. It's slightly heavier than average, thus portability is moderate, but it does feature a backlit keyboard, USB-C charging, and ample connectivity options. The device has been assessed to have good keyboard quality, webcam, speakers, and heat management, which contributes positively to the overall user experience. If your priority is gaming or performance-intensive tasks on a budget, and you don't mind a bit of extra weight, this might be a good fit.
Pros
  • Has AMD Ryzen 7 processor
  • Suitable for gaming with AMD GPU
  • 16 GB RAM for multitasking
  • 512 GB storage capacity
  • High refresh rate display
Cons
  • Lacks Thunderbolt ports
  • No touchscreen functionality
  • Moderate brightness and color accuracy
  • Non-premium build quality
7
Lenovo 15.6”

Legion 5 15"

BEST RATING
Keyboard Quality:
4.6
Gaming/AI: B+
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thick, heavy
Battery: Poor




Expert Summary
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" is a competent choice for gaming and engineering tasks with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics. It provides strong performance for 3D and machine learning applications and has a decent battery life suited for typical use. The laptop's build and heat management are notably good, ensuring durability and comfort during long sessions. With a 15.6-inch display that offers high resolution and refresh rate, it's also built for an immersive visual experience. Keep in mind, it has substantial weight, which affects its portability, but it's not on the extreme end. It also comes with a backlit keyboard and multiple USB ports including USB-C, which adds to its flexibility for connecting peripherals. However, you should consider the chunky gaming laptop design if you are looking for something sleek for business environments. This laptop is well-suited for users who prioritize gaming capabilities and power over portability and aesthetics.
Pros
  • High-quality screen with 165Hz refresh rate
  • Strong performance with AMD Ryzen 7 and RTX 4060
  • Multiple USB-C and Ethernet ports for connectivity
  • Durable build with good heat management
  • Backlit keyboard with number pad
Cons
  • Only 4 hours of typical battery life
  • Weighs 5.3 pounds, affecting portability
  • No Thunderbolt or USB4 support
  • No touchscreen functionality
8
Acer 14.5”

Swift X (2023)

BEST RATING
Portability:
4.5
Gaming/AI: B
Size: 14.5"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Med. thick, light
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Acer Swift X (2023) is a midrange laptop with a 14.5-inch IPS display, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 16:10 aspect ratio, making it suitable for both productivity and light gaming, thanks to its Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU. It has an Intel i5-13500H processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, striking a balance between performance for general use and more demanding tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning. With a 76Wh battery, it offers decent battery life, although intensive tasks will consume power more quickly. At 3.31 pounds, it's relatively portable, and its backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and Windows 11 Home OS enhance its user-friendliness. However, it's not equipped with hardware ray tracing or DLSS for high-end gaming or specialized machine learning tasks. The laptop's build and color representation are very good, catering well to general use and creativity work. It comes with multiple USB-C ports, with support for charging over USB-C, ensuring convenient connectivity and power options.
Pros
  • High-resolution 2560 x 1600 screen
  • Lightweight at 3.31 pounds
  • Potent Intel i5-13500H processor
  • Nvidia RTX 3050 for decent graphics
  • Battery lasts 10 hours typically
Cons
  • RAM not expandable, fixed at 16GB
  • Screen not touchscreen
  • No Ethernet port available
  • No hardware ray tracing support
9
BEST RATING
Engineering & Design:
4.4
Gaming/AI: B+
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Very thick, heavy
Battery: Fair




Pros
  • Powerful main processor
  • High-quality GPU
  • Good screen size
  • High max refresh rate
  • Backlit keyboard with numpad
Cons
  • Limited battery life
  • Heavier than average
  • Moderate portability
  • No touchscreen
10
MSI 15.6”

Thin GF63

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.4
Gaming/AI: B
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thick, med. heavy
Battery: Fair




Expert Summary
The MSI Thin GF63 is a laptop priced in the lower midrange that comes with a solid Intel i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, making it a good fit for general use and capable of handling 3D rendering and machine learning tasks reasonably well. It offers 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, which should be sufficient for most users. The 15.6-inch IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate and Full HD resolution does not support touch but should provide a smooth visual experience for gaming and general use. The battery life is on the lower side, which could impact its portability, despite it being relatively lightweight at 4.1 pounds. It also comes with a backlit keyboard but lacks features such as facial recognition and USB-C charging, though it does include a USB-C port and an HDMI output for external displays. Released in May 2023 and running on Windows 11 Home, it seems well-suited for general use and gaming, but the shorter battery life and fair ratings in build quality might be drawbacks for some users.
Pros
  • Good general use performance
  • Very good for 3D/machine learning
  • Good engineering performance
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Hardware ray tracing support
Cons
  • Below average battery life
  • Just fair build quality
  • Fair speaker quality
  • Limited port selections