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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.