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
Lenovo 16”

Legion Pro 7i

BEST RATING
Gaming & AI:
4.8
Gaming/AI: A
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Excellent
Portability: Thick, very heavy
Battery: Fair




Expert Summary
The Lenovo Legion 7i Pro comes at a premium price with high-end specifications like an Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4080 graphics. It has ample storage and robust memory, supporting demanding tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering applications. The laptop features a 16-inch display with a high refresh rate, making it suitable for fast-paced games and detailed work. Despite its strengths, it's heavy and has a moderate battery life, making it less portable. It's beneficial for intensive uses but not the best option if you frequently work on the go.
Pros
  • High-end Intel i9 processor
  • Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU
  • High-resolution 16-inch display
  • 240Hz refresh rate
  • Multi-port including Thunderbolt 4
Cons
  • Heavy at over 6 pounds
  • Battery life only 5 hours
  • Less portable due to size
  • Higher price point
2
Razer 18”

Blade 18

BEST RATING
Engineering & Design:
4.8
Gaming/AI: A-
Size: 18"
Overall Performance: Very Good
Portability: Thick, very heavy
Battery: Fair




Pros
  • Large 18-inch high refresh screen
  • Powerful Intel i9 processor
  • High-end Nvidia RTX graphics
  • Excellent keyboard quality
  • Robust build construction
Cons
  • Limited battery life
  • Heavy, affects portability
  • Loud fan noise under load
  • No touchscreen functionality
3
Razer 14”

Blade 14

BEST RATING
Keyboard Quality:
4.7
Gaming/AI: B+
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, light
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Razer Blade 14 is a high-end laptop with a premium price, designed for gaming and performance-intensive tasks. It features a robust AMD Ryzen 9 processor alongside an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, which makes it suitable for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software. With 16GB of RAM and 1024GB of storage, it's well-equipped for multitasking and large projects. The 14-inch display has a high resolution, very good color coverage, and a fast refresh rate, which is beneficial for both gaming and professional creative work. However, its compact size and relatively low weight also make it quite portable for a performance-oriented laptop. The battery life is solid for its class, contributing to its portability. It excels in build quality, heat management, and has a backlit keyboard but lacks an Ethernet port and a number pad. It runs Windows 11 Home and was released in February 2022.
Pros
  • High-resolution 1440p screen
  • Powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor
  • Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Sturdy build quality
Cons
  • Limited to 16GB of RAM
  • No touchscreen available
  • Moderate battery life
  • No Thunderbolt ports
4
Lenovo 16”

Legion Slim 5

BEST RATING
Keyboard Quality:
4.6
Gaming/AI: A-
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: 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
5
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
6
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
7
Lenovo 15.6”

LOQ 15i

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




Expert Summary
The Lenovo LOQ 15 offers a balance of performance and affordability with a focus on gaming and engineering tasks, featuring an Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card. It has ample storage and memory, a 15.6-inch display with a high refresh rate for smooth visuals, but its battery life is suited for shorter usage periods. While it excels in performance for 3D rendering and machine learning applications, its display is satisfactory for general use but may not be top-tier for color-critical tasks. It's slightly heavier than ultra-portables, limiting its ease of transport; however, it includes features like hardware ray tracing, DLSS, a backlit keyboard, and multiple connectivity options, including USB-C and HDMI. Suitable for gamers and professionals who need strong performance without a top-tier price tag, but less ideal for those needing all-day battery or a highly portable device.
Pros
  • High-performance Intel i7 processor
  • Robust Nvidia RTX graphics
  • Large 15.6-inch display with 144Hz
  • Generous 1024GB storage
  • Good port selection including Ethernet
Cons
  • Less portable at over 5 pounds
  • Fairly low battery life of 6 hours
  • Screen limited to 1080p resolution
  • Touchscreen not available
8
Gigabyte 15.6”

G5

BEST RATING
Gaming & AI:
4.2
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
9
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
10
Acer 17.3”

Nitro 17

BEST RATING
Engineering & Design:
4.4
Gaming/AI: B+
Size: 17.3"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Very thick, very heavy
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Acer Nitro 17 is a midrange gaming laptop with a large 17.3-inch display, which is ideal for a more immersive gaming and multimedia experience. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card, making it well-suited for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks such as 3D rendering and machine learning. It comes with 1024 GB of storage and 16 GB of RAM, providing ample space and memory for various applications. The IPS display has a high refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals in fast-paced games. However, the larger screen size and the hardware dedicated to performance contribute to the laptop's weight at 6.83 pounds and relatively short battery life of about 8 hours, which affects its portability. The laptop has a backlit keyboard with a number pad and supports hardware ray tracing and DLSS for enhanced gaming visuals. Despite not being tagged as a premium business laptop, it offers solid general use and engineering performance. It was released in May 2023 and comes with Windows 11 Home installed.
Pros
  • Large screen size for immersive experience
  • High refresh rate for smooth visuals
  • Backlit keyboard with number pad
  • Hardware ray tracing support
  • Good build and speaker quality
Cons
  • Limited battery life
  • Poor portability due to size and weight
  • Average screen color accuracy
  • No thunderbolt or USB4 support