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
Get your personalized recommendations

10 Best Gaming Laptops Under 1000

1
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
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 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
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
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
6
Lenovo 16”

Legion Pro 5i

BEST RATING
Engineering & Design:
4.7
Gaming/AI: A-
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Very Good
Portability: Thick, heavy
Battery: Poor




Expert Summary
The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is a midrange-priced laptop with a large storage capacity and ample 32GB of RAM, suited for both demanding engineering tasks and gaming with its Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU. Its screen is a 16-inch IPS panel with a high refresh rate, ideal for smooth visuals, and it has a resolution that strikes a balance between clarity and performance. It doesn't support touchscreen but has a comfortable keyboard with a numpad and is backlit. However, at 5.6 pounds, it leans towards the heavier side, which might affect portability, and its battery life is modest, which could limit mobility for extended use away from power sources. It supports a wide range of ports, including USB-C and HDMI, and has features like Ethernet and USB-C charging, but it's not the quietest under load. Overall, it's built for gaming and heavy workloads but not the best for on-the-go usage.
Pros
  • High-performance Intel i7 processor
  • Powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU
  • Ample 32GB RAM
  • Large 16 inch high-refresh display
  • Spacious 1TB storage
Cons
  • Slightly bulky at 5.6 pounds
  • Short battery life at 3.5 hours
  • Not very portable
  • No touchscreen capability
7
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
8
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
9
Acer 15.6”

Nitro 5 15

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




Expert Summary
The Acer Nitro 5 15 is positioned at a midrange price, offering solid general use and gaming performance, thanks to its robust AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics. It has 16GB of RAM and a large 1024GB of storage, ideal for demanding applications and multitasking. The laptop features a 15.6-inch IPS display with a high resolution, perfect for detailed work and immersive gaming, complemented by a high refresh rate suitable for fast-paced action. The build includes a backlit keyboard with a number pad, hardware ray tracing, and DLSS support for enhanced gaming visuals. It's not the lightest at over 5 pounds and offers moderate battery life, meaning it sacrifices some portability for performance. Its array of ports, including USB-C, HDMI, and Ethernet, plus the presence of available RAM and storage slots, adds to its versatility. This device suits users needing a powerful laptop for engineering, machine learning, and gaming, but who don't require the longest battery life or the most portable design.
Pros
  • Very good general performance
  • Excellent for 3D and machine learning
  • High refresh rate screen
  • Very good screen brightness
  • Good keyboard quality
Cons
  • Average battery life
  • Fair portability
  • Moderate weight
  • Good but not best speaker quality
10
Dell 15.6”

XPS 15

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.8
Gaming/AI: B
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Med. thick, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Dell XPS 15 is positioned at a midrange price level, offering a substantial balance between performance and cost. For storage, it comes with a decent size, accompanied by a sizeable amount of RAM for multitasking. It is powered by a modern Intel processor, alongside an Intel Arc GPU which makes it suitable for general usage and some more intensive tasks like light engineering work, but it might struggle with very demanding 3D or machine learning tasks. You'll find the battery life suited for a full day's work. Its 15.6-inch display is an IPS type with a good resolution, although it's not a touchscreen. Portability is good, not too heavy nor too bulky, making it a solid choice if you need to move around with your laptop. There are multiple USB-C ports, including Thunderbolt 4, enhancing connectivity and data transfer speed. The laptop has a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader for extra convenience and security, an excellent build quality, and manages heat well. Overall, the Dell XPS 15 is versatile and well-rounded, fitting for general use, professional work, and some creative tasks, yet not the ultimate choice for high-end gaming or very demanding computational tasks.
Pros
  • Premium build quality
  • Excellent keyboard
  • Good general performance
  • Reliable heat management
  • High-resolution display
Cons
  • Average battery life
  • Limited gaming performance
  • No touchscreen option
  • Moderate portability