The best cheap gaming laptop

The ASUS Laptop Vivobook 15 is a fantastic all-rounder that you can depend on. For starters, the CPU and GPU make for a nice pair together, so you won't be struggling on loading screens. Secondly, the 512 gigabytes of SSD storage is great for a budget laptop. It's especially useful as games in recent years require more and more digital space. The battery life isn't the best, but that's the only notable downside.

As an all-rounder, you might find it struggles on high graphics settings, in particular, anything with reflections or detailed shadows. That said, it should have little trouble on medium settings, so everything should still look solid enough.

The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has specs more aligned with gaming needs, and the difference is evident. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 is plenty respectable for a budget laptop, so you should get good graphics from a variety of games. Plus you shouldn't have to worry too much about any stutter or slow down, thanks to the processor being very effective and able to handle multiple programs at once. And, of course, the RAM and storage don't let you down either, with both being the ideal base amount for most gaming needs.

It does fall short in one aspect of gaming, and that's the fan. Video games can put a strain on your laptop and cause it to heat up, which is why you need a solid set of fans to keep everything cool. Unfortunately, the ventilation here is pretty underwhelming and will likely struggle on hot summer days.

If you have a large Steam library and don't want to juggle around your installs, go for the MSI Katana. It is more expensive than a lot of other budget options, but it justifies that with the specs. It sports a fantastic one terabyte of SSD storage, about double what you would expect for the price. Even more expensive models struggle to match that size for an SSD.

The MSI Katana performs excellently, with a great combination of RAM and processor to keep everything running stable throughout your gaming session. An RTX 4050 GPU is only a smidge away from what you could expect from a dedicated gaming computer, so there's plenty of power in this portable design. High graphics might cause it to get a bit noisy, but that's only a minor downside.

Compared to the rest of the laptops on this list, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 may not appear like a gaming unit at first glance, but that's partly why we're recommending it. This is an affordable everyday laptop that perfect for those wanting a general-use design that's still powerful enough to do some moderate gaming. The AMD Ryzen 7 is speedy, the 8GB RAM is fine enough for less intensive games, and the storage and GPU are pretty solid for the price.

Where the IdeaPad 3 shines is in its other features. The eight-and-a-half-hour battery life is already quite good, but the rapid charge feature means you'll rarely need to worry about it running low on power. The webcam is also excellent, making this a great laptop for both work and relaxation.

The main perk of using a laptop over a desktop computer is portability, so we're recommending the HP Victus as a great travel option. The 16.1-inch display is excellent, with anti-glare and flicker-free technology added to ensure it looks great no matter where you are. The refresh compliments this, ensuring that the graphics produced with the GPU appear as crisp as possible. The CPU isn't groundbreaking, but the SSD and RAM are the right amount we like to see in a gaming laptop.

The ventilation and battery each deserve a mention too. The battery life of just over seven hours is respectable but becomes great when combined with the speedy charging rate. As for the ventilation, the rear cooling vents ensure the laptop won't overheat even on the hottest of days.

Trying to find the right laptop for uni while still catering to a gaming hobby can be tricky, but the Lenovo LOQ A530M is a great solution. It's by no means a powerhouse; the CPU and GPU are outclassed by other laptops on our list, but the ease of upgrading these down the line gives this model an edge in future-proofing. For now, you get a respectable machine capable of casual gaming while still possessing the ever-vital 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM.

Another aspect that makes this great for students is the selection of ports. While some may find it odd that they sit around the back, the sheer number of them makes transferring important files and projects between multiple devices a breeze.

Most gaming laptop screens sit around 15 inches, but if you want a smaller model, the ACER Swift Go and its 14-inch screen may be right for you. Don't mistake the smaller size for a lack of power either; while the GPU is a bit middling, the i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD more than makeup for it. Plus, you get the added convenience of a touchscreen with the ACER Swift Go as well.

One surprisingly great aspect of this laptop is its battery life. You might expect a smaller laptop to have a shorter battery life, but the Swift Go has no trouble going for over 11 hours. This makes it a reliable pick for those who often forget a charger when out and about, or simply don't want to be weighed down with one in their backpack at all times.

For those who prioritise screen quality, you should like the ASUS Zenbook 14 UX3402ZA. A quad HD screen is a fantastic find at this price point, and effectively as good as you can get before exceeding your budget to reach 4K visuals. The screen also has an anti-glare feature that's always a blessing on sunny days, and the impressive brightness does wonders for darker days.

In terms of specs, this Zenbook 14 is pretty solid. The CPU is dependable, the SSD is spacious, and a ten-hour battery life is always great to see. The GPU is equivalent to many on this list. The only true shortcoming is the RAM. For gaming, it's better to have 16GB instead of 8GB RAM. That said, it should only prove to be an issue if you primarily play large AAA games.