Gaming laptops can cost a lot of money if you’re going for top of the line specs, but they can also easily be had for under $999 or less. Granted, you won’t be getting top-tier performance like you would with the Razer Blade 14. You can however pick up gaming laptops $999 or less that still run games well. You may have to adjust some settings, but overall performance can still be decent.
That being said, finding a gaming laptop for $999 or less can feel daunting. And we get it. There’s a lot of options out there and it can be hard to sift through them. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best gaming laptops to choose from that will come in at or under that $999 price tag.
This way you’ll be set up to play your favorite games and save some money in the process. Now, if you don’t need a portable gaming PC, then you’re likely better off getting a desktop. But if you do want something you can use at home and elsewhere, a gaming laptop is the way to go.
Best Gaming Laptops For $999 Or Less
Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-58-57QW)
- Price: $949.99
- Where To Buy: Best Buy
Acer makes a great many laptops and while not all of them are gaming laptops, the ones that are pack some serious punch. And you don’t have to spend thousands to get a decent piece of hardware that can run games on the daily. Keeping that in mind, this is a laptop under $1,000. You won’t be playing games with the graphics cranked up to max. But you should be able to tune them a little and still game with a comfortable frame rate.
With this model, the Nitro 5 AN515-58-57QW, you’re getting 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB SSD for game storage. It also comes with a 12th Gen Intel Core-i5 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, and a Full HD display with a refresh rate of 144Hz. Overall a pretty decent gaming laptop for under $1,000. I’ve been testing the 2022 model of this laptop which comes with basically all the same specs. And it’s served me well for quite a few games in my Steam library.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- Price: $899.99
- Where To Buy: Best Buy
Lenovo’s IdeaPad lineup is usually intended for professionals and those wanting more of a work-oriented laptop. But Lenovo has started making gaming versions of the IdeaPad and we’re recommending the IdeaPad Gaming 3 for an option under $1,000. You can snag it for $899.99 and for that price you get some pretty good specs. An RTX 3050 Ti GPU just like the Nitro 5 above, as well as a 15-inch Full HD display. It is running a Ryzen 5 5600H CPU instead of a 12th Gen Intel chip though. And it comes with 8GB of RAM instead of 16GB, as well as a 256GB SSD instead of 512GB.
Those two things are worth keeping in mind when you consider this laptop. As you get less RAM for running programs and it has considerably less space for games. Which means you’d likely have to rely on an external SSD for additional games if you plan to install quite a few.
And that’s easy to do when some games are as large as they are. MW II for example would take up most of the space on this laptop. Still, it’s not a bad option if you want something more casual. And if the games you play aren’t very large, or you really only play one at a time, you can easily get by with 256GB. Even if it isn’t ideal.
Dell G15
- Price: $989.99
- Where To Buy: Best Buy
Dell’s G15 has been a staple pick for a gaming laptop under $1,000, and things haven’t changed. Full disclosure though. This particular configuration of the laptop is normally $1,099.99. BUT, Best Buy has it on sale right now for $989.99. So we’re including it. Because this config comes with the RTX 3050 Ti GPU, a 512GB SSD, 16GB of RAM, and an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H CPU. It also comes with a 15-inch Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
It won’t be the thinnest gaming laptop out there, especially at this price range. But it’s a solid choice and you’ll end up with some excellent support from Dell. There’s no word on when this model goes back to its regular price though. So if you’re considering it, you might want to pick it up before that time comes.
MSI Cyborg (RTX 4060)
- Price: From $799.99
- Where To Buy: Best Buy
MSI’s Cyborg laptop is a great gaming option for under the $1,000 price. This is one of the better laptops on this list and there are a few key reasons why you may want to consider this one over the others. For one, this model comes with an RTX 4060 GPU. So it has one of NVIDIA’s latest graphics cards and that means features like DLSS 3. The other reason why we think this is worth considering is because the RTX 4060 model is usually $1,099.99. But it’s down to $799.99 which is an amazing deal for everything you get.
Other key specs include 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Intel Core i7-12650H CPU. It’s on the lower end for RAM compared to some others on this list, but at this price point for a laptop with a 40 series card, it’s hard to pass up. Alternatively, Best Buy also offers the RTX 4050 config of this exact laptop, which comes with most of the same specs. Save for a slightly different CPU. It’s also $999.99. We’re including it though as a backup option just in case the RTX 4060 model goes back up to regular price.
GIGABYTE AORUS (RTX 4050)
- Price: From $899.99
- Where To Buy: Best Buy
This is another solid option at $900. With an RTX 4050 GPU inside you’ll get access to features from NVIDIA like DLSS 3 for smoother frame rates in games that support the feature. And trust me, it makes a big difference. This can also allow you to tweak the graphics settings up a bit and have the DLSS 3 compensate for any potential frame losses. Though not always, and not necessarily for as many frames as you might want.
Outside of the GPU this laptop also sports a 512GB SSD, an Intel Core i5-13500H CPU, and a 15-inch 144Hz display. It’s also upgradeable and doesn’t get too hot during longer sessions. I also really like the feel of the keyboard which isn’t always the case with laptops at these lower prices.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus 15 (RTX 3060)
- Price: $999.99
- Where To Buy: Best Buy
Ok so this next laptop is a 2022 release, but it’s still a great option. For starters, it’s an ASUS ROG laptop and ASUS is well-known for having some of the best gaming laptops on the market. This particular model comes with an RTX 3060 GPU inside along with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900S CPU. And it’s this combo that sort of sets it apart from other laptops on this list.
To be clear, this is normally priced at $1,619.99. But Best Buy has it on sale for $620 off right now bringing it down to the $999.99 price. And that’s part of why this is such a good deal. Because you get a decent GPU and a great CPU. In fact this is probably the best CPU out of any laptop on this list. All for around the same cost as most of these laptops. In addition, it has a 512GB SSD, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 15.6-inch display with a 165Hz refresh rate.
It is by far the nicest laptop out of the bunch, as well as the thinnest. And chances are even with the RTX 3060 GPU, it’ll perform just as well if not better than those with the RTX 4050. All in all this is our pick for the best gaming laptop under $999.99 or less. So long as this price stays at $999.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus 15 (RTX 3060)
HP Victus
- Price: $629.99
- Where To Buy: Best Buy
Rounding out this list is an RTX 3050 option from HP. The HP Victus comes with pretty comparable specs to the majority of laptops on here. It’s been a staple on our list for a while and this is the latest model which now has an Intel Core i5-13420H CPU alongside the GeForce RTX 3050 GPU.
It also has a 512GB SSD, 8GB of RAM, and a 15-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate. It comes with an unassuming design so it’s just as easy to take this thing around to class or work if you don’t want something that carries a gaming aesthetic. Plus, the specs you get with this laptop are quite nice for the cost of $629.99. If you really need to go for a budget option, don’t count this one out as one of the best gaming laptops under $999.