Everyone loves a good gaming setup. There are entire YouTube channels dedicated to helping people build their dream console. However, in the pursuit of power and performance, things can often get really pricey, really quickly. This is especially true when it comes to PC gaming, where the cost of parts and accessories can quickly stack up. One minute you’re looking at a couple of monitors for a few hundred bucks, and the next your shopping cart is filled with keyboards, mice, a desk, and a headset. When it comes to looking for new purchases, consumers often assume that the cheaper something is, the lower quality the item will be. Luckily, that is not the case, especially with gaming consoles. There are plenty of budget-friendly options that gamers can pick if they don’t want to miss out on quality but are conscious of their wallet. Keep reading for a list of the best budget gaming laptops from 2023!
The ASUS TUF A15
Image via ASUS
Roaring into 2023 with this new installation to its TUF gaming line, ASUS beats out its competitors once more with the ASUS TUF A15, a powerful computer that will destroy your enemies but leave your wallet intact! It boasts a 144Hz refresh rate to keep your reflexes fast and comes with an RGB keyboard to light up your setup. The inner workings of this laptop are powered by a 6000 series AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, as well as a hefty 512GB SSD to store all of your games. The graphics are supported by Nvidia’s RTX 3050 Ti, which means you can play all of the latest games at their best.
The battery inside this monster of a machine can last for up to 12 hours, meaning you’ll never have to pause your gaming to charge it up while you’re playing. Unfortunately, it does not offer Thunderbolt or VRR support; however, those losses are small things compared to the considerable power that the ASUS TUF A15 brings to bear. It comes with 8GB of RAM to help you work and stream all in one — although we warn you that isn’t very productive! All in all, coming in at a price of $950 at Walmart means that this laptop is certainly affordable while offering all of the power that top-of-the-line options can supply.
The Acer Nitro 5
Image via Acer
Are you looking for a laptop that’s a bit more beginner-friendly? Maybe you want to buy a budget laptop for a birthday gift, or for Christmas? Well, the Acer Nitro 5 is sure to impress, especially for those who are just getting started on their gaming journey. The first reason to choose the Nitro 5 is that its specs are among the most resilient and frequently used by the gaming community. That means the studios creating and designing video games will be modeling their titles primarily off some of the specs that the Nitro 5 contains. For example, its Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card and Intel Core i7 from the 12th-gen line are powerful tools that the Acer Nitro 5 makes use of.
It also contains 16GB of RAM which will let you run multiple programs at once. For example, chatting with your friends while you play your favorite game. Its monitor has a blazing fast refresh rate of 144Hz and you’ll have plenty of storage in its 512GB SSD. Unfortunately, the Acer Nitro 5 is a little heavy, so if you intend to travel with your gaming laptop frequently, this may not be the option for you. Additionally, it only supports up to 32GB of RAM, although that is more than enough for most gamers. Pricing in around the $800 range, the Acer Nitro 5 is a comfortable pick for any budget, and will not leave you wanting in terms of its formidable technical specs.
Lenovo LOQ (RTX 3050)
Image via Lenovo
The Lenovo LOQ slides into our third spot on this list with ease. It’s not the lightest or most space-efficient laptop around, but its performance is undeniable. You can count on the LOQ to hold its own in the midst of your games, with a strong Intel i5-13500H processor from their 13th-gen line. The memory will be more than enough for most gamers, as the LOQ comes with an SSD of 512GB and 8GB of RAM. To be honest, the camera on this laptop is so good that you could even take selfies with it if you’d like to — the 1080P FHD model it’s fitted with is high quality, to say the least.
The keyboard is backlit by white lights, so fans of the RGB color scheme are unfortunately out of luck. However, the 144Hz refresh rate, consistent with our other picks, is definitely a selling point for the LOQ. One other drawback to the LOQ is that it is made entirely out of plastic, so the physical feel of the laptop can feel a tad cheap and bulky. It is rather heavy for its size as we mentioned earlier; however, this also pays off in the form of a longer battery life than most competitors. Its price is $800 on the Lenovo official website, which is quite honestly a fair price for a powerful gaming system. Needless to say, this investment would certainly pay — wink, wink — off!
