3 Best Cheap Gaming Laptops (2026): Lenovo, MSI, Alienware
Performance Comparison Game/Benchmark Lenovo LOQ 15 (RTX 5060) MSI Cyborg A15 (RTX 5050) Alienware 15 (RTX 5050) Cyberpunk 2077 91 fps 52 fps 65 fps
Performance Comparison Game/Benchmark Lenovo LOQ 15 (RTX 5060) MSI Cyborg A15 (RTX 5050) Alienware 15 (RTX 5050) Cyberpunk 2077 91 fps 52 fps 65 fps Marvel Rivals 51 fps 34 fps 38 fps Black Myth: Wukong 34 fps 20 fps 27 fps Monster Hunter: Wilds 54 fps 36 fps N/A 3DMark Steel Nomad 2701 1619 2025 Cinebench 2026 (Multi-Core) 833 2979 3280 Other Cheap Gaming Laptops to Consider There are a few other affordable gaming laptops I haven't tested yet that are worth considering. Asus and Dell both have RTX 5050 options, but neither is under $1,000. The Asus ROG A14 is out there, but it is currently only available with an RTX 5060. Other affordable RTX 5050 laptops include the Omen 16, which is currently selling for $1,100. I haven't tested that device in a while, but it's a solid deal. The cheapest deal I've seen is the HP Victus 15 with the RTX 5050, which is only $999.
If you want to upgrade to the next level of GPU performance, such as an RTX 5070, you'll see a significant jump in price. One of the cheapest RTX 5070 gaming laptops is the Asus ROG Strix G16, which sells for $1,760. That should give you an idea of how performance scales up from what is considered “budget.” Read our Best Gaming Laptops guide for more high-end picks. Here are two other affordable gaming laptops I've tested that are worth mentioning Photograph: Luke Larsen Lenovo LOQ 15 Essential Gen 11 for $1,850: If the version of the LOQ 15 I recommended above isn't available, I would consider this one more seriously. If (and when) that older model goes out of stock, my opinion here will change. But as it stands, it's hard to justify this “newer” laptop, which pairs a three-year-old GPU with a three-year-old CPU (the Core i7-13650HX).
The good news is the display is on par with the other LOQ 15, which is a step up in color from the Alienware 15. But the deal-killer is the included 135-watt power adapter. Like the Acer Nitro V 16 below, it loses power when playing games in Performance mode despite being plugged in. That means the extra 10 to 15 percent of higher frame rates you get in Performance mode is on a time limit. Also, at its full price of $1,850, it's way overpriced, so wait for a discount. Photograph: Luke Larsen Acer Nitro V 16 for $1,040: Much can be forgiven if the price is low enough, but unfortunately, the Acer Nitro V 16 isn't as cheap as it once was. The display is bright enough and has a fast 180-Hz refresh rate, but the colors are an issue. As I saw in my tests, the color accuracy and gamut are wildly off, resulting in some funky, desaturated coloring.
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