Top 10 Best Gaming Laptop Under $1500 (Ultimate Guide) 2023

Looking for the best gaming laptop under $1500? Here’s a rundown of our selection of the best ten.

Selecting a gaming laptop is an important process for every gamer, as the laptop you choose will ultimately determine your gaming experience and whether you can enjoy the latest in-game features and functionalities. This is even more so if you are looking for one of the best gaming laptops under $1500, as most advanced gaming laptops retail at over $2000.

However, you can still find a superb gaming laptop under $1500 that will let you enjoy advanced features such as high-quality graphics, smooth gameplay, and immersive experiences without breaking the bank. To help you narrow down and make an informed choice, we have reviewed the top 10 best gaming laptops selling under $1500. In the list, we consider the graphics card, CPU, RAM, display, storage, ergonomic features, and of course, the price. The list is perfect for both avid and casual gamers alike.

10 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500 – Top Picks

Below are our top 10 picks, in no particular order.

1. Acer Predator Helios 300

Key Features:

• Hardware: Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics card.
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD display with 144Hz refresh rate.
• Cooling system: Double cooling.
• Keyboard: Backlit keyboard.
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.2, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a powerful gaming laptop that offers great gaming performance for the price. It is powered by the Intel Core i7-11800H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, which can comfortably handle most games. The 15.6″ Full HD display has a 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, which provides smooth and responsive gameplay. The laptop also comes with 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD, which ensures that it can handle multitasking and loading games quickly.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a great choice for gamers who are looking for a powerful and affordable gaming laptop. It offers excellent performance, a fast display, and plenty of storage. However, it comes in multiple versions, with some premium gaming laptops going over $2000, so you have to choose the right one.

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2. HP Victus 15

Key Features:

• Hardware: Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 graphics card
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD display with 144Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: Dual-fan cooling system
• Keyboard: Backlit keyboard
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.2, HDMI, and RJ-45

The HP Victus 15 is another best gaming laptop under $1500 that combines powerful performance, affordability, and immersive visuals. It is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, which ensures superb performance.

Besides that, it also comes with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. It also has Dynamic Duo, so you can play demanding games without struggling.

The HP Victus 15 features a 15.6″ Full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, and it also has 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. It also balances power and affordability, making it an excellent choice for gamers on a budget.

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3. Dell G15

Key Features:

• Hardware: Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX350 graphics card
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD display with 60Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: Single-fan cooling system
• Keyboard: Backlit keyboard
• Port and connectivity: USB 3.2, HDMI, and RJ-45

The Dell G15 is a mid-range that strikes the perfect balance between performance, affordability, and immersive visuals and is one of the best gaming laptop under $1500. It is powered by the 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, so it delivers reliable performance.

The Dell G15 features a 15.6″ Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. You can enjoy sharp graphics and immerse yourself in your favorite gaming worlds. It comes equipped with 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM. The 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD also provides ample storage space to store your games, files, and multimedia content. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a budding enthusiast, the Dell G15 is a reliable companion.

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4. Acer Aspire 5

Key Features:

• Hardware: Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX350 graphics card
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD display with 60Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: Single-fan cooling system
• Keyboard: Backlit keyboard
• Port and connectivity: Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, HDMI, and RJ-45

The Acer Aspire 5 comes with powerful features at a fair price, and it’s another that can be listed in this guide. The laptop is powered by the Intel Core i5-12500H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, which means that you won’t have issues playing most games. It comes with a 15.6″ Full HD display and has a 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, and also has some additional great features such as Thunderbolt 4. The laptop also has 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, which ensures you can play smoothly.

The Acer Aspire 5 offers excellent performance, a fast display, and plenty of storage.

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5. Asus Vivobook Pro 15

Key Features:

• Hardware: Up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card
• Display: 15.6-inch 2.8K OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: ASUS IceCool Plus cooling system with dual fans and three heat pipes
• Keyboard: Ergonomic backlit keyboard with 1.4mm key travel
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI, and RJ-45

The Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is one of the powerful and versatile best gaming laptop under $1500 that offers excellent performance at a fair price. It is powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. Its 15.6″ OLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth and responsive gameplay. The Acer gaming laptop also has 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and it is a great choice for gamers, creative professionals, and students who are looking for a powerful and portable laptop.

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6. ASUS ROG Strix Hero II

Key Features:

• Hardware: Intel Core i7-8750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD display with 144Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: ROG Intelligent Cooling thermal system with Anti-Dust Cooling
• Backlit keyboard: Aura Sync RGB backlit keyboard
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.1 Gen 2, HDMI, and RJ-45

The ASUS ROG Strix Hero II is a gaming laptop that combines impressive specifications with powerful performance. And with its Intel Core i7-8750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU, the laptop can handle most games easily.

Strix Hero II comes with an Intel Core i7-8750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2060 GPU. It also offers a superb combination of processing power and graphics capabilities. From graphically demanding AAA titles to competitive multiplayer games, the laptop delivers smooth and immersive gameplay.

The laptop features a 15.6″ Full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time. This combination ensures that every frame is rendered smoothly and with exceptional clarity. You also get 16GB of DDR4-2666 RAM and a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD combined with a 1TB 5400RPM HDD.

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7. Lenovo Ideapad L340

Key Features:

• Hardware: Up to 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD display with 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: Dual-fan cooling system
• Backlit keyboard: Backlit keyboard for gaming in low-light conditions
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.1, HDMI, and RJ-45

The Lenovo Ideapad L340 is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that doesn’t compromise performance. With its Intel Core i5-9300H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, the laptop offers a solid gaming experience for most games.

Ideapad l340 features an Intel Core i5-9300H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, which means its quite powerful. The laptop also sports a 15.6″ Full HD display that comes with decent visuals and clarity for gaming. Although it has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is not the fastest on the market, it still offers a good enough experience for most gamers.

In terms of storage, Ideapad L340 comes with 8GB of DDR4-2666 RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. But while 8GB of RAM is sufficient for most gaming needs, it’s worth considering a RAM upgrade if you plan on running memory-intensive applications simultaneously.

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8. Asus TUF Gaming F15

Key Features:

• Hardware: Up to 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card
• Display: 15.6-inch Full HD display with 144Hz or 240Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: ROG Intelligent Cooling thermal system with Anti-Dust Cooling
• Keyboard: Aura Sync RGB backlit keyboard
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI, and RJ-45

The Asus TUF Gaming F15 is another gaming laptop under $1500, and it offers impressive performance and outstanding value for the price. It comes equipped with the Intel Core i7-11800H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, which means it performs well for even high-end games. You will enjoy an immersive and smooth gaming experience, even when playing AAA titles.

The laptop features a 15.6″ Full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time. This combination ensures fluid and responsive gameplay, reducing motion blur and enhancing visual clarity. It also boasts 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD combined with a 1TB 5400RPM HDD. The ample RAM capacity enables seamless performance when running multiple applications simultaneously, while the SSD and HDD combination provides ample storage for your games, ensuring quick access to your gaming library.

The Asus TUF Gaming F15 provides a perfect balance between affordability and powerful gaming capabilities, so you won’t have to break the bank for a high-end experience.

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9. Alienware m15 R7

Key Features:

• Hardware: Up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics card
• Display: 15.6-inch QHD display with 240Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: Alienware Cryo-Tech cooling system with Advanced Optimus and ComfortView Plus
• Backlit keyboard: Alienware mSeries per-key AlienFX RGB keyboard
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI, and RJ-45

The Alienware m15 R7 is a gaming laptop that stands out as a powerhouse, delivering excellent gaming performance at a fair price. With 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, you can play any game with ease.

The laptop boasts a 15.6″ QHD display with a remarkable 240Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time. This impressive display ensures that you experience visually stunning graphics with smooth gaming motion, resulting in a highly immersive gaming experience. The laptop also comes with 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM and a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD.

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10. The Acer Nitro 17

Key Features:

• Hardware: AMD Ryzen 7000 Series and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU
• Display: 17.3-inch QHD display with 165Hz refresh rate
• Cooling system: CoolBoost technology with dual fans and four exhaust vents
• Keyboard: 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard
• Ports and connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI, and RJ-45

The Acer Nitro 17 is one of the best budget gaming laptops, and it combines formidable power, portability, and immersive visuals. Featuring the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 Series Processors and NVIDIA’s DLSS 3 technology, this laptop packs lots of power for handling demanding games, especially when you consider it also has the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU.

It also comes with a massive 17.3″ QHD display, which provides a great display for your gaming adventures. Combined with a high 144Hz refresh rate, the Acer gaming laptop offers great visuals for enhancing your gaming experience.

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Best Gaming Laptop under $1500 – Editor’s Choice

Acer Nitro 17 AN17-41-R7G3	Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-54-760S	ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 K6502ZC-DB74
⭐Best gaming Laptop under 1500	⭐Good gaming Laptop under 1500	⭐Quality gaming Laptop under 1500
⭐ AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS Octa-Core CPU	⭐Intel Core i7 11800Hprocessor	⭐ Intel Core i7-12650H Processor
⭐NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU	⭐NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics card	⭐NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU
⭐16GB DDR5 Memory	⭐16GB DDR4 memory	⭐16GB DDR4
⭐1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD	⭐512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD	⭐512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD
Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

Best Gaming Laptops Under 1500 – Buyer’s Guide

To get the best gaming laptop, here are some important considerations that you should make and pointers to keep in mind.

The CPU & GPU

These two are the performance drivers of any laptop and the core considerations when choosing a gaming laptop. The CPU is the “brain” of the computer, and it determines the frame rates and response times. To get the right performance, you will need to look at the two main considerations:

• The clock speed: This defines the number of cycles a CPU executes every second. Generally, a higher clock speed translates to a faster CPU and better performance. A clock speed of 3.5 GHz to 4.0 GHz is generally considered a good clock speed for gaming.
• The core count: Simply put, the core count determines the number of tasks that a CPU can handle simultaneously, as each core acts as a separate CPU. 4 cores would be sufficient for a gaming CPU, but a 6-core CPU would provide optimum performance.

Currently, you can go for at least a 10th or 11th Gen Intel Core-i7 processor. If you’d like the AMD alternative, the recommended options are the AMD Radeon RX 5000M, 5600M, and the 5700M series.

GPU

The Graphical Processing Unit, or the GPU, is responsible for forming the images on your screen. And as such, you’ll need one that is capable of generating high-quality images smoothly. 1440p or a 4K GPU is a great option for a gaming laptop as it offers great performance.

Here’s a quick layout of what to look for:

• Frame rate and resolution. Before you choose, check how the CPU and GPU of the laptop you are interested in compares to the games you want to play or the most popular ones.
• Display refresh rate. In terms of the refresh rate, most gaming monitors offer at least 144Hz. As such, you’ll want a GPU that can achieve the same.
• Ray tracing. Ray tracing is used to enhance lighting in games, from reflections to shadows. Having it will enhance your experience.

System Requirements

Different games have different requirements for them to perform smoothly. And to enjoy a game to the maximum, you need to ensure that your laptop exceeds these requirements, as they are usually on the minimum side. To do this, check the minimum CPU and GPU requirements, RAM capacity, and storage space of a particular game. If you don’t have one in mind, check the most popular.

Design and Build Quality

Gaming laptops are often used for long hours with high demands. As such, you’ll want to go beyond aesthetics and look for durability and functionality. Ensure that the laptop has a sturdy chassis and internal components are well protected. Of course, after these requirements, you can look at a design that aligns with your preferences and gaming style.

Durable and Lightweight Design

If you plan to be traveling with your laptop, then you’ll need to consider the weight and durability when looking for the best gaming laptop under $1500. If you go for one that is lightweight, you can travel with it without compromising its physical state. However, note that aluminum or magnesium alloy bodies are often more durable and resistant to impacts and scratches.

Choose Your RAM Wisely

The RAM is one of the most important considerations for any laptop, although most gaming laptops take this into consideration. Generally, 8GB will work for most games, but consider opting for at least 16GB of RAM as it will allow multitasking and a smoother gaming experience.

Screen Size and Resolution

The screen size and resolution will determine how immersive your gaming will be. For gamers, a large screen is important, as it will reveal more details. It will also help you to better appreciate the game’s graphics. Typically, most gaming laptops come with 15 to 17 inches, with some even larger options available.

When it comes to the resolution, the two most common options are Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) and 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels). Full HD is enough for most games, but 4K resolution provides much better visuals. However, note that it requires a more powerful GPU to drive the higher pixel count.

FAQs about choosing a Gaming Laptop

Should You Purchase a Cheap Gaming Laptop?

Cheap gaming laptops can still offer you decent performance, although they may lack the power and smooth performance you can get with a higher budget in the gaming laptop market. That said, if you choose well, you can still manage to balance between performance and budget, depending on the games you want to play.

Should I get a 4K screen on my laptop?

A 4K screen will be able to offer you very sharp visuals. However, keep in mind that it will also require a more powerful GPU, so ensure you consider that when selecting a budget gaming laptop. However, if you want to play 4K games, it is your best bet.

What screen size is best for a gaming laptop?

The best screen size for a gaming laptop depends on personal preference and portability needs. A 15.6-inch screen is a popular choice as it offers a good balance between immersion and portability. However, if you prefer a larger display for a more immersive experience, you can opt for a 17-inch laptop. There’s also an option for an extended external screen.

What is the best mid-range gaming laptop?

The best mid-range gaming laptop can vary depending on individual needs and preferences. However, the options listed above should point you in the right direction.

What is the best laptop brand?

There are several laptop brands that have established themselves as reputable options in the gaming industry. Some of the top brands known for their gaming laptops include Asus, MSI, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and HP. However, it’s advisable to research well into what each brand offers and then check out the reviews for the specific laptop.

Why is refresh rate important in gaming?

The refresh rate of a display determines how many times per second the screen can refresh its image. A higher refresh rate, such as 144Hz or 240Hz, allows for smoother motion and reduces motion blur when playing a fast game.

Do more expensive laptops last longer?

More expensive laptops usually come with a higher build quality, and generally better-quality components. However, how long the laptop will last will depend on various factors, including usage and maintenance. For longevity, you can do some regular maintenance, such as cleaning the vents and avoiding excessive heat.

Final Words

Choosing the best gaming laptop under $1500 can be quite the task as there are many options. On top of that, you have to be careful and consider things such as the CPU, GPU, RAM, display, design, battery life, etc. However, the guide above should help guide you in the process and ensure that you take into account all crucial considerations. It should also help you narrow down to the top 10 options, and you should be able to make an informed decision.

We hope this guide be useful when choosing your next gaming laptop. Finally, may be of your interest a visit to the guide about The Best WiFi Adapters For Gaming.

Have fun!

Credits: Photo by Fredrick Tendong on Unsplash