Just because you can get gaming laptops for $1,500 doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice performance or the ability to play the newest titles.
Although these devices may not be as powerful as the turbo-clad monsters found in higher price points, they are still more than capable of powering through your Steam library with the help of technologies such as Nvidia’s DLSS performance and graphic enhancement capabilities. If you’re looking for a gaming PC that can handle the newest AAA titles with good graphics and a powerful CPU, you should be able to find one in this price range.
If you’re the type of person who won’t settle for anything less than fully customizing your graphics settings, then you might want to peruse our top gaming laptops list for a more extensive assortment of excellent gaming laptops. Also, our best inexpensive gaming laptops list always has some great entry-level choices, so you won’t be stuck if money is tight.
Here are our picks for the top gaming laptops under $1,500 in 2024 if you’re want to save money without sacrificing performance.
For less than $1,500, these are the greatest laptops for gaming.
THE ABSTRACT
Excited to discover the ideal laptop for you? Rest assured, we have compiled a comprehensive list of all the laptops on the market today and included links to our in-depth reviews of each one.
1. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Under $1,500, the ultimate gaming laptop
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
- RAM: 16GB of RAM
- Storage: 1TB
- Display: 6-inch, 2560 x 1600, IPS, 165Hz
- Dimensions: 14.3 x 10.25 x 0.86-1.05
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
PROS:
- Outstanding performance
- Attractive color and brightness
- Robust hinge and chassis
- Ideal keyboard
- Reasonably priced
DON’T BUY IT Because:
- The battery life is poor
- The webcam is grainy
There is no better sub-$1,500 gaming laptop than the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro. With its outstanding RTX 4070 performance, which easily surpasses its numerous rivals, and its great productivity ratings, which will meet your demands for everyday work.
One of my favorite keyboards is on the Legion 5 Pro; in fact, I went so far as to refer to it as my “keyboard soulmate” earlier this year. Among the best, it stands out thanks to the dedicated space for the arrow keys, the presence of a dedicated touchpad, and the fantastic 1.5 mm of key travel.
Even though it doesn’t have the greatest screen, the Legion 5 Pro’s build quality is exceptional for the price. Achieving an 82.4% DCI-P3 score and 319 nits of brightness at this price point is frequently unheard of. Its sound system is very robust as well.
This laptop’s impressive hardware—an AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD—allows it to get an impressive Geekbench 6 score of 13,063. It also boasts a speedy 4:05 conversion time from 4K to 1080p using the HandBrake program. The 2,150 MB/s transfer rate is the icing on the cake of an already outstanding performance profile.
2. Asus ROG Ally
The ultimate portable gaming laptop that won’t break the bank
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: 3.3-GHz AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics RDNA 3 4GB VRAM
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB NVMe M.2 2230 SSD
- Display: 7-inch, 1920 x 1080p, 120Hz
- Dimensions: 11 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
- Weight: 21.4 ounces
AFFORDABILITY:
- portability
- pleasant design
- crisp
- colorful screen,
- responsive buttons and triggers
- fluid gaming performance are all selling points.
WARNINGS:
- It gets hot quickly and doesn’t come with a case to store it in.
You may be thinking, “Wait, that’s not a laptop,” but that just serves to illustrate our point: An Asus ROG Ally is a more practical alternative to buying a gaming laptop for a lot of individuals. With a 3.3 GHz AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme CPU, 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB NVMe M.2 2230 SSD, and 4 GB of VRAM, this hardware puts outstanding performance in your hands.
That, however, is not the element that makes it unique. Reviewer Sherri L. Smith aptly described the Ally as “a gaming laptop in handheld’s clothing.” This is due to the fact that the Ally runs on Windows 11, which allows you to perform all the tasks often associated with a gaming laptop.
On top of that, you can hook it up to a TV, grab a controller, and play without ever having to lift a finger. It’s like a Nintendo Switch, except it’s a lot stronger and has all the features that Windows has. To answer your question, yes, the ROG Ally from Asus is a top-tier, reasonably priced gaming laptop. Plus, what’s great? The most costly model is only $699.
3. HP Victus 16
Laptops for recreational gaming that cost less than $1,500
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050
- RAM: 16GB of RAM
- Storage: 1TB
- Display: 16-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080)
- Dimensions: 14.53 x 10.21 x 0.90 inches
- Weight: 5.2 pounds
The product has a number of appealing features:
- a sturdy build
- an attractive 16-inch screen
- a lively gaming experience
- a sound system that audiophiles will love.
CAUSES FOR DEPARTURE
- The volume is too low
- The screen can be brighter
The HP Victus 15 will make you forget your superiority complex. Sure, it lacks a lightning-fast response time, an elegant Nvidia RTX 40-series graphics processing unit, and an ostentatious, animated RGB keyboard—but hey, you’re only spending $800 on this laptop, right?
The HP Victus 15 isn’t for you if you’ve already turned a blind eye like a stubborn kid who refuses to eat their veggies. If you’re still interested, though, that’s great! This indicates that you are open to adjusting your expectations. Casual gamers will be smitten with the Victus 15, but serious gamers who insist on the newest and greatest will be turned off. With 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, an RTX 3050 graphics processing unit, and an Intel Core i5-13500H CPU, the HP gaming setup is ready to go. For less-than-stellar gamers on a tight budget, the HP Victus 15 is a godsend for only $800.
4. Lenovo Legion Pro 5i
The most powerful laptop for gaming that costs less than $1,500
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7-13700HX
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB NVMe M.2 2230 SSD
- Display: 16-inch, QHD (2560 x 1600) at 165Hz
- Dimensions: 14.3 x 10.25 x 0.88-1.05 inches
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
PROS:
- Stylish and well-designed
- with reasonable specifications
- an immersive screen
- a responsive keyboard.
CAUSES FOR DEPARTURE
- Poor sound quality
- A shaky webcam
If you’re looking for a powerful laptop that excels at productivity, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is an excellent choice. An outstanding gaming laptop with an Intel Core i7-13700HX CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 16-inch, QHD (2560 x 1600) screen with a refresh rate of 165Hz.
The incredible Geekbench 6 score of 13,634 puts it far and away ahead of the competition. The screen is quite good for the price, covering 82.8% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and reaching 349 nits of brightness. For people who don’t want to compromise on either processing speed or graphics quality, it’s the best option.
5. MSI Crosshair 15 Rainbow Six Extraction Edition
The greatest screen for a laptop gaming under $1,500
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070
- RAM: 16GB of RAM
- Storage: 1TB
- Display: 15.6-inch, 2560 x 1440-pixel, 165Hz
- Dimensions: 14.1 x 10.2 x 1.1 inches
- Weight: 5.4 pounds
REASONS TO BUY
- Impressive performance in games
- Outstanding work efficiency
- Stunning aesthetics
- Long-lasting battery life
CAUTIONS TO AVOID:
- A few minor considerations
- Display is not very bright
- Heats up when playing games
- Rich bezels
For $1,499, you can get the MSI Crosshair 15 R6E Edition, which has a 15.6-inch screen, 165Hz refresh rate, 8GB of VRAM, 1TB of PCIe SSD storage, and an Intel Core i7-12700H CPU. The graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile with 8GB of VRAM.
Although this laptop is first in every category, the Crosshair 15’s incredible color depth really stunned us. Among budget gaming laptops, it obtained an unrivaled 116.6% on the DCI-P3 color gamut.
As if that weren’t enough to sway your decision, the RTX 3060 gaming performance of this beast managed to maintain solid framerates—well over 60 frames per second on high graphics—in games such as Grand Theft Auto V, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Red Dead Redemption 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Borderlands 3, Far Cry New Dawn, and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.
And you’ll have more time to play before needing to recharge your battery, as this gaming laptop has a battery life of 7 hours and 3 minutes. Despite your distaste for the game it’s based on, you have to admit that the top-down city-grid view and dangerous symbology are rather cool. If only the bezels were less bulky, that would be great. The display’s brightness will also disappoint you; it’s gorgeously colorful, but it settled at 300 nits.
If you can get beyond those little problems, though, the Crosshair 15 is an excellent gaming laptop with great battery life, a gorgeous screen, fast frame rates, and good productivity performance.
6. Dell G16
The top-tier, budget-friendly 16-inch gaming laptop
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 16-inch 165Hz IPS (2560 x 1600)
- Dimensions: 14.1 x 10.7 x 1.1 inches
- Weight: 6 pounds
REASONS TO BUY:
- Outstanding performance in games
- Great for work
- Affordable price for gaming laptop
- Sturdy and pleasant build
DETERMINANT FACTORS
- Declined battery life
- Unimpressive color
- Overheating during gaming
- Inadequate speaker system
The Dell G16 is an affordable, high-quality 16-inch gaming laptop featuring an Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, and a 16-inch IPS display with 165 Hz refresh rate.
While we won’t claim it’s a miracle worker, the fact that it held its own against more costly rivals without completely collapsing shows that its performance metrics are outstanding. There is a limit to how high you can set your graphic settings on the RTX 3060 GPU because it only has 6GB of VRAM.
The productivity performance of the Dell G16 is superior to that of any of the other gaming laptops here, though, and that is its biggest strength. If you’re in the market for an affordable laptop that can handle work and play, this is a fantastic option with a Geekbench 5.4 score of 12,043.
But it’s not flawless. In my opinion, the most annoying thing about the Dell G16 is its terrible color depth. It’s only fair that all gamers should be able to perceive the intricacies and nuances of the colors used in games, characters, and effects. However, the laptop’s screen won’t impress you because it only reproduces 75.3% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is lower than competing models.
In addition to the aforementioned issues, the battery life is subpar at barely four hours when not gaming, the speaker system is inadequate and muffles each sound consistently, and the chassis becomes slightly too hot when gaming.
7. Acer Predator Triton 300 SE
The best 14-inch gaming laptop under $1,500
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11375H
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 14-inch, 1080p @ 144Hz
- Dimensions: 12.7 x 9.0 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 3.8 pounds
ATTRIBUTES
- Sleek, 14-inch chassis
- Powerful performance and graphics
- Long battery life
- Vibrant display
Things to Stay Away From:
- Muted sound
At around $1,399, the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE lives up to the reputation that the Taiwanese company has earned for producing high-quality products at reasonable costs. At a price that won’t break the bank, the Triton 300 SE has all the features a gamer could want in a laptop: a 1080p screen, 144 Hz smoothness, stunning graphics powered by Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, and powerful 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processing. Even better, it’s all contained in a sleek silver chassis.
In addition to its long-lasting battery life (over 6.5 hours in our tests), the Triton 300 SE boasts a comfortable keyboard with three-zone RGB. But performance is what really matters for a gaming laptop, and the Triton showed some impressive frame rates across a variety of demanding AAA titles, even at maximum settings. The Acer Predator Triton 300 SE offers an unrivaled price-to-performance ratio, making it an ideal choice for budget-conscious shoppers that prioritize value over performance.
8. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)
The most efficient gaming laptop battery life for less than $1,500
SPECIFICATIONS
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB
- Display: 14-inch, 1080p @ 144Hz
- Dimensions: 13 x 8.66 x 0.7 inches
- Weight: 3.64 pounds
REASONS TO BUY:
- Great battery life
- Dolby Atmos speakers
- a solid gaming experience
- a good number of ports
WARNINGS
- It does not support thunderbolt.
The Zephyrus G14 was, for a long time, the greatest 14-inch laptop you could buy for gaming. Asus’ gaming notebook, the Zephyrus G14, has a wide variety of configurations available to help it secure a spot on the top of anyone’s shortlist in the below $1,500 price range, even if it faces stiff competition from the likes of Dell’s Alienware x14 and Razer Blade 14.
But the Zephyrus G14’s outstanding battery life is what really sets it apart. The astounding Zephyrus G14 lasted for a remarkable 10 hours and 38 minutes on our Laptop for work battery test. While the Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition came close, no other laptop managed to last quite as long.
Equipped with a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 and an outstanding AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS CPU, the Zephyrus G14 is an excellent combination of AMD and Nvidia components. The Zephyrus G14, which retails for around $1,500, has a 144Hz display and can run 1080p games at a terrific frame rate with incredibly smooth images. You get a fantastic gaming laptop without breaking the bank when you include in the Dolby Atmos speakers and a wide variety of connectors.