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01The best gaming laptop under $1500 overall
If you’re after a capable machine for less then you’ll want to consider one of the best gaming laptops under $1500. That’s because for this amount of money you can find some portable powerhouses capable of both 1080p and 1440p gaming without breaking the bank too badly. In this roundup you’ll find options from top manufacturers, many of which both current-generation and running older parts for a more cost-effective build.
We’ve done our best to bring you a wide selection of the best gaming laptops under $1500 by brand, size, resolution, and overall value for money to give you as many options as possible. With that said, we’re also rounding up all the best gaming laptops overall as well as the best OLED gaming laptops, and even the best small gaming laptops and cheap machines with the best RTX 4050 laptops for gaming, too.
Best gaming laptops under $1500 at a glance
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4060)
CPU
Intel Core i7-13650HX
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
512GB NVMe
Display
16-inch 16:10 FHD 165Hz
GIGABYTE G5 KF (RTX 4060)
CPU
Intel Core i5-12500H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
8GB DDR4
SSD
512GB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD 144Hz
Lenovo LOQ (RTX 4060)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
16.0-inch 144Hz WUXGA
Acer Nitro 17 (RTX 4050)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
17.3-inch FHD 165Hz IPS
ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 (RTX 3060)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7-5800HS
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
RAM
16GB DDR4
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
14-inch FHD 144Hz
1. ASUS ROG Strix G16 – The best overall gaming laptop under $1500
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4060)
CPU
Intel Core i7-13650HX
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
512GB NVMe
Display
16-inch 16:10 FHD 165Hz
- Great display
- Fast RAM
- Excellent CPU
- Small SSD
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is our top pick for the best gaming laptop under $1500. That’s due to the value for money combined with the current-generation hardware inside all for under the $1300 mark. For the money, you’re getting a combination of the 13th Gen i7 CPU, 16GB DDR5 memory, and a stunning 16:10 165Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming.
One of the only compromises made in keeping the price down is with the choice of NVMe SSD with 512GB out of the box instead of 1TB. However, considering that every other component is current-generation, we think that’s a more than fair concession. You’ll still be able to play and store many games, it may just fill up faster than expected.
2. GIGABYTE G5 KF – The best budget gaming laptop under $1500
GIGABYTE G5 KF (RTX 4060)
CPU
Intel Core i5-12500H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
8GB DDR4
SSD
512GB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD 144Hz
- Excellent value
- Fast display
- Decent GPU
- Small amount of older RAM
- Previous generation CPU
For well under $1000, the Gigabyte G5 KF excels as the best budget gaming laptop under $1500. That’s because it’s running the very capable RTX 4060 GPU for the best performance possible in 1080p. There are a few considerations, though, as this rig is running just 8GB RAM which is still good enough for today’s games but a little on the lower side overall.
The trade-off is the decision to use an i7 CPU instead of the i5 that we usually see at this price point, and you’re also benefitting from a 144Hz refresh display, too. Considering these factors are rare in sub-$1000 machines, the Gigabyte G5 KF remains a top option all said, and upgrading laptop RAM is easy enough to do, too.
3. Lenovo LOQ – The best AMD-powered laptop under $1500
Lenovo LOQ (RTX 4060)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
16.0-inch 144Hz WUXGA
- Great processor
- Tons of RAM
- Stellar display
- Expensive for the GPU inside
Where many gaming laptops under $1500 tend to utilize Intel CPUs, that isn’t the case with the Lenovo LOQ that packs in the NVIDIA RTX 4070 combined with the stellar AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor. It’s one of the fastest available in any gaming laptop to date, and further bolstered up by a mammoth 32GB of superfast DDR5 RAM.
These inclusions do come at a cost, though. While still under budget, the Lenovo LOQ retails around the $1300 mark and frequently goes on sale as well. The display is something noteworthy, too, at 1200p so that’s a sharper image quality than 1080p for media playback and web browsing.
4. Acer Nitro 17 – The best large gaming laptop under $1,500
Acer Nitro 17 (RTX 4050)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
RAM
16GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
17.3-inch FHD 165Hz IPS
- Large high refresh rate display
- Lots of fast RAM
- Good amount of storage
- Pricey for the choice of GPU
If you’ve got a bigger gaming laptop in mind then the Acer Nitro 17 is hard value to argue against. It packs in the awesome AMD Ryzen 7 7000 series CPU with 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB NVMe SSD in a huge chassis for big-screen portable gaming. There’s a bit of a catch to keep the rate below $1500, however, and that’s the RTX 4050 GPU inside.
While more than capable for 1080p gaming, especially with NVIDIA DLSS, the overall asking price is at the upper-end for the best RTX 4050 gaming laptops. We can still recommend this rig at its current asking price range under $999. What’s more, we rarely see rigs running a 165Hz IPS display as they are usually slower at this budget.
5. ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 – The best small gaming laptop under $1500
ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 (RTX 3060)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7-5800HS
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
RAM
16GB DDR4
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
14-inch FHD 144Hz
- Compact design
- Good amount of storage
- Excellent processor
- Older RAM
There’s usually quite a premium to pay on 14-inch gaming laptops, and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 bucks the trend by being competitively priced. Now, it’s worth stating that this is a slightly older model, running DDR4 RAM and a previous-generation GPU, however, the mobile RTX 3060 is better overall than the RTX 4050 so you won’t have to worry about gaming performance.
This is further bolstered by a 1TB NVMe SSD so you have all the room for many triple A games at a time without having to manage your inventory too often. Considering the fact that many 14-inch gaming laptops retail for much more than the $1100 range, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 is excellent overall value for money.
Best gaming laptops under $1500 – FAQs
If you’ve got more questions about wallet-friendly gaming laptops then we’re here to help. Below you’ll find our answers to some of the web’s most burning questions.
Can I get a good gaming laptop for under $1500?
Yes, there are many gaming laptops under $1500 that are worth the money and are very capable for gaming. Generally speaking, these are either discounted older machines or brand new budget choices from trusted manufacturers.
What are some of the best budget gaming laptops?
The Acer Nitro and the Gigabyte G5 are two of the better budget gaming laptops available from new or discounted and feature in our buying guide. We also recommend the ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 as it is now far cheaper than during its original release date several years ago.
Do gaming laptops under $1500 last a long time?
If you look after your gaming laptop by regulating its airflow by using it on a proper desk or employing the use of a cooling fan / riser then you should expect it to last around five to eight years with consistent use. Games are more likely to become too demanding before you notice any mechanical faults with your machine out of warranty, so you’ll go half a decade before needing to upgrade.
