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10 Best Budget Gaming Laptops 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0 score

ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop, 165Hz Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060, Intel Core i7-13650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JV-AS74

22%OFF

ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop, 165Hz Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060, Intel Core i7-13650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JV-AS74

ASUS

10.0 score

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The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is designed for budget-conscious gamers who don't want to compromise on performance. With its powerful Intel Core i7-13650HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, it’s well-equipped to handle modern games at decent settings. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM ensures smooth multitasking, while the 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD provides ample storage and fast load times.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,492
Graphics Card (GPU)
Processor (CPU)
Display

Most important from
964 reviews

Graphics Card (GPU)
The Intel Core i7-13650HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo is a beast! Every game runs smoothly at high settings.
Processor (CPU)
The Intel Core i7-13650HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combo is a beast! Every game runs smoothly at high settings.
Display
The 16-inch, 16:10 FHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate is a game-changer. The visuals are buttery smooth, vibrant, and crisp.
Battery Life
The battery life is much better than expected for a gaming laptop.
Build Quality and Cooling
The cooling system is excellent, keeping the machine cool even during intense gaming sessions.
#2
10.0 score

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) Gaming Laptop, 16” FHD+ 16:10 165Hz/3ms Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 Laptop GPU, Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 14650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB Gen 4 SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Windows 11 Home

8%OFF

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) Gaming Laptop, 16” FHD+ 16:10 165Hz/3ms Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 Laptop GPU, Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 14650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB Gen 4 SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Windows 11 Home

ASUS

10.0 score

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The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a strong choice for gamers looking for good performance without breaking the bank. It sports a powerful Intel Core i7 14650HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU, which means it can handle modern games smoothly and support graphics-heavy tasks thanks to newer technologies like DLSS 4. With 16GB of fast DDR5 RAM and a spacious 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, you get quick loading times and plenty of space for games and apps.

Rating
10.0
Processor (CPU)
Build Quality and Cooling
Graphics Card (GPU)

Most important from
317 reviews

Processor (CPU)
The laptop delivers a night-and-day improvement in performance compared to older models, excelling even in everyday tasks like browsing and loading.
Build Quality and Cooling
Exceptional build quality combined with a tool-less design makes upgrading RAM, storage, and battery straightforward and hassle-free.
Graphics Card (GPU)
Runs modern games smoothly with impressive graphics performance, making titles like Warzone a real treat on this machine.
RAM
While 16GB RAM suffices for most gaming needs, upgrading to 32GB is recommended for future-proofing and more demanding tasks.
#3
9.7 score

Alienware 16 Aurora Laptop AC16250-16-inch 16:10 WQXGA Display, Intel Core 7-240H Series 2, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7, Windows 11 Home, Onsite Service - Blue

21%OFF

Alienware 16 Aurora Laptop AC16250-16-inch 16:10 WQXGA Display, Intel Core 7-240H Series 2, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7, Windows 11 Home, Onsite Service - Blue

Alienware

9.7 score

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The Alienware 16 Aurora features a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card, delivering smooth gaming and modern visual effects. It is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with 10 cores, providing strong performance suitable for demanding games and multitasking. With 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a large 1TB SSD, it ensures fast loading times and ample space for games and files.

Rating
9.7
Graphics Card (GPU)
Processor (CPU)
RAM (Memory)

Most important from
56 reviews

Graphics Card (GPU)
The graphics performance is impressive, delivering smooth and stunning visuals that enhance the gaming experience.
Processor (CPU)
Upgrading from previous Alienware models reveals a significant leap in speed and cooling efficiency, making gameplay noticeably better.
RAM (Memory)
Having the flexibility to upgrade RAM and add multiple SSDs offers valuable customization for future-proofing.
Storage (HDD/SSD)
Having the flexibility to upgrade RAM and add multiple SSDs offers valuable customization for future-proofing.
Display (Resolution & Refresh Rate)
The display provides sharp, vibrant images that bring games to life, though brightness might be less ideal in very bright conditions.
Cooling and Build Quality
Upgrading from previous Alienware models reveals a significant leap in speed and cooling efficiency, making gameplay noticeably better.

Top 10 Best Budget Gaming Laptops 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0  score
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ASUS

ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop, 165Hz Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060, Intel Core i7-13650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JV-AS74

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-13650HX
RAM: 16 GB DDR5
Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
Display: 16-inch FHD, 165Hz, 100% sRGB
Build Quality and Cooling: ROG Intelligent Cooling with liquid metal

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22% OFF

Chosen by 1492 this week

#2
10.0  score
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ASUS

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) Gaming Laptop, 16” FHD+ 16:10 165Hz/3ms Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 Laptop GPU, Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 14650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB Gen 4 SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Windows 11 Home

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7 14650HX, 5.2 GHz
RAM: 16GB DDR5
Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Display: 16-inch FHD+, 165Hz, anti-glare
Build Quality and Cooling: Solid build; vapor chamber, tri-fan

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8% OFF
#3
9.7  score
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Alienware

Alienware 16 Aurora Laptop AC16250-16-inch 16:10 WQXGA Display, Intel Core 7-240H Series 2, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7, Windows 11 Home, Onsite Service - Blue

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 8 GB
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7, 2.5 GHz, 10 cores
RAM (Memory): 16 GB DDR5, 5600 MHz
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1 TB SSD
Display (Resolution & Refresh Rate): 2560x1600 pixels, 16 inch
Cooling and Build Quality: Cryo-Chamber cooling, solid build

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21% OFF
#4
9.7  score
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Lenovo

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 16" Gaming Laptop (2025 Model) Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 24C, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16GB, 64GB RAM, 2TB (1TB+1TB) NVMe SSD, 16.0" WQXGA OLED 500 nits 240Hz, Windows 11 Pro

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
Processor (CPU): Intel Core Ultra 9
RAM (Memory): 64 GB
Storage (HDD/SSD): 2 TB SSD (two 1TB drives)
Display (Resolution & Refresh Rate): 16-inch WQXGA OLED, 240Hz

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#5
9.7  score
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msi

MSI Katana 15 HX 15.6” 165Hz QHD+ Gaming Laptop: Intel Core i9-14900HX, NVIDIA Geforce RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD, RGB Keyboard, Win 11 Home: Black B14WGK-016US

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i9 1.6 GHz 14th gen
RAM (Memory): 32 GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1 TB SSD
Display (Resolution & Refresh Rate): 2560x1600 pixels, 165Hz
Cooling and Build Quality: MSI Cooler Boost 5, RGB keyboard
Battery Life: 2 Hours

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#6
9.4  score
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acer

Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop | Intel Core i7-13620H Processor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU | 15.6" FHD IPS 165Hz Display | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB Gen 4 SSD | Wi-Fi 6 | Backlit KB | ANV15-52-76NK

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-13620H
RAM (Memory): 16GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Display (Resolution & Refresh Rate): 15.6-inch 1920x1080 165Hz
Cooling and Build Quality: Dual fans, smart exhaust, backlit keyboard

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#7
8.8  score
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msi

MSI Vector 16 HX AI 16” 240Hz QHD+ Gaming Laptop: Intel Core Ultra 9-275HX, NVIDIA Geforce RTX 5070Ti, 16GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD, Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, Win 11 Home: Cosmo Gray A2XWHG-211US

Graphics Card (GPU): RTX 5070 Ti
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i9 2.1 GHz
RAM (Memory): 16 GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1 TB SSD
Display (Resolution & Refresh Rate): 2560x1600 pixels, 240Hz

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#8
8.5  score
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msi

MSI Thin 15 15.6” 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop: Intel Core i7-13620H, NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4050, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 6E, Win 11: Black B13VE-2678US

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD
Display: 15.6-inch FHD, 144Hz
Build Quality and Cooling: Decent build, MSI's cooling tech

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5% OFF
#9
7.9  score
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acer

Acer Nitro V 16S AI Gaming Laptop | AMD Ryzen 7 260 Processor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU (572 AI Tops) | 16" WUXGA IPS 180Hz Display | 32GB DDR5 | 1TB Gen 4 SSD | Wi-Fi 6 | ANV16S-41-R2AJ

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA RTX 5060, 8GB Dedicated
Processor (CPU): 3.8 GHz Ryzen 7
RAM: 32 GB DDR5
Storage: 1000 GB SSD
Display: 16-inch WUXGA IPS, 180Hz
Build Quality and Cooling: Dual-fan cooling, quad air intakes

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#10
7.0  score
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Alienware

Alienware 16 Aurora Gaming Laptop AC16250-16" WQXGA 120Hz Display, Intel Core 7-240H Processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 8GB Graphics, Windows 11 Home, Onsite Service - Blue

Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 8GB VRAM
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7 1.8GHz 10 cores
RAM (Memory): 16 GB DDR5
Storage (HDD/SSD): 1 TB SSD
Display (Resolution & Refresh Rate): 2560x1600 pixels, 120Hz
Cooling and Build Quality: Cryo-Chamber cooling, solid build, backlit

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20% OFF
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Buying Guide for the Best Budget Gaming Laptops

When looking to buy a budget gaming laptop, it's essential to strike a balance between performance and affordability. Gaming laptops are unique because they need to handle intensive tasks like running modern games smoothly, which puts extra demand on hardware compared to regular laptops. As you compare different models, you'll need to review certain specs closely as they directly influence your gaming experience—think of these as the pillars that hold up your overall satisfaction. Understanding what each spec means, why it matters, and how it matches your personal gaming style or needs is key to making a smart purchase.
Graphics Card (GPU)The graphics card, or GPU, is the heart of any gaming laptop as it's mainly responsible for displaying game visuals and running graphics-intensive processes. Entry-level GPUs allow you to play older or less demanding games on lower settings, whereas mid-range models handle most newer games at decent settings, and high-end ones provide ultra-smooth details and effects. For budget gaming, focus on laptops with at least a dedicated entry-level GPU—integrated graphics in budget categories may struggle with modern gaming. Think about the types of games you want to play: casual and indie games are less demanding, while AAA titles require more GPU power. Match the GPU to your gaming expectations.
Processor (CPU)The processor, or CPU, acts as the brain of your laptop, handling tasks and influencing the speed and smoothness of your games and multitasking. Budget gaming laptops generally come with mid-range CPUs, which are sufficient for gaming, streaming, and basic multitasking. Entry-level CPUs may be adequate for light gaming or older titles, while more demanding games benefit from a faster, multi-core processor. Think about whether you'll use the laptop for other intensive tasks (like video editing) alongside gaming—if so, lean toward a more capable CPU.
RAM (Memory)RAM helps your laptop run more smoothly by temporarily storing data for active applications and games. With too little RAM, your gaming experience can become laggy or unresponsive. For budget gaming laptops, 8GB is considered a practical minimum for most modern games, but upgrading to 16GB can help future-proof your system and improve multitasking, especially if you like to run several applications at once. If you mostly play older or less demanding games, 8GB may suffice, but consider your usage patterns now and in the future.
Storage (HDD/SSD)The storage in your laptop determines how much data, including games and files, you can keep on your device. Gaming laptops with solid-state drives (SSDs) give much faster load times compared to traditional hard drives (HDDs), leading to a more responsive feel. Budget options may offer smaller SSDs or a combination of an SSD with a larger HDD for extra space. If you value quick startup and loading, prioritize an SSD—even if it means less storage, you can always use external drives later. Consider how many games you'll install at once to gauge your needed storage capacity.
Display (Resolution & Refresh Rate)The laptop display affects how crisp and smooth your games look. Resolution (like 1080p, sometimes called Full HD) means image clarity, while refresh rate (measured in Hz) influences how many frames per second the screen can show, making motion look smoother. Budget laptops usually offer a 60Hz refresh rate at 1080p, which is acceptable for most users. Higher refresh rates (like 120Hz or 144Hz) are smoother but might only be necessary for e-sports or fast-action games. Choose based on what feels important to you: visuals for adventure games, or smooth motion for shooters and racers.
Cooling and Build QualityGaming puts a lot of stress on laptop components, causing them to heat up. Effective cooling systems are vital to prevent overheating, which can slow down performance or even damage hardware over time. While budget laptops may cut some corners here, look for smart vent placement and solid build quality to ensure your laptop can keep cool during long gaming sessions. If you plan to game for hours or in warm environments, prioritize better cooling and sturdier builds.
Battery LifeBattery life is generally shorter in gaming laptops due to their high-performance parts, and even more so on budget models. While gaming unplugged drains the battery fast, consider how often you'll use the laptop away from a power outlet. If you mostly play while plugged in at a desk, battery life may be less critical. However, if you attend gaming events or like to play on-the-go, look for reviews or manufacturer claims of longer battery performance during regular use (not just gaming).

FAQ