Computer hardware prices are decreasing as the global chip shortage stabilizes and Crypto GPU mining ends. This is excellent news, especially for gamers on a budget, and with that comes the need to make this list of budget laptops.
Best Gaming Laptops Under $800 (Our Top Picks)
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | 9.9 | Check Current Price Read full review | |
Best Performance  | 9.8 | Check Current Price Read full review | |
Best Budget Option  | 9.7 | Check Current Price Read full review | |
 | 9.6 | Check Current Price Read full review | |
 | 9.6 | Check Current Price Read full review | |
 | Dell Gaming G3 15 3500 Gaming Laptop
| 9.6 | Check Current Price Read full review |
Table of Contents
Gaming is a hobby that not many can indulge in because of the entry barrier. Many people have a Laptop that gives them decent Performace and is okay for their day-to-day menial tasks. Still, these laptops struggle when some new-generation game is thrown in their direction.
So we decided to jot down a list of the best Gaming Laptops under $800! The list is the most comprehensive on the internet, so you can end your search for a new laptop on this page!
But before getting into the Laptop recommendations. We decided to give you a little insight into how we chose these laptops for the list, so even if you don’t like any Laptop mentioned on this list (which you won’t, by the way), you can go on the internet and scavenge for a better laptop with these guidelines. So without further ado, let’s get right into it!
$800 Gaming Laptops Minimum requirements
If you’re eyeing a laptop under $800, the search will be complex; you certainly won’t be able to find a lot of valuable candidates in this price range because of how expensive suitable hardware is. But do not worry; some manufacturers provide a lot of value for the money.
- Every Laptop in this category should come with a Graphics card, not just integrated graphics in the CPU.
- Every laptop should have intel processors, closest to the newer generations, and the same is true for the AMD processors.
- 8GB RAM, along with SSDs, is something that every laptop has; you won’t find any laptop under 8GB RAM or with no SSD.
- As for the display, you will see the manufacturers cutting corners because it isn’t something most gamers will stress about as long as their games run in 1080p on 60fps.
So you won’t find the best visuals on these laptops; this had to be mentioned because most smartphones, even the mid-range ones, come with AMOLED Displays. We’ve seen people freak out on seeing that Laptops do not have the same screen quality.
A 6-inch display is cheaper than a 15-inch one, so keep that in mind. Also, most of the laptops in this range come with 60Hz+ displays, so you’re good in that area.
With this hardware, you can efficiently run new generation game switch ease at 1080 or even 1440p if the game has been optimized properly.
Best Gaming Laptops Under $800
1. HP Victus 16 – Best overall
Top Specs:
- CPU: Ryzen 5600H
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB NVMe
- GPU: Nvidia RTX3050
- Display: 1080P IPS 60Hz.
- Value for money
- RTX 3050 GPU
- 16-inch display with great battery life.
- Screen wobbles
- Build quality is not the best.
The HP Victus is considered the best gaming laptop under $800, and we understand why people might come to this conclusion. With a Ryzen 5600H under its hood, you could easily sail past most of your menial tasks; even if you do some demanding things on your PC, like having multiple chrome tabs open, your Laptop won’t even flinch.
The Laptop also comes with an RTX3050, which is an absolute steal at this price point. The graphic card can run any modern title without showing a single sign of slowing down or lag; that’s how powerful it is. Coupled with the Ryzen processor, you can expect to play most modern titles at 1080p, if not 1440p.
And we know how much space new generation titles take, and so does HP, so they made sure you never have to go looking for external storage options by providing a 512GB SSD inside the laptop, so no matter how many games you store on your Laptop, it won’t slow down.
The Display on this laptop is good as well; it’s a 1080P IPS panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, which is not the best in the space, but you can live with it; it won’t be a massive problem for most.
The battery in a gaming laptop should be better than in typical laptops, and that’s the case here. You can expect 6-7 hours of battery backup when doing everyday tasks and 3-4 when you’re playing demanding games!
Also, there will be games out there that haven’t been appropriately optimized; Elden Ring is an excellent example of this, then you won’t be able to run the game at a smooth 60fps. But you can resolve this issue by upgrading the RAM; thankfully, the laptop allows you to do it. 8GB RAM is the bare minimum for most games, so you can’t expect every game to run smoothly; a little more is required.
Tip: When upgrading the RAM, don’t disassemble the laptop manually; call technical support from the manufacturer, and when the servicemen come, ask them to place the RAM stick.
The laptop has a smooth finish and feels premium, the keyboard is sturdy, and the build quality has zero associated issues. And yes, it doesn’t come with the sharp, shiny edges that ‘gaming’ laptops tend to have; overall, it still is one of the, if not the best, gaming laptops in this price range.
And if you feel like you can increase your budget slightly and wait till a big sale, you can get the higher spec version of this laptop which comes with a Ryzen 7 and a 3050ti. I have used it for a long time, so I only have good things to say.
2. Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 – Best Performance
Top Specs:
- CPU: Ryzen 5600H
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
- GPU: Nvidia RTX3050ti
- Display: 1080P IPS 120Hz.
- Best performance
- RTX 3050ti (beats the 3050)
- 1440p gaming with high res display.
- Poor design
- Decent battery life.
The Lenovo series has been the go-to laptop for most budget gamers for a reason.
The laptops of this series give great value for money, and you’ll see why’s that the case in a bit. The Laptop’s chassis is sturdy. Although it doesn’t look like a gaming laptop, just like our last entry, it can give you performance on par with any computer in the price range.
The specs on this laptop are almost identical to the ones on the last laptop. So if you’ve read that part, it’s; the same except for some minor differences. As for those who didn’t read the last section, the Ideapad gaming comes with a Ryzen 5600H, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, which is enough for gaming; however, we recommend upgrading the RAM to 16GB to experience smooth gameplay.
The only difference between the victus and the Ideapad is the graphics card; the Ideapad gives you a 3050ti, which is leaps and bounds ahead of the regular 3050 variant that the Victus has. And yeah, the Victus also has a higher spec variant with a 3050ti and a Ryzen 7 processor; but we’re here looking for laptops under $800.
The refresh rate on the Ideapad is double that of the number one entry at 120Hz. This will significantly boost your chances of winning if you’re playing competitively, as the new refresh rate greatly matters in those games.
As for regular games, you quickly play light, medium, and highly demanding titles. If some game gives you an issue, it’s probably because it wasn’t optimized properly, and you’ll have to upgrade your RAM.
A great laptop, which we feel confident recommending!
3. Acer Nitro 5 – Best value for money, also the cheapest
Top Specs:
- CPU: Intel i5 10300H
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX3050
- Display: 1080p IPS 144Hz.
- Cheapest option
- PerGreat performance
- Decent audio and display.
- Decent battery life
- Build quality is poor.
The Acer Nitro 5 is a laptop you’d know is a gaming laptop when you lay your eyes on it for the first time. Personally speaking, this gaming aesthetic has gone out of style years ago, so not a big fan of it. But for those who dig this gaming look, the laptop is the best pick.
It comes loaded with an Intel i5 10300H, which is not the best processor on this list, and we know that. But when coupled with the RTX3050, you can get performance on par with any of the laptops in this list. This laptop also comes with 8GB RAM. You must upgrade to 16GB if you have a true modern gaming experience.
As for Storage, the Acer needs to catch up. As it comes to the 256GB SSD, which is not something you’d seen on this list but as long as you’re a casual gamer who doesn’t plan on storing a ton of games in the laptop simultaneously, you’re good with this much storage.
And let’s be real here, most users won’t even have any demanding software on their Laptops, as most of the work-related software has gone web-based and dso has content. You can go onto any OTT platform online and watch your movies there. So the only thing that takes up space is your OS and Games.
The Acer Nitro might lag behind the two top laptops, but it has its bright moments too. And has a higher refresh rate when compared to the two above. Also, the Laptop is cheaper than then its predecessors, so if you’re on a tight budget that you can’t stray away from, you’re saving money buying this laptop.
4. Lenovo Legion 5 – Best for light gaming
Top Specs:
- CPU: Ryzen 5 4600H
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB + 1TB HDD
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650ti
- Display: 1080p.
- GTX 1650ti Graphics
- Well-optimized AMD CPU good for daily use.
- Max brightness is not very good
- Not the best contrast.
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a laptop that might be beyond our list’s scope as it is a bit higher than our $800 mark. But the manufacturers don’t create products keeping our lists in mind, so they have varying price points.
That being said, there are multiple versions of his laptops, but we’ve chosen the one we think is the best in this list. It comes with a Ryzen 5 and a 1650ti, which work together to give you a decent gaming experience.
The only downside of this laptop is the storage which is a 256GB SSD, but the laptop itself somewhat resolves this issue by providing a 1TB HDD. However, the HDDs are much slower than the SSDs, so there is still a downside.
5. DELL G3 Gaming Laptop – Best for everyday use
Top Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 10300H
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- GPU: GTX 1650ti
- Display: 1080p 120Hz.
- GTX 1650ti
- 512GB SSD
- Great display with bright colors.
- Battery life
- Backlight bleeding noticeable
Next up, we have the DELL G3. The Laptop comes with an intel i5 10300H and a GTX 1650ti, so it won’t be able to match the performance the Legion 5 gives, but this doesn’t take away from the many areas that this laptop excels. PS: This machine is a bit over the $800 price point but still very much under $1000 and an excellent pick for an entry-level gaming laptop.
The G3 has a 120Hx refresh rate, a 1080p panel, and a 512GB SSD, which is more than the legion and should last you the entire life of the G3.
Apart from that, the laptop is similar to the ones listed above, but it lags behind in some areas. You can still enjoy gaming on this machine, but the quality won’t be as high compared to the one at the top.
The Laptop has a good build quality and feels premium. It looks better; it’s a reserved design, nothing flashy, which many working professionals like to go for.
So if you’re a casual gamer who plays Fortnite or league of legends sometimes and uses the laptop primarily for office or college use, this is a great choice.
6. Asus TUFF F15
Top Specs:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-10300H Processor
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD
- GPU: GeForce GTX 1650
- Display: 15.6″ 144Hz FHD IPS-Type Display.
- 1080p gaming for cheap
- Good build quality
- 144Hz display.
- Heavy
- Poor battery life
- The display is not up to the mark.
At the number 7th post, we have yet another Asus laptop; this time, it’s the F15. This is a separate line of gaming laptops from Asus, which targets the more affordable price segment. They also have the A15/17 lineup, which is very good for laptops under $1000, but they aren’t available in the west for some reason.
The F15 comes packed with an internal Core i5-10300H Processor. The Processor can run your daily tasks and do light gaming when you want to. The laptop also comes with a dedicated graphics card, the GTX 1650, to be exact.
This is the weakest laptop on the list, but it also deserves a place as it gives a lot of value for the money it demands. You can easily play games like Valotant or CS GO on this PC with a high frame rate on low settings.
You can also play triple-A titles, but you won’t get max settings on every game. But you can improve performance by upgrading the laptop to 16GB RAM.
