Budget Gaming Laptops: Acer Nitro V 15, ASUS TUF Gaming F16, Lenovo LOQ 15 and HP Victus 15
Four entry-level gaming laptop lines, the specs to check in each configuration, and where budget laptops usually cut corners.
Four entry-level gaming laptop lines, the specs to check in each configuration, and where budget laptops usually cut corners.
Photo by Nikitarama / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
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Budget gaming laptops can run modern games well at 1080p, but the configurations under each model name vary a lot. Use this guide to know what to look for, then compare the exact listing.
Four lines to look at
- Acer Nitro V 15: Acer’s entry-level gaming line, often among the cheapest laptops with a dedicated RTX GPU.
- ASUS TUF Gaming F16: a 16-inch budget line with a sturdy build.
- Lenovo LOQ 15: Lenovo’s budget gaming line, positioned below the Legion series.
- HP Victus 15: HP’s budget gaming line, positioned below OMEN.
Where budget laptops cut corners
- RAM: 8GB configurations are common and not enough for many modern games. Look for 16GB, or check that RAM is upgradeable.
- Screen: some cheap configurations have dim screens with poor color. Look for brightness around 300 nits or more, and check reviews of the specific panel.
- Storage: 512GB fills quickly. Check for a second M.2 slot.
- GPU power: the GPU’s power limit (TGP) varies between models with the same GPU name.
- Battery: gaming laptops have short battery lives under load. Expect to game plugged in.
What to prioritize
For gaming, prioritize the GPU and its power limit first, then 16GB of RAM, then the screen. You can add storage later more easily than you can change any of the others.
Bottom line
Compare exact configurations, not model names. A budget laptop with a good GPU, 16GB of RAM and a decent screen is a great entry point.
Our picks: Gaming laptops
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Illustrative photos: Photo by Nikitarama / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0