Want to play the latest and greatest AAA games the way they’re meant to be experienced, but worried that you might have to dip into your savings? We’re here to tell you about some of the best gaming laptops under $ 1,500. All of these gaming laptops will provide you with the performance you need to get serious about competing and immerse yourself in the virtual worlds of your favorite games.
Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500
We’ll start our list with reviews of 10 of our favorite gaming laptops. Next, we’ll take a closer look at key gaming laptop features and specs and directly answer some of the questions we hear most often for models in this price range.
Also Read: Cheap Gaming Laptop Under 100 USD
Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500 | Comparison Table 2021
Image | Title | Brand | Buy |
---|---|---|---|
Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) Display, AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti, Windows 10H, 82JW0012US, Phantom Blue | Lenovo | Check Price | |
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop, Intel i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU, 15.6" Full HD 144Hz 3ms IPS Display, 16GB DDR4, 512GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 6, RGB Keyboard, PH315-53-71HN | Acer | Check Price | |
Asus ROG Strix G (2019) Gaming Laptop, 15.6” IPS Type FHD, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, Intel Core i7-9750H, 16GB DDR4, 1TB PCIe Nvme SSD, RGB KB, Windows 10 Home, GL531GT-EB76 | ASUS | Check Price | |
New_Dell_Alienware_m15 R1 15.6" FHD IPS Display Gaming Laptop, i7-9750H(up to 4.5Ghz w/Turbo Boost), RTX 2070 8GB Max-Q Design, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, HDMI, Win 10 Home w/ Santex Accessory (1TB SSD) | Newzill | Check Price | |
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020: Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, 15.6" FHD 1080p 120Hz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, CNC Aluminum, Chroma RGB Lighting, Black | Razer | Check Price | |
ROG Zephyrus G15 (2020) Ultra Slim Gaming Laptop, 15.6” 144Hz FHD, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, 16GB DDR4, 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, Windows 10, GA502IU-ES76 | ASUS | Check Price | |
Alienware M17 Gaming Notebook | 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H 6-Core | 17.3 Inch FHD 1920x1080 60Hz IPS | 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM | 512GB SSD| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max Q | Alienware | Check Price | |
Sager NP7879PQ 17.3-Inch Thin Bezel FHD 144Hz 72% NTSC Gaming Laptop, Intel i7-11800H, RTX 3060 6GB, 16GB RAM, 500GB NVMe SSD, Windows 10 | Sager | Check Price | |
MSI GE75 Raider Gaming Laptop, 17.3" FHD 144Hz 3ms Display, Core i7-10750H, WiFi 6, HD Webcam, RGB Backlight Keyboard, USB-C, HDMI, GeForce RTX 2070, Windows 10, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, 1TBHDD | MSI Inc. | Check Price | |
Acer Predator Triton 300 Gaming Laptop 2021, Intel i7-10750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, 15.6" Full HD IPS 144Hz IPS Display, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, Killer Wi-Fi, RGB Backlit KB +Oydisen Cloth | Acer | Check Price |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500 | 2021 Products Overview
1. Lenovo Legion Gaming Laptop
- Escalate your game with up to 8 high-performance cores in the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD storage
- With NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics behind you, you can enjoy the depth and visual fidelity of real-time ray-tracing – RTX Gaming, Its On
- The 15.6 FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display on the Legion 5 gaming laptop delivers speed and color clarity for full-fidelity gaming
- Legion TrueStrike keyboard with 4-zone RGB backlight; 2 x 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio for Gamers
- Connectivity: Built-in 720p webcam with e-shutter, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 4 USB, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, RJ45 Ethernet
- The Lenovo Legion 5 is the easiest platform for experiencing today’s top AAA games.
- Purpose-built for gaming performance
2. Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop
- 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor (Up to 4.1 GHz)
- 15.6 inches Full HD Widescreen IPS LED-backlit display; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
- 8GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory; 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD (2 x PCIe M.2 slots - 1 slot open for easy upgrades) & 1 - Available hard drive bay
- LAN: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port); Wireless: Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX200 802.11ax
- Backlit keyboard; Acer Cool Boost technology with twin fans and dual exhaust ports
- When heavy use requires an added boost, chill out with twin fans
- Better audio delivers a competitive edge as well as a more immersive experience through dual 2W speakers.
3. Asus ROG Strix G Gaming Laptop
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5 (Base: 1395 MHz, Boost: 1560 MHz; TDP: 50W)
- Latest 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H Hexa-Core processor
- 15.6” Full HD 1920x1080 IPS Type Display
- 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM | 1TB PCIe SSD | Windows 10 Home | Gigabit Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac 2x2)
- ROG intelligent cooling thermal system with dual 12V fans, anti-dust technology, and adjustable fan modes
- The laptops undergo extensive vibration, drop, and pressure testing to ensure they can survive everyday use.
- The ROG Strix G delivers a streamlined and impactful core gaming experience.
Also Read: Best Gaming Laptops Under 400 Dollars
4. Acer Predator Triton
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0GHz) with Windows 10 Home. Keyboard Backlight
- Overclockable NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Graphics with Max-Q Design & 8 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15.6 Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology; 300Hz Refresh Rate; 3ms Overdrive Response Time; 300nit Brightness; 100% sRGB
- 16GB DDR4 2933MHz Memory; 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD (2 x PCIe M.2 Slots with 1 Slot Open for Easy Upgrades)
- Per-key RGB Backlit Keyboard with Customizable Lighting; LAN: Killer Gaming Network E3100G; Wireless: Killer Double Shot Pro Wireless-AX 1650i 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6; 4th Gen All-Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan
- Speed is at the core of this laptop with the display leading the charge.
- Go on and hook up a few extra displays via the ports through HDMI 2.0
5. Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop
- More Power. The 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor provides the ultimate level of performance with up to 5.0GHz Max Turbo and 6 cores
- Supercharger: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics is a blazing-fast supercharger for today’s most popular games
- More Frames: Incredible performance paired with the fast 120Hz 15.6 Full HD thin bezel display helps edge out the win
- Thin and Compact: The CNC aluminum unibody frame houses incredible performance in the most compact footprint possible, while remaining remarkably durable and just 0.78 thin
- Ready To Connect: Fully loaded with ample connectivity including a webcam, wireless-AC, Bluetooth 5, 2X USB Type-A, 2X Type-C ports, and more
- Razer’s Blade 15 Base isn’t broken necessarily
- The laptop’s all-aluminum build is still impressive to see and use.
6. ROG Zephyrus Ultra Slim Gaming Laptop
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6 with ROG Boost (Base: 1140MHz, Boost: 1335MHz, TDP: 60W)
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS processor (up to 4.2GHz)
- 15.6” 144Hz IPS-Type Full HD (1920x1080) display
- 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM | 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | Backlit Precision Gaming Keyboard | Windows 10 Home
- 0.8” thin, 4.85 lbs ultraportable form-factor
- Gig+ Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | USB Type-C Charging Capable
- ROG Intelligent Cooling system with self-cleaning anti-dust tunnels
Also Read: Best gaming laptops under 1000 $
7. Alienware M17 Gaming Notebook
- Staggering visuals. Slim design
- Deliberately slim and light
- Commanding performance
- Seamless Graphics
- Our thinnest 17 inch gaming laptop
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 8GB max Q
- Less than 6 pounds, the m17 is engineered for an amazing battery life with a 60WHr battery and optional 90WHr upgrade
- 17.3 FHD (1920 x 1080) 60Hz Anti-Glare, 300-nits 72% Color Gamut, IPS Display
- Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
- 7.1 Digital Audio out using HDMI out connection
8. Sager NP7879PQ
- Display: 17.3” Thin Bezel Full HD 144Hz, Wide View Angle, 72% NTSC (1920x 1080) Matte Display
- Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H 8-Core Processor | Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Graphic Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
- Ram: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz | Storage: 500GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Single Zone Multi-Color illuminated keyboard, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 Wireless LAN + Bluetooth
- Display: 17.3” Thin Bezel Full HD 144Hz, Wide View Angle, 72% NTSC (1920x 1080) Matte Display
- Multi-Color illuminated keyboard, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 Wireless LAN and Bluetooth.
9. MSI GF75 Thin Gaming Laptop
- 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H Processor
- 512GB NVMe Solid State Drive
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Ti Graphics
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C3x USB 3.2 Gen 11x HDMI-Out1x Mic-In/Headphone-Out Jack
- Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Backlight Keyboard (Single-Color, Red). MSI GP75 Leopard 10SFR/SER.
- 230W slim power adapter
- 6-cell Li-Ion battery
Also Read: Best Gaming Laptops Under 900 Dollars
10. Acer Predator Helios Gaming Laptop
- 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0GHz)
- Overclockable NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM, NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Dynamic Boost 2.0, NVIDIA GPU Boost
- 15.6 Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time & 300nit Brightness)
- 16GB DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory | 512GB NVMe SSD (2 x M.2 Slots | 1 Slot Open for Easy Upgrades) | 1 - Available Hard Drive Bay
- Killer Double Shot Pro: Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650i and Killer Ethernet E2600 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
- 4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard | DTS X: Ultra Audio | 4th Gen All-Metal AeroBlade 3D Fan
- Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Gaming Laptop Under $ 1,500
Best laptops for gaming (as well as gaming mice, gaming keyboards, and pretty much anything gaming) are one of the most popular categories here at HotRate, and we’ve actually put together a number of guides to finding the best laptops for gaming at certain prices. In closing, we’ll cover the essentials to check out in terms of features and specs when buying a laptop in this price range, but we’ll pay special attention to what kind of features and specs you’ll find in the best laptop. of play of less than 1500 $.
Comparison of price ranges
When we talk about gaming laptops under $ 1,500, we’re actually looking at two categories of laptops: those around $ 1,000 (what we’ll call the entry-level midrange) and those that are priced just above or below 1,500 dollars (what we will call the mid range). If you’ve been paying attention to our review list, you may have noticed that there is a lot of overlap between different specs and features at different price points.
With that in mind, we’ll be looking at the most typical spec values at entry-level and mid-range levels. So you can better assess the qualities for which laptops are above and below average for their price and more easily determine which price point is right for you.
Graphics processing unit
Entry-level: Nvidia GTX
Mid-range: Nvidia RTX
As it controls graphics processing, the GPU is obviously going to be one of the most important hardware specs to look out for when looking for a gaming laptop, especially below $ 1,500. And while different models are used in comparable gaming laptops, the big difference here is between the GTX and the RTX. And that’s what makes up a big chunk of the price difference between entry-level and mid-range models (many recommend spending around a third of the hardware budget on the GPU when building a gaming machine from zero, and this also applies quite well to a pre-made laptop).
So what’s the big difference here? More than performance, it’s the latest and greatest technology that comes from the great brains of Nvidia. The exclusive star feature of the RTX is ray tracing, a way to dramatically increase the lighting in a scene that is still in its infancy. He is also able to use artificial intelligence and procedural design to truly extend immersion in the world of games. These technologies are still in their infancy, but they could easily color the next generation in a pretty big way.
With VR becoming more and more popular, it’s also worth considering whether your gaming laptop should be VR-ready and if it can support the latest VR headsets.
Central processing unit
Entry-level: 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H
Mid-range: 9th generation Intel i7-9750H cores
You don’t see double. The Intel Core line of processors will almost always be present in a gaming laptop, and the Intel Core i7 is essentially the best model until you meet the i9, which is more than most gamers will ever have. need (and too expensive to be reasonably installed in a laptop, regardless of the price). The Intel i7 is widely regarded as the standard for quality gaming, and it should be able to deliver fast performance while your graphics card keeps pace with image quality.
You may occasionally see gaming laptop models that use an Intel Core i7-8750H processor instead. It shouldn’t be too worrying. Although they represent the eighth rather than the ninth generation of the processor (the first number after the hyphen always means generation), there has been no major improvement after the 8th generation of Intel cores. Stay away from the seventh generation if you want to get the performance you deserve from your games.
You might also see AMD processors in use. While they’re not as common as Intel at this under $ 1,500 price point, they’re still decent processors for a gaming machine, and if they’re on our list here, you can rest easy knowing. knowing that the specs are solid.
Memory
Entry-level: 16 GB of RAM
Mid-range: 32 or 16 GB of RAM
In our guide to the best laptops under $ 2,000, we listed 8GB of RAM as the bare minimum of what you should be looking for when looking for a solid gaming laptop, but we consider 16GB of RAM to be the bare minimum. the benchmark, at least for the gaming experience. Random-access memory (RAM) serves as your computer’s memory, storing information that should be easily accessible. This is great when you are trying to shorten your load times, but there is a point where the memorization your computer needs to do is outclassed by the level of RAM.
32GB of RAM is a nice icing on the cake if you’re looking to multitask or work in a creative field besides gaming, but 16GB of RAM should be enough for most gaming experiences, and it should stay that way. even if technology evolves. And if you ever get to a point where your memory isn’t up to par, upgrading most laptops under $ 1,500 is a pretty straightforward task and rather inexpensive.
Pin up
Entry-level: 15.6-inch FHD
Mid-range: 17 or 15.6 inches FHD
When looking at the best gaming laptops under 1500, there aren’t many options in terms of display. Most laptops at this price point are standardized to 15.6 inches, although you’ll find some larger (and some smaller, as soon as you start fetching less than $ 1,000). Also, you cannot expect any discrepancy in the resolution. FHD is standard for laptops under $ 2,000, and it’s only above that price that we start to see models capable of delivering a true 4K gaming experience.
But just because you can’t have an FHD experience doesn’t mean there aren’t qualities to pay attention to here. There are differences between displays that cannot be translated into raw and defined specs. An anti-reflective surface can help you enjoy a high-end gaming experience clearly on your panel even if you are outside in the middle of the day, and this is further improved by checking the maximum brightness rating measured in nits. . If you want more serious features, look for a gaming laptop with blue light shielding for the sake of your tired eyes.
You can also connect to a 4k gaming television for a more immersive experience.
Storage
Entry-level: 256 GB SSD
Mid-range: 512 GB SSD
Storage is one of those key specs where you start to see a lot more flexibility in what you find. If the average gaming laptop under or around $ 1,000 doesn’t just rely on a traditional hard drive, you’ll find a sizable amount of hybrid models here. They will include both a solid-state hard drive and a traditional hard drive to combine the speed and reliability of a PCIe NvME SSD with the capacity of a more traditional hard drive. That said, you’ll also find entry-level models that only offer a PCIe NvME SSD.
Once you hit the top price for gaming laptops under $ 1,500, you’ll start to see more SSDs with a capacity of 512GB or a seagull terabyte. This is something you won’t find in gaming laptops under or around $ 1,000 at all. But just like memory, storage is something you shouldn’t worry about too much. If you need enough space to easily store your favorite games, replacing a hard drive (or adding a new one to create a hybrid system) is pretty easy and won’t cost you a lot.
Keyboard
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell if a keyboard is good or not just by glancing at it, and what you prefer may not be reflected in the reviews you read. If you have the opportunity, we recommend that you check the operation of a keyboard. A powerful gaming laptop doesn’t mean much if the keys make gaming frustrating. Take the time to stop by a store and try out the style firsthand.
That said, even though most of the best video games rely heavily on keyboards to handle gaming, you don’t need to make them one of your top priorities when buying a gaming laptop. You can still invest in one. wireless Bluetooth keyboard. You can find out more about them in our guide to the best wireless gaming keyboards of 2021.
Peripheral devices
At first glance, it might seem that stacking on a load of peripherals goes against the practical portability that a laptop offers, but some peripherals will be necessary for some gamers. Every gamer is going to want to get the best gaming mouse. While the trackpads that come with these laptops are generally very functional, they are not suited to the needs of serious gaming. Check out our guide to the best gaming mice to help guide your research.
Headsets and headphones are a bit more situational. If you’re a pro gamer or looking to coordinate a serious multiplayer game, you’ll definitely want to get a gaming headset. If you’re an alone gamer who regularly finds yourself in crowded situations (or just looking for a more experience. immersive), you may seriously consider investing in a solid pair of headphones. There are many inexpensive and compact models available to suit the needs of gamers. Check out our list of the best gaming headsets for more information.
Investing in an external keyboard will be a matter of personal preference. While keyboard construction is one of the first things to consider when a manufacturer is cutting back on budget, these mid-range models offer some pretty solid options overall. But you won’t find them satisfying cadence of a dedicated mechanical keyboard right out of the box, and many keyboards specifically designed for gamers offer quality-of-life features like dedicated macro buttons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most powerful laptop of 2021?
It’s hard to say which laptop is the most powerful, as there are so many brands to follow and so many hidden components of a computer to consider when trying to assess the best. That’s why we encourage you to browse our review guide above and follow us regularly to stay on top of the latest gadgets and goods.
What’s the best gaming laptop of 2021?
Before even taking into consideration the fact that we’re only looking at gaming laptops under $ 1,500, it’s hard to turn our backs on the HP Omen. This is a very cool laptop that is prepared for the latest graphics advancements and has been meticulously tested to be compatible with the latest VR headsets. Add to that a cool-looking backlit keyboard and you’ve got a gaming laptop that would be awesome at pretty much any price.
What are the best laptops for gaming?
If you want a laptop that you can use primarily for gaming, there are a lot of options available to you. If you’re a little strapped for cash, our list includes 10 of the best models under $ 1,500. But if you’re willing to pay a little more, we’ve also got a guide to the best gaming laptop models under $ 2,000 for you.
What are the most affordable gaming laptops?
If your budget is less than $ 1,500, the Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop will be our choice. If you’re a gamer and want a balanced performance on everything from the latest games to multitasking at work and school, this laptop is the perfect fit for you. Not only is this a roughly $ 1,000 gaming laptop, it offers a balanced profile when it comes to everything from storage and memory to picture quality.
Final thoughts
$ 1,500 isn’t exactly cheap for most people, but once you find a laptop that can play your favorite games, it should be able to easily stay with you for years to come. We hope you find the best laptop for your budget here. If you decide to make accessory purchases for your new gaming platform, we encourage you to follow our buying guides in more detail.
Leave a Reply