Best Gaming Laptop Under $1,500 in 2023

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Editor’s Top 3 Picks

Acer Predator Helios 300

CPU: Intel i7-11800H
GPU: RTX 3060
Display: 15.6 FHD

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Asus TUF A15

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
GPU: RTX 2060
Display: 15.6 FHD

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Alienware M15

CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H
GPU: RTX 2060
Display: 15.6 FHD

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Frequently Asked Questions

Role of RAM and SSD in a gaming laptop under 1500?

Although the majority of the workload of a gaming laptop is handled by CPU and GPU. RAM also plays a vital role in bringing up a smooth and lag-free experience. RAM stores all the data, content, and variables that are quickly required for the processing. 16GB RAM is mainly preferred for a smooth multitasking experience. However, if you find yourself dealing with intensive workloads, you can opt for 24GB or even higher. Similarly, SSD doesn’t directly improve the gaming performance in terms of FPS, speed, efficiency, etc. But it helps in opening files much faster. Besides, NVMe drives with Optane technology are recommended for higher speeds.

What Graphics card you should look for in your gaming laptop under 1500?

Graphics card plays a vital role in bringing up the smooth and lag-free gaming experience. If you see yourself as an enthusiastic FPS player but not a professional, Nvidia RTX 3060 Graphics card or Nvidia RTX 2060 is highly recommended. If your budget is much lower than $1500 then you need to go for cards like GT 1650 or low-power RTX 20 series cards like the RTX 2050.

Is Core i7 processor best for gaming?

Obviously, Core i7 CPUs are better than Core i3 or Core i5 in many ways, like bringing faster gaming performance to the desk, considering integrated graphics, looking up for higher clock speeds, etc. The latest generation Core i7 processor is when coupled with a demanding graphics card, can indeed unlock doors for ultimate gaming.

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Best Gaming Laptops Under 1500

1. Acer Predator Helios 300

Helios 300 brought up to speed

With the release of RTX 30 series graphics cards and New Intel processors, the Helios 300 was brought up to speed. The New Predator Helios houses an 11th Gen Intel Core-i7 processor and an RTX 3060 graphics. These two powerful internal components give it an amazing power boost compared to the older model. In addition, its 144Hz display panel with a response time of 3ms is something we absolutely love in it. For a gaming laptop under 1500 dollars, it is a stunning beast. Its battery life, however, is lower than it was before. With a backup of 4.5 hours, it does not compete with new gaming laptops, but this is a trade-off for its lower price. Anyway, apart from the reduced battery backup, everything else is spot-on, including a wide range of ports and a beautiful RGB keyboard.

2. Asus TUF A15 Gaming

Best Performance

Next is the most versatile and affordable gaming laptop that keeps a perfect balance between value and performance. Asus TUF A15 with a 1080p performance, solid build quality, muscular processor, and graphics card with many helpful input and output ports. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor with 16 processing threads and eight cores brings you an ultimate gaming power that you would mostly witness in high-end gaming laptops. A brilliant 1080p performer, the Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU ensures fluid and smooth graphics. The only thing that can slightly bother you is its loud fans. Whenever the system is introduced to some intensive workloads, fans give loud sound. The biggest catch about this best gaming laptop under 1500 in 2023 is its long-lasting battery life and continuous 12 hours backup.

3. Alienware M15 Gaming Laptop

Best Graphics

Alienware is a brand solely made for producing absolute gaming rigs. The Alienware M15 is the best 15 inch gaming laptop under 1500 with a perfectly slim and soothing design. This top-rated gaming laptop under 1500 comes with many bells and whistles to dominate others, including a crispy large 15 inches full high definition display screen and a powerful 8th gen Intel core i7 processor. Furthermore, as a professional gamer, you get 16GB of well enough RAM memory for comprehensive multitasking. Alienware M15 has a sleek design but is slightly heavy with 5.2 pounds of weight. Similarly, you might not love the audio performance of M15 as they are not much impressive. For any professional, a useful number of I/O ports is a must thing. The Alienware M15 holds a single Thunderbolt 3 and all other important ports.

4. Razer Blade 15 Gaming 2019

Best Portable

Razer Blade 15 is a laptop that brings design and performance to perfection. The overall body is durable with an aluminum body. The ink-black chassis with a Razer logo on the bottom bezel radiates class and professionalism. The system’s performance is backed by a 9th generation Intel Core i9 processor with 16GB of RAM and also has a unique storage capacity of 128GB SSD (Solid state drive) and 1TB HDD. An FHD (Full high definition) resolution 15.6 inches display screen gives a 60-hertz refresh rate with a blur-free gaming experience. Moreover, the laptop features a comfortable RGB backlit keyboard with a 1.2mm key travel and 69 grams of actuation force. Lastly, the Razer Blade 15, providing 5 hours of battery backup with this much stronger internals, is a plus.

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5. ASUS TUF FX505

Best Durable

The ASUS TUF FX505 is the best budget gaming laptop, combining both Nvidia and AMD components, forming an absolute beast. Apart from the sleek and good-looking overall design, the laptop is pretty much durable with passing military standards Mil-STD-810G means it can easily withstand dust, humidity, high temperatures, etc. Similarly, the laptop stays low with temperature whenever introduced to an intensive workload. The 15.6 inches display screen with FHD resolutions and 120-hertz refresh rate radiates accurate colors with perfect in-game details. This best gaming laptop under 1500 is configured with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, Nvidia Geforce RTX 2060 graphics card, fast 16GB RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. On a single recharge, the FX505 provides 4 hours of battery backup.

6. ASUS TUF A17

Best 17-Inch

ASUS TUF A17 Gaming is being manufactured specially for mainstream gamers with a great gaming power under its deck, huge 17 inches display, perfect design with out-of-the-box durability passing military-grade standards. ASUS TUF Gaming laptops were previously considered the best alternatives for gaming laptops on a budget side. Still, the brand is pushing things ahead to stay as a competitive contender in the race. The system’s power is backed by a 4th generation AMD Ryzen 7 processor, graphical performance is boosted by Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti GOU, and for multitasking, it holds a well-capable 16GB of RAM. The 17.3 inches display screen isn’t much glossy. Still, it works above average, providing great color combinations and enough details with FHD resolutions. The ASUS TUF A17 Gaming laptop, even though it isn’t way more expensive than others on the list, still offers premium gaming rig-like performance.

7. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15

Best 15-Inch

The Asus Rog Zephyrus G15 coming up next is the best gaming laptop under 1500 with the capability of delivering so much power for mainstream gamers. A solid contender on the list configured with AMD Ryzen series processor, sturdy Nvidia GeForce graphics card, and massive storage options. The 15.6 inches full high-definition display screen is surprisingly glossy, radiating fresh and accurate colors with a refresh rate of 144 hertz. The Nvidia’s GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q is there to help you providing smooth and realistic graphics. Design-wise, 15-inch laptops are for sure not portability friendly. The black brushed metal lid radiates a professional and eye-catchy look. This best-budget gaming laptop manages to provide 5 hours of battery backup on a single recharge.

8. MSI GV62 8RD-275

Best Affordable

The MSI GV62 is another best affordable gaming laptop with a great potential for professional gaming geeks. The plastic-made pure black chassis feel gives a soft touch and looks like a red light classical keyboard. Design-wise, MSI has left no clue for criticism. The keyboard with 1.77mm of key-travel and 74 grams of actuation force ensures a comfortable typing experience. Also, it has a responsive touchpad with the ability to capture all operating system gestures. Display with full high definition resolutions and wide viewing angle delivers accurate images with enough details and fresh colors. The Nvidia GTX 1050Ti graphics card provides smooth gameplay. Moreover, the processing speed is backed by an Intel Core i5 processor, multitasking is dealt with 8GB RAM storage. The wide range of input and output ports is appreciable, providing room for connecting essential gaming peripherals. Battery life is highly disappointing when compared to another contender on the list. It only works for 2 hours on a single recharge.

9. Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming

Best for Beginners

Next is IdeaPad L340, on a list of top-rated gaming laptops under 1500, a sleek designed laptop covering all the trends of gaming laptops 2023. keeping the price in perspective, Lenovo has included a plastic build. The keyboard with ambient blue lightening, low key-travel, and well-placed keycaps gives a perfect typing experience. Similarly, it consists of a responsive and accurate touchpad. The laptop features 15.6 inches full high-definition display screen that captures accurate colors and details, bringing up an exciting gaming experience. Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM storage, 256GB of SSD storage, and Nvidia GTX 1650 are other key specifications of this best gaming laptop under 1500. Lenovo L340 with 4.84 pounds weight provides not much but acceptable portability. The laptop also offers Massive battery life of almost 9 hours on a single recharge.

$1500 gaming laptop Buying Guide

Although the desktop remains extraordinary among PC gamers, sometimes you just need a more portable machine for gaming. A 1500 dollars gaming laptop is a tool on the go, with the power to play games in a size you can carry around. Let’s go towards the factors that you need to take into account before buying a gaming laptop.

Graphics Card

The majority of the games are GPU-bound, so this is one of the major decisions you make when choosing a gaming laptop. Most gaming laptops are equipped with Nvidia GeForce, either GTX or RTX series, so keep an eye for that. Going way below $1500, the gaming laptop will have GTX 10 series graphics card. But if you stay near 1500 dollars, you will get RTX 20 and 30 series graphics cards, sometimes even higher tier RTX 30 series graphics cards like the RTX 3060.

• Entry-Level Gaming: If you are playing on the lower setting, a GTX 1660 will do the job for you. Though a GTX 1660 Ti is a bit more powerful, the performance is worthy enough to spend on. Such laptops will cost you between $700 to $1000.
• Mainstream Gaming: If you want to play games on a higher setting without issues, then RTX 2060 is a good option. Still, it is the minimum standard for virtual reality. Such laptops will cost you $1000 to $1500. All the laptops that you will find on this page fall under these two categories.
• VR and Highest Settings: Never accept anything less than RTX 3070 or 3080. Remember that such laptops are costly and will easily cost you $2000 or over. These laptops do not fall in the category we are talking about, so there is none in the reviews here.

Specifications

With GPU, you should also look for an excellent CPU, sufficient RAM, and a great deal of storage space.

• CPU: You can get a powerful Intel Core i7 processor or Core i5 depending upon your budget. Since most of the games benefit from GPU instead of CPU, so Core i5 is acceptable. However, it should be the latest 8th Gen. Remember, the CPU is not upgradable, so make this choice with great care. Therefore, it will be wise to wait for a while if your budget is tight, instead of making a wrong choice.
• RAM: Games are RAM intensive, so never accept anything less than 8GB. Happily, most of the gaming laptops that come with GTX 1650 or 1650Ti generally have above 8GB of RAM. In addition, laptops with RTX or higher graphics card have 16GB of RAM. Simple is that the higher the memory, the better will be your gaming experience. Anyhow, RAM is upgradable, so if your budget is limited at the moment, it can be upgraded later.
• Storage Space: SSD is the best option for a gaming laptop, though such laptops are expensive, and for some users, the storage space is not sufficient. In such a case, look for a laptop with a hybrid drive that gives you enormous storage space like HDD and speed like SSD. Similar to RAM, storage space is also upgradable, so it should not be a big issue.

Display

Although most users overlook display, it is extremely important, especially if you are not connecting your laptop to a monitor. Some of the important things to consider in a display are:

• Size: Nearly all the gaming laptops have 15-17 inches screens, though some are huge with 18 inches and a few with 14 inches systems. Although size is a matter of personal preference, keep in mind that the bigger you go, the heavier will be your laptop. And at the same time, the lower you go, the useless the gaming you do. So it is always better to choose anything ranging from 15 to 17 inches.
• Resolution: Never go for a gaming laptop which has resolution less than 1920 x 1080. Although it’s very rare, still, if you encounter one, don’t even think about that. On the other hand, if you want a 2k display, your laptop should have GTX 1070 or 1080 GPU. Although some of the gaming laptops come with 4k resolution, for that, you will need RTX 2070 or 2080 if you don’t want to face any issues.

Keyboard

Since we are talking about a gaming laptop keyboard, you need to consider some important factors for better gameplay. However, if you are using an external gaming keyboard, you can skip this part.

• Key Travel: It means that how far you can press a keyboard key. The ideal key travel is 1.5mm, which saves you from bottoming out. Some models even come with a mechanical keyboard, but you have to spend more on that.
• Actuation Force: The force refers to the pressure required for pressing a key down. The ideal actuation force is between 65 to 70 grams, which is sufficient to provide resistance.
• Backlighting: Admitting that budget gaming laptops come with a backlit keyboard, but either just red or white. However, the best gaming laptop under $1,500 2023 offers backlighting both by zone and per-key. In addition, you can also change the backlighting according to your game.

Battery Life

The simple answer is not to count on your gaming laptop. While playing games, you need to plug in your laptop to get the maximum performance out of your GPU. On the other hand, your laptop won’t last an hour of gaming if you don’t. Although gaming laptops last a few hours while doing other tasks, but not as long compared to laptops without a discrete GPU. However, if you want something that lasts up to 8 hours, it won’t be a gaming laptop.