The best budget gaming laptops for 2025

Even though just about everything is getting more expensive these days, it’s still possible to find a few cheaper gaming notebooks under $1,000. If you’re just looking to hit 60 fps to 120 fps of performance, or you just want to play the latest games without cranking up your graphics settings, these are the notebooks to consider. You’ll still find high refresh rate displays, as well as modern CPUs and GPUs. Just be prepared to live with slightly flimsier build quality, as well as plastic cases.