Budget King: Gaming Laptop 2023 Edition

Today, we'll be discussing some of the laptops DDRand revealing the best budget options available in 2023 up to 2024. Gaming laptops are now more affordable than ever, with the capability to handle what was once considered mid-range gaming hardware, all for around $500 to $600. This means there are plenty of options, both new and used, on the market.

Let's start with the entry-level laptops, typically powered by APUs (Accelerated Processing Units), in the $300 to $500 price range. If you're going for a new one, we recommend the Ryzen 5 5500U, often found in laptops like the Acer Aspire. The 5500U is a 6-core, 12-thread APU with integrated graphics. It's power-efficient and can handle eSports titles like Fortnite, Minecraft, Valorant, and CS:GO, especially if you're playing on a 720p or 1080p display. However, these laptops generally lack gaming aesthetics, RGB lighting, IPS panels, and high refresh rates.

If you want a more gaming-focused laptop, consider something like the Asus TUF Gaming F15. This laptop features an RTX 2050 GPU and an Intel i5-11400H CPU. You can find this laptop on Amazon with Prime shipping. While the RTX 2050 isn't a high-end GPU, it's an upgrade from the GTX 1650 and can handle games like Fortnite and Warzone on lower settings. This laptop is priced at around $690 and comes with a 1080p 144Hz display.

Moving up to the $700+ range, you'll find laptops like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 Series. These laptops offer a more gaming-oriented design with backlit keyboards, high-refresh-rate displays (usually 120Hz or 144Hz at 1080p), and GPUs like the RTX 3050. You'll also get options for 12th gen Intel CPUs or newer Ryzen 6000 or 7000 series chips. If you want to save money, consider the previous-gen models, indicated as "2021 model" or "2022 model" on Amazon, which often come with significant discounts.

One thing to keep in mind, especially in this price range, is that many laptops may come with single-channel RAM (only one stick of SODIMM RAM). Upgrading to dual-channel RAM can significantly boost gaming performance, and it's relatively inexpensive.

Now, let's take a look at some laptops featuring the powerful RTX 4060 GPUs. One standout model comes from Gigabyte, equipped with an Intel i5 12500H processor, a 15.6-inch high-refresh-rate display, and an attractive price ranging from $879 to $900. Notably, this laptop also boasts a 144Hz display and a mux switch, a key feature for maximizing the potential of your dedicated GPU. Additionally, it includes a Gen 4 512GB SSD. However, it's worth noting that it comes with a single 8GB stick of DDR4 memory. Given that most budget laptops tend to feature DDR4, we highly recommend considering an upgrade. Upgrading to DDR5 can provide benefits, especially as it performs better in single-channel configurations.

For those seeking a high-performance option under a thousand dollars, the MSI Katana series is an excellent choice. This series, currently a Micro Center specialty, offers impressive specs at an affordable price point. Featuring an Intel i7 13620H processor, known for its balance between efficiency and performance, as well as an RTX 4050 GPU, it provides a high-refresh-rate display. These laptops typically come with 16GB of DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, ensuring smooth multitasking. Furthermore, they boast a Gen 4 SSD, ensuring snappy system responsiveness. Importantly, this series represents the cutting edge of technology in late 2023, offering the latest features without the fear of rapid obsolescence.

In the world of gaming laptops, it's remarkable to find options under a thousand dollars that provide both high performance and up-to-date specifications. Gone are the days when such laptops were either low-spec or a few generations behind. Keep in mind, each brand, whether well-known or niche, may offer hidden gems in terms of price-to-performance ratio. So, don't hesitate to explore options from various manufacturers and retailers, as exclusive deals can emerge, even for laptops that might only need a minor upgrade, such as additional RAM or storage.