Best budget gaming laptops: Save pennies while you play

If your Steam library is full of games you'll "get around to playing", there's no need to balance which of those you have on your install list anymore with this entry from MSI. It is more expensive when it comes to budget, but you're definitely getting your money's worth here thanks to the great specs it offers. It has fantastic 1TB SSD storage, which is about double what you would expect for the price. While external storage is an option, incorporating it into the laptop makes your set-up more portable.

The MSI Katana performs excellently, with a great combination of fast RAM and a powerful processor to keep everything running and stable throughout your gaming session. An RTX 3050 GPU is only a smidge away from what you could expect from a dedicated gaming computer, so there's plenty of power in this portable design. Many current AA games can run on this GPU, even if it's a generation behind. Since the screen is only 1080p, you'll be able to get top-tier performance on the screen, whatever game you play. GPU-intensive games such as Elden Ring or Cyberpunk 2077 might cause extra fan noise, but that's only a minor downside.

With the RGB keyboard and slick MSI branding, you will surely have the gamer vibe you're looking for.

HP has been a mainstay in the laptop industry for decades now, its Victus line definitely turns heads at the fantastic price point. The 16.1-inch display is excellent, with anti-glare and flicker-free technology added to ensure it looks great no matter where you are. The refresh rate compliments this, ensuring the graphics produced with the massive RTX 4050 GPU appear as crisp as possible. The CPU isn't groundbreaking, but the SSD and RAM are the right amount we like to see in a gaming laptop.

The ventilation and battery also deserve a mention. The eight-hour battery life is respectable, but it becomes great with the speedy charging rate thanks to the fast charging technology, which gets you from zero to 50 per cent in as little as 30 minutes. HP pays real attention to design detail; even the keycaps on the backlit keyboard are made from recycled plastic. As for the ventilation, the rear cooling vents ensure the laptop won't overheat even on the hottest of days.

Overall, this laptop is a steal for what you're getting: a top-spec GPU in a subtle package. Though the display's response time is a little disappointing, it shouldn't impact casual gamers in the slightest.

You should like the ASUS Zenbook 14 UX3402VA for those who prioritise screen quality. A better-than-2K screen is a fantastic find at this price point and effectively as good as you can get before exceeding your budget to reach 4K visuals. The screen also has an anti-glare feature that's always a blessing on sunny days, and the impressive brightness does wonders for darker days. Along with its touchscreen feature and great colour gamut, there's a lot to love visually with this find.

In terms of specs, this Zenbook 14 is pretty solid. The CPU is dependable, the SSD is spacious, and the ten-hour battery life is always great. The Intel Iris GPU is equivalent to many on this list, though NVIDIA is more well-known for a reason. Overall, however, this computer will be just at home in Blender as it would be in Battlefield.

Another entry from ASUS, but this one is a little different. While it may not be a laptop in the traditional sense, it is more than equipped for whatever you need in the smallest design on this list. The ASUS ROG Ally is a major entry into the handheld gaming market, taking notes from the SteamDeck and adding even more functionality.

Their specialized software "Armoury" will give you access to your Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Epic and Gog libraries when needed, but it also functions as a Windows PC at the touch of a button. With the ability to connect a mouse, keyboard and monitor to it, this could act as the smallest desktop you'll ever own when you're not out and about. And don't worry about keeping your gaming collection safe; the power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

Despite its size, it can handle more than most when it comes to gaming. It can play Cyberpunk, Baldur's Gate, Forza, Elden Ring, or whatever you throw. On the FHD 120Hz screen, you'll have a great visual experience, a great audio experience with Dolby Atmos speakers, and the incorporated audio jack if you want a more intimate soundscape or extra privacy on the go.

The portable computing scene has seen a lot of newcomers recently, the Ally combining many of the best features of all of them, but if you want something slightly different then it's worth checking out the Lenovo Legion Go and Steam Deck to see if they may suit better.

Overall, this is a fantastic product in a very compact package. The price is very reasonable for the performance of a gaming laptop that can fit in your pocket. While there may not be a dedicated GPU, that is down to size, not choice.

For another compact option, the Vivobook from ASUS promises a big punch in a very small package. While it may be a little outdated, the GTX 2050 GPU is still more than enough to handle most AAA games (though next-gen games may be a stretch). Alongside the 16GB of RAM, this laptop will see you through no matter what you throw at it.

Thanks to its smaller size, this is perfect for frequent travellers who struggle to find time for gaming at home. It will definitely get the job done, though with its small form factor, fan noise may be an issue. The battery leaves much to be desired, with many consumers saying it lasts about four hours before it runs out, so you'll most likely need to take a charger with you, but for this price compromises would have to be made.

This entry is the cheapest on our list, but this does not mean you'll sacrifice any functionality in the name of budget.

Though not one of the more well-known brands, the Medion brand is under the umbrella of Lenovo, so this gaming laptop has a great pedigree behind it. Boasting the RTX 4050, this laptop can handle almost anything you throw at it. It is good for gaming and editing with a great screen, can handle wide colour gamuts, and can work and play on the go.

Despite its price, this laptop boasts many features you wouldn't see on many desktop PCs, let alone on a laptop. With the 16GB of RAM and standard 512GB of SSD storage, there's not much you'd want to do that this laptop couldn't help with. All this for well under £1,000 is a testament to its functionality and cost-effectiveness.

One last entry from ASUS on the list: this is the beast all-rounder option from their TUF budget gaming range. The F15 promises many features you'd not expect from something to be used for gaming, with MIL-STD 810H US military-grade durability for any environment you'd want to game in. Even if something happens to break, the F15 is one of the most repairable options on this list, with advertised slots for adding more storage or RAM in the future.

It has the specs you'd be looking for, this time opting for the Ryzen 7 CPU, speedy 16GB memory and a beefy 3060 GPU. There is nothing you could throw at this computer that it couldn't handle, internally or externally. The above-average battery means you'll not be shackled to a charger when working in all those intense environments.

The price reflects these added features, though in our opinion is a little high for slightly older-gen GPU performance, but it'll still deliver the performance most gamers would dream of, especially for the 144Hz FHD screen. All in all, another great offering from ASUS, who are at the top of the portable gaming scene.