2018’s Top 5 Gaming Budget Laptops

These are my top 5 picks for budget gaming laptops of 2018:

1. HP Omen 15 – $999The HP Omen 15 has been redesigned with an eye-catching chassis; a clicky, responsive keyboard; and an easy-to-remove panel to upgrade the hard-disk drive, solid-state drive and RAM. Add in a bright, vibrant display and some nice, loud speakers, and you have a gaming notebook that will enthrall you.

Key Specs: CPU: 2.8-GHz Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU * GPU: AMD Radeon RX 550 GPU with 2GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/1TB 7,200-rpm HDD * Display Size/Resolution: 15.6/1920 x 1080

2. Origin Eon15-S – $999This 15-inch gaming laptop is fairly portable at 5.2 pounds and packs good overall performance, thanks to its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics. You also get decent battery life and an understated design that stays cool while fragging. It’s a great choice for gamers on a tight budget who don’t want to make too many compromises.

Key Specs: CPU: 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-7300 HQ * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB M.2 PCIe SSS with a1TB 7,200-rpm hard drive * Display Size/Resolution: 15.6-inch/1920 x 1080

3. Dell Inspiron 15 7000The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop is known for its impressive battery life. This iteration lasted over 7 hours on our battery test. Thanks to its 7th-generation Intel Core i5 processor the Inspiron 15 7000 can multitask with the best of them. But the notebook’s best feature is its Nvidia GTX 1060 (Max-Q) GPU, it’s one of the first sub-$1000 gaming laptops that’s truly VR-Ready. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop that can deliver solid framerates without blasting a hole in your wallet, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop should at or near the top of your list.

Key Specs: CPU: 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-7300HQ CPU * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (Max-Q) 6GB of VRAM* RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB SSD * Display Size/Resolution: 15.6-inch/1920 x 1080

4. Acer Aspire VX 15 – $918

Clad in black, red and silver, the Aspire VX offers a sturdy grip and a somewhat-premium look. In terms of gaming, the system’s Core i5 CPU and Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU should provide solid performance on both fronts — provided you don’t try to use it with overly taxing games or work. But where the VX 15 really shines is its audio thanks to its speakers that are well-balanced and surprisingly powerful.

Key Specs: CPU: 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-7300HQ CPU * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 with 4GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB M.2 SATA SSD * Display Size/Resolution: 15.6/1920 x 1080

5. Alienware 13 – $999

What’s imposing and badass on a 17- or 18-inch laptop is downright adorable on a 13-inch rig. The $999 configuration of the Alienware 13 keeps the trademark customizable lighting of its big brothers, including the gorgeous backlit keyboard. But this laptop is more than a pretty piece of tech, packing a 7th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and an Nvidia GeForce 1050 GPU, which should deliver good frame rates on its admittedly low-res 1366 x 768 display.

Key Specs: CPU: 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-7300HQ CPU * GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 with 2GB of VRAM * RAM/Storage: 8GB/180GB M.2 SATA SSD * Display Size/Resolution: 13-inch/1366 x 768

Author: Kue Lee, MBA
Kue has a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) from California State University, Fresno. He works as the Director of Education and Outreach for the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation in addition to being a contributing writer for news, business, and international blogs. He has also written, directed, and produced an award-winning film as well as authored several books on business, philosophy, and Asian folk lore.