Best Gaming Laptop Under $1500 2022

Are you looking for the best gaming laptop under $1500?

Buying a gaming laptop on a budget can be quite tricky due to the various cost-saving measures that manufacturers can employ.

However, $1500 is a great sweet spot in which you can find the perfect balance of gaming performance as well as value.

Of course, the laptop also has to be good for other tasks besides gaming. Fortunately, most gaming laptops are quite versatile in the modern market.

We have curated a list of the very best gaming laptops you can buy on a budget of $1500. Let’s jump right in.

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The Best Gaming Laptop Under $1500 – Compared

How We Choose the Best Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Buying a gaming laptop is already a tricky process since you have to consider multiple key elements in the purchase decision before you even throw the budget into the mix.

First of all, our primary focus was the GPU, or the graphics processing unit which is the heart of a gaming laptop.

Not only does the GPU handle all the graphical processing in games, but it is also necessary for streaming and video editing should you need to do so.

Of course, the CPU is also important to complement the GPU. Therefore, we prioritized the processor as well since it handles all the computational work in gaming as well as in general productivity.

The display is a key factor of a gaming laptop since it basically handles all the visual output of your games. High refresh rate displays were made a priority, while the color reproduction and dynamic range of the panels were also considered.

We also laid a priority on the weight and size of the laptop. Gaming laptops are typically bulky, but we prioritized laptops that had a little less heft to them.

Battery life is a key component of any laptop, and the same is the case with a gaming laptop. We selected laptops with a respectable battery life that can give you a few hours of continuous gaming, at least.

Another point is that we avoided gaming notebooks since most gaming notebooks are not powerful enough.

Finally, the value proposition is the ultimate deciding factor, especially when purchasing a laptop on a budget. We selected laptops that maximized the bang-for-the-buck factor while staying under the $1500 price tag.

Keeping these factors in mind, we have selected the very best gaming laptops under $1500. Let’s dive right in.

1. MSI GL66 – Editor’s Choice

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 3 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

The GL66 from MSI is definitely the very best new gaming laptop you can buy for under $1500, thanks to its option of the GeForce RTX 3070 in this price range. It earns the award of Editor’s Choice for this roundup.

MSI has paired the 11th Gen Core i7-11800H processor with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 in the GL66 to make it one of the best options in this price category. The Intel CPU can clock as high as 4.6 GHz which is ideal for high-end modern gaming.

Furthermore, the RTX 3070 is one of the most powerful gaming GPUs currently available, so that is an incredible feat in itself.

With this combination, you should be able to play all the modern AAA and eSports titles without any problems. Even 1440p 144Hz and 4K 60Hz gaming are not out of reach for the RTX 3070 if you tweak with some settings, although the GL66 is limited to 1080p 144Hz gaming due to its panel. top notch gaming performance

Speaking of the display, MSI has provided a standard 1080p 144Hz display which is pretty much the bare minimum for a great gaming machine. The high refresh rate will allow you to gain a competitive advantage in many multiplayer games such as COD, PUBG, Fortnite, Rocket League, CS: GO, etc.

Some people may prefer other laptops in this category such as the MSI Stealth 15M. It is a competing option that offers a lower price point, but the performance of the GL66 is more important for gaming purposes.

The Razer Blade 15 can also be found in this category, but it has a much weaker GPU for a similar price.

As far as battery life goes, the GL66 is not an impressive performer. The rated battery life is only 3 hours on a full charge, which is abysmal in the modern world. It is safe to say you will always need your charger with you for this laptop.

The GL66 also weighs around 4.63 pounds which is quite heavy, even for a gaming laptop. The bulky nature of the laptop combined with its poor battery life means that most users will not carry this laptop around with them.

All in all, the MSI GL66 trumps the other options in this price category thanks to its impressive specs, especially due to the RTX 3070. It does have some flaws, but the price-to-performance ratio overpowers most of the deficiencies and earns our recommendation.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 9/10
• Battery: 5.5/10
• Display: 8/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

2. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Best Designed Gaming Laptop Under $1500 – BEST SELLER

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 6 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is the definitive gaming laptop thanks to its combination of high-end performance and reasonable value proposition. This gaming laptop features an incredible design, therefore, it earns the title of the best designed gaming laptop under $1500.

Kicking things off with the performance, the Helios 300 certainly does not disappoint in this regard. Acer has equipped the Helios 300 with the 10th Gen Core i7-10750H processor which is a 6-Core overclockable CPU.

You can try your hand at overclocking if you really want to, however, this is not a good idea since laptops generally do not have the extra thermal headroom for this activity. Still, it is a really powerful CPU for modern gaming.

Paired with the Core i7 is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 which is an excellent choice for modern high-end gaming, especially in laptops. It hits the sweet spot of performance and efficiency when it comes to the RTX 3000 series.

You can play all your favorite modern titles at high-ultra settings while getting excellent framerates with this combination. The RTX 3060 should be able to handle big-budget AAA titles from 2021 and 2022 as well since the GPU is well-suited to these games.

The 1080p 144Hz screen of the Helios 300 is the ideal pairing with this CPU and GPU as you can actually saturate its capabilities in most games. The display itself is impressive in terms of color reproduction and viewing angles as well.

On the gaming laptop market, the Helios 300 has The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 as alternate options that you might consider, but the Helios 300 comes out on top due to its better performance.

Acer rates the battery life of this laptop at around 6 hours on a full charge, which is average for a gaming laptop.

The Helios 300 is very bulky, thanks to its weight of 5.5 pounds, which means that you will not be able to take this laptop around with you very easily.

Although the Predator Helios 300 maximizes our budget of $1500, the performance and quality it offers in that price bracket are quite impressive and certainly warrant consideration if you are looking for the perfect gaming laptop under $1500.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8.5/10
• Battery: 7/10
• Display: 8/10
• Value for Money: 6.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

3. ASUS TUF Dash 15 – Mil-STD-810H Certified Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-11370H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 12 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

If you’re someone who is always on the go then the Asus TUF Dash 15 can be the perfect choice for you as it can take a tough beating because of its Mil-STD-810H certification. The laptop chassis is built with rigorous materials that keeps the device protected in tough environments.

Secondly, proving that you don’t need to break the bank to get a decent gaming experience, ASUS has provided an 11th Gen Core i7 processor clocked at 4.4 GHz in this laptop. The 8 threads of this CPU are enough for handling most modern demanding games even at high framerates.

The processor has been paired with the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. Now, the 3050 Ti is certainly not the latest and greatest when it comes to the RTX 3000 series, but it is still a very competent performer.

Equipped with 4GB of VRAM, it should be able to handle most modern games at 60-100 FPS with some graphical tweaks.

The TUF Dash 15 is more suited to competitive eSports gaming and multiplayer games that are a little easier to run as compared to full-budget AAA titles.

This is reflected in the screen choice, which is a standard 1080p 144Hz panel. The specs are good for modern gaming, but the panel itself is a little underwhelming. The color reproduction and dynamic range leave something to be desired.

Others may prefer the Acer Aspire 7 and the MSI GF65 which are very similar mid range gaming laptops. However, the TUF Dash 15 offers a better GPU and an overall superior package.

One of the better features of the TUF Dash 15 is its battery life, which is rated at around 12 hours. This is quite an impressive figure for a gaming laptop and does give you some peace of mind if you ever want to take this laptop with you somewhere.

The TUF Dash 15 has some impressive other features like the addition of the Thunderbolt 4 USB type C port. However, it lacks a full RGB keyboard which balances things out a little.

Conclusively, there are not a lot of options on the market in this price range that can compete with the ASUS TUF Dash 15 and come out on top. The combination of performance and value is quite impressive and earns it a solid recommendation from us in this roundup.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 7.5/10
• Battery: 8/10
• Display: 7/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

4. ASUS ROG Strix G15 – Best Built Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 12 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

Our second consecutive pick from ASUS is the ROG Strix G15 gaming laptop. The G15 separates itself from other options thanks to its use of the flagship Ryzen 9 processor from AMD.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is one of the very best mobile CPUs currently available in gaming laptops. It is a premium 8-Core CPU that can handle any gaming or productivity task you can throw at it.

You can also expect flawless multitasking and streaming from this processor if you plan to you the CPU encoding for it. It is pretty power-hungry, however, so that is a bit of a concern as far as thermals go.

ASUS has paired the 5900HX with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, which is a high-end combination in modern gaming laptops.

The RTX 3060 will be able to match the 5900HX step-for-step and can deliver an excellent gaming experience in modern AAA as well as multiplayer games on 1080p and 1440p.

The display of the ROG Strix G15 is limited to 1080p 144Hz, however, so the RTX 3060 seems to be the perfect GPU for it. Speaking of the display, it is quite impressive regardless of the specs when it comes to the viewing angles and dynamic range.

There is no webcam in the ROG Strix G15, however, which is quite an odd decision.

MSI’s Stealth 15M and GL66 laptops compete with the ROG Strix G15 in terms of pricing and specs, however, the G15 comes out on top thanks to its premium processor and impressive build quality.

The battery life of the G15 is rated to be around 12 hours on a full charge, which is quite decent for a gaming laptop. However, the laptop weighs around 5.1 pounds making it one of the heavier laptops on the market. The portability factor is not strong with the ROG Strix G15.

All in all, this offering from ASUS is a perfectly good choice if you are looking for a gaming laptop under $1500. Its excellent build quality separates it from the bunch and earns it the title of the best built gaming laptop under $1500.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8.5/10
• Battery: 8/10
• Display: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

5. HP OMEN – Best 17 Inch Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 17.3 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 3 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

The HP Omen is the very best 17-inch gaming laptop in this price range on the market, thanks to its impressive specs and impeccable build quality.

Under the hood, HP has combined the powers of the Intel Core i7-11800H and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. The former is an overclockable octa-core CPU that can boost up to 4.6GHz on stock settings.

You can even try your hand at manual overclocking to improve that, but you may run into thermal restraints.

Even at stock settings, the Core i7-11800H is a very powerful mobile gaming CPU. Combined with the RTX 3060 from Nvidia, it can provide a high-end gaming experience capable of playing games at 1080p from 60-144Hz depending on the graphical settings.

HP has provided a standard 1080p 144Hz display with the OMEN, but it is a 17-inch screen instead of the 15.6-inch panels we see on competing gaming machines under $1500. The extra real estate might prove beneficial if you are a fan of graphically complex AAA titles.

There are some other options from Lenovo and Dell that you may consider instead of the OMEN in this price bracket. The Lenovo Legion 5 and Dell G15 are competing offerings, but the HP OMEN offers the better value proposition in this category.

HP claims a battery life of around 3 hours on a full charge, which is quite simply unacceptable in a modern laptop. The OMEN is also ridiculously heavy since it weighs over 6.1 pounds, which can make portability almost impossible.

Apart from these drawbacks, the overall package offered by HP with the OMEN is still quite impressive. It also earns the title of the best 17-inch gaming laptop under $1500 thanks to its high-end performance and decent build quality.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8.5/10
• Battery: 6/10
• Display: 7/10
• Value for Money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

6. Gigabyte AORUS 15P – Best 240Hz Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 9 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 240Hz

The Gigabyte AORUS 15P presents itself as a very competitive option for gaming under $1500. It has a great design, impressive internal specs, a decent battery life, and a palatable price tag as well.

Perhaps the most important feature of the Gigabyte AORUS 15P is its display. The 15-inch 1080p panel is capable of refreshing up to 240 times in one second, which is rare for a laptop in this price category.

The 240Hz panel is also surprisingly well-rounded in terms of color reproduction and dynamic range.

You will need plenty of performance to saturate that 240Hz refresh rate, and thankfully the AORUS 15P provides that.

The 11th Gen intel Core i7 CPU paired with the GeForce RTX 3060 is enough to play all high end games at more than 60 FPS, provided you are open to minor tweaks to the graphics settings.

The AORUS 15P also competes with the MSI GP66 and the Gigabyte AERO 15 in this price category. Although the MSI offering comes close in terms of specs, the AORUS is more balanced in its approach. The AORUS 15P is also the only one with a 240Hz display, therefore it comes out on top.

Gigabyte rates the battery life to be around 9 hours on a full charge, which is decent for a gaming laptop. The AORUS 15P weighs around 4.9 pounds, however, making it quite a bulky laptop even for a gaming-focused machine.

The webcam of the AORUS 15P is quite poor both in terms of quality and placement. It is placed in the middle of the chassis just above the keyboard and faces you at an unfortunate angle.

Even with these minor deficiencies, the Gigabyte AORUS 15P is quite an impressive gaming laptop. It earns our recommendation and the award for the best 240Hz gaming laptop under $1500.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8.5/10
• Battery: 7.5/10
• Display: 8.5/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

7. Acer Nitro 5 – Best Cooled Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD| Battery: 8 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

The Nitro 5 is one of the most popular gaming laptops out there, mainly due to the vast number of different configurations you can get it in.

Most of those variants offer an excellent price-to-performance ratio, and our selected option follows the same trend.

Acer has provided the 11th Gen Core i7 mobile CPU in the Nitro 5, along with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti. The highlight feature of the Acer Nitro 5 is its ability to keep the temperatures of these components under control.

The GPU is a downgrade from the RTX 3060 that is present in competing options, but the CPU still holds its own against the best of the best.

With this combination, you should be able to play most of the modern eSports and multiplayer titles at 144Hz on 1080p, but you will have to change the graphics settings a little bit.

With the AAA releases, you should be able to hit 60Hz on most of them in a stable manner.

The Acer Nitro 5 is certainly not alone in this price bracket, and it faces some competition from the likes of the ASUS TUF F15 and the Dell G15 5511.

The Nitro 5, however, delivers a better-rounded package with a better display, a better processor, and more SSD storage than the competitors.

Weighing in at just under 6 pounds, the Nitro 5 is certainly not a light option. The battery life is also rated at around 8 hours which is acceptable, but unremarkable.

The build quality of the laptop is another underwhelming factor of the Nitro 5.

Acer’s offering is still worthy of consideration at this price point, despite losing out to the aforementioned options when it comes to raw GPU performance. The excellent cooling system of this laptop earns it the award of the best cooled gaming laptop under $1500.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8/10
• Battery: 7/10
• Display: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 6.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

8. Lenovo Legion 5 – Best 165Hz Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 8 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 165Hz

The Lenovo Legion 5 is another solid gaming laptop that you can purchase for under $1500. It is actually one of the more affordable options as well and therefore maximizes your price-to-performance ratio.

Under the hood, Lenovo has provided an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H mobile CPU that is among the best mobile processors made by AMD currently. It has 12 threads, and a maximum clock speed of up to 4.4GHz, making it an ideal CPU for gaming and multitasking.

Lenovo has paired the 5800H with the RTX 3050 Ti, making an excellent mid-range gaming laptop.

You can expect more than 100 FPS on most multiplayer and eSports titles at all times, with a few adjustments to the graphics settings.

The 165Hz display of the Lenovo Legion 5 is the highlight feature, especially at this price point. The display is actually pretty decent overall, with good color reproduction and accurate viewing angles.

Other competing options on the market include the Dell G15 and the HP OMEN 15. However, the Legion 5 seems to be the better value thanks to its lower price and better display technology.

Lenovo claims a battery life of around 8 hours, which is acceptable yet unremarkable in a gaming laptop. The Legion 5 weighs around 5.28 pounds making it one of the heaviest gaming laptops out there.

Safe to say that portability is not exactly the strong suit of this laptop.

Had Lenovo stretched the price tag of this laptop, the GPU choice could have been improved a little as well as the storage options. Still, the Legion 5 is an excellent gaming laptop, and rightly earns the award of the best 165Hz gaming laptop under $1500.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8/10
• Battery: 7/10
• Display: 8/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

9. MSI GF65 – Most Robust Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD| Battery: 4 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

MSI’s GF65 CUK is our next pick on the list, thanks to its excellent gaming performance and host of remarkable features. It earns the title of the most robust gaming laptop under $1500” in this roundup thanks to its robust feature set.

Starting off with the internal specs, MSI has equipped the GF65 with the Core i7-10750H which is a last-gen mobile CPU from Intel. However, that does not hold it back in terms of performance as this is one of the very best laptop processors of that generation.

Paired with the 10th Gen Core i7 CPU is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, making a combination that is ideal for high-end modern gaming on the go.

The RTX 3060 is able to handle all the latest games at framerates in excess of 100 FPS at 1080p, provided you are willing to be flexible with the graphics settings.

Some potential buyers may prefer the Gigabyte G5 and ASUS TUF A15 which are both competing options that you might consider, however, the MSI offering is superior in terms of gaming performance as well as value for money.

MSI claims a battery life of just 4 hours on a full charge, which is quite disappointing even for a powerful gaming laptop. Furthermore, the GF65 weighs around 4.1 pounds, making it unsuitable for portable work.

The build quality of the laptop is quite underwhelming too. The materials don’t feel as nice as you would expect from a $1500 laptop, and the overall fit and finish are lacking in certain spots. On the flip side, the cooling performance is rather outstanding.

All these factors combine to provide a rather decent gaming laptop that you should consider if you are shopping for one under $1500.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 8/10
• Battery: 5.5/10
• Display: 7/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

10. Razer Blade 15 – Best Razer Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB SSD| Battery: 4 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 120Hz

The Razer Blade 15 is probably one of the most popular laptops out there when it comes to the gaming niche, and for good reason. You can also get a variant of the Razer Blade 15 in our budget of $1500, albeit with a few compromises.

In this variant, you have a 10th Gen Core i7 processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU. This is a decidedly mid-range combination that should be able to handle most eSports and multiplayer titles at 60 FPS on 1080p.

However, it may struggle with heavier AAA titles that have come out recently, unless you are open to tweaking the graphical settings significantly.

The Blade 15 competes with the Dell XPS 15 and Alienware X15 which are both similar in terms of price, but wildly different in their categories.

The Razer offering offers better specs than the XPS 15 and is cheaper than the Alienware option, therefore it comes out on top.

You only get a 256GB SSD in this variant, and the screen is limited to 120Hz in terms of refresh rate. The display panel is quite nice, but the refresh rate could have been better at this price point.

Furthermore, Razer claims a battery life of only 4 hours on a full charge, which is abysmal even for a gaming laptop.

While yes, there are a few drawbacks to the Razer Blade 15 when compared to the aforementioned options, it is still the only Razer gaming laptop that we recommend under this budget.

This is the best Razer gaming laptop under $1500 that you can buy, and for some customers, this is exactly what they are looking for.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 7.5/10
• Battery: 5.5/10
• Display: 6.5/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 7/10

11. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 – Most Lightweight Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 14 inch | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD| Battery: 11 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 120Hz

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is also worth considering if you are looking for the most lightweight gaming laptop under $1500.

Under the hood, we have an AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS mated to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU for optimum efficiency. Although these are older components, they still have more than enough performance for modern pc gaming.

This setup is ideal for eSports and lighter multiplayer titles at 1080p 120Hz, which is exactly what the display is capable of.

The Zephyrus G14 has similar specs to some variants of the Lenovo Legion 5 and the ASUS TUF Dash F15, but it comes out on top thanks to a stronger CPU and more storage for a similar price tag.

Battery life is quite good as the cell is rated for 11 hours of use on a full charge. This is impressive for a gaming laptop of this category.

Furthermore, the Zephyrus G14 weighs only 3.64 pounds which is relatively lightweight when compared to other gaming laptops.

Sure, it has some slight issues such as noisy internal fans and a 120Hz screen, but the overall package is still very decent and worthy of consideration at this price.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 7.5/10
• Battery: 7.5/10
• Display: 6.5/10
• Value for Money: 6.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7/10

12. ASUS TUF Gaming F17 – Best Rugged Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 17.3 inch | CPU: Intel Core i5-10300H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB SSD| Battery: 6 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 144Hz

The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is a value-oriented gaming laptop on the market, but don’t let that fool you. It still has decent gaming performance and a host of cool features.

While the combination of the Core i5-10300H and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti isn’t high-end by modern standards, it is still more than capable of running eSports and lighter multiplayer titles without any hiccups.

The 1080p 144Hz display is a nice option at this price, as most competing offerings offer simple 60Hz panels. The display pairs nicely with the internal components in the ASUS TUF Gaming F17.

Other competing laptops in this price category include variants of the Acer Nitro 5 and the Acer Aspire 7, although both of them are inferior to the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 when it comes to the price-to-performance ratio.

ASUS claims a battery life of just 6 hours which is quite mediocre by modern standards. Furthermore, the laptop has some thermal issues as well which may negatively affect your gaming experience.

Although the mediocre GPU and 8GB RAM might be a bit too weak for modern AAA games, you can still have a smooth gaming experience on this laptop without breaking the bank.

It is a recommendation for any entry-level buyers that are looking for an affordable gaming laptop. Due to its TUF branding and protection features, it is also the best rugged gaming laptop under $1500 you can buy.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 6.5/10
• Battery: 6.5/10
• Display: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 7/10

13. Dell G15 – Most Versatile Gaming Laptop Under $1500

Size: 15.6 inch | CPU: Intel Core i5-10500H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 64GB | Storage: 2TB SSD| Battery: 4 Hours| Resolution: 1920×1080 | Refresh Rate: 120Hz

Our final pick of the day comes from Dell with their G15 multipurpose laptop. The Dell G15 earns the title of the most versatile gaming laptop under $1500 thanks to its internal specs and productivity performance.

Sure, the Intel Core i5-10500H and the GTX 1650 are not the most powerful components for gaming by any means, but the Dell G15 is more than just a laptop for gaming. This CPU and GPU can still be perfectly fine for lighter multiplayer and eSports titles.

The highlight feature of the G15 is its option of 64GB RAM in addition to a 2TB SSD. These internals make it a very solid productivity laptop as well, in addition to its gaming abilities.

On the market, the G15 faces competition from the HP Victus and the HP Pavilion laptops, but the G15 comes out on top thanks to its versatility and top notch gaming performance.

As a purely gaming-focused laptop, the Dell G15 is quite unbalanced and does fall short in many areas. The G15 is also quite a heavy laptop at 5.39 pounds, and the battery life of 4 hours is mediocre at best.

However, the different RAM and Storage options make it a very solid choice for office and school work in addition to gaming, which is exactly the need of some consumers.

RATINGS:

• Performance: 6.5/10
• Battery: 5.5/10
• Display: 7/10
• Value for Money: 6.5/10
• Overall Rating: 6.5/10

Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500 – Buyer’s Guide

If you are in the market for a gaming laptop, there are several factors that you should consider. Obviously, the budget is the primary thing we have to decide, which in this case is $1500.

While there are multiple options on the market for this budget, not every gaming laptop will be ideal for your use case. You have to filter through several different factors to find the ideal gaming laptop for you.

Fortunately, we have compiled a list of multiple points that you should keep in mind while shopping for a gaming laptop under $1500. .

Graphics Card

The centerpiece of any gaming pc or laptop is the graphics card. Since laptops can’t have full-sized graphics cards inside them, the responsibility falls on the graphics processing unit or GPU which is the core of a graphics card.

The GPU handles all the graphical processing that is required by your games. In addition to that, it is also responsible for encoding and rendering if needed.

With a budget of $1500, you should be able to get modern Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 series GPUs such as the RTX 3050Ti and RTX 3060.

You might be able to squeeze in an RTX 3070 as well, but that might be too difficult in this budget. Older options such as the RTX 2060 and RTX 2070 are also great options for gaming in this budget.

The Processor

The CPU is the brain of the laptop that handles all the computational work of your computer. It is also a huge factor that dictates your gaming performance.

In modern games, the CPU is responsible for AI management, physics, world-building, and general computations that are required by extensive AAA titles. Therefore, it is important for the CPU to be fast enough to complement the GPU.

You should be able to get a modern 10th or 11th Gen Core i5/i7 processor from Intel on a budget of $1500. Furthermore, an AMD Ryzen 7/9 CPU from the 4000 or 5000 series will be perfectly adequate for modern gaming as well.

Of course, the CPU is also responsible for other productivity tasks such as multitasking, etc.

Display

You may have a laptop with a high-end CPU and a fast GPU, but if the display is not able to keep up with these components then the gaming experience can be ruined.

It is extremely important to get a high refresh rate screen in a gaming laptop. You do not need 1440p or 4K resolution for gaming, but you absolutely should opt for a 144Hz or 240Hz panel if the option presents itself.

The display should also have decent color reproduction, viewing angles, and dynamic range for an immersive gaming experience.

Battery Life

Just like with any laptop, the battery life is essential to the day-to-day experience. Many gaming laptops, however, are notorious for their poor battery lives and large power bricks.

Look for laptops with at least 8 hours of rated battery life. This rating varies from manufacturer to manufacturer so it is advisable to look for user and expert reviews when it comes to the battery life.

An 8-hour battery life will ensure that you can play games without worrying about charging the laptop simultaneously.

Weight and Build Quality

Nobody likes to carry a big, heavy laptop with them at all times. It is very important to consider the weight of the device before buying it.

Gaming laptops often fall into the range of 4-6 pounds, which is rather heavy. However, you can get some lighter laptops for gaming as well.

The weight is often a representation of build quality, so you have to find the perfect balance of quality and weight when it comes to gaming laptops.

FAQs:

Is gaming on a laptop worth it?

Gaming on a laptop can be worth it if you are specifically looking for a portable gaming setup. A desktop computer cannot be portable, therefore a gaming laptop is the way to go in this use case.

Is a gaming laptop good for school?

A gaming laptop is generally not good for school. Although they usually have very good specs, gaming laptops are very heavy and have short battery lives. Therefore, they are not ideal for school.

Is MacBook Pro good for gaming?

A MacBook Pro is not good for gaming. The MacBook Pro is made for productivity and professional tasks, and the macOS operating system has little support for modern games. Thus, it is not a great gaming laptop.

Do gaming laptops overheat?

Gaming laptops can overheat if the cooling solution inside the laptop is being overpowered by the components. This can happen if you are gaming for long periods and the fans don’t have access to cool air.

What is the difference between a laptop and a gaming laptop?

The difference between a laptop and a gaming laptop is that the latter is specifically designed with gaming in mind. Gaming laptops have powerful CPUs and GPUs, lots of memory, and a large body for optimum cooling. They are also very heavy and have short battery lives.