Budget Gaming

Best Gaming Laptops Under $500

Yes, you can game on a budget. These laptops handle popular titles without breaking the bank.

Last updated: February 2026

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1 Acer Aspire 5 Gaming
Best Overall

Acer Aspire 5 (Ryzen 7)

~$479
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U Radeon Integrated 16GB RAM 512GB SSD 15.6" FHD IPS

Pros

  • Ryzen 7 handles light gaming well
  • 16GB RAM is generous
  • Good for esports titles

Cons

  • No dedicated GPU
  • Can't run AAA titles on high
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2 HP Victus 15
Best Deal

HP Victus 15 (On Sale)

~$499
Intel Core i5-12450H GTX 1650 8GB DDR4 512GB SSD 15.6" FHD 60Hz

Pros

  • Actual dedicated GPU at this price
  • Runs Fortnite, Valorant, CS2
  • Upgradeable RAM

Cons

  • Only 60Hz display
  • Battery drains fast gaming
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3 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Most Popular

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

~$489
AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS RTX 2050 8GB DDR5 256GB SSD 15.6" FHD 120Hz

Pros

  • RTX GPU under $500
  • 120Hz display is smooth
  • Solid build for the price

Cons

  • Small 256GB SSD
  • 8GB RAM is limiting
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4 ASUS TUF Gaming F15
Durable Pick

ASUS TUF Gaming F15

~$499
Intel Core i5-11400H GTX 1650 8GB DDR4 512GB SSD 15.6" FHD 144Hz

Pros

  • MIL-STD-810H durability rated
  • 144Hz display at this price
  • 512GB SSD storage

Cons

  • Older gen CPU
  • Gets warm under load
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5 Dell Inspiron 15
Sleeper Pick

Dell Inspiron 15 (Ryzen Edition)

~$449
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U Radeon 680M 16GB RAM 512GB SSD 15.6" FHD

Pros

  • Radeon 680M is surprisingly capable
  • 16GB RAM included
  • Doesn't look like a gaming laptop

Cons

  • 60Hz display
  • No dedicated GPU
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