AliceMany gamers believe they need to spend big money to get great performance. After all, without top-of-the-line specs, you risk getting left behind in those crucial competitive matches – so it’s easy to get into a money-no-object mindset. But what if you don’t have a lot to spend? Are you looking for a powerful gaming laptop that won’t break the bank? If so, you’re in luck! There are a huge number of great gaming laptops available for under $2000. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best options on the market.
We’ll consider factors such as performance, battery life, display quality, and build quality when making our recommendations. We’ll also take into account the needs of different types of gamers. Whether you’re a casual gamer who wants to play the latest titles on medium settings, or a hardcore gamer who demands the best possible performance, we have a laptop for you. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the best gaming laptops under $2000!
Product Comparison Table: Best Gaming Laptop Under $2000
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | GIGABYTE Auros 15G XC Gaming Laptop | $$$ | 4 stars | Best Competitive | Amazon |
 | Alienware m15 R7 Gaming Laptop | $$$ | 4 stars | Most Customisable | Amazon |
 | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Best QHD | Amazon |
 | ASUS TUF Dash 15 Gaming Laptop | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best Value | Amazon |
 | Acer Predator Helios 16 Gaming Laptop | $$$$ | 4.5 stars | Best Premium | Amazon |
GIGABYTE Auros 15G XC Gaming Laptop
The GIGABYTE Auros 15G XC Gaming Laptop has a powerful GPU, in the form of a brand new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 card. It also has one of the most powerful processors in this article, the Intel Core i7-10870H, which can cope with practically any triple-A game at high FPS. The 240Hz screen offers fluid and responsive gameplay, even when playing fast-moving games like Overwatch or Fortnite. Despite this, however, it lacks G-Sync compatibility; you may experience some screen-tearing if you try and push this laptop past 240FPS.
There’s also a number of features that give the Auros a distinctly “PC-like” feel: a generous 32GB of RAM, solid color reproduction from the IGZO display, and a unique mechanical-style keyboard with a satisfying clunk. You may have to upgrade the 512GB SSD eventually, though.
Pros
- Powerful processor and generous RAM
- Display handles high FPS
- Responsive mechanical-style keyboard
Cons
- No G-Sync compatibility
- May need to upgrade SSD eventually
Verdict
If you’re a competitive gamer, you need a powerful altop with the latest technology – but you don’t want to waste too much of your hard-earned winnings on unnecessary extras. That’s where the GIGABYTE Auros 15G XC Gaming Laptop comes in. This affordable machine offers the performance of a much more expensive laptop – including liquid-smooth gameplay, a responsive touchpad and keys, and vivid visuals – at an unbeatable price.
Read more reviews or buy this product
Alienware m15 R7 Gaming Laptop
The Alienware m17 R7 Gaming Laptop comes with high-TGP graphics card options, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a great 240Hz 1440p/QHD display. If this SSD seems small, you can easily swap it out for a better option. You can even select a Cherry keyboard if you like a certain finger-feel.
In fact, the best thing about the Alienware m17 R7 is its customizability, with several features you can mix-and-match or pick between. There are multiple variants of this same affordable gaming laptop, each with subtly different features: the RTX 3070 Ti GPU variant comes with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, whilst the Intel Core i9-12900H CPU model which comes with RTX 3080. The latter provides better FPS if you’re a competitive gamer, and the former has a superior battery life for casual on-the-go play. As you can see, this is a gaming laptop that’s tailored to suit you – and your wallet.
Pros
- Powerful CPU and GPU options
- Interchangeable and optional features
- Strong visuals and response rate
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Plastic chassis (!!)
Verdict
The Alienware m17 R7 Gaming Laptop is our most customisable gaming laptop under $2000, with options to suit every budget, purpose, and individual gamer. It looks and performs well too, and is reasonably low on the price range as far as this article is concerned. However, you wouldn’t expect a plastic chassis at this price; even though it looks good, this does add weight, whilst undermining the high-end feel.
Read more reviews or buy this product
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 gives you the processing power to speed through laptop gaming, streaming, and creating; the12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H Processor (6 P-cores and 8 E-cores) has a 24M Cache, and up to 5.0GHz clock speed. Despite being so powerful, however, it’s still reliable and rarely crashes. It’s all thanks to the ROG intelligent cooling system, which uses premium Thermal Grizzly liquid metal, Arc Flow fans, and 0dB Ambient Cooling to keep the machine’s temp down.
This Windows 11 gaming laptop is equipped with the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti laptop GPU, with a max TGP of 150W and ROG Boost up to 1460MHz. That give you the most realistic ray-traced graphics on the market, plus cutting-edge AI features like NVIDIA DLSS. You won’t experience any lag in visuals or performance, either. A swift 15.6” QHD/240Hz IPS type display covers 100% DCI-P3 color, whilst 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD and 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM mean you’ll never lose those precious saves.
Pros
- Powerful and reliable processing
- Swift full-colour display
- Lots of storage and RAM
Cons
- No webcam
Verdict
If you want the best gaming laptop under $2000 with a beautiful wide QHD display, look no further than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15. Sure, it might not have all the bells and whistles – there’s no webcam, Thunderbolt port of SD card reader – but this machine offers the kind of silky-smooth gaming that truly justifies being referred to as an “experience”.
Read more reviews or buy this product
ASUS TUF Dash 15 Gaming Laptop
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 Gaming Laptop is perfect for gaming and multitasking. It’s all thanks to the Intel Core i7-12650H Processor, with 24MB Cache, 10 cores (6 P-cores and 4 E-cores) and 16GB of blisteringly fast 4800MHz DDR5 RAM on Windows 11. Although it doesn’t have the most storage in the world, it’s more than enough for the average gamer’s library: a 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD that loads pretty fast. There’s also a Dual Self cleaning Arc Flow fan system, with anti-dust technology to prevent crashes and overheating.
As for the visuals, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 functions at 1050W with Dynamic Boost. Plus, it supports cutting-edge AI features like NVIDIA DLSS and Ray-Tracing. A MUX Switch lets the GPU communicate directly with the display too, increasing performance and decreasing latency. Even the 144Hz 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) display works to give this laptop a real luxury sheen – despite the low price.
Pros
- Great value low price
- Powerful, reliable processing
- Impressive visuals
Cons
- Not the greatest RAM or storage
Verdict
A lower net worth shouldn’t have to mean a lower quality laptop, and that’s why the ASUS TUF Dash 15 Gaming Laptop made it on our list as the best machine for gamers on a budget. It may not be as showstopping as more expensive models, but features like the FHD display and advanced fan system make the ASUS TUF gaming experience far smoother than you might expect.
Read more reviews or buy this product
Acer Predator Helios 16 Gaming Laptop
The Acer Predator Helios 16 Gaming Laptop uses a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX processor, so it can seamlessly switch between heavy multitasking workloads from game streaming to photo editing – without dropping the FPS. However, the most impressive aspect of this gaming machine is the ultra-efficient NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture; this delivers a quantum leap forward in both performance and AI-powered graphics compared to previous models. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is beyond fast for gamers and creators, too.
At 16 inches with a 16:10 aspect ratio, the pristine WQXGA LED panel clocks in with a fast 165Hz refresh and 3ms Overdrive response time. Plus, NVIDIA Advanced Optimus (NVIDIA’s graphics switching technology), allows the laptop display to dynamically switch between integrated graphics discrete graphics without having to reboot. Lastly, it boasts 16GB DDR5 memory, and a 1TB PCle Gen 4 SSD.
Pros
- Smooth transitions between modes
- Fast, reliable and sturdy
- Substantial memory and processing power
Cons
- Relatively expensive
Verdict
The Acer Predator Helios 16 Gaming Laptop is our best premium option, barely scraping into the eligibility bracket for our best gaming laptops under $2000. If you have a little more cash to splash, this gaming laptop has more than enough features to satisfy even the most demanding eSports pro. However, you may have to wait for an offer if your budget’s really tight.
