// WIRED US/UK — HARDWARE & GADGET
3 Best Cheap Gaming Laptops (2026): Lenovo, MSI, Alienware
There was a time not so long ago when you could buy a decent gaming laptop for around $800. It wouldn't be pretty, but it could play modern games at decent frame rates and provided an entry point to PC gaming for a broader demographic.
These days, those same laptops cost $400 or $500 more. Meanwhile, the newer generation of entry-level gaming laptops has arrived, often offering similar performance for even more money—or by compromising the overall quality of the system. But there are a few standouts I've tested worth mentioning. And while it may not feel like the best time to buy a cheap gaming laptop, prices may only increase in the future.
For more laptop picks, check out our Best Cheap Laptops, Best Gaming Laptops, Best Windows Laptops, and Best Laptops guides. Make sure to read our comprehensive guide on How to Choose a Gaming Laptop.
Updated August 2026: I've reevaluated all the picks to reflect new prices and context. I've also added testing from the Alienware 15 and Lenovo LOQ 15 Essential Gen 11.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 has been the best deal in gaming since it came out at the beginning of 2026, and that remains true today. It comes with an Nvidia RTX 5060 laptop graphics card, for one thing, meaning you get solid frame rates in games without needing to depend on image upscaling through Nvidia's DLSS technology or frame generation. The performance advantage over RTX 5050 laptops, like the Acer Swift V 16 (see below), is substantial—anywhere between 11 and 40 percent depending on the benchmark. I was impressed by the performance across a suite of games, even though the system gets undeniably loud under heavy load.
The display is even more surprising, though. So many gaming laptops around (or above) $1,000 (and cheap laptops in general) use dim, crummy-looking screens with terrible colors. Sorry, not sorry. But the LOQ 15 looks fantastic by comparison. It's still only 1920 x 1080 resolution, but the colors are more vibrant and cover 100 percent of the sRGB color space. It can also be cranked up to 347 nits of brightness, which is bright enough as long as you're not gaming by a window. The significantly better screen makes the LOQ 15 a far better option as a laptop that can be used for school or work just as enjoyably as it is for gaming. On that note, I love the clicky keyboard too, which feels tactile and fast to type on. Even the touchpad has a smooth, responsive surface.
The price has increased over the past six months, though. It used to sell for under $1,000, sometimes as low as $900. Now, the best deal is over at Walmart for $1,200, which also comes with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. As much as it hurts to say, this is still the best deal in gaming laptops—and it's not close.
If you want to go cheaper without giving up more performance, there's one clear option to consider: the MSI Cyborg A15. Despite only costing $999, it comes with the same RTX 5060 as the LOQ 15. That will be enough for many who are looking first and foremost for decent gaming performance at a discount.
There are two significant compromises, though, when compared to the LOQ 15. The MSI doesn't have the high-quality IPS display, sporting the same desaturated color spectrum as the Acer Nitro V 16 and Alienware 15 (more on those below). It also uses a lower-quality 720p webcam compared to the 1080p one on the LOQ 15. It even comes with one fewer USB-A port.
Still, there's a lot to like. The touchpad and keyboard are both nice, and if you like a colorful machine, the Cyborg gives you three-zone RGB backlighting. It's also a more portable design, with a smaller footprint and thinner chassis—even slightly lighter. I tested the RTX 5050 model, but right now it's only being offered in a 1-terabyte configuration, so it's a bit more expensive. The RTX 5060 with 512 GB at $999 is easily the most power you'll find at that price.