Desktops are a safer bet than a laptop. Usually, cheaper desktop computers are the go-to option for gamers. Getting a good gaming rig will last you a couple of years, but the PC is static. Money poses an issue, and buying a gaming laptop is much more expensive. With new games incoming like Assasins Creed Valhalla, Destiny 2 Beyond Light, or Cyberpunk 2077, you need a machine that will smooth play all these games. Being able to immerse yourself in the gaming world on the go is a great thing to have. We wholeheartedly suggest that you take advantage of the new technology.
In this small guide and list, we compiled the latest and best gaming laptops under $2000, so you can choose smarter what you will buy! If you are an experienced gamer, you will know how hard it is to get a machine that will run it all, especially on a budget! With $2000 you can buy a decent laptop that will run all the latest games and programs.
Our Top Picks Under $2000
1. Razer Blade Stealth 13
The new model from Razer is the most portable and light gaming ultrabook on the market. Available on November 6, who can spend almost $2000 on it, will have a beautiful gaming machine. The laptop was designed for mobility with a CNC designed and manufactured body that looks very promising. This will be the fastest gaming ultrabook with the latest Intel Core 11th generation i7 Processor and a GeForce GTX 1650Ti dedicated video graphics card. With an immersive, high-quality OLED display and a refresh rate from 120Hz, gaming will be a butter-smooth experience with amazing visuals. The Razer Blade Stealth has impressive thinness and is exceptionally light. The thing matte bezel is also something to enjoy immensely, and the machine looks super cool!
- Processor: Quad-Core 10th Gen i7-1065G7
- Display: 13-Inch IPS-grade 120Hz Full HD 1920 x 1080
- RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4X 3733MHz (Fixed)
- Graphics Chip: GeForce GTX 1650Ti 4GB
- Storage Size: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10
- Ports: 2 x Thuderbolt 4 (Type-C), 2 x USB-A
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
- Weight and dimensions: 8.27 x11.99 x 0.60 inches / 3.26lbs
- Ultra-thin and light
- Amazing build quality
- Amazing graphics performance
- Two models, OLED vs. an IPS display (the IPS option is cheaper)
- THX spatial audio provides a fantastic sound experience out the box
- Razer Chroma RGB keyboard
- None
2. OMEN 15
Omen is the laptop line by HP. Their dedicated gaming line has delivered some stellar laptops this year, and especially the OMEN 15 is worth checking out for a gaming laptop. Set at a price point of around $1500, it is not too pricey compared to $2000. The Omen 15 boasts some impressive specs with 10 generation Intel Core i7 processors and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super that has an impressive 8 GB of VRAM. With 32 GB of RAM, you will be able to run anything you throw at this laptop. With an RGB lit keyboard an impressive display with a refresh rate of 300Hz, the OMEN is a competitive contender to any gaming PC.
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H
- Display: 15.6-inch diagonal 1080p IPS with 300Hz refresh rate, 3 ms response time
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4
- Graphics Chip: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 6 GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Storage Size: 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10
- Ports: 3 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x HDMI
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
- Weight and dimensions: 0.89 x 14.09 x 9.44 inches / 5.42 lbs
- Super powerful specifications for a $1500
- 32 GB and an 8 GB video card
- 300Hz refresh rate
- Set up for VR from the box
- Speakers are a bit silent in places
- Short battery, but what can you expect from a powerhouse like this
3. ASUS TUF
This machine will bring a fully loaded gaming experience at the tip of your fingers. The Asus TUF is a gaming laptop designed with durability and quality in mind. With their unique self-cleaning cooling system, they want to be better than the competition, and our tests showed just that. With an aluminum chassis a big battery, this line by Asus simplified the expansion options. With this, you can expand your memory and storage in a breeze. ASUS has made sure that daily use won’t bother your device. They advertise reduced fall damage with the MIL-STD-810H standards that allow you to carry your laptop around without fear of it breaking or damaging. Even in freezing conditions, your computer will run and be useful—a real portable powerhouse.
- Processor: 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 4800H Processor
- Display: 15.6 inch FHD 1920×1080 with a 144Hz IPS-Type display
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
- Graphics Chip: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB Graphics with ROG Boost
- Storage Size: 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Ports: 2 x 3.2 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5
- Weight and dimensions: 14.1 x 10.1 x 1 inches / 5.07 lbs
- Durable MIL-STD-810H military standard construction
- Anti-dust and dual fan tech keep it clean and cool.
- Easy upgrade system
- Great RGB keyboard
- Wi-Fi 6 would be nice
4. Razer Blade 15
The Razer Blade 15 is a super portable compact gaming ultrabook that will fulfill all your gaming needs. With a 9th generation Intel Core i7 and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, you can run any latest game. Thin and portable, you can customize the backlight of your Razer Chroma keyboard to make the laptop yours! A future-proof design with SSD and HDD upgradable slots with a Thunderbolt 3 port for an external graphics card. The narrow bezel display is especially lovely to look at. It supports biometric face security, and we do think that you can’t go wrong with Razor.
- Processor: 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H 2.6Hz towards 4.5Hz
- Display: 15.6 inches full HD 1080p 60Hz
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
- Graphics Chip: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti
- Storage Size: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Ports: 2 x 3.2 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5
- Weight and dimensions: 9.25 x 13.98 x 0.78 inches/ 4.63 lbs
- Razer Chroma Keyboard backlight
- Great SRGB screen
- Easy upgrade system
- A bit loud
5. MSI GP65 Leopard
This MSI GP65 Leopard is an excellent laptop for any gamer. With a 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and a GeForce RTX 20, you will get fantastic video game performance and looks. The GPU especially is a good deal as it supports Real-Time Ray Tracking and uses powerful AI to make the graphics even better. We also want to note the cooling system by the name of Cooler Boost 5, specially designed by MSI for maximum performance. As MSI calls it, the dragon spirit can definitely be felt in this machine as we had maximum FPS at 1080p for all games that we threw at it. It also boasts a 15.6 inches 144Hz display that looks vibrant and colorful. The right choice in any case!
- Processor: : Intel Core i7-10750H Six Core Processor (12MB Cache, 2.6GHz-5.0GHz) 45W
- Display: 15.6 inches full HD 1080p 60Hz
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4 2666MHz
- Graphics Chip: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6
- Storage Size: 1TB NVMe Solid State Drive + 2TB HDD
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Ports: 2 x 3.2 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5
- Weight and dimensions: 9.25 x 13.98 x 0.78 inches/ 4.63 lbs
- We love the looks of it
- 2 significant storage options from the get-go
- 32 GB of ram is very future proof for years to come
- A bit pricey
- Weaker battery life
6. Alienware m17 R3
Alienware has always been at the forefront of gaming laptops and computers. The Alienware m17 R3 is not an exception. The sleek white design and the quality materials are the first things that you notice on this machine. They boast premium materials and quality for a premium on the go gaming experience with a 17.3-inch display with a whopping 300Hz refresh rate. With optimal cooling a lightweight body, the Alienware m17 looks cool and sounds cool too! Easy to overclock, and with a fantastic big screen, it is ideal for a desktop gaming experience also! An excellent choice for anyone wanting a bigger screen gaming laptop under $2000.
- Processor: : Intel Core i7-10750H Six Core Processor (12MB Cache, 2.6GHz-5.0GHz) 45W
- Display: 17.3 inches inches full HD 1080p 300Hz 3ms
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4 2666MHz
- Graphics Chip: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6
- Storage Size: 1TB NVMe Solid State Drive
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Ports: 2 x 3.2 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5
- Weight and dimensions: 15.74 x 11.59 x 0.89 inches/ 5.51 lbs
- The Alienware lighting looks amazing
- The 300Hz display is a joy to look at
- Light and lean compared to other 17-inch gaming laptops
- None
7. Asus ROG Strix G15
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is at the top of what you can get for a premium gaming laptop in 2024. With the latest generation video card and CPU, you will game with ease. We like the sound system, and the RGB controllers are super easy to use. The sturdy design combined with the beefy specs will deliver outstanding performance in all-new games and programs. It can be a bit loud under heavy load, but this is not too surprising for such a beast. It is also easily upgradeable, and we like the feature where you can use the touchpad as the Numpad.
- Processor: : Intel Core i7-10750H Processor 2.6 GHz (12M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz)
- Display: 15.6 inches inches full HD 1080p 240HZ 3ms
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4 2933MHz
- Graphics Chip: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with ROG Boost
- 6GB GDDR6
- Storage Size: 1TB NVMe Solid State Drive
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Ports: 3 x 3.2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Type-C 1 x HDMI
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
- Weight and dimensions: 14.20 x 10.80 x 1.00 inches / 5.28 lbs
- Has an excellent cooling system
- You will receive a 30 day Xbox Pass if you get it on Amazon
- The keyboard could be better
8. Acer Predator Triton 500
The powerhouse that is the Acer Predator Triton 500 is a laptop for those who want a fast and powerful gaming experience. It is a joy to look at and play on with a 300Hz display for that free screen tearing experience. IT features a new three fan cooling system specially designed for the Acer line of laptops that allows faster and quieter cooling! With the computer comes some useful software like internet controllers or the PredatorSense software, which lets you control every aspect of the laptop, including overclocking and different profiles for games. This one features a lot of power for such a slim notebook. We think this is an excellent option for a balanced gaming laptop!
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0GHz)
- Display: 15.6 inches full HD G-SYNC Display 300Hz
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4 2933MHz
- Graphics Chip: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER
- 8 GB VRAM
- Storage Size: 512 GB PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Ports: 2 x 3.2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Type-C 1 x HDMI
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
- Weight and dimensions: 14.11 x 10.04 x 0.7 inches / 4.62 lbs
- The GSYNC display is fantastic to play with a 300Hz refresh rate
- Smart audio with 6 speakers for an excellent sound
- Amazing RGB lights
- Weaker battery
Laptop Buying Guide
Getting a laptop for gaming can be tricky. Too many specifications and features can confuse you. Still, we wanted to help you with that and compile the most important things you should now!
Aspects that you need to think of when buying a laptop for gaming are the following:
- You need a high-end processor unit that will have enough cores and enough processing speed for the next couple of years
- A GPU with enough memory to keep up with the rising gaming requirements
- A good keyboard that can last and is suitable for high impact gaming
- Enough ports so you can connect your machine to anything you would like
- An excellent cooling mechanism with a big enough fan to endure the high-temperature load
- Good enough battery life, with a laptop like this you won’t get too much out of it, but a few hours should be the minimum
- It would help if you got a computer of good build quality and right materials that won’t bend and that will endure high temperatures
- How future proof you want your machine to be, if you buy an i9 processor, you are sure to be set up for a couple of years to come
What refresh rate should my gaming laptop be?
The refresh rate is the number of times your display will update it with new images. So with a higher refresh rate, you will get smoother gameplay on your future laptop! 122Hz or 144Hz is undoubtedly better than 60Hz, and the difference is noticeable for most people. Like one of the mentioned above, some machines have 300Hz, which is a joy to look at and play with. So think about what you would like!
Which brand of gaming laptop should I buy?
Today, there are many gaming brands, but what we would say are the better ones are Alienware, Asus, and Acer. They truly make the best gaming laptops that are feature-packed and work great under heavy load and games.
What are the minimum system requirements of a gaming laptop?
CPU: Intel Core i5 ( 8th or 9th generation) or an AMD FX-6300
RAM: At least 8 GB of memory
Storage: A 256 GB SSD is a must, but something bigger will go a long way
GPU: A Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 would be a minimum or any newer dedicated card with 4 GB of dedicated VRAM
Battery life: 2 hours minimum
What are the recommended system requirements for a gaming laptop?
CPU: Intel Core i7 ( 9th or 10th generation) or an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
RAM: 32 GB of memory
Storage: A 512 SSD
GPU: A dedicated video card with 6 GB of VRAM like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
Battery life: 6 hours minimum
What things to consider when buying a $2000 laptop?
CPU power, GPU power, and how much RAM you have are the essential things from the start.
CPU or the Processor
The minimum you should get is an Intel Core i5 processor. Still, most laptops on our list will have an Intel Core i7 processor of the 9th or the 10th generation. With this, you will be set up for some time, but if you can get an Intel Core i9, that would be even better! AMD also has a line of powerful gaming processors, and something as the AMD Ryzen 7 series will be comparable to the i7 line. AMD specifications are usually a tad bit cheaper, so maybe consider that when getting your future gaming laptop.
RAM
The working memory of the computer is essential when gaming! To cut it short, you need at least 8 GB. In this price range, you will get 16 GB easy, which will suffice for most, if not all, games. 32 GB is a bit excessive, but you can’t go wrong with extra RAM.
GPU or the video card
For hardcore gaming, you need a powerful card! There are a lot of options but getting something with 6 GB of VRAM is essential. With a budget of $2000, you will be able to get a good GPU. Consider getting an RTX 2060 or the 2070 model for optimal gaming performance and security that you will be able to run the latest games for some time.
Display Size and Refresh Rate
For this budget, you want a display that will pop and be nice to look at. Lucky for you, this price range boats some impressive looking displays with varying refresh rates. The minimum you should get is a full HD display or 1080p, a 1920 x 1080. If you want to enjoy 4K, it is better to do that on a desktop PC. Usually, the display size of 15.6 inches is too small to really see 4K or higher resolutions. This is also the standard size for a gaming laptop, and you shouldn’t go for anything smaller.
The refresh rate on this budget will be at least 122Hz, which is good enough for a smooth gaming experience. You will be able to purchase higher refresh rates going up until 300Hz, which we can wholeheartedly recommend. An IPS display is the standard, and you should not get anything less than that. There are options to get a 4K monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate, but we would go with the FHD option with 144Hz.
Ports and connectivity
Most gaming laptops have enough connections and ports for all your needs. USB Type – C us there on most machines. We would suggest something with faster charging like the Lenovo laptops that can charge their batteries super fast.
Storage
Your hard drive memory is crucial. Even with a fast CPU, you still need to access game files on the breeze. A solid-state drive is a must in this case, and the bigger, the better. Some of the models listed here are more than one SSD slot, and a minimum should be 512 GB.
With this, we want to compile our list of best gaming laptops under $2000. Whatever your choice is, check out specifications carefully and all the little features that could help you down the line in this price range.
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