Gaming today is not what it used to be a decade ago. The graphics have become more realistic, the games are more demanding and challenging, and the overall gaming experience has become more immersive. If you’re serious about gaming, then you need a laptop that can keep up with the demands of today’s games.
However, having a powerful gaming laptop doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, there are plenty of options available that will allow you to enjoy your favorite games without breaking the bank.
If you’re looking for a gaming laptop to take your gaming experience to the next level without spending a fortune, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll take a look at the seven best gaming laptops under $400 that you can buy in 2023.
Read on to find the perfect gaming laptop for your needs and budget, as well as the factors you need to consider before making your purchase.
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 favorite picks when it comes to the best gaming laptops under $400 in 2023!
Best Overall
Runner Up
Budget Pick
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Is A Gaming Laptop Worth It?
A gaming laptop can be a great investment for any gamer, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro. However, there are a few things you need to consider before making your purchase.
First, ask yourself if you really need a gaming laptop. If you already have a desktop PC that can handle all of your gaming needs, then a laptop may not be necessary.
Similarly, if you’re only interested in casual games or don’t have the budget for a high-end gaming laptop, then you may be better off with a standard laptop or even a tablet.
However, if you’re looking for the ultimate gaming experience and don’t mind spending a little extra money, then a gaming laptop is definitely worth it. They offer the power and performance that you need to play the latest games at their best settings, and they often come with features that aren’t available on standard laptops.
How Much Should I Spend on a Gaming Laptop?
The amount you should spend on a gaming laptop depends on a few factors, such as your budget, what games you want to play, and what level of performance you need.
If you’re a casual gamer or are on a tight budget, then you can probably get away with spending less than $400 on your gaming laptop. While $400 may not seem like a lot, you’d be surprised at how much power and performance you can get for your money.
On the other hand, if you’re a more serious gamer or are looking for the best possible gaming experience, then you may need to spend close to $1000 on your laptop. In general, higher-end gaming laptops offer more powerful processors and GPUs, as well as more storage space and better overall build quality.
Also read: Gaming laptops under 600 dollars
The Best Gaming Laptops Under $400 In 2023
1. Lenovo IdeaPad S145 – Best Overall
Lenovo is known for the beastly ThinkPad laptops that power businesses and professionals around the world. However, they also make some pretty great budget laptops, like the Lenovo IdeaPad S145.
The Lenovo IdeaPad S145 is one of the best gaming laptops under $400 that you can buy in 2023. It’s built with a Pentium 4 Gold CPU, a dual-core processor designed for basic computing activities, and an AMD A6-9225 GPU.
While the Lenovo IdeaPad S145 isn’t a powerhouse gaming laptop, it’s more than capable of playing most games at medium to high settings. Plus, it comes with 4GB of RAM for quick boot times and fast loading speeds.
The CPU features an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 610 chip, which can handle several entry-level games with 30 FPS or less on the lowest settings, including Minecraft, CS: GO, and Dirt Rally.
4GB of DDR4 high-speed memory is a lot, even though it may not seem like it. Having plenty of RAM makes multitasking simpler as you can run multiple Chrome tabs simultaneously or even use demanding apps like Photoshop.
Why Is This The Best Gaming Laptop For Gaming In 2023?
The Lenovo IdeaPad S145 has a design that is very similar to that of the more expensive ThinkPad notebooks.
It is made entirely of plastic, has a construction that gives the impression of being tough, and ought to be more resilient than is necessary for the typical user. It’s the best-looking laptop on our list due to its simple, clean lines, lack of gaming embellishments, and all-black color scheme.
2. Acer Chromebook Spin 713 – Runner Up
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is the most efficient Chrome OS notebook for less than $400 that is currently available.
You won’t have to worry about carrying the charger with you because it is an easy-to-carry 2-in-1 convertible that folds up into a little package and doesn’t take up much space.
The battery provides more than 12 hours of internet browsing and video playback on a single charge.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has a 13.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels and is powered by an Intel Core i3-10110U processor. The graphics are handled by the integrated Intel UHD Graphics chip.
8GB of RAM is included as standard, which is the perfect amount for a Chrome OS device. The Chromebook also has 64GB of eMMC storage, which is the equivalent of a hard drive on a laptop.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a good choice for those who want an inexpensive and portable 2-in-1 device that can handle everyday tasks with ease.
In contrast to most low-cost Chromebooks on the market, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has a display that is crisp and full of vivid colors.
Its aspect ratio of 3:2 provides you with a little bit more space so that you will not have to scroll as much when viewing a document or webpage; however, this also means that you will always see black bars at the top and bottom of the screen when you are gaming.
The fact that the keyboard is devoid of any audible clatter makes it well suited for noise-sensitive areas such as schools, and its design makes it easy on the hands even when used for long periods of time.
3. HP 14-inch HD AMD Ryzen 3 – Budget Pick
With a Ryzen 3 dual-core CPU for simple tasks like operating system navigation and internet access, this $400 gaming laptop from HP is great for beginner gamers.
The AMD Radeon Vega 3 graphics processor included within the CPU may not be powerful enough to handle AAA titles, but you can play low-end games like Fortnite, Game of Legends, CS: GO, and Minecraft, among others.
The laptop has an incredible 20 GB of RAM, which is ideal for most gamers. Having this much RAM greatly facilitates multitasking and increases productivity. You will not have issues with running multiple tabs in Chrome, working on projects in Word, or listening to music on Spotify simultaneously.
This laptop has a fast solid-state drive (SSD) for memory, allowing for a quick boot-up and quick read and write rates.
It comes with 128 GB of storage, which is enough for a few games and some other files. The HP Ryzen 3 also has a 14-inch full HD IPS display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
It is uncommon to get a low-cost gaming laptop with this much RAM for around $400, so the HP Ryzen 3 definitely provides excellent value for the money.
With a battery life of 3-4 hours, it is not the longest-lasting laptop on our list, but it should be able to get you through a couple of gaming sessions.
4. HP Stream 14-inch Laptop
Another HP laptop that is rapidly acquiring popularity in the gaming sector is the HP Stream 14-inch Laptop.
The main reason for its popularity is that it comes with Windows 10 Home in S Mode, which is the best operating system for gaming. It is also one of the few laptops that come with this OS at such a low price.
This laptop is best suited for games that do not require a lot of graphics processing power, such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and Rocket League. It is also a good choice for those who want to play older games that are not as demanding on hardware.
The laptop has an Intel Celeron N4000 Processor, which is not the best in the market but will suffice for most gaming needs.
It also comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. The HP Stream 14-inch Laptop has a 14-inch HD SVA BrightView WLED-backlit display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
The blend of productivity and entertainment that this laptop provides is hard to find in any other laptop at this price point. It also has a long battery life of up to 12 hours, which is perfect for gaming sessions that last several hours.
5. Asus VivoBook Flip 14
ASUS is well-known for developing incredibly thin and slender computers. Having said that, some of its laptops even outperform an Apple MacBook in terms of quality and price.
While the VivoBook Flip 14 may not be the ASUS flagship, it is still one of the best gaming laptops that you can find for under $400.
The first thing you’ll notice about the VivoBook Flip 14 is its design. The laptop has a thickness of 0.8 inches and weighs only 3.3 pounds, making it very portable.
It also has a 360-degree hinge that allows you to use it in various modes, such as tablet mode, tent mode, and display mode.
Even though it is very thin, the VivoBook Flip 14 still packs a punch when it comes to performance. It has an Intel Celeron Dual Core N4000, 4 GB of RAM, and a 64 GB storage.
The laptop also has a 14-inch LED full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The visuals are sharp and the colors are accurate. The audio quality is decent as well, thanks to the ASUS SonicMaster Technology.
The VivoBook Flip 14 is a great all-rounder that can be used for gaming, productivity, and entertainment. It also has a long battery life of up to 8 hours, which is more than enough for most gaming sessions.
6. Lenovo IdeaPad 130
The Lenovo IdeaPad 130 is one of the best gaming laptops that you can find for under $400. It is a great choice for those who are looking for a laptop that can handle both casual and demanding games.
The IdeaPad 130 has a dual-core AMD A9 CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. It also has a 15.6-inch full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The visuals and colors are quite impressive.
The AMD A9 CPU is a bit slower than some of the other options on this list, but it is still more than enough for most games.
The 8 GB of RAM ensures that you will be able to multitask and run multiple programs at the same time without any issues. The 256 GB SSD provides plenty of storage space for your games, music, movies, and other files.
You’ll love the IdeaPad 130 if you’re looking for a laptop that is both powerful and affordable. It is also very lightweight and portable, making it easy to take with you on the go.
7. Dell i3552-3240BLK
The Dell i3552-3240BLK is among the most recent additions to a collection of low-cost laptops that are completely capable of performing day-to-day administrative and gaming tasks.
This laptop is ideal for casual gaming as well as for other tasks like browsing the internet, streaming video and music, and other work-related tasks.
The Dell i3552-3240BLK has a matte black design with a sleek and fashionable appearance. The surface of the laptop has also been texturized to provide a nice feeling when the device is touched.
In general, the looks are rather simple, similar to those of the vast majority of Dell Laptops.
The overall performance of the gaming laptop is above average thanks to the Intel Pentium N3700 Quad-Core Processor, which has a clock speed of 1.6 GHz. This means that the laptop will have no problem running most games on medium to high settings.
The 4GB of RAM is also rather standard for a gaming laptop and will be able to provide a smooth gaming experience in most games. The storage space is a little bit limited with only 500GB, but this can be easily expanded by using an external hard drive or SSD.
The Dell i3552-3240BLK has a 15.6-inch LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. The visuals are crisp and clear, and the colors are well-balanced. The audio quality is also quite good for a gaming laptop in this price range.
How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop In 2023?
Now that you know more about the best laptops that can be purchased for less than $400, the next step is to choose the features that your new laptop should have. Here are some of the factors to keep in mind when choosing the best gaming laptop under $400:
Memory
Your game should run smoothly and without any kind of glitch or choppiness. This is only possible if your gaming laptop has enough memory.
Look for a gaming laptop with at least 4GB of RAM. If you want to have a satisfying gaming experience, 8GB of RAM would be ideal.
Storage
Another important factor to consider is the storage space. Some gamers prefer to have a lot of games installed on their laptops so they can play them anytime they want.
If you belong to this category, then make sure to choose a gaming laptop with a large storage capacity. A minimum of 500GB should be enough, but if you can find a laptop with 1TB of storage space, that would be even better.
Display
The visuals are an important aspect of gaming. If you want to have the best gaming experience, make sure to choose a gaming laptop with a Full HD display. This will ensure that the graphics are crisp and clear.
Your options in terms of display size are rather limited when it comes to gaming laptops under $400. The vast majority of these laptops have a 15.6-inch display, although you may be able to find a few with a 17.3-inch display.
Processor
The processor is the heart of your gaming laptop. If you want to be able to run the latest games without any issues, make sure to choose a gaming laptop with a powerful processor. An Intel Core i5 or i7 processor would be ideal.
While NVIDIA and AMD GPUs are not as common in gaming laptops under $400, you may be able to find a few models that include these graphics cards. If you want the best possible gaming experience, make sure to choose a laptop with an NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti or an AMD RX 560.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard and touchpad are two important aspects of any laptop, but they are especially important for gaming laptops. The keyboard should be comfortable to use and should have a backlit design. This way, you will be able to play games even in low-light conditions.
As for the touchpad, it should be large and responsive. Some gaming laptops come with dedicated buttons for gaming, which can be quite useful.
Ports
Ports are also an important factor to consider when choosing a gaming laptop. The more ports there are, the more options you will have in terms of connecting external devices. Look for a laptop that has at least three USB ports, an HDMI port, and a Mini DisplayPort.
Battery Life
It is also important to consider the battery life of your gaming laptop. After all, you don’t want your game to be interrupted in the middle because your laptop needs to be plugged in. Choose a gaming laptop with a long battery life so you can enjoy your game for hours without worrying about the battery running out.
Price
Of course, the price is also an important factor to consider. You want to make sure that you are getting the best possible value for your money.
Fortunately, there are many great gaming laptops that can be purchased for less than $400. Just make sure to choose one that has the features and specs that you need.
Conclusion
Being able to game on the go doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to spend a lot of money. With the right laptop, you can enjoy your favorite games even when you’re away from home.
And, with a budget of $400, you have plenty of options to choose from. Just make sure to keep the factors we mentioned above in mind and you’ll be able to find the best gaming laptop for your needs.
For more tips on how to improve your laptop gaming experience, here are the best windows versions for gaming and you can also discover the best Android tablet for gaming and choose what is best for you.
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