Best $600 Gaming Laptop
Summary
At this budget, most options cut too many corners leaving you with poor performance, outdated components, or misleading specs. But if you shop sales carefully, there are a handful of solid machines worth considering.
Table of contents:
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MSI Thin 15
The MSI Thin 15 is the laptop that kicked off our research. Found as low as $599 at Walmart, it comes with a 13th-gen Intel i5 processor and an underwatted RTX 4050 GPU.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable for a gaming laptop
- Strong performance for its 1080p screen (60 FPS on high settings in many titles)
- Surprisingly good speakers
- 16GB of upgradeable memory and dual storage support
- Wi-Fi 6E and high refresh rate display
- Runs cool to the touch on the keyboard deck
Cons
- Uses DDR4 instead of DDR5 memory
- Screen is dim with poor color accuracy
- Cheap-feeling chassis and dated port selection (HDMI 1.4 only supports 4K/30Hz)
- No USB-C charging
- Terrible trackpad—an external mouse is a must
Verdict: A strong pick if portability and price matter most, but expect compromises in build and display quality.
Lenovo LOQ 15
Lenovo’s LOQ series is one of the most popular budget gaming options, often dropping near $600 with either an RTX 4050 or AMD’s older Zen 3 CPUs.
Pros
- Feeds its GPU more wattage than competitors (up to ~100W) for stronger gaming performance
- Upgradeable DDR5 memory
- Comfortable keyboard with number pad
- High-refresh-rate screen with decent colors
- USB-C charging, which allows for charging from the back and side
- Solid port selection and overall build quality
Cons
- Heavy compared to others in this price bracket
- Keyboard deck flex and clunky trackpad
- Display brightness around 300 nits with some ghosting
- Runs warmer on the keyboard deck
- Battery life suffers, especially with CPUs without iGPU options
Verdict: The best performance and build quality for the money in this price range, but heavier and less efficient than the MSI Thin.
HP Victus 15
HP’s Victus 15 shows up frequently on sale, often with weaker GPU options like the RTX 3050 or Radeon RX 6550M, though 4050 variants sometimes drop into this range.
Pros
- Understated style (especially in blue)
- Comfortable keyboard with numpad
- High refresh rate display
- Stays cooler and quieter than most competitors during gaming
- Includes a full-sized SD card reader
Cons
- Most cheaper configurations only ship with 8GB RAM (upgradeable, but inconvenient)
- Dim display with poor color accuracy and ghosting
- No USB-C charging support
Verdict: A quieter, more understated option but weaker out-of-the-box specs make it harder to recommend unless you find a great deal.
Acer Nitro V 15
Acer’s Nitro V 15 occasionally dips into this budget with RTX 4050 options, though CPU configuration matters.
Pros
- Offers dual storage and upgradeable memory
- Supports Thunderbolt and USB-C charging
- Performance slightly above average
Cons
- Some configurations ship with weaker Ryzen 5 Zen 3 CPUs
- Bland design with cheap-feeling build
- Dim display with poor color accuracy
- Annoying, high-pitched fan noise at times
Verdict: Not our top recommendation at $600, but if you find the Intel i5/4050 version on sale, it’s serviceable.
ASUS TUF Gaming (Honorable Mention)
While we haven’t seen ASUS’s TUF Gaming line truly drop to $600, it’s worth keeping an eye on. Configurations with RTX 4050 GPUs often hover closer to $650.
Pros
- Reliable build quality and cooling from ASUS
- Comfortable keyboard and solid chassis
- Usually delivers full wattage to its GPU for maximum performance
Cons
- Rarely seen under $600
- Lower configurations (3050 + Zen 3) aren’t worth it
- Bulkier design compared to MSI Thin
Verdict: If you catch an ASUS TUF with an RTX 4050 on a deep sale, grab it. It’s usually a well-rounded budget gaming laptop.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for a gaming laptop under $600 is all about patience and timing. The Lenovo LOQ offers the best performance, while the MSI Thin 15 is the most portable option. The HP Victus and Acer Nitro V 15 are serviceable but come with bigger trade-offs, and ASUS’s TUF Gaming line is a great backup choice if it drops into this range.
Our recommendation: aim for an RTX 4050 with at least 16GB of RAM and a 13th-gen Intel CPU or AMD Zen 4. If you can stretch your budget a little higher—or shop refurbished and open-box deals—you’ll unlock significantly better performance and build quality around $800.