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
- Reasonable framerates at 1080p resolution
- Found regularly under $600
- Light and portable for a gaming laptop
- Upgradeable memory and dual storage support
Cons
- Poor color accuracy
- Low wattage RTX 4050
- Feels cheap
- Terrible trackpad, loud and clunky
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
- Nicer screen than most at this price point
- Upgradeable DDR5 memory
- Solid build quality
- Good performance for its components
- Comfortable keyboard
- USB-C Charging support
Cons
- Dim 1920x1080 screen with some ghosting
- Loud fan noise
- Heavy
- Poor battery life
Verdict: The best performance and build quality for the money in this price range, but heavier and less efficient than the MSI Thin. It also doesn't drop into the price range as frequently.
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
- Comfortable Keyboard
- Understated design (especially in blue)
- Full-sized SD card reader
Cons
- Poor screen colors
- Not very portable
- No USB-C charging
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
- Dual storage and upgradeable memory
- Decent gaming performance
- Supports thunderbolt and USB-C charging
Cons
- Dim display with poor color accuracy
- High-pitched fan noise
- Feels cheap
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
- Nice keyboard with a standard layout
- Thunderbolt and charging support via USB-C
- Stays pretty quiet in its lower performance mode while gaming
- Sturdy build
- High wattage GPU that performs well
Cons
- Warm to the touch when gaming
- Gets loud in its turbo mode
- 1920x1200 screen that's very dim
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.
