We have come up with this article to suggest you some of the best choices if you are looking for the best gaming laptops under £1000. Gaming laptops offer a way better performance as compared to normal laptops since they are designed in a way to offer smoother functionality and more realistic graphics. Hence if you are new to purchasing gaming laptops or want to upgrade your current laptop with a better option, you shouldn’t skip reading this article.
After studying various gaming laptops, we were able to shortlist the aforementioned gaming laptops and we consider them amongst the best gaming laptops under £1000. This is because it is less likely to find gaming laptops with such advanced specs in this price range. These gaming laptops come with the best processors, graphics, RAM, storage and build. So you can invest money in these gaming laptops as they are set to offer a promising performance.
Read also: Best Gaming Laptops under £1500.
Our Top 3 Recommendations
MSI Katana GF76
The MSI Katana GF76 is one of the best gaming laptops under £1000 that delivers a decent performance. On this gaming laptop, you get a strong processor, a large RAM and powerful graphics which is the basic trio required for a good performance. This gaming laptop should be a pick for you if you are looking for a large display. Other features like the battery life, speakers, connectivity, and build quality also quite meet up to our expectations.
Lenovo Legion 5
Next, we have the Legion 5 from Lenovo which is one of the best gaming laptops under £1000. This gaming laptop offers excellent performance, has a sturdy build and has a balanced IPS display. You get good inputs for this class as well as an ergonomic keyboard. Above all, the RTX 3060 graphics greatly enhance the gaming experience on this gaming laptop. For this price category, this gaming laptop has great features that make it one of the best.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is also a great choice for a gaming laptop if your budget is under £1000. On this gaming laptop, you get the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor which offers a smooth performance while you game. You also get powerful dedicated graphics with come with separate 4GB RAM to make the graphics appear realistic, lively and lag-free. 16GB RAM is offered and the SSD storage capacity provided is 512GB.
How we picked the best gaming laptops under £1000
Like we have picked the best gaming laptops under £1000, you can also choose the best gaming laptop if you are quite informed about certain features of gaming laptops. We have briefly explained such features which play a significant role in determining the overall functioning and performance of a gaming laptop.
CPU and GPU:
The central processing unit and the graphics processing unit play a key role in the functioning of a gaming laptop. Before purchasing a gaming laptop, you must make sure that it offers a powerful CPU and GPU. This will make the gaming laptop deliver a smooth performance with exceptional graphics quality.
RAM and Storage:
If you do not want a gaming laptop that slows down on performance in high-load conditions, make sure that the gaming laptop you purchase offers a high RAM capacity. 16GB RAM is preferable whereas 8GB RAM is also acceptable. However, the storage capacity mostly depends on your requirements.
Cooling system:
Since gaming laptops have to run heavy gaming files, they may heat up quite easily. For this purpose, gaming laptops are provided with advanced cooling systems. Make sure that the cooling system works efficiently to maintain the temperature of the gaming laptop. Also, it should not be very noisy.
Display:
The display of the gaming laptop should have a good refresh rate and response time so that it is able to complement the high-end dedicated graphics provided on gaming laptops. Other than that, it must offer sharp and colourful images, wide viewing angles, and adequate brightness levels.
Other features:
Gaming laptops should offer a sturdy and durable build quality. It must also offer an ergonomic keyboard and a responsive trackpad. Gaming laptops that offer RGB lighting look more attractive. You must also check for features such as battery backup, ports and other connectivity options.
These are the best gaming laptops under £1000 in the UK
| Laptops | RAM | Storage | CPU | GPU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI Katana GF76 | 16GB | 512GB SSD | Core i7 12th Gen | GeForce RTX 3050 Ti | Current Price |
| Lenovo Legion 5 | 8GB | 512GB SSD | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | GeForce RTX 3060 | Current Price |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | 16GB | 512GB SSD | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | GeForce RTX 3050 | Current Price |
| ASUS Strix G713IE | 8GB | 512GB SSD | AMD Ryzen 7 4800H | GeForce RTX 3050Ti | Current Price |
| Acer 2022 Nitro 5 | 8GB | 512GB SSD | Core i5 12th Gen | GeForce RTX 3050 | Current Price |
1. MSI Katana GF76
I would first like to recommend you the MSI Katana GF76 which is one of the best gaming laptops under £1000. On this gaming laptop, you get a powerful Core i7 12th Gen processor, a huge 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD storage and dedicated RTX 3050 Ti graphics. All of these work together to offer a decent gaming performance. Moreover, the cooling system of this gaming laptop ensures that performance is not compromised even in conditions of high load.
This gaming laptop features a large 17.3-inch display which may give you a more immersive feel while you game on it. However, the large size compromises portability, though it is comparatively lightweight for its size. The display is lined by thin bezels on the sides and it offers Full HD resolution for a clearer and more vibrant view but lacks brightness. The refresh rate of the display is high which makes the picture on the screen flow smoothly and without any kind of tearing.
Although the wired and wireless connectivity options offered on this gaming laptop are adequate, it is unfortunate that the Thunderbolt 4 port is lacking which would have proved helpful for the fast transfer of large files. Coming to the speakers, they sound pretty good in the mids and highs but fail to deliver powerful bass. I might have said that the battery life of this gaming laptop is poor, but keeping in view the size of the display, it is quite average.
If I talk about the look of this gaming laptop, its plastic chassis gives it an average look. Also, it is not provided with RGB lights which might have made it look more attractive. The keys on the keyboard have single-coloured red backlights which can be adjusted for brightness. The keys feel tactile and the trackpad is also responsive. Overall, I can say that the MSI Katana GF76 is one of the best gaming laptops under £1000 that you must consider.
Pros:
- Offers a decent performance.
- Features a large display.
- Has a comfortable keyboard and trackpad.
Cons:
- Display lacks brightness.
- Lacks RGB lights.
Specifications:
| Display: | 17.3 inches FHD |
| CPU: | Core i7 12th Gen |
| GPU: | GeForce RTX 3050 Ti |
| RAM: | 16GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 2.6 Kg |
2. Lenovo Legion 5
I next put the Lenovo Legion 5 on the list of the best gaming laptops under £1000. This gaming laptop may not be the most attractive-looking gaming laptop but it surely has a sturdy build. On this gaming laptop, you get the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor coupled with 8GB RAM which helps this gaming laptop deliver a smooth performance which is free from lagging. For storage, a 512GB SSD is offered to let you store a good amount of data.
You can enjoy games like Battlefield V and Far Cry 5 on this gaming laptop at high frame rates. The Full HD IPS display delivers clear and colourful images but does not offer enough brightness. To take care of the graphics, this gaming laptop is loaded with the GeForce RTX 3060 graphics which come with an additional 6GB RAM for improved graphic output. You will not encounter screen-tearing and stuttering while playing your favourite games.
Speaking of battery life, this gaming laptop can offer a backup of around 5 to 6 hours for net browsing and video streaming but when it comes to gaming, the battery hardly lasts a couple of hours which is quite insufficient. Plus, the quality of the speakers is mediocre. But you do get a backlit keyboard on this gaming laptop and I appreciate the layout of the keyboard as the keys are well-spaced and easily accessible. The trackpad also works fine.
If I get into the details of the cooling system of this gaming laptop, it works pretty fine by and large. However, it does get noisy in conditions of heavy load which includes gaming. Also, the rubber pads at the base of this gaming laptop could have been bigger for improved ventilation. Talking of the inputs, a good number of ports is offered, but an SD card reader is lacking. For this price range, the gaming laptop from Lenovo is surely worth considering.
Pros:
- Sturdy build quality.
- Excellent performance.
- Decent display quality.
Cons:
- Noisy fans.
- Poor audio quality.
Specifications:
| Display: | 15.6 inches FHD |
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H |
| GPU: | GeForce RTX 3060 |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 2 Kg |
3. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
The IdeaPad Gaming 3 from Lenovo is a great laptop that can be used for gaming without spending a lot of money. On this gaming laptop, you get the AMD Ryzen 7 5800G processor which is a very powerful processor. Combined with 16GB RAM, this gaming laptop offers a smooth gaming experience. 512GB of SSD storage is offered which can further be upgraded up to 1TB. Although the cooling system works pretty well, when it comes to conditions of heavy load the fans become noisy leading to distraction.
You get a Full HD display on this gaming laptop which measures 15.6-inch, so it is neither too large nor too small. The size of the display keeps this gaming laptop portable and at the same time, it does not compromise the immersion offered by large screens. The refresh rate of the display is 120Hz and is supported by FreeSync so the flow of pictures across the screen is smooth and blur-free even if the scenes are fast-moving. But we do experience some drawbacks when it comes to the response time and ghosting is quite evident.
Speaking of the ports, you get two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, an HDMI port, an ethernet port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. You can use the provided USB-C port for data transfer but it does not support charging or video output. Wireless connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth. The build quality is decent and you get a full-sized, single-color backlit keyboard and a responsive trackpad. This gaming laptop is a good pick if you are looking for the best gaming laptops under 1000.
Pros:
- Powerful processor.
- Strong graphics with 4GB RAM
- 120Hz refresh rate with FreeSync support.
Cons:
- Slow response time.
- Loud fans under conditions of load.
Specifications:
| Display: | 15.6 inches FHD |
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H |
| GPU: | GeForce RTX 3050 |
| RAM: | 16GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 2.25 Kg |
4. ASUS Strix G713IE
The Strix G713IE from Asus is going to attract you with its design. It comes with RGB lights on its body as well as on the keyboard. Not only will this gaming laptop attract you by its looks but the hardware configuration also grabs our attention. With an AMD Ryzen 7-4800H processor, GeForce RTX 3050Ti graphics, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage, this gaming laptop delivers a great performance and can be ranked amongst the best gaming laptops under £1000.
Speaking about the quality of the display, it comes with a Full HD display which has a high refresh rate of 144Hz and has FreeSync support too. But it somewhat lags behind in terms of response time and colour accuracy, although it is still acceptable. This gaming laptop has a large 17.3-inch display which will make you enjoy your games even more. Despite the fact that it is a large-sized gaming laptop, Asus has still managed to keep its weight quite low.
This gaming laptop comes with decent connectivity options be it wired or wireless. However, I would have liked the presence of a Thunderbolt port. The cooling system of the gaming laptop works fine but it may get loud while gaming. The speakers are not as loud as expected and also do not reproduce enough bass. Battery life seems adequate and charging it takes around an hour and a half. Overall, I can say that the features offered are justifiable for that price.
Pros:
- Comes with the AMD Ryzen 7-4800H processor.
- Has GeForce RTX 3050Ti graphics.
- Offers a large display.
Cons:
- Poor speaker quality.
- Lacks an SD card reader and Thunderbolt support.
Specifications:
| Display: | 17.3 inches FHD |
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 7-4800H |
| GPU: | GeForce RTX 3050Ti |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 2.4 Kg |
5. Acer 2022 Nitro 5
The Acer 2022 Nitro 5 can also be considered one of the best gaming laptops under £1000. It features the Intel Core i5 12th Gen processor which may not be the most powerful processor but is good enough for gaming and will offer a decent gaming performance. Also, you get 8GB RAM and 512GB of SSD storage which a good gaming laptop of this price range must offer. However, on the downside, you may encounter heating issues occasionally.
This gaming laptop also offers a large display which can make gaming more immersive. You get a Full HD IPS display which has a refresh rate of 144Hz. The high refresh rate paired with dedicated RTX 3050 graphics offers a lag-free and realistic image quality. But you may not prefer this gaming laptop if you travel a lot with your laptop as its large size makes it uneasy to carry. Not only that, this gaming laptop is a lot more bulky than many of its counterparts.
What I like about this gaming laptop is that it offers you a great choice of ports including the Thunderbolt 4 port which is not usually seen in gaming laptops of this price band. The battery life is a disadvantage that I found on this gaming laptop as it does not last as long as expected. Coming to the keyboard, it is comfortable and the keys can be easily accessed but it is not RGB backlit. However, you do get red backlights on this gaming laptop.
Pros:
- Strong performance.
- Dedicated graphics.
- Comfortable keyboard.
Cons:
- Bulky.
- Poor battery backup.
Specifications:
| Display: | 17.3 inches FHD |
| CPU: | Core i5 12500H |
| GPU: | GeForce RTX 3050 |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 4.47 Kg |
FAQs about the best gaming laptops under £1000
Which are the best gaming laptops under £1000?
The best gaming laptops under £1000 include the MSI Katana GF76, the Lenovo Legion 5 and the ASUS Strix G713IE. These gaming laptops are surely going to upgrade your gaming.
Which gaming laptop under £1000 offers high RAM?
The MSI Katana GF76 offers a large RAM of 16GB which is rarely seen in gaming laptops which fall under this price range. Using high RAM, this gaming laptop delivers fast performance.
Should I buy a 17.3-inch gaming laptop?
A gaming laptop that has a large display of 17.3 inches will make you immerse more in your games and make your gaming sessions more enjoyable. However, it may compromise on portability.