Best budget gaming laptops of 2026: The best cheap laptops we've tested and benchmarked

Tom’s Hardware’s 2026 roundup names the best budget gaming laptops after extensive testing and benchmarking.

The guide focuses on machines that balance gaming performance, display quality, battery life, and overall value.

It highlights how rising hardware costs have pushed strong gaming laptops closer to the $1,500 range.

Notable picks include models like the Acer Nitro V 16S AI with newer AMD and Nvidia chips such as the Ryzen AI 7 350 and RTX 5060/5070.