Despite the fact that we have tons of gaming computers out there, none of them can be compared to the best gaming laptops under 2000 USD. The first thing that makes them stand out is their portability and of course, the lightning-fast gaming performance can’t be ignored either.
This questions the hardware on these flagships and the powerful ones like the CPUs from intel and RTX 3000 series graphics cards from Nvidia that sit inside these gaming laptops. Whereas, are completed with the finest of RAMs and Storage components you see out there. Of course, there’s a lot more to the story of the $2000 gaming laptops’ specs and features which are shortly mentioned down below.
Expected specifications of the best gaming laptop under 2000 dollar:
| Processor | 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H/4.6GHz – 5.0GHz speed |
| RAM | 16GB/32GB 3200MHz (DDR4) |
| Graphics | GeForce RTX 3070 Ti/3070 – 8GB GDDR6 dedicated memory |
| Storage | 32GB NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Display | 1920x1080P, 15.6 – 17.3 inches, Full HD 360Hz |
| Battery | 8 hours |
| Weight | 6 pounds |
| OS | 64-bit Windows 11/Windows 11 Home |
Also read: Best budget gaming laptops
Moreover, if everything is up to the mark and your gaming laptop is lagging in one of the main things, you’re probably missing a lot on the gaming side. Let’s put forward the screen, the smaller displays are not meant for gaming and especially when it’s not complimented with rich features. The same is the case for any other part or hardware on a gaming laptop for this budget.
One of the other things that I was afraid of was the poor battery life. Luckily, these flagships are good at it with some touch and a battery time of 8 hours. That’s a rare thing to see on a gaming laptop and especially when the most power-draining hardware is installed inside them. Let’s have a detailed look at these best gaming laptops under $2000 to finally get pick our desired machine from the compiled list.
Our Recommended Gaming Laptops Under $2000
1. Gigabyte AORUS 17 XE4: (best gaming laptop under $2000)
Over the past 2 years, we have seen many gaming laptops rolling out from Gigabyte with precise performance for consumers. Whereas, for $2000, the AORUS 17 XE4 is completely nailing it with its next-level hardware.
The GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics card is coming all the way from Nvidia to cope with the most realistic titles in 2k settings without breaking a sweat. In addition, this GPU inside our gaming is complimented with the 8GB GDDR6 dedicated memory. This means that it’s only meant for graphics-related tasks without disturbing the actual RAM of the Gigabyte AORUS 17 XE4.
Similarly, multitasking is almost nothing for this flagship as 32GB RAM alongside a 1TB SSD is installed here that takes care of everything including games. Besides that, such big storage can hold onto tons of games that you desired to have in your collection.
The 12th gen Intel Core i7-12700H is along some of the finest processors and the AORUS 17 XE4 gets a hold of it to achieve the fastest clocking speed. Whereas, a 4.7GHz is what you can expect from it on max boost.
For gaming, the screen size is what makes things more interesting and this 2000 gaming laptop spiced up a wider screen of 17.3 inches. Not only that but a variety of features lies there for perfect gaming happy gameplay.
Sadly, the battery life is not what you may be expecting. It touches a 4 hours mark on pure gaming and can max out to 5 hours on performing lighter tasks.
The Good
- A complete monster for games in 2k
- Ergonomic and not that bulky
- A wider screen makes it a complete gaming workstation
- Can be used for streaming
The Bad
- Battery life isn’t that good
2. Alienware X17 R1 VR Ready: (best gaming laptop under $2000)
Alienware has been pushing the limits since the beginning and the Alienware X17 R1 it is this time, a $2000 gaming laptop with VR compatibility. This got possible only because the manufacturers specd this beast up with some really nice hardware options.
Let’s start off with the main ones, the GeForce RTX 3060 is the first that’s worth admiring. It’s a graphics card with a 6GB GDDR6 dedicated memory and it’s a little below the one found on an AORUS 17 XE4. Yet, it does a tremendous job of kicking some 2k gaming on the go. With squeezes out an average of 29 FPS with dealing with some graphics-intense games in high settings.
Whereas, a 4.6 GHz processing speed is the second admirable thing about the X17 R1 which got possible because of the 11th gen i7 chip sitting at its core.
The multitasking performance is also peaking with 16GB RAM, allowing your games to run lag-free without putting much effort into it. Whereas, the slow startup issue for games is solved with the SSD that holds onto a 1TB capacity for a large collection of AAA titles.
As expected, we got the 360Hz refresh rate alongside a 1ms response time on the display. Luckily, the 17 inches screen size also makes a big difference as compared to the other gaming laptop under 2000 dollar models.
Besides that, the battery lasts longer with gaming, letting the Alienware X17 R1 breathe for almost 7 hours. That’s not possible if you go around some of the older models from Alienware and this enhancement here is phenomenal tbh.
The Good
- Faster than expected
- Looks awesome with all these beautiful aesthetics
- Above-average battery life
- Nice keyboard
The Bad
- A little expensive for such specs
Also read: best $1000 gaming laptops
3. Razer Blade 15: (best gaming laptop under $2000)
Legendary gaming laptops are hard to find as there are only a few of them left these days. Razer Blade 15 is one of those models which is still living the legacy. Despite the fact that it’s a thin gaming flagship with some nice chassis, it isn’t compromised on the hardware components either.
This means that the Blade 15 is still rocking the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card to get going with some ray-traced graphics and realistic gameplay.
5.1GHz CPU clocking speed on max boost is a rare luxury to see on a gaming laptop under $2000, yet, the Razer 15 has it for the consumers. This leads us to this 8-core 11th Gen i7 processor from intel that shows no mercy on most hungry AAA titles.
Similarly, the RAM is also on point with the 16GB of capacity and 1TB SSD besides such memory can be a nightmare for games as well as the heaviest creation tasks.
Speaking of the display, the 15 inches Razer Blade 15 enables crisp and clear images with quality 1080P resolution. Whereas, it’s made lag-free with a refresh rate of 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time.
However, the battery life lacks here with approximately 4 hours which is kind of the only downside of the beast. Yet the overall composite of hardware on the Blade 15 is meant to attain fast performance for 2k gaming.
The Good
- Thin and lightweight
- Performs like wow
- Big storage
- Features rich display
The Bad
- Below-average battery life
4. Dell Alienware X15 R1: (best gaming laptop under $2000)
The Dell Alienware X15 R1 is the same model that I reviewed on the #2 spot but there are a few differences on the hardware side. With a GeForce, RTX 3070 graphics card with an 8GB GDDR6 dedicated memory, the X15 R1 has a mind-blowing graphics delivery for everything including the heaviest AAA titles.
Similarly, the screen size also differs by 15 inches of size, that’s a bit small than that 17 inches but the overall features are on point.
Looking into more specifications on the Alienware X15 R1 is more satisfying when the gaming factor is kept in mind.
Matter of fact, the RAM capacity peaks at 16GB, and a 1TB SSD is added to this $2000 gaming laptop. This results in the fastest performance for everything you do on this beast.
11th Gen processor named the Intel Core i7-11800H is also part of the hardware collection that is rigged for a fast clocking speed delivery.
Talking of aesthetics, the Alienware X15 R1 is nicely designed and looks catchy from all angles. In fact, it’s unique on its own with the variety of ergonomics added to it alongside an attractive backlit keyboard.
The battery can last for almost 5-6 hours when playing games all day long but with a few less power-consuming tasks, the battery life can extend beyond 6 hours.
If the small screen on the X15 is not what you’re comfortable with, you move on to a bigger one by getting one of the 24-inch and 360Hz gaming monitors. That’s where you’ll kind of have a PC and a gaming laptop at the same time.
The Good
- Realistic graphics delivery
- Ideal RAM for 2k gaming
- Attractive aesthetics
- Battery lasts for an acceptable period of time
- The display has everything you need for gaming
The Bad
- Speakers are awful
- Not many ports exist
5. MSI Rainbow 6 Special Edition: (best gaming laptop under $2000)
Just by the look of the MSI Rainbow 6 Special Edition, you can tell what piece of art this gaming laptop under 2000 dollars is.
RGB backlit keyboard that has a combination of different colors and that combined with the yellow color tracing the base makes it look phenomenal. In fact, the interior is also blessed with some of the finest gaming parts that can push the limits to 2k gaming.
GeForce RTX 3070 is one of those hardware components that stand out in gaming perfectly. Besides that, the Intel Core i7-12700H CPU plays its part in the highest processing speed delivery.
Whereas, the 1TB SSD storage is housed is inside convenient games and other data storing capabilities. When combined with the 16GB RAM, the MSI Rainbow 6 Special Edition completely crushes multitasking.
More features like the Cooler Boost 5 is also the companion of this flagship and never let it heap up when playing immersive games or performing something heavy.
Whereas, it also has ports rich having the USB 3.2 Type-C in the collection. Other connectivity options are also on point, allowing the Crosshair15 to transfer data faster than expected.
Unfortunately, the battery lasts no longer than 4 hours even if lighter tasks are performed on it. This leads us to plug in the charger more often to get going with our necessities.
The Good
- Plenty of ports
- No lag complaints
- Stunning aesthetics
- RGB keyboard
The Bad
- Poor battery life
6. HP Omen 16: (best gaming laptop under $2000)
Thin gaming laptops are rare to find and same as the Razer Blade 15 is on the list, the HP Omen 16 also joins the category. With slim aesthetics spiced up with some ergonomics, thin screen bezels, and keyboard RGB lights, our $2000 budget beast is on a whole new level of looks.
We have seen many flagships with mostly Nvidia GPU or intel processor configurations but this gaming laptop is not mediocre with both of these components from AMD. The Octa-core Ryzen 7 5800H processor is what I am talking about here that can spit out the 4.4GHz processing speed without struggling with it.
Besides that, the AMD Radeon RX 6600M controls the intensity of game graphics by delivering the demanded frames per second in 2k settings.
This gets us to the most satisfying gameplay that we were not able to achieve on our gaming laptops under $800. Not only that, but the HP Omen 16 also stands out on the RAM side with a 64GB capacity combined with 2TB SSD storage for a killer tasks take down.
The mentioned components can drain lots of but seem like it’s not the case here because the HP Omen 16 has big batteries that let it live for 8-9 hours on a single charge.
Another plus point is the fast ports like the USB Type-C port which is capable of transferring data with 10gbps and other ones also perform great.
The Good
- Long-lasting battery life
- Hardware is on steroid
- Latest ports
- Slim and lightweight
The Bad
- No numeric keypad
7. MSI GP66 Leopard: (best gaming laptop under $2000)
Coming all the way from MSI, the GP66 Leopard is configured with RTX 3070 graphics card alongside the 10th Gen i7-10750H. Such blazing-fast components are a straight path toward playing graphics-hungry games without lagging even if the settings are at 2k.
Keeping the price tag in mind, the MSI has done a great job for GP66 Leopard on the other configurations too.
I am not saying that they are the best for a gaming laptop but as it’s way below $2000, they pay the price. It’s the 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM that I am talking about that can help you do other entertainment stuff too on a laptop apart from gaming.
Moreover, the display has nothing new and is operating on the same features as found on the other best gaming laptops under 2000 USD. A 144Hz refresh rate alongside the 1920x1080P is what this beast presents to its consumers.
However, the battery life of 8 hours is worth embracing as it won’t hesitate you with plugging in the charger more often.
Speaking of the overall performance, the 5.0GHz of clocking speed is what you can expect from the CPU installed on the GP66 Leopard and the GPU frame rate is not mediocre either. Whereas, when configured with fast RAM and storage like the ones found here, this laptop for gaming becomes a hell of a beast.
The Good
- Never lags
- Affordable
- Decent design
- Battery lasts for many hours
The Bad
- Not much room in the storage
8. ASUS Zephyrus M16 WQXGA: (best gaming laptop under $2000)
ASUS isn’t left behind on this gaming laptops list with a pick names Zephyrus M16 that comes with jaw-dropping configurations.
Starting with the main parts, the flagship is configured with an 8-core Intel i9-11900H processor alongside the RTX 3060 graphics card. Both together can eat up the most hungry AAA titles without a second thought.
The RAM memory here is 40GB which is only dedicated to the other tasks as for gaming we have 8GB GDDR6 memory on the graphics card. If needed, the actual RAM on the is also leveraged for games but mostly the GPU memory is enough for it.
Surprisingly, the 2TB of SSD storage is what the ASUS Zephyrus M16 offers and it’s a crazy amount of space to load up all the games you want to play.
1080P displays are kind of a standard for a $2000 gaming laptop but it’s benefited with the 2560×1600 pixels display alongside other features. That’s because we’re dealing with a bit higher price tag than a 2000 dollar.
The Good
- A nightmare for modern titles
- Big on memory and storage
- Decency and style at the same time
- Beyond mediocre display features
The Bad
- Gets hot with intense gaming
Why You Must Go With The Nvidia RTX On A Gaming Laptop
Being enthusiastic about gaming is a good thing but it always comes down to the right GPUs. Gaming laptops with GTX graphics are powerful even now but the more advanced techs and real-time ray tracing alongside the AI enhancement are the concrete reasons to have a gaming laptop with RTX GPU series. The advantages are numerous, making your games play more efficiently with realistic graphics.
- The graphics on the RTX GPU are enhanced with AI(artificial intelligence) by using the DLSS(Deep learning super sampling) that allows the games to appear more realistic than ever and unlocks the elevated gaming experience.
- 4k gaming isn’t a big deal for a gaming laptop bearing the Nvidia RTX GPU and the higher FPS such high settings is what this tech is up for. Even the toughest Nvidia GTX can’t come near any of the RTX series as they are over 6 times weaker and left behind by the latest techs like real-time ray tracing.
Things To Keep In Mind Before Choosing Best Gaming Laptop Under $2000
The gaming laptop options are limitless when your budget is peaking at $2000. Specifically, you get the high configurations that can’t be found on cheap notebooks under $1200. In fact, killer graphics cards and processors are always expected in this budget category. Yet there are some things that are worth looking at because hardware awareness is the key to the right gaming laptop.
Graphics Card and Processor
When spending a big money on a gaming notebook, there’s no room for doubting the CPU and GPU. You need to have a clear mind on whether you’re getting the latest graphics like the RTX 3070 or RTX 3060 on your or it’s just a mediocre GPU from the GTX series. You must bite on a notebook that holds onto the RTX. Of course, the parallel one from AMD can also do a better job but unfortunately, there are only a few laptops out there with such luxury. However, beasts like the HP Omen 16 are still alive to this date with AMD-based GPU for demanding games.
On the other hand, the CPU for gaming must not be exceptional but rather the 11th Gen with 8-cores should be admired. This can help with the clocking speed and more often it ranges from 4.5GHz to 5.0GHz on CPUs like Intel i9-11900H.
RAM and HDD
For multitasking or demanding AAA titles, things can be flipped with a faster RAM and storage drive.
16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD is what you must aim at in case of the best gaming laptops under 2000 USD. Whereas, the DDR2 or DDR3 series of RAMs are long gone and must not have the options for playing modern games. To avoid hurting our gaming experience, the DDR4 RAMs can do the best for you you.
Besides that, looking for the HDD on a gaming laptop isn’t worth it at all. They have lower RPMs and don’t pay the price tag. That’s when SSDs come into the scene and they’re the most furious of all when it’s the matter of data delivery to the RAM.
Cooling
Intense heat has a great negative impact on gaming performance and laptops without this configuration can become trash in no time.
There must be a legit cooling system on your notebook that can deal with the heat created by intense gaming. Technologies like Cooler Boost 5 or similar cooling systems can get the job done precisely and let’s play the games without distortion.
Display and Battery Life
A appropriate display for gaming isn’t optional because that’s the last thing that actually gets you going with ever lasting experience. On budget laptops for gaming under $2000, 1920x1080P pixels, 144Hz refresh rate, and IPS-panel must be the requirements your display must opt for. Whereas, a 15.6-inch size is nice fit for gaming and you can even move to 17.3-inch if you need more wider screen.
As far as the battery life is concerned, gaming laptops aren’t big on this part. However, some best gaming laptops under $2,000 are capable of achieving 8 hours of long lasting battery life. Yet, that’s a maximum criterion and you must not go below a battery life of 4 hours.
Wrap Up
With powerful configurations, gaming laptops under 2000 dollars pay the price by delivering performance for gaming aficionados. From 1080P to 4k, these beasts can bang any AAA title fingers crossed. All you need is to look into some of the specs requirements which we have already done and start playing games straight out of the box.
If these option are somehow expensive for you, it’s not the end of the world because the best gaming laptops under $1300 can also serve you better. If that’s also out of your league, try the cheapest gaming laptops which at least can get you going with entry level titles.
All in all, the best gaming laptops under $2000 has no match and are preferred on every level.
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