Best gaming laptop under $2,000: 5 high-end gaming laptops in 2023
The best 15 Inch, 17 Inch, 1080p, 1440p, 165Hz, & 240Hz gaming laptops for $2,000 & cheaper
- 01A great value 15″ 1080p gaming laptop under 2000 USD for competitive gaming
- 02A Top Quality 1440p 15″ Laptop With RTX 3080 / RTX 3070 Ti
- 03A powerful CPU & GPU combo with 32GB of RAM & 1TB SSD
In this guide, we’ll be helping you decide which is the best gaming laptop under 2000 USD for your wants and needs?
We have listed five gaming laptops, each of them with different strengths and weaknesses, that are the best in this price range. We go through all the main features and specifications you need to know, including the GPU, CPU, RAM, disk space, display, and ergonomics to help you work out which one is right for you. If price isn’t so much of a concern for you and you want to see the best gaming laptops platforms across all price ranges, then consider taking a look at our best gaming laptop page.
Today’s best gaming laptop deals
- Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop – Save $624.99
- ASUS ROG X13 Touchscreen Gaming Laptop – $600 off
- Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop – $1204 off
- ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 Gaming Laptop – 26% off
- Lenovo Legion Pro 7i – Save $360 NOW!
The best gaming laptops under $2,000 in 2023
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 (1080p)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X / AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (16GB) Max-Q
RAM
64GB
Storage
2TB SSD
Screen Size
15.6”
Max Refresh Rate
300Hz
Alienware m15 R7
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX / Intel Core i9-12900H
Graphics
Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti / RTX 3080
RAM
16GB/32GB DDR5
Storage
1TB – 2TB
Screen Size
15.6″
Max Refresh Rate
240Hz
GIGABYTE CUK AORUS 15G (RTX 3080)
CPU
Intel Core i7-10870H
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q
RAM
32GB
Storage
512GB SSD
Screen Size
15.6”
Max Refresh Rate
240Hz
Razer Blade 15 (2021) 1440p 165Hz
CPU
Intel Core i7-10750H
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB SSD
Screen Size
15.6”
Max Refresh Rate
165Hz
GIGABYTE AORUS 15G XC-8US2430SH
CPU
Intel Core i7-10870H
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q
RAM
32GB
Storage
512GB SSD
Screen Size
15.6”
Max Refresh Rate
240Hz
Gaming laptop deals are live! Get huge savings on gaming laptops on the Lenovo Store, Best Buy or HP in 2023, as well as Amazon of course:
- ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 (15.6″) – 300Hz FHD, AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX RTX 3080, 16GB DDR4, 1TB SSD – was
$1,999.99now $1,649.99 - Alienware m15 R7 (15.6″) – 240Hz QHD, Intel Core i9-12900H, RTX 3080, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD – was
$2,499.99now $1,999.98 - MSI GS66 Stealth (15.6″) – 240Hz QHD, Intel Core i7-11800H, RTX 3080, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD – was
$2,497.99now 1,949.99 - MSI Vector GP76 (17.3″) – 360Hz FHD, Intel Core i9-12900HK, RTX 3080, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD – was
$3,099.00now $2,557.84 - MSI GP66 Leopard (15.6″) – 144Hz FHD, Intel Core i7-11800H, RTX 3080, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD – was
$1,799.99now $1,486.99
Best gaming laptop under $2,000: our top picks
- 01A great value 15″ 1080p gaming laptop under 2000 USD for competitive gaming
- 02A Top Quality 1440p 15″ Laptop With RTX 3080 / RTX 3070 Ti
- 03A powerful CPU & GPU combo with 32GB of RAM & 1TB SSD
Best gaming laptop under 2000 USD: In-depth review
A great value 15″ 1080p gaming laptop under 2000 USD for competitive gaming
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 (1080p)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X / AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (16GB) Max-Q
RAM
64GB
Storage
2TB SSD
Screen Size
15.6”
Max Refresh Rate
300Hz
- RTX 3080 (Max-Q) GPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900X / 5900HX CPU
- 300Hz display
- sub 4ms response time
- 2TB SSD
- 64GB RAM
- Good value
- Freesync
- TGP of RTX 3080 laptop GPU only 115-130W
- No webcam
- No G-Sync
- No Thunderbolt or Displayport
- Array of ports and sockets could be better
- No SD card reader
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 makes a lot of sacrifices in terms of non-core features and extras, but this means that you can essential get an RTX 3080 laptop with 300Hz refresh rate on the cheap. We’ve seen this laptop discounted for as low as $1,700 on Amazon, which is frankly excellent value for a machine of this power. Yes the The TGP of the RTX 3080 isn’t as high as in others, but it’s still an RTX 4080, so will make short work of any game at the 1080p resolution.
The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU is an older gen model, but does have the advantage of giving the laptop a longer battery life than most of the selections on this page.
You don’t get a webcam, Thunderbolt ports, DisplayPort, or an SD card reader, but these are relatively superfluous for a competitive gaming purist. G-Sync would have been nice, but it does at least come with FreeSync.
The best QHD laptop under 2000 USD
Alienware m15 R7
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX / Intel Core i9-12900H
Graphics
Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti / RTX 3080
RAM
16GB/32GB DDR5
Storage
1TB – 2TB
Screen Size
15.6″
Max Refresh Rate
240Hz
- powerful GPU & CPU options
- 240Hz refresh rate
- good response time
- MUX switch accessible via BIOS
- great color replication
- good contrast & peak brightness
- AMD variant has Cherry MX keyboard
- Thunderbolt support
- good build quality
- fairly thin
- plastic chassis despite the price
- not the lightest machine
The Alienware m15 R7 comes with high-TGP graphics card options, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD (though other size options are available) and a great 240Hz 1440p/QHD display. The screen’s response time (though in reality slower than the reported 2ms) is certainly fast enough to eliminate any ghosting at this refresh rate, making it ideal for competitive gaming at this resolution.
There are multiple variants of the Alienware m15 R7 – the two we’d recommend are the RTX 3070 Ti GPU variant with the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU, or the Intel Core i9-12900H CPU model which comes with RTX 3080. The latter model will perform slightly better in FPS terms, particularly at higher resolutions thanks to the increased VRAM of the RTX 3080 graphics card, but personally we’d advise going for the AMD option, as it’s a bit cheaper, the battery life is superior, and most importantly, it comes with a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard option (though we’d recommend double-checking this with the seller before you buy). The choice depends on your priorities however.
The build quality is top-class, as you’d expect from an Alienware machine, and now this previous gen machine is getting on a bit, the price is actually now fairly reasonable (not something you’d often say about an Alienware laptop).
GIGABYTE CUK AORUS 15G (RTX 3080)
CPU
Intel Core i7-10870H
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q
RAM
32GB
Storage
512GB SSD
Screen Size
15.6”
Max Refresh Rate
240Hz
- RTX 3080 (Max-Q) GPU
- Intel Core i7-10870H CPU
- 32GB RAM
- 240Hz display
- Full-size keyboard
- Nice touchpad with fingerprint reader
- Respectable battery life
- No G-Sync support
- Build quality not the best
- Loud fans
- No Thunderbolt socket
- Awkward webcam placement
The Gigabyte CUK AORUS 15G Gamer Notebook comes with an Nvidia 3080 Max-Q graphics card (Max-Q designating the less powerful version used for laptops) and an Intel Core i7-10870H processor: a formidable pairing that should be comfortably able to run any game, even on max settings (though you won’t get the best FPS doing this). The 32GB of RAM rounds off the main specifications nicely, giving you ample memory for multitasking whilst gaming, or for workstation usage. The sizable 1TB SSD is another welcome feature.
The display on this machine reaches up to an impressive 240Hz which should be ample for anyone interested in competitive gaming, and tweaking the settings lower on some less demanding games, you should be able to reach 240FPS. In terms of colors, the gamut is adequate for gaming, though not suitable for anyone doing color-based workstation tasks. Generally, the display does not match the crisp vibrancy of Razer and Alienware offerings, but it does the job.
We wouldn’t say this is the best-looking laptop we’ve ever seen, but the reserved design does mean it would be suitable for a dual-use office machine visually, although equally the loud fan noise might deter you from this. Battery life is adequate to good, though not as good as the RTX 3070 Max-Q version (the more powerful GPU is more of a drain): you will get around 3.5+hours for demanding non-gaming usage, and up to around 7 hours for less strenuous work on battery saver mode. The trackpad of the laptop is great and comes with a built-in fingerprint scanner. The mechanical-like keyboard is a bit plasticky feeling, however having a full-size keyboard is a boon, and it is generally a good typing experience.
In terms of the drawbacks, the webcam is placed in that irritating under the chin position that some laptop makers continue to use. Port coverage is generally fine, but lacks a Thunderbolt port, which may be a turn-off for some. Fan noise is also unfortunately loud at times, even on battery saver mode, though on the plus side the laptop does run relatively cool considering its powerful components. The biggest drawback is the lack of G-Sync support, making the occasional bit of screen tearing more likely. Ultimately though, what you’re paying for with this machine is the GPU and CPU, and at this price level, you won’t find a better option.
Razer Blade 15 (2021) 1440p 165Hz
CPU
Intel Core i7-10750H
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB SSD
Screen Size
15.6”
Max Refresh Rate
165Hz
- Nvidia RTX 3080 Max-Q GPU
- 1440p resolution
- great color replication
- Thin
- Good array of ports & sockets
- only 512GB SSD
- short battery life
- some may not appreciate the benefit of 1440p on a 15” screen
This Razer Blade 15 comes with a 1440p resolution screen that might be overkill for some on a 15 inch laptop, but its undeniable that it looks great. The 165Hz refresh rate on the display might not be as fast as some of the other laptops on this list, but its nothing to be sniffed at, and will be a worthwhile trade-off for many for the higher resolution. Generally the screen is gorgeous, and has great color replication and brightness, as is typical of the Razer Blade laptop range. This machine would be suitable for color-accurate workstation tasks in the sRGB range.
As for the gaming power of this laptop the Intel Core i7-10750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q are both powerful components, even if not quite the best on this page. Still, you will definitely be able to push less demanding games to the 165FPS mark that the screen can display on the native resolution if you tweak some of the settings.
It’s unfortunate that the machine only comes with 16GB of RAM – although this is an adequate amount 32GB would have been nice; more disappointing is that it only has a 512GB SSD, which is really not that ample for today’s sized games. Still both of these features can be upgraded by taking off the back of the laptop – just be advised that this will void your warranty as is typical.
Besides this the Razer laptop is thin, looks great aesthetically, and has a great array of ports and sockets including Thunderbolt support. Battery life will only last you a few hours at most under strenuous non-gaming usage, which is not the worst but not the best of the offerings here. All-in-all though, a quality laptop.
GIGABYTE AORUS 15G XC-8US2430SH
CPU
Intel Core i7-10870H
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q
RAM
32GB
Storage
512GB SSD
Screen Size
15.6”
Max Refresh Rate
240Hz
- Terrific value
- Intel Core i7-10870H CPU
- 32GB RAM
- 240Hz display
- Full-size mechanical keyboard
- Nice touchpad with fingerprint reader
- Respectable battery life
- only 512GB SSD
- No G-Sync support
- Loud fans
- No Thunderbolt socket
- Awkward webcam placement
The CUK AORUS 15G laptop from Gigabyte comes in at under $1,800 at the time of writing, which is a great price considering what you get. The GPU is one of the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 cards, and the processor is the powerful Intel Core i7-10870H (the most powerful CPU on this page), both of which should be able to play any game at decent FPS in 2021.
The 240Hz screen should be more than adequate for those competitive online gamers who prioritize the most liquid fast gameplay and on games like CS:GO, Overwatch, or Fortnite you should be able to reach the 240FPS necessary to make the most out of it. It should be noted however that the machine is not G-Sync compatible, so some may find the occasional bit of screen-tearing compared to other machines. Color reproduction on the IGZO display is solid for gaming but the gamut and accuracy aren’t quite good enough for color-centric workstation tasks, even though the machine has the power for them, especially given the generous 32GB of RAM it comes with.
As with the more expensive version listed above, the inputs for this laptop are great: the touchpad is responsive and comes with a fingerprint scanner in the corner, and the full-size mechanical-like keyboard (not true mechanical) is a relatively unusual feature and a dream to type on, although the keys do feel a little cheap. The webcam on this laptop is placed beneath the screen, leading to rather unflattering under the chin viewing angles, though this might not be important to some. The ports and sockets are generally ample, and include an SD card reader, unfortunately however there is no Thunderbolt support.
Battery life on the machine is above average, and you can expect to get at least 4 hours from strenuous non-gaming tasks, and up to 8 hours for undemanding work on battery saver mode. Although not the thinnest of machines, the laptop is fairly light. The fans are fairly noisy but this does keep the laptop running at quite a cool temperature.
The biggest drawback of this machine is the limited 512GB SSD which we would consider upgrading/adding to using the available slot. All-in-all though, this is a terrific laptop for the price.
Things to consider when buying a gaming laptop under $2,000
If you want a more general overview of things to think about before you make your gaming laptop purchase, check out this same section underneath our Best Gaming Laptops guide for any budget. This section will be focused on what to think about for circa $2,000 laptops specifically.
Is the best gaming laptop under 2000 USD worth buying?
Above $1,000 gaming laptops really start becoming worthy of the name: able to play even the latest, most demanding games, although not necessarily on particularly high settings. A $2,000 gaming laptop is the point where you can pretty much guarantee you will be able to play the latest AAA titles on the higher graphical settings, though if you turn them up to the absolute max you may still have slower than desirable FPS – this is the unfortunate reality of laptop gaming compared to using a desktop PC.
1080p vs 1440p Gaming Laptops
Although 1440p screens will in the coming years become the new standard, currently 1080p remains king for most gamers. Competitive, fast-paced gamers tend to opt for 1080p in order to maximize the performance of their machine in FPS (Frames Per Second) terms. Even if this isn’t your area of interest, the amount of subjective benefit a 1440p screen brings when limited to a 15” screen size is debatable – it’s noticeable, but is it worth it? For 17 inch screens and above 1440p displays do begin to come into their own, however, although you may have to pay slightly more than $2,000 to get a display that size, at that resolution, with components that can make the most of it. Have a gander at our Best Gaming Laptop guide for our overall best 1440p laptop recommendation.
4K Gaming Laptops
Although 4K gaming laptops do exist at this price point, none are included in this particular list, as currently the trade-off one must make in other areas to get one for under $2,000 is too great to justify it. Ultimately, for anything below 17” the benefit of a 4K laptop screen is of less importance to a gamer than a powerful GPU or CPU. If you were to get a 4K 17 inch or above display laptop, then don’t expect to have a powerful enough machine to run any reasonably demanding game at high FPS on it. If you have your heart set on a 4K gaming machine then we’d advise you to increase your budget, and take a look at our 4K gaming laptop page for our recommendation there.
Workstation Use And Color Replication
For a budget of $2,000 you can definitely get yourself a machine with the color gamut and accuracy to do color-accurate workstation tasks on, which can be limited in the more budget options. At this level, a dual-use workstation/gaming laptop is certainly feasible, particularly with the higher power components, although some are better in this regard than others.
Some of our other gaming laptop articles
In-depth laptop reviews
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) Review
- ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 17 SE (2022) Review
- ASUS ROG Flow X16 (2022) Review
- ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2022) & ASUS ROG XG Mobile RTX 3080 Review
- Corsair Voyager a1600 (2022) Review
- XPG Xenia 15 RTX 2070 Max-Q Review
- Razer Blade Pro 17 1080p 360Hz (2021) Review
- Razer Blade 14 1440p 165Hz AMD Review
- XMG Neo 15 E21 / Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (2021)
- XMG Neo 15 E22 / Eluktronics MECH-15 G3 (2022) & OASIS Liquid Cooling Review
‘Best of’ brand guides
- Acer gaming laptop
- Alienware gaming laptop
- ASUS gaming laptop
- Dell gaming laptop
- HP gaming laptop
- Lenovo gaming laptop
- MSI gaming laptop
- Razer gaming laptop
- RTX 3080 Ti laptop
- RTX 3080 laptop
- RTX 3070 Ti laptop
- RTX 3070 laptop
- RTX 3060 laptop
- RTX 3050 & 3050 Ti laptop
‘Best of’ price guides
- The best gaming laptops
- The best gaming laptops under $500
- The best gaming laptops under $600
- The best gaming laptops under $700
- The best gaming laptops under $800
- The best gaming laptops under $1,000
- The best gaming laptops under $1,500
- The best gaming laptops under $2,500
Best gaming laptop under 2000 USD : Final Word
So there you have it: this has been our guide to the best gaming laptop under 2000 USD in 2023.
Please do have a look in the dropdown menu above for recommended laptop guides for different budgets if you fancy something cheaper or more expensive.
The best gaming laptops under $2000 in 2023 FAQs
What is the best gaming laptop for under $2000?
The CUK AORUS 15G by Gigabyte with RTX 3080 GPU is the best overall gaming laptop in this price range at the current time, if you’re happy with a 1080p screen. If you’re looking for a 1440p display then we’d recommend the Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2021 with Intel Core i7-10750H 6 Core and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. Ultimately though, each of the five options on this page are worthy of the title of best gaming laptop under 2000 USD – it really depends on what you’re looking for.
How good is a $2,000 gaming laptop?
In short: good (as long as you pick the right one). A budget of $2,000 will let you play even the newest, most demanding games on your gaming laptop, though be aware that the Frames Per Second performance on the same settings will still be substantially lower than on a desktop PC which costs the same amount of money. You will be able to play almost all games on the higher graphical settings, though you may still have to tweak down some settings in order to get smooth FPS.
Which is the No 1 gaming laptop?
The best gaming laptop for you ultimately depends on your specific needs and your budget. Currently we recommend the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 for those on a mid-range budget who don’t mind a 14” screen, and the Razer Blade Pro 17 QHD and Razer Blade Pro 17 4K Touch for those with higher budgets. See our Best Gaming Laptop page for more examples.
Which laptop brand is best?
Different laptop brands have different strengths and weaknesses – some are lighter, some have better displays, others tend to be superior in raw power, or value for money. For gaming laptops, the premium brands for those with the deepest pockets are Razer and Alienware. ASUS ROG, ASUS Strix, MSI and Gigabyte are strong brands at the medium to high end, whereas ASUS TUF tend to dominate the lower price ranges.
Are gaming laptops really worth buying?
Gaming laptops are technological marvels – able to squeeze in a large amount of power into a very small chassis, however they will typically be at least 50% more expensive than your typical desktop PC for the same power, plus the restrictions on size and cooling put a lower cap on the maximum performance compared to the best desktop PCs around. In short: only by a gaming laptop over a gaming desktop if having a portable machine is a necessity.
WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
