7 Best Gaming Laptops Under 2000
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This category of laptops comprises the most premium and high-end models with top-notch specifications.
If you’re willing to buy a 2000 dollar gaming laptop, you will get its worth in the multitude of features. These laptops could be suitable for intense gamers or professionals. The hardware, design, ergonomics, etc., is well thought out for maximum performance.
With all significant manufacturers having their presence in this segment in the market, choosing the best gaming laptop for $2000 can be intimidating and challenging at the same time. It becomes imperative to research well and only then make the purchase.
You need to chalk out the minimum required specifications to fit in your work. In this budget, you are sure to get the best of the best.
If you’re wondering who would spend under 2000 dollars for a laptop, then you could have the answer in this article. If you work in the fields of 3-D modeling, machine learning, photo/video editing, designing, etc., your laptop would have to deliver high performance to be able to run complex software.
Best Gaming Laptops Under 2000
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop
| 9.7 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Battery Life  | HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 17-inch
| 9.5 | Check Price on Amazon |
Gaming Beast  | Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
| 9.1 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best for Multitasking  | ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX482 14” FHD
| 8.8 | Check Price on Amazon |
For Hardcore Gaming  | Alienware m15 15.6 inch FHD Gaming Laptop
| 8.6 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Build  | Dell G7 17 Gaming Laptop
| 8.2 | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Memory  | MSI GE75 Raider Gaming Laptop
| 8 | Check Price on Amazon |
1. MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop
- 15.6” 144hz display
- 11th Gen. Intel Core i7 processor
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- MSI’s exclusive Cooler Boost Technology
- Thunderbolt 4 supports up to 40Gbps of data transfer
The MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop has everything that a good 2000 dollar gaming laptop should have. Its near-perfect performance comes from the powerful Intel Core i7-11375H processor and 144hz display.
The battery life goes beyond what gaming laptops usually offer, and even the audio quality from the speakers is crisp and immersive.
Processor
This laptop sports the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU. The laptop works without any lag or delay, but the fans do get quite noisy. There are three fan modes; silent, balanced, and turbo.
If you are just working or browsing the web, you can opt for silent mode. There are Anti-dust tunnels to prevent buildup on the heat sink or fans. Overall, you can run multiple Chrome tabs, stream HD YouTube videos, and listen to music all at once without any glitch.
Design & Display
The laptop’s design is pretty solid & attractive. It is available in carbon gray color, which makes the laptop look more appealing.
The 15.6-inch IPS-type Full HD, 1920×1080 pixels resolution offers a vivid display. It’s decently bright and has a super-fast 144hz refresh rate.
This, combined with the fast refresh rate, gives tear-free gameplay and smooth functioning. The bezels are super slim, but that means there is practically no space for a webcam.
Storage
This laptop has 16GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD in terms of storage. These translate to high-speed transfer and transcoding speeds.
Battery
The MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop has excellent battery life for a gaming-oriented laptop. It averages over 5 hours when continuously browsing the web.
Other laptops in the same range don’t come close to this average. This is primarily because of control over the three fan modes.
And even after a day’s work, the body doesn’t get very hot owing to the dual 12V fans and triple radiators.
Pros
- Superfast processor
- Best GPU
Cons
- Basic Keyboard
- Average battery life
2. HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 17-inch
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q
- 17.3-inch diagonal FHD
- Intel Core i7-10750H Processor
- 16 GB DDR4-2933 SDRAM (2 x 8 GB)
- 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive
- 8 hrs+ minutes Battery life
The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop is not just a gaming beast, but a solid work machine too. The HP Omen series has overtaken these models, but they remain a popular choice for gamers and professionals alike.
It has a large 17.3-inch Full HD display with an Anti-glare coating that is a visual treat for gaming and entertainment.
Processor
The HP Pavilion laptop runs on the 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor (hexagon-core). This packs enough power to give smooth operations.
Apart from the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with a Max-Q graphics co-processor, there isn’t much that beats an Omen series laptop.
The real-time ray-tracing technology and a VR and MR ready feature are common among the best laptops for 2000 dollars. You can easily play games like Fortnite, Overwatch, or PUBG on it.
Design
If we talk about the design of this laptop, there isn’t much thought put into it or changes made by its predecessors. It has the same centered hinge and a matte Shadow Black chassis.
There are emerald green accents on the keyboard backlighting and the HP logo at the center of the lid.
The chassis is more durable than previous Pavilion models and sleeker too. HP claims the laptop is environmentally conscious with low-halogen, mercury-free display backlights.
Display
The 17.3-inch (diagonally measured) Full HD IPS WLED-backlit display is an average display for this price. The brightness at 300 nits, however, is better than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar III.
The 60Hz refresh rate is a step-down from the other 144 or 240Hz offerings. This affects movement, and you may experience lag sometimes.
The display comes with an Anti-glare coating to protect your eyes from blue light emissions. If you engage in color-critical work, it has 100% sRGB color coverage, and so the color accuracy is excellent.
Storage
The 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD capabilities aren’t the best in this category, but they are enough to power your daily computing tasks as well as gaming sessions.
It does underperform in certain areas when we compare it to competitors, so think twice if you have RAM-intensive games or tasks at hand.
Battery
The company claims over 8 hours and 45 minutes of battery life, but realistically it delivers well over 5 hours. That is very respectable for a laptop in this price range. It overpowers the HP Omen in this department.
Pros
- Stronger chassis
- Good battery life
Cons
- Dim display
- It lacks the mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3
3. Acer Predator Helios 300
- 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H 6-Core Processor
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM
- 15. 6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080)
- 16GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Backlit Keyboard | LAN: Killer Gaming Network E2500
The Acer Predator Helios 300 performs exceptionally well in benchmark tests. It is one of the best gaming laptops under 2000, with a power-packed 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H 6-core processor and a 144Hz refresh rate.
This laptop also balances aesthetics with performance quite well and has a sturdy build quality. The good-sized display with bright and accurate images also makes for a great option.
Processor
The 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H 6-core CPU (with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz) makes working or playing on this laptop a lag-free experience.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU packed with 6GB dedicated GDDR6 VRAM delivers high-octane gameplay that matches or outshines its competitors in some cases.
Users have also tried and found that this laptop works well for 3-D modeling applications like AUTOCAD or Revit.
Design
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is different when it comes to its chassis. It isn’t all cheap plastic, but the top and lid are made of aluminum to give it more sturdiness and a classy look.
The cover doesn’t feature Predator written anymore, but just the backlit logo and two non-backlit strips. The laptop has the 4th Gen All-Metal AeroBlade 3D fan for better cooling and a funky four-zone RGB-backlit keyboard.
There is ample port assortment; three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a Killer E2600 Ethernet port, a USB Type-C port, a headphone jack, an HDMI port, a Kensington lock slot, and a mini-DisplayPort. The last port is a perk the HP Pavilion didn’t offer.
Display
The 15.6-inch Full HD widescreen LED-backlit IPS display of the Acer Predator Helios 300 combined with the 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms overdrive response time makes it the ultimate speed machine.
You wouldn’t face any lags while performing day-to-day tasks or playing modern computer games. If you are a fast-twitching gamer looking for the best laptop under 2000 dollars, this is one of the top contenders.
The 300 nits brightness gives a vivid and immersive display. The screen is Anti-glare, so your eyes aren’t strained too much.
Storage
The 16GB DDR4 2666MHz and 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD may not seem extraordinary, but the bottom of the laptop packs enough options to expand your storage space significantly.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 comes with two M.2 slots that can support up to three drives. This feature is a game-saver, literally, so you don’t have to switch games because you ran out of space.
Battery
The Acer Predator Helios 300 doesn’t match up to its competitors in the battery life league. Despite that, it offers a decent six-hour battery life.
This is almost double what the 2019 model had, and for that, ASUS needs a pat on the back!
Pros
- High-end performance
- Sturdy chassis
Cons
- Poor audio quality from the in-built speakers
- Keyboard gets hot
4. ASUS ZenBook Duo 14
- ScreenPad Plus: 12.6-inch matte touchscreen
- 14 inch Full HD 400 nits NanoEdge touchscreen
- Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor 2.8 GHz
- Discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics
- 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD with 32GB LPDDR4X RAM
- Windows Pro and Built-in IR camera
If you’re looking for a laptop that defines innovation, the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 is the right way to go.
This is an upgraded version of its predecessors and is one of the best twin-screen 2000 dollar gaming laptops.
The second display, which ASUS calls the ScreenPad Plus, is a highly functional addition to the traditional laptop layout.
This massive screen in the bottom part does eat away space from the keyboard, so the keys are cramped and difficult to adjust to. But if you can, this laptop is a conversation starter!
Processor
The 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU 2.8GHz (Turbo Boost up to 4.7GHz) is very competent to run your day-to-day computing tasks smoothly and without any delays.
The entry-level Discrete NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics are not as powerful as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs but provide better performance than other options.
If you’re a media professional or a content creator, this might not be your best option. You can use this laptop for a lighter workload.
Design
The most impressive and attractive feature of this laptop is the ScreenPad Plus, hands down. Then comes the overall Celestial Blue chassis.
It is made of magnesium alloy, so the build quality doesn’t feel or look cheap like plastic-made ones. The lid has the signature Acer radial design.
Like the ScreenPad Plus, the primary display also props up using the Acer ErgoLift, designed to give the screen a position for maximum typing and viewing comfort.
This also helps to cool down the laptop with the Active Aerodynamic System Plus that increases cooling by 49%.
Display
The main display is a 14-inch Full HD NanoEdge Touch display. It is smaller than the laptops mentioned here, but the 400 nits brightness makes it pop out.
The glossy display isn’t the best in this category but does a decent job. Talking of the secondary display or the 12.6-inch ScreenPad Plus, which is a matte touchscreen, it has a strange screen resolution of 1920×515 pixels because of its rectangular shape.
This props up when you open the lid to give a better viewing angle. It has a great mini-second monitor, and you can play music on Spotify, keep notes open for reference, draw something using the stylus, etc.
Storage
The 32GB RAM is on board, and you get 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD with 32GB LPDDR4X RAM. This is more than enough to power your everyday tasks.
Battery
In this category by far, this laptop has the best battery life. But comparing it to laptops with similar specs, the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 has, it’s not very impressive.
On battery saver mode, it takes 11 hours for it to run dry from a full charge. The ScreenPad Plus could be the reason behind this excessive battery drainage, but if you don’t mind a plugged-in laptop, it works just fine.
Pros
- ScreenPad Plus
- Includes accessories (stylus, stand, sleeve)
Cons
- Cramped keyboard and trackpad
5. Alienware M15
- 300Hz 300nits 3ms Full HD for smooth
- Intel Core i7-10750H 10th Gen
- FHD display with 3ms response time 60Hz refresh rate
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 2070 Super 8GB GDDR6
- 16GB RAM/1TB SSD
Just like the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14, the Alienware m15 will also have all eyes on it. It is a uniquely designed laptop, with the 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor and powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics in a decent price range.
It does lack in the department of battery life, but given it is primarily a gaming laptop, you can excuse it and move on. It is Alienware’s thinnest laptop.
Processor
Apart from the configuration available in this model, Alienware offers a host of other customizable configuration options to choose from (after all, it is a Dell company).
The 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor packs a punch in the performance of this laptop, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super graphics with dedicated 8GB GDDR6 is the cherry on the cake.
You can do light computing tasks like browsing the web, word processing, video conferencing, etc., and intense gaming without even the slightest hint of a problem.
The real-time ray-tracing driven by NVIDIA Turing architecture does a fantastic job of giving realistic graphics while gaming.
Design
The chassis is top-class in this category. It is the sturdiest and most futuristic-looking laptop. The Alienware M15 has a mix of high-end materials like magnesium alloy, copper, and steel in its body.
The identifiable AlienFX lighting comes in the form of accents like the ringed LED light on the lid, honeycomb-shaped vents, and an RGB-lit keyboard. If you are looking for a more discrete laptop, this won’t help at all! It weighs 4.65 pounds, which isn’t too bad for a gaming laptop.
The Cryo-Tech technology helps the laptop stay cooler to deliver better performance.
Display
The 15.6-inch Full HD sits slightly propped up when opened atop the hinge. The display, too, has its aesthetic as it sits on a rectangular hinge, separating it from the keyboard deck, so it looks as if it’s floating.
In the middle of the top bezel is a 720p webcam, not great but does a decent job. The super-fast 3ms response time combined with a 300Hz refresh rate gives pulse-racing gameplay and seamless working. The 300 nits brightness lends vivid and clear images to the display.
Storage
The 16GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB SSD are pretty much standard storage capabilities in this range. This works well and allows you to store some of your modern computer games and other essential files. Transfer speeds are also good.
Battery
The Alienware M15 comes with an 86Wh battery, but it doesn’t last long like any other gaming-oriented laptop.
However, its battery life is lower than its gaming world competitors too. It averages only a few hours when using it continuously.
You’ll have to keep it plugged in all the time for the best performance. Bottom line—it’s not a very portable laptop.
Pros
- Stunning aesthetics
- Real-time ray-tracing
- Great specifications
Cons
- Poor battery life
6. Dell G7 15
- 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750h
- 17. 3 inch FullHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 300-nits Display
- 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM
- 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid state Drive
- Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti 6G GDDR5 Video Graphics
- SD card reader, USB 3.1
The Dell G7 15 offers you a new perspective of what a Dell laptop can look like. It has typical gaming aesthetics and a slim chassis.
The laptop is powered by the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor paired with incredible NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti 6G graphics. This laptop could be the perfect machine if it weren’t for its dim display.
Processor
The Dell G7 15 is powered by the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H (Turbo Boost up to 4.5Ghz) CPU and an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti 6G graphics coprocessor.
You can play your favorite modern computer games in high settings with great ease. The laptop is capable of multitasking; multiple Chrome tabs, YouTube videos, Spotify, etc.
Design
The subtle aesthetics of this laptop are far detached from that of the Alienware M15. It does have an RGB-backlit keyboard, but apart from that and a rear vent that looks like a racing car’s boot.
There is little to shout that this is a gaming-oriented laptop. It also has surprisingly good built-in dual speakers and the Nahimic Sound Center for controlling audio and voice commands.
Display
The 17.3-inch Full HD LCD IPS screen with a 1920×1080 pixels screen resolution and 300 nits brightness are sure to give you a stunning visual experience.
The color accuracy is inferior compared to other 2000 dollar gaming laptops; it covers just 60% of the sRGB color gamut.
Don’t consider this as an option if you have to perform color-critical tasks. Also, it has thick bezels surrounding the screen, which are not very pleasant to look at while working on it.
Storage
The 16GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM and 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD are good for everyday computing, but the hard drive is quite slow. It underperforms and may hamper your workflow.
Battery
The 4-celled battery has enough juice to last 3 hours while gaming and a little more than that for casual browsing, streaming, and taking notes. You cannot expect gaming laptops to offer a good battery life, but with some tweaks, you can surely enhance the battery life.
Pros
- High-end performance
- Long battery life
- Good audio quality
Cons
- Dim display
- Thick bezels
7. MSI GE75 Raider
- 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H Processor
- 32GB DDR4 Memory, 1TB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD
- 17.3″ FHD 144Hz 3ms Display
- 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Graphics
- Steel Series RGB Backlight Keyboard
- Anti-Ghost Key + Silver Lining
MSI is known for churning gaming beasts that double up as great work laptops. The MSI GE75 Raider is one of them. It isn’t MSI’s best model, but it’s impressive nonetheless. The upgrade to the Intel Core i7-10750H processor and a slimmer body do set this laptop apart.
Processor
This runs on the Intel Core i7-10750H (Turbo Boost up to 5GHz) CPU, and the graphics are supported by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with dedicated 6GB GDDR6. The performance matches the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor. The GPU delivers 20-50% faster performance with the RTX 2070.
Design
The MSI signature remains funky-colored laptops. The lid has a backlit MSI logo, red stripes and per-key backlighting. It is easily identifiable as an MSI laptop.
The chassis is much sleeker than previous models, and so it is more portable than before. The Steel Series-designed keyboard has an excellent tactile response and is your perfect gaming companion.
A nice touch is that the USB ports have lighting, too, so they become easier to navigate in a dark room.
Display
The 17.3-inch Full HD IPS-level matte display is slightly disappointing because of its low brightness levels and color bleeding.
However, the 144Hz refresh rate combined with 3ms response time gives this an edge over other laptops. It will provide lightning-fast motion graphics and smooth gameplay.
It covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut, which is suitable for any color-critical work you may have, like photo or video editing, content creation, etc.
Storage
You get 32GB DDR4 Memory (maximum memory is 64GB) and 512GB NVMe SSD. There are two M.2 2280 slots with RAID compatibility, so you can upgrade the memory as you want. While doing so, though, one has to break a sticker.
Battery
As with other gaming-oriented or professional work laptops, the battery life isn’t the best. It is subpar at just over 3 hours.
Pros
- Great performance from GeForce RTX 2070
- Slimmer chassis
- 240Hz refresh rate
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Noisy fans
Verdict on $2000 Gaming Laptops
Laptops under 2000 dollars have no shortage of top-class specifications, stunning displays, and perks cheaper laptops don’t offer.
Picking the best laptop for 2000, that’s right for you, depends on multiple factors like the tasks you will be using it for and your personal preferences.
If your work involves video or photo editing, you should opt for a laptop with a bright display and good color accuracy.
If you’re into gaming, look for a powerful graphics processor that will support intensive gaming speeds. The tactile feedback will have to be extremely fast and responsive.
We’ve given you the best laptops under 2000 with their specification briefs. With all that being said, we hope we’ve made it easier for you to make the final decision.
By Sam Rhodes
Hi, I’m Sam Rhodes, a passionate tech reviewer, and gamer. I started Geekyslug with the motive of sharing my knowledge about tech gadgets like gaming laptops, tablets, graphic cards, keyboards, and whatnot.
I also share troubleshooting guides, helping people resolve issues with their gadgets. When I’m not writing, I prefer playing Valorant, Call of duty, GTA5 or outdoor activities like skateboarding and off-roading on my bike.
