Best Cheap Gaming Laptops Under $200 (2023)
If you’re in search of a cheapest gaming laptop under 200 dollars then don’t worry I’ve got you covered.
Finding cheap gaming laptops under 200 dollars has always been a roller-coaster ride. These days gaming laptops come at high prices, making it almost impossible for budget gamers to buy them. However, that’s not the truth. Here’s how:
You see, there are some laptops that come at huge prices but there are still some devices that provide a good gaming experience at a cheap price. For example, I have a list of some cheapest gaming laptops under 200 that offers an outstanding gaming experience.
So if you were in search of a good gaming laptop under 200 dollars, then congratulations, you’re at the right place! In this article, we are going to walk through the top 5 cheap gaming laptops for under 200. So buckle up your seatbelts fella’s, it’s going to be fun.
Let’s get started now.
Quick Overview: Cheap Gaming Laptops Under 200
- Quick Overview: Cheap Gaming Laptops Under 200
- In-Depth Reviews: Best Gaming Laptops Under $200
- What to Look For When Buying a Budget Gaming Laptop Under 200? [Buying Guide]
- What is the difference between a Chromebook and a Laptop?
- What is the best cheap gaming laptop under 200?
- Can you install Windows 10 on a Chromebook?
- Is 4 GB RAM good for gaming?
- Conclusion
- Related Posts:
Being a gamer, I have used tons of gaming laptops ranging from budget devices to high-end laptops as well. But for budget gamers, these are the laptops that I recommend.
In-Depth Reviews: Best Gaming Laptops Under $200
So, now that you have gone through the short overview, now it’s time to start with an in-depth review of these bad boys.
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1. Samsung Chromebook 3 – Editor’s Choice
Display: 11 Inches, 1366 x 768p | CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 Processor | GPU: Intel HD Graphics 400 GPU | 4GB RAM 32GB Storage
This laptop is equipped with an extremely lightweight design and good build quality. It offers a powerful processor accompanied by 4GB RAM you’ll absolutely love it if you are a Samsung fan. This laptop is highly recommended if you want a Chromebook under 200.
Let’s explore what this product has to offer:
Display and Design:
The Samsung Chromebook 3 comes with a sleek and lightweight display. This device has a metallic black texture giving it a classy and unique look. It is equipped with a smooth palm rest to make you feel more comfortable.
CPU and GPU:
The Samsung Chromebook 3 is equipped with a 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron N3060 processor which makes it quite easy for you to perform your tasks efficiently and speedily. It runs on Chrome OS which makes it easy for you to access different applications from Google PlayStore in one place.
This powerful processor is further accompanied by the Intel HD Graphics 400 GPU to provide you with the best casual gaming experience possible.
RAM and Storage:
The Samsung Chromebook 3 is equipped with 4GB of RAM along with 32 GB eMMc flash storage. You can also use a microSD card to upgrade it.
Battery Life:
The battery life of this Chromebook is approximately 9 hours so that you can have uninterrupted gaming sessions.
Gaming Performance:
Secondly, we will review the performance of the Samsung Chromebook 3. Since we are on the hunt for a cheap gaming laptop under 200, then the most important thing that comes to mind is the performance.
This Chromebook is equipped with a good combination of a processor and a graphic card. Due to its 4GB RAM, the Samsung Chromebook 3 efficiently handles tasks like web surfing and gaming.
The first thing that we noticed is the bootup time of this device which is only 5 seconds. The CPU speed of this laptop is quite powerful to deal with gaming and other tasks performed on a daily basis.
The Samsung Chromebook 3 gives you access to Google Play Store so that you can download your favorite games and play them on the go.
This budget gaming laptop comes with two other configurations as well. The only difference is regarding the RAM and storage capacity.
Video Review:
- The speakers of this notebook are mediocre.
- The button layout is not that good
2. HP Stream 11 Pro G2 Laptop – Best for Casual Gameplay
At number two we have the HP Stream 11 Pro G2 laptop which is an amazing device specifically designed for budget gamers.
Display: 11.6 Inches, 1366 x 768p | CPU: 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron N3060 Processor | GPU: Intel HD Graphics 400 GPU | 4GB RAM 32GB Storage
This laptop is equipped with a powerful performance, a long-lasting battery life accompanied by good quality speakers. All of these features are quite amazing, coming under a budget price tag. Now, let’s explore this product in detail to know more about it.
Display and Design:
This laptop is equipped with an 11.6 inches display screen, accompanied by a 1366 x 768 pixels resolution. Hence, the gaming visuals appearing on the screen would be adequate for you.
This laptop comes with a good and unique design. The design aesthetics are good for students, not for professionals. The exterior of this device is made up of plastic.
CPU and GPU:
The HP Stream 11 Pro arrives with a 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron N3060 Processor which is a great addition to help you with most of your gaming tasks.
This laptop is equipped with an integrated Intel HD Graphics 400 GPU which is no doubt a good addition. Due to the graphics card, you can play some heavy games on this laptop as well, such as Overwatch, etc.
RAM and Storage:
It is equipped with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB flash storage making it perfect for casual gaming. Although it is not sufficient you can use an SD card to get more.
Battery Life and Audio:
The battery life of this laptop is around 8 hours which is enough for you to play games without any sort of disturbance.
When I tested the audio quality of this laptop, I was truly surprised. This budget laptop under $200 comes with good quality speakers that offer a fully dynamic sound quality.
Gaming Performance:
The exterior of this laptop may not seem that much effective but this device is packed with some serious internal components.
When it comes to performance, this laptop is surely a good performer. The HP Stream 11 Pro scored 2,023 points on the Geekbench 4 test (that is used to measure the overall performance of a laptop).
On the other hand, the storage performance was tested through the Laptop Mag File Test where this laptop easily copied approximately 4.9 GB of mixed media files in less than a minute with a score of 50.38.
Concluding that the gaming performance of this laptop would be smooth enough for casual games. Indeed, it will provide you with a lag-free experience.
Video Review:
- Sometimes, the screen seems washed-out
- The front lip is sharp
- The temperature rises after 15-30 minutes of usage.
3. Acer Chromebook 15 – Best HD Laptop for Gaming
Display: 15.6 Inches, 1920 x 1080p | CPU: quad-core Intel Pentium N4200 | GPU: Intel HD Graphics 505 GPU | 4GB RAM 32GB Storage
This laptop is equipped with amazing battery life, solid build quality, strong performance, and an excellent design that makes it a perfect choice for you. As per the price of this laptop, its performance is quite amazing.
Let’s check out the detailed review to learn more about this product.
Display and Design:
Well, most Chromebooks have smaller screens but if you want an immense gaming experience on a larger screen then this laptop is good for you. It has a 15.6-inch screen accompanied by an HD 1080p screen resolution which is rare in Chromebooks.
The laptop comes in a strong aluminum frame. Upon first glance, you will see a silver, metal slab Acer logo on this Chromebook. The screen of this device is surrounded by thick bezels. On the other hand, the keyboard and touchpad of this laptop are of good quality.
CPU and GPU:
This Chromebook is equipped with a quad-core Intel Pentium N4200. Other than gaming, this laptop is perfect for performing simple tasks such as word processing, web surfing, streaming videos, etc.
For better graphics, the Acer Chromebook 15 is equipped with Intel HD Graphics 505.
RAM and Storage:
This laptop comes with 4GB RAM and 32 GB flash storage to fulfill your gaming needs.
Audio Quality and Battery Life:
The audio quality of this laptop is fine, but it is not that high-end. The battery life of this laptop is around 9 hours which is great for uninterrupted gaming sessions.
Gaming Performance:
The specifications of this laptop are quite sturdy which automatically enhances the overall performance of this laptop. During the JetStream test (which is for the performance of web apps and games), the Acer Chromebook 15 scored 66.6 points making it a perfect choice for someone who prefers web surfing as well as casual gaming.
When it comes to graphics, the Acer Chromebook 15 reached 51 frame rates during the WebGL Aquarium graphics test. The FPS score of this device was better than other competing Chromebooks.
As compared to the previous device on our list, this one doesn’t get heated up even if you use it straight for an hour or more, that is a good point.
Video Review:
- The display is not that bright.
- Sometimes the trackpad feels rough.
4. HP Stream 14 – Top Runner
The fourth laptop on our list is the HP Stream 14 which is among the best laptop deals under 200 dollars for casual gaming.
Display: 14 Inches, 1366 x 768p | CPU: 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron N3060 Processor | GPU: Intel HD Graphics 400 GPU | 4GB RAM 32GB Storage
This laptop is a fast performer along with good battery life and a decent price. It has a lightweight design and it is packed with amazing components. I highly recommend this laptop for gaming due to its amazing performance and portability.
Let’s review this laptop in detail to know more about it.
Design and Display:
The HP Stream 14 is equipped with a plastic chassis. Even though it is made up of plastic, it still has a good build quality. It is quite slim as compared to other laptops on our list.
The HP Stream 14 is equipped with a 14 inches display screen accompanied by 1366 x 768 pixels resolution. This display screen combination is amazing for a budget laptop like HP Stream 14. I am sure that it will be a fun experience to play games and watch your favorite movies on this laptop.
CPU and GPU:
The HP Stream 14 is equipped with a 1.6 GHz Intel Celeron N3060 processor, an Intel HD Graphics 400 GPU.
These are the components responsible for your gaming performance. Most of the competitors of HP Stream 14 possess the same internal components. You can also play some high-end games on this laptop, but for that purpose, you will need an external solid-state drive first.
RAM and Storage:
For a good gaming experience, this laptop comes with 4 GB RAM and 32 GB of Flash storage.
Audio Quality and Battery Life:
This laptop is equipped with a pair of speakers but it is recommended to use headphones while playing games to get a better experience.
The battery life of this laptop is 7 hours which allows you to play your favorite games on the go.
Gaming Performance:
Now, let’s determine whether this laptop is a good performer or not.
The HP Stream 14 scored a total of 1817 points in the Geekbench 4 performance test. I must say that HP Stream 11 Pro was a better performer. But still, this score is not that bad.
In order to test the transfer speed of this laptop, I carried out a Laptop Mag File Transfer Test. This laptop transferred 4.97 worth of data in 3 minutes and 28 seconds. Again, HP Stream 11 Pro is on the lead.
So, after reviewing all of these factors, the gaming performance of this laptop is no doubt good enough. As I mentioned above you can also play high-end games but they will require low settings.
Video Review:
- The display colors are a little dim.
5. Lenovo 100E Chromebook – Best Budget Chromebook
The fifth product on our list is the Lenovo 100E Chromebook which is an amazing device coming at a budget price.
Display: 11.6 Inches, 1366 x 768p | CPU: 2.1 GHz Intel MediaTek MT8173C dual-core processor | GPU: Intel HD Integrated GPU | 4GB RAM 16GB Storage
This laptop is a good choice for students who prefer casual gaming. Because it is a 2 in 1 laptop that you can use for school tasks as well as for gaming too. It has a good build quality with some amazing features to help you out.
So, let’s get started with a detailed review of this laptop.
Design and Display:
The Lenovo 100E Chromebook has a unique and lightweight design. Upon closer look, you will notice that its design is quite lightweight and sleek. The body is made up of good-quality plastic with a premium textured lid. On the lid, you will see a Lenovo logo as well as a Chrome logo.
This Chromebook is equipped with an 11.6-inch screen along with a screen resolution of 1366 x 768. The screen is covered with an anti-glare coating to avoid reflections. The anti-glare coating doesn’t affect the images.
CPU and GPU:
This Chromebook is equipped with a 2.1 GHz Intel MediaTek MT8173C dual-core processor, accompanied by an Intel HD integrated graphics card.
RAM and Storage:
This device offers 4 GB RAM along with 16 GB of storage. The storage provided by the Lenovo 100E Chromebook is quite low, and you might need an external hard drive to upgrade it.
Battery Life:
The battery life of this device is around 9 hours which helps you to enjoy your gaming experience without any hurdles.
Gaming Performance:
The Lenovo 100E Chromebook delivers a smooth performance. We have tested it with different tactics and the results were quite satisfactory.
The Lenovo 100E Chromebook doesn’t get heated up easily. During the test, I opened 10 google chrome tabs playing a couple of YouTube videos. I felt a little lag sometimes but overall it was a clean and smooth experience.
The performance of this laptop is amazing due to its good-quality processor. You can perform almost every sort of task on this device without any hurdles.
The Lenovo 100E Chromebook is based on the Google Chrome operating system, hence you can download your favorite games from the Play Store.
Video Review:
- The viewing angles are poor
- The color quality is satisfactory
What to Look For When Buying a Budget Gaming Laptop Under 200? [Buying Guide]
While choosing the best gaming laptop for under 200 dollars, there are some things that you need to look for. These things are basically functions and features of your ideal budget gaming laptop that affects its overall performance.
I hope that after reading our recommendations you will be curious to know how we have chosen these products? That is why I decided to create a detailed buying guide. In this way, you will understand our selection criteria for the best gaming laptop under 200, in a better way. So, let’s start with the buying guide.
Graphics Card: Is Integrated Graphics Good for Gaming?
The first thing to check when choosing a budget gaming laptop under 200 is the graphics card.
If you are looking for an affordable gaming laptop then ensure that it features integrated graphics at least. We have provided good options in our list as well.
An integrated graphics card won’t be enough to support your high-grade games but it will be enough to run the iconic of all time, such as The Sims, Minecraft, etc. Some of the laptops on this list such as the HP Stream 14 also provide an upgrade option for a graphics card. So, I guess it will be a better option for you if you need a future graphics upgrade.
Performance Benchmarks
The next thing to check is the overall performance of a gaming laptop. There are a few things that add up to the performance of a laptop in gaming, such as:
- RAM
- CPU
- FPS
RAM:
Usually, in order to run AAA games, a laptop should feature 8 GB of RAM at least. However, since we are on the hunt of finding a device that is under budget, then you can check out the product recommendations above.
I have mentioned laptops with good gaming performance at an affordable price. So this one won’t cause you much problem.
CPU:
As for the CPU, in most Chromebooks, you’ll find an Intel Celeron processor or sometimes it could be better. Even though the performance won’t be that good still you can enjoy playing some low-end games without any hassle.
But in most cases, we recommend looking for devices that can offer at least a Core i5 processor. However, when hunting for a budget gaming laptop under 200 would be an impossible task.
What games can I play on an Intel Celeron Processor?
Still, to keep your hopes high, an Intel Celeron processor can easily run these games:
- Classic Red 1–3 (Require some tweaking)
- The original Monkey Island games
- FF vii-ix (not remastered)
- Soldier of Fortune 1
- Unreal
- Blood 1 and 2
- Anachronox (JRPG)
- Civilization 2 and 3
- Blake Stone (original)
- Half-life its expansions
- Sims 1
- Neverwinter nights and toee (non hd)
- Heroes of Might and Magic 1–4
- Betrayal at Krondor
FPS:
Other than the RAM, you are going to need good frame rates (FPS) to get a better gaming experience. The frame rates offered by your laptop depend on your graphics card. For a budget laptop, there might be a problem with the frame rates but still, you will get enough FPS to keep most of your games running at a good level.
Storage
Storage is another crucial factor to check before buying a top-notch gaming laptop for under 200 dollars. If your device doesn’t feature enough storage space then where will you store all your games?
Good storage space is essential to keep your downloaded content, and in-game content stored somewhere safe within your laptop. In the case of a Chromebook, I strongly suggest you buy a micro SD card for extra storage. This is because when it comes to storage options Chromebooks aren’t a good option.
Screen Resolution
Next up is the resolution of your laptop. Well, I have been a gamer for quite a while and in my opinion screen resolution has nothing to do with your performance. It just assures you good image quality and better visuals of your games.
If the screen resolution of your device is low then you have to play games at lower settings. Speaking of lower screen resolution, most budget gaming laptops aren’t good in this regard. If you are under budget then you have to compromise with your laptop. The average resolution that you can get from a laptop under $200 is 1366 x 768 HD.
Ports and Connectivity
The connectivity options of your laptop must be rich. If your gaming laptop lacks ports then you’re going to have a tough time mate. For ports and connectivity, make sure that your device offers at least two USB ports for a keyboard and a mouse, followed by a headphones jack, and an HDMI port.
But, in the case of budget laptops under 200, you will get fewer amount of ports. Still, I have tried my best to include some devices that offer good connectivity.
Battery Life: How Long Does a Gaming Laptop Last on Battery?
If you play games for longer time sessions, just like me then you are going to need a good battery life mate. Well in the case of laptops under 200 dollars, we have an upper hand. Because these budget devices aren’t equipped with a huge screen that is why they offer a good battery life. Usually, a budget gaming laptop under $200 can provide you with a total of 9 to 10 hours of battery.
I think this battery life is enough to boost all your gaming sessions.
Durability
The durability and build quality of your gaming laptop. Some manufacturers don’t even bother to enhance the quality of the build materials of a laptop. The outer part of your laptop must be durable to avoid breaking issues.
The laptops that you’ll find on this list are constructed with aluminum and pure metal hence they are durable enough. Moreover, they don’t break easily.
What is the difference between a Chromebook and a Laptop?
A Chromebook and a Laptop look exactly the same thing but with a different operating system. Chromebooks are technically laptops but they have Chrome OS. Both of these devices offer a keyboard, a camera, a built-in screen, and a trackpad as well.
What is the best cheap gaming laptop under 200?
Following are a few cheap laptops under $200 that we recommend:
Can you install Windows 10 on a Chromebook?
In most cases, you can’t do that. But some Chromebooks come with a write-protect screw located on the motherboard. The write-protect screw avoids users from installing any other Operating System. If you want to install Windows 10 then you will have to do some homework. Firstly, remove the bottom shell, remove the screw from the motherboard, and then add the new firmware.
Is 4 GB RAM good for gaming?
Yeah for casual gaming, 4 GB RAM is enough. With 4GB RAM, you will be able to play most of your casual games without any hurdles. Moreover, you can also use that device for other tasks as well.
Conclusion
So this was all about buying the best budget gaming laptop for under $200. I hope that by the end of this article, you will be able to choose the right device for your gaming needs.
If you have any questions or queries, then let us know in the comments section.
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