Best Cheap Laptops for Students, Gamers Under $700: (Tested & Reviewed)

When we say “cheap laptop” it means we are talking about laptops under $700. It seems nearly impossible to get a high-performance laptop under $1000 to $1500. But we found a few budget-friendly gaming laptops with better graphics cards, processor and storage. They have 16 GB RAM, long battery life, 1080p resolution and multiple ports.

All of these specs matter when looking for laptops for students and gamers. Better GPU to run games, a display for full visuals and storage to download lectures. We have reviewed everything from credible sources to make sure they don’t lag, get stuck or stop working completely. 

So stick by and read to find a gaming laptop under $700 from the list below. Make sure to read the specs and details to know what their pros and cons are.

Top 5 Cheap Gaming Laptops With Graphic Cards Under $700 

All these gaming laptops have a price range under $700 in 2026. They can be used for gaming, studying and even to attend GED classes. So let’s list them one by one:

1. HP Victus 15 (2022)

The HP Victus 15 is a good laptop for gaming. It comes with Intel 12th Gen processors and NVIDIA graphics cards. They are strong enough to run modern games smoothly at 1080p resolution. This laptop can run games fast compared to many others due to the fast SSD. One gamer at Reddit wrote about HP Victus that”This is an actual gaming laptop and will far outperform”.

Plus, they also have a comfortable keyboard so you can play easily. But HP Victus have 144 HZ screen so you might experience blurry motion. The HP Victus 15 is perfect for students in terms of lectures and performance. But it’s bulky so you cannot carry it everywhere. 

Pros

• Smooth gaming performance at 1080p
• Quick SSD for faster boot and load times
• You can upgrade RAM and storage 
• Multiple ports for gaming accessories
  

Cons

• The screen gets blurry in heavy games.
• Fans create noise when running a heavy game
• CPU performance also drop overtime

Buy it on Amazon  

Key Specs of HP VIcture 15 (2022) 

Here are the key specifications fo HP Victus gaming laptop so make sure to go through them before buying:

2. Acer Swift Go 14

The Acer Swift Go 14 is suitable only for light indie/2D games. This laptop has Intel Arc graphics, which are not strong enough for modern 3D or AAA games. Its battery lasts for 8-9 hours which is quite decent. But again depends on the type of game you are playing and workload.

Acer Swift Go 14 has 512 GB SSD and 16 GB storage. You can upgrade this if required so it’s not that concerning. But the laptop heats up quickly during gaming due to metal body. One Reddit user also noted that its speakers are not great and produce a loud noise. Overall, this laptop is only for casual games. But cannot run games like Fallout 4.

Pros

• Beautiful screen with smooth 90Hz refresh rate
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Good for very light games
• Excellent for students
  

Cons

• Very weak for modern or AAA games.
• Heats up quickly 
• Average speakers

Buy it on Amazon 

Key Specs of Acer Swift Go 14

Here are the key specs that every gamer should review before investing to avoid any regrets:

3. Acer Nitro V 15

Acer Nitro V 15 is the best gaming laptop for mid range games. It has an RTX 4050 CPU which is quite strong so you can easily play 1080p AAA games. You can play Counter-Strike 2 at 100+ FPS. And it also supports Metro Exodus Enhanced above 60 FPS with high settings.

But after all, it’s not perfect. Alejandro Medellin shared in his tom guide review that Cyberpunk 2077 was struggling on Acer Nitro V 15. Then he used DLSS so FPS jumped to 120. So it’s actually a quite good laptop at this budget. 

Pros

• Smooth 1080p gaming
• 165Hz display
• Good value

Cons

• Gets hot with heavy gaming
• Battery drains fast

Buy it on Amazon

Key Specs of Acer Nitro V 15 (Gaming Perspective)

Here are the specs of Acer Nitro V 15 as a gaming laptop:

4. Lenovo LOQ Essential

This laptop has RTX 4050 which is quite good to run basic and mid level games. You can play Valorant and Fortnite at 1080P resolution. Plus, they also have a fast SSD which loads games faster. 

But Lenovo with i5 and 8GB RAM cannot run Cyberpunk 2077. You have to turn on the DLSS and loud fan noise is the major problem. In short, this laptop is only for entry level games. And many people on Reddit also back this for people on a tight budget. You can also get RTX 5050 with 16 GB if your budget allows at $989.

Pros

• Budget Friendly
• Best for entry level games
• Quick load times

Cons

• 8 GB RAM is just enough  
• Cannot run heavy games
• Poor battery timing

Buy it at Walmart

Key Specs of Lenovo LOQ Essential for Gamers

Here are the key specs of Lenovo Lex essentials for gamers. See if it really fits for playing games or not.

5.  NIMO – 17.3” IPS FHD

Nimo markets its NIMO – 17.3″ IPS FHD as a gaming laptop. But people on Reddit are telling another story. This laptop runs on integrated Radeon graphics ( 680M) so they share the RAM. They don’t have a dedicated NVIDIA GPU so they cannot run heavy games. 

One person shared in a thread that it can only run light games. So you can only play Minecraft, Fortnite and GTA 5 on low settings. 

Pros

• Big and clear screen
• Lots of fast storage
• Fingerprint sensor & backlit keyboard
• Fast 100 W charging

 Cons

• No dedicated GPU  
• Short battery life
• Brand reputation is inconsistent

Buy it on Best Buy

Key Specs of Nimo Gaming Laptop

Here are important specifications that every gamer needs to know before buying this laptop:

Can Students Get Cheap Laptops & Chromebooks Under $700?

Yes, students can get laptops with 8 to 16 GB RAM and CPU of i5 or i7 to study well. Some of them have better GPUs, battery life and are even portable so you can carry them easily. Plus, students with a graphic design background can also install Premiere Pro or Adobe. These Chromebooks and Laptops with extra SSD work well for GED online exams.

We will compare all the available student laptops & Chromebooks under $700 so you can see which is truly worth it.

4 Laptop Under $700 for Students

We have compared 4 laptops that are budget-friendly for students. You can compare their storage, RAM and portability to see which one is good for you. So look into the table for a detailed comparison of Acer Aspire 5.

Comparison of Chromebooks under $700

There are multiple Chromebooks in the market under $700 but we have listed the best ones. Here is a detailed comparison of price and specs so students can see which is beneficial:

How to Avoid Scams When Buying Cheap Laptops: Step-by-Step

Scams in the name of cheap laptops are rising every other day. People are scamming buyers by getting shipping or sending the worst laptops ever. So here are a few steps that will help you to stay away from being scammed:

1. Buy from Trusted Sellers Only: Buy from trusted websites and sellers only. You can purchase cheap laptops at Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart. But make sure to check reviews and avoid the deals that look too good to be true.
2. Check Reviews Carefully: Find the verified buyers with a good rating. Stay away from those with limited ratings and generic reviews.
3. Verify Laptop Specifications: Check if a certain laptop brand truly has those listed specs. You can compare them with official brand models for authentic information.
4. Avoid Unsecured Payment Methods: Prefer sending money with a debit card or a trusted payment gateway. It is proof that you have paid. Do not go for cryptocurrency payments.
5. Check Warranty and Return Policy: It is a must when purchasing cheap laptops. 

Conclusion

There are multiple laptops available in the market for gamers and students. Acer Nitro V 15, Acer Swift Go 14 and HP Victus 15 are best for mid-level gaming. None of them performs best for AAA games so remember this before buying.

Moreover, Acer Aspire 5, Acer Aspire Spin 14 and HP 17.3″ are best for students who need space and battery. Plus, Lenovo 14e, ASUS and Acer Chromebook are also best for students. All the above-mentioned laptops are under $700. 

FAQs

Where to buy a cheap laptop?

People can buy a cheap laptop at Best Buy, Amazon and Walmart. Make sure to apply the “lowest to high” price filter to find the cheap ones.

What are the best affordable laptops for playing video games?

Acer Nitro V 15, Acer Swift Go 14 and HP Victus 15 are the best affordable laptops for playing mid level vidoe games. Gamers can play GTA V, Fortnite, CS2  and even Cyberpunk by turning on the DLSS