Introduction

There has been an increased interest in gaming laptops due to the reduction in the price of graphic cards. We have also experienced an influx in the number of queries for gaming laptops with queries such as ‘best laptops under $400 for gaming’ being quite common. Hence, we have curated a list of the best laptops that provide the best combination of good performance and budget-friendly pricing.

RankPictureNameShops
#1

HP 14 Laptop

  • Brand: HP
  • Series: 14-fq1025nr
Price
#2

Acer Aspire 5

  • Brand: Acer
  • Series: Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5Price
#3

HP 15.6 Inch Laptop

  • Brand: HP
  • Series: 15-dy2024nr
HP 15.6 Inch LaptopPrice
#4

ASUS VivoBook 15

  • Brand: ASUS
  • Series: F515EA-AH34
ASUS VivoBook 15Price
#5

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: Ideapad 3
Lenovo IdeaPad 3Price

HP 14 Laptop

HP 14

Specifications:

  • Brand: HP
  • Series: 14-fq1025nr
  • Screen Size: 14 Inches
  • Color: Natural Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB
  • CPU Model: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB

HP 14 Laptop

There are many good HP laptops under 400 dollar price range and the HP 14 is one of the better ones out there. While it may not look like a gaming device, the HP 14 comes with multiple features which make it one of the best everyday laptops, while also being able to play casual games. HP has equipped the laptop with a hexa-core AMD Ryzen 5 – 5500U CPU with up to 4 GHz of boost clock speed, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM running at 3200 MHz frequency, 256 GB of NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD storage and an integrated GPU in the form of AMD Radeon Graphics.

HP has also provided a 14” FHD IPS Micro-edge anti-glare display for vibrant image quality while playing games. Being a modern HP laptop, it also boasts HP Fast Charge technology which charges the laptop from 0 to 50% within 45 minutes.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • Good Vibrant Display
  • Fast Charging Battery

Cons

  • No dedicated GPU
  • No Gamer Aesthetics

Final Verdict

  • HP 14
    The HP 14 has always been a budget-friendly, capable machine. Hence, its robust performance provided us with the motivation to include it in this list of the best laptops under $400 for gaming. While the laptop may not come with a dedicated GPU, its high-speed RAM and potent CPU provide the required performance credentials.
OVERALL RATING

Acer Aspire 5

Acer Aspire 5

Specifications:

  • Brand: Acer
  • Series: Aspire 5
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 128 GB
  • CPU Model: Ryzen 3 3350U
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 4 GB

Acer Aspire 5

Since we have a target budget of $400, let us introduce the excellent Acer Aspire 5 as our next laptop on this list of the best laptops under $400 for gaming. Acer has equipped the machine with a quad-core AMD Ryzen 3 – 3350U CPU with up to 3.5 GHz of boost clock speed, 4 GB of DDR4 RAM, 128 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage, and an integrated AMD Radeon GPU.

Acer has also provided a 15.6” FHD IPS narrow-bezel display, which helps with crisp images. Additionally, Acer has also concentrated on providing increased security as they have equipped the laptop with a fingerprint sensor as well as shipped it with Windows 11 Home in S Mode. Similarly, the laptop also boasts of better internet connectivity speed, thanks to the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6. Similarly, the inclusion of a backlit keyboard is proof of Acer’s excellent attention to enhancing the user experience.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • Fingerprint Security
  • Backlit Keyboard

Cons

  • Average Speakers
  • Average Webcam

Final Verdict

  • Acer Aspire 5
    The Acer Aspire 5 is an everyday laptop with robust specifications and an excellent display. Additionally, Acer has also provided added security and connectivity features to provide the user with an exceptional experience. Moreover, the laptop is extremely thin and lightweight, making it a great choice for any gamer on the move.
OVERALL RATING

HP 15.6 Inch Laptop

HP 15.6

Specifications:

  • Brand: HP
  • Series: 15-dy2024nr
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Natural Silver
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB
  • CPU Model: Intel Core i5-1135G7
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB

HP 15.6 Inch Laptop

The HP 15 is another excellent everyday laptop that can be used for gaming. That is why we have included it in this list of good gaming laptops under $400. HP has equipped this thin and light laptop with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 – 1135G7 CPU with up to 4.2 GHz Turbo Boost clock speed, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM running at 2666 MHz frequency, 256 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage and an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU.

The excellent specifications can be fully experienced with the 15.6” FHD IPS anti-glare Micro-edge display capable of providing crisp visuals while gaming. HP has also provided a quick charging battery that can last up to 7 hours in real-world usage, while HP Fast Charge technology ensures that the battery charges from 0 to 50% within 45 minutes. HP has also equipped the laptop with Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 for enhanced connectivity.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • High Bandwidth RAM
  • Good Display

Cons

  • Limited Storage
  • Average Speakers

Final Verdict

  • HP 15
    The HP 15 is an everyday laptop, which can be used as a casual gaming laptop under $400. While you may not be able to run the latest AAA games, the laptop is ideal for casual gaming and even AA titles, if you are okay with taking down the graphics a notch.
OVERALL RATING

ASUS VivoBook 15

ASUS Vivobook 14

Specifications:

  • Brand: ASUS
  • Series: F515EA-AH34
  • Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
  • Color: Slate Grey
  • Hard Disk Size: 128 GB
  • CPU Model: Core i3
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB

ASUS VivoBook 15

The Asus VivoBook 15 is an excellent choice as a gaming laptop since it is one of the more robust laptops on this list. Hence, while creating this list of the best laptops under $400 for gaming, we had to include the Asus VivoBook 15. Asus has equipped the laptop with an 11th Gen Intel Core i3 – 1115G4 CPU with up to 4.1 GHz Turbo Boost clock speed, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, 128 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage and an integrated Intel UHD GPU.

With just 3.97 lbs weight and 0.7” thin, the laptop is extremely portable, making it an excellent choice for those on the move. Additionally, Asus has provided an excellent 15.6” FHD IPS anti-glare Nano-Edge panel, which is good for gaming. As for security, the laptop comes with a fingerprint sensor and Windows 11 Home in S mode. Asus has also equipped the keyboard with a backlight, which ensures a good typing experience even in low light.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • Backlit Keyboard
  • Fingerprint Security

Cons

  • Average Speakers
  • No Dedicated GPU

Final Verdict

  • Asus VivoBook 15
    The Asus VivoBook 15 is a great choice for anyone looking to play games on a sub-400-dollar device. While it cannot match the graphic performance of laptops with a dedicated GPU, which cost twice as this laptop, it is perfectly capable of playing casual and AA games.
OVERALL RATING

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Lenovo Ideapad

Specifications:

  • Brand: Lenovo
  • Series: Ideapad 3
  • Screen Size: 14 Inches
  • Color: Abyss Blue
  • Hard Disk Size: 256 GB
  • CPU Model: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
  • Ram Memory Installed Size: 8 GB

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

The IdeaPad series from Lenovo has always provided a versatile range of laptops from entry-level models to full-fledged gaming machines. However, the laptop that we are interested in today is the Lenovo IdeaPad 3. Being an everyday device, Lenovo has equipped the laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 – 5500U CPU, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, 256 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage and an integrated AMD Radeon 7 GPU.

The laptop also comes with a 14” FHD IPS narrow bezel display that helps in excellent visuals. We also have another laptop from the IdeaPad series, which we will be including in the ‘best 2-in-1 laptops under $400’ list, which comes with a touchscreen. Lenovo has also claimed a battery backup of up to 11 hours under lab conditions, thanks to the advanced thermal cooling solution. The laptop also has a webcam privacy shutter to provide additional privacy to the user.

Pros

  • Excellent Performance
  • Exceptional Battery Backup 
  • Highly Portable Design

Cons

  • Average Speakers
  • No Number Pad

Final Verdict

  • Lenovo IdeaPad 3 le
    The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an excellent laptop, which makes it a great choice to be on the list of the best laptops under $400 for gaming. The laptop is ideal for everyday usage, while being extremely portable, thanks to its 14” screen. Hence, we would recommend it, thanks to its better battery backup.
OVERALL RATING

Conclusion

The laptops that we shared in this list may not be full-fledged gaming machines; however, they are ideal for casual games, with some of them being capable of running even AAA games, provided you are okay with lowering the graphics a bit. Hence, we suggest that you go through the list of pros and cons of each machine before finalizing your choice.

If you are not happy with this budget Best Laptop For Gaming Under 400 Dollars, then Gaming Laptops Under 200 Dollars you can check.

Now I had like to hear from you

What was your #1 choice from the list or maybe you have a question about the Best Laptop For Gaming Under 400 Dollars?

Go ahead and leave a comment below right now.