PCMag updates its budget gaming laptop picks for 2026 · Digg

PCMag updates its budget gaming laptop picks for 2026

The guide favors MSI and Acer models across different budgets, while warning buyers to check RAM, SSD capacity and GPU power limits.

1 Source, 4h ago, first seen 4h ago

Gaming laptops displayed together for PCMag's budget buying guide.

TLDR

PCMag's updated 2026 budget gaming laptop guide names the MSI Katana 15 HX its choice for most buyers and the Acer Nitro V 16 AI its competitive-gaming pick. The outlet also highlights the configurable HP Victus 15 and a lower-cost Acer Nitro V 15. Its broader advice is to aim for 16GB of memory, treat 512GB as a minimum SSD size and compare exact configurations, because laptops carrying the same GPU name can deliver different performance at different power limits. Prices and availability can change quickly.

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PCMag has updated its budget gaming laptop guide for 2026, organizing its tested picks around the compromises different buyers are willing to make rather than naming one cheapest machine for everyone.

The outlet's choice for most buyers is the MSI Katana 15 HX. PCMag found that its GeForce RTX 5050 could deliver smooth 60-frame-per-second play in demanding games with help from DLSS 4, though the machine has a dim display, a 512GB drive and a bulky chassis.

For competitive players, the guide favors the Acer Nitro V 16 AI. Its bright 180Hz, 1200p screen and long battery life earned praise, while limited color coverage and another 512GB SSD count against it. PCMag says sale pricing can make this model especially aggressive, but live retailer prices should be checked before buying.

The exact configuration matters

The HP Victus 15 is the guide's configurability pick. Its broad range of CPU, memory, storage and GPU options can keep the entry price down or let a buyer spend more on selected upgrades. That flexibility also creates a trap: a retail listing with the same family name may not match the components or performance of the unit PCMag tested.

PCMag recommends 16GB of memory when the price difference is manageable. Eight gigabytes remains a bare minimum, while modern games and everyday multitasking increasingly benefit from 16GB. For storage, 512GB is the floor and 1TB is preferable because large games can consume 60GB to more than 100GB each.

GPU labels need similar care. Two laptops sold with the same mobile graphics processor can run it at different power limits because of chassis and cooling constraints. Independent testing and the exact model number therefore matter more than the badge alone. The guide's picks are useful starting points, but fluctuating prices and component substitutions mean the final comparison has to be made at the configuration level.

PCMag updates its budget gaming laptop picks for 2026

The guide favors MSI and Acer models across different budgets, while warning buyers to check RAM, SSD capacity and GPU power limits.

1 Source, 4h ago, first seen 4h ago

TLDR

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The exact configuration matters

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@PCMagWe've seen the lion's share of the latest GeForce- and Radeon-equipped gaming laptops—and our experts have tested all of the top options in PC Labs. Here's how to get the best machine on a budget. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cheap-gaming-laptops?taid=6ab63a74a627190001d5ef88&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

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