In this article, we shall take a look at the 8 best gaming laptops under Rs. 40,000 in India. We have included laptops from a variety of manufacturers, and each one of these models was selected on the basis of performance, features, and overall build quality.
When you are looking for a good gaming laptop under 40,000 rupees, it is important that you prioritize CPU and graphics card performance over display resolution and fancy features. Most laptops in the 30 to 40-thousand-rupee price range may not have a full HD display, so we recommend that you purchase the laptops reviewed in this article only if you are a gamer who is more interested in playing the game rather than turning up the graphics settings to high and inspecting the texture quality.
Some of the features that you might want to look out for are- battery life, backlit keyboard, preinstalled software such as Windows 10 or Microsoft Office, and 802.11 AC WIFI. With that said, let’s not waste any time and get straight to the reviews.
A laptop that is affordable, yet capable of playing recent AAA game titles such as Prey, Wolfenstein II The New Colossus, Far Cry 4, etc. This humble looking Dell 15.6” laptop is one RAM upgrade away from being an amazing entry-level gaming laptop, and since DDR3 sticks are so cheap these days, you can probably add an additional 4GB for approximately 2000 rupees.
This is the 2nd cheapest laptop on our list, yet it is equipped with the most powerful graphics card you will find on any laptop under 40,000 rupees. The GeForce GT 930M is an entry level laptop GPU which supports 2 GB of DDR3 VRAM and is based on Maxwell architecture.
It can run modern AAA games on low graphics settings and 768p resolution at fairly playable framerates. The 4GB of RAM on this laptop is a slight bummer, but you have the option to add an additional 4GB if you wish. The base price of this laptop is so low that even when you add an extra 4GB DDR3 stick the net cost will end up being less than most of the laptops we have featured in this article.
In terms of processing power, the i3 4005U is a bit of an old horse, but it gets the job done thanks to the 4 logical cores and 1.7GHz base clock (higher base clock than an i5 8250U, although it lacks turbo boost). The 1TB HDD is loaded with a genuine copy of Windows 10 Home 64-bit, so you can start working/ gaming right out of the box.
ASUS IceCool technology intelligently positions the heat pipes away from the hand rest and keeps the cooling mechanism hidden underneath the keyboard panel. This ensures that your hands don’t feel the heat even while gaming. SonicMaster audio ensures an elevated level of clarity in games and decent bass in movies/ songs.
Efficient dual core hyperthreaded processor which gets the job done in most scenarios despite being from a slightly older generation
NVIDIA GeForce 930M 2GB is one of the best GPUs you can get in this price range
1TB 5400rpm SATA Hard Disk Drive is great for storing large collections of photos, movies, and games
The IceCool technology keeps your hands cool and comfortable while operating this laptop
The polymer battery lasts up to 2.5 times longer than standard Li-Ion varieties, and is also very light which is why this laptop weighs a mere 2.3 kg
4GB of DDR3 RAM is a little concerning in 2018, although it can be upgraded up to 8 GB by adding a second 4GB module
There is no 802.11 ac WIFI, this laptop incorporates the older b/g/n standard
The processor in this laptop is basically a slightly faster version of the one in the ASUS model that we reviewed a while ago. The Radeon R5 M330 graphics card isn’t going to win any awards for power, but it gets the job done in most older AAA games and free to play titles such as DOTA 2, LOL, Fortnite, etc.
The i3 5005U is clocked at 2 GHz, compared to the 1.7 GHz of the i3 4005U. This slight bump in clock speed means that you might get an extra 10 to 15% fps while gaming, although everyday applications won’t run noticeably faster.
The Dolby Audio makes movies and songs sound much better, and the cooling system does its job really well at keeping the internals of this Lenovo cool, even while gaming. One of the best things about Lenovo laptops in this price range is the keyboard- they come with island style full-size keyboards that are a pleasure to type on.
The 4GB of DDR3 RAM isn’t sufficient for gaming while background programs are running, so we recommend that you add an extra 4GB to the laptop to enjoy a smooth multitasking and gaming experience for the next couple of years.
Battery life is decent enough, considering that this laptop uses a CPU from an older generation. Build quality feels really good, everything from the body to the display is rugged and hard to damage.
Really nice audio quality thanks to Dolby technology
The keyboard feels comfortable and responsive
ATI Radeon R5 M330 graphics is powerful enough to play GTA V, Mafia, CS GO, Far Cry 3, etc. on low graphics settings
Hand rest stays cool while gaming, although you shouldn’t try to game on the bed or mattress since it will block the air vents underneath this laptop
Comes without Windows OS
Webcam isn’t that good
Touchpad feels a little flimsy
Equipped with an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor and integrated graphics that can give some of the entry level dedicated GPUs out there a run for their money, this hp laptop is perfect for casual gamers, students, and business professionals.
If you want something sleek and modern at a rather affordable price, check out the HP 15-BS145TU 15.6” laptop. It doesn’t feature dedicated graphics, but the combination of 8th gen Intel processor technology and 8GB of DDR4 RAM makes this machine a formidable entry level option for budget gamers.
It is by no means perfect, but the extreme multitasking ability combined with lots of efficiency means that you can carry the 15-BS145TU with you while travelling, without worrying about running out of juice before you can get to a charging point. The full-size keyboard feels tactile and crisp, while the full HD 1920 x 1080 SVA anti-glare display is absolutely stunning.
Because of the b/g/n WIFI, this laptop will be slightly slower when it comes to wireless internet capabilities, but it’s still nothing to scoff at if your college campus or office is still using b/g/n routers. A 1 TB 5400 rpm HDD will take care of all your mass storage needs, be it photos, games, software, or movies. But remember- this HDD doesn’t have a copy of Windows loaded on it from the factory, so you have to arrange your own OS (which is probably Windows 10 if you are interested in gaming).
Quad-core, 8 thread CPU with 6MB of L3 cache delivers a lot of multitasking performance while consuming very little power
Intel UHD 620 onboard graphics performs significantly better than older generation inbuilt graphics processors from Intel, and can play certain modern titles on low graphics settings
HP TrueVision HD webcam, performs well for most video calling tasks (don’t zoom in too much, or it will distort picture quality)
Multi-gesture touchpad and full-size chiclet keyboard (but those arrow keys are awful for gaming)
DVD R/W drive
Good enough audio quality for a laptop this cheap
The battery life is usually between 5 to 6 hours, but drops significantly while gaming
You have to purchase your own copy of Windows 10, since this laptop comes with DOS
The NVIDIA GeForce 920MX graphics and 6th gen Core i3 processor make this laptop a brilliant choice for students, budget gamers, and office professionals. What it lacks in terms of display resolution, it makes up for through the high speed 8GB DDR4 RAM and a nice pair of 1.5W stereo speakers.
The IP320 is good at many things, but great at none- while the Dolby technology and dual 1.5W stereo speakers ensure an audio experience better than 90% of similarly priced laptops out there, however the 1366 x 768 display means we can’t really recommend this as a good laptop for watching online streams or movies.
The 6th generation Intel Core i3 processor is great at gaming and multitasking, but we really wish this laptop had a GT930M instead of a 920 MX, that would have made it one of the best budget gaming laptops out there in terms of raw performance.
While the build quality of this laptop is amazing, and it has plenty of I/O options on the side (including a DVD writer), the battery life isn’t spectacular so despite being one of the most compact and well-built 15.6” laptops out there, it isn’t recommended for frequent travelers.
So, who should purchase this laptop? We believe it is perfect for home usage, or business work (creating spreadsheets and presentations, etc.). Also, the gaming performance of this laptop is without a doubt better than most of the laptops available for less than 40,000 rupees. If you are willing to look past the 768 display resolution and mediocre battery life, this is an amazing laptop for the price.
The Intel 6th generation i3 processor is fast enough for daily computing workloads while also being highly efficient
8GB of DDR4 RAM is perfect for gaming and multitasking
NVIDIA GeForce 920MX is equipped with 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM and it is almost as powerful as a 930M
802.11 AC WIFI for high speed wireless connectivity
Dual 1.5-watt Dolby speakers provide great audio
The touchpad is hard to use
Webcam could have been better
Similar to the IP320 in terms of design, with some key feature/ spec differences- it uses a 7th gen i3 instead of a 6th gen i3, and features Intel HD 620 integrated graphics instead of dedicated NVIDIA GeForce 920MX graphics.
If you are willing to trade a bit of graphics power for an extra compact laptop, then the IP320S is perfect for you. It is slimmer and lighter than the IP320, and also sports a faster processor in the i3 7100U (2.4 GHz, dual core, 4-thread CPU).
However, unlike the IP320, this one doesn’t have dedicated graphics from NVIDIA. But, the Intel HD 620 integrated graphics is no slouch- its performance in games lies in-between the GT910 and GT920 graphics cards from NVIDIA.
If you are a student, traveler, or business professional who likes to do some light gaming for recreation, then this laptop is for you. It is equipped with 802.11 ac WIFI, a feature that should be present on every modern laptop. The 1TB HDD is sufficient for mass storage, while the 4GB of DDR4 RAM ensures effortless multitasking. But if you are more into gaming, we recommend adding in an extra 4GB of DDR4 for good measure.
Extremely compact and lightweight
Brilliant battery life
Comes with Windows 10 64-bit OS and a 1-year subscription of McAfee anti-virus
802.11 ac WIFI is many times faster than older b/g/n type WIFI systems
Multi-gesture touchpad
Premium metallic finish (not actual metal body, it is plastic)
Narrow bezel display
This laptop will heat up quite a bit if you play games for more than 2-3 hours
It comes with 4GB of RAM, but since the integrated graphics shares memory with RAM, we highly recommend that you upgrade to 8GB of RAM
What is powered by an Intel Core i5 8250U processor, has a battery life of 7+ hours, looks incredible, and comes with both Windows and Microsoft Office installed from the factory? That’s right, it is the brand-new Acer A515-51G.
A brilliant processor, high speed RAM, and a lifetime subscription to Microsoft Office. What else would a professional need from a budget laptop that costs under 40,000 rupees? Well, it could use an additional 4GB of RAM, which brings us to the point of how easy it is to upgrade the RAM on this Acer laptop.
All you have to do is remove the bottom cover, add in a RAM stick, and screw the cover back in. That is all, now you have a laptop that performs on par with much more expensive models in everyday tasks and gives models with NVIDIA GeForce 910M graphics cards a run for their money.
The Intel UHD 620 integrated graphics is definitely no slouch and can play specific AAA games on low graphics settings at fairly smooth framerates. With a 1-year international travelers warranty, you no longer have to worry about servicing your laptop when something goes wrong on a journey.
Talking of travelers and journeys, the 7+ hour battery life and ultra-sleek design makes this laptop an absolute pleasure to carry around with you while travelling.
The Core i5 8250U is perfect for multitasking because of 8 threads, and the 3.4 GHz turbo boost enables it to play newer games at smooth framerates
Intel UHD 620 integrated graphics is the best non-discrete graphics system available in this price range, and it can actually beat an NVIDIA GT 910M dedicated graphics card
1TB HDD is perfect for mass storage
Comes with Windows 10 Home and Microsoft Office preinstalled so you can get to work right away
The battery life on this laptop is amazing
The laptop surface catches dust and sweat very easily
No DVD drive
Similar in terms of gaming performance to the A515-51G but comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and Ubuntu OS instead of Windows 10. Also, the sound quality on this laptop is better than any HP or Dell model that you can get at the same price.
Nothing beats a good old Acer in the budget category, and the E5-575 is a shining example of that. It is reliable, affordable, and versatile- all the qualities that we have come to expect from budget Acer machines over the past few years.
Battery life is exceptional, thanks to the 7th gen Intel Core i5 processor which sports 2 physical cores and 4 logical cores along with a 2.5GHz base frequency. While running games, this CPU will ramp up all the way up to 3.1 GHz in order to maintain smooth framerates.
Don’t push the graphics settings too high, after all this laptop doesn’t feature dedicated GPU and has to make do with Intel HD 620 integrated graphics. The 8GB of DDR4 RAM is more than enough for multitasking and gaming, but if you are interested in video or photo editing, you can always add an additional 8GB of DDR4 memory.
The 8X DVD writer and SD card reader slot complete the full suite of I/O options, while 802.11 ac WIFI keeps you connected with the world at lightning fast speeds.
Comes with one of the best processors for gaming that you can find in a laptop costing under 40,000 rupees
The HD 620 integrated graphics shares memory with RAM, but since there is 8GB of high speed DDR4 memory installed in the laptop, you will face no issues while gaming
Acer TrueHarmony sound ensures a superior audio experience compared to ordinary stereo speaker systems found on similarly priced laptops
Battery life of up to 5 hours with medium usage
Full-size chiclet keyboard
Doesn’t come with Windows OS installed
The display lid is a little thin, and needs to be handled carefully
If the 768p display resolution and 4GB of RAM aren’t much of a concern to you, then this Dell 15.6” laptop is a very good budget gaming laptop. The RAM can be expanded up to 16 GB, and the MaxxAudio processing technology significantly enhances the audio quality of the dual 1.5 w stereo speakers.
It is sleek, lightweight, and loaded with modern features such as 802.11 ac WIFI as well as a dedicated Radeon graphics card that is equipped with 2GB of DDR3 VRAM running at 1000 MHz. This dedicated GPU doesn’t compare to a GT930M, although it performs similarly to a GT920M.
The 7th generation Core i5 7200U processor has 2 physical cores and 4 logical cores, capable of playing modern AAA games such as Battlefield 1, COD WWII, NFS Rivals, etc.
The 1366 x 768 display is the only real weakness of this laptop apart from the 4GB of RAM. If you own an external 1080p display, you can connect it to the laptop through the HDMI output. There is plenty of internal storage space in the form of a 1 TB HDD.
However since it comes with Ubuntu, you will have to procure your own copy of Windows 10 if you want to play games. There are plenty of I/O ports, along with a DVD writer and SD card reader.
The Radeon R5 M430 2GB graphics card can run most older AAA games at playable framerates on low graphics settings and 768p resolution
Intel Core i5 7200U is fast, and also very efficient
Battery life of this laptop is about 5 to 6 hours with medium usage
Full-size keyboard feels great to type on
The laptop is built well, and audio quality is above average
Comes with Ubuntu, you have to install your own copy of Windows 10
Needs a RAM upgrade to 8GB
The most important thing to do while choosing a laptop in any price range is asking yourself the question- “is this laptop going to meet MY needs?” In other words, you have to decide which features are beneficial to you, before you read reviews and look up videos of people playing games on said laptop.
The key point to remember here is that everyone has different preferences, and there is no perfect laptop out there otherwise everyone would buy only that specific laptop and all the other laptops would cease to exist.
Some gamers don’t care about the display resolution while purchasing a budget gaming laptop because they know that they can’t afford a full HD display and playing the game at a smooth framerate with decent visuals is much more enjoyable than playing the game on 1080p resolution and 24 fps (sorry console owners).
Long story short, take note of the features that you want, features that will help you get more out of the laptop based on where you plan to use it (home, office, college, travelling, etc.)