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Best Expert-Endorsed Budget Pick

Gigabyte Gaming A16

Wirecutter's top pick for budget gaming laptops, and it actually outperformed their top pick in testing. Better battery life than most rivals makes it the best option for gaming away from an outlet.

$700-$900
Pros
  • Wirecutter's top pick for cheap gaming laptops in 2026
  • Outperformed Wirecutter's own top pick in head-to-head testing
  • Better battery life than most budget gaming laptop competitors
  • Budget variant (CMHI2US893SH) offers strong value at a lower price point
Cons
  • Less community discussion and ownership data compared to Acer/HP/Lenovo rivals
  • Battery still won't last a full day of work or browsing
  • Gigabyte's after-sales support and software ecosystem are weaker than major brands
Why we recommend it

Wirecutter doesn't hand out top picks lightly, and the Gigabyte Gaming A16 earned it by outperforming expectations in real tests. If you trust expert benchmarks over Reddit hype, this is your laptop.

Wirecutter

In our tests, this laptop actually outperformed our top pick.