10 Best Budget Laptops for Streaming (with Comparison Table)

As you’re reading this post, over 2.5 million people are watching a Twitch stream, and most of them are engaging with gaming and e-sports.

If you’re one of those streamers or someone who is getting his feet wet in video game live streaming or broadcasting, having the best budget laptop for streaming will greatly benefit your online experience.

TechRadar reported that more than half of viewers abandon poor-quality live streams in 90 seconds or less. Therefore, it’s important to choose your streaming platform & setup (and the best laptop for that) wisely.

In this post, I’ll discuss all the major factors you need to consider to find the best budget laptop for streaming. Whether you’re a gamer or a content creator, you’ll find key specifications, pros, cons, recommendations, and a full comparison table to help you find the best streaming laptop.

What is the best budget laptop for streaming?

Here are my top picks for the best budget laptops for streaming:

• Best budget gaming laptop for streaming: Acer Nitro 5
• Best screen real estate gaming laptop for streaming: ASUS TUF F17
• Best performance budget laptop for streamers: Acer Swift X
• Best cheap gaming laptop for streaming: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
• Best underrated budget laptop for streaming: HP Victus
• Best 2-in-1 streaming laptop for a tight budget: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
• Best all-rounder budget laptop for streaming: Dell Inspiron 14
• Best upgradable gaming laptop for streaming: MSI Thin GF63
• Best cheap non-gaming streaming laptop: Acer Aspire 5
• Best classic budget laptop for live streaming: HP Pavilion 15

1. Acer Nitro 5 (15.6″)

Best budget gaming laptop for streaming

Acer Nitro 5 is one of the best budget laptops for streaming that has a solid configuration for gaming as well as streaming.

It’s powered by a 12th gen Intel Core i5-12500H CPU with 12 cores, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU with 4 GB VRAM, 16 GB of DDR4 memory, and 512 GB of storage.

Acer Nitro features a dual-fan cooling system and a red backlit keyboard that support long-night gaming sessions. You can supercharge your gaming experience further with Nitro gaming products.

The only thing I don’t like about this laptop is the below-average battery life and the weight. As most gamers and content creators are already streaming from a solid office setup and using their laptops directly plugged with an Ethernet port, keeping their laptops on charge couldn’t be of concern.

Key specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-12500H with 12 cores
• Memory: 16 GB of RAM (DDR4)
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (with 4GB dedicated VRAM)
• Display: 15-inch FHD IPS display with 144Hz refresh rate

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about Acer Nitro:

Like:

• Superior connectivity
• Good screen supporting 144 Hz refresh rate
• High performance thanks to the 12-core Intel processor and the GeForce RTX 3050 GPU

Dislike:

• Weak battery life
• 720 p camera
• Heavy

2. ASUS TUF F17 (17.3″)

Best screen real estate gaming laptop for streaming

The ASUS TUF F17 is my second pick for the best budget laptop for streaming. It’s powered by a 6-core Intel Core i5 series processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 8 GB of DDR4 memory, and a hard drive of 512 GB of storage.

The 17-inch FHD screen with 62.5% sRGB and 144 Hz refresh rate is hard to overlook. In addition, ASUS TUF 17 has more to appeal to advanced gamers and streamers. It comes with a military standard design, multiple heat pipes for efficient heat redistribution, self-cleaning dual fans with anti-dust technology, and an RGB backlit keyboard.

The only major weakness, as I see, is the memory (which you can upgrade) and the 48 Wh battery. The latter probably isn’t a great deal for gamers, who are already plugged in most of the time.

Key specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-11400H, 6 cores, up to 4.5 GHz turbo
• Memory: 8 GB of RAM (DDR4)
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 with 4 GB VRAM
• Display: 17-inch FHD display with 144 Hz refresh rate and 62.5% sRGB color gamut

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the ASUS TUF F17

Like:

• Powerful processor and graphics card
• Great and large display for streaming
• Sleek yet durable design
• TUF gaming bundles

Dislike:

• 8 GB of memory (although you can upgrade easily)
• 48 Wh battery

3. Acer Swift X (14″)

Best performance budget laptop for streamers

Acer Swift X is a real budget laptop for streaming. Despite its affordable price, this laptop is packed with pure power. The Intel Core i7-series CPU with 12 cores and 4.7 GHz turbo coupled with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU and 16 GB of DDR5 memory make this laptop an excellent choice for avid gamers and content creators.

Not only that, but Acer Swift X features a 2.2K screen with 100% sRGB and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The dual heat pipes and the air inlet keyboard keep this computer cool under demanding conditions.

Although this laptop lacks an Ethernet port (it’s not a gaming model), the Full HD webcam and the superior portability will compensate for that.

Key specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1260P, 12 cores, up to 4.7 GHz turbo (12th gen)
• Memory: 16 GB of RAM (DDR5)
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (with 4 GB VRAM)
• Display: 2.2K IPS display with 100% sRGB

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about Acer Swift X:

Like:

• Superior configuration for a modest price point (powerful CPU and GPU, DDR5 memory)
• Great screen with high resolution
• 1080 p camera (rare in this category)
• Lightweight

Dislike:

• No Ethernet port
• Average battery life

4. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (15.6″)

Best cheap gaming laptop for streaming

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a surprisingly great deal for streaming. It features an AMD Ryzen 6000 Series CPU, a GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, and 8 GB DDR5 memory.

IdeaPad Gaming comes with Lenovo’s signature gaming keyboard with an RGB backlight, a number pad, and media controls. We get a standard Full HD IPS screen, but luckily it features a 120 Hz-refresh rate.

Speaking of the cons, the 45 Wh battery with a predicted 6-to-10 hours of usage isn’t ideal, but streamers could live with it. Also, it could have deserved more memory (it features DDR5, though).

Key specifications:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 6600H with 6 cores
• Memory: 8 GB of RAM (DDR5)
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 with 4 GB memory
• Display: 15-inch full HD anti-glare screen with 120Hz refresh rate and 45% NTSC

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming laptop:

Like:

• Solid performance (powerful processor & graphics card, and DDR5 memory)
• Good value for money
• Great keyboard (Lenovo is known for manufacturing great keyboards, and this one isn’t an exception)
• Good connectivity and display

Dislike:

• Not-so-competitive battery life
• Bit on the heavy side
• No fingerprint reader
• 720 p camera

5. HP Victus (15.6″)

Best underrated budget laptop for streaming

HP Victus 15 offers similar performance to its low-budget competitors like Acer Nitro and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming. Although it comes with a less impressive GPU than its siblings, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 still offers a great gaming experience. Together with the Intel Core i5 series processor, 16 GB of DDR4 memory, and 1 TB SSD storage, HP Victus is a great budget laptop for streaming.

What’s more, we get a 15-inch FHD screen with a 144 Hz refresh rate and a wide array of ports for maximum connectivity.

Although this gaming laptop could have deserved a higher-end GPU, a Full HD webcam, and stronger batteries, it’s still a great option for streaming.

Key specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-12450H with 8 cores
• Memory: 16 GB of RAM (DDR4)
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (with 4 GB VRAM)
• Display: Full HD anti-glare display with a 144 Hz refresh rate and 45% NTSC

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the HP Victus gaming laptop:

Like:

• Solid performance
• Plenty of ports for maximum connectivity
• Good screen with a high refresh rate

Dislike:

• 720 p camera
• Average battery life

6. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (16″)

Best 2-in-1 streaming laptop for a tight budget

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is my top pick for a convertible budget laptop for streaming. It has such a solid configuration that beats some of its standalone siblings.

It comes with an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 processor, an AMD Radeon graphics card, 16 GB of memory (DDR4), and 512 GB SSD storage. The AMD Smart Power dynamically adjusts performance for optimal efficiency.

The 360-degree hinge, Stylus pen, 16” touchscreen, and ergonomic keyboard together with the fingerprint reader make this laptop an excellent choice for mobile content creators. The Full HD camera is hard to overlook among budget laptops.

Speaking of the weaknesses, I missed a better screen and more durable battery life. The lack of an Ethernet port speaks only to gamers, but hey, Lenovo IdeaPad Flex isn’t a gaming laptop.

Key specifications:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 8 cores, up to 4.5 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB DDR4
• Graphics card: AMD Radeon R5 (integrated)
• Display: 1920 x1200 WUXGA touchscreen with a 60 Hz refresh rate and 300 nits

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex:

Like:

• High performance for a convertible laptop
• 1080 p camera
• Convertible design with touchscreen and Stylus pen
• Comfortable keyboard

Dislike:

• Could have deserved a better screen
• Not-so-outstanding battery life
• No Ethernet port (it’s not a gaming laptop though)

7. Dell Inspiron 14 (14″)

Best all-rounder budget laptop for streaming

Dell Inspiron 14 is a classic, well-proven laptop for multiple endeavors. What makes this computer a great choice for streaming is the 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 5825U CPU along with the AMD Radeon GPU, and 16 GB of DDR4 memory.

Although AMD cards are less powerful than Nvidia, don’t forget that Dell Inspiron is not a gaming laptop per se. The Full HD camera will somewhat compensate for that deficit.

The only thing I didn’t like about Dell Inspiron is the standard Full HD screen. Otherwise, this laptop is a great deal for streaming if you’re on a budget and won’t aim for high-end gaming.

Key specifications:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5825U with 8 cores
• Memory: 16 GB of RAM (DDR4)
• Graphics card: AMD Radeon Graphics
• Display: 14-inch FHD anti-glare screen with a 60 Hz refresh rate

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about Dell Inspiron:

Like:

• AMD Ryzen 7 CPU
• 1080 p webcam
• Great design

Dislike:

• No Ethernet port
• Standard screen with a 60 Hz refresh rate (it’s not a gaming laptop though)

8. MSI Thin GF63 (15.6″)

Best upgradable gaming laptop for streaming

The MSI GF 63 is an appealing budget laptop for streaming and gaming. It’s powered by a quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, 8 GB of memory, and 256 GB of storage.

The cool red backlight keyboard with an Anti-Ghost key and silver lining along with the dragon logo make MSI instantly recognizable.

Although this laptop computer provides good performance and ample connectivity, the standard FHD screen with a 60 Hz refresh rate and the memory destroys my enthusiasm for this otherwise awesome streaming laptop. Otherwise, the MSI Thin is a great budget laptop for casual gamers and content creators.

Key specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-10300H, 4 cores, 2.5GHz, up to 4.5 GHz
• Memory: 8 GB of RAM (DDR4)
• Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB VRAM
• Display: 15-inch Full HD display with a 60 Hz refresh rate

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the MSI Thin

Like:

• Good value for money with a generous configuration (although not designed for advanced gamers)
• Weighs less than most of the competitors
• Esthetic design

Dislike:

• Average screen with a low refresh rate
• 8 GB of memory

9. Acer Aspire 5 (15.6″)

Best cheap non-gaming streaming laptop

The Acer Aspire 5 is a perfect all-rounder. While it certainly won’t win the best performance trophy, it’s still a great choice for streaming. The 6-core AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor with AMD Radeon graphics and 16 GB of memory, coupled with 512 GB fast SSD storage make Acer Aspire an ideal choice for the budget-sensitive streamer.

Even though Acer Aspire isn’t a gaming laptop, it still features an Ethernet jack for fast data transfer. If the standard Full HD screen and the not-so-elite performance won’t dampen your enthusiasm for this computer, then probably you’ll be happy with Acer’s budget laptop.

Key specifications:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 6 cores, up to 4.0 GHz
• Memory: 16 GB of RAM (DDR4)
• Graphics card: AMD Radeon Graphics (integrated)
• Display: Full HD anti-glare screen with 64% sRGB

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about Acer Aspire 5:

Like:

• Solid configuration for a budget laptop
• Lightweight design
• Great connectivity (Ethernet jack included)

Dislike:

• Standard FHD screen
• Medium battery life
• Entry-level CPU and GPU for gaming

10. HP Pavilion 15 (15.6″)

Best classic budget laptop for live streaming

The HP Pavilion 15 is a great budget laptop for streaming if you’re ready for some compromise. It’s currently under 600 and you get an Intel Core i5 series processor, 16 GB of RAM (DDR4), and 1 TB SSD for fast storage.

The 720 p camera and the standard FHD display cannot be criticized for that price. The below-average battery life is something you can live with as a gamer or content creator.

The 4-core processor and the integrated Intel Iris Graphics card are certainly the bottleneck here if you aim for serious gaming. That being said, the HP Pavilion could be a good choice for content creators and casual gamers.

Key specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7, 4 cores, 2.40GHz, up to 4.20GHz
• Memory: 16 GB of RAM (DDR4)
• Graphics card: ‎Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated)
• Display: 15-inch FHD IPS display with 250 nits and 45% NTSC

Csaba’s Rating:

• Performance: ⭐⭐⭐
• Display: ⭐⭐⭐
• Connectivity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Battery life: ⭐⭐

What I like and dislike about the HP Pavilion:

Like:

• Generous configuration for a cheap laptop
• Great connectivity and portability
• Large storage space

Dislike:

• 4-core processor and not-so-competitive GPU
• Weak battery life
• No Ethernet port (HP Pavilion is not a gaming laptop)

What is the best budget laptop for streaming, anyway?

Finding the best laptop for streaming depends on whether or not you’re a gamer, a content creator, or a casual streamer; what streaming platform you’re using, and what’s your aim.

However, here’re the most important aspects to consider:

• CPU & GPU: The CPU and the GPU along with the available memory and hard drive will strongly determine your laptop’s performance and your streaming experience. Having a solid Intel Core i5 or i7 series processor (or an AMD alternative) and a dedicated, entry-to-mid-level graphics card is recommended.
• Memory (RAM): Generally, you’ll need a minimum of 8 GB memory, but preferably 16 GB of RAM will suffice for streaming.
• Connectivity: Streaming often requires external headphones, microphones, and monitors. You’ll need a couple of USB ports and an HDMI port to connect your external devices, and an Ethernet port to connect directly to the internet.
• Battery life: The best laptops have long battery life. With a single charge, a decent battery will last for at least up to 8 hours under medium pressure. Be prepared that configuration, battery age, user behavior, and other factors can strongly influence your battery life.
• Display: The default screen is still the good old full HD. Speaking of budget laptops, FHD displays will suffice. Gaming laptops often come with high refresh rates and brightness to support your gaming experience. If you’ll use an external monitor, the display becomes less important.
• Cooling system: High-performance laptops can heat up quickly. That’s why laptop manufacturers invented different cooling methods to avoid thermal stress. Gaming laptops often feature dual fans, heat pipes, and other inventions to dissipate heat.

Let’s dive into the FAQ section to find out what you should watch for when you’re purchasing a new budget laptop for streaming.

Best budget laptop for streaming: FAQ

1. How much RAM does a laptop need for streaming?

As a rule of thumb, you need a minimum of 8 GB RAM. This is what most streaming platforms recommend, but upgrading to 16 GB of RAM is a great way to allow for multitasking and a smooth video streaming experience. Gaming also may require 16 GB of RAM.

2. What’s the difference between the Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processor series?

Generally, Intel Core i5 series CPUs are good enough for everyday mundane tasks, while i7 processors often offer higher performance, which is good for video editing and other intensive tasks. Core i7 processors often come with larger cache sizes, more cores, and higher clock speeds thereby supporting higher performance. However, an Intel Core i5 processor is generally considered enough for streaming.

3. What are the key specs of a good laptop for streaming?

The best laptops for streaming come with a decent CPU (at least an Intel Core i5 series or an AMD Ryzen alternative processor), a dedicated NVIDIA or AMD GPU, 16 GB of RAM, fast SSD storage (Solid-State Drive), a responsive display, 8 hours of battery life, an effective cooling system, and various ports for maximum connectivity (HDMI, USB, Ethernet). The best gaming laptops will usually thick all those boxes.

4. What are the minimum system requirements for streaming on popular platforms like Twitch?

System requirements for Twitch streaming: You may use a third-party streaming software like OBS, or you can now use Twitch Studio to stream on Twitch. Twitch Studio is Twitch’s native streaming app, which recommends an NVIDIA GTX10 series or an AMD RX400 series (or newer) GPU, 8 GB of RAM (but preferably more), and an 8-thread Intel or AMD CPU. Generally, an Intel Core i5 series processor or an AMD alternative, 8-to-16 GB of memory, and an entry-to-mid-level GPU will do the work.

5. Should I prioritize a strong CPU or a dedicated GPU for streaming?

Advanced gamers and streamers know that both the CPU and the GPU are important. That’s why they often use a dual computer setup: one for gaming and another one for streaming the game. While the GPU can offload tasks from the CPU, it cannot work without a decent CPU, which is the bottleneck here. Generally, it’s more important to have a powerful CPU, which will handle the encoding process. A mid-level or a budget GPU should suffice for streaming.

To read more about the best laptops for increasing your productivity, check out my other guides:

• 10 Best Laptops for Project Management in 2023
• 10 Best Budget Laptops for Podcasting (with Expert Picks)
• 10 Best Budget Laptops for Coding & Programming (2023)
• 10 Best Budget Laptops for Video Editing in 2023

Best budget laptops for streaming compared

Cover photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash