All the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals I would actually buy this week, save on RTX 50-Series rigs at record-low prices

That's it for me this Black Friday. Hopefully you've found the right deal for you, but if you've still not decided on anything yet, these deals should be sticking around over the weekend. And even if they don't, there should be plenty of other solid discounts ready to go on Cyber Monday, so we'll see you then!

The Ti cards might be a little underrated...

There are a lot of best-ever prices going around this Black Friday, but one set of GPUs we've not covered a huge amount are the Ti offerings. In this instance, the 5070Ti sits between the standard 5070 and the 5080, which means you're getting a nice boost without paying too much for it. The Lenovo Legion is a machine that we've recommended across Black Friday so far, so to find it with this GPU installed, and at a lowest-ever price, feels like a very nice get.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | $2,299.99 $1,899.00 at Amazon

A lower-end machine with plenty of power

We've already talked about the Asus Rog Strix G16, but the benefit of this gaming laptop is that it comes in a vast array of different configurations. This time it's the 5060 offering, which at a $1199 price that's its lowest-ever makes this a very good option if you're searching for a portable machine that fits nicely with the lower-end specs required by most multiplayer games. Realistically, if you're looking for a gaming laptop for that kind of gaming experience, you're not necessarily pushing pixels, which makes this a great pick.

ASUS ROG Strix G16 | $1499.99 $1199.99 at Amazon

After a brief break, I'm back, and seeking out more gaming laptop deals for you.

Pure power can be a little hard to find

It's not been particularly easy to find 5090s at real knock-down prices this Black Friday afternoon - perhaps deals are getting picked up quickly. But there is at least one heavy-duty machine doing the rounds on Amazon. The Thunderobot Zero 18 Pro offers top-end performance and some powerful accompanying specs. Realistically, most of us aren't going to need 4TB SSDs and 64GB of RAM without making the switch to desktops, but if you do need both power and portability, this might be your best bet on Amazon right now.

Thunderobot Zero 18 Pro | $4,399.00 $3,599.00 at Amazon

5080s are still worth a look

I know I've been pretty hot on 5070s, but the 5080s will still work pretty nicely for most use cases. With that in mind, I like the look of thise Alienware 18 Area-51. It's pushing things a little when it comes to its screen - I'd argue you don't really need that 300Hz refresh for most games that you'd run on a 5080, but with an Intel Core Ultra 9, 32GB RAM, and a 2TB NvMe SSD, you're getting a lot of bang for your buck. That's especially true given that this 26% discount amounts to a saving of more than $800 and an all-time low price. Sure, you're paying a little extra for the tech (and the name brand), but if you're looking to push the boat out a little, this is a good option.

Alienware 18 Area-51 | $3499.99 $2603.35 at Amazon

Another great brand at a record-low price

We've got a good handful of Gigabyte laptops elsewhere in the liveblog, but they're either rocking 40-series (which are still good) or full-scale 5090s, which can be a bit rich for some peoples' blood. So this Gigabyte A16 I've found at an all-time low price seems a nice middle of the pack option. With 32GB RAM, an Intel i7-13620H processor, and a 1TB SSD, it's very good specs at comfortably a best-ever price.

Gigabyte A16 | $1,399.99 $1249.99 at Amazon

An even better price on a great laptop

We've already taken a look at this MSI Vector HX, but looking further afield I've found a better price compared to that Best Buy deal we suggested earlier. Clearly, those specs are ones we're pretty impressed by - a 5070Ti for a worthy upgrade on what I consider to be the most sensible GPU pick, the solid 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM - but the price is an all-time lowest for Amazon that knocks more than $200 off what we're seeing elsewhere.

MSI Vector 16 HX | $2,099.99 $1659.99 at Amazon

What comes after your Black Friday gaming laptop deal?

The best thing about a gaming laptop is its portability, but that doesn't mean you never want any peripherals to go with it. If you're taking my advice about which 50-series card to buy when it comes to games like Overwatch 2 and Counter-Strike 2, you're not going to want to be playing without a mouse. You might want to keep things simple when you're on the move, but a gaming laptop can be a great part of a home setup too, in which case you might want to consider a separate keyboard, and even a monitor. For a total run-down of the good prices you can get for all of those items, check out our Black Friday gaming deals live blog.

What better deal than one that combines my wisdom with a Black Friday staple?

A 5070 on an ASUS ROG Strix? Don't mind if I do. This Black Friday classic is at its lowest ever price and does come with some really nice specs. A 16-inch screen offering a 240Hz refresh rate, that aforementioned RTX 5070, and AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX Processor, and 32GB DDR5 RAM, all topped off with an impressive 1TB SSD. And at less than $1700, you're making a very solid saving.

ASUS ROG Strix G16 | $2,099.99 $1699,99 at Amazon

What 50-series do you actually need?

It can be tough to parse exactly what you're getting with each iteration of Nvidia's RTX graphics cards. We're focusing pretty heavily on the most up-to-date 50-series cards, which run from the 5050 at the lower end right up to the 5090. But with seven different GPUs to pick from, how can you tell which is right for you?

Broadly, the greater the performance you're looking for, the bigger you want that number to be. If you're hoping to run most multiplayer titles - like Overwatch 2, Counter-Strike 2, or Apex Legends - even a 5050 will give you a decent boost over the 30- and 40-series cards. By the time we're up to the 5070s, even visually-demanding games like Alan Wake 2 or Black Myth Wukong will get double the performance over a 4070 card, even with enhancements like DLSS or ray-tracing. For the vast majority, this will cover you on most of what you want to play, even if you want it looking great. The 5080 and 5090 will give great improvements, but you'll only really notice those if you're really pushing graphical output, and at that point you might want to consider a desktop setup to start taking advantage of that hardware in other ways.

This gaming laptop comes highly recommended (by this guy I know)

My friend Dan has picked up a Lenovo LOQ at a hefty discount today. There are a couple of different deals doing the rounds on Amazon, but the better option looks like the 5060 model, which should have a little extra graphical staying power. With 32GB DDR5 RAM, an AMD Ryzen 7 250 GPU, a 15.6-inch 144Hz screen, and a 1TB SSD, it's certainly not messing around. A 5050 option is available, but with this one at a lowest-ever price, I think it's the one to go with.

Lenovo LOQ RTX 5060 | $1439 $1299 at Amazon

A Black Friday staple at a best-ever price

ASUS' ROG Strix G16 series are well-discounted every year around this time, and this year is no exception. This GeForce RTX 5060 comes with a Intel Core i7 Processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It's a decent amount under the hood, and we've already recommended a handful of the other machines in this family. Coming in at its lowest price ever, this is a very solid machine at a very solid price.

ASUS ROG Strix G16 | $1499.99 $1199.99 at Amazon

Under new management

Ali here, taking over this live blog for the rest of the night, UK time. I'll be sharing plenty of deals, as well as a handful of my own nuggets of laptop wisdom. I am, admittedly, more of a tower-focused PC gamer nowadays, but I spent plenty of my earlier gaming hours on more portable machines, so I like to think I've got a least something to offer this conversation.

Should you use a laptop as a desktop PC using Black Friday?

A laptop can make for a great alternative to a full-blown gaming PC, but there are a few things I'd think about before going down that route. The first is whether you need something comparable to a high-end rig, as if you do, you'll need to spend way more than $1,000 to get something on par. You can get mobile systems that pack a mighty punch, but iGPUs like the RTX 5070 don't actually boast the same specs as their graphics card counterparts, meaning you need to aim for a different class for equivalent performance.

It's worth highlighting that gaming laptops will always get louder when under load than a PC. That's a result of packing cooling and warm components into something extremely thin, and if you can't stand running noise, it might be deal breaker. Otherwise, you can use a laptop as a desktop alternative pretty easily, in turn maintaining on the go versatility.

This RTX 5070 Ti laptop is a good example of what nearly $2,000 will get you this Black Friday

Not many of you will be spending $2,000 on a gaming laptop. That's a given, but those of you with the funds will be able to snag a Legion Pro 7i with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage. Beefy specs indeed.

Out of this year's Black Friday gaming laptop pool, Lenovo's RTX 5070 Ti stands out as a high-spec build with a decent discount. It's also worth noting that 70-class models don't tend to stick around as long as budget alternatives, usually finding themselves replaced by newer gen models. Simply put, holding off for a few years isn't necessarily going to result in getting a build like this for cheaper.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (RTX 5070 Ti) | $2,299.99 $1,899.99 at Amazon

No, really though, this handheld PC might be a better fit for you

Silly as it sounds, I think some PC players might not be aware that handheld gaming PCs exist. So, I figured I'd highlight the Lenovo Legion Go S for your consideration since it's down in price for Black Friday, It looks like a portable console, but it is in fact a fully fledged rig that can function as a desktop machine. You'll also want to check out Black Friday Steam Deck deals to grab a docking station, as that will help you connect more peripherals like a keyboard and mouse while hooking up to a monitor. But you can also just use the device's screen, sort of like a tiny laptop.

The model on offer right now is the SteamOS version, but it still has a desktop mode in addition to its console-inspired interface.

Lenovo Legion Go S | $649.99 $449.99 at Best Buy

Forget Amazon, Dell has a better deal on the Alienware RTX 5050 laptop

It turns out going direct to Dell can save you money on that RTX 5050 laptop, as it's down under $800 at its webstore. The only caveat is that it's a 512GB SSD rather than 1TB, but that's fine considering you're saving $100.

Alienware 16 Aurora (RTX 5050) | $1,249.99 $799.99 at Dell

Is it worth waiting for Cyber Monday instead?

Many of you will be aware that there's always a Black Friday sequel sale dubbed "Cyber Monday" that takes place after the weekend. The event tends to more lean towards tech offers, but over the past few years, I've noticed that it's usually just an extension of existing discounts. That is to say, if you can't make up your mind on a specific model, it might still be here for the second wind, but it's all dependant on stock.

This OLED monitor makes for a great gaming laptop screen

Some players will no doubt be thinking about using a gaming laptop as a desktop machine this Black Friday. That will mean pairing it with a monitor, which in turn normally means using HDMI. However, if you grab a screen like this KTC OLED model, you'll have access to USB-C docking abilities and 65W power delivery.

Now, that's not enough to keep it powered when pushing the GPU to its limits, but it will keep your laptop charged up otherwise and connected to peripherals while sending video out to your screen. That's a pretty handy perk, one that will save you from plugging things straight into the screen or always using the full-wattage power adapter when you're in lighter games or general use.

KTC G27P6 OLED monitor | $579.99 $449.99 at Amazon

Is this the cheapest Alienware laptop this Black Friday?

New-gen Nvidia laptops can cost a pretty penny, but there is an Alienware Aurora going for under $900 at Amazon. That's not too shabby since the brand normally comes with a premium price tag attached, but the model in question is armed with an entry-level RTX 5050 GPU.

That's not to say the GPU in question is bad. In fact, it's going to have a big edge over previous-generation Nvidia builds thanks to features like DLSS 4 and multi-Frame Generation. The fact that it's using 50-class graphics does explain why it's a cheaper Alienware, though, but its accompanying 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD aren't too shabby.

Alienware 16 Aurora (RTX 5050) | $1,249.99 $899.99 at Amazon

This controller will slip in your laptop bag nicely

When thinking about gaming laptop deals this Black Friday, you probably won't have a controller on your list. I think that's a mistake, as gamepads like the Gulikit Elves 2 Pro are fantastic travel-friendly options for mobile rigs that don't skimp on features. You're getting hall-effect joysticks, HD rumble, and wireless Bluetooth connectivity, so you can use your mobile rig like a console without lugging around a larger Xbox-style pad.

Gulikit Elves 2 Pro | $49.99 $39.99 at Amazon

Read more: Meet the only PC controller I'd buy this Black Friday

How often should you upgrade your gaming laptop?

The question I'm often asked during Black Friday is "if I buy a laptop now, how long will it actually last?" That's not an easy question to answer, especially given that you'd need a crystal ball to see future faults or degradation. But, even if your machine stays in tip-top condition, generational changes and advancing system requirements for games mean your mobile rig technically has a limited lifespan.

In terms of specs, you'll typically get between 5-7 years out of a laptop before it really struggles to run new games. That's going by minimum requirements rather than recommended, so your mileage may vary depending on your resolution and frame rate expectations. It also fully depends on the release you're trying to run, as some new outings are relying more on tools like Frame Generation to fill in the frame rate gaps that naturally occur on mobile machines.

Technology is ever-evolving, and thinking about whether something will come along to make your laptop of choice obsolete will drive you bananas. I'd simply pick the specs that futureproof things while focusing on the here, now, and that big backlog of Steam games you'll largely be making your way through anyway.

Need a laptop just to play The Sims 4? I've got you

Every year without fail, I get someone saying to me "I just need a laptop to play the Sims 4". This year, that laptop is the Acer Nitro V, as an RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, and 512GB storage is more than enough to meet the life simulator's system requirements, and while it'll potentially run on something without a GPU, sticking with an actual gaming machine will ensure you can play The Sims 5 if it ever becomes a thing.

Acer Nitro V (RTX 4050) | $749.99 $579.99 at Amazon

Cheap RTX 30-series laptops can be a bargain, but they come with a massive caveat

Some of the cheapest gaming laptops this Black Friday will be RTX 30-series models from a a few years ago. They are still worth buying, especially if you can get one with a mid-range or high-end iGPU inside for less, but there's a massive generational difference between Ampere and newer Lovelace and Blackwell architectures.

No matter what RTX 30-series GPU you end up with inside a laptop, you'll be missing out on DLSS 4 and Frame Generation. You'll still have access to some of Nvidia's earlier AI upscaling tools, but the latter will help you boost fps significantly in supported games if you use at least an RTX 40-series card. Newer RTX 50-series GPUs actually take this a step further with mult-frame generation, which let's you ramp things up x4 compared to native frame rates.

Some people believe that this technique relies on "fake frames" to boost performance, whereas other can't perceivably tell the difference. In reality, your milage will vary between games and settings combinations, but with an RTX 30-series laptop, you'll still be limited in terms of fps, and in turn what games you can actually get running.

Are Alienware laptops worth considering even on a tighter budget?

Alienware is usually considered a boutique brand, which is fancy talk for beefy specs and build quality at a high price. However, you'd be surprised how low Aurora rigs can drop during the sale, especially if you're sticking with entry-level to mid-range specs. Some discounts will simply bring Dell's machines down to the price of cheaper brands, essentially levelling the playing field, while others will actually result in record lows that beat rival prices.

I'll be sharing all the latest Alienware laptop deals as they drop, but even if you're on a tighter budget, I'd still check out Dell's offerings.

Check out Black Friday Alienware deals at Dell

Would you actually be better off with a gaming handheld? Maybe!

Yes, I know, we're hunting for gaming laptops here, but I do think some players would be better off with a gaming handheld. This is especially true if you find yourself up close to a cheaper mobile rig with a controller clutched anyway, as the benefits of potentially higher frame rates and a larger screen diminish when you're just wanting to play some games with a gamepad.

Basically, the best gaming handheld options are at a point where playing at 1080p 60fps is a possibility without totally dialling back on visuals. The fact that you'll be using a smaller screen on something like the ROG Xbox Ally X helps, and if you're planning on never using a laptop like an actual PC or for desktop activities, you could be putting your money towards a fancier portable PC rather than a budget laptop.

Check out handheld gaming PCs at Best Buy

Should you care about screen refresh rates when grabbing a laptop?

You'll no doubt see plenty of dazzling claims about gaming laptop screen refresh rates this Black Friday. While there was a point where the standard was 60Hz, it feels like even the cheapest models are now boasting over 144Hz panels. So, what gives? Should you be aiming for higher screen speeds over anything else?

Well, the short answer is no, not unless you actually play competitive shooters or need extra responsiveness. Faster panels are nice, but I wouldn't let refresh rate be a deciding factor when picking out a gaming laptop. For starters, if a portable rig has a lower spec or older GPU, chances are it'll struggle to fuel its own display with a frame rate to make the screen speeds beneficial.

TL;DR is that if you have specific competitive ambitions, feel free to aim for higher refresh rates. Otherwise, they're just a nice bonus once you've found a laptop with the right GPU and specs for your needs.

This RTX 5090 laptop deal isn't making my tummy hurt

I've been keeping an eye on RTX 5090 laptop prices, and they're a bit "yikes" at the best of times. Hardly surprising given that it's Nvidia's flagship GPU, even if the laptop version is closer to an RTX 5080 desktop graphics card. But I digress, I've actually found a Gigabyte AORUS MASTER model for a "reasonable" price at Newegg thanks to a discount and code combo.

Please keep in mind this is an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, 2TB SSD, and 32GB DDR5 RAM build, which explains why it's over three grand. Using code BFE9978 is what brings it closer to the $3,000 mark, and considering its specs, it's one of the cheaper options out there.

Gigabyte AORUS MASTER (RTX 5090) | $3,799.99 $3,099.99 at Newegg

Don't forget about laptop cases!

Honestly, I'm the worst for buying new tech like gaming laptops and neglecting to buy a case right away. That normally means I end up remembering during sales like Black Friday, which I guess works out since it means grabbing a nice sleeve or bag for less than usual. If you're grabbing a fresh machine in the sale, though, I'd just go ahead and also buy some coverage, as you'll otherwise end up paying more in a few weeks when you remember that throwing it straight into your backpack is not okay.

Laptop cases from $10 at Amazon

Dell's RTX 5060 Alienware Aurora is just over a grand for Black Friday

I'd say around $1,000 is the sweet spot for most RTX 5060 laptops this Black Friday, but I wasn't expecting to find an Alienware Aurora for that price. This specific model with an Intel Core 7-240H CPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD has only dropped a couple of times to this price at Amazon, and it normally comes in at around $1,200. It's also rocking a 16-inch 16:10 WQXGA display, so it's not remotely skimping on specs.

Alienware 16 Aurora AC16250 | $1,399.99 $1,099.98 at Amazon

It's easy to forget that MacBooks are actually also gaming laptops

I'm a PC gamer through and through, but I still think it's worth highlighting that you can game on a MacBook. I'm specifically looking at an Air model with an M4 chip for under $750 that, quite honestly, can hit better figures in recent games than Windows alternatives, depending on what you're playing, as I know someone who plays Cyberpunk 2077 on one and still gets over 40fps at 1080p.

Anyway, I don't need to tell you jump on MacBook deals; plenty of people will be doing just that over Black Friday, but I'd certainly take them into consideration when considering gaming options.

Apple MacBook Air M4 | $999.99 $749 at Best Buy

Newegg has a new-gen Nvidia laptop for under $1,000 I'd probably buy

I currently use an older RTX 3070 laptop as my daily driver, and I spent around $1,400 on it back in 2020. However, I just came across an RTX 5060 mobile rig by MSI that feels like it'd be a nice replacement for under a grand, especially given the AI upscaling and multi-Frame Generation abilities included with its Nvidia GPU.

The rest of its specs aren't dazzling; you're talking 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and an 144Hz screen, but that's what my current laptop is rocking anyway. Therefore, it feels like a suitable replacement that'll simply grant more power on the graphics side of things, and to be frank, that's what most players need from a gaming laptop.

MSI Cyborg15 15.6-inch (RTX 5060) | $1,199.99 $999.99 at Newegg

Psst, Best Buy has added more "Doorbuster deals" for Black Friday

I know some of you will have been here yesterday for the Black Friday gaming laptop discounts hunt, but Best Buy has refreshed its Doorbuster deals offering. Therefore, rather than assuming you've already checked out every offer available, I'd double-check any models that caught your eye yesterday, and I'll be sharing any new highlights I find throughout the day.

Check out Doorbuster Deals at Best Buy

Beware the curse of the sub-$400 gaming laptop this Black Friday

OoOoOoOoO spooky

No, but really, don't fall for any unbranded laptops with vague specs sitting cheaper than everything else this Black Friday. I'm currently staring at a specific offender that doesn't bother to list actual CPU specs beyond mentioning "12th gen", a "1920P" screen (presumably meaning 1080p), and no graphics specs in sight.

This is exactly the sort of thing little Timmy will end up excitedly opening on Christmas day, only to find it runs Minecraft like a PowerPoint slideshow. I'll be sharing plenty of offers at all price ranges, so there's no need to fall folly to gaming laptops that can't even provide you with a solid specs list up front.

This Acer RTX 4050 laptop feels pretty fair for under $600

Again, some of you won't be looking to spend much over $500, and while that makes grabbing a laptop with longevity a little harder, there are options. This Acer Nitro V is armed with an RTX 4050, so it's not the punchiest portable rig in the ring, but its still a recent GPU with Frame Generation and AI upscaling abilities that'll better help you hit minimum requirements in the latest releases.

Naturally, you're getting a tame i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, and 512GB storage at this price point, but this Nitro model does make room for a 165Hz screen. Therefore, it's a nice cheap option that, visually speaking, will provide you with faster speeds that'll be handy in shooters and competitive romps.

Acer Nitro V (RTX 4050) | $749.99 $549.99 at Amazon

This Asus RTX 5070 laptop is one TUF cookie for under $1,200

Asus TUF gaming laptops come in many forms, but this beefy Black Friday deal knocks $500 off a version with a shiny new RTX 5070 GPU, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Those specs honestly put my full-blown rig to shame, and tricks like Multi-Frame Generation included with new-gen Nvidia graphics cards will help you hit higher frame rates than ever, all for just over a grand.

If you're looking to play new releases without much compromise to a full-blown PC at 1080p, the A16 is well worth checking out.

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (RTX 5070) | $1.699.99 $1,199.99 at Best Buy

Are gaming laptops under $500 a thing this Black Friday? Yes, but tread carefully

Sometimes budgets will only stretch so far, no matter how good Black Friday deals are. That very fact will lead some of you to head straight to the sub $500 section of sites like Best Buy in search of a gaming laptop, and while there are models with attractive price tags, you'll want to be careful. The main problem is that most machines in this price bracket are either pushing he definition of "gaming laptop" with specs closer to a handheld (looking at you, Acemagic and Nimo), or rocking older GPUs like the RTX 3050.

Out of Best Buy's selection, I'd stick with the HP Victus models, specifically, but just keep in mind that you'll be getting performance from two generations ago via that GPU. If you can push your budget to around $600, you'll get a newer generation machine with tricks like Frame Generation that make all the difference to baseline frame rates (like this Gigabyte RTX 4050 model for $599.99), but you'll at least want to stick with brand names and proper iGPUs at the $500 mark.

HP Victus 15.6-inch (RTX 3050) | $779.99 $479.99 at Best Buy

Happy Black Friday!

The sale has officially arrived, so I'm naturally back on the ground hunting for the best Black Friday laptop deals. I'm not saying discounts won't emerge after today, especially given that Cyber Monday will officially close things out. But, it's certainly a now or never situation for grabbing something during 2025's post-Thanksgiving event, so strap for steam of deals on various gaming machines.

Going all in on Alienware?

I'm not denying the fact that the Alienware 16 Area-51 is expensive, but it's pretty powerful. Still, I'd only really recommend going for the top end of the GPU range with this one. That lofty price tag starts to look a lot better in the RTX 5080 class, even if we're knocking against RTX 5090 prices with this latest offer. Die-hard fans will still want to know about this $770 discount in Dell's Black Friday gaming laptop deals.

Alienware 16 Area-51 (RTX 5080) | $3,747.99 $2,977.99 at Dell

An RTX 5050 for under $650

You can always count on the Lenovo LOQ to come through when the budget gets tight. This RTX 5050 configuration of the brand's cheapest gaming laptop is down to just $649.99 in Best Buy's Black Friday gaming laptop deals. The only thing I'm critical about in this spec is that 13th generation i5 processor. It's a little soft these days, but can still offer up some solid performance in lighter titles and everyday productivity. This is one for those after a new-gen machine for as little as possible.

Lenovo LOQ (RTX 5050) | $1,099.99 $649.99 at Best Buy

PSA: The Asus ROG Flow Z13 has been cheaper in the last month

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 has been stuck at this $2,169 sales price for some time now, apart from when it dropped down to $1,949.99 at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago. That's a real difference in costs, and once I'm hoping to see again when retailers unleash their full Black Friday gaming laptop deals tomorrow. It's certainly enough for me to recommend holding fire on this offer for now.

The Flow Z13 is one of my favorite releases of 2025, but it's more of a tablet than a gaming laptop. That detachable keyboard isn't going to keep up with competitors, and it actually runs off integrated graphics, but it's a particularly slick implementation of the Radeon 8050S. I was able to run everything from Indiana Jones to Avowed at the start of the year, all without a hitch.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 | $2,299.99 $2,169 at Amazon

Read more: Asus ROG Flow Z13 review

RIP this $3,899.99 RTX 5090 deal

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 was sitting pretty at $3,899.99 with an RTX 5090 GPU at the helm earlier today, but that rate has jumped up significantly in the last few hours. What was a $600 discount is now just $185 off the original $4,499.99 MSRP.

Best Buy has an RTX 4050 Gigabyte for $599.99

I'd generally warn players off opting for an RTX 4050 gaming laptop when RTX 5050 options are only slightly further up the price chain. However, this Gigabyte model may well have its audience.

The i7-13620H model is $280 off its $879.99 MSRP on Best Buy's shelves this Black Friday, and that $599.99 sales price could work if you're after a regular everyday laptop anyway. If you're after a day to day machine for work and school, but also want to be able to run some lighter games at the same time, there could be a place for this rig in your cart.

Gigabyte A16 (RTX 4050) | $879.99 $599.99 at Best Buy

Need something a little more powerful?

The Razer Blade 18 ticks things up a notch, a few notches actually. This is a massive dual-4K and QHD display stocked full with an RTX 5090, 32GB RAM, 2TB of storage, and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX. That's basically as much power as you'll find in a still somewhat slimline form factor.

Of course, all that power doesn't come cheap. Razer's Black Friday gaming laptop deals are working hard with a $700 discount this week, but this top-shelf spec is still $4,199.99.

Razer Blade 18 (RTX 5090) | $4,899.99 $4,199.99 at Razer

This is the cheapest Razer Blade gaming laptop I can find this Black Friday

I know I know, the Razer Blade and 'cheap' are almost never in the same sentence, but if you're after a luxury design without the need for high-end components the Blade 14 actually offers a solid proposition this Black Friday. It's not the cheapest RTX 5060 machine on the market, but it is much lower than usual. It's not everyday you find a Blade for less than $1500 after all. This is the best price I've seen on the 14-incher so far.

Razer Blade 14 (RTX 5060) | $2,299.99 $1,449.99 at Razer

Where are all the Zephyrus G16 discounts?

You know who I haven't seen much of lately? The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16. This slimline 16-incher is less deal-friendly than its 14-inch sibling, but I'm still surprised we haven't seen a single discount so far. Tomorrow's official Black Friday gaming laptop deals could well drop those prices further, but for now this one's at full MSRP at both Best Buy and Newegg.

PSA: There's a cheaper RTX 5080 HP Omen Max 16 at Newegg, but you drop your processor

HP has an RTX 5080 Omen Max 16 on the shelves for $1,999.99 this Black Friday, with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor at the helm. Newegg's coming in $100 cheaper than that, but you're dropping down to an AMD Ryzen AI 9. That's a weaker CPU overall, even if you're still keeping that 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD. You're spending an extra $100, but I'd still stick with HP on this one.

HP Omen Max 16 (Intel, RTX 5080) | $3,299.99 $1,999.99 at HP

HP Omen Max 16 (AMD, RTX 5080) | $3,099.99 $1,899.99 at Newegg

An RTX 5080 gaming laptop for less than $1,900

The MSI Vector 16 HX AI has sailed down the price charts this Black Friday, offering up a gaming laptop deal the likes of which I haven't seen before. This is an RTX 5080 rig at not just less than $2,000, but considerably so.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX spec has dropped to $1,899.99 in this week's sales. That's a full $600 discount and $100 less than even the cheapest RTX 5080 gaming laptop deal I'd seen before today. You are picking up a particularly slimline machine though, so my guess is that GPU won't have as much room to fully stretch its legs.

MSI Vector 16 HX AI 400 (RTX 5080) | $2,499.99 $1,899.99 at Best Buy

Want a super compact gaming laptop?

The HP Omen Transcend 14 is a strange one. This thing is tiny, it felt more like a Chromebook when I reviewed one last year. It's still pretty impressive under the hood, though, surprising me with its performance even in the previous generation. An updated RTX 5070 configuration is up for grabs at nearly $500 off at Best Buy this week, dropping its $2,039.99 MSRP for a $1,549.99 sales price.

HP Omen Transcend 14 (RTX 5070) | $2,039.99 $1,549.99 at Best Buy

Read more: HP Omen Transcend 14 review

This Alienware Aurora deal just got $100 cheaper

The RTX 5050 Alienware 16 Aurora was sitting at $899.99 just yesterday, but it's sailed down an additional $100 today. That means you can pick up a baseline spec for just $799.99 right now, the lowest price I've seen on a new-generation machine from this brand. That's for a $400 discount on the $1,199.99 MSRP, but I'd only recommend it to those playing lighter games. That Intel 7 240H and RTX 5050 can only get you so far.

Alienware 16 Aurora (RTX 5050) | $1,199.99 $799.99 at Dell

This machine took me by surprise during testing

The Asus ROG Strix G16 is down to $1,599.99 in Best Buy's Black Friday gaming laptop deals. That's one of the cheaper RTX 5070 Ti machines available this week, but there are a couple of drawbacks. For one, you're only picking up a FHD panel here, and that 16GB RAM might be a little stretched with the upper mid-range GPU.

I loved this machine in testing. It felt like a true middle of the road option - no extra fluff buffing the price tag like you'd find in the Strix Scar model and still enough chassis space to keep those components running smoothly. I called it a jack of all trades earlier this year but, as we've seen this Black Friday, finding the right set of specs could prove troublesome.

Read more: Asus ROG Strix G16 review

Asus ROG Strix G16 (RTX 5070 Ti) | $1,999.99 $1,599.99 at Best Buy

An RTX 5070 laptop for just $1,159 (and with $1,040 off the normal price)

Now I'll admit, that I'm not that familiar with the brand Hasee, but our sister site Tom's Guide spotted this deal and recommended it, and with such a fantastic discount on such a great spec, I absolutely have to follow suit.

Newegg has the RTX 5070 Hasee S8 for just $1,159.00, giving you a saving of $1,040 off the normal $2,199.99 RRP - so it's basically half price.

For that price, you're getting the coveted RTX 5070 graphics card, the Intel i7-13620H processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, and a 15.6-inch Full 1080p HD IPS display with 165Hz refresh rate.

Hasee S8 (RTX 5070) | $2,199.99 $1,159 at Best Buy

This Lenovo Legion 5 (RTX 5060) deal is a great buy

Walmart has got a chunky $550 off the excellent Lenovo Legion 5 which we reviewed and said already punched way above its price tag - particularly when it comes to its delicious OLED display. So Walmart selling the Lenovo Legion 5 for just $999.99 (down from $1,549.99) just makes the whole thing extra sweet.

This particular deal gets you a 15.6-inch 2560x1600p OLD display, with 165HZ refresh rate, Dolby Vision and HDR10, which is perfect for playing the latest releases. You also get the beefy Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card, AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB hard drive.

This is an excellent choice for anyone looking to spend around $1k, as it's a sleek gaming laptop with a top-notch display. Plus you also get 3 months of Game Pass for PC free!

Don't fall for Best Buy's cheapest gaming laptop this Black Friday

Best Buy has a gaming laptop from generic brand Acemagic on the shelves for just $399 this Black Friday. I say 'gaming' laptop, that Radeon RX Vega 8 isn't going to get you very far. You're still getting 16GB RAM which surprises me (believe it or not there are still some 8GB configurations floating around) and a 512GB SSD, but without dedicated graphics you're going to struggle to keep this thing moving.

Thanksgiving pre-Black Friday gaming laptop deals roundup

Well, guys, it's been a real one, but it's about time I hand the reins over to one of my lovely colleagues to bring you through the rest of the Thanksgiving sales and lead you straight into the belly of the Black Friday beast. No pressure or anything!

Here's a refresher on some of the best early Black Friday gaming laptop deals I've spotted over our time together, from the Alienware 16 Area-51 to other entries on our list of the best gaming laptops of 2025 . Hopefully more start to drop in soon, but for now, the cohort is holding fast and strong:

HP Victus | $899.99 $549.99 at Best Buy

Alienware 16 Aurora (RTX 5050) | $1,199.99 $799.99 at Dell

Acer Nitro V 16S | $1,299.99 $1,099.99 at Amazon

Gigabyte A16 | $1,299.99 $1,049.99 at Best Buy

Alienware 16 Area-51 (RTX 5070) | $2,749.99 $2,199 at Dell

MSI Titan 18 HX (96GB RAM) | $5,999.99 $5,399.99 at Amazon

(Don't forget to check out today's best deals in the tab at the top of the page while you're here! Ta-ta for now.)

Alien(ware) vs Predator?

As we head into the later hours here in the UK, all seems eerily steady on the Black Friday gaming laptop deals front. I've seen hardly anything drop or rise in price over the last eight hours or so, which is probably a good thing if you're just waking up to join us for a spot of Thanksgiving holiday shopping!

There's one particular deal I've somehow forgotten to mention this whole time: the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI. That's one hell of a mouthful, but the $400 discount over at Best Buy might make you spit it back out again. Our superstar Managing Hardware Editor described it as a "RTX 5070 Ti rig that wants to do it all" in her glittering 4-star review, commenting on the beautiful QLD display and full-size keyboard if you want a machine that works as hard as it plays. Check it out here:

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (RTX 5070 Ti) | $1,899.99 $1,499.99 at Best Buy

Katana among the pigeons

If my research is right (and I assure you, dear shoppers, it is), I've just spotted the MSI Katana 15 HX back at its record-low sales price. It's a Black Friday gaming laptop deal worth a look this Thanksgiving, since it dropped 17% off RRP about a week ago and hasn't shifted much since.

It's unlikely to drop much lower in the lead-up to tomorrow's big day. With a shiny RTX 5070 and 1TB SSD, it's one of the best value options for laptop builds of its configuration. You know what to do:

MSI Katana 15 HX | $1,645 $1,369.99 at Amazon

Feeling LOQ-uacious?

I'm pretty impressed that the frankly excellent Black Friday laptop deal for the Lenovo LOQ is still in stock over at Best Buy. True enough, it's neither the latest nor the most powerful Lenovo on the digital shelves right now, but it's very much still the cheapest!

As a little comparison, the newer Lenovo Legion 5i is going for a couple hundred more over on Newegg, having started at a similar RRP to the humble LOQ, but which you choose will truly depend upon how heavy-duty your favorite games are and whether you'd prefer a larger literal discount over value for price. Both options are good'uns! Check it:

Lenovo LOQ (RTX 5060) | $1,299.99 $849.99 at Best Buy

Lenovo Legion 5i (RTX 5060) | $1,299.99 $1,099.99 at Newegg

Read more: the Lenovo Legion 5 is our best value gaming laptop in 2025

Asus spotlight

Of all the early Black Friday gaming laptop deals I've seen today, the Asus ones seem most prevalent across the board. The cheapest option is going for little over a grand, while the tankiest is rocking just below $4,000.

I'll keep my eyes peeled to see if any more PCs listed on our best gaming laptop guide drop in price over the coming days, but here's the juiciest offerings so far!

Asus TF F16 | $1,539.99 $1,049 at Best Buy

Asus ROG Strix G16 (RTX 5060) | $1,499.99 $1,199.99 at Amazon

Asus ROG Strix G16 (RTX 5070 Ti) | $2,399.99 $1,879.99 at Amazon

Asus ROG Zephyrus | $1,799.99 $1,299.99 at Best Buy

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 | $4,499.99 $3,899.99 at Best Buy

Ace in the hole

We reviewed the Acer Nitro 16 last year, and this year's Nitro V 16S looks like a sizeable improvement on what was already a steadfast winner.

Not only does it out-spec the Acer Nitro V14 in terms of a souped-up RAM and GPU, I'm also a way bigger fan of the chassis' overall look. It doesn't hurt that it's also going for 15% off this Thanksgiving on Amazon, bringing it back down to its lowest ever sales price in time for you to grab a tasty pre-Black Friday gaming laptop deal. Talk about acing it. (OK that was a bad joke, but you're stuck with me for a few more hours so TOUGH!)

Acer Nitro V 16S | $1,299.99 $1,099.99 at Amazon

Gigabytes of might (and magic)

Looks can be deceiving, but thankfully, the Gigabyte A16 makes no bones about what a powerful little rig she is. This budget-friendly mid-range option is one of my favorite Black Friday gaming laptop deals at this pre-sale phase we're in right now, notable not only for the $250 discount over at Best Buy, but for its impressive RAM and surprisingly powerful RTX 5060.

It's pretty rare to see the Gigabyte A16 going this cheap (for comparison, it's pretty much full price at Amazon right now) so it's an easy pick if you're shopping as a no-nonsense gamer who isn't trying to launch a rocket ship while juggling four live service games simultaneously.

Gigabyte A16 | $1,299.99 $1,049.99 at Best Buy

Best pre-Black Friday gaming laptop deals roundup

For those of you waking up Stateside to start your Thanksgiving, good morning and welcome to the fray! I figured I'd collect the best early Black Friday gaming laptop deals I've spotted over the last five hours, with options from multiple brands across the price spectrum.

The at-a-glance temperature check right now is that individual retailers and Best Buy are generally beating the likes of Amazon at this stage in the sales season, with many of the bargains below holding fast from yesterday.

So far, only the Alienware 16 Aurora has dipped down in price by an impressive $100. Still, you never can know for sure how stocks and prices will move in the pre-Black Friday rush, so if you spot something you love, take this as your sign to snag it quick!

Asus ROG Zephyrus | $1,799.99 $1,299.99 at Best Buy

Razer Blade 14 (RTX 5070) | $2,699.99 $1,699.99 at Razer

Alienware 16 Aurora (1TB SSD) | $1,249.99 $899.99 at Amazon

MSI Titan 18 HX (96GB RAM) | $5,999.99 $5,399.99 at Amazon

Read more: best gaming laptops compared

Alien(ware) invasion

Listen, aesthetics are huge deal to me, which is why this impressive offer on the Alienware 16 Area-51 has me utterly obsessed.

The model I've spotted on sale via Dell nets you one of the best-looking portable PC rigs on the market, with a chunky RTX 5070, 1TB SSD, and over $500 off its RRP. For comparison, the same build is going for substantially more on Amazon right now. Sure, the battery life isn't fantastic, though I'd never recommend playing games on a gaming laptop without it charging anyway, but the steady discount makes it one of the best early Black Friday gaming laptops out there. Oh, did I mention it's absolutely gorgeous?

Alienware 16 Area-51 (RTX 5070) | $2,749.99 $2,199 at Dell

Read more: Alienware 16 Area-51 is the best Alienware gaming laptop overall

Tuf competition

Amazon simply can't compete with the Asus TUF F16 discount over at Best Buy right now. I've said (multiple, sorry) times already this Thanksgiving that Asus bargains are coming out the wazoo, making up some of the best pre-Black Friday gaming laptop deals with low prices sticking around after being slashed earlier in the week, and this one's another doozy.

Spec-wise, it's a sizeable improvement on the Asus TUF A15 our hardware editors reviewed earlier this year, thanks to its upgraded "RTX 5070 GPU, and the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor on more premium configurations," writes our Managing Hardware Editor. "It also increases display refresh rate up to 165Hz and improves resolution to 2.5K." I mean, if that doesn't sell you, maybe the $490 discount will? Check it out here:

Asus TF F16 | $1,539.99 $1,049 at Best Buy

Read more: best cheap gaming laptops

Hard (intel) core

If you're as serious about rocking the finest rig as you are about a good Black Friday gaming laptop deal, you've come to the right blog post. The incredibly powerful MSI Raider is going for an all-time low discount at Best Buy this Thanksgiving, crowned by GamesRadar+'s expert Managing Hardware Editor as the fastest gaming laptop she's ever ever tested.

It's specced out to the nines, with a monster CPU, a top-of-the-range RTX 5090, and 2TB SSD to boot. This is a pick for the serious few out there for whom money is of little object, and with over $400 off, it's perhaps the best value big budget gaming laptop pick of the Black Friday sales season so far.

MSI Raider (RTX 5090) | $4,899.99 $4,425 at Best Buy

Read more: MSI Raider is the most powerful best gaming laptop out there

On the Victus path

Yes, that was a Baldur's Gate 3 reference (cheers, Wyll Ravengard). I'm back from my lunch break and ready to give you another sweet pre-Black Friday gaming laptop deal, and it doesn't get much more affordable yet powerful than the HP Victus 16.

Our very own hardware hero Tabs reviewed and absolutely adored it, and looking at the specs, I can see why. She calls it "a real showcase for the RTX 4050," commenting on the sleek build and solid quality of the machine itself, while under the hood it's a fast and lethal enough to satisfy gamers who don't need a spaceship to run their favorite titles. Check out the tasty $350 discount on Best Buy:

HP Victus | $899.99 $549.99 at Best Buy

Black Friday gaming laptop deals for less than $1,000

If you're shopping on a bit of a budget this Thanksgiving, don't sweat it. I've double checked that these wallet-friendly Black Friday gaming laptop deals are still alive and kicking as the big day approaches so you can spend less time crunching the numbers and more time nabbing a sweet early deal!

Lenovo LOQ (RTX 5060) | $1,299.99 $849.99 at Best Buy

Alienware 16 Aurora (RTX 5050) | $1,199.99 $799.99 at Dell

HP Omen 16 (RTX 5060) | $1,479.99 $999.99 at Best Buy

Now that's what I call chunky

The MSI Titan 18 HX is an utter powerhouse, and it's going for 10% off right now if you're looking to splash some cash (but still make a saving) on a great pre-Black Friday gaming laptop deal.

The particular bargain I've spotted on Amazon nets you a super powerful GPU at the expense of a little RAM, making it a slightly different build to the one my colleague reviews above, but that $600 discount is nothing to sniff at. See for yourself:

MSI Titan 18 HX (96GB RAM) | $5,999.99 $5,399.99 at Amazon

Knife's edge

Big spenders out there, take heed! These Razer laptops might be on the pricer side, but they represent some of the best and cheapest pre-Black Friday gaming laptop deals of their ilk.

The Razer Blade 14 was dropping slowly earlier in the week but has held fast overnight at a tasty $1,000 dollars off. It's an excellent snag for one of the most attractive 14-inchers out there, especially given its impressive GPU. Meanwhile, the stunning Razer Blade 16 is one of the most compact models in biz, and we haven't seen it drop this low in ages.

Razer Blade 14 (RTX 5070) | $2,699.99 $1,699.99 at Razer

Razer Blade 16 (RTX 5060) | $2,399.99 $1,599.99 at Razer

Read more: best 16-inch gaming laptops

Don't be asus-picious

I've still got my eye on those pre-Black Friday Asus gaming laptop deals I was pondering earlier, and I figured I'd share some of the price comparisons.

There are a few different options to choose from when it comes to the Asus ROG Strix G16 models on offer this Thanksgiving, and even though Amazon is doing the most to compete, Best Buy still offers the most competitive prices for newer compartments and overall power. Still, Amazon is looking overall cheaper, so it's your call whether to go for money savings or overall value for your cash!

All boast a juicy 1TB SSD, but I'll drop a couple options below for you to check out the price differences between the RTX5060 and the RTX 5070 Ti models, noting the CPU, RAM/DDR5, and GPU differences to help you pick your poison!

Note for the mystified: DDR5 is considered the more powerful, modern version of RAM (same thing, essentially), and the RTX 5060 is less powerful than the RTX 5070 Ti.)

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 5060) | $1,499.99 $1,199.99 at Amazon (Intel Core i7, 16GB DDR5) | $1,699.99 at Best Buy (Intel Core Ultra 9, 32GB RAM)

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 5070 Ti) | $2,399.99 $1,879.99 at Amazon (Intel Core i7, 32GB DDR5) | $1,599.99 at Best Buy (Ryzen 9HX, 16GB RAM)

Read more: the Asus ROG Strix G16 is our best 16-inch gaming laptop

A deal fit for a princess

Do mine eyes deceive me? The cheapest pre-Black Friday gaming laptop has just seen a price drop as of right now on Thanksgiving, making the Alienware 16 Aurora an even bigger steal. The fact that it's named after my favorite Disney princess is just a bonus, really.

It's not quite as specced-out as the newer Alienware Aurora 16X, but the RTX5050 keeps you firmly in the current GPU gen while being a bit more budget friendly. Beware that the model I've spotted here has a fairly modest 512GB SSD, so I've added a link to the 1TB version from Amazon that's going for just a smidge more and is still a record-low deal. Check 'em out:

Alienware 16 Aurora (512GB SD) | $1,199.99 $799.99 at Dell

Alienware 16 Aurora (1TB SSD) | $1,249.99 $899.99 at Amazon

Read more: best Alienware laptops

All about Asus

Best Buy really is the place to be this Thanksgiving for pre-Black Friday gaming laptop bargains. The Asus ROG Zephyrus joins the Scar Strix 18 I just mentioned earlier as one of Best Buy's hottest deals this sales season, dropping $500 of what we deem the best 14-inch gaming laptop on the market right now.

Reading our review from my lovely colleague Tabs, the Zephyrus is hard to beat when it comes to compact power. As someone who's a proud owner of a 16" laptop myself, this one out-specs it by a mean mile. Check it out here:

Asus ROG Zephyrus | $1,799.99 $1,299.99 at Best Buy

Best slimline early Black Friday gaming laptop deal

She's sleek and glamorous, but don't underestimate her might. We gave the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 a glittering 4.5 stars out of 5 when the latest model launched earlier this year, and it's dropped by $600 to offer up its lowest ever sales price for an early Black Friday gaming laptop bargain worth shouting about.

It's the kind of laptop I love, as a PC gamer who likes her machines with power and beauty to boot. Our review boasts a stunning new chassis to give it that extra oomph, a gorgeous mini-display boasting QHD+ at 240Hz, and a whopping 2TB of internal storage for my many, many gargantuan RPGs. Check out the offer at Best Buy now!

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 | $4,499.99 $3,899.99 at Best Buy

Read more: Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is our best 18-inch gaming laptop

Happy turkey day!

'Morning from the UK, bargain hunters! It's Thanksgiving for our American readers, but that doesn't mean you can't nab yourself a sweet early Black Friday gaming laptop deal between bites of turkey and cheesy mac.

While I grab a coffee and hunt down some fresh offers for you, here's the latest deals our lovely hardware team spotted for you at the tail end of last night:

Lenovo LOQ (RTX 5060) | $1,299.99 $849.99 at Best Buy

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (RTX 5070 Ti) | $1,899.99 $1,499.99 at Best Buy

HP Omen Max 16 (RTX 5080) | $3,299.99 $1,999.99 at HP

Lenovo Legion 7 (RTX 5070) | $2,194.99 $1,799.99 at Lenovo

Read more: Lenovo Legion 7 review |Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI review

A new contender for cheapest RTX 5060 gaming laptop

The Lenovo 15.6-inch Lenovo LOQ is now the cheapest RTX 5060 gaming laptop I've seen so far, with its $1,299.99 MSRP giving way to an $849.99 sales price at Best Buy. That's $150 cheaper than the HP Omen and Alienware 16 Aurora also sitting under $1,000 this Black Friday.

You're getting a much older processor in here, an Intel i7-13650HX and capping out at FHD visuals.

Lenovo LOQ (RTX 5060) | $1,299.99 $849.99 at Best Buy

An RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop for less than $1,500

This is one of the cheaper RTX 5070 gaming laptop deals I'm seeing so far this Black Friday, and it actually sits on a machine running the Ti version of the card. That's excellent news for anyone looking for a lower-than-RTX 5080 price tag while still grabbing the juice for a sturdy QHD gaming experience.

Best Buy has the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI for $1,499.99 in its latest Black Friday gaming laptop deals. That's a $400 discount down from the already-impressive $1,899.99 MSRP.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (RTX 5070 Ti) | $1,899.99 $1,499.99 at Best Buy

Read more: Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI review

Do you need an RTX 5080 gaming laptop?

If you're upgrading your gaming laptop this Black Friday you may be eyeing up that top-shelf card. RTX 5090 gaming laptops are incredibly expensive, but the next rung down can be had for just over (and sometimes just under) $2,000 right now.

4K is the real clincher here. If you know you want a gaming laptop with a 4K display, or you plan on outputting to a UHD external monitor, that jump up to an RTX 5080 is going to be incredibly beneficial. If, however, you just want sturdy QHD framerates in more demanding titles it might be worth investigating RTX 5070 Ti or even chunkier RTX 5070 options.

Don't need an OLED screen? Head to HP

My favorite gaming laptop is also on sale direct via its brand's store and you can score a solid price on an RTX 5080 configuration if you forego that OLED panel. This $1,999.99 sales price is much cheaper than Best Buy's lowest price on a similar spec, thanks to a $1,300 discount on the original $3,299.99 MSRP. If you're going for the best value in the 5080 category, this is a real winner.

HP Omen Max 16 (RTX 5080) | $3,299.99 $1,999.99 at HP

You call that a gaming laptop? This is a gaming laptop

The MSI Raider A18 is the most powerful gaming laptop I tested this year, running away with benchmark scores in a monstrous RTX 5090 configuration. That's what we have here, though it's not the largest discount I'm seeing at the moment.

If you really want to push the boat out you can grab an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX / RTX 5090 configuration of the 18-inch MSI Raider for $474.99 off its $4,899.99 sticker price. That's not going to be a deal for everyone, but if you've got the cash to splash and you're going all in on a machine that can run anything you want to throw at it in ultra settings, this is where you need to be.

MSI Raider (RTX 5090) | $4,899.99 $4,425 at Best Buy

Read more: MSI Raider A18 HX review

Or upgrade to the Legion 7

Lenovo is the place to be if you want to upgrade to a Legion 7 this Black Friday. This is still a base model, but I was particularly taken with this rig when I road tested it earlier in the year.

You can find cheaper RTX 5070 gaming laptops on the shelves this Black Friday, though they tend to tap out at around $1,500 at the moment. This is a particularly slick addition to Lenovo's roster, though. The keyboard is super smooth and bouncy, one of the best I've tested this year (and that's a year with Razer's scissor switches in action), and the entire chassis looks and feels slick and durable. I tested an RTX 5060 configuration and it didn't quite match up to its competitors, but still put up a good set of benchmarks.

Lenovo Legion 7 (RTX 5070) | $2,194.99 $1,799.99 at Lenovo

Read more: Lenovo Legion 7 review

This is the cheapest OLED gaming laptop I've found this Black Friday

The Lenovo Legion 5 is the cheapest gaming laptop I've tested with an OLED display, which makes it pretty easy for Newegg to discount $200 and claim a title this Black Friday. The Legion 5 doesn't have the most premium OLED panel on the market, there's a little more glare here compared to others, but it's still a punchy, vibrant screen with plenty of juice under the hood.

Newegg's current spec sends you home with a slightly older (but still powerful) Intel i7-14700HX processor, but still a speedy 165Hz refresh rate up top.

Lenovo Legion 5i (RTX 5060) | $1,299.99 $1,099.99 at Newegg

Read more: Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 review

Want to play in QHD+? Opt for an RTX 5070 or above

I've tested a lot of RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 gaming laptops in the last year, and one thing's for certain; this is where the barrier for Ultra settings in QHD+ sits. I generally see RTX 5060 machines struggling to maintain a solid 60fps in more demanding games like Cyberpunk and Black Myth Wukong at full QHD+, whereas the RTX 5070 feels significantly more at ease.

There's still a place for these cheaper rigs with QHD panels, though. Dialling things down to 1080p still yields far better framerates, and lighter games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider still sail through with more pixels engaged.

This is Best Buy's cheapest RTX 5090 gaming laptop deal

The Acer Predator Helios 18 AI is Best Buy's cheapest RTX 5090 gaming laptop deal, clocking in at $3,499.99 thanks to a $1,000 discount. That's $64 cheaper than the next model up, a smaller Gigbyte Aorus Master 16.

This is actually a much better buy than Gigabyte's model, though. You're getting a higher 3840 x 2400 resolution display (compared to the Aorus's 2560 x 1600 panel), a more immersive screen size, and double the RAM at 64GB. You'll certainly need all the memory you can get with that high-end GPU under the hood.

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (RTX 5090) | $4,499.99 $3,499.99 at Best Buy

Alienware's best 16-inch gaming laptop is $750 off

This is actually the exact configuration of the Alienware 16 Area-51 I had on my test bench earlier in the year, so I can tell you exactly what you're getting here. 74fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at RT Ultra in QHD+, and 112fps in High settings in Black Myth Wukong. Those numbers aren't easy to hit, with only the HP Omen Max 16 posting higher scores during my testing.

Outside of raw performance, you're getting a sturdy chassis with plenty of hidden extras. Would I have preferred a slightly lower MSRP in exchange for that fairly redundant hidden cooling window or RGB trackpad? Sure, but today's $750 discount certainly helps with that.

Alienware 16 Area-51 (RTX 5080) | $3,449.99 $2,699.99 at Dell

Read more: Alienware 16 Area-51 review

OLED displays are better than ever this year

2025 isn't just the year of the RTX 50-Series, it's also the first time I've seen OLED displays adorning the majority of gaming laptop releases. These high-end panels were previously reserved for only the most expensive machines on the market, but they're sitting on rigs as cheap as $1,200 these days. If you're going all in on immersion and don't want to hook up to an external monitor it's well worth keeping an eye out.

Should you buy an RTX 40-Series gaming laptop this Black Friday?

This is the first year of RTX 50-Series gaming laptops sitting pretty on our shelves, but I'm not seeing too many previous-generation rigs still kicking around. In previous years these would have been easy picks for budget-friendly discounts, but right now I'm not so sure.

I've only seen a couple RTX 4050 gaming laptops on the shelves this Black Friday so far, and they're only about $100 less than their RTX 5050 counterparts. You're getting much better value from the current generation this year. I'd only opt for an older rig if you really want to spend as little as possible.

Who's already live?

We're two days away from the main event but Black Friday gaming laptop deals are already in full swing. Larger retailers and individual brands are all live with their official offers now, though some prices are still jumping up and down the scale this week. You'll find offers available at Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and Newegg right now, with more brand-specific discounts live at HP, Lenovo, Dell, and Razer.