The best cheap gaming laptop deals in December 2024

Acer Nitro 16 gaming laptop open on a wooden table
(Image credit: Future)

Gaming laptop deals are looking particularly strong this week, after a number of previous Black Friday / Cyber offers returned to the shelves. These discounts were a little quiet immediately after the sale, but they're back in time for the holidays, which means big savings on some of the top models around.

You'll find offers across all ends of the spectrum - whether you're looking for one of the best gaming laptops or have your heart set on a budget machine for casual experiences. I've capped my search for cheap gaming laptop deals at a budget of $2,000 / £2,000 and split my findings between true budget rigs (under $1,000) and the more premium models on the shelves.

You'll find all my top picks for this week's best cheap gaming laptop deals just below, but if you're after something more permanent I'd also recommend checking out all the latest cheap gaming PC deals.

Today's best gaming laptop sales

Cheap gaming laptop deals under $1,000

MSI Thin 15 15.6-inch RTX 4050 gaming laptop | $899.99 $649.99 at Best BuySave $250 -

MSI Thin 15 15.6-inch RTX 4050 gaming laptop | $899.99 $649.99 at Best Buy
Save $250 - It's a starter rig for sure, but this entry-level MSI gaming laptop is looking particularly strong at just $649.99. Plus, that RTX 4050 is going to do some serious heavy lifting in this configuration.

Specs: Intel i5-13420H | Nvidia RTX 4050 | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | 144Hz FHD display

Acer Nitro V 15.6-inch RTX 4050 gaming laptop | $949.99 $699.99 at Best BuySave $250 -

Acer Nitro V 15.6-inch RTX 4050 gaming laptop | $949.99 $699.99 at Best Buy
Save $250 - This is a starter spec for sure, but if you're looking for a budget gaming laptop for indies and smaller titles this $699.99 sales price is looking particularly strong. We've only ever seen that price dip to $719.99 in previous sales.

Specs: AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | Nvidia RTX 4050 | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | 144Hz FHD display

MSI Cyborg 14-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,099.99 $749.99 at Best BuySave $350 -

MSI Cyborg 14-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,099.99 $749.99 at Best Buy
Save $350 - $749.99 is a fantastic price for an RTX 4060 rig, even if you are dropping down to a 512GB SSD to secure it. The Cyborg goes big on its internal components while keeping its price low with a cheaper chassis - perfect for those looking to save some cash.

Specs: Intel i7-13620H | Nvidia RTX 4060 | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | 144Hz FHD+ display

Dell G15 15.6-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,149.99 $849.99 at DellSave $300 -

Dell G15 15.6-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,149.99 $849.99 at Dell
Save $300 - The Dell G15 is a more budget-minded gaming laptop, but it's still looking pretty strong at just $849.99 with a Ryzen 7 7840HS processor and a 165Hz display. Dell is saving you $300 on this rig right now.

Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Nvidia RTX 4060 | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 512GB SSD | 165Hz 1080p display

HP Omen 16.1-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,299.99 $879.99 at Best BuySave $420 -

HP Omen 16.1-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,299.99 $879.99 at Best Buy
Save $420 - This is the lowest price I've ever seen on the 16.1-inch HP Omen RTX 4060, dropping the rig below $900 for the first time. Best Buy has done the honors with this $420 discount, offering up excellent value for anyone after a mid-range configuration.

Specs: Intel i7-13620H | Nvidia RTX 4060 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 165Hz FHD display

Asus TUF A15 15.6-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $1,399.99 $999 at Best BuySave $350 -

Asus TUF A15 15.6-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $1,399.99 $999 at Best Buy
Save $350 - It's back! One of my favorite gaming laptop deals of the last few months, this $999 sales price on the Asus TUF A15, was quickly whisked off the shelves after Black Friday. It's back down to the same spot in current holiday sales.

Specs: Intel i7-13620H | Nvidia RTX 4070 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 144Hz FHD display

Gaming laptop deals under $2,000

Gigabyte 16-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,199.99 $1,049.99 at Best BuySave $150 -

Gigabyte 16-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,199.99 $1,049.99 at Best Buy
Save $150 - Sure, it's only a $150 discount but you're getting a massive 32GB of RAM inside this RTX 4060 Gigabyte gaming laptop. That's plenty of headroom for newer releases, alongside the i7-13620H processor. This model is also generally only ever $100 off.

Specs: Intel i7-13620H | Nvidia RTX 4060 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 165Hz WUXGA display

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 16-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $1,599.99 $1,149.99 at Best BuySave $450 -

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 16-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $1,599.99 $1,149.99 at Best Buy
Save $450 - The older Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 just dropped to a new record-low price, with that $1,149.99 rate going $50 cheaper than ever before. You'll find an RTX 4070 GPU under that hood, complete with some premium design features to boot.

Specs: Intel i7-13620H | Nvidia RTX 4070 | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | 165Hz FHD display

MSI Sword 16-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $1,599.99 $1,149.99 with rebate at NeweggSave $450 -

MSI Sword 16-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $1,599.99 $1,149.99 with rebate at Newegg
Save $450 - Another classic Newegg rebate deal here, you can grab $350 off the RTX 4070 MSI Sword direct on the site, but savings reach $450 with that extra $100 rebate included. Not only are you getting a fantastic spec for your cash there, but this bundle also comes with Ubisoft+ Classic for six months, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Specs: Intel i7-13700HX | Nvidia RTX 4070 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 144Hz FHD+ display

Dell G16 16-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $1,749.99 $1,299.99 at DellSave $450 -

Dell G16 16-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $1,749.99 $1,299.99 at Dell
Save $450 - This is the return of one of our favorite gaming laptop deals - an RTX 4070 Dell G16 for just $1,299.99. This offer only appears rarely, and regularly runs off the shelves particularly quickly.

Specs: Intel i9-13900HX | Nvidia RTX 4070 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 240Hz QHD+ display

HP Omen Transcend 14-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,699.99 $1,299.99 at Best BuySave $400 -

HP Omen Transcend 14-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,699.99 $1,299.99 at Best Buy
Save $400 - The HP Omen Transcend 14 is down to a fantastic price at Best Buy right now, with a $400 discount dropping the RTX 4060 model to $1,299.99. That's the cheapest we've seen this model go for.

Specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Nvidia RTX 4060 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 120Hz 2.8K OLED display

Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 16-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,799.99 $1,599.99 at LenovoSave $200 -

Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 16-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,799.99 $1,599.99 at Lenovo
Save $200 - The Legion 7i Gen 9 is a premium machine (and the best I've tested so far), but this $200 discount grabs you the mid-range RTX 4060 configuration for a good chunk of change less this week. A top of the range Intel i9 processor and high resolution display don't go amiss here either.

Specs: Intel i9-14900HX | Nvidia RTX 4060 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 165Hz 3.2K (3200 x 2000) display

Alienware M18 R2 18-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $2,299.99 $1,899.99 at DellSave $400 -

Alienware M18 R2 18-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptop | $2,299.99 $1,899.99 at Dell
Save $400 - This is a solid price for a massive 18-inch Alienware laptop boasting an RTX 4070 and Intel i7-14700HX. You're getting plenty of power down below, as well as a QHD+ display up top.

Specs: Intel i7-14700HX | Nvidia RTX 4070 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 165Hz QHD+ display

What is considered cheap for a gaming laptop?

Defining a cheap gaming laptop usually comes down to setting a value to the individual parts inside each rig. For example, an RTX 4070 machine with a current-gen i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD is going to be cheap if it's priced around $1,000-$1,500, depending on the chassis itself. However, an RTX 3050 with an i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD would be considered overpriced in this range.

However, a lot of this determination comes from the brand and model. The best Razer laptops, for example, are particularly well-engineered machines with a whole suite of premium features and display technology. That means a 'cheap gaming laptop deal' on one of these rigs will still be a lot more expensive than the average going rate for the specs inside. The same goes for cheap Alienware laptops as well.

Can you buy a gaming laptop for under $500 / £500?

It's becoming increasingly rare to find budget gaming laptops at under $500 / £500, though you may still find some offers in this price range hitting the shelves during larger sales events. The rigs behind these price tags will always be incredibly entry level, though - so it might be worth setting your budget a little higher to truly maximise your value. $500 might get you a lot further when put towards an RTX-enabled configuration than it would in a budget GTX buy.

Which are the best budget gaming laptops?

The best budget gaming laptops right now are the Acer Nitro 5, HP Pavilion Gaming, MSI GF63, and Asus TUF Dash F15. These are all rigs that sacrifice some of the fancier features of more premium chassis' to ensure you're getting great components at an affordable rate.


If you already know which GPU you're after, it's worth checking out our weekly roundups of RTX 3050 laptop deals, RTX 3060 laptops, and RTX 3070 laptop deals. We're also showing you where to find all the latest RTX 3080 laptop deals as well. Once you've snapped up a bargain, it's worth checking our guide to the best laptop backpacks for more accessories.

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Tabitha Baker
Managing Editor - Hardware

Managing Editor of Hardware at 12DOVE, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector.