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Level up with the best gaming laptop deals as low as $569
Between chip shortages and the crypto mining craze, buying a pre-built gaming laptop is the fastest way to get your hands on a new GPU, especially if you want the latest options from vendors including Nvidia.
Gaming laptops tend to be pricey because they demand top graphics cards -- often containing one or two -- high-end processors, strong connectivity features, and quality displays. Together, the cost of these components packaged up in a laptop's chassis means that consumers often feel the sting.
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However, you don't need to pay the typical retail price for a portable gaming rig. If you know where to look, you can uncover hidden gems worth purchasing.
Fortunately, we've combed the internet to find the best bundles and deepest discounts on top brands like Alienware, MSI, and Lenovo. We tell you how much you can save and what to expect from each model, so you can find the right gaming laptop for your play style.
- Current Price: $1439
- Original Price: $2749
Saving over a thousand on the Alienware x15 gaming laptop at Dell is an unreal deal. It's equipped with an Intel Core i7-11800H processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU. The 15.6-inch screen produces 1440p resolution as well as a 240Hz refresh rate and 2ms response time; it also works with G-Sync to prevent screen tearing. Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C ports let you quickly transfer files, charge devices, and even connect external displays for when you need to multitask. It has a commendable 6-hour battery life, so you may want to keep your charging cable handy if you plan on any marathon sessions.
We saw this drop by $800 and have been keeping our eyes on this model for a while because it's such a great option, so we're excited to see it drop even further to the lowest price we've seen. If you're on the fence, Dell offers no interest financing.
Use the coupon AWSMITE09 for a further $160 off the deal price of $1599 (+tax).
- Current Price: $1479
- Original Price: $1849
This high-powered gaming laptop is built with an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU. The 15.6" screen gives you 1440p resolution and is capable of producing up to 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut for ultra lifelike images.
The six integrated speakers work with Dolby Atmos for 3D surround sound without a headset, and the fingerprint reader protects your games and laptop from unauthorized access and logins. On a full charge, you'll get around eight hours of use out of your laptop, which is perfect for intense raids that take all night.
- Current Price: $1329
- Original Price: $1799
The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is currently on sale for $450 off. This gaming laptop has strong technical specifications, and will likely be future-proof for years to come.
If you're looking for an impressive gaming laptop you won't have to replace or upgrade in the near future, consider this Legion model. The Legion 5i Pro runs on Windows 11 Home and is equipped with a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor (up to 3.50/4.70GHz), Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Graphics, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD storage.
The display offers 16" of space at a WQXGA (2560x1600) resolution, IPS, anti-glare, and a refresh rate of 165Hz. You can also choose to upgrade or customize different aspects of this laptop.
Use the e-coupon GAMINGDEALS37 for 25% off the usual $1799 retail price.
- Current Price: $899
- Original Price: $1239
The Acer Predator Helios 300 sits in my office as a powerful Linux machine. Not only is this laptop a robust workhorse in its own right, the device is also a great option for keen gamers.
Currently on sale at B&H, the Windows 10 Predator Helios 300 has a large 15.6" (1920x1080) IPS screen for immersive gameplay (144Hz), a 2.3GHz Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Graphics, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. Plus, the RGB backlit keyboard is a nice touch.
- Current Price: $569
- Original Price: $1019
Acer produces robust gaming laptops, and the Nitro range is no exception. You can save a few hundred dollars by picking up this refurbished model on a discount at Target. An Acer Nitro 5 for under $600 is certainly worth investigating.
This Windows 10 Home model comes with a 15.6" (1920x1080) display, 10th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage.
How did we choose these products?
When researching the best gaming laptop deals, we considered various factors, including tech specs and price points. While every gamer would no doubt love to have the newest and most powerful machines, chip shortages can impact availability. Plus, affordability can be a deciding factor -- especially with the uncertainty of the global economy.
What defines a gaming laptop?
Gaming laptops are designed to run power-hungry applications. These include gaming services, dedicated platforms like Steam, and individual games loaded onto a PC.
The specifications in a gaming laptop focus on several things: a high-power display with a decent refresh rate and resolution, dedicated graphics cards, quality processors, and a fair amount of storage. They may also have keyboards and other peripherals included that are designed with gaming functionality in mind, whether by the way of backlighting or programmable keys.
What specifications are the most important in a gaming laptop?
The first consideration is whether or not a laptop has the right specs to run your software. Many games will come with a recommended specifications list on PCs, and out of these, the processor, RAM (memory), and graphics card capabilities are the most important.
What else do I need when I buy a gaming laptop?
You might want to consider purchasing a gaming mouse, as they can be programmed to perform specific actions based on your clicks. Plus, they can make gaming a more enjoyable experience -- or, as is the case for speedruns, make those important actions as fast as possible.
You may also want to investigate comfortable gaming headsets for a more immersive experience.
Are there any alternatives worth considering?
Laptops suitable for gaming come out every year, ranging from those geared toward professional gamers to safe options for children. Deals on gaming laptops are constantly changing, and so aside from our top picks above, you should consider checking out our other finds below:
Interested in more tech deals and reviews? Subscribe to the ZDNet Recommends newsletter and let our expert reviewers scour the internet for only the top products, services, and deals for you.
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