The best cheap gaming laptop deals in January 2022
Cheap gaming laptop deals are the best way to get into PC gaming for less in the new year. Whether you've got your heart set on a budget machine for casual experiences, or looking to get one of the best gaming laptops at reduced rates, we're seeing discounts hitting the full range right now.
We've capped our search for cheap gaming laptop deals at a budget of $2,000 / £2,000, and split our findings for those true bargain hunters (under $1,000) and those looking to add a little extra value to their price tag. If you're on the hunt for gaming laptop deals under $1,000, you'll be browsing GTX and budget RTX cards like the 3050, 3050Ti, and the odd 3060, with 8-16GB RAM and 256GB-512GB SSD storage.
Moving further into the $1,000 / £1,000 price category, though, and the lucky among us will find more budget gaming laptops with RTX 3070 cards - while we've even seen cheap RTX 3080 machines hitting under $2,000 / £2,000 as well. We'd aim for no less than 16GB RAM when browsing gaming laptop deals in this bracket, and you'll be able to grab between 512GB and 1TB of storage as well.
You'll find all our top picks for this week's best cheap gaming laptop deals just below, but if you're after something more permanent we'd also recommend checking out all the latest cheap gaming PC deals.
This week's best cheap gaming laptop deals
Immediately below, we're rounding up the best cheap gaming laptop deals under $1,000, but you'll find machines running up to $2,000 a little further down. This week we're seeing some particularly strong offers on some of the best Alienware laptops around. We're also compiling all the best budget gaming laptops of the week in the UK as well.
Cheap gaming laptop deals under $1,000
Dell G15 15.6-inch GTX 1650 gaming laptop | $1,018.99 $599.99 at Dell
Save $419 - Dell has dropped this entry level rendition of its G15 gaming laptop down to just $599.99 this week. While we certainly haven't seen this configuration anywhere close to that $1,018 MSRP for a while, we still rarely see these machines drop this cheap. You're getting an i5-10500H processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and GTX 1650 graphics card under the hood.
MSI GF63 Thin 15.6-inch GTX 1650 gaming laptop | $645 at Walmart
The GF63 will provide more-than-serviceable performance in Full HD with only a few sliders considered (depending on the intensity of the game). With an i5-10300H processor, GTX 1650 GPU, and 8GB RAM / 256GB of SSD storage, this is certainly an older entry level model though. For reference, Amazon currently has a version of this laptop with a 9th generation processor under the hood for around $50 more.
Dell G15 15.6-inch RTX 3050 Ti gaming laptop | $1,218.99 $699.99 at Dell
Save $519 - There's over $500 off this RTX 3050 Ti gaming laptop at Dell right now, bringing that $1,200 machine down to just $699.99. That's a great price for an RTX 30-Series machine, though we don't expect this configuration has been over $1,000 for a while, considering the 8GB RAM and i5-10500H processor.
MSI GF65 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | $1,099.99 $849.99 at Best Buy
Save $250 - With $250 off the final price, you're picking up an RTX 3060 MSI for just under $850 here - excellent value. This is a smaller spec, to be sure, with 8GB RAM and an i5-10500H, but if you're after a cheaper everyday runner this is an excellent option that we've been seeing closer to $950 over the last few weeks.
Gigabyte G5 15.6-inch RTX 3050Ti gaming laptop | $1,199 $899 (was $100 rebate) at Newegg
Save $300 - If you're after something a little more powerful, you can score 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD in this Gigabyte G5 machine. It's worth noting that on the site you're saving $200 instantly, so you'll need a send off for that $100 rebate in order to secure the full saving here.
MSI GF65 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | $979 at Walmart
While there's no saving explicit here, the MSI GF65 is available for $979 at Walmart this week. That's a great price on a 3060 rig, even if you are dropping other specs to fit that GPU into the price. There's an i5-10500H processor in here with 8GB RAM to support it, which will seem a little weedy compared to gaming laptop deals over $1,000. However, you're still getting 512GB of SSD storage.
MSI Crosshair 15.6-inch gaming laptop | $1,299 $979 at Walmart
Save $320 - With an i7-11800H processor at the helm, there's plenty of value packed into this RTX 3050 MSI Crosshair. A $300 discount means Walmart has shaved this model down to just under $1,000 in its latest gaming laptop deals - great news if you're after a 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD configuration with a 144Hz display.
Gaming laptop deals under $2,000
MSI GF65 Thin 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | $1,299 $1,099 (with $100 rebate) at Newegg
Save $200 - Newegg's $100 rebate brings this MSI Thin down to just $1,099 this week. That means you can pick up an RTX 3060 machine with 10th generation i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD for just a hair over that $1,000 budget.
Alienware M15 R4 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | $2,099.99 $1,199.99 at Dell
Save $900 - You're saving nearly $1,000 on this Alienware M15 R4, which means that $1,199.99 sales price is offering up excellent value. There's an i7-10870H processor running at up to 5.0GHz, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD up for grabs here - all in that classic M15 shell.
Asus ROG 16-inch RTX 3050Ti gaming laptop | $1,449.99 $1,199.99 at Best Buy
Save $250 - This 16-inch Asus ROG machine is $250 off at Best Buy right now, and offers far more than just a larger screen. There's an i7-11800H processor under the hood, with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and a boosted RTX 3050Ti graphics card.
MSI GL66 15.6-inch RTX 3070 gaming laptop | $1,499 $1,349 at Amazon
Save $150 - Amazon has this 3070 MSI GL66 down to just $1,349 this week. That's a 10% discount on the powerful machine, complete with i7-11800H processor, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD.
Asus TUF Dash F15 15.6-inch RTX 3070 gaming laptop | $1,888.50 $1,583.50 at Amazon
Save $305 - The Asus TUF Dash regularly features in the best RTX 3070 laptop deals each week. However, this $300 discount in offering up the lowest price we've seen at Amazon yet. There's a smaller i7-11370H processor at the helm here, but you're also getting 24GB RAM and a 1TB SSD under the hood.
MSI GP66 Leopard 15.6-inch RTX 3080 gaming laptop | $2,299 $1,799 (with $100 rebate) at Newegg
Save $500 - This is the cheapest we've seen an RTX 3080 laptop over the last few months, and you're still getting a solid spec elsewhere, with an i7-11800H processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD.
Gigabyte Aorus 15.6-inch RTX 3080 gaming laptop | $2,349.99 $1,949.99 at Best Buy
Save $400 - The Gigabyte Aorus RTX 3080 gaming laptop is down to $1,949 at Best Buy right now - that's a massive $400 discount on the i7-11800H / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD configuration where previously we were only seeing discounts of $200.
Cheap gaming laptop deals in the UK
Asus TUF FX506LH 15.6-inch GTX 1650 gaming laptop | £749.99 £679.99 at Amazon
Save £70 - If you're after a budget gaming laptop that doesn't necessarily need the high-spec features of more premium machines, this £70 discount on the Asus TUF is looking pretty strong. There's an i5-10300H processor under the hood, with 8GB RAM and GTX 1650 graphics card. However, you're still getting 512GB of SSD storage to bring some value to those lower-end specs.
Lenovo Legion 5 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | £1,099 £899 at Currys
Save £200 - Currys has been offering several gaming laptop deals on the Lenovo Legion line over the last few weeks, bu the retailer has now doubled down on the £100 saving we were previously seeing. That means you can save £200 on this Ryzen 7 Lenovo Legion 5, complete with RTX 3060 GPU and 512GB SSD.
Asus TUF Dash F15 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | £1,019.99 £929 at Very
Save £91 - We were seeing an £899 sales price on this RTX 3060 Asus TUF Dash gaming laptop, but after running out of stock that has now jumped up to £929. We don't know how long this offer will hold out, so we'd recommend moving fast on this i7-11370H, 8GB RAM (upgradeable), 512GB SSD configuration.
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16-inch RTX 3070 gaming laptop | £1,399 £1,199 at Currys
Save £200 - Jumping over the £1,000 boundary brings us to the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro at Currys. You're getting a powerful machine here, kitted out with an RTX 3070 GPU, Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and 165Hz display - all for £200 off in this week's cheap gaming laptop deals.
Asus TUF Dash F15 RTX 3070 15.6-inch gaming laptop | £1,399 £1,149 at Very
Save £250 - The Asus TUF Dash is well known for packing impressive specs into a low price point, and there's no difference with this offer from Very. While the 11th gen i7 processor is only four cores you're still getting an RTX 3070 GPU and 16GB RAM as well.
MSI GP76 17.3-inch RTX 3070 gaming laptop | £1,597 £1,399.97 at Laptops Direct
Save £198 - If you're after a larger display, you'll find the 17.3-inch MSI GP76 for £1,399.97 right now - with free delivery. There's an i7-11800H processor in here, with 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD under the hood, excellent value for nearly £200 off.
MSI GP66 Leopard 15.6-inch RTX 3080 gaming laptop | £2,199 £1,899 at Laptops Direct
Save £300 - This one is selling fast, but you can pick up an MSI GP66 RTX 3080 laptop for just £1,899 right now. Amazon still has a price tag well over £2,000 on similar builds to this, which means you're getting an excellent deal on a fully loaded GPU with an i7-11800H processor, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
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 3070 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 may 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.
However, if you're simply after the cheapest starter laptop you can find, it's worth aiming at a GTX 1650 or GTX 1650Ti rig with an i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD for between $500 and $600 (£500-£600).
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 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.
Where to find more cheap gaming laptop deals
Cheap gaming laptop retailers:
US: Best Buy | Dell | Amazon | Walmart | Newegg| Adorama
UK: Amazon | Currys | Argos | Very | Overclockers UK | Laptopsdirect | Box
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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