The best Black Friday gaming laptop deals 2024: all the biggest sales still live this weekend

A serious saving on the sensational Strix

Well, what have we here? Is that a record low price I’m seeing on the RTX 4060 version of the Asus ROG Strix G16? Spoiler: Yes, it is. This powerful machine from a highly-respected manufacturer is cheaper than ever as part of the Black Friday sale, so now’s the time to dive in if you want a high-end device. Want more info? Check out our Asus ROG Strix G16 review.

Asus ROG Strix G16 16-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,399.99 $1,099.99 at Amazon

Here we go – the Black Friday sale has begun!

Morning everyone! The GamesRadar+ team and I are back at it now that Black Friday has finally rocked up to the party. With the sale officially upon us and the ‘early’ discounts done, I’m hoping we’re going to see some tempting reductions. Let’s dive in!

Should you buy a gaming handheld instead?

Handheld PCs are catching up to gaming laptop prices, and fast – but they offer a slightly different experience that might be better suited to your playstyle. If you’re a more casual player who also prefers a traditional controller over a mouse and keyboard, they’re well worth investigating. My personal favorite, the Asus ROG Ally Z1E, is down to just $499.99 at Best Buy right now – and it’s seen me through multiple heavier games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Fallout 4. You’re not going to get the high-end performance of an RTX 4080 GPU in here, but you will get a much more comfortable, portable, and versatile experience. Most handhelds can be docked for play with a mouse and keyboard, and generally all feature additional mappable back buttons to the rear as well.

If you’re going all-out on framerates in more competitive endeavours, I would still stick to a gaming laptop. There’s a surprising amount of power in these handhelds, but not enough to see you through more demanding or fast-paced gaming.

Asus ROG Ally Z1E | $649.99 $499.99 at Best Buy

One of my favorite Black Friday gaming laptop deals just ran out of stock

So long, by dual-screened friend. The RTX 4080 Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo just ran out of stock at Best Buy. The $800 discount on the super impressive two-screen affair proved a little too appealing, with the $2,699.99 sales price leaving the shelves before tomorrow’s Black Friday gaming laptop deals have even begun. I’ll be keeping a close eye out for more stock, but Amazon only has the 2022 models on the shelves and Newegg only has a more expensive $3,199 model available.

While it’s considerably more than Best Buy’s configuration, that Ryzen 9 version is worth a look if you’re on the hunt for the Duo today. It’s packing a 4TB SSD and 64GB RAM so your cash is being put to good use.

Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (RTX 4080) | $3,999 $3,199 at Newegg

Which gaming laptop should you buy on Black Friday?

There are three gaming laptops I’m particularly hyped about this Black Friday. TL;DR it’s the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9, Asus TUF A15, and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

The Legion sits at the top of this little price pyramid, but it’s the best gaming laptop I’ve tested yet. Pairing a fantastic display with performance that easily edges above the rest in its GPU class, and doing it all without topping the price charts, this is a laptop for those looking to invest – but not with crazy amounts.

If you are after something a little cheaper, the Asus TUF A15 is my top budget pick. This is a machine that prioritizes its component power over fancier features like high-end display technology and more premium chassis designs. It means you’re still getting a great gaming experience at an affordable price, without spending on extras you might not necessarily need.

In between these two, we have the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. It’s a more portable machine, with a slick ultrabook style chassis, which means its slimline form factor won’t have you chasing the same framerates as the Lenovo. However, with its OLED display and premium build, this is the perfect work / play hybrid device that can still pack punch.

The Alienware x14 seems to have quietly disappeared

The last time I saw the Alienware x14 in Dell’s Black Friday gaming laptop deals was when the RTX 4050 version dropped below $1,000 for the first time back in October. Since then, this super-thin machine has been absent from the shelves. Checking back, the offer that was previously live was sitting on a machine that’s been pulled from Dell’s site entirely. Considering this was one my favorite Alienware gaming laptops on the market, I’m a little concerned we won’t see any major savings on the compact rig this year.

PSA: Most gaming laptops come with free Game Pass Ultimate these days

Game Pass Ultimate completely changed how I play PC games, and the subscription now comes free with pretty much every gaming laptop you’ll find on the shelves this Black Friday. Be sure to redeem it once you’ve ripped that shiny new machine out of its box – you’ll get access to the entire Game Pass library for a trial amount of time. The length of the freebie does depend on the price of your deal. Most machines ship with one month included, but I still see some higher-priced models coming with three months of the service instead.

This RTX 4070 MSI Katana 15 AI just appeared at Amazon as well

It’s a good hour for the MSI Katana, Amazon just listed a brand new Black Friday gaming laptop deal on the RTX 4070 model. If you’re after a slimline experience but still want the power of that mid-range GPU these are the exact kinds of offers you should be on the lookout for. A Ryzen 9 processor, 32GB RAM, and a 165Hz QHD display put this $1,299.99 machine a cut above the rest right now, with a record-low price up for grabs.

MSI Katana 15 (RTX 4070) | $1,699.99 $1,299.99 at Amazon

I’ve just noticed this MSI Katana listed as ‘New’ at Best Buy

There’s no saving live, but Best Buy has just dropped an older RTX 4060 configuration of the MSI Katana on its shelves. I’d keep an eye on this one – there could be a larger price cut on its way. This isn’t a new release (one look at the i7-13620H processor tells us that), so the yellow-label store could well be gearing up for another round of discounts today.

MSI Katana (RTX 4060) | $1,099.99 at Best Buy

How cheap is too cheap?

The MSI Thin 15 is the cheapest gaming laptop deal I would recommend this Black Friday. Its RTX 4050 configuration is down to just $599.99 at Best Buy, packing an Intel i5-13420H processor, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Those are workable specs for an entry level rig, provided you play lighter games more casually and don’t mind tinkering with a few settings in more demanding experiences. The only machine I’ve found that’s cheaper than that is the HP Victus 15, but I’d strongly recommend against this $429.99 sale price.

You’re only getting 8GB RAM under the hood here and more and more games are starting to require 16GB as a minimum. This machine isn’t future-proofed and you’ll be replacing it much sooner than the MSI above. It might be tempting to go for an impossibly low price this Black Friday, but knowing where the value lies is key to picking up the best deals possible.

MSI Thin 15 (RTX 4050) | $899.99 $599.99 at Best Buy

This RTX 4070 Lenovo Legion Pro comes with 32GB RAM

This is one of the highest value Black Friday gaming laptop deals I’ve come across so far this year, a $400 discount on the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i. It’s not quite the brand’s flagship, but if my experience with the Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 is anything to go by, these guys know how to make a gaming laptop. Today’s offer sits on an RTX 4070 configuration, packing an Intel i9-14900HX processor, 32GB RAM, and 2TB SSD for only $1,499.99. That’s a price I rarely see on a machine with all that power – you’d usually settle for 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD at this rate.

Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (RTX 4070) | $1,899.99 $1,499.99 at Best Buy

Which size gaming laptop should you buy?

Black Friday gaming laptop deals are primarily focused around three sizes; super portable 14-inch, middle child 16-inch, and desktop-replacing 18-inch rigs. Working out which size suits your playstyle best comes down to where you want to play and how much power you need.

A 14-inch gaming laptop is best for those who want a machine to connect to a monitor setup at home, but easily travel with for work or play on the go. These rigs tend to offer slimline chassis’ with more of a focus on style and display quality than raw power. The slimmer build means you drop a few framerates compared to larger models with better cooling, but if you prioritize functionality over pure speed they’re a go-to.

16-inch models still come in easily portable form factors but also offer larger chassis and some chunkier shapes that lend themselves better to higher framerates. Most gaming laptops occupy this middle ground, pairing a good-sized display with a range of configuration options.

18-inch gaming laptops can fully replace a desktop setup. They’re pretty much deskbound but not just because of the actual screen size, these rigs are often built thicker and with more weight to them. They prioritize performance first and foremost – even an RTX 4070 GPU is going to perform better in an 18-inch chassis.

The Dell G16 is packing some serious value right now

The Dell G16 is a firm favorite of mine – an affordable rig that puts component value at the forefront of its design and regularly sees hefty price cuts, what’s not to love. Take this RTX 4070 model, for example. You’re picking up a super powerful i9-13900HX processor, a previous generation CPU that sits at the top of its chain and still offers incredible power by today’s standards. Thrown in with that you’re getting an RTX 4070 GPU, a massive 32GB RAM, and a QHD+ 240Hz display. Those are specs of a much more expensive machine – I usually see these kinds of rigs on the shelves for between $1,500 and $2,000. Dell has its G16 available for just $1,299.99 right now.

Dell G16 (RTX 4070) | $1,899.99 $1,299.99 at Dell

Save $600 on an OLED Razer Blade 16

I’ve covered 4K gaming laptops, but OLED – now OLED is a different matter. 2024 was the first real year of these high-end displays making their way into our portable rigs, with Razer leading the charge on its Blade 16 machine. Developed with Samsung, this is the best display I’ve ever used on a gaming laptop, with incredibly punchy colors, super precise contrast, and excellent brightness overall. It still runs at a speedy 240Hz to boot!

The Razer Blade 16 is my favorite 16-inch machine on the market, but it does come with that brand tax. The RTX 4080 configuration started life at $3,599.99 earlier in the year but Best Buy has a hearty $600 discount available today. That brings this high-end version down to just $2,999.99 – the cheapest I’ve ever seen it.

Razer Blade 16 (RTX 4080) | $3,599.99 $2,999.99 at Best Buy

Should you buy a 4K gaming laptop?

I’ve tested more than a few 4K gaming laptops in my time, but it’s only with the most recent generation of RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 mobile GPUs that they’ve felt actually playable. These are premium machines still – that UHD display requires a top of the range graphics card to keep everything running smoothly, as well as the CPU and RAM to support it. However, with DLSS 3 and other upscaling features that portable 4K display is more of a reality now than it ever has been.

In practice – very few players should be looking to buy a 4K gaming laptop this Black Friday. I’ve recently spent a considerable amount of time testing two UHD machines; the $5K MSI Titan 18 HX and the slightly cheaper MSI Raider 18 HX. These are the only rigs I’ve ever used that have provided smooth 4K framerates, and they need high-end components and massive 18-inch chassis’ to get you there. Even then, performance is still heavily influenced by the individual games you’re playing.

In short, you’ll already know if you need to buy a 4K gaming laptop. If you’re a content creator who needs as many pixels as possible, and also wants to run a few games on the side then investing in a UHD machine could well pay off. If you just want to run your PC games from a portable machine, you’re going to have a much better time with a QHD panel.

After an RTX 4070 gaming laptop? I’d definitely consider this machine first

The Asus TUF A15 is the cheapest RTX 4070 gaming laptop I’ve come across. Not just on Black Friday – ever. With $400 off the $1,399.99 MSRP, Best Buy has a record-low price on this i7 configuration – dropping it all the way down to just $999.99. That’s exceedingly rare – I’ve only seen this offer once or twice in the past, and that was only recently. It just so happens to sit on my favorite budget gaming laptop of the lot, a rig that works hard to pack component value over frilly extras while still offering a strong build quality.

Asus TUF A15 (RTX 4070) | $1,399.99 $999.99 at Best Buy

PSA: Keep an eye on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

I’ve seen the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 on Best Buy’s discount shelves far too often for it to not take part in this week’s Black Friday gaming laptop deals. This RTX 4060 configuration has sailed down to $1,249.99 on a number of occasions over the course of 2024 – and yet it’s still stuck at its full $1,599.99 MSRP. I don’t trust it.

I’d recommend keeping a close eye on this rig tomorrow – Best Buy could be playing the long game on this one.

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | $1,599.99 at Best Buy (Record: $1,249.99)

Where should you be looking for Black Friday gaming laptop deals?

There are three main retailers I always look to for high quality gaming laptop deals; Newegg, Best Buy, and Dell.

The first is a PC-specialist, focusing on laptops, desktops, components, monitors, and everything that connects them all together. That means you’ll find a massive range of brands, makes, and models on these shelves – often with additional rebate discounts or free games included. I find Newegg to be particularly strong for RTX 4070 and RTX 4080 gaming laptops at prices Best Buy and Amazon can’t quite seem to reach, but RTX 4060 configurations have surprised me here this week as well. Just watch out – the size of this retailer’s inventory means its gaming laptops can be pretty old – make sure you’re picking up at least a 13th generation processor.

Next up we have Best Buy, where you won’t find the same number of products on the shelves but each gaming laptop is far more curated. Where Newegg stocks lesser known brands and older configurations, Best Buy keeps its stock much more focused. I’d recommend heading here if this is your first gaming laptop and you’re not sure what constitutes the best value just yet.

Best Buy also regularly offers free pickup, making it a go-to retailer if you don’t want to wait for delivery, though shipping is free once you get into gaming laptop price territory. Extra discounts can sometimes be found through free subscriptions (most often to anti-virus or additional savings on accessories), but there are no extra coupon codes or rebates available on the site itself.

Dell is, obviously, focused on its own models – but I regularly find some of the cheapest Black Friday gaming laptop deals on these shelves. The G16 is well-known for offering rock bottom prices on rigs that prioritize component value over fancier features, but this is also the best place to find Alienware discounts as well.

Should you buy an RTX 30-Series gaming laptop this Black Friday?

I’m seeing a number of older RTX 30-Series rigs doing the rounds in this year’s Black Friday gaming laptop deals, but I’d recommend steering clear for now. Cheaper RTX 3050 machines don’t offer the same value as only slightly more expensive RTX 40-Series models, and the rare RTX 3080 and RTX 3070 rigs that are still out there are underpowered compared to their current-generation equivalents. It’s possible to still spend a considerable amount of money on these older machines, but that cash is much better spent when put towards a new generation device.

Do you need a high-speed gaming laptop display?

Black Friday gaming laptop deals encompass rigs from all walks of life, which means you’ll find super-fast 480Hz panels right next to more modest 120Hz or 144Hz screens on the shelves. It can be tough to work out the right refresh rate for your needs, but I’ll try and simplify it as quick as I can.

Only ultra-competitive players are going to notice the benefit of moving past a 240Hz screen. That’s the sweet spot for high-end configurations, and rigs offering 300Hz or 480Hz rates will be sacrificing resolution to get there. If you’re a more casual player picking up an RTX 4060 or RTX 4050 gaming laptop, 144Hz is more than enough – especially if you only plan on playing lighter games.

This massive 18-inch Alienware gaming laptop is now $900 off

Dell has a huge $900 discount on the Alienware M18 R2 right now, dropping the RTX 4090 configuration down to $2,899.99. That’s a rare sub-$3,000 price tag on a top of the range flagship, so if you’re looking to maximise speed it’s not a deal I’d take for granted. This model packs everything you could ask for with an i9-14900HX processor, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD and a QHD+ display. That’s perfect for playing demanding games at high settings.

Alienware M18 R2 | $3,799.99 $2,899.99 at Dell

Watch out for these gaming laptop configurations

Cheap Black Friday gaming laptop deals are always well worth a look – it’s surprising how low some configurations will drop during these holiday sales. But there’s always one spec I check first when the price looks suspiciously low – RAM. Yes, back in the day 8GB could see you through the latest and greatest titles no problem. I remember when we used to recommend 4GB RAM as the minimum! But these days you really should be looking for rigs with at least 16GB of memory to play with.

While fewer games require this amount now, there are plenty that do and that number is going to grow over the next few years. If you want your investment to last, it’s well worth future-proofing.

It’s go time! We’re now just hours away from official Black Friday gaming laptop deals landing on the shelves – and with retailers like Best Buy, Newegg, Walmart, and Amazon all splashing their discounts over the last few weeks things are heating up. I’ve been scurrying around the web for weeks finding all the biggest Black Friday gaming laptop deals – but that will all come to a head tomorrow. Stick with me as we roll through the final two days of the sale.