The best cheap gaming laptop deals for February 2023: affordable options for all budgets up to $1,000

You’ll find all of this week’s best cheap gaming laptop deals lined up and compared right here on this page. We’ve factored in a range of budgets to come up with some recommendations that we think, in our opinion, offer the very best bang for the buck. Regardless of whether you’re looking to spend as little as possible or have a bit of cash lying around for something with some power, we’ve tried to find recommendations that cover all bases here. In particular, we’ve focused on tried-and-tested models that we’ve personally reviewed (and loved) here at TechRadar.

Our cheap gaming laptop deals recommendations focus on sales from trusted retailers like Amazon, Dell, HP, Best Buy, and a few other wild-cards as well. Of course, we’re always scanning these retailers’ pages every week so we don’t miss a single sale, and we’re always comparing their offerings to weed out any sub-par choices.

Brand-wise, you’ll find worthy machines from gaming laptop deals veterans like Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and Asus, though we never let big brand recognition totally sway our choices – value for money is the most important factor. Speaking of value, you’ll find listings ranging all the way from around $600 to $1,000 with our choices, with plenty of options should you want to spend a little more to score yourself one of the machines reviewed on our best gaming laptop (opens in new tab) buyers guide.

And if you get stuck or need some additional guidance, simply scroll down to our cheap gaming laptop deals FAQ section. There, you’ll find unbiased advice from TechRadar’s experts to get you up to speed if you don’t know your RAM from your refresh rate. It’ll also help you out if you’re not sure how much to spend.

Cheap gaming laptop deal of the week

MSI GF65 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $806 now $745.42 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

This MSI GF65 is one of the cheapest RTX 3060 gaming laptop deals you’ll find right now and it’s an easy recommendation if you’re looking for a nice balance of power and price. With a powerful GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD, this is a great machine for the money – slightly older processor aside. Note, we’ve seen this one listed for as low as $738 before but it’s still a great buy at this slightly higher price.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gaming laptop deals under $700

MSI GF63 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $619 now $589.99 at Newegg (opens in new tab)
Processor: Intel Core i5-11400H
Graphics card: GTX 1650
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 256GB

The cheapest of the cheap, this MSI GF63 is going to get you gaming with the basics if you’re strictly on a budget this week. A GTX 1650 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and an Intel Core 11400H processor mean this one is definitely on the old side now, but it will still play a large number of older and more casual titles. Definitely expect to lower your graphical settings right down with this machine, however.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐

HP Victus 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $799 now $635.99 at Walmart (opens in new tab)
Processor: Intel Core i5-12450H
Graphics card: GTX 1650
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

We’ve seen this HP Victus go for as low as $579 in recent weeks but at $60 more, it’s still a pretty decent gaming laptop deal all around. For the price, the GTX 1650 graphics card is a little on the older side but the 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and Intel Core i5-12450H processor are all great for the money. The CPU in particular is one of the latest models from Intel and should afford a decent level of performance in not just gaming, but everyday applications too.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Dell G15 gaming laptop: was $849.99 now $649.99 at Dell (opens in new tab)
Processor: Intel Core i5-12500H
Graphics card: RTX 3050
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 256GB

The best gaming laptop deal over at the official Dell store this week is on this entry-level G15 model. Featuring an RTX 3050 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and an Intel Core i5-12500H processor, this particular model has some really great up-to-date specs for the money. The only downside? The 256GB SSD is on the small side for a storage drive these days – and there are relatively cheap RTX 3050 Ti gaming laptops for just a little bit more cash this week (see below).

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15.6-inch gaming laptop: $664.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5-5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3050 Ti
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 256GB

This Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 features an RTX 3050 Ti graphics card – a pretty rare component to find for under a $700 budget. Generally speaking, this should give you a slight bump in gaming performance over the standard RTX 3050 variant – although there is a slight drawback in the way that this machine only features a smaller 256GB SSD. If this is too little storage for you, consider spending a little bit more to get a machine with a larger 512GB drive.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lenovo Legion 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: $697 at Walmart (opens in new tab)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5-5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3050 Ti
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

We’re closing out this budget bracket with the best gaming laptop deal of them all (for under $700, anyway). This Lenovo Legion 5 at Walmart not only features a speedy RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, but 8GB of RAM, a Ryzen 5 5600H processor, and a spacious 512GB SSD. Spec for spec, this is definitely the best option out of all the above so we recommend it if you can make that budget stretch a little bit further this week. Note, this machine is also on sale at Amazon for the same price (opens in new tab).

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gaming laptop deals under $800

MSI GF65 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $806 now $745.42 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $1,049 now $749.99 at Acer (opens in new tab)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 256GB

Another really cheap gaming laptop deal with an RTX 3060 graphics card is this heavily reduced Acer Nitro 5 at the official Acer store. This one pretty much has the same specs as the MSI just above with the exception of a smaller 256GB SSD. Because of this, we’d rank it slightly behind the MSI, although it’s a really strong backup choice if you want a machine with a powerful graphics card on a relatively tight budget.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gaming laptop deals under $900

Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $999 now $844 at Walmart (opens in new tab)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

This Acer Nitro 5 has been around $100 cheaper over the past six months or so but it’s still a worthy pick as one of the cheapest RTX 3060 gaming laptop deals you’ll find online. This speedy GPU, alongside a Ryzen 5-5600H processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD makes this one a fair performer for the price and a decent option at $800. We’d have loved to have seen a full 16GB set of RAM in this one but that’s a fairly cheap upgrade as a side note.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gaming laptop deals under $1,000

Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: $929 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

While this Acer Nitro 5 at Amazon doesn’t feature a discount this week, you’re still paying a fair price considering you’re getting an RTX 3060 graphics card, Ryzen 5-5600H processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. While there are slightly cheaper RTX 3060 gaming laptop deals on the market right now, this one features great out-the-box performance.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

MSI Katana GF66 15.6-inch gaming laptop: $999 at Walmart (opens in new tab)
Processor: Intel Core i7-12700H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

This MSI Katana is arguably on the pricier end for an RTX 3060 gaming laptop deal these days but this particular model comes with an Intel Core i7-12700H, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. These are really great specs backing up that RTX 3060 and definitely give this one an edge versus the cheaper listings out there that are also featuring this mid-range GPU.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gaming laptop deals over $1000

Asus ROG Zephyrus 14 gaming laptop: was $1,649 now $1,099.99 at Best Buy (opens in new tab)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 9-6900HS
Graphics card: Radeon RX 6700S
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 1TB

One of the best higher-end gaming laptop deals at Best Buy this week is on this heavily reduced Asus Zephyrus G14. This small but mighty laptop is one of our favorites here at TechRadar and this model with a Ryzen 9-6900HS, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, Radeon RX 6700S, and 1TB SSD gets the double thumbs-up from us. These are superb specs for the price and the excellent design and 1440p display make this one an easy recommendation.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MSI Sword 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was $1,599 now $1,199.99 at Best Buy (opens in new tab)
Processor: Intel Core i7-12650H
Graphics card: RTX 3070 Ti
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 1TB

A huge $400 discount makes this MSI Sword a much cheaper buy this week at Best Buy. If you’re looking for some serious power then this one is a great choice thanks to its RTX 3070 Ti, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an Intel Core i7-12650H to top it all off. Put together, these are really great specs at this price point and should have no issues maxing out most titles.

Deal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Buying advice

Two alienware gaming laptops on teal and grey background with techradar logo

(Image credit: Future)

Mục Lục

How to get a cheap (but good) gaming laptop

1. Determine how much power you need

You’ll be able to play a surprisingly large amount of titles well with an RTX 3050 gaming laptop

First thing’s first, make a list of all the games you’re planning on playing with your shiny new gaming laptop. Got your list ready? Good. You’ll now need to determine the recommended and minimum specs for each of your titles. We’d recommend looking your list of games up on the Steam web store as it has a very easily visible list of minimum specs for each title. If you’re buying on behalf of a friend or child, get them to list their favorite games out for you and take it from there.

As a general rule of thumb, the older the game, the less power you’ll need. If you’re planning on playing strategy games, eSports titles, or indie games then you might find that a machine with an RTX 3050 or similar entry-level graphics card is more than enough. Conversely, if you’re looking to play CyberPunk 2077 or a similar big studio blockbuster title on max graphical settings, then you’ll probably want to look at a machine with an RTX 3070 graphics card or equivalent. Again, use the games recommended specs as general guide line for how much grunt you’ll need.

It’s worth noting that you’ll be able to play a surprisingly large amount of titles well with an RTX 3050 gaming laptop. Just because it’s a budget option doesn’t mean it’ll exclude you from playing all the latest games. Just remember though, you may have to sacrifice a fair amount of graphical fidelity to get those games running smoothly.

2. Set your budget

We’d recommend spending somewhere between $650 to $850 for a first time buyer

Ok, so you’ve got your wish list of specs. Now let’s set a budget and go from there. You may find that your budget is bang on for your requirements here. Conversely, it could be the case that the machine of your dreams is a little out of your budget range, for now at least.

As a starting point, we’d recommend spending somewhere between $650 to $850 for a first time buyer. Most of the best ‘bang for the buck’ machines tend to land within this budget range, with fairly decent graphics cards for 1080p gaming. Cheaper options do crop up occasionally, but often feature older specs and smaller storage. Your mileage may vary, but we’d generally recommend spending a bit more if you can to get a machine that will last a few more years down the line.

3. Shop around… or let us do it for you

Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Dell, and HP are the best retailers

Now you’re clued in and know what you need, it’s time to shop around. In the US, the best retailers to check for gaming laptop deals are Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Dell, and HP, all of which will have fairly cheap machines up for grabs at any one time. Patience will be rewarded here, especially if you’re coming up to a big sales event like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday. Before you jump in, it’s always worth it staking out a listing and seeing if the other retailers are offering something better.

Alternatively, you can simply bookmark this page and let us do all the hard work for you. We update this page every week, generally on a Monday or Tuesday with the best gaming laptop deals we can find – many of which we’ve personally tested here at TechRadar.

What specs are most important?

Prioritize these specs

(Image credit: Future)

1. Graphics card (GPU)
2. Processor (CPU)
3. RAM
4. Storage
5. Display

The graphics card is by far the most important component for gaming laptop deals in 2022. It’s the heart of the machine and the part that’s most responsible for pushing out smooth gameplay. If you’re going for maximum bang for the buck, you’ll generally want to prioritize getting a better GPU over other components.

That’s not to say the other specs aren’t important though. The processor is going to be responsible for fast loading times, smooth general use, and supporting your graphics card in game. It’s the second most important component to prioritise, and, depending on your game, can make a huge difference to your overall performance. The RAM is also an essential supporting component for boosting frames per second and loading times in game. We would, however, rank it third in importance because it’s fairly cheap and easy to upgrade this component yourself with a bit of know how.

Depending on your use case, we’d rank the storage and screen as the next important specs to consider. Both of these are more quality of life improvements but there are many gamers who consider a 512GB SSD, for example, to be an essential requirement for a laptop. Some budget laptops will ship with 256GB storage drives, which isn’t enough to hold more than a few modern games at once, depending on genre. The overall quality of screen, and especially refresh rate, is obviously important if you’re going to be primarily using your laptop as is without an external monitor. As a general rule of thumb, we’d say go for a display with a refresh rate of 120Hz or greater. It’s extremely rare to find a 60Hz monitor on a gaming laptop these days but they’re best avoided if possible as this will make your gameplay feel sluggish in comparison.

What are the bare minimum specs?

This is completely subjective, depending on what type of games you want to play and what kind of level of performance you want. Just for good measure however, we’d recommend the following as a minimum if you’re strictly on a budget:

Minimum – Intel Core i5 (10th gen) / AMD Ryzen 5 (3rd gen) processor or later
Minimum – Nvidia GTX 1650 / AMD RX 5500 graphics card or later
Minimum – 8GB of RAM
Optional – 512GB solid-state drive
Optional – 120Hz refresh rate display monitor

Anything lower than the above and you’ll tend to struggle with modern games at 1080p settings. You can, of course, get away with lower-level or older components if you’re just planning on playing older games, but for new releases, definitely consider the above as a bare minimum.

Can I get a gaming laptop deal for under $500?

Unlikely, to be honest. There are occasional listings on Walmart especially that get close to $500 but they often feature last-gen components and are often not the best value in context. At any one time you’ll often also find third-party listings on Amazon, eBay, or Newegg that advertise ‘gaming laptops’ but are in fact office computers or ultrabooks. If the laptop being advertised doesn’t have a dedicated graphics card like an Nvidia RTX or AMD Radeon RX then it’s a dead give away that it’s being falsely advertised as a gaming laptop. Usually these listings may run from around $350 to $600, which is suspiciously cheap for a gaming laptop. In general, our advice is to ignore these third party listings like the plague.

When’s the best time to pick up a gaming laptop deal?

Luckily for gamers on a budget, gaming laptop deals tend to be a weekly feature over at most of the big retailers so there’s always plenty to chose from. That said, there are definitely high points throughout the year, namely big sales events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime day which can yield great results for those willing to wait. And as several of our picks from this week show, Labor Day sales have provided some excellent savings, as well.

Our top tip – do your research. Narrow down which model and specs you want and check-in at your favorite retailers each week. Alternatively, let TechRadar simply do all the work for you and become a regular visitor to this page or our dedicated deals feed (opens in new tab).