Prime Day is always a fantastic time to buy a gaming laptop, and this year will be no different. Prime Day deals can be extensive on gaming laptops, whether you’re looking for something dirt cheap or something high-end.
The problem? Prime Day gaming laptop deals will be numerous, but not all of them are ones you should buy. Here’s everything you need to know about which to purchase and which to avoid.
Budget level gaming laptops
The best gaming laptops aren’t always cheap, and that’s because gaming laptops themselves tend to be more expensive than your average laptop. They come with higher-wattage processors and discrete graphics card, as well as features like higher refresh rate screens.
But don’t worry. There are plenty of gaming laptops under $1,000 that should do the trick, so long as you look out for the right things.
There are two key specs to look out for when it comes to gaming laptops. The first (and most obvious) spec is the graphics card. The Nvidia GTX 1650 is the low-end of what we would consider a graphics powerful enough for a gaming laptop. You won’t be overly impressed by the performance with that GPU though. You’ll need to play at Medium settings, and even then, your frame rates may not average 60 fps (frames per second). Don’t even bother with something like the GTX 1050.
However, bump that up to a GTX 1650 Ti or GTX 1660 Ti, and you’ll be a bit happier. It’ll break over the $1,000 price point, but if you’re able to snag a gaming laptop with the RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti, you’ll enjoy much more impressive frame rates.
The other important spec to keep in mind is refresh rate. All gaming laptops under $1,000 are 1080p, of course, but you should be looking for a higher refresh rate than 60Hz.
Some examples of gaming laptops under $1,000 include the Dell G5 SE (Radeon RX 5600M, Ryzen 5 4600H), Lenovo Legion 5 (GTX 1660 Ti, Ryzen 5 4600H), and Asus TUF Gaming (GTX 1650 Ti, Core i5-10300H).
High-end gaming laptops
Beyond $1,000, the world of high-end gaming performance is opened up to you. The RTX 3060, 3070 and 3080 are immensely powerful, and can even enable 1440p or 4K gaming at high frame rates.
The Razer Blade 15 is the best gaming laptop in this category, offering an amazingly sleek design with great performance. The MSI GS66 Stealth and Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 are both solid alternatives to the Razer Blade, offering comparable performance in a similar form factor.
If you want something even more compact, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 or the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE are both 14-inch gaming laptops with up to an RTX 3060. These are both amazingly small, yet get incredible performance.
If all you care about is absolute performance, though, you’ll want to opt for something thicker and larger like the MSI GE66 Raider, Asus ROG Zephyrus S17, or the Alienware Area-51m.
In the higher-end gaming laptops, the graphics cards and screens are still the two most important specs to keep in mind. But as long as you get something with a 30-series graphics card and a refresh rate over 60Hz, you’ll at least be fairly satisfied with the gaming performance.
Today’s best gaming laptop deals
If you can’t wait until Prime Day, there are several fantastic gaming laptop deals you can shop right now. We’ve rounded up the best below.
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Gateway Creator Series Laptop (Ryzen 5 CPU, GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
$749 $899
This laptop is a great option for a gaming upgrade. With its spacious 15-inch display, GRX 1650 graphics, and Ryzen 5 processor, it will be able to handle all but the most demanding of tasks.
Buy at Walmart
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Dell Laptops, Gaming PCs & Monitors
SAVE UP TO $1,280
Whether you’re after a shiny new laptop, gaming PC, monitor, or mouse and keyboard, you’ll find it in the discount bin the Dell Memorial Day Sale. Hurry though: The best deals are in short supply.
Shop Now
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Lenovo Legion 5 Laptop (Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM, GTX 1650 Ti, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD)
$789 $899
With a Ryzen 5 processor and GTX 1650 Ti graphics, this 15-inch gaming laptop will handle modern games very nicely, with plenty of storage as a nice bonus.
Buy at Walmart
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HP Pavilion 16 (Core i5, GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
$699 $799
The HP Pavilion is a great entry-level gaming laptop. With the GeForce GTX 1650 and Ryzen 5 processor, you’ll be able to play today’s games without spending too much money on a laptop.
Buy at HP
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Lenovo Legion Y540 Nvidia RTX 2060 Gaming Laptop (Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
$1,090 $1,299
Equipped with a Core i5 processor, Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU, and 12GB of RAM, this beefy Legion gaming laptop will handle all your gaming needs with ease.
Buy at Walmart
With rebate
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MSI GF65 Laptop (Core i5, GTX 1660 Ti, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) + M99 Gaming mouse
$849 $1,049
The MSI GF65 is the perfect mid-level laptop for gamers on a budget. It boasts superior graphics, fast performance, and hi-res audio in a thin and light package.
Buy at Newegg