The best cheap gaming laptop deals in September 2025: RTX 50-Series prices are falling this week

Acer Nitro 16 gaming laptop open on a wooden table
(Image credit: Future)

Whether you're after back to school gaming laptop deals or you're keen to take advantage of some of the first RTX 50-Series discounts, there are plenty of sales to choose from right now. Dell has started discounting its newer Aurora machines and a number of Asus TUF rigs have seen some of their first price cuts at Best Buy this week.

You'll find offers across all ends of the spectrum just below - whether you're looking for one of the best gaming laptops or have your heart set on a budget machine for casual experiences. I've capped my search for cheap gaming laptop deals at a budget of $2,000 / £2,000 and split my findings between true budget rigs (under $1,000) and the more premium models on the shelves.

You'll find all my top picks for this week's best cheap gaming laptop deals just below, but if you're after something more permanent I'd also recommend checking out all the latest cheap gaming PC deals.

Curated by
Tabitha Baker, Hardware Editor at GamesRadar
Curated by
Tabitha Baker

I've been hunting down gaming laptop deals since I first started as a Deals Editor at our sister site TechRadar in 2019. With a sharp eye for value and a love for portable PC gaming, I made my way over to GamesRadar+ a couple of years later, and have been scouring the web for the lowest prices on rigs actually worth buying ever since. I've worked out what the best deals look like in the last six years, and exactly where (and when) to find them.

Cheap gaming laptop deals under $2,000

Lenovo LOQ 15.6-inch RTX 4050 gaming laptop | $869.99 $579.99 at Best BuySave $290 -

Lenovo LOQ 15.6-inch RTX 4050 gaming laptop | $869.99 $579.99 at Best Buy
Save $290 - This is a real entry-level system, and it's only going to suit those who need an everyday laptop anyway. The RTX 4050 in here will see you through lighter games just fine, but that 12GB RAM might be a bit limiting in more demanding scenarios.

Specs: AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS | RTX 4050 | 12GB RAM | 512GB SSD | 144Hz FHD display

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Dell G15 15.6-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,149.99 $849.99 at DellSave $300 -

Dell G15 15.6-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,149.99 $849.99 at Dell
Save $300 - The Dell G15 is a more budget-minded gaming laptop, but it's still looking pretty strong at just $849.99 with a Ryzen 7 7840HS processor and a 165Hz display. Dell is saving you $300 on this rig right now.

Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Nvidia RTX 4060 | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 512GB SSD | 165Hz 1080p display

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Gigabyte A16 16-inch RTX 5060 gaming laptop | $1,299.99 $1,099.99 at Best BuySave $200 -

Gigabyte A16 16-inch RTX 5060 gaming laptop | $1,299.99 $1,099.99 at Best Buy
Save $200 - The Gigabyte A16 is a cheaper gaming laptop by nature, but Best Buy has $200 off this RTX 5060 configuration right now. That drops us down to a respectable $1,099.99. You are picking up a slightly older processor, and I have seen it $60 cheaper in the past, but it's still plenty powerful.

Specs: Intel Core i7-13620H | RTX 5060 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 165Hz FHD+ display

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Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch RTX 5060 gaming laptop | $1,299.99 $1,219.99 at NeweggSave $80 -

Lenovo Legion 5i 15-inch RTX 5060 gaming laptop | $1,299.99 $1,219.99 at Newegg
Save $80 - Yes, it's a smaller saving but I just finished reviewing the Lenovo Legion 5 and, even at full price, that OLED display is punching well above those numbers. You're getting a stunning screen here for just over $1,200.

Specs: Intel i7-14700HX | RTX 5060 | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | 165Hz QHD+ OLED display

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Alienware 16 Aurora RTX 5060 gaming laptop | $1,499.99 $1,249.99 at DellSave $250 -

Alienware 16 Aurora RTX 5060 gaming laptop | $1,499.99 $1,249.99 at Dell
Save $250 - Dell has $250 off the Alienware 16 Aurora on sale right now, where I've only ever seen discounts maxing out at $200 off. That means you can pick up an RTX 5060 configuration for just $1,249.99.

Specs: Intel Core 7 240H | RTX 5060 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 120Hz WQXGA display

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Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 (RTX 5060) | $1,534.99 $1,299.99 at LenovoSave $235 -

Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 (RTX 5060) | $1,534.99 $1,299.99 at Lenovo
Save $235 - The RTX 5060 Lenovo Legion 5 is down to $1,299.99 right now. That's decent enough for an RTX 5060 configuration, but it's in a whole new league when you take that OLED display into account.

Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 260 | RTX 5060 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 165Hz QHD+ OLED display

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Gigabyte Aero X16 16-inch RTX 5070 gaming laptop | $1,649.99 $1,299.99 at Best BuySave $350 -

Gigabyte Aero X16 16-inch RTX 5070 gaming laptop | $1,649.99 $1,299.99 at Best Buy
Save $350 - This is actually the cheapest RTX 5070 gaming laptop on Best Buy's shelves right now and it comes stacked with 32GB RAM and a full QHD+ display. All that and it weighs less than 2kg.

Specs: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 | RTX 5070 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 165Hz QHD+ display

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Razer Blade 16 RTX 5060 gaming laptop | $2,399.99 $1,899.99 at RazerSave $500 -

Razer Blade 16 RTX 5060 gaming laptop | $2,399.99 $1,899.99 at Razer
Save $500 - This is a baseline spec, but I've only ever seen the RTX 5060 Razer Blade 16 going for $1,999.99 in previous sales. That's an extra $100 in the back pocket if you've been eyeing up the machine's OLED panel but don't want to invest in a high-end configuration.

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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 4070 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 would 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. The same goes for cheap Alienware laptops as well.

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 GTX 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.


I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and best Alienware laptops money can buy right now, or check out the best gaming PCs on the market.

Tabitha Baker
Managing Editor - Hardware

Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector. 

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