Game Activated! Save hundreds on Black Friday’s best gaming laptop and desktop deals

Black Friday is officially over – or is it? Those still trying to wrap up their seasonal shopping are in luck because there are still savings to be had. A good gaming laptop or gaming desktop makes the difference between smooth sailing (and possibly making it to the end of a Battle Royale unscathed) and a delayed mess. And good news: the dedicated GPU is also good for 3D rendering, running intensive programs like Photoshop, and editing other forms of media, so it’s worth the investment if you’re creative. The best part? There are some better setups on sale right now that will level up your game and/or creative package.

And don’t forget to check out the best Black Friday deals available right now.

And while you’re at it, be sure to check out our picks for the best gaming laptops of 2024 and the best gaming desktops of 2024.

A gorgeous 2.5K OLED display sets this Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 apart from other gaming laptops. The premium build and high-end components make this laptop worth the asking price, and to sweeten the deal, 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are included with your purchase, opening up a huge library of titles to dive into.

The best Black Friday deals in PCMag’s Best of the Year picks

Our expert highly rated a similarly specced Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 for its powerful performance (for the price) and premium build quality. The 1600p display helps with video editing and 3D rendering, making this gaming laptop a great buy for gamers and creators. And don’t overlook this rare 28% discount.

Our expert gave a similarly specced Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop an “excellent” score, as well as an Editors’ Choice award for its powerful performance and refreshed design. One of the few downsides was the lack of budget models, so this $350 discount should be extra tempting for those looking for the ultimate gaming rig.

This high-powered gaming desktop has enough power to run resource intensive applications and make multitasking a breeze. A large number of ports, including DisplayPorts, USB and HDMI, allow you to connect a number of peripheral devices without manipulating them for your convenience. This Black Friday deal is a great buy for creators and game enthusiasts who want more bang for their buck.

Gaming Laptops and Desktops FAQ

Hey, I’m Matthew Buzzi, a PCMag lead hardware analyst with a special focus on gaming PCs. I’ve tested and reviewed dozens of gaming laptops and desktops over the past decade, so I know how to separate a man from a deal. With a load of components and brand names to sort through, it can be tricky to shop for gaming systems at the best of times. But my answers to the top three questions below can help you determine the best deal for you during Black Friday or Cyber ​​Monday.

Is Black Friday/Cyber ​​Monday a good time to buy a gaming PC?

This is a great time to buy a gaming laptop or gaming desktop. Laptops that launched earlier in the year with the latest parts often see significant discounts as the end of the year approaches before manufacturers prepare for new products in the coming year. Additionally, remaining stock of older PCs – perhaps a processor or GPU generation or two behind the latest – are discounted significantly when stock is cleared. Unless you need the latest and greatest components, this time of year is when you can find a very capable gaming PC for hundreds of dollars less than list price; it’s also a great way to bring a mid-performance model closer to the entry-level price.

What makes a good product deal for PC gaming?

Often with gaming PCs, it’s worth shelling out a few hundred extra dollars for a boost component. To that end, any sale that essentially raises that price is a good deal—a laptop with an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU or Core i7 CPU can become available closer to RTX 4050 and Core i5 prices with a few hundred dollars shaved off . As a general guide for entry-level purchases, look for at least a Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processor, 16GB of memory, and at least an RTX 4050 (but ideally an RTX 4060) for casual gaming.

If you have a slightly bigger budget, you can also grab a high-end car for a much more reasonable price; sometimes, those $1800 laptops with the best graphics chips capable of running the latest games at high settings come down to the $1500 range. That might tempt you enough to pull the trigger, and I’d say it’s a much better value-for-dollar proposition than full price.

Which component should I prioritize?

It’s all about the GPU (graphics processing unit) for gaming computers. Desktops use full-sized graphics cards, while laptops use versions of the same graphics chip as the processor, but both are responsible for enhancing game visuals and smooth frame rates. The GPU will have the biggest impact on your gaming experience, and thus, while the processor and memory capacity I DO make a difference, we always recommend shifting your budget to prioritize the GPU.

For example, if you see a deal for a PC with a Core i5 processor and an RTX 4060 GPU, we’d recommend it over a superior Core i7 processor but an inferior RTX 4050 GPU. A modern Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processor is still fast enough for general use and gaming, but an RTX 4060 will unlock a higher level of stability and performance for gaming than an RTX 4050. That goes for the entire lineup Nvidia GPUs; if you can stretch out for a PC with an RTX 4070 while the rest of the load is more modest, you’ll enjoy higher performance.

Be sure to check out our Black Friday hub for the latest up-to-the-minute deals on the tech you want most.

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About Matthew Buzzi

Principal Analyst, Hardware

I’m one of PCMag’s consumer PC experts, with a particular love for PC gaming. I’ve been gaming on my PC for as long as I can remember, which eventually (as it does for many) led me to build and upgrade my own desktop. During my years here, I’ve tested and reviewed many, many dozens of laptops and desktops, and I’m always happy to recommend a PC for your needs and budget.

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About Jade Chung-Lee

Commercial Associate

When she’s not perusing online stores for deals, Jade enjoys playing video games (mainly JRPGs and cheats), neatly sorting board game components into containers, and building Gundam models. Her love of electronics has continued through her youth and has resulted in a collection of gaming peripherals, including keyboards and controllers, scale figures and artwork. Jade lives in happy harmony with her wife, cat and two chinchillas and a host of house plants.

Read Jade’s full bio

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