It's that time of year when game fans hunt for the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals. And they won't be disappointed, thanks to some of the best laptops being given serious discounts yearly. But, jumping on those offers can be a scramble - especially if you're looking for a popular model. Each year, the Black Friday 2023 sales are preceded by early offers - and that's the best way to nab items that might not even end up in the sale.
Black Friday might be over, but the very best live deals are still available right now. Had your eye on one of the best Windows laptops for gaming? If it's got a huge discount, why wait - it's hard to tell when stock will run out, and many deals are locked in for the rest of the month.
Black Friday gaming laptop deals of 2023: the best deals from across the web
• John Lewis: Awesome £70 price drop
• Laptops Direct: £400 price slash on select laptops
But what kind of laptop gamer are you? It's all very well plumping for the shiniest MacBook or high-end gaming laptop at a huge discount, but why spend the cash if you don't need some features? It's best to consider your needs instead, particularly if you're upgrading or new to gaming laptops. A gamer on a budget can have computing needs that are very similar to those of a light or mobile games fan. A professional who likes to game and pro gamers are at the opposite end of the specification range. We've put together a guide to help you decide.
So, whether you're in the market for a beast of a laptop with a 17" screen, or a lightweight workhorse for some gaming on the commute, we have options for you. Our experts have jumped on some of the best Black Friday laptop deals, unfolded and booted up below.
The best Black Friday gaming laptop deals of 2023 at a glance:
• Best gaming laptop deal: Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop - View at Amazon
• Best budget gaming laptop deal: ASUS Vivobook 15 X515JA 15.6 Full HD Laptop - View at Amazon
• Best gaming laptop for students: Apple 2020 MacBook Air - View at Amazon
• Best high-spec gaming laptop: ASUS TUF Gaming Advantage Edition FA617NS - View at Amazon
Please note: All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Excellent deal
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Perhaps one of the best gaming laptops of the year, the Acer Nitro 5 is currently at a whopping 23% off for Black Friday, making this already affordable laptop powerhouse even more worthwhile. With an NVIDIA 4060 GPU, a full-HD screen, an Intel i7 processor and 1TB of SSD storage, there's no beating this bargain.
www.currys.co.uk
Lenovo's LOQ gaming laptop is perhaps the best Black Friday deal we've seen so far; save £350 on this mind-blowing brand-new gaming laptop equipped with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage and the pièce de résistance, a mighty NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, now that's value.
www.argos.co.uk
Save £100 on the amazing HP Victus gaming laptop this Black Friday; packed with shiny new hardware, you'll be playing the latest AAA games on the go with ease, so don't miss out.
Bargain value
MSI's simply awesome Cyborg gaming laptop is equipped with a truly powerful RTX 4060 graphics card, giving this gaming laptop unprecedented power at its price. Save 32% cent off this terrific laptop this Black Friday - you can't lose.
Ultra value price
This Vivobook from ASUS is already an affordable model, but right now, it has an even larger discount. Many budget laptops that run Windows come with the lightweight 'S' version preinstalled - but thankfully, this has Windows 11 right out of the box. The 15.6" screen is also a pleasant surprise at this price point, as apart from being the ideal size for most tasks, this one has an anti-glare coating and excellent viewing angles too. The ASUS Vivobook 15 is also far from underpowered elsewhere, with a generous 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for fast booting and loading times.
In terms of pure number-crunching ability, the Intel Core i3 processor isn't as powerful as others - but for the budget, this can deliver a swift, lightweight gaming experience. So, if you're looking for a super-portable laptop for some casual gaming, this has a decent battery life and a backlit keyboard, too. It's the ideal budget choice.
Amazing MacBook deal
There's no doubt that when it comes to the best student laptop, Apple devices are rarely an option. But if you're looking for an affordable Apple option to display games on a gorgeous screen, you've found it. This 2020 MacBook Air is a great price right now. Its slim and elegant design has a specification that will outlast your studies. It'll also do well for gaming sessions after all those lectures, thanks partly to the Apple M1 chip.
The ideal gaming companion for studying and entertainment, the 13-inch Retina display is easy on the eye during those extra-long lectures and multiplayer matches. The low-profile keyboard is famously responsive and easy to type with. If you want style, portability and decent gaming power with you on campus, this is it.
£449 off
Any discount on an ASUS TUF ROG laptop is worth a serious look at, and the ROG Strix SCAR 16 G634JZ is no exception. Apart from a tough case design, this is the perfect laptop choice for gamers in search of serious power. And that charge is led by the very latest and greatest NVIDIA RTX 4080 GPU - a total beast of a graphics card. It'll take whatever you throw at it, including of course the latest AAA games titles. But all of that graphics performance would be nothing without the Intel i9 processor. For sheer multitasking power, this is largely unrivalled at this point.
In terms of RAM, you'll have probably guessed that this is fully loaded - with a more than respectable 32GB. The 500GB SSD is there for lightning-fast load times and the Full-HD screen runs at a beautiful 240Hz for super-smooth gameplay. A 1TB SSD tops the system off nicely. With this much gaming power the A15 is hard to beat at this price. An astonishing laptop for gaming, creatives and pretty much everything else.
Save 20%
Designers can often demand a lot from their machines, and that's why this dual-purpose Surface Laptop Studio from Microsoft is such a great option. If you've always wanted a laptop that can be a mobile art studio and a capable gaming machine this is it.
The 14.4" touchscreen has 2400 x 1600 pixels to work with, running at a smooth 120Hz - perfect for smooth gaming visuals. The touch functionality is also ideal for creatives, as it's a PixelSense display. That means multitouch - so you can use brushes, pens and fingertips with all of the benefits they can bring to your work and workflow.
But, perhaps the killer feature here is that it can switch between laptop and tablet mode. So, if you do like a more tablet-like gaming experience and have some games to match, the 'Studio Mode' is your friend. The screen folds flat to hide the keyboard. That frees you up to use the additional Surface Pen for hand-drawn work too.
Spec-wise, the 11th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card are more than capable for AAA games titles. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision are a real treat, as is the monstrous 32GB of RAM and 2TB SSD. That outstrips most gaming laptop specs. So, all in all, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is probably the laptop of choice for creative professionals who like to do some serious gaming after work.
Awesome Apple deal
Apple are back in our list of the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals, and for good reason - other than the impressive discount at the moment. You are, of course, getting those hallmark Apple ergonomics and sturdy build, but also the latest and greatest Apple M2 chip with 50% more memory bandwidth than their M1 chip. The CPU is 18% faster and the GPU is 35 per cent more powerful than the previous MacBook. No matter what you're working on, or where, this thing is going to eat everything you throw at it for breakfast.
And for commuters, the battery life is (for an Apple...) an impressive 18 hours. So, if you're on the train in the morning and again on the way home, this will be ready for your whole working day. Another commuter bonus is its incredibly lightweight build at 1.24 kg, plus that metal chassis for strength. Whether you're at home, at the office, or on the move, the 2022 MacBook Air is going to be your most flexible and powerful productivity tool.
Incredible value
Save 7% on the ASUS TUF Gaming Advantage laptop this Black Friday and discover a new world of next-generation gaming, now £70 off bringing this beast of a gaming machine in well under the £900 mark.
Exciting offer
Powering through gaming with no end of hardware heft, the ASUS TUF F15 gaming laptop excels in next-generation AAA gaming with ease, and best of all - it's 21% off.
Excellent deal
www.overclockers.co.uk
Discover this truly amazing Black Friday bargain; the MSI Prestige 14H is a mighty 14 per cent off, and you cannot deny its value.
41% off
Save a staggering 41 per cent off of Geviar's 15.6-inch laptop that's perfect for studying, working from home, and much more. With 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a 256GB SSD, and Quad-Core Intel Celeron N5095 Processors, it's the perfect budget system for light gaming on Black Friday.
This ASUS Vivobook 15 X1500EA is one of the best Black Friday deals of the year so far - 38 per cent off a truly magnificent laptop, now that's a bargain.
Amazing performance
This slick OLED laptop from LG is now over £610 off, and it's packed with tonnes of amazing hardware to get you gaming in no time - a gorgeous 4K screen, 13th generation Intel CPU, and 2TB of storage, we cannot deny - the LG gram is a fantastic deal.
17% off Dell
An amazing deal this Black Friday, the Dell Inspiron 15 is truly exceptional at its price - from its 512GB SSD, to its 12th generation Intel CPU, it's just perfect for studying.
Unleash this incredible Black Friday deal - Lenovo's IdeaPad Slim 3 laptop is now 29 per cent off, offering plenty of functionality for office workers at a really competitive price.
Less than £200
Grab this impressive 14-inch laptop for less than £200 this Black Friday, it's bold, punchy and easy to use for beginners - grab yours for a great price right now, before they're gone.
34% off ACER
Enormous 34% off of the Acer Aspire 3 laptop, a truly next-level laptop that's 34 per cent off this Black Friday, discover just how good of a deal this laptop is today.
Under £200
Incredible tech deals on this Black Friday, HP's 15s laptop is a phenomenal deal - knocking down this impressive budget laptop by £90.
44% off ASUS
Unmissable deals on the ASUS Chromebook 14 this Black Friday, an impressive 44% off that's incredibly hard to top. This Chromebook has an Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC and Google Chrome OS. It's not going to eat AAA games for breakfast, but light and mobile-style gaming will be a breeze, All for less than the £150 mark.
Huge 15 per cent off on this amazing AOCWEI laptop this Black Friday, we just can't believe how affordable it is. It's small, light and good for very light gaming and everyday browsing.
21% off ASUS TUF
For total gaming annihilation, save 21 per cent off the ASUS TUF F15 gaming laptop, truly a new way to play on the go at an incredible price.
Gaming PC or gaming laptop?
Choosing between a Black Friday deal on gaming PCs and laptops depends on personal preferences. Gaming PCs generally offer more customization options, better cooling, and potential for future upgrades. Gaming laptops, while portable, can be more expensive for the equivalent performance and are not as easily upgradable. Consider your priorities regarding performance, portability, and budget when making this decision.
What a gaming laptop offers above a gaming PC is a blend of portability and performance, catering to gamers seeking flexibility in their gaming setup. While it may not match the upgradability and raw power of gaming desktops, gaming laptops provide a convenient solution for those who prioritize mobility. Equipped with capable processors and dedicated graphics cards, these laptops allow gamers to enjoy a satisfying gaming experience.
Do laptops go on sale on Black Friday?
Yes, laptops, including gaming laptops, often go on sale during Black Friday in the UK. Many retailers offer discounts and deals on various laptops, making it a good time to purchase.
Why are gaming laptops so expensive?
Gaming laptops are expensive due to their high-performance components, such as powerful processors, dedicated graphics cards, and fast-refresh-rate displays. These components, designed for demanding gaming applications, contribute to the overall cost.
Are gaming laptops worth it now?
Whether gaming laptops are worth it depends on individual preferences and needs. If portability is essential, and you want to game on the go, a gaming laptop is a suitable choice. However, if raw performance and upgradability are critical, a gaming PC might be a better investment.
Best Black Friday gaming laptop deals of 2023: Buyer's guide
Set a budget
Anyone looking for the best laptop deals will know the importance of setting and keeping to a budget. We always recommend this for sales events like Black Friday. Why? The combination of amazing laptop specifications and heavy discounts makes it very tempting to increase your budget to get bigger and better tech. And that's extra money spent on features you may not need. After all, that cash could have been set aside for accessories and peripherals.
How to choose the right laptop features
Not every gamer needs the same amount of RAM, or graphics capability. Storage is also a key consideration, as many users will get away with the bare minimum - while others need as much as they can get depending on the games they play. The first question to ask yourself, particularly if you're upgrading, is what do you want most? Before you hit those Black Friday gaming laptop deals, here are some typical types of machines and users:
Casual gamers
The more casual laptop gamer will need to do a bit of everything, from light gaming to all of the usual things like internet shopping, social, media and watching YouTube. Whereas an office worker who likes to game may well need a more capable CPU, and a serious gamer needs top-end graphics power. 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive with a modern mid-range processor is a good starting point - but will only really be good for web-based or very lightweight games.
Office gamers
Unlike the casual gamer, you'll probably need to multitask at work and also have enough power for meatier games. That means running several office applications at once, and then switching to some decent gaming performance for mid-level games like Rocket League or Team Fortress. The key here is to look after the CPU and RAM first. You'll need a strong CPU and enough RAM (8GB or more if possible) to handle all of that overlapping work. Lastly, don't forget that all-important graphics capability. We recommend a dedicated card (not the built-in/onboard type) as the lower to mid range of these are still affordable options.
Gamers
Rather than start out looking for the best laptops that cost less than £1000, gamers generally want the best of everything. That said, while it is possible to get a respectable budget gaming laptop, gamers always need as much RAM as possible - 16GB or more. And then there's the internal SSD for fast loading times and space for ever-larger game installs. So, a 1TB internal SSD is essential. Lastly, don't forget to check your favourite game's system requirements to make sure your new laptop can keep up. Much of this will come down to the graphics card. Avoid the onboard/built-in type and always go for a dedicated card.
Gaming professional creatives
Media creators should prioritise their laptop's graphics capability - that's so that it can handle the huge files and processing of images for video editors, digital artists and photographers and so on. But mainly, you'll need a ton of RAM (16-32GB or more) and a CPU with lots of cores for processing as many operations at the same time as possible. Graphics apps and video work will require a really fast CPU. Needless to say, this kind of spec also meets, or even exceeds, a dream hardware setup for gamers.
Protect your investment
The best Black Friday gaming laptop deals are also often accompanied by amazing reductions on computer accessories and peripherals. So, having bagged yourself a high-spec gaming mouse and keyboard, you should always make sure you have enough money left over for a laptop backpack, case or an impact-resistant bag. We speak from bitter experience here - with a few smashed screens and scratched laptops left behind us.
Consider a VPN
Getting out and about with your new laptop is a given, but eventually, you'll need to connect to a public WiFi network for internet access. While an antivirus program is always a good idea for protection against active threats, what about your personal data? A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure tunnel to the internet that hides your IP address from would-be hackers and snoopers. If privacy is your priority, we highly recommend an affordable VPN for that extra layer of security.
Best Black Friday gaming laptop deals of 2023: FAQs
Who has the best Black Friday deals?
Deals naturally vary from store to store, but we always prefer the ease and simplicity of online shopping. Despite first introducing the concept of Black Friday to the UK back in 2010, Amazon's own Black Friday event isn't the only one. Many online retailers offer special deals on the same day. That said, quite often the product choice and massive discounts passed on to Amazon Prime Members can be almost unbeatable.
When does the Black Friday Sale end?
The Black Friday sale officially began on Friday 24th November, but the deals didn't stop there. Continuing beyond with Christmas right around the corner, there's no end to the mind-blowing deals this Black Friday.
What laptop size is the best for gaming?
This really comes down to your needs. Many gamers prefer a larger screen, but the most common laptop size is typically around 15 inches. That's the size that most users of all types find to be practical and portable. A 17-inch laptop is often a brilliant choice for those who like to do creative work as well as games, and don't mind (or don't need to) lug their laptop around too much. They're often thinner and lighter than ever, so we recommend larger screens where possible. That extra space also brings out the best visuals for watching shows or playing games.
Chris Duffill is a Tech Product Writer for What's The Best and Yours. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography. He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs.
He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches) and DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. He'll write about it if it plugs in, lights up, or makes a noise.
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