Black Friday gaming laptop deals 2022: everything to expect from this year's sales
We're expecting big things from this year's Black Friday gaming laptop deals. Recent October sales offered up some stunning prices across RTX 3070 and RTX 3060 rigs and some particularly strong prices on super budget GTX models as well. That means we've already seen some record breaking discounts, and we're not even into November yet.
We've been following Black Friday gaming laptop deals closely for years now, so we know how to spot a good discount when we see one. Before all that kicks off, though, we're using our experience (and the price trends we've picked up after tracking gaming laptop deals throughout the year) to round up everything we can expect to see.
Whether you're after a cost-savvy Gigabyte or a bank-busting Razer, you're sure to find some of the best gaming laptops taking part in this years sale. After all, Black Friday gaming laptop deals are one of the last opportunities for retailers to clear stock before the next wave of releases begins. That translates to some mighty savings for you and I, but there are ways to save even more. Between opting for Intel's 11th generation processors and switching that QHD display for 1080p, there are plenty of budget-lining decisions you can make to score yourself a more affordable gaming laptop.
We're rounding up everything you need to know to make the most of this year's Black Friday gaming laptop deals, including our own predictions for the machines you need to watch just below. Of course, you'll need some kit to go with your new rig - which is why we're also rounding up everything we expect to see from mice, keyboards, and headsets in the wider Black Friday gaming deals.
When will Black Friday gaming laptop deals start?
Black Friday gaming laptop deals are set to officially kick off on November 25, but last year we saw the main sale offers going live in the week leading up to that date and holding firm over the actual holiday weekend. We're expecting to see the same again this year, with the biggest offers reserved for Thanksgiving week and retailers launching offers in the run up from October onwards.
Where will the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals be?
We'll be rounding up all the biggest Black Friday gaming laptop deals right here as soon as they land, but if you're going it alone it pays to have an action plan. You'll find all the retailers we go to for the best savings just below.
US:
Amazon: often has some of the best prices on RTX 3080 rigs
Best Buy: some of the cheapest RTX 3060 rigs we've seen all year
Dell: excellent prices on budget and high-end machines
HP: big savings on Pavilion and Omen rigs and accessories
Lenovo: heavy discounts and early doorbusters
Microsoft: wide range of gaming laptops but best for accessories
Newegg: extra rebates can bring record low prices
Walmart: wide variety of budget buys on sale
UK:
Amazon: massive range, speedy shipping and regular discounts
Currys: big savings and often includes extras in bundles
Dell: G-Series budget buys and excellent Alienware discounts
Ebuyer: bargain prices and a range of high-end machines
Laptops Direct: best for budget brands and accessories
Very: often one of the first to offer November-level discounts
Black Friday gaming laptop deals - what to expect
While cheaper machines like the Acer Nitro 5 and Asus TUF Dash will likely offer strong value for money in this year's Black Friday gaming laptop deals, those after High or Ultra settings should aim for more premium machines. Razer laptops and Alienware laptops sit at the upper end of the scale and this often prices them out of the market for many, but Black Friday gaming laptop deals bring those costs crashing down to a more reasonable level.
Last year we saw the Alienware M15 R5 drop below $1,000 (a rate that's only been matched once since, before that generation was replaced), and the Razer Blade 14 took a hefty discount in the UK as well. However, it was Gigabyte, Asus, and MSI laptops carrying the bulk of the value last year. An RTX 3080 MSI GP66 Leopard came in at just $1,799 at Newegg in last year's sales. At the time, that was an astounding price - one of the first to drop this kind of configuration below $2,000. The best part is we've already seen similar models and specs going even cheaper in 2022, so this is likely to form a solid foundation for some even bigger discounts come November.
We're looking specifically to the Razer Blade 15, Alienware M15 R7 and the Asus Zephyrus G14 for some of the highest value savings in this premium category. The latter two are well versed for discounts and will likely sit between $999 and $1,799 for a mid-range spec on the day itself. However, the Razer Blade 15 hasn't seen to much price cutting action this year, but has been on the shelves for a considerable amount of time now.
If, however, you're looking to spend a little less we do expect some of the most valuable Black Friday gaming laptop deals to sit in the cheaper seats. Picking up an Asus TUF Dash F15 with an RTX 3060 or 3070 graphics card won't break the bank (compared to other rigs), and will likely be the easiest way to grab a steal this year. We're expecting prices on this kind of configuration to settle between $899 and $1,099.
In fact, recent October sales gave us plenty more reasons to be optimistic. We saw some astonishing prices on RTX 3060 and RTX 3070 machines in particular - and it's worth noting that the vast majority of these standout offers were at Best Buy. For example, a 2022 Asus TUF gaming laptop sporting a 12th generation Intel processor and an RTX 3070 GPU dropped down to just $1,099 - that's a rate we haven't seen on a machine of this spec before. Of course, this is a cheaper machine so we wouldn't expect to see these kinds of prices on Alienware or more premium Asus rigs, but being able to grab a graphics card and processor of this quality for a hair over $1,000 is certainly an exciting prospect.
Should you buy a gaming laptop before Black Friday?
We often see retailers launching their Black Friday gaming laptop deals well ahead of the event itself, and this year is no different. Amazon's latest second run at its Prime Day sale saw some excellent offers on the shelves, mostly from other retailers competing with the October event. This has kicked off waves of early offers, which will likely run through until the big day itself so it's worth getting your eye in early to work out whether you should hold off or jump in and buy before November even rolls around.
In our experience, there are a handful of Black Friday gaming laptop deals that land on the day itself that will beat the discounts we'll be seeing in the coming weeks. In general, retailers will be running the same kinds of prices throughout the next month, in a bid to stretch out their hype. That said, it's always worth double checking against some of last year's offers (available below) to make sure you're not being short changed. It's easy to be tempted by the cheap gaming laptop deals already available - and many will simply resurface on November 25. As long as you've done your research, there's no shame in jumping in early.
Should you buy a cheap gaming laptop on Black Friday?
If you're looking to up your Steam game without breaking the bank, Black Friday gaming laptop deals can be particularly tempting. There are two kinds of cheap gaming laptops that we see on the shelves during this time of year; budget models with mid-range components and mid-range models with entry level components. The decision between the two comes down to whether you prefer the flash of a higher quality screen, more durable construction, and better cooling engineering or you're simply after the best component-to-price ratio.
This is, of course, a personal decision - there's no right or wrong answer. In general we do see better overall value in the budget models packing more powerful internals - you'll often find the best prices for RTX 3060 and RTX 3070 rigs in this category. However, it's worth researching some budget and mid-range models before this year's Black Friday gaming laptop deals begin, so you can go in with a clear idea of what you're after.
Then there's the other question entirely. Do you need a gaming laptop, or are you better off browsing for Black Friday gaming PC deals? If you don't need to take your machine on the go with you, and you're already set up with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse then it might be better to pick up a prebuilt PC. We generally see far lower prices on these machines and you're grabbing better thermal regulation and more powerful versions of the same components as well. Of course, if you don't already have a setup, you'll have to factor in the cost of Black Friday gaming monitor deals as well. Everyday productivity on the go can also be achieved by a super cheap Black Friday laptop deal if you're stuck as well.
Last year's best Black Friday gaming laptop deals
Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch GTX 1650 gaming laptop | $779.99 $729.99 at Best Buy
Save $50 - This already cheap Acer Nitro 5 took a price drop down to $729.99 in Best Buy's Black Friday gaming laptop deals. That was excellent news for anyone after a budget build, as the GTX 1650 GPU, 11th generation i5 processor, and 8GB RAM in here were all still perfectly workable for lighter play.
Dell G15 15.6-inch RTX 3050Ti gaming laptop | $1,218.99 $799.99 at Dell
Save $419 - While you were dropping down on your processor a little (grabbing an i5-10500H), this was still a stunning offer on an RTX 3050Ti machine with a 512GB SSD under the hood. You were sacrificing your RAM a little to hit that super low price point as well, with 8GB on offer, but that would still see you through lighter play.
Gigabyte G5 15.6-inch RTX 3050Ti gaming laptop | $1,199 $849 (with $100 rebate) at Newegg
Save $350 - There was a $250 discount on this Gigabyte G5 gaming laptop, but you could save an additional $100 in the form of a rebate as well. That was excellent value for an RTX 3050Ti GPU with an unusual 16GB RAM (we usually only see 8GB at this price point) and a 512GB SSD.
Gigabyte G5 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | $1,199 $999 (with $50 rebate) at Newegg
Save $200 - There was an RTX 3060 GPU hiding away in this sub-$1,000 gaming laptop deal at Newegg. That was excellent value considering you were also getting 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD to make the most of that mid-range graphics card.
MSI GF65 15.6-inch RTX 3060 laptop | $1,299 $1,049 (with $100 rebate) at Newegg
Save $250 - There was a $150 saving on Newegg's site, but you could also claim a $100 rebate, bringing this i7-10750H, RTX 3060 MSI gaming laptop down to just $1,049. Previous early Black Friday gaming laptop deals had this model at $1,099 so you were saving an extra $50 on the day here.
Asus TUF Dash 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | $1,149.99 $1,099.99 at Best Buy
Save $50 - You were getting an excellent price on this already affordable RTX 3060 machine. You were only saving $50 here, but this 16GB RAM / i7-11370H / 512GB SSD configuration was already available at a relatively low MSRP.
Gigabyte A5 X1 15.6-inch RTX 3070 gaming laptop | Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy | $1,799 $1,599 at Newegg
Save $200 - With a powerful Ryzen 9 processor and RTX 3070 graphics card, you were getting excellent performance for your cash here. Newegg was offering $200 off this Gigabyte A5 X1 machine, but even though that's a smaller saving, a $1,599 price point is fantastic value.
MSI GP66 Leopard 15.6-inch RTX 3080 gaming laptop | $2,299 $1,799 (with $100 rebate) at Newegg
Save $500 - This was a particularly rare offer. While the MSI GP66 Leopard was down to $1,899 on the page, you could claim an additional $100 back with a rebate. That meant you were paying just $1,799 for an RTX 3080 machine. We certainly didn't see that every day back then, especially with an i7-11800H processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD packed inside as well.
Gigabyte Aero 15.6" RTX 3080 4K AMOLED gaming laptop | $2,999 $1,899 at Newegg
Save $1,100 - The full saving was yours if you send in a rebate for $300, but even without that you were still lopping $800 off the price of this very impressive laptop. If you're in the market for an upgrade, this is a sure pick.
Last year's best Black Friday gaming laptop deals in the UK
Lenovo IdeaPad L340 | £700 £599.99 at Very
Save £101 - As far as entry-level gaming laptops go, this model was hard to beat. Its price had fluctuated all over the place in the previous few months, but we were comfortable recommending it for under £600 last November, given you get a GTX 1650 inside.
HP Victus 16-inch RX 5500M gaming laptop | £799 £699 at Currys
Save £100 - If you were after an entry-level gaming laptop with a little extra flair, this HP Victus might have been the perfect option. You were picking up a larger screen at 16.1-inches here, as well as a Ryzen 5 5600H processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and AMD Radeon RX 5500M graphics - all solid specs at this super low price.
Asus TUF Dash 15.6-inch RTX 3060 gaming laptop | £1,099.99 £899 at Very
Save £200 - Considering there's an RTX 3060 graphics card, i7-11370H processor, 512GB SSD, and 144Hz display packed into this sub-£1,000 price tag, this Asus TUF was punching well above its price tag. You wer sacrificing your RAM a little here, with only 8GB, but if you wanted to push that 8GB to its limits you could find some excellent performance here.
Acer Predator Triton 300 15.6-inch RTX 3070 gaming laptop | £1,499 £1,299 at Currys
Save $200 - You were getting a 1TB SSD, i7-11800H processor, and an RTX 3070 graphics card in here - a fantastic configuration for under $1,300. Currys had a $200 discount on this stacked machine in its Black Friday gaming laptop deals, offering a great price and five months of Apple Music, Arcade, and News+ for free.
Razer Blade 14 (RTX 3080) | £2,800 £2,299.97 at Amazon
Save £500 - With this huge discount, this top-tier Razer machine came crashing down to a far more affordable rate. You were getting some exceptional hardware for your money here all in a small form factor. Features: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, RTX 3080, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 14-inch 165Hz QHD (1440p) screen.
If you're building out a whole new setup, you might be interested to see everything we expect from this year's Black Friday gaming chair deals as well. Or, for some accessories, take a look at our predictions for 2022's Black Friday gaming headset deals and Black Friday curved monitor deals. Need to stock up that Steam library? We're also getting you prepped for all this year's Black Friday video game deals.
