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Gaming laptops from Acer, MSI, Asus, and more are up to $1,400 off right now

Gaming laptops offer the best graphics cards around, and are one of the few sure-fire ways to get elusive RTX 30 and 40 series GPU or AMD Radeon 6000 or 7000 cards. These awesome deals include top-notch gaming laptops from Alienware to Acer and more.
Written by Taylor Clemons, Staff Writer
Reviewed by Amy Lieu
Predator Triton 500 SE | Save $1,000
An Acer Predator Triton 500 SE gaming laptop against an abstract, multi-colored background
Predator Triton 500 SE
Save $1,000
View now View at Acer
Razer Blade 15 | Save $1406
razer-blade-15
Razer Blade 15
Save $1406
View now View at GameStop
Gigabyte Aorus 15 XE4 | Save $1000
A Gigabyte Aorus 15 XE4 gaming laptop, partially open, against a black background with white arches
Gigabyte Aorus 15 XE4
Save $1000
View now View at Newegg
Asus ROG Zephyrus 14 for $1100 | Save $550
ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14-inch WQXGA 120Hz Gaming Laptop
Asus ROG Zephyrus 14 for $1100
Save $550
View now View at Best Buy

Between chip shortages and the crypto mining craze, buying a pre-built gaming laptop is the fastest way to get your hands on a new GPU, especially if you want the latest options from vendors including Nvidia.

Gaming laptops tend to be pricey because they demand top graphics cards -- often containing one or two -- high-end processors, strong connectivity features, and quality displays. Together, the cost of these components packaged up in a laptop's chassis means that consumers often feel the sting. 

However, you don't need to pay the typical retail price for a portable gaming rig. If you know where to look, you can uncover hidden gems worth purchasing. 

Fortunately, we've combed the internet to find the best bundles and deepest discounts on top brands like Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte. We tell you how much you can save and what to expect from each model, so you can find the right gaming laptop for your play style.

  • Current price: $2,000
  • Regular price: $3,000

If you've been waiting for the perfect deal to buy a new gaming laptop, check out the Predator Triton 500 SE from Acer. Right now, if you buy directly from Acer, you can save $1,000 on this top-of-the-line gaming laptop. It's built with a 12th generation Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. It also sports a 16-inch display with a native refresh rate of 240Hz for buttery smooth action as well as 2560 x 1600 resolution for incredibly lifelike images. It also has a decent battery life of about 5.5 hours, giving you plenty of time to play before you need to think about plugging in.

  • Current price: $2394
  • Regular price: $3800

This Razer Blade 15 at GameStop is an older version, but it's still worth picking up as a dedicated gaming laptop or workstation for creative professionals and content creators. It's built with an Intel Core i7-10875H processor, Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. This means that you'll be able to do everything from playing games and creating text documents to 3D animation and modeling or digital painting. 

The 15.6-inch screen is made with an OLED panel, which is capable of producing up to 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut as well as 4K resolution so you'll get super-accurate colors, crisp details, and enhanced contrast. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 for faster wireless internet speeds and Thunderbolt 3 for file transfers, device charging, and setting up extra displays. 

  • Current price: $1350
  • Regular price: $2350

The Gigabyte Aorus 15 XE4 gaming laptop is built with an Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. This means that it's packed with more than enough power to handle everything from retro classics to the latest triple-A titles. The 15.6-inch display produces crisp, clean 1440p resolution while the 165Hz refresh rate makes motion blur all but disappear. This laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity for ultra-fast wireless internet speeds and more reliable connections to wireless peripherals.

  • Current price: $1100
  • Regular price: $$1650

The ROG Zephyrus 14 from Asus is an excellent choice for AMD loyalists with its Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU and Ryzen 6700S graphics card. It also features 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for plenty of power and storage space for all of your favorite games as well as new releases. The 14-inch screen has a 120Hz native refresh rate to help cut down motion blur as well as up to 500 nits of brightness so you can easily see your screen in almost any lighting environment. THe 2560x1600 resolution also gives you enhanced details and colors so you can better appreciate in-game textures, lighting, and modeling without having to spend a fortune on an OLED or 4K option. 

More gaming laptop deals

Below are more great deals and discounts on gaming laptops from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg:

How did we choose these laptops?

When researching the best gaming laptop deals, we considered various factors, including tech specs and price points. While every gamer would no doubt love to have the newest and most powerful machines, chip shortages can impact availability. Plus, affordability can be a deciding factor -- especially with the uncertainty of the global economy.

What defines a gaming laptop?

Gaming laptops are designed to run power-hungry applications. These include gaming services, dedicated platforms like Steam, and individual games loaded onto a PC. 

The specifications of a gaming laptop focus on several things: a high-power display with a decent refresh rate and resolution, dedicated graphics cards, quality processors, and a fair amount of storage. They may also have keyboards and other peripherals included that are designed with gaming functionality in mind, whether by the way of backlighting or programmable keys. 

What specifications are the most important in a gaming laptop?

The first consideration is whether or not a laptop has the right specs to run your software. Many games will come with a recommended specifications list on PCs, and out of these, the processor, RAM (memory), and graphics card capabilities are the most important.  

What else do I need when I buy a gaming laptop?

You might want to consider purchasing a gaming mouse, as it can be programmed to perform specific actions based on your clicks. Plus, they can make gaming a more enjoyable experience -- or, as is the case for speedruns, make those important actions as fast as possible. 

You may also want to investigate comfortable gaming headsets for a more immersive experience. 

Interested in more tech deals and reviews? Subscribe to the ZDNET Recommends newsletter and let our expert reviewers scour the internet for only the top products, services, and deals for you.

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