Amazon’s Prime Day laptop deals are living rent-free in my head on the final day of the sale

Tech-news July 11, 2025

UPDATE: Jul. 11, 2025, 8:00 a.m. EDT We’ve updated this story to reflect current pricing and availability. We’ve also selected a new favorite 2-in-1 laptop deal, as our previous pick sold out.

The battle of the best Prime Day laptop deals seemed like M4 MacBook Air’s game to lose. In the lead-up to its annual members-only sale this week, Amazon had Apple’s latest 13-incher marked down to only $849 (in all colorways, too). That’s $150 off the M4 MacBook Air’s already modest MSRP of $999, which is a hefty discount for a popular laptop that only just came out in March.

I thought it would be tough for Amazon to one-up that deal once Prime Day formally started, but I’m happy to say it’s proven me wrong: A slew of Windows laptops have fallen to record-low prices there since Tuesday. That includes our beloved Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and five different gaming laptops with Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series graphic cards, which were my Prime Day white whales. I really didn’t expect Amazon to put any on sale, much less at such steep discounts.

Best MacBook deal

Why we like it

Read Mashable’s full review of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4).

The new 13-inch MacBook Air is our top budget pick for Apple users and a Mashable Choice Award winner. “It’s powerful, silent, and comes with a couple of much-needed upgrades,” including an upgraded 12MP webcam and support for two external displays, wrote senior editor Stan Schroeder. He gave it an overall rating of 4.5/5.

Amazon’s $849 deal applies to all colors of the base configuration with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. The Sky Blue variant briefly dipped down to an even-cheaper $829 in late June, but I have no trouble endorsing it at its current price: It’s such a good deal on a popular new laptop that’s already pretty affordable.

Mashable Deals

More MacBook Air deals

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,049 ~~$1,199~~ (save $150)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,049 ~~$1,199~~ (save $150)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,245.50 ~~$1,399~~ (save $1,523.50)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,249 ~~$1,399~~ (save $150)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,432.50 ~~$1,599~~ (save $166.50)

MacBook Pro deals

Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,429 ~~$1,599~~ (save $170)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,599 ~~$1,799~~ (save $200)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,749 ~~$1,999~~ (save $250)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,779 ~~$1,999~~ (save $220)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,234 ~~$2,499~~ (save $265)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 48GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,587.50 ~~$2,899~~ (save $311.50)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,874.50 ~~$3,199~~ (save $324.50)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,117.50 ~~$3,499~~ (save $381.50)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,557.50 ~~$3,999~~ (save $441.50)

Best Windows laptop deal

Why we like it

Read Mashable’s full review of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

Microsoft’s 13.8-inch flagship PC is our favorite Windows laptop, combining a slick, sophisticated design with peppy performance and an all-day battery life. (Literally: It lasted nearly 23 hours in our testing.) This variant has a high-end Snapdragon X Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage — our ideal baseline specs for most everyday users.

Prime members can snag the Platinum colorway on sale for just $918.99, which is 34% off its $1,399.99 MSRP and a new all-time low by a couple bucks. For comparison’s sake, Amazon’s deal is $181 cheaper than a competing discount in the Microsoft Store.

More Windows laptop deals

Asus Vivobook Go (AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $219.99 ~~$329.99~~ (save $110 with Prime)
Acer Aspire Go 15 (Intel Core 3 Processor N355, 8GB RAM, 128GB UFS) — $249.99 ~~$299.99~~ (save $50 with Prime) 🔥
Asus Vivobook 16 (Intel Core i5-13420H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $449.99 ~~$579.99~~ (save $130 with Prime) 🔥
~~Asus Vivobook 14 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)~~ — $549.99 ~~$699.99 (save $150 with Prime) 🔥~~
Acer Aspire 14 AI (Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $549.99 ~~$879.99~~ (save $330 with Prime) 🔥
~~Asus Vivobook 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD~~ — $599.99 ~~$799.99 (save $200) 🔥~~
Asus Vivobook 14 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $719.99 ~~$849.99~~ (save $130 with Prime) 🔥
Acer Swift Go 14 AI (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $749.99 ~~$999.99~~ (save $250) 🔥
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $734.99 ~~$899.99~~ (save $165 with Prime) 🔥
~~Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)~~ — $789.99 ~~$1,199.99 (save $410) 🔥~~
Asus Vivobook S16 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $999.99 ~~$1,199.99~~ (save $200 with Prime) 🔥
~~Acer Swift X 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)~~ — $1,099.99 ~~$1,499.99 (save $400) 🔥~~
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 15-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,159.99 ~~$1,699.99~~ (save $540 with Prime)
LG gram 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,284.99 ~~$1,599.99~~ (save $315 with Prime) 🔥
LG gram Pro 16 (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $1,684.99 ~~$2,199.99~~ (save $515 with Prime) 🔥
LG gram Pro 17 (Intel Core Ultra7 255H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,684.99 ~~$2,199.99~~ (save $515 with Prime) 🔥

2-in-1 laptop deals

~~Microsoft Surface Pro 11, 12-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)~~ — $784.99 ~~$899.99 (save $115 with Prime) 🔥~~
Microsoft Surface Pro 11, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $849.99 ~~$1,199.99~~ (save $350 with Prime)
Asus Vivobook 14 Flip (Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $869.99 ~~$999.99~~ (save $130 with Prime) 🔥
Microsoft Surface Pro 11, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $899.99 ~~$1,399.99~~ (save $500 with Prime) 🔥
~~Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)~~ — $1,249.99 ~~$1,599.99 (save $350 with Prime) 🔥~~

Gaming laptop deals

~~Asus TUF Gaming A15 (AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)~~ — $629.99 ~~$849.99 (save $220 with Prime) 🔥~~
Acer Nitro V (Intel Core i5-13420H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $649.99 ~~$849.99~~ (save $200 with Prime)
MSI Thin 15 (Intel Core i7-13620H, Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $839.99 ~~$899.99~~ (save $60 with Prime)
Asus TUF Gaming F16 (Intel Core 5 210H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $849.99 ~~$1,099.99~~ (save $250 with Prime)
Asus TUF Gaming A14 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 8845HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 ~~$1,199.99~~ (save $300 with Prime) 🔥
Asus ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i7-14650HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,274.99 ~~$1,499.99~~ (save $225 with Prime) 🔥
MSI Katana A15 AI (AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,349.99 ~~$1,699.99~~ (save $350 with Prime)
~~Asus ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)~~ — $1,359.99 ~~$1,699.99 (save $340 with Prime) 🔥~~
~~MSI Katana 15 HX (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia Geforce RTX 5070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)~~ — $1,417.99 ~~$1,679.99 (save $262 with Prime) 🔥~~
Alienware x16 R2 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,597.99 ~~$2,399.99~~ (save $802 with Prime)
Asus ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,999.99 ~~$2,399.99~~ (save $400 with Prime) 🔥
Asus ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,399.99 ~~$2,899.99~~ (save $500 with Prime) 🔥
Alienware 18 Area-51 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,969.99 ~~$3,499.99~~ (save $530 with Prime) 🔥

Chromebook deals

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#Amazons #Prime #Day #laptop #deals #living #rentfree #final #day #sale

Virtual Artist Deathpixie Signs to Deadmau5’s Mau5trap, Releases ‘Raise Your Weapon’ Cover and Announces New EP (EXCLUSIVE)

Honor of Kings Launches HOK Studio and Esports Qualifier in India

After its recent launch, Honor of Kings is now doubling down on the market with a two-pronged strategy. First, build a creator ecosystem, then strengthen its esports pathway. For this, the game has announced the rollout of HOK Studio, alongside the King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier. Here’s everything you need to know.

HOK Studio to Boost Creator Ecosystem

At the center of this push is HOK Studio, the game’s official creator platform designed to support content creators across formats. This includes short videos, livestreams, tutorials, esports coverage, and more. As part of its initial phase in India, HOK Studio will introduce a Content Creator Incentive Program with rewards exceeding ₹1 crore (₹10 million). Creators can also get access to in-game tokens, exclusive rewards, official promotional support, and even early access to new content.

Dean Huang, the game’s producer, said:

India is a key market for Honor of Kings, and our focus is on building a strong, localised ecosystem that goes beyond gameplay. With HOK Studio, we are committed to developing a program worth an initial ₹10 million, to empower creators who play a critical role in shaping how the game is experienced and shared. At the same time, through initiatives like the KWC at EWC26 Qualifier, we are creating opportunities for Indian players to compete at the highest global level. Together, these efforts reflect our long-term commitment to growing both the creator and competitive ecosystems in India.

EWC Qualifier

Alongside creators, the game is also focusing heavily on competitive play. The King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier will act as a structured pathway for Indian teams to reach the global stage. Registration for the tournament will run from April 19 to April 26, followed by open qualifiers, playoffs, and offline finals on May 17. The tournament features a prize pool of ₹5 lakh and will eventually select two teams to represent India at the global KWC event, where the total prize pool stands at million.

The competition will follow global formats like Global Ban & Pick, which prevents teams from reusing heroes across matches, and a Bo7 Grand Final with an “Ultimate Battle” tiebreaker. These formats are designed to test strategy, adaptability, and team coordination at the highest level.

#Honor #Kings #Launches #HOK #Studio #Esports #Qualifier #IndiaKrafton

#Honor #Kings #Launches #HOK #Studio #Esports #Qualifier #IndiaKrafton">

mwasimuddin125 0

launch, Honor of Kings is now doubling down on the market with a two-pronged strategy. First, build a creator ecosystem, then strengthen its esports pathway. For this, the game has announced the rollout of HOK Studio, alongside the King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier. Here’s everything you need to know.

HOK Studio to Boost Creator Ecosystem

At the center of this push is HOK Studio, the game’s official creator platform designed to support content creators across formats. This includes short videos, livestreams, tutorials, esports coverage, and more. As part of its initial phase in India, HOK Studio will introduce a Content Creator Incentive Program with rewards exceeding ₹1 crore (₹10 million). Creators can also get access to in-game tokens, exclusive rewards, official promotional support, and even early access to new content.

Dean Huang, the game’s producer, said:

India is a key market for Honor of Kings, and our focus is on building a strong, localised ecosystem that goes beyond gameplay. With HOK Studio, we are committed to developing a program worth an initial ₹10 million, to empower creators who play a critical role in shaping how the game is experienced and shared. At the same time, through initiatives like the KWC at EWC26 Qualifier, we are creating opportunities for Indian players to compete at the highest global level. Together, these efforts reflect our long-term commitment to growing both the creator and competitive ecosystems in India.

EWC Qualifier

Alongside creators, the game is also focusing heavily on competitive play. The King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier will act as a structured pathway for Indian teams to reach the global stage. Registration for the tournament will run from April 19 to April 26, followed by open qualifiers, playoffs, and offline finals on May 17. The tournament features a prize pool of ₹5 lakh and will eventually select two teams to represent India at the global KWC event, where the total prize pool stands at $3 million.

The competition will follow global formats like Global Ban & Pick, which prevents teams from reusing heroes across matches, and a Bo7 Grand Final with an “Ultimate Battle” tiebreaker. These formats are designed to test strategy, adaptability, and team coordination at the highest level.

#Honor #Kings #Launches #HOK #Studio #Esports #Qualifier #IndiaKrafton">Honor of Kings Launches HOK Studio and Esports Qualifier in India

After its recent launch, Honor of Kings is now doubling down on the market with a two-pronged strategy. First, build a creator ecosystem, then strengthen its esports pathway. For this, the game has announced the rollout of HOK Studio, alongside the King’s Arise India: KWC at EWC26 Qualifier. Here’s everything you need to know.

HOK Studio to Boost Creator Ecosystem

Dean Huang, the game’s producer, said:

India is a key market for Honor of Kings, and our focus is on building a strong, localised ecosystem that goes beyond gameplay. With HOK Studio, we are committed to developing a program worth an initial ₹10 million, to empower creators who play a critical role in shaping how the game is experienced and shared. At the same time, through initiatives like the KWC at EWC26 Qualifier, we are creating opportunities for Indian players to compete at the highest global level. Together, these efforts reflect our long-term commitment to growing both the creator and competitive ecosystems in India.

EWC Qualifier

#Honor #Kings #Launches #HOK #Studio #Esports #Qualifier #IndiaKrafton

Apple’s New CEO Could Bring Us Less Pro, More ‘Neo’
Apple’s new chief, John Ternus, is set to bring hardware back to the fore. The first instance of a true Ternus brainchild, the cheap and vibrant MacBook Neo, proved ludicrously successful. Under Ternus, Apple has the chance to take the “Neo” name and revitalize all of Apple’s low-end products, from iPads to Apple Watches to iPhones.

Outgoing CEO Tim Cook is still at the helm until Sept. 1. That means this upcoming WWDC, taking place on June 8, will be his last hurrah and his final chance to share his vision for the trillion tech monolith. But Cook was not a hardware guy. Ternus is. The new CEO started his time at Apple as an engineer and worked his way up through Apple’s external displays, AirPods, and iPads and finally to an executive position where he oversaw the Mac’s landmark transition from Intel’s x86 architecture to ARM-based M-series chips. The M5 MacBook Air is a great value and the M5 Max MacBook Pro offers some of the best performance we’ve seen from a laptop of its size. Both still cost a tidy sum that many consumers still can’t afford. If there’s any one Mac that has Ternus’ stamp of approval, it’s the 0 MacBook Neo. It came with a new name that had never been used in Apple’s lexicon. It offered a suite of subtle, though still vibrant, colors we had not had on any Mac product before it. It broke with Apple’s penchant for premium and offered a build quality you can’t get from PCs at this price point. The ‘Neo’ is a blueprint for a more affordable Apple A pretty pink color emphasizes the MacBook Neo’s appeal. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo Ternus, as Apple’s hardware figurehead, propped up the MacBook Neo. He, not Cook, stood up on stage during the laptop’s New York City showcase back in March and extolled the merits of solid build quality and affordability. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote that Ternus “urged the company to sell a cheaper laptop that could appeal to a younger generation.” And people loved it. The laptop continues to sell so well that shipping times for either the 0 or 0 version with extra storage space have slipped all the way into May.

The next Apple products may similarly look downstream for a new customer base. Apple’s cheaper products, like the base iPad and Apple Watch SE 3, are still good for what they are. They just don’t spark the imagination. The Neo name could become the term for all of Apple’s lower-end products. Instead of an iPad that receives an iPhone chip and the leftovers of the iPad Air or iPad Pro, Apple could offer some new features that will entice lingering tablet users to upgrade.

The 0 iPhone 17e addressed most of our complaints about the iPhone 16e, but it still lacks many defining iPhone features, like the Dynamic Island and multiple cameras. I could see the next generation of cheap(er) iPhones drop the “e,” add “Neo” in the name, and offer more than just the scraps of the next-generation iPhone 18. Perhaps we could use more colors than just black, white, and a subtle pink. Apple doesn’t have to abandon premium products. Its next MacBook Pro with the rumored M6 chip could add an OLED display and a touchscreen, and it will likely cost even more than today’s M5 MacBook Pros do should it see the light of day. The supposed foldable iPhone will certainly cost a pretty penny. Apple’s Mac sales slowed down for the past few years until the Neo came along. Ternus has witnessed firsthand how angling products to the cash-strapped masses is enough to turn things around. #Apples #CEO #Bring #Pro #NeoApple,iPad,iPhone,john ternus,MacBook — A pretty pink color emphasizes the MacBook Neo’s appeal. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo

#Apples #CEO #Bring #Pro #NeoApple,iPad,iPhone,john ternus,MacBook">

mwasimuddin125 0

MacBook Neo, proved ludicrously successful. Under Ternus, Apple has the chance to take the “Neo” name and revitalize all of Apple’s low-end products, from iPads to Apple Watches to iPhones.

Outgoing CEO Tim Cook is still at the helm until Sept. 1. That means this upcoming WWDC, taking place on June 8, will be his last hurrah and his final chance to share his vision for the $4 trillion tech monolith. But Cook was not a hardware guy. Ternus is. The new CEO started his time at Apple as an engineer and worked his way up through Apple’s external displays, AirPods, and iPads and finally to an executive position where he oversaw the Mac’s landmark transition from Intel’s x86 architecture to ARM-based M-series chips.

The M5 MacBook Air is a great value and the M5 Max MacBook Pro offers some of the best performance we’ve seen from a laptop of its size. Both still cost a tidy sum that many consumers still can’t afford. If there’s any one Mac that has Ternus’ stamp of approval, it’s the $600 MacBook Neo. It came with a new name that had never been used in Apple’s lexicon. It offered a suite of subtle, though still vibrant, colors we had not had on any Mac product before it. It broke with Apple’s penchant for premium and offered a build quality you can’t get from PCs at this price point.

The ‘Neo’ is a blueprint for a more affordable Apple

Ternus, as Apple’s hardware figurehead, propped up the MacBook Neo. He, not Cook, stood up on stage during the laptop’s New York City showcase back in March and extolled the merits of solid build quality and affordability. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote that Ternus “urged the company to sell a cheaper laptop that could appeal to a younger generation.” And people loved it. The laptop continues to sell so well that shipping times for either the $600 or $700 version with extra storage space have slipped all the way into May.

The next Apple products may similarly look downstream for a new customer base. Apple’s cheaper products, like the base iPad and Apple Watch SE 3, are still good for what they are. They just don’t spark the imagination. The Neo name could become the term for all of Apple’s lower-end products. Instead of an iPad that receives an iPhone chip and the leftovers of the iPad Air or iPad Pro, Apple could offer some new features that will entice lingering tablet users to upgrade.

The $600 iPhone 17e addressed most of our complaints about the iPhone 16e, but it still lacks many defining iPhone features, like the Dynamic Island and multiple cameras. I could see the next generation of cheap(er) iPhones drop the “e,” add “Neo” in the name, and offer more than just the scraps of the next-generation iPhone 18. Perhaps we could use more colors than just black, white, and a subtle pink.

Apple doesn’t have to abandon premium products. Its next MacBook Pro with the rumored M6 chip could add an OLED display and a touchscreen, and it will likely cost even more than today’s M5 MacBook Pros do should it see the light of day. The supposed foldable iPhone will certainly cost a pretty penny. Apple’s Mac sales slowed down for the past few years until the Neo came along. Ternus has witnessed firsthand how angling products to the cash-strapped masses is enough to turn things around.

#Apples #CEO #Bring #Pro #NeoApple,iPad,iPhone,john ternus,MacBook">Apple’s New CEO Could Bring Us Less Pro, More ‘Neo’

Apple’s new chief, John Ternus, is set to bring hardware back to the fore. The first instance of a true Ternus brainchild, the cheap and vibrant MacBook Neo, proved ludicrously successful. Under Ternus, Apple has the chance to take the “Neo” name and revitalize all of Apple’s low-end products, from iPads to Apple Watches to iPhones.

Outgoing CEO Tim Cook is still at the helm until Sept. 1. That means this upcoming WWDC, taking place on June 8, will be his last hurrah and his final chance to share his vision for the $4 trillion tech monolith. But Cook was not a hardware guy. Ternus is. The new CEO started his time at Apple as an engineer and worked his way up through Apple’s external displays, AirPods, and iPads and finally to an executive position where he oversaw the Mac’s landmark transition from Intel’s x86 architecture to ARM-based M-series chips.

The M5 MacBook Air is a great value and the M5 Max MacBook Pro offers some of the best performance we’ve seen from a laptop of its size. Both still cost a tidy sum that many consumers still can’t afford. If there’s any one Mac that has Ternus’ stamp of approval, it’s the $600 MacBook Neo. It came with a new name that had never been used in Apple’s lexicon. It offered a suite of subtle, though still vibrant, colors we had not had on any Mac product before it. It broke with Apple’s penchant for premium and offered a build quality you can’t get from PCs at this price point.

The ‘Neo’ is a blueprint for a more affordable Apple

#Apples #CEO #Bring #Pro #NeoApple,iPad,iPhone,john ternus,MacBook

Lenovo

Legion 7i Gen 10 (16 Inch, Intel)

Now, there’s another class of high-end gaming laptop that focuses more on performance than being thin or portable. The Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of my favorites in this class, featuring a beautiful white chassis and glossy OLED display. Unlike some OLED displays, the Legion 7i’s screen can be cranked up to over 1,000 nits of brightness. The result is some really splendid HDR performance that brings games to life. HDR is a powerful way of improving the visuals of your games without a performance cost. The Legion 7i Gen 10 is one of the very best in this regard.

It’s still fairly thin at 0.7 inches thick too, while a lot of the ports are found on the back. It’s the definition of a “clean” gaming laptop. It’s no slouch when it comes to performance either, offering either the RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080 for graphics.

Cheap Gaming Laptops That Are Worth It

No gaming laptops worth buying are actually cheap. High-refresh rate displays and discrete graphics will always make them more expensive than standard laptops. But as you get closer to $1,000, there is one laptop I always come back to: the Lenovo LOQ 15. Pronounced “Lock,” this Lenovo subbrand is known for cutting the fluff and focusing on giving gamers the performance they need at an affordable price. No laptop does that better than the LOQ 15. Many laptop manufacturers sell their RTX 5060 configurations for hundreds of dollars more. In reality, if you’re shopping around $1,000, there’s no reason to not buy the LOQ 15. Just do it.

If you do want to save some extra cash, there is another option that is cheaper than the LOQ 15 with a few compromises in key areas. The Acer Nitro V 16 is that laptop, which comes with an RTX 5050. This was as affordable as $600 at one point last year—before prices on laptops have risen due to the ongoing memory shortage—but it remains the only laptop cheaper than the Lenovo LOQ 15 that’s actually worth it. It’s fairly powerful for the RTX 5050, and while the screen is pretty shoddy, it’s not a bad-looking laptop. The one big caveat is that the 135-watt power supply it comes with doesn’t deliver quite enough power to keep it charged in Performance mode. Read more about this issue in my review, as it’s important to know about if you’re planning to buy it.

There are other cheap gaming laptops out there I’ve tested, such as the MSI Cyborg A15, but either the Acer Nitro V 16 or Lenovo LOQ 15 are better, cheaper options. You will also find lots of gaming laptops under $1,000 that use older graphics cards, such as the RTX 4050 or 3050. In general, I’d recommend staying away from these. They’re only one or two generations back, but remember: Nvidia only releases new laptop graphics cards every couple of years. So, an RTX 4050 laptop may be well over two years old already, and an RTX 3050 is over five years old. Not only do you get worse graphics performance, these laptops are much more likely to need to be replaced sooner.

Experimental Stuff

One of the exciting things about the world of gaming laptops right now is the experimentation. While clamshell gaming laptops with a conventional Nvidia GPU are the most standard way to go, there’s a few different ways to take your PC games on the go that stretch the boundaries. You might consider a gaming handheld, for example, like the Steam Deck or Xbox Ally X. These handhelds have their fans, and while you can’t also do your homework on these devices, they’re great on couches, trains, and planes.