Walmart just dropped an incredibly cheap gaming laptop in its Labor Day sale

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The MSI Thin is a basic option, but good for the price

MSI Thin 15.6 gaming laptop on red background with TechRadar don't miss sign
(Image credit: Future)

You don't need to spend over $1,000 to get a good entry-level gaming laptop. While it might not have the highest specs or the latest hardware, you could get one for closer to $500 – if you find the right deal. As if on cue, here's this MSI Thin 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop at Walmart for $549 (was $899.99).

The MSI Thin series gets its name from its lighter, slimmer build compared to other gaming laptops. Sure, it's still heavier than something like the MacBook Air, but it's definitely not as bulky as many other machines. This particular model also boasts a good entry-level spec, ideal for basic or undemanding games such as Fortnite or Rocket League at mid-to-low settings. Overall, the value for money is impressive.

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MSI Thin 15.6 -inch Gaming Laptop
MSI Thin 15.6 -inch Gaming Laptop: was $899.99 now $549 at Walmart

This MSI Thin is a sturdy budget laptop powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050. Even though it doesn't have the latest hardware, it still delivers reliable performance that works well as an entry-level gaming laptop. It has a 512GB SSD for storing a modest library of games and 16GB RAM for powering through play sessions and multitasking. The full HD display and 144Hz refresh rate are also a good shout. The full price is a little much at this point, but for less than $550, it's a steal.

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This MSI Thin excels as an entry-level gaming laptop or as a quick replacement if you need a new gaming laptop right away. It only has a 512GB SSD and RTX 4050, which is one generation behind Nvidia's latest RTX 5000 series, but not old enough to disregard completely. The 512GB is enough for a modest library of games, or if you don't mind uninstalling old games to make room for new ones.

We haven't reviewed the latest MSI Thin model, but we gave an older model four out of four stars for its value in our MSI GF63 Thin (2022) review. This new MSI Thin 15 boasts a similarly sturdy build and should have just as good performance (if not better) thanks to the newer 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H processor. It also has a full HD display, 144Hz refresh rate, and 16GB RAM to lean on for support.

For more, see our best thin and light gaming laptops and best gaming laptops. I'd also recommend looking at the MSI Katana, our pick for the best budget gaming laptop.

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Jessica Reyes
Jessica Reyes
Contributor

Jess Reyes writes about deals and coupons almost as much as she does about games. Her work can be found in IGN, GameSpot, Digital Trends, and Inverse – just to name a few. When she’s not writing or gaming, she’s probably window shopping or gassing up her mutuals on Twitter/X.

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