The best cheap gaming laptop deals from under £1,000 for May 2024

Asus G15 gaming laptop on greenish blue background
(Image credit: Future)

We've rounded up all of the UK's best cheap gaming laptop deals into a handy list right here for all our readers looking to save cash on their next machine. Regardless of whether you're setting a strict budget or are willing to spend a little more, you'll find plenty of options here for budgets ranging up to £1,000 - and we've also packed this page full of useful advice to help you get the right machine for your needs.

You'll find entries from all the UK's top retailers on our list - Amazon and Currys in particular. You may also find a couple of picks from lesser-known, but just as reputable, retailers like Box.co.uk and Laptops Direct - brands that have really been stepping up their gaming laptop deals recently to challenge the bigger players out there.

We've separated everything out into easy-to-navigate price brackets, which you can skip to using the handy links provided. We're aiming to cater for budgets ranging from about £600 all the way to £1,000, give or take. As you'd expect, the cheaper options are going to be more cost-effective but if you're looking for something that can really max out most games, then we'd recommend spending a little more if you can. Luckily, the more expensive gaming laptop deals on our list tend to be just as good value as the cheaper ones.

And if you get stuck or need some additional guidance, simply scroll down to our cheap gaming laptop deals FAQ section for more buying advice and tips. We'd also recommend our main best gaming laptops buyer's guide, which includes plenty of information and some of our favourite models to consider right now. 

Cheap gaming laptop deal of the week

Medion Erazer 15.6-inch gaming laptop:  £999 now £839.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: Graphics card: RAM: SSD:

Medion Erazer 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £999 now £839.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i7-12650H
Graphics card: RTX 4060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 1TB

The 12th-generation chipset in this Medion Erazer is a little older now but otherwise, this is an outstanding gaming laptop deal from Laptops Direct. For barely over £800 you get a decent RTX 4060 graphics card, plenty of RAM, and an expansive 1TB SSD - all of which are essentials for serious gaming. Cons for this machine include it's relatively boring design but we can't fault it when it comes to outright bang for the buck specs-wise.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cheap gaming laptops under £700

HP Victus 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £999now £639.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: Graphics card: RAM:SSD:

HP Victus 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £999 now £639.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-13420H
Graphics card: RTX 2050
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

The cheapest gaming laptop deal we've found this week that's worth buying is this HP Victus at Laptops Direct. The combination of an RTX 2050 and 13th generation Intel Core i5 aren't bad for the money and should get you decent 1080p performance if you're willing to tweak a few settings here and there. We would, however, recommend upgrading to the Medion below if you can make that budget stretch a little - plus, this model has been £30 cheaper before.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Medion Erazer 15.6-inch gaming laptop:  £1,199 now £679.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: Graphics card: RAM: SSD:

Medion Erazer 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £1,199 now £679.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-12450H
Graphics card: RTX 4050
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

Recommended cheap option: This Medion Erazer is usually on sale for around £749 so it's an easy recommendation at this record-low price of just £699 at Laptops Direct. For the money, you're getting a great machine here thanks to its combination of a recent RTX 4050 graphics card, 12th-gen chipset, and 16GB of RAM. It's exceptionally well specced-out for a machine under £700 and a great choice if you're just getting started with casual gaming.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cheap gaming laptops under £800

Medion Erazer 15.6-inch gaming laptop:  £1,199 now £799.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: Graphics card: RAM: SSD:

Medion Erazer 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £1,199 now £799.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-12450H
Graphics card: RTX 4060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

Another good gaming laptop deal on a Medion at Laptops Direct this week - this RTX 4060 model is currently sitting at its lowest-ever price. For just shy of £800 you'll get a powerful RTX 4060 graphics card, a decent chipset, and 16GB of RAM, which all make this machine exceptionally capable for the price. While not a premium laptop by any stretch, you do get good components here that can run all the latest games smoothly at relatively high settings. 

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cheap gaming laptops under £900

Medion Erazer 15.6-inch gaming laptop:  £999 now £839.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: Graphics card: RAM: SSD:

Medion Erazer 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £999 now £839.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i7-12650H
Graphics card: RTX 4060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 1TB

The 12th-generation chipset in this Medion Erazer is a little older now but otherwise, this is an outstanding gaming laptop deal from Laptops Direct. For barely over £800 you get a decent RTX 4060 graphics card, plenty of RAM, and an expansive 1TB SSD - all of which are essentials for serious gaming. Cons for this machine include it's relatively boring design but we can't fault it when it comes to outright bang for the buck specs-wise.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gigabyte G5 15.6-inch gaming laptop:  £1,099 now £849.97 at Currys
Processor: Graphics card: RAM: SSD:

Gigabyte G5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £1,099 now £849.97 at Currys
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-13500H
Graphics card: RTX 4060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

This Gigabyte G5 has been getting steadily cheaper over the past few months at Currys - and it's just been discounted by another £20. Again, this is one of the cheapest RTX 4060 gaming laptop deals on the market right now and you also get a really up-to-date 13th gen Intel Core i5 processor on top. It's a bit more expensive than some of the options on our list but it's a great option if you want something with a bit of power but don't want to completely break the bank.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MSI Crosshair 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £999now £896 at AmazonProcessor: Graphics card: RAM:SSD:

MSI Crosshair 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £999 now £896 at Amazon
Processor: Intel Core i7-12650H
Graphics card: RTX 4060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

It's on the higher-end of what we'd pay for a machine with an RTX 4060 graphics card, but this MSI Crosshair at Amazon is really great value overall. For just under £900 you get a decent Core i7 chipset and a blazingly quick 240Hz refresh rate monitor, which is a great pairing with the RTX 4060. Perhaps not as good bang for the buck as the cheaper RTX 4060 gaming laptop deals this week, but still well worth considering in this budget range.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cheap gaming laptops under £1000

Gigabyte G6 16 gaming laptop:  £1,349 now £999 at Currys
Processor: Graphics card: RAM: SSD:

Gigabyte G6 16 gaming laptop: was £1,349 now £999 at Currys
Processor: 
Intel Core i7-13620H
Graphics card: RTX 4060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 1TB

One of our favourite gaming laptop deals at Currys this week is this heavily discounted Gigabyte G6. For just shy of £1,000 you're getting the latest 13th gen Core i7 chipset, a respectable RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD - all fantastic components to get with a machine at this price point. This laptop is more than capable of maxing out most games at 1080p resolution and should even be able to handle some at 1440p.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

MSI Katana 15 gaming laptop:  £1,699 now £1,299 Amazon
Processor: Graphics card: RAM: SSD:

MSI Katana 15 gaming laptop: was £1,699 now £1,299 Amazon
Processor: 
Intel Core i9-13900H
Graphics card: RTX 4070
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 1TB

We're going way over budget with this MSI Katana at Amazon but it's a great value gaming laptop deal that's worth a bonus mention. If you're looking to spend more, you can't go wrong with this machine's potent combination of an RTX 4070 graphics card, Intel Core i9 chipset, and 1TB SSD - all of which will set you up nicely for 1440p gaming. It's pricey, yes, but this machine is worth every penny if you're looking for performance. 

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Frequently asked questions

How much should I spend on a cheap gaming laptop? 

The answer to this really depends on what kind of performance you're after. If you're setting the bar low, then you could get away with spending as little as £600. We would, however, recommend bumping your budget up to between £700 to £900 if you can afford it.

Machines that sit within this price range generally offer pretty great bang for the buck. You'll find models with specs that can play nearly every modern game smoothly but nothing that's too overkill. You can spend anywhere up to £1,500 on a machine and not reach diminishing returns with performance, but at half that price you should be able to get a machine that runs games well enough at 1080p. 

We’d definitely recommend spending at least £700 if you’re comfortable doing so. Any lower and you’ll most likely find issues with frame rates and performance or have a machine that will need to be upgraded fairly soon. It can be tempting to pick up a cheaper ultrabook with a Core i7 or Ryzen 7 processor and tons of RAM but remember these don't come with the dedicated graphics card or cooling requirements you'll need for proper gaming. 

Where to find the best gaming laptop deals in the UK

The best retailers in the UK for picking up reliable cheap laptops tend to be Amazon, Currys, Box, and Laptops Direct. Amazon is always a good shout, and, as you'd expect has particularly good sales around events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. Currys and Box also have very strong alternatives, with the latter offering incredibly competitive options across all price points throughout the year. Laptops Direct tends to be great for cheaper and end-of-line products, and it's also worth mentioning AO.com and Very - retailers that every so often throw their hats in the gaming laptop deals ring too.

Ebay is another option, although we always recommend picking up a brand new gaming laptop from one of the big retailers instead of at auction. That way you’re definitely getting full warranty, as well as an as-described laptop.

Here are some quick links to the best gaming laptop deals retailers, in case you want to head over to their sites and check them out yourself.

What should I look for in a cheap gaming laptop? 

The answer to this question depends heavily on what games you plan to play. We always recommend checking out the recommended and minimum system requirements of your favourite games to determine the ideal specifications for you. 

Just for good measure however, we'd recommend the following as a minimum if you're strictly on a budget:

  •  Minimum - Intel Core i5 (9th gen) / AMD Ryzen 5 (3rd gen) processor or later 
  •  Minimum - Nvidia GTX 1650 / AMD RX 5500M graphics card or later
  •  Minimum - 8GB of RAM 
  •  Optional - 512GB solid-state drive
  •  Optional - 120Hz refresh rate display monitor 

If you choose to go lower and the above you may start to encounter issues with frame rates and performance even on the lowest settings in modern games. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the latest games also push the boundaries of minimum specs each year, so the higher you go now will pay dividends in the future if you plan on holding off on an upgrade for some time. 

When's the best time to pick up a gaming laptop deal? 

Gaming laptop deals tend to be a fairly regular fixture over at the big retailers all year round so there’s always plenty of options if you’re looking to pick something up quickly. That said, the big yearly sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime day tend to yield great discounts and are definitely worth waiting for if you’re willing to be patient. 

We always recommend doing the research on the particular model and specs you want then checking in every now and again to see if there’s a discount. We update this page regularly, so definitely bookmark it and feel free to check in. We also run dedicated gaming laptop deals spotlights over on our dedicated deals feed


Alex Whitelock
Deals Editor

Alex is deals editor at TechRadar. With over three years of experience on-site and eight years working in e-commerce, Alex has made it his personal mission to share all his favorite tips, bargains, and deals with our readers here at TechRadar. At work, he specializes in computing, phones, and covering huge sales events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Outside of work, you'll find him indulging his keen love of photography and PC gaming, or down at the local climbing gym hanging off boulders far too difficult for his abilities. His editorial bylines also include contributions to T3 and GamesRadar.