The best cheap gaming laptop deals from under £1,000 for June 2023

cheap gaming laptop deals
(Image credit: Future)

We've picked out a selection of our favourite cheap gaming laptop deals on this page for all our readers looking to save a bit of cash on their next machine. We've searched high and low across the web to find the recommendations that we think offer the best bang for the buck right now. Regardless of whether you're looking to spend as little as possible or have a bit of cash to secure something with some power, we've got gaming laptop deals recommendations that offer value across a range of budgets.

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. There, you'll find unbiased advice from TechRadar's experts to get you up to speed if you don't know your RAM from your refresh rate.

If you're in the US, we also have a dedicated guide for gaming laptop deals under $1000.

Latest update: 8 June 2023
Checked page information and prices for accuracy. 

Cheap gaming laptop deal of the week

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Medion Crawler P30 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was

Medion Crawler P30 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £1,100 now £799.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-12500H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

Laptops Direct currently has a fantastic deal on this speedy mid-range Medion Crawler, which features an RTX 3060 graphics card for an excellent price. On top of this great GPU, you're also getting 16GB of RAM and a relatively up-to-date 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor. Overall, this isn't the cheapest machine we've ever seen to feature an RTX 3060 (£749 is the record-low), but it's absolutely fantastic value for what you're getting.

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

Cheap gaming laptops under £700

MSI Prestige 14-inch gaming laptop: was

MSI Prestige 14-inch gaming laptop: was £899 now £551.99 at Box
Processor:
 Intel Core i5-1240P
Graphics card: RTX 3050
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

While it's not a traditional gaming laptop per say, this MSI Prestige is a pretty great choice if you're looking for a small form-factor machine that can handle a spot of light gaming on the side. It's 14-inch form factor will make it particularly portable and it's managing to pack in an RTX 3050 graphics card for an extremely reasonable price. There are some trade offs, however, in the form of a 60Hz display and Intel Core i5-1240P chipset - a processor that's serviceable but more aimed at consumer and business use-cases, rather than gaming.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Medion Crawler E30 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was

Medion Crawler E30 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £800 now £659.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-12450H
Graphics card: RTX 3050
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

Medion gaming laptops may not be the flashiest models on the market but they are absolutely fantastic value machines. Case in point - this entry-level Crawler model at Laptops Direct, which features a respectable Intel Core i5 12450H processor, RTX 3050 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD - all top-notch for the price and specs that are more than capable of decent performance at 1080p. 

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

15.6-inch gaming laptop: was

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £899 now £699.99 at Box
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-11300H
Graphics card: RTX 3050 Ti
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

It's chipset (processor) is a little older now but this Lenovo IdeaPad is still a great budget buy thanks to its RTX 3050 Ti. It's fairly rare to see the 'Ti' version of this card at this price point and that should get you a minor boost in performance versus the 'standard' RTX 3050. Overall, this is still a budget machine so don't expect incredible performance, but it's definitely not bad for playing games at 1080p resolution for the money you're paying.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cheap gaming laptops under £800

Medion Crawler P30 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was

Medion Crawler P30 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £1,100 now £799.97 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-12500H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

Laptops Direct currently has a fantastic deal on this speedy mid-range Medion Crawler, which features an RTX 3060 graphics card for an excellent price. On top of this great GPU, you're also getting 16GB of RAM and a relatively up-to-date 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor. Overall, this isn't the cheapest machine we've ever seen to feature an RTX 3060 (£749 is the record-low), but it's absolutely fantastic value for what you're getting.

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

Lenovo Legion 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £799 at Amazon

Lenovo Legion 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £799 at Amazon
Processor: 
AMD Ryzen 5-5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

This Lenovo Legion 5 is another worthy contender if you're on the hunt for an RTX 3060 gaming laptop deal at a reasonable price. We probably wouldn't pick this one over the Medion above since it has a slightly older chipset and only 8GB of RAM, but Lenovo's Legion 5 laptops feature decent build quality and a good design that's a little slicker than most cheap laptops. 

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cheap gaming laptops under £900

Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was

Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £999 now £849.99 at Amazon
Processor:
AMD Ryzen 5-5600H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

For us, the best bang for the buck gaming laptop deal this week is this Acer Nitro 5 at Amazon. It's not only the cheapest machine you'll find with an RTX 3060 graphics card this week, but it's also featuring a full 16GB kit of RAM as a nice bonus. Yeah, it's a little older now, but for 1080p gaming on a budget this one is offering a lot of value for money.

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

MSI Thin GF63 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £899

MSI Thin GF63 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £899 £849 at Currys
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-12450H
Graphics card: RTX 4050
RAM: 8GB
SSD: 512GB

This MSI Thin is one of the first machines we've recommended to feature an RTX 4050 graphics card, which is the latest budget-orientated GPU from Nvidia. Despite this being an entry-level card, overall improvements to a number of areas makes it just as quick (if not even quicker) than the older RTX 3060. While there are no price cuts to be found on these recent machines yet, this MSI Thin is going to be a solid performer for the money.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cheap gaming laptops under £1000

Medion Erazer E40 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was

Medion Erazer E40 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £999 now £949 at Laptops Direct
Processor: 
Intel Core i5 12450H
Graphics card: RTX 4050
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

This Medion Erazer is one of the best RTX 4050 gaming laptop deals available right now - not only because it has a reasonable price for a machine with this card, but also because it comes with a full 16GB kit of RAM. This is going to give this machine great out-the-box performance without the need to upgrade. The small £50 price cut also makes this one even better value this week.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £1,399

Acer Nitro 5 15.6-inch gaming laptop: £1,399 £999 at Amazon
Processor: 
AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
Graphics card: RTX 3060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 1TB

This Acer Nitro 5 is right on the edge price-wise of what we'd deem acceptable for an RTX 3060 gaming laptop deal but it's a decent choice for an all-rounder. Of particular note here is the latest 6th gen Ryzen 7 chip, which could back up the RTX 3060 nicely to offer a great level of performance. Bagging a full 1TB SSD and DDR5 RAM is also fantastic.

Specs rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐

MSI Cyborg 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was

MSI Cyborg 15.6-inch gaming laptop: was £1,198 now £1,049 at Scan
Processor: 
Intel Core i5-12450H
Graphics card: RTX 4060
RAM: 16GB
SSD: 512GB

We're going £50 over budget with this MSI Cyborg at Scan but it's easily one of the best gaming laptop deals going right now if you've got the dosh. First up, it's one of the cheapest machines on the market currently to feature the new RTX 4060 graphics card, which is going to get you fantastic performance. Secondly, it's also packed with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, which is the latest and fastest RAM you can currently get.

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

The best cheap gaming laptops of 2023

Best gaming laptop Asus TUF Dash F15 from the side, where you can see the gaming laptop's left-side ports.

(Image credit: Asus)
The best value gaming laptop

Specifications

CPU: Up to Intel Core i7-11375H
Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
RAM: Up to 16GB DDR4-3200
Screen: Up to 15.6-inch WQHD anti-glare 165Hz IPS-level display with Adaptive Sync
Storage: Up to 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Battery life up to 10 hours
+
Strong gaming performance in a thin chassis
+
Plenty of ports

Reasons to avoid

-
No webcam
-
Keyboard lighting color can't be changed

The Asus TUF Dash F15 is currently our favorite budget-minted gaming laptop here at TechRadar. It's not the cheapest model on the market by a long stretch, but it offers impressively recent components at a reasonable price of anywhere between £600 to £1,000 depending on your specs.

The biggest selling point for the Asus TUF Dash F15 is its superbly lightweight and thin design, which really bucks the reputation of cheap gaming laptops being clunkers. This won't be a huge deal breaker if you're planning on a more static setup, but those traveling every day will definitely appreciate a machine under 5 lbs.

Read the full Asus TUF Dash F15 review

MSI GF63 Thin

(Image credit: MSI)
Another excellent budget gaming laptop

Specifications

CPU: up to Intel Core i7-11800H
Graphics: up to RTX 3050 Ti
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1920x1080), 144Hz
Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen3 SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Great price-to-performance ratio
+
Solid build quality
+
Good range of ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Unimpressive battery life
-
Some annoying bloatware

The MSI GF63 has been a staple for our cheap gaming laptop deals roundup for a good few years now and the most recent model is particularly good if you're looking for a decent machine on a budget. Specs and internal load-outs can depend from specific model to model, but you'll generally always get a decent bang for the buck machine.

We were sent the RTX 3050 Ti version when we reviewed this one back in 2022 and found it to be a decent performer. For the price, the build is great and you get a solid range of ports for everyday use. Generally speaking, there's a lot to like about this budget machine from MSI so we'd definitely highlight it as a model that's worth keeping an eye out while you're shopping.

Read the full MSI GF63 Thin (2022) review

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro on a white background. The laptop is open, and there's a colorful background on the display with the Legion logo and what looks like black rocks surrounding it.

(Image credit: Lenovo)
Affordable gaming laptop that can compete with premium ones

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 – 3070
RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
Screen: 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS 500 nits, 165Hz
Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Incredible gaming performance
+
Fantastic QHD display
+
Excellent hardware controls

Reasons to avoid

-
Fairly generic chassis that's on the heavy side
-
Runs noticeably hot

The Lenovo Legion 5 can be a little pricier than some options, but it's a model that's often subject to significant price cuts at the leading retailers. If you can pick up a deal, it's a really strong contender for a mid to upper-range gaming laptop thanks to its excellent display, solid design, and competitive specs. 

Our review unit for this one featured a hefty RTX 3070 graphics card and Ryzen 7 but you'll find much cheaper options featuring RTX 3060s and even RTX 3050 Ti's. From a deals perspective, it's usually the RTX 3060 models that are in the sweet spot for value as you can sometimes pick them up for as little as £849, which is a great price.

Read the full Lenovo Legion 5 Pro review


Alex Whitelock
Deals Editor

Alex is deals editor at Future PLC and an all-around expert at one thing - saving readers as much cash as possible while scoring them the best products for their needs. With content that's always packed full of helpful information, no-nonsense expertise, and of course deals, Alex has also written for other leading sites such as T3 and GamesRadar. At work, you'll find him mostly covering computing, gaming, and advising people on how to save on their cell phone plans. Outside of work, you'll find him playing guitar, indulging his love for music, or down at the local climbing gym mostly hanging off boulders far too difficult for his abilities.