PSA: Avoid gaming laptop deals like this one on Prime Day
Oct. 4, 2024Cheap gaming laptops regularly come with a catch
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Best Buy has just listed a $350 discount on an already cheap HP Victus 15 gaming laptop, dropping the $799.99 MSRPdown to $449.99, but there’s a pretty tough catch here. This entry level spec only comes with 8GB RAM. Ask me a few years ago and I would have said that’s fine for a sub-$500 gaming laptop, but these days I wouldn’t bother. While few games list 16GB RAM as their minimum recommended amount, titles these days are going to need more than 8GB to run smoothly.
There aren’t too manygaming laptop dealsstill sticking with 8GB RAM these days - in fact, this is the first one I’ve seen in a little while. However, they’re alive and well in this super-budget price range and they regularly come to the forefront duringPrime Day gaming laptop deals, especially at Amazon itself.
The retailer doesn’t have a massive selection of thebest gaming laptops, so it’s often budget models that get pushed to the top of the pile during these more hectic sales events. It’s important not to get sucked into the trap of that particularly cheap rate. Not only is that $450 investment going to need to be replaced fairly soon to keep up with modern releases, but it can actually already go towards a more sophisticated system without too much extra on top.
At $450 you’re not that far away from anAsus ROG AllyZ1 model, a handheld system that manages to pack 16GB RAM into a similar $499.99 MSRP (though it’s currently$399.99 at Newegg). I use my Ally every day, even plugged into a monitor as I would a regular gaming laptop and while performance will be lower compared to the full Z1E version, it’s still more than playable for lighter games. There’s less of a chance of being out-specced by future games and you’ve got the additional portability benefits of thebest gaming handhelds. This is also one we regularly see taking part in Prime Day PC deals, so it’s not unreasonable to assume that $499.99 MSRP could be moving down the scale next week. In fact, even the Z1E model can sometimes be found at these kinds of prices whenBlack Friday gaming dealsreally kick off.
Asus ROG Ally Z1 |$499.99$399.99 at NeweggSave $100 -The Asus ROG Ally is an incredibly efficient system that packs a heavier stick of RAM into a portable chassis. It’s fine-tuned for more casual play so you’re getting excellent value if you’re a first-time buyer. Not only that, but it’s a regular in the sales once major events start rolling in.
Buy it if:
✅You play lighter games✅You still want a desktop experience✅You want to play as you travel
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You play more demanding games
Asus ROG Ally Z1E:$649.99 at Best Buy
Buy it if:
✅ You play less demanding games✅ You don’t want to upgrade your system too soon✅ You don’t want to break the bank
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You can spend more on a better display
If you’re shopping in the budget gaming laptop category this Prime Day (or in upcomingBlack Friday gaming laptop deals), it’s well worth double checking your specs. That HP Victus might be alright for less demanding indie games now, but things are moving quickly and even casual players will likely need 16GB RAM as a minimum within the next year. Yes, those sub-$500 offers can be tempting, but they can also double themselves if you need to replace your whole system in a short amount of time. It’s much better to wait until you can either move slightly beyond this price range or until you find a 16GB RAM device at a similar position. That can happen during later Fall sales, I’ve seen it, but you’ll need to move fast to close in on it.
We’re also rounding up all thebest Alienware laptopsand thebest Asus gaming laptopsif you prefer to shop a specific brand - or check out thebest Razer laptopsfor a little more luxury.
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Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I’ve written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i’m focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector.
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