Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
If your current PC is stuttering and can’t run the latest games, or you’d like to surprise your favorite gamer with an incredible present for the holidays, Black Friday is, hands-down, the best time of the year to buy a quality gaming PC for way less than you may expect. Everything from inexpensive cloud-gaming Chromebooks, to top-of-the line desktops are available at a serious discount this Black Friday, so read on for the internet’s best gaming PC sales and learn how to find the best gaming PC to put under the tree this Christmas.
Our top picks for the best gaming PC Black Friday deals
Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop
This compact case Alienware desktop is a powerhouse of a gaming PC capable of easily playing all of your games at their best. Not only is this small PC an excellent choice for running brand-new AAA games right out of the box with gorgeous graphics and a high frame rate, the Alienware R16 features an efficient and quiet cooling system, performance to spare for multitaskers, and a sizable collection of ports for only $1,299 for Black Friday (regularly $1,549).
Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop - w/ Windows 11 OS & 14th gen Intel Core - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 - 8GB - 1T
Legion Pro 5i Gaming Laptop
This midrange gaming laptop has a lot going for it from its consistently speedy performance and impressive visuals, to its quality tactile RGB keyboard and wide variety of ports. At only $1,052 this Black Friday (normally $1,529), the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is a steal for PC gamers who need a laptop capable of displaying lifelike graphics and high frame rates without breaking the bank.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 Intel Laptop - 14" - 512GB SSD - 16GB RAM - Intel vPro® platform
OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop
Slim, lightweight, and surprisingly much cooler than the average toasty gaming laptop, this wide 16.1-inch OMEN is on sale this Black Friday for just $1,399. If the $450 discount didn’t catch your attention, the OMEN 16’s powerful, nearly silent performance, vibrantly colored QHD display, large array of ports, and smooth 165Hz refresh rate will be especially attractive for anyone looking for a portable, yet mighty gaming laptop for the holidays and beyond.
HP OMEN - 16" 165Hz Full HD Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 9-7940HS - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 - 512GB SSD - Shadow Black
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16"
The Predator Helios Neo packs a monster amount of processing power within its 5.7-pound frame, delivering beautifully rendered visuals and smooth gameplay at a fair price point. This Acer laptop’s notably bright display, wide array of convenient ports, vibrant RGB-backlit keyboard, immersive 3D surround sound via DTS X: Ultra, and versatility as a premium gaming PC and multitasking machine can be yours on Black Friday for $999 (regularly $1,349).
Acer - Predator Helios Neo 16" WUXGA 165Hz IPS Gaming Laptop - Intel i7-13700HX – GeForce RTX 4050 with 16GB DDR5– 512GB SSD - Steel Gray
Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop
Razer paired an ultra-slim 16.99-millimeter profile and a featherweight design with richly detailed and smooth visuals for an all-around impressive gaming laptop. Mobile gamers can secure their own with a hefty discount of $1,300 off, at only $2,399 for Black Friday. In addition to easily running AAA games with surprisingly smooth frame rates, this 15-inch laptop also boasts a lengthy battery life, immersive THX spatial sound, and a cooler performance.
Codex R Gaming Desktop
Anyone looking for a well-made entry-level gaming PC should check out the budget-friendly $220 discount on a MSI Codex R gaming desktop this Black Friday. With 1TB of storage space, a design optimized for multitasking, high frame rates, premium long-lasting components, an eye-catching RGB-infused case, and bonus gaming keyboard and mouse combo, this is a stellar gaming PC for only $779.
MSI - Codex R Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i5-12400F - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 - 1TB SSD - Black
ASUS ROG Strix GT15 Gaming Desktop
This beastly Asus PC features a lighting-fast frame rate, superior sound technology via Sonic Studio III, and more than enough power to please hardcore gaming enthusiasts and digital creatives alike. Its premium performance is a top pick for playing games at their best, serious multitasking, and rendering 8K video. Its special Black Friday sale of $1,299 is an excellent deal for this gaming PC that normally costs $1,899.
ASUS ROG Strix GT15 Gaming Desktop Intel Core i7-12700F NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB DDR4 1TB SSD Windows 11 G15CF-WB786
Legion Tower 5
Anyone in the market for a PC that reliably plays modern games at a buttery-smooth 1440p, has plenty of room inside for future upgrades, and is decked out in slick RGB lighting should check out the Legion Tower 5. This tower’s well-ventilated design runs especially cool, sports an array of ports, and at only $1,101.99, (a sizable $478 discount). It’s easily the most affordable, excellent gaming PC you can find this Black Friday.
Lenovo ThinkCentre M75s Gen 2 Desktop - AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G (4.00 GHz) - 128GB SSD - 8GB RAM
What you need to know for Black Friday
When is Black Friday?
The biggest shopping day of 2023 falls on November 24th this year. While it officially starts at midnight, expect to find early Black Friday sales in the days and weeks leading up to the 24th.
Although most Black Friday sales will end on November 25th, some may last throughout the weekend and into Cyber Monday, as supplies last.
What gaming PC deals should I expect?
You can count on a large variety of impressive gaming PCs at low prices for Black Friday, with savings ranging from as little as $200 off, to over $800 off for already expensive, high-end PCs. Expect to see even deeper discounts on slightly older models to make room for new PCs in the new year.
What kind of gaming PC deals did they have last year?
Some of the best gaming PC deals of 2022 included $200 off the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro gaming laptop, an extra $600 off the all-around impressive Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R14, and a nice markdown of $149 off the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop.
How to get good gaming PC deals on Black Friday
Pick out a few gaming PCs with the specs that you would want before Black Friday deals hit, so you can add one to your cart and check out quickly to secure either your favorite or the one your wallet likes best before they sell out.
Search around your social media platform of choice for anything related to gaming PCs on Black Friday, in addition to the days leading up to the big shopping event. There are plenty of obscure and pop-up gaming PC deals that you would miss otherwise. While you’re at it, search for gaming monitor Black Friday deals.
Move fast if you find a gaming PC that you really like. It may be a particularly popular item, and you don’t want to miss out!
How to choose the best gaming PC for you?
Performance
Gaming PCs range from low-end models best used for cloud-based online gaming, up to mid-range, high-end, and premium models best reserved for dedicated hobbyists. Each gaming PC has its own strengths and weaknesses, and while you’ll have an absolute blast gaming on a premier PC, you’ll save a lot of money if you don’t need a premium PC for your favorite games.
Laptop vs desktop
If you’d like to take your favorite PC games wherever you go, there are plenty of top-tier gaming laptops for playing throughout your lunch break, during your next flight, and everywhere in between. Be on the lookout for plenty of gaming laptop Black Friday deals if this sounds like you. Although they tend to be far more expensive, desktop gaming PCs provide an all-around superior gaming experience, as long as you don’t mind your gaming sessions being limited to your home office. If you prefer the desktop route, consider your overall set up. You may want to upgrade to a better seat—and right now, there are plenty of gaming chair Black Friday deals.
Style
Beauty may be skin deep when talking about gaming PCs, but with plenty of attractive RGB-infused designs, slick liquid cooled models, and vibrantly colored cases to choose from, why settle when you can pick up something that matches your personal taste?
Where to find Black Friday gaming PC deals
Lenovo
Whether you’re in the market for a new gaming desktop or PC, Lenovo will have its fair share of Black Friday sales.
Dell
Expect to see many of Dell’s highly acclaimed Alienware and other gaming PCs on sale throughout Black Friday.
Amazon
Amazon is a must-see place to grab a gaming PC for Black Friday due to the variety of models and prices. Prime members should stay alert for exclusive offers. Make sure to keep an eye on our lists for the best Amazon Black Friday deals and the best Black Friday tech deals, in case something on your own list pops up.
Best Buy
Best Buy has a massive selection of gaming PCs of all prices and performance levels, and there should be plenty to choose from throughout their Black Friday event. If you’re also in the market for gaming gifts, expect to also find Xbox Black Friday deals, ps5 Black Friday deals, and Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals at this major retailer.
The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.