My bank account isn't exactly overflowing at the moment, so here's the gaming laptop I'd buy with my own money this Prime Day
Asus TUF A16 | RTX 5070 | Ryzen 9 270 | 16-inch | 1200p | 165 Hz | 32 GB DDR5 | 1 TB SSD | $1,699 $1,350 at Best Buy (save $350)
This RTX 5070 machine is the same sort of price you'll find many RTX 4070 laptops at the moment. Sure, it's only got a 1200p screen, but that means the mobile GPU shouldn't struggle making the most of its 165 Hz refresh rate panel, particularly when Multi Frame Generation is thrown into the mix. It's also got 32 GB of RAM, which makes a real change from the many, many 16 GB laptops we were finding up until recently. A very tidy gaming laptop for the cash, and one I'm eyeing with my personal funds.View Deal
Times are tough, gamers, times are tough. But that doesn't mean all the good RTX 50-series gaming laptops are out of my reach this Prime Day. I've had my eye on this particular machine for the entire sales period, and last night it dropped by yet another $50 to $1,350 at Best Buy. I reckon that's a fantastic price for such a capable laptop, and it's the one I'd buy with my own funds right now.
What you're looking for in an affordable gaming laptop is balance. You don't want to overpay for components you don't need, nor do you want to pay too much for one specific component when the rest aren't capable of matching it.
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So, this RTX 5070-equipped 16-inch lappy with a 1200p screen really is the sweet spot. It's got a 140 W TGP variant of Nvidia's mid-range mobile GPU, which means it's as powerful as the spec allows. Pair it with a 165 Hz panel, and, thanks to the wonders of DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation, this machine shouldn't struggle in even the most demanding games. High frame rates are going to be a thing if you buy one of these, and that's simply the best way to play.
Smooth. What I want is smooth gameplay, not super-high-res-but-crunchy. Plus, the CPU in this particular TUF Gaming model is an eight-core, 16-thread AMD chip with plenty of grunt, paired with 32 GB of DDR5.
It wasn't long ago when all laptops in this price bracket came with 16 GB of RAM, and that's a little tight in 2025. No fiddling with a screwdriver for a later upgrade here—this Asus is ready to go straight from the box.
The SSD is decently-sized, too, and I haven't even mentioned the chassis yet. Asus has much improved the overall designs of its TUF lineup in recent years, which means this laptop is less construction-worker-chic and more svelte and sexy. I could absolutely see myself taking it to work with me, grinning at the price I bought it for the whole way.
There is one fly in the ointment, though, and it comes in the form of the gaming laptop below.
A slightly more expensive choice
HP Omen Max 16 | RTX 5080 | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | 16-inch | 1200p | 165 Hz | 32 GB RAM | 1 TB SSD | $1,567.99 at HP with promo code LEVELUP20 (save $1,142)
I'd normally dismiss any RTX 5080 laptop as not being worth the huge premium over the 5070 Ti. But this one is actually cheaper and that makes it a conspicuous deal and far cheaper than any other RTX 5080 laptop around. And it's from HP, not some random brand you've never heard of. Just note you'll need to use the "LEVELUP20" code and configure the 255HX Intel CPU, the RTX 5080 and the non-4x4 1TB SSD to hit that price. Good luck.View Deal
I don't know about you, but my personal funds can't quite stretch to this RTX 5080-equipped HP Omen Max 16 right now, and that's a damn shame. Because with a $1,142 discount at HP thanks to promo code LEVELUP20, it represents absolutely astonishing value.
The RTX 5070 in the Asus is very capable, but it'll get its lunch firmly eaten by the RTX 5080 in the HP. No great surprises there, I suppose, but it's simply astounding that you can pick up a well-equipped, slim and svelte HP gaming laptop with such a GPU for this kind of sum.
It's also got a 165 Hz 1200p screen, 32 GB of RAM, and a CPU with proper gaming credentials. It's an Intel chip this time, the Core Ultra 7 255HX, a 20-core behemoth that won't struggle with... well, anything, really.
But I have to be realistic. So, it's the Asus for me, but it does make me look around my house for things to sell in order to make up the difference and grab the HP. We don't really need that ornamental vase, do we?
Oh. Apparently we do. It's the Asus for me then. My mistake.