Gaming laptop prices hit 38% higher ahead of Black Friday 2026

Gaming laptop prices have climbed significantly heading into Black Friday 2026, with average costs up 38% compared to last year's holiday sales. Component scarcity, particularly RAM shortages and rising SSD prices, has driven manufacturers and retailers to pass increased costs to consumers.

The price surge means Black Friday discounts, typically around 20% off, won't bring laptops down to last year's levels. However, early sales are already underway across major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, Walmart, and HP's direct store.

Entry-level options remain available. Walmart is offering an Alienware 15 with RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, and a 165Hz FHD+ display for $899, down from $1,299.99. Newegg has the MSI Cyborg A15 with RTX 5060 and 1TB SSD at $1,249, reduced from $1,499.

Mid-range buyers looking for newer Nvidia RTX 50-Series graphics can find the Acer Nitro V with RTX 5050 at $1,049.99 (was $1,549.99). For $1,599, the MSI Vector 16 HX AI pairs an RTX 5070 Ti with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

Higher-end configurations are also discounted. Best Buy is offering the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 120Hz 3K OLED display at $2,599.99, down $570. The Asus ROG Strix G18 with RTX 5080 is $2,699.99, marked down $600.

For maximum performance, Newegg has the MSI Raider 18 HX AI with RTX 5090, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD at $3,699.99, reduced from $4,110.73.

According to Best Buy pricing data from September 2026, current average selling prices by GPU are: RTX 5090 at $4,753.56, RTX 5080 at $3,278.36, RTX 5070 Ti at $2,627.08, RTX 5070 at $2,151.12, RTX 5060 at $1,757.72, and RTX 5050 at $1,341.27. Last year's Black Friday deals undercut these averages substantially, with RTX 5050 machines under $1,000 and RTX 5080 systems at $2,633.32.

To manage costs, buyers should prioritize 16GB RAM over 32GB for most current games, opt for FHD displays instead of QHD, and defer OLED upgrades. Early Black Friday gaming laptop deals are expected to continue through November, peaking on November 27.

Based on current pricing trends, realistic Black Friday 2026 target prices are: RTX 5050 ($1,100-$1,200), RTX 5060 ($1,400-$1,600), RTX 5070 ($1,700-$1,900), RTX 5070 Ti ($2,100-$2,300), and RTX 5080 ($2,800 and up).