Small but mighty machines make up some of the best gaming laptop deals this Memorial Day

HardwareGaming LaptopsSmall but mighty machines make up some of the best gaming laptop deals this Memorial DayWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Acer, HP, Lenovo)Jump to:Lenovo Legion Slim 5Acer Predator 14HP Omen Transcend 14Wildcard - Steam Deck originalGaming laptops, proper ones I mean, used to be big, cantankerous beasts. And I’ll be honest, some of the super high powered ones still are. But thankfully for those of us that don’t fancy throwing a lead weight in our backpack to take on the move, it’s now possible to buy a very powerful gaming machine in a small and light chassis.We’ve been hunting forthe best Memorial Day PC gaming deals, and I’ve pulled out some of the best bargains on compact gaming laptops, to help put portable power in your hands for less.You might think you’d end up skimping out on specs in a compact machine, but the truth is you can get the all important combination of a fast CPU, RAM and GPU combo, decent storage space and a great-looking screen for very reasonable money.All in a form factor that’s just as comfortable to use knocking out an email in a coffee shop, or playing a movie on a flight, as it is playing demanding games.So, let’s get cracking with some options, shall we? Mini but mighty this lot, with something of a wild card at the end for good measure…Lenovo Legion Slim 5Lenovo Legion Slim 5 | RTX 4060 | Ryzen 7 7840HS | 14.5-inch | 2880 x 1800 | 120 Hz | OLED | 16GB LPDDR5X | 1TB SSD |$1,479.99$999.99 at Best Buy (save $480)How’s this for starters? We’re big fans of Lenovo’s gaming laptops in general, but this one’s a real corker for $1,000. It’s slim, compact and downright subtle, but alongside all that gaming hardware you’re also getting a 1800p OLED screen, which will make everything from games to movies to a boring old spreadsheet look fantastic.View DealKicking things off with a bang, this Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has a screen and hardware combination that makes other laptops jealous, all for$1,000 at Best Buy. Bearing in mind that we often see RTX 4060-equipped desktop machines for around the $1,000 mark, here you’re getting the mobile version with a decent CPU, 16 GB of LPDDR5X, a 1 TB SSDandan OLED screen, all in one tidy, portable package.It’s a handsome little machine this, and one that you can proudly show off in your next meeting without any overt gamer branding to distract. And for those of you thinking the mobile RTX 4060 isn’t particularly powerful, well that may be true. But, you’ve always got DLSS 3 to take advantage of, pushing those framerates up to smooth levels while keeping image quality looking sharp on that fantastic display.OLED-equipped laptops can get very pricey. For under a grand, with these sort of specs, this is a straight up bargain.Acer Predator 14Acer Predator 14 | RTX 4070 | Core i7 13700H | 14-inch | 250Hz | 1600p | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD |$1,999.99$1,299.99 at Amazon (save $700)It’s not the prettiest gaming laptop you’ll ever see, but underneath the cheap-looking exterior is a pile of really nice hardware. That Intel CPU has 14 cores, 20 threads, and the GPU is a 140 W RTX 4070. Backing them up are 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and, unusually for this price, a full 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. Even the 2560 x 1600 screen is good, with a 250Hz refresh rate and mini-LED backlighting.Price check:Newegg $1,399.99View DealThe Acer Predator 14 is, I’ll admit, not the best looking machine. That being said, it’s not exactly an ugly duckling either, and really this little lappy is all about the huge amount of hardware you’re getting for a very reasonable$1,300 at Amazon.The Intel Core i7 13700H is still a bit of a beast as far as mobile CPUs go, with 14 cores, 20 threads and up to a 5 GHz boost clock, which means it won’t just be great for games but all sorts of demanding tasks, like media editing on the go.If gaming is your thing though—and let’s face it, if you’re here it probably is—check out that GPU. A lot of laptops feature a mobile RTX 4070, but in small form-factor machines it can often be a low power version. Here you’re getting the 140 W model for proper mobile gaming performance.As if that wasn’t enough, the screen is a bit of a corker, too. It’s a 1600p Mini-LED IPS backlit panel with a 250 Hz refresh rate that should look pretty fantastic in motion, and it’s DisplayHDR 600 rated.A lot of laptop, in a small (if not particularly pretty) chassis. Personally, I reckon the hardware trumps the looks on this one all day long.HP Omen Transcend 14HP Omen Transcend 14 | Nvidia RTX 4060 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 14-inch | 120Hz | 2880 x 1800 | OLED | 512GB SSD | 16GB DDR5-7500 |$1,699.99$1,379.99 at HP (save $320)This lovely 14-incher is still one of the the best value compact gaming laptops around. You get an excellent OLED panel as standard, and a 65W GPU that will still deliver a quality gaming experience. The 512GB SSD is a bit small, but you can configure the machine with a 1TB drive if you’re willing to spend a bit more, or an RTX 4070 if you really want to spec it out.View DealThe HP Omen Transcend 14 has a tendency to bounce in and out of the deals, but it’s one of our go to recommendations for a great compact gaming laptop. The configuration I’ve picked here here gets you one of Intel’s latest Meteor Lake CPUs, the Core Ultra 7 155H, a 65W RTX 4060 (upgradeable to an RTX 4070 for a fair bit more) and a 512 GB SSD.That’s a little on the small side, admittedly, but you can upgrade to a 1 TB version for $90 if you don’t mind spending up a bit.There are two major factors here that make this laptop of note. Number one is that fantastic OLED panel. It’s a 1800p OLED model with a peak brightness rating of 500 nits covered in edge-to-edge glass, which should really help those colors pop.Two, is that chassis. This is an ultra stylish, very slim laptop with a configurable RGB backlit keyboard. In shadow black (or ceramic white, if you prefer) it really does look like the cats pyjamas, in the sort of way that inspires laptop envy wherever you go.It’s super slim, very light, and about as sleek as they come. Combine that with the eye-popping screen, and you’ve got a performant little package that really does look every inch the money you paid for it.And at$1,380 in the configuration above at HP, that’ll be less than most would expect. We won’t tell them if you don’t. Promise.Wildcard - Steam Deck originalSteam Deck (original) | 256 GB SSD |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have had an OLED refresh but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s also well worth considering picking up a storage upgrade like the1TB Lexar Playfor extra capacity on the cheap. Still, It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it demands respect.View DealOkay, okay, you don’t have to all yell at once. It’s not a laptop, I know. But you came here for great deals on compact gaming power, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the OG Steam Deck is still something of a steal ata mere $399.This is the 256 GB model, which is a bit on the small side for gaming storage. You know what else is a great deal though? This1 TB Lexar Play 2230 SSD drive for $90 at Amazon, which can fit straight into your new Steam Deck after five minutes of fiddling with some screws.While the Steam Deck isn’t a productivity machine in the slightest, if all you want is something very portable to play games on the go for not much cash, this is a brilliant way to do it. I’vevery much enjoyed my time with the Deck, as —while it’s not the most powerful handheld on the market—it delivers a genuine PC gaming experience for much less than, well, almost anything else.It’s not a laptop. Big deal. It’s compact gaming power for relatively little cash, and that makes it a brilliant shout for those of you looking to take PC gaming out into the big wide world.TOPICSHardwareMore about gaming laptopsIf you love a big laptop without a big price tag, this RTX 4070 17.3-incher is an ideal pick at $1,300The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 now looks like a dazzler of a gaming laptop, even if it’s still a bit of a paving slabLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►Most PopularPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fabI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bayFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsTikTok’s time in the US may be ticking to a close as it makes a last stand in the Supreme Court, though Trump now says he ‘opposes banning’ itHARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Acer, HP, Lenovo)Jump to:Lenovo Legion Slim 5Acer Predator 14HP Omen Transcend 14Wildcard - Steam Deck originalGaming laptops, proper ones I mean, used to be big, cantankerous beasts. And I’ll be honest, some of the super high powered ones still are. But thankfully for those of us that don’t fancy throwing a lead weight in our backpack to take on the move, it’s now possible to buy a very powerful gaming machine in a small and light chassis.We’ve been hunting forthe best Memorial Day PC gaming deals, and I’ve pulled out some of the best bargains on compact gaming laptops, to help put portable power in your hands for less.You might think you’d end up skimping out on specs in a compact machine, but the truth is you can get the all important combination of a fast CPU, RAM and GPU combo, decent storage space and a great-looking screen for very reasonable money.All in a form factor that’s just as comfortable to use knocking out an email in a coffee shop, or playing a movie on a flight, as it is playing demanding games.So, let’s get cracking with some options, shall we? Mini but mighty this lot, with something of a wild card at the end for good measure…Lenovo Legion Slim 5Lenovo Legion Slim 5 | RTX 4060 | Ryzen 7 7840HS | 14.5-inch | 2880 x 1800 | 120 Hz | OLED | 16GB LPDDR5X | 1TB SSD |$1,479.99$999.99 at Best Buy (save $480)How’s this for starters? We’re big fans of Lenovo’s gaming laptops in general, but this one’s a real corker for $1,000. It’s slim, compact and downright subtle, but alongside all that gaming hardware you’re also getting a 1800p OLED screen, which will make everything from games to movies to a boring old spreadsheet look fantastic.View DealKicking things off with a bang, this Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has a screen and hardware combination that makes other laptops jealous, all for$1,000 at Best Buy. Bearing in mind that we often see RTX 4060-equipped desktop machines for around the $1,000 mark, here you’re getting the mobile version with a decent CPU, 16 GB of LPDDR5X, a 1 TB SSDandan OLED screen, all in one tidy, portable package.It’s a handsome little machine this, and one that you can proudly show off in your next meeting without any overt gamer branding to distract. And for those of you thinking the mobile RTX 4060 isn’t particularly powerful, well that may be true. But, you’ve always got DLSS 3 to take advantage of, pushing those framerates up to smooth levels while keeping image quality looking sharp on that fantastic display.OLED-equipped laptops can get very pricey. For under a grand, with these sort of specs, this is a straight up bargain.Acer Predator 14Acer Predator 14 | RTX 4070 | Core i7 13700H | 14-inch | 250Hz | 1600p | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD |$1,999.99$1,299.99 at Amazon (save $700)It’s not the prettiest gaming laptop you’ll ever see, but underneath the cheap-looking exterior is a pile of really nice hardware. That Intel CPU has 14 cores, 20 threads, and the GPU is a 140 W RTX 4070. Backing them up are 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and, unusually for this price, a full 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. Even the 2560 x 1600 screen is good, with a 250Hz refresh rate and mini-LED backlighting.Price check:Newegg $1,399.99View DealThe Acer Predator 14 is, I’ll admit, not the best looking machine. That being said, it’s not exactly an ugly duckling either, and really this little lappy is all about the huge amount of hardware you’re getting for a very reasonable$1,300 at Amazon.The Intel Core i7 13700H is still a bit of a beast as far as mobile CPUs go, with 14 cores, 20 threads and up to a 5 GHz boost clock, which means it won’t just be great for games but all sorts of demanding tasks, like media editing on the go.If gaming is your thing though—and let’s face it, if you’re here it probably is—check out that GPU. A lot of laptops feature a mobile RTX 4070, but in small form-factor machines it can often be a low power version. Here you’re getting the 140 W model for proper mobile gaming performance.As if that wasn’t enough, the screen is a bit of a corker, too. It’s a 1600p Mini-LED IPS backlit panel with a 250 Hz refresh rate that should look pretty fantastic in motion, and it’s DisplayHDR 600 rated.A lot of laptop, in a small (if not particularly pretty) chassis. Personally, I reckon the hardware trumps the looks on this one all day long.HP Omen Transcend 14HP Omen Transcend 14 | Nvidia RTX 4060 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 14-inch | 120Hz | 2880 x 1800 | OLED | 512GB SSD | 16GB DDR5-7500 |$1,699.99$1,379.99 at HP (save $320)This lovely 14-incher is still one of the the best value compact gaming laptops around. You get an excellent OLED panel as standard, and a 65W GPU that will still deliver a quality gaming experience. The 512GB SSD is a bit small, but you can configure the machine with a 1TB drive if you’re willing to spend a bit more, or an RTX 4070 if you really want to spec it out.View DealThe HP Omen Transcend 14 has a tendency to bounce in and out of the deals, but it’s one of our go to recommendations for a great compact gaming laptop. The configuration I’ve picked here here gets you one of Intel’s latest Meteor Lake CPUs, the Core Ultra 7 155H, a 65W RTX 4060 (upgradeable to an RTX 4070 for a fair bit more) and a 512 GB SSD.That’s a little on the small side, admittedly, but you can upgrade to a 1 TB version for $90 if you don’t mind spending up a bit.There are two major factors here that make this laptop of note. Number one is that fantastic OLED panel. It’s a 1800p OLED model with a peak brightness rating of 500 nits covered in edge-to-edge glass, which should really help those colors pop.Two, is that chassis. This is an ultra stylish, very slim laptop with a configurable RGB backlit keyboard. In shadow black (or ceramic white, if you prefer) it really does look like the cats pyjamas, in the sort of way that inspires laptop envy wherever you go.It’s super slim, very light, and about as sleek as they come. Combine that with the eye-popping screen, and you’ve got a performant little package that really does look every inch the money you paid for it.And at$1,380 in the configuration above at HP, that’ll be less than most would expect. We won’t tell them if you don’t. Promise.Wildcard - Steam Deck originalSteam Deck (original) | 256 GB SSD |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have had an OLED refresh but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s also well worth considering picking up a storage upgrade like the1TB Lexar Playfor extra capacity on the cheap. Still, It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it demands respect.View DealOkay, okay, you don’t have to all yell at once. It’s not a laptop, I know. But you came here for great deals on compact gaming power, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the OG Steam Deck is still something of a steal ata mere $399.This is the 256 GB model, which is a bit on the small side for gaming storage. You know what else is a great deal though? This1 TB Lexar Play 2230 SSD drive for $90 at Amazon, which can fit straight into your new Steam Deck after five minutes of fiddling with some screws.While the Steam Deck isn’t a productivity machine in the slightest, if all you want is something very portable to play games on the go for not much cash, this is a brilliant way to do it. I’vevery much enjoyed my time with the Deck, as —while it’s not the most powerful handheld on the market—it delivers a genuine PC gaming experience for much less than, well, almost anything else.It’s not a laptop. Big deal. It’s compact gaming power for relatively little cash, and that makes it a brilliant shout for those of you looking to take PC gaming out into the big wide world.TOPICSHardwareMore about gaming laptopsIf you love a big laptop without a big price tag, this RTX 4070 17.3-incher is an ideal pick at $1,300The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 now looks like a dazzler of a gaming laptop, even if it’s still a bit of a paving slabLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►Most PopularPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fabI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bayFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsTikTok’s time in the US may be ticking to a close as it makes a last stand in the Supreme Court, though Trump now says he ‘opposes banning’ it

(Image credit: Acer, HP, Lenovo)

The Acer Predator, HP Omen Transcend 14 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 on a green blue background

Jump to:Lenovo Legion Slim 5Acer Predator 14HP Omen Transcend 14Wildcard - Steam Deck original

Gaming laptops, proper ones I mean, used to be big, cantankerous beasts. And I’ll be honest, some of the super high powered ones still are. But thankfully for those of us that don’t fancy throwing a lead weight in our backpack to take on the move, it’s now possible to buy a very powerful gaming machine in a small and light chassis.We’ve been hunting forthe best Memorial Day PC gaming deals, and I’ve pulled out some of the best bargains on compact gaming laptops, to help put portable power in your hands for less.You might think you’d end up skimping out on specs in a compact machine, but the truth is you can get the all important combination of a fast CPU, RAM and GPU combo, decent storage space and a great-looking screen for very reasonable money.All in a form factor that’s just as comfortable to use knocking out an email in a coffee shop, or playing a movie on a flight, as it is playing demanding games.So, let’s get cracking with some options, shall we? Mini but mighty this lot, with something of a wild card at the end for good measure…Lenovo Legion Slim 5Lenovo Legion Slim 5 | RTX 4060 | Ryzen 7 7840HS | 14.5-inch | 2880 x 1800 | 120 Hz | OLED | 16GB LPDDR5X | 1TB SSD |$1,479.99$999.99 at Best Buy (save $480)How’s this for starters? We’re big fans of Lenovo’s gaming laptops in general, but this one’s a real corker for $1,000. It’s slim, compact and downright subtle, but alongside all that gaming hardware you’re also getting a 1800p OLED screen, which will make everything from games to movies to a boring old spreadsheet look fantastic.View DealKicking things off with a bang, this Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has a screen and hardware combination that makes other laptops jealous, all for$1,000 at Best Buy. Bearing in mind that we often see RTX 4060-equipped desktop machines for around the $1,000 mark, here you’re getting the mobile version with a decent CPU, 16 GB of LPDDR5X, a 1 TB SSDandan OLED screen, all in one tidy, portable package.It’s a handsome little machine this, and one that you can proudly show off in your next meeting without any overt gamer branding to distract. And for those of you thinking the mobile RTX 4060 isn’t particularly powerful, well that may be true. But, you’ve always got DLSS 3 to take advantage of, pushing those framerates up to smooth levels while keeping image quality looking sharp on that fantastic display.OLED-equipped laptops can get very pricey. For under a grand, with these sort of specs, this is a straight up bargain.Acer Predator 14Acer Predator 14 | RTX 4070 | Core i7 13700H | 14-inch | 250Hz | 1600p | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD |$1,999.99$1,299.99 at Amazon (save $700)It’s not the prettiest gaming laptop you’ll ever see, but underneath the cheap-looking exterior is a pile of really nice hardware. That Intel CPU has 14 cores, 20 threads, and the GPU is a 140 W RTX 4070. Backing them up are 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and, unusually for this price, a full 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. Even the 2560 x 1600 screen is good, with a 250Hz refresh rate and mini-LED backlighting.Price check:Newegg $1,399.99View DealThe Acer Predator 14 is, I’ll admit, not the best looking machine. That being said, it’s not exactly an ugly duckling either, and really this little lappy is all about the huge amount of hardware you’re getting for a very reasonable$1,300 at Amazon.The Intel Core i7 13700H is still a bit of a beast as far as mobile CPUs go, with 14 cores, 20 threads and up to a 5 GHz boost clock, which means it won’t just be great for games but all sorts of demanding tasks, like media editing on the go.If gaming is your thing though—and let’s face it, if you’re here it probably is—check out that GPU. A lot of laptops feature a mobile RTX 4070, but in small form-factor machines it can often be a low power version. Here you’re getting the 140 W model for proper mobile gaming performance.As if that wasn’t enough, the screen is a bit of a corker, too. It’s a 1600p Mini-LED IPS backlit panel with a 250 Hz refresh rate that should look pretty fantastic in motion, and it’s DisplayHDR 600 rated.A lot of laptop, in a small (if not particularly pretty) chassis. Personally, I reckon the hardware trumps the looks on this one all day long.HP Omen Transcend 14HP Omen Transcend 14 | Nvidia RTX 4060 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 14-inch | 120Hz | 2880 x 1800 | OLED | 512GB SSD | 16GB DDR5-7500 |$1,699.99$1,379.99 at HP (save $320)This lovely 14-incher is still one of the the best value compact gaming laptops around. You get an excellent OLED panel as standard, and a 65W GPU that will still deliver a quality gaming experience. The 512GB SSD is a bit small, but you can configure the machine with a 1TB drive if you’re willing to spend a bit more, or an RTX 4070 if you really want to spec it out.View DealThe HP Omen Transcend 14 has a tendency to bounce in and out of the deals, but it’s one of our go to recommendations for a great compact gaming laptop. The configuration I’ve picked here here gets you one of Intel’s latest Meteor Lake CPUs, the Core Ultra 7 155H, a 65W RTX 4060 (upgradeable to an RTX 4070 for a fair bit more) and a 512 GB SSD.That’s a little on the small side, admittedly, but you can upgrade to a 1 TB version for $90 if you don’t mind spending up a bit.There are two major factors here that make this laptop of note. Number one is that fantastic OLED panel. It’s a 1800p OLED model with a peak brightness rating of 500 nits covered in edge-to-edge glass, which should really help those colors pop.Two, is that chassis. This is an ultra stylish, very slim laptop with a configurable RGB backlit keyboard. In shadow black (or ceramic white, if you prefer) it really does look like the cats pyjamas, in the sort of way that inspires laptop envy wherever you go.It’s super slim, very light, and about as sleek as they come. Combine that with the eye-popping screen, and you’ve got a performant little package that really does look every inch the money you paid for it.And at$1,380 in the configuration above at HP, that’ll be less than most would expect. We won’t tell them if you don’t. Promise.Wildcard - Steam Deck originalSteam Deck (original) | 256 GB SSD |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have had an OLED refresh but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s also well worth considering picking up a storage upgrade like the1TB Lexar Playfor extra capacity on the cheap. Still, It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it demands respect.View DealOkay, okay, you don’t have to all yell at once. It’s not a laptop, I know. But you came here for great deals on compact gaming power, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the OG Steam Deck is still something of a steal ata mere $399.This is the 256 GB model, which is a bit on the small side for gaming storage. You know what else is a great deal though? This1 TB Lexar Play 2230 SSD drive for $90 at Amazon, which can fit straight into your new Steam Deck after five minutes of fiddling with some screws.While the Steam Deck isn’t a productivity machine in the slightest, if all you want is something very portable to play games on the go for not much cash, this is a brilliant way to do it. I’vevery much enjoyed my time with the Deck, as —while it’s not the most powerful handheld on the market—it delivers a genuine PC gaming experience for much less than, well, almost anything else.It’s not a laptop. Big deal. It’s compact gaming power for relatively little cash, and that makes it a brilliant shout for those of you looking to take PC gaming out into the big wide world.

We’ve been hunting forthe best Memorial Day PC gaming deals, and I’ve pulled out some of the best bargains on compact gaming laptops, to help put portable power in your hands for less.

You might think you’d end up skimping out on specs in a compact machine, but the truth is you can get the all important combination of a fast CPU, RAM and GPU combo, decent storage space and a great-looking screen for very reasonable money.

All in a form factor that’s just as comfortable to use knocking out an email in a coffee shop, or playing a movie on a flight, as it is playing demanding games.

So, let’s get cracking with some options, shall we? Mini but mighty this lot, with something of a wild card at the end for good measure…

Lenovo Legion Slim 5

Lenovo Legion Slim 5 | RTX 4060 | Ryzen 7 7840HS | 14.5-inch | 2880 x 1800 | 120 Hz | OLED | 16GB LPDDR5X | 1TB SSD |$1,479.99$999.99 at Best Buy (save $480)How’s this for starters? We’re big fans of Lenovo’s gaming laptops in general, but this one’s a real corker for $1,000. It’s slim, compact and downright subtle, but alongside all that gaming hardware you’re also getting a 1800p OLED screen, which will make everything from games to movies to a boring old spreadsheet look fantastic.View Deal

View Deal

Kicking things off with a bang, this Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has a screen and hardware combination that makes other laptops jealous, all for$1,000 at Best Buy. Bearing in mind that we often see RTX 4060-equipped desktop machines for around the $1,000 mark, here you’re getting the mobile version with a decent CPU, 16 GB of LPDDR5X, a 1 TB SSDandan OLED screen, all in one tidy, portable package.

It’s a handsome little machine this, and one that you can proudly show off in your next meeting without any overt gamer branding to distract. And for those of you thinking the mobile RTX 4060 isn’t particularly powerful, well that may be true. But, you’ve always got DLSS 3 to take advantage of, pushing those framerates up to smooth levels while keeping image quality looking sharp on that fantastic display.

OLED-equipped laptops can get very pricey. For under a grand, with these sort of specs, this is a straight up bargain.

Acer Predator 14

Acer Predator 14 | RTX 4070 | Core i7 13700H | 14-inch | 250Hz | 1600p | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB SSD |$1,999.99$1,299.99 at Amazon (save $700)It’s not the prettiest gaming laptop you’ll ever see, but underneath the cheap-looking exterior is a pile of really nice hardware. That Intel CPU has 14 cores, 20 threads, and the GPU is a 140 W RTX 4070. Backing them up are 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and, unusually for this price, a full 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. Even the 2560 x 1600 screen is good, with a 250Hz refresh rate and mini-LED backlighting.Price check:Newegg $1,399.99View Deal

Price check:Newegg $1,399.99

View Deal

The Acer Predator 14 is, I’ll admit, not the best looking machine. That being said, it’s not exactly an ugly duckling either, and really this little lappy is all about the huge amount of hardware you’re getting for a very reasonable$1,300 at Amazon.

The Intel Core i7 13700H is still a bit of a beast as far as mobile CPUs go, with 14 cores, 20 threads and up to a 5 GHz boost clock, which means it won’t just be great for games but all sorts of demanding tasks, like media editing on the go.

If gaming is your thing though—and let’s face it, if you’re here it probably is—check out that GPU. A lot of laptops feature a mobile RTX 4070, but in small form-factor machines it can often be a low power version. Here you’re getting the 140 W model for proper mobile gaming performance.

As if that wasn’t enough, the screen is a bit of a corker, too. It’s a 1600p Mini-LED IPS backlit panel with a 250 Hz refresh rate that should look pretty fantastic in motion, and it’s DisplayHDR 600 rated.

A lot of laptop, in a small (if not particularly pretty) chassis. Personally, I reckon the hardware trumps the looks on this one all day long.

HP Omen Transcend 14

HP Omen Transcend 14 | Nvidia RTX 4060 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 14-inch | 120Hz | 2880 x 1800 | OLED | 512GB SSD | 16GB DDR5-7500 |$1,699.99$1,379.99 at HP (save $320)This lovely 14-incher is still one of the the best value compact gaming laptops around. You get an excellent OLED panel as standard, and a 65W GPU that will still deliver a quality gaming experience. The 512GB SSD is a bit small, but you can configure the machine with a 1TB drive if you’re willing to spend a bit more, or an RTX 4070 if you really want to spec it out.View Deal

View Deal

The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a tendency to bounce in and out of the deals, but it’s one of our go to recommendations for a great compact gaming laptop. The configuration I’ve picked here here gets you one of Intel’s latest Meteor Lake CPUs, the Core Ultra 7 155H, a 65W RTX 4060 (upgradeable to an RTX 4070 for a fair bit more) and a 512 GB SSD.

That’s a little on the small side, admittedly, but you can upgrade to a 1 TB version for $90 if you don’t mind spending up a bit.

There are two major factors here that make this laptop of note. Number one is that fantastic OLED panel. It’s a 1800p OLED model with a peak brightness rating of 500 nits covered in edge-to-edge glass, which should really help those colors pop.

Two, is that chassis. This is an ultra stylish, very slim laptop with a configurable RGB backlit keyboard. In shadow black (or ceramic white, if you prefer) it really does look like the cats pyjamas, in the sort of way that inspires laptop envy wherever you go.

It’s super slim, very light, and about as sleek as they come. Combine that with the eye-popping screen, and you’ve got a performant little package that really does look every inch the money you paid for it.

And at$1,380 in the configuration above at HP, that’ll be less than most would expect. We won’t tell them if you don’t. Promise.

Wildcard - Steam Deck original

Steam Deck (original) | 256 GB SSD |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have had an OLED refresh but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s also well worth considering picking up a storage upgrade like the1TB Lexar Playfor extra capacity on the cheap. Still, It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it demands respect.View Deal

Steam Deck (original) | 256 GB SSD | $399 at Steam

View Deal

Okay, okay, you don’t have to all yell at once. It’s not a laptop, I know. But you came here for great deals on compact gaming power, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the OG Steam Deck is still something of a steal ata mere $399.

This is the 256 GB model, which is a bit on the small side for gaming storage. You know what else is a great deal though? This1 TB Lexar Play 2230 SSD drive for $90 at Amazon, which can fit straight into your new Steam Deck after five minutes of fiddling with some screws.

While the Steam Deck isn’t a productivity machine in the slightest, if all you want is something very portable to play games on the go for not much cash, this is a brilliant way to do it. I’vevery much enjoyed my time with the Deck, as —while it’s not the most powerful handheld on the market—it delivers a genuine PC gaming experience for much less than, well, almost anything else.

It’s not a laptop. Big deal. It’s compact gaming power for relatively little cash, and that makes it a brilliant shout for those of you looking to take PC gaming out into the big wide world.

TOPICSHardware

TOPICS

More about gaming laptopsIf you love a big laptop without a big price tag, this RTX 4070 17.3-incher is an ideal pick at $1,300The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 now looks like a dazzler of a gaming laptop, even if it’s still a bit of a paving slabLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►

More about gaming laptops

If you love a big laptop without a big price tag, this RTX 4070 17.3-incher is an ideal pick at $1,300The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 now looks like a dazzler of a gaming laptop, even if it’s still a bit of a paving slab

A promotional image of an Asus TUF Gaming F17 laptop against a teal background with a white border

If you love a big laptop without a big price tag, this RTX 4070 17.3-incher is an ideal pick at $1,300

M’colleague Jacob Ridley holding up an Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 at CES 2025, showing the LED underlighting and outer case effects.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 now looks like a dazzler of a gaming laptop, even if it’s still a bit of a paving slab

LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►

Latest

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

Wordle answers

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

See more latest►

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Wildcard - Steam Deck original