I’ve been reviewing gaming laptops for more than seven years, and these are the only ones I’d actually buy this Black Friday

Black Friday is the best of times, and it’s the worst of times – especially when it comes to for finding a Black Friday gaming laptop deal. Charles Dickens certainly didn’t foresee how hard it can be to find a good gaming machine for a great price, but fortunately you’ve got a different writer to guide you through these Hard Times: me.

I’ve reviewed dozens of laptops over the years, from super-cheap Chromebooks to powerhouse workstation systems that cost thousands, and this Black Friday, I’m whittling down the enormous list of Black Friday gaming laptop deals into something a little more palatable.

I’m talking about deals like the Asus TUF Gaming A16, reduced to $699.99 (was $1,099.99) at Best Buy, or, if you’re in the UK, the Lenovo LOQ 15, down to £879 (was £1,199) at Currys. These are the sorts of Black Friday deals I have Great Expectations for. Okay, I promise I’ll stop with the Dickens references now – let’s get to the deals!

Today’s best gaming laptop deals in the US

Today’s best gaming laptop deals in the UK

You’ll no doubt have noticed that I’ve included a couple of handheld gaming PCs in this list. Yes, I know they’re not technically gaming laptops, but they warrant inclusion here: the handheld PC revolution is upon us, and we should welcome it, as it provides a neat, more accessible avenue into the wonderful world of PC gaming.

To that end, I’ve highlighted the single best deal for each region: folks in the US should pick up the MSI Claw for $441.15 (was $749) at Amazon, while the best option for shoppers in the UK is the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme, down to £399 (was £499) at Amazon.

Whatever you choose, and whether you’re diving into PC gaming for the first time or upgrading from a tired old system, know that you can buy with confidence – TechRadar has your back this Black Friday.

What, were you expecting another Dickens novel down here? Go buy a great gaming laptop and come play Warframe with me instead. Go on, scram.