This RTX 3050 gaming laptop is just $599 — no, that's not a typo — and is a better deal than Steam Deck (UPDATED)

Update: The original deal included an RTX 4050 GPU but it has since sold out. Newegg sells a variant with a previous-gen RTX 3050 but doubles the RAM and storage alongside the same CPU.

If your budget for portable gaming sits around the $600 mark, you might as well go all-in on a traditional 15.6-inch laptop like the MSI GF63 thin, down to $599 at Newegg for Cyber Monday. You're already coming in $100 cheaper than MSRP for an ASUS ROG Ally, and it's a broader investment than a Steam Deck as a first-time gaming laptop. Let's break down the pros and cons.

MSI GF63 Thin  — Core i5-12450H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, RTX 3050 | was $799 now $599 at Newegg

The previous-gen NVIDIA 30-Series laptop GPU still supports DLSS 2 upscaling tech to push extra performance and up to 144 FPS framerates, even on this entry-level RTX 3050. Modern USB-C and HDMI-out also allow for external monitors and traditional peripherals, if you prefer.

More great Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

• 🔥Game Pass Core (12 months)🔥 | $59.99 $44.99 at Target
• 🔥Xbox Gift Card ($100)🔥| $100 $88 at Newegg w/ code BFCY2Z525g
• Game Pass Ultimate (3 mos) | $49.99 $29.99 at CDKeys
• Xbox Series S + Game Pass Ultimate | $299.99 $249 at Walmart
• ASUS ROG Ally + Game Pass Ultimate | $599.99 $449.99 at Best Buy
• ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 + Game Pass Ultimate | $1,599.99 $1,199.99 at Best Buy
• Lenovo LOQ Tower + Game Pass Ultimate | from $1,029.99 $649.99 at Lenovo
• UK: Xbox Gift Card (£50) | £43.99 at CDKeys
• UK: Xbox Series S (512GB) + Game Pass Ultimate | £189.99 at Amazon

The best budget gaming laptop deal so far

There's no pretending that the hardware inside this gaming laptop is world-class, but it's far from the bottom-of-the-barrel junk you usually find among budget-grade gaming laptops. The RTX 30-Series GPU can still handle the heavy lifting of modern titles despite being a previous-generation graphics card.

DLSS upscaling tech from NVIDIA means less stress on the GPU with AI-powered tech to push for higher framerates. It's perfect for a 15.6-inch laptop with a 1080p screen like this, prioritizing its 144Hz refresh rate instead.

Essentially, you're looking at similar performance to an ASUS ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go handheld, but with a much larger screen and more flexibility to act as an everyday computer thanks to its standard port selection and RGB keyboard.

If you're a parent looking for a modern (but affordable) gaming laptop that'll run the latest games without blowing out your bank account, this is an excellent option from a reliable brand. Just don't wait too long, one variant already sold out!