Black Friday just delivered a surprise win for budget gamers. Despite earlier hints that laptops with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5050 wouldn’t come cheap, the Lenovo LOQ 15 has plunged from its original $1,099.99 price to just $649.99. That’s a massive 40% discount, or $450 off, and it even undercuts the previous sale price of $788. The deal is live at Best Buy and will likely be limited-time.
Here’s what you’re getting for the money:
– 15.6-inch Full HD display
– Intel Core i5-13450HX processor
– Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 graphics
– 16GB DDR5 memory
– 512GB SSD
The standout is the GPU. The GeForce RTX 5050 arrives with 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, a notable upgrade over the 6GB of GDDR6 on the RTX 4050. In gaming benchmarks, that extra headroom has translated into stronger performance and smoother 1080p gameplay, especially in newer titles that benefit from more VRAM. We’ve also seen the RTX 5050 shine in other laptops, including models paired with less powerful CPUs, which makes this LOQ 15’s combination with the i5-13450HX particularly compelling for the price.
At $649.99, this Lenovo LOQ 15 hits a sweet spot for anyone who wants a do-it-all gaming laptop without splurging. Owners praise its sturdy build and solid thermal management, and the model currently holds a 4.9 out of 5 user rating. The main trade-off to be aware of is battery life, which some users say is on the short side—common for gaming rigs in this class.
Who should consider it:
– Gamers seeking a sub-$700 laptop with modern graphics power
– Students and creators who need a capable 1080p machine for work and play
– Anyone weighing RTX 5050 vs RTX 4050 and wanting more VRAM for future-proofing
With a 40% price cut, current-gen graphics, 16GB DDR5, and a fast Intel HX chip, the Lenovo LOQ 15 stands out as one of the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals right now. If it fits your budget and you can live with average battery life, it’s a strong pick before stock or pricing changes.
