You won't find many cheaper gaming laptops capable of running games at 1080p than this discounted HP Victus model over at Best Buy right now. Ahead of the new year, you could score yourself this capable gaming rig with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of RAM for less than $600.
This is similar to the 2023 model, which we tested a few years ago in our HP Victus 16 review. That model uses the same design but with slightly different specs. While it was priced pretty high at the time, it's now a much more friendly option for a gamer on a tight budget.
Front and foremost in this system is the RTX 4050. This mobile GPU is paired with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM and 2,560 CUDA cores. It isn't a 4K powerhouse, but on a 1080p gaming laptop, it can handle its own across many mainstream titles. Expect to achieve playable frame rates on medium to high graphics presets in most games on the HP Victus' IPS display, with its speedy 144Hz refresh rate.
That display is rated for 300 nits and, unlike the 16.1-inch review model we tested, is only 15.6 inches wide. This is actually an advantage here: the smaller size ensures a higher pixel density at 1,920 x 1,080, resulting in a sharper image.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS CPU features six cores and 12 threads, with a 35W TDP. This has been a popular option in budget-conscious models like this one, and it won't bottleneck you at 1080p in most games. Coupling it with the discrete RTX 4050 GPU makes all the difference for gaming.
16GB of DDR5-5600 SODIMM memory is the minimum standard we've come to expect, but it's still good to see it here, rather than a far more limiting 8GB, which is found on some budget laptops. The storage will be a compromise, however, with one 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD installed, offering Gen 4 speeds. This may be enough space for one or two large games, but you should consider an external SSD or replacement internal SSD further down the line.
The $599.99 sale price for this HP Victus gaming laptop is simply a steal. The specs may not be the latest and greatest, as it's two years old, but with the power of the RTX 4050 providing enough juice for gaming at 1080p, it's a great budget-friendly option for 2026. At a price this good, the deal won't last long, so be sure to grab it while you can.
If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.
