Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to upgrade your gaming gear. Whether you’re looking for a new game console, a gaming laptop or a monitor with a high refresh rate, prices are now dropping.
But Black Friday has also become a watered-down concept. Promotions start early and not all offers are as good as they seem. Some “advance prices” are artificially high, and some products still go on sale regularly.
But if you pay attention, check product reviews before your purchase and keep an eye on price trends, you can make real bargains. Here we guide you to the best gaming offers.
### Check the price history before you buy
When Black Friday starts, it’s tempting to jump on the frist and best offer. But it pays to do some research first: Is this really a good product, and is the offer really a record low or just a typical promotional price?
L&B Home’s editors have tested many of the year’s most relevant gaming products. The smartest thing to do is to pick a few candidates from our recommendations and wait for them to go on sale.
Price comparison sites like Prize hunt and Klarna are worth their weight in gold: they tell you if the price really is a record low or if the product cost the same during the previous campaign.
### Gaming consoles: PS5 Pro or budget choice?
The console market is more interesting than it has been in a long time. Sony has the PlayStation 5 Pro for those who want the best,while the Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 Slim offer solid performance at a lower price.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is very popular and may be worth checking out today.
### Handheld Gaming: Steam Deck or Windows?
Handheld gaming PCs have gone from niche to mainstream in just a few years. Valve started the trend with Steam Deck, and now Asus and Lenovo are following suit with Windows alternatives.
The choice is between Valve’s Linux-based Steam Deck – optimized for the Steam library – and Windows machines from Asus and Lenovo, which provide access to several game stores. PlayStation Portal is an option for those who already have a PS5, but only works as remote play via WiFi.
### Gaming laptops: OLED and raw performance
If you want a machine that works for both work and play, a gaming laptop is a good option. This year’s models offer OLED screens, powerful graphics cards and improved cooling.
Black Friday is often a good time to buy gaming laptops, especially last year’s models, which are often heavily discounted to free up inventory.
### Gaming Monitors: Resoluti
More PC for the money
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Acer’s giant machine is overwhelming and violent without being expensive.
The large 18-inch screen provides good immersion in the games. The mini-LEAD backlight is almost as lovely as OLED. Lots of festive lights. A lot of PC for the money.
Big and heavy. The screen is still just IPS. The USB-C ports are impractically placed.
Read the entire test
Powerful upgrade or repeat?
The Playstation 5 Pro is currently the best you can get in the console world, but the price is accordingly. The lack of a physical disc drive and stand is hard to understand or defend.
Currently the world’s most powerful games console, amazing graphics – especially if you have a newer TV that can fully utilize the machine, 2 terabytes of storage.
The price is way too high, stand and Blu-ray drive not included, most people won’t notice the direct difference in performance and therefore can’t justify the higher price. Lack of standard for optimizations – performance varies greatly from game to game.
Read the entire test
Your Playstation’s best friend
sony playstation Portal isn’t a new product, but a brand new update brings new life to the streaming console. And now you no longer need to own a PlayStation 5 to use it!
advantages: Good hand control.Surprisingly good response time when streaming from both cloud and console. Can function as a stand-alone controller. Streaming from the cloud works great.
Disadvantages: Requires a PS Plus subscription to stream from the cloud.Graphics quality varies depending on internet connection.
Read the entire test
It elevates the entire genre!
Handheld gaming takes a quantum leap with the asus ROG Ally, crushing the competition and taking the dream of serious mobile gaming to new heights!
Advantages: Price, hardware and software are combined into one whole. Classic
The new OLED king
The ASUS PG32UCDP is an OLED screen that combines extreme speed with first-class image quality. It delivers in the most intense games and is exceptionally good for creative work.
Advantages: Amazing 4K image quality with deep blacks. Very good color accuracy in Racing mode and lightning fast response time and up to 480 Hz (Full HD). Works great as an office screen.
Disadvantages: Magenta stick in HDR mode requires calibration. High price.
Read the entire test
Handheld Gaming PC – A Strong Competitor
Advantages: The screen is bigger and better than the competition’s.Built-in mouse. Wireless controls. Good performance for a handheld computer. Same price as Asus ROG Ally. Can be used with external graphics cards.
Disadvantages: Heavier than the competition. The button placement is very poorly thoght out. Expect the typical Windows 11 challenges. the battery life is short.
Read the entire test
Majestic gaming screen – but it costs
The HP Omen Transcend 32 is a gaming monitor that delivers on all fronts. It’s lightning fast, colorful, and has smart features that make it an exquisite hybrid display. But the price… that’s something else!
Almost neutral colors straight from the factory. Fully adjustable stand with vertical position.USB-C with 90W Power delivery. Excellent gaming performance with low input lag. Good contrast and wide viewing angles thanks to the QD-OLED panel.
Very expensive. the panel can exhibit slight color shift when viewed from extreme angles.The built-in speakers aren’t great – you’ll want headphones or external speakers.
HP’s Omen Transcend 32 is a premium gaming monitor that aims to deliver the best possible experience. It uses a 32-inch QD-OLED panel with a resolution of 3440×1440 pixels and a refresh rate of 144Hz, which can be overclocked to 175Hz. It’s a monitor that doesn’t compromise, but you definitely pay for it.
Design and Build Quality
The Omen transcend 32 has a sleek and modern design. The stand is robust and offers a wide range of adjustments, including height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. You can easily find the perfect viewing angle. The monitor itself is relatively thin and has a minimalist aesthetic. It doesn’t scream “gamer” which some people might prefer.
Picture Quality
The QD-OLED panel is the star of the show. It delivers stunning colors, amazing contrast, and wide viewing angles. Colors are vibrant and accurate, and blacks are deep and inky. The monitor covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color space, making it ideal for content creation and also gaming. We measured the color accuracy straight out of the box, and it was remarkably good – almost neutral, requiring very little calibration.
Gaming Performance
The Omen Transcend 32 excels at gaming. The 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time provide a smooth and responsive gaming experience. Input lag is minimal, which is crucial for competitive gaming.The monitor supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering. We tested it with a variety of games, including fast-paced shooters and demanding RPGs, and it performed flawlessly.
Connectivity
The monitor offers a good selection of ports, including two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port,one USB-C port with 90W Power Delivery,and three USB-A 3.0 ports. The USB-C port is notably useful,as it allows you to connect a laptop and charge it concurrently. It’s a great feature for those who want to declutter their desk.
Sound Quality
The built-in speakers are… adequate. They’re fine for casual listening, but they lack bass and clarity. If you’re serious about audio, you’ll want to use headphones or external speakers. Thankfully, the monitor has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Verdict
The HP Omen Transcend 32 is an extraordinary gaming monitor that delivers a truly immersive experience. It’s fast, colorful, and packed with features. However, it’s also very expensive. If you’re willing to pay a premium for the best possible gaming experience, the Omen Transcend 32 is worth considering. But if you’re on a budget, there are other excellent gaming monitors available for less.