Tuesday, February 24, 2026 – The gaming hardware market is in a frenzy today as major retailers rush to offload inventory in response to the new 15% import tariff that officially takes effect this morning. With the activation of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 by the administration, a temporary 15% surcharge now applies to a broad range of global imports. For gamers, this policy shift has triggered a perfect storm: a massive RTX 4080 clearance sale and broader discounts on last-gen hardware as retailers race to sell through pre-tariff stock before the industry adjusts to the new pricing reality.

If you have been holding out for gaming laptop deals 2026, the window to buy at legacy prices is closing fast. Retail giants like Amazon and Best Buy have slashed prices by up to $800 on high-performance RTX 40-series machines, marking what experts call the final liquidation event before the newly launched RTX 50-series mobile lineup dominates the shelves—likely with a significantly higher price tag due to the new duties.

The "Section 122" Shock: Why Prices Are Crashing Today

The sudden implementation of these tariffs follows a chaotic week in Washington. After the Supreme Court invalidated previous tariff measures on February 20, the White House pivoted to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, authorizing a blanket balance-of-payments surcharge. While the initial announcement cited a 10% rate, the administration raised this to 15% just days ago, catching the supply chain off guard.

For consumers, the immediate impact is a "fire sale" dynamic. Retailers are sitting on warehouses full of RTX 40-series inventory that was imported duty-free or at lower rates. To free up capital for the incoming—and now more expensive—RTX 50-series stock, they are dumping these older units at record lows. This creates a unique opportunity to snag best gaming PC deals today that simply won't exist once the new tariff-adjusted pricing structures settle in.

Top Clearance Deals: RTX 4080 & 4070 Laptops at Historic Lows

Our analysis of Best Buy gaming deals and Amazon laptop sales this morning reveals price cuts we haven't seen since Black Friday 2025. The most aggressive discounts are targeting the high-end enthusiast segment, where margins allow for deeper cuts.

High-Performance Deals (RTX 4080/4090)

  • MSI Vector 16 HX (RTX 4080): Previously listed at $2,099, this powerhouse has dropped to $1,799 at B&H Photo and Amazon. It remains one of the cheapest ways to get 12GB of VRAM and top-tier ray tracing performance.
  • HP Omen 17 (RTX 4090): Best Buy has slashed this desktop replacement by $800, bringing it under the $2,300 mark for the first time.

Mid-Range & Budget Steals (RTX 4060/4070)

  • ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (RTX 4070): A favorite among creators and gamers, this sleek machine is now $1,079 (down from $1,599). This is arguably the best value-for-money deal on the market right now.
  • Acer Nitro V (RTX 4050): For budget hunters, this entry-level king has hit a rock-bottom $649. It’s a perfect entry point for 1080p gaming before the hardware price increase 2026 makes sub-$700 gaming laptops a rarity.

RTX 50-Series Launch vs. The Tariff Reality

The elephant in the room is the NVIDIA RTX 50 series launch. With laptops featuring the new "Blackwell" architecture (like the RTX 5060 and 5070) just starting to hit shelves, early adopters are facing a sticker shock. The 15% tariff means that a laptop intended to retail for $1,400 could now debut closer to $1,600 once the new import costs are passed down to consumers.

This pricing disparity makes the current RTX 40-series clearance sales even more attractive. An RTX 4080 laptop at $1,799 offers performance that rivals or beats a significantly more expensive RTX 5070 unit, especially when DLSS 3.5 support is factored in. Unless you absolutely need the specific AI features of the 50-series, the 40-series remains the smarter financial buy in this volatile economic climate.

Buying Advice: Don't Wait for the Weekend

Inventory levels for these clearance items are volatile. Unlike standard sales events, this liquidation is driven by a hard policy deadline. Once the pre-tariff stock is gone, it will be replaced by inventory subject to the new 15% levy. If you are looking for the best gaming PC deals today, we strongly recommend securing your hardware within the next 48 hours. The combination of clearance pressure and the looming hardware price increase 2026 suggests that today's prices may be the lowest we see for the remainder of the year.