Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Should you buy a laptop on Black Friday or wait for Cyber Monday?

If you’re not sure if Black Friday laptop deals are the time for you to consider making a purchase, we’re here to help. We’ve picked out some of the best deals as well as looked at whether Black Friday is the time for you to buy a laptop or if you should wait until Cyber Monday.

Should you buy a laptop on Black Friday?

Simply put, yes. Black Friday is the best time to buy a laptop. Typically, deals are for a strictly limited time with a set amount of stock set aside. If you wait until Cyber Monday, there’s no guarantee that the price will get lower and you might miss out on the deal altogether. If you see something that’s the right fit for you, buy it now before you miss out.

It’s worth remembering that Cyber Monday often tends to offer the same deals as Black Friday but with lower stock levels. In the unlikely case you do see a cheaper price on Cyber Monday, you can always cancel your Black Friday offer after committing to a purchase on Cyber Monday. This won’t happen though so you can be confident that Black Friday deals are your best option.

Our 5 favorite Black Friday laptop deals

Gateway 14.1-inch Ultra Slim Notebook — $99, was $229

The Gateway 14.1-inch Ultra Slim Notebook with the screen shown.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Super cheap, the Gateway 14.1-inch Ultra Slim Notebook is perfect for anyone checking out Black Friday Chromebook deals but preferring the idea of a Windows-based system. It has an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory and 64GB of eMMC storage to ensure it can run Windows 11 in S Mode. A stylish-looking device, it comes with a year’s worth of Microsoft 365 to make it easier to rely on cloud-based apps and cloud storage. It’s perfect for the student on a tight budget.

HP Victus 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop — $480, was $800

The HP Victus 15 gaming laptop against a white backdrop.
HP

The HP Victus 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop may not rival the best gaming laptops but coming from one of the best laptop brands serves it well. It has an Intel Core i5 processor along with 8GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. The latter being particularly useful with many of the latest games requiring a lot of storage space. Graphics card wise, it has an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 which is a little old these days but ideal in this price range. With a 15.6-inch full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, you won’t have to worry about motion blur. You’ll also appreciate its 9ms response time and antiglare properties. HP Fast Charge support means it can get from 0% to 50% battery life in just 30 minutes too.

HP Envy x360 2-in-1 Laptop — $600, was $840

The front of the HP Envy x360 13 on a table.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

An attractive option for anyone checking out the best 2-in-1 laptops, the HP Envy x360 2-in-1 Laptop has an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage. Best of all is its versatile touchscreen which means it can be used as both a laptop and tablet, depending on your needs. Such versatility is great if you prefer to get more hands-on with how you work. Other useful features include a 5MP webcam with auto frame and privacy shutter, as well as AI noise reduction so you look clearly on video calls. It’s great for people who need to work effectively on the move.

Dell XPS 13 Laptop — $749, was $999

The Dell XPS 13 on a table with the Start Menu open.
Digital Trends

The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best laptops out there. It’s the thinnest and lightest 13-inch XPS laptop Dell has ever made but it packs a punch. It includes a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory plus 512GB of SSD storage. It has a gorgeous 13.4-inch full HD+ display with anti-glare properties and 500 nits of brightness. It looks great as you use it, ensuring this is ideal for all your productivity needs. Up to 12 hours of battery life is encased in a laptop that looks like a piece of art thanks to how well-designed it is. It’s a truly delightful laptop for most people.

Apple MacBook Air — $799, was $999

Apple MacBook Air M1 open, on a table.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

One of the best Black Friday MacBook deals around, the MacBook Air is a great introduction to MacOS for many. It uses Apple’s M1 chip to power proceedings, ensuring it can keep up with the most frantic of multitasking. Additionally, there’s 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage so it’s well-suited for working on the move. Impressively, it also offers up to 18 hours of battery life which is why it remains one of the best MacBooks around. A stunning 13.3-inch Retina display means it looks great too thanks to sharp text and vibrant colors.

Editors' Recommendations

Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen is a technology writer with over 10 years of experience. She primarily writes about the best deals coverage…
Best gaming laptop deals: Alienware, Razer, Asus and more
An Alienware m16 gaming laptop in use on a desk, playing Baldur's Gate III.

Gaming can be a lot of fun, but if you're the sort of person who doesn't want to deal with a big gaming desktop, then going for a gaming laptop makes a lot of sense. Of course, you aren't going to get as much power under the hood as you would with a desktop, and it might cost a bit more, but you do get a lot of mobility and an included screen in the process. Either way, modern gaming laptops have become really great, and even the budget-oriented stuff can play some of the best PC games out there.

To that end, we've gone out and collected some of our favorite gaming laptop deals out there. On the other hand, if you don't want something that yells "gaming laptop," check out some of these other laptop deals that include more traditional-looking laptops with some gaming specs.
IdeaPad Gaming 3 gaming laptop -- $617, was $950

Read more
Best Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals: From $523
Microsoft Surface Go 3 sitting on table.

While the MacBook Air has become synonymous with being a high-quality and lightweight laptop, it does mean that you'd have to be part of the Apple ecosystem. Luckily, there are some great alternatives out there, and Microsoft's Surface lineup is made specifically to compete with the MacBook. While the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 aren't quite here yet, at least at the consumer level, you can still grab the latest models with some pretty great deals. That's why we've gone out and looked for our favorite Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals and compiled them all here for you to save you the hassle, although if these don't quite do it for you, be sure to check out these great laptop deals as well.
Microsoft Surface Go 3 -- $523, was $550

Functioning as a 2-in-1 laptop that can switch between tablet mode and laptop mode, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 won't have trouble dealing with basic tasks as it's equipped with the Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor and 8GB of RAM. The 10.5-inch touchscreen with 1920 x 1080 resolution is bright and colorful, and its 128GB SSD is more than enough for your documents. The Microsoft Surface Go 3 ships with Windows 11 Home in Mode, so you can start using it as soon as you unbox it. The device also promises up to 11 hours of battery life before requiring a recharge.

Read more
Dell has some major discounts on XPS laptops and desktops today
The Dell XPS desktop on a table.

The Dell XPS brand of laptops and desktop computers is one of the most trusted names in the computing industry today, whether you're looking for a device for personal or professional use. We've found a pair of offers that you wouldn't want to miss -- the previous-generation Dell XPS 13 for $799, following a $300 discount on its original price of $1,099, and the Dell XPS Desktop for $1,100, for savings of $450 on its sticker price of $1,550. Either way, you're going to have to be quick in completing your purchase because we're not sure how much time is remaining before these bargains disappear. If you want to get a Dell XPS laptop or desktop PC for cheaper than usual, push through with your transaction as soon as you can.
Dell XPS 13 (9315) -- $799, was $1,099

Even with the arrival of the new Dell XPS 13, the previous-generation Dell XPS 13 is still a highly recommended machine when it appears with a discount in laptop deals. It all starts with its gorgeous design, with the narrow bezels surrounding its 13.4-inch screen with Full HD+ resolution, and a slim profile that makes it extremely portable. However, it's also capable of providing decent performance for your everyday activities with its 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 16GB of RAM. The Dell XPS 13 also comes with a 512GB SSD, which ships with Windows 11 Home pre-installed, and a comfortable keyboard that will help in further boosting your productivity.

Read more