Black Friday is technically over, but the laptop deals are still hot. In fact, we’re seeing some mind-blowing discounts on brands like Apple and Samsung, even as we’re updating this article.
Also: Best Black Friday deals 2024: 170+ sales live now featuring some of the lowest prices ever
Take the sleek new Microsoft Surface Laptop: it’s our pick for best battery life laptop of 2024 and it’s currently $355 off at Amazon. There’s also the iconic Apple MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM, on sale for just $844, one of the lowest prices we’ve seen.
We organized our list into categories that actually make sense for most users, including how many gigabytes (GB) of RAM the laptop has, one of the key metrics in determining speed. We’ve also highlighted our top picks in each category, calling out their value, performance, or unique feature sets.
Our favorite Black Friday laptop deals
- Current price: $844
- Original price: $1,099
The MacBook Air M3 is as high-performing as it is ultraportable. The latest in Apple silicon provides a powerful and battery-efficient core to one of the thinnest and lightest laptops out there. With a 13.6-inch liquid retina display, 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the MacBook Air set the standard in portability and continues to push the limits for what an ultraportable laptop can do.
Review: M3 MacBook Air review: Apple’s AI computer for the masses has arrived
- Current price: $450
- Original price: $730
Dell’s Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is a well-rounded laptop that can easily swap between different use cases, both due to its 2-in-1 form factor, and solid hardware. This accessible configuration with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage makes for a device that gives a lot of bang for your buck.
Review: One of the most versatile laptops I’ve tested is a crowd-pleaser with solid hardware
- Current price: $999
- Original price: $1,400
Microsoft’s flagship Copilot+ PC is a sleek, well-optimized laptop with a marathon battery. We named it our top pick for best overall battery life out of all the laptops we tested in 2024 thanks to the energy-efficient Snapdragon X Elite processor, which keeps it running cool while also providing stand-out performance.
Review: I tried Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC and it beat my MacBook Air in 3 ways
- Current price: $950
- Original price: $1,400
We’re big fans of LG’s Gram series for its commitment to being the lightest, thinnest laptops around. The Gram 17 defies logic for portability in a 17-inch form factor, weighing just 2.98 pounds, but still has a nice display and commendable hardware stack. This configuration features an Intel Core i7 Evo processor, 16GB of RAM and a full 1TB of storage.
Also: LG’s Gram Pro has record-breaking portability, but that’s not my favorite feature (and it’s on sale)
- Apple MacBook Air M3 (13-inch): $844 (save $255 at Amazon): The MacBook Air with the M3 chip remains one of the thinnest, lightest laptops available (it’s also our pick for the best lightweight laptop you can buy). With Apple’s powerful M3 chip on board, this laptop can easily handle demanding workflows like video editing and graphic design.
- Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1: $450 (save $280 at Best Buy): One of our top-rated flexible laptops is nearly $300 off ahead of Cyber Monday, making it even more accessible.
- Microsoft Surface Laptop: $999 (save $401 at Amazon): Microsoft’s flagship Copilot+ PC is our top pick for best battery life laptop of 2024.
- LG Gram 17: $950 (save $450 at Best Buy): If you’re looking for a laptop with a large display that weighs next to nothing, LG’s Gram 17 weighs less than three pounds and comes with an Intel Evo 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage for almost $500 off.
- Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: $800 (save $550 at Best Buy): Samsung’s first Copilot+ PC just came out this summer, and we were crazy about its thin and light form factor and gorgeous AMOLED display.
Best Black Friday MacBook deals:
Apple’s MacBooks rarely go on sale, but this Black Friday, we’re seeing a handful of competitive discounts across the major retailers. Here are the most noteworthy sales we’ve found.
- Current price: $1,399
- Original price: $1,599
Apple’s M4 MacBook Pro was released less than a month ago, but it’s already seeing a discount to make it a competitive option among all the other devices on sale right now. The M4 MacBook Pro is cutting-edge technology, sporting a 14-core CPU that’s armed with a 16-core neural engine to take advantage of AI tasks. In our testing, it pulled ahead of the M3 MacBook Pro, but the M3 still held its own, putting these two devices very close to one another in performance.
- Apple MacBook Pro M4 (14-inch): $1,399 (save $200 at Best Buy): Released less than a month ago, Apple’s MacBook Pro M4 is the latest in Apple Silicon technology, with 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD.
- Apple MacBook Air M2 (13-inch): $749 (save $250 at Best Buy): Armed with 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD, Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air redefined portability with its thinnest and lightest form factor. The M2 version is only a few years old, but its hardware is still highly competitive, with fast, responsive performance and a gorgeous display.
- Apple MacBook Air M3 (13-inch): $849 (save $250 at Best Buy): For just $100 more, the M3 MacBook Air is the 2023 follow-up to the previous M2 version, with slightly faster performance thanks to the upgraded chipset. This is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for this laptop, which is little more than a year old.
- Apple MacBook Air M3 (15-inch): $1,449 (save $45 at Amazon): The MacBook Air M3 with the larger 15-inch display and 16GB of memory is currently $265 off at Amazon, a competitive price for the largest version of 2023’s Air model.
- Apple MacBook Pro M3 (14-inch): $1,499 (save $200 at Best Buy): The MacBook Pro M3 is where most people looking for a powerful MacBook should start. It’s not the top-end of the latest technology — the M4 — but it’s also not really much less powerful. In fact, with the price of the MacBook Pro M3 under $1,500, it’s an impressive bang-for-your-buck laptop that is ready to handle anything you can throw at it.
- Apple MacBook Pro Max M4 (16-inch): $3,599 (save $400 at Best Buy): If you’re looking for the absolute cutting-edge of Apple silicon, the MacBook Pro Max M4 is the fastest laptop available right now. It has a massive 48GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, letting it handle the most intensive workloads you can dream up. We’re talking multitasking with 4K video renders across multiple monitors, all without a mere hiccup of lag. If the price looks high, it’s because this is top-end technology, and you’re not likely to see $400 off again any time soon.
Best Black Friday gaming laptop deals:
- Current price: $1,600
- Original price: $2,000
Armed with a fast and powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, 16GB of memory and a 16-inch, 240Hz OLED display, Asus’ flagship gaming laptop is as sleek and lightweight as it is high-performing. We’re a big fan of Asus’ ROG lineup for their small perks that gamers will appreciate, like the performance presets, hotkeys, and efficient battery life.
- MSI Stealth A16 AI+ -Copilot+ PC for $1,700 (save $300 at Best Buy): MSI’s Stealth A16 comes with the AMD Ryzen AI 9-365, a top-of-the-line AI processor that runs cool and extremely power efficient, while delivering solid performance for gaming with 32GB of RAM and an RTX 4070 GPU.
- Acer Predator Helios Neo 16-inch: $1,000 (save $500 at Best Buy): Acer’s Predator series is a staple of gaming machines. The 18-inch comes with a 165Hz display, Intel Core i9, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, and 16GB of memory.
- Asus TUF A16 Gaming Laptop: $680 (save $420 at Best Buy): From Asus’ durable line of gaming laptops, the 16-inch version is just the right size for portable gaming with a good-sized screen. This one comes with 16GB of RAM, a Radeon RX 7700S GPU, and 512GB of storage.
- ASUS TUF A14: $1,400 (save $400 at Ant Online): The TUF line of gaming laptops are as high-performing as they are durable. The A14 is a Copilot+ PC with and AMD Ryzen AI 9 processor, 32GB of RAM and a massive 2TB SSD for a very competitive sale price.
- Lenovo LOQ: $785 (save $215 at Amazon): Lenovo’s LOQ line offers gaming laptops that won’t break the bank. This 15.6-inch device features an accessible 16GB of memory, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, and AMD Ryzen 7 processor for a capable but inexpensive configuration.
- Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9: $2,430 (save $840 Lenovo): Lenovo’s 9th-generation Legion Pro 7i is a powerful gaming machine with tons of storage. At $840 off, it makes the price a whole lot more accessible.
- Asus ROG Strix G17 (2022) Gaming Laptop: $1,300 (save $600 at B&H Photo): The ROG Strix G17 from Asus’ 2022 lineup is marked down to make room for the 2024 models, but that doesn’t mean this machine can’t handle high-end gaming. It’s got 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, and a bold design for $600 off the regular price.
- MSI Creator M16 HX: $1,700 (save $300 at Amazon): MSI’s M16 HX features a blazing-fast 240Hz display with superior cooling technology, making it a solid option for both gaming and intensive creative workloads like video editing and graphic design.
Best Black Friday Lenovo laptop deals:
Whether you’re looking for a gaming rig or light and inexpensive laptop to handle the basics, Lenovo has a handful of great deals going on right now across its entire lineup of laptops. Here are some of the best deals on models that I think deserve a shout out.
- Current price: $1,000
- Original price: $1,300
Lenovo’s Aura Edition laptops come with a handful of unique functionalities designed by Intel, such as the ability to share photos from your Android/iPhone device directly to the laptop simply by tapping it. Special features aside, this laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and the powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, making it a solid laptop for productivity, gaming, creative tasks, or a combination of all of the above.
- Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: $1,000 (save $300 at Best Buy): Armed with an Intel Core Ultra 7 and 16GB of RAM, Lenovo’s flagship Yoga laptops with the Aura Edition feature a handful of special features like instant photo sharing with your smartphone, security profiles, and focus settings.
- Lenovo IdeaPad 1i: $250 (save $250 at Best Buy): This lightweight and inexpensive IdeaPad is a flexible laptop that can handle the basics, with 8GB of RAM and a 15-inch FHD display.
- Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1: $600 (save $295 at Lenovo): The IdeaPad 5 brings a convertible laptop/tablet design to an overall portable form factor, perfect for students commuting to and from campus. The stylus offers more flexibility for note-taking or artistic use cases, and the AMD Ryzen 7 delivers solid performance for multitasking.
- Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i: $1,300 (save $400 at Best Buy): The Yoga Pro 9i is a creator’s dream machine, with 32 gigs of RAM, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card and 3.2K resolution touchscreen. At $400 off, its rather steep price is a lot more affordable.
- Lenovo LOQ: $785 (save $215 at Amazon): Lenovo’s LOQ line offers gaming laptops that won’t break the bank. This 15.6-inch device features an accessible 16GB of memory, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, and AMD Ryzen 7 processor for a capable but inexpensive configuration.
- Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9: $2,430 (save $840 Lenovo): Lenovo’s 9th-generation Legion Pro 7i is a powerful gaming machine with tons of storage. At $570 off, it makes the price a whole lot more accessible.
Best Black Friday Chromebook deals:
- Current price: $392
- Original price: $440
If you’re looking for a mid-range Chromebook Plus with a solid laptop form factor, the ASUS CX34 has an Intel Core Ultra i3 processor paired with 8GB of RAM for snappy performance in ChromeOS. This is a device you could definitely do some cloud gaming on.
- Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook: $279 (save $150 at Best Buy): The quintessential budget work Chromebook, Lenovo’s IdeaPad 3i is adaptable and portable, with 8GB of memory for a price you can’t argue with.
- HP 14-inch Chromebook x360: $199 (save $230 at Walmart): This year’s 14-inch model combines the superior performance of the Chromebook Plus x360 with its inherently flexible nature that is well-adapted for a productivity or entertainment machine.
- Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: $392 (save $48 at Amazon): Featuring an anti-glare display and HD webcam, Asus’ CX14 is a budget Chromebook that’s great as a secondary device for handling web browsing and email.
- Acer Chromebook Plus 14-inch (Touchscreen): $199 (save $100 at Costco): If you’re looking for all the new features in Chromebook Plus but want a touchscreen device, this Acer has a nice-sized 14-inch display with 8 gigs of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
- Asus Chromebook Flip C433: $385 (save $10 at Amazon): This Asus 2-in-1 features a display with ultra-thin bezels, making for a premium-looking visual device with a roomy 64GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
Best Black Friday creator laptop deals
- Current price: $1,000
- Original price: $1,500
HP’s Envy lineup is renown for being versatile, but this 16-inch makes a solid creator’s workstation with its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, and ultra XGA touchscreen display. With a generous selection of ports and a portable form factor, this is a quintessential power user’s laptop that’s down for work or play.
- MSI Creator M14: $900 (save $300 at Amazon): The aptly named Creator is designed from the ground up for artists and creatives. It features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and Color Boost technology for vivid display and graphics capabilities.
- HP Envy 2-in-1: $580 (save $370 at Best Buy): If you like the Envy listed above but you’d rather trade in some of the high-end hardware for a flexible, tablet/laptop form factor, this is your device. At this sale price, it’s got even more bang for your buck.
- Microsoft Surface Pro: $900 (save $300 at Best Buy): The Surface Pro’s fast and power-efficient Snapdragon X Plus processor paired with 16GB of RAM makes for a high-performing mobile workstation that creators will appreciate.
- Surface Laptop Studio 2 for $1,900: (save up to $600 at the Microsoft Store): Microsoft’s powerful Studio 2 features a unique 2-in-1 configuration that creatives will love, with an arsenal of powerful hardware, making it one of the best studio laptops you can buy for under $2,000.
- MSI Creator M16 HX: $1,700 (save $300 at Amazon): MSI’s M16 HX features a blazing-fast 240Hz display with superior cooling technology, making it a solid option for both gaming and intensive creative workloads like video editing and graphic design.
FAQs
When is Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday is the Monday that directly follows Thanksgiving weekend. This year, Cyber Monday is December 2, 2024.
What’s your favorite laptop under $900?
This is a great question since I think there are quite a few solid laptops out there under the $1,000 mark. Here are a few highly recommended laptops I’ve tested personally that won’t cost you more than $900.
- Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge: $800 (save $550 at Best Buy): Samsung’s first Copilot+ PC has a gorgeous AMOLED display and a high-end Snapdragon X Elite processor that’s fast, responsive, and battery-efficient. It’s sleek and stylish, and a steal at this price.
- Dell XPS 14: $2,000 (save $500 at Best Buy): Dell’s flagship XPS 14 laptop is as versatile as it is well-equipped. The 2024 version with the Intel Core 7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD is a powerful device that will last your whole time at school, and it’s currently slashed down to just $2,000.
Tablet vs Laptop: Which is the better Black Friday purchase?
This all depends on what you find easiest. If you like using a touchscreen, and want a device for media purposes like watching shows and movies, a tablet is probably a better bet.
If you’re looking for a device that can handle work-related tasks and will be doing lots of typing, a laptop might make more sense. If you can see yourself doing both equally, consider a 2-in-1 like the Lenovo IdeaPad 5, which can convert back and forth between the two form factors.
Are laptop deals really better on Black Friday?
Absolutely! Amazon has added tons of devices from all the big brands over the past few years to hype up their Black Friday sales events, and they’ve gotten quite good. For example, when Amazon first started selling Apple’s MacBooks and MacBook Pros at discounted rates, it was one of the first online retail outlets to do so.
What’s the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Black Friday has traditionally been a more general sale day to kick off the holiday shopping season. Cyber Monday specifically refers to sales offered by online retailers that aren’t available in physical brick-and-mortar stores. These deals are often sharply discounted, as retailers can adjust prices far more easily online than on physical products on a shelf.
Cyber Monday typically has some very good deals on a smaller selection of products/models, while Black Friday sales tend to be more general and encompass larger inventories.
How did we choose these Black Friday deals?
There are tons of Chromebook deals out there, but we only highlight products we’ve either gone hands-on with personally or would consider ourselves. For example, laptops and Chromebooks come in a myriad of configurations and versions. If we’ve tested one model that we recommend, but a lower- or higher-end configuration is on sale, we’d still feel confident recommending it.
We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.
Where can you shop the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals?
The biggest retailers for laptops (that also have the best sales) are Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and B&H Photo Video, and many of our top-rated sales come from these destinations.
What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals?
ZDNET’s experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category:
And more Black Friday deals:
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