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Last updated: October 6, 2026. Prices change daily, so every pick links to Amazon for today’s price.
Laptops are one of the few things worth waiting for. As we explain in what to buy in October vs. Black Friday, laptop and Apple deals have tended to be better in November. Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026, and Cyber Monday is November 30.
The problem: Black Friday is also when stores push cheap laptops with weak specs and big crossed-out prices. This page gives you a head start. Here are seven laptops we’ve already researched, with a link to today’s price on Amazon and a simple rule for spotting a real deal.
Before You Shop
- Know what you need: How to Choose a Laptop: A No-Jargon Checklist
- Chromebook or Windows? Which one do you actually need?
- Know the tricks: How to spot real Black Friday tech deals vs. fake ones
- Shopping for more than a laptop? See our full Black Friday watch list.
- Set price alerts now: free price trackers
- Shopping for a TV too? See our Black Friday TV watch list.
Our Black Friday Laptop Watch List
Our simple rule: a Black Friday price is a real deal if it’s at least 10% below what the laptop usually sells for. A free price tracker shows you that usual price.
| Laptop | Chip · Memory · Storage |
|---|---|
| Lenovo V15 | Ryzen 5 · 16GB · 512GB |
| HP 17.3″ Laptop | Core i5 · 16GB · 512GB |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 1 | Ryzen 5 · 8GB · 512GB |
| MacBook Air M4 (2025) | Apple M4 · 16GB · 256GB |
| MacBook Neo (2026) | A18 Pro · 8GB · 256GB |
| MacBook Air M1 (Renewed) | Apple M1 · 8GB · 256GB |
| Acer Chromebook 315 | Celeron · 4GB · 64GB |
The 7 Laptops, Up Close
#1 · Best Overall Value
Lenovo V15 (Ryzen 5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
4.4★ (360 ratings) on Amazon · Ryzen 5 · 16GB · 512GB
Our Best Overall pick in Best Laptops Under $700. It has 16GB of memory and a 512GB drive, the two specs that matter most for everyday work, plus a 15.6-inch Full HD screen.
Price: changes daily, so check today’s price on Amazon. A real deal: at least 10% below its usual price
#2 · Best Big Screen
HP 17.3″ Laptop (Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
4.3★ (550+ ratings) on Amazon · Core i5 · 16GB · 512GB
A large 17.3-inch screen for people who want bigger text and room for two windows side by side. Same 16GB memory and 512GB drive as our top pick. It is heavier, so it is better for home than for carrying around.
Price: changes daily, so check today’s price on Amazon. A real deal: at least 10% below its usual price
#3 · Best Budget Windows
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
4.4★ (930+ ratings) on Amazon · Ryzen 5 · 8GB · 512GB
A solid Windows laptop for email, browsing, schoolwork and video calls. 8GB of memory is fine for basics, and the 512GB drive means you will not run out of space.
Price: changes daily, so check today’s price on Amazon. A real deal: at least 10% below its usual price
#4 · Best Mac for Most People
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 chip (2025, 16GB, 256GB)
4.8★ (5,800+ ratings) on Amazon · Apple M4 · 16GB · 256GB
Last year’s MacBook Air, now that the newer M5 version is out. It still has 16GB of memory, which gives it room to stay fast for years. Older Apple models often get bigger discounts once a newer one arrives, so this is one to watch closely.
Price: changes daily, so check today’s price on Amazon. A real deal: at least 10% below its usual price
#5 · Newest Budget Mac
Apple MacBook Neo 13-inch with A18 Pro chip (2026, 8GB, 256GB)
4.6★ (1,400+ ratings) on Amazon · A18 Pro · 8GB · 256GB
Apple’s lower-priced 2026 laptop. It is a good fit for web, email, photos and schoolwork, especially for iPhone users. It has 8GB of memory, half of the MacBook Air, so heavy users should lean toward the Air. The price varies a little by color, so compare the exact version.
Price: changes daily, so check today’s price on Amazon. A real deal: at least 10% below its usual price
#6 · Cheapest Mac
Apple MacBook Air M1 13.3″ (Amazon Renewed)
4.2★ (2,500+ ratings) on Amazon · Apple M1 · 8GB · 256GB
A used MacBook that has been inspected and restored, sold under Amazon Renewed. The M1 chip is older but still handles everyday tasks well. Check the return window and warranty on the listing before you buy.
Price: changes daily, so check today’s price on Amazon. A real deal: at least 10% below its usual price
#7 · Best for Basics and Kids
Acer Chromebook 315
4.4★ (310+ ratings) on Amazon · Celeron · 4GB · 64GB
A simple, low-cost laptop for web browsing, Google Docs and schoolwork. It runs ChromeOS, not Windows, so it cannot install regular Windows programs.
Price: changes daily, so check today’s price on Amazon. A real deal: at least 10% below its usual price
Four Black Friday Laptop Traps
- “Doorbuster” laptops with only 128GB of storage. Many of the cheapest Black Friday Windows laptops pair 4GB or 8GB of memory with just 128GB of storage. Windows and its updates fill that up fast. For Windows, 256GB is the minimum and 512GB is better. (This is the “one to skip” in our Best Laptops Under $700 guide.)
- Look-alike models. Two laptops with nearly the same name can have different chips, memory or storage. Before you buy, compare the processor, memory (RAM) and storage line by line with the model you researched.
- Inflated “list prices.” A big “was” price makes any sale look huge. Judge a deal by what the laptop actually sold for recently (a price tracker shows you this), not by the list price.
- Refurbished vs. “renewed” vs. used. A renewed laptop can be a great value, but the return window and warranty vary by seller. Read those details on the listing before you buy.
How to Tell a Real Laptop Deal
A real deal is a price clearly below what the laptop has been selling for, not just below its list price. Use a price tracker to check the usual price and the recent low. If a “Black Friday price” matches what the laptop cost last month, there’s no reason to rush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Friday a good time to buy a laptop?
Usually, yes. Laptops, especially Windows laptops and Apple products, have tended to see bigger discounts in November than in October. See what to buy in October vs. Black Friday.
MacBook Neo or MacBook Air?
The MacBook Neo is the lower-priced choice and handles everyday tasks well. The MacBook Air has more memory (16GB vs. 8GB) and a faster M-series chip, so it is the better pick if you edit photos or video, keep many apps open, or plan to keep the laptop for many years. The newest 2026 MacBook Air with the M5 chip (16GB, 512GB) costs more. Check today’s price on Amazon.
Is a renewed MacBook safe to buy?
It can be, if the listing has a clear return window and warranty. We cover this in our Best Laptops Under $700 guide.
When do Black Friday laptop deals start?
Black Friday is November 27, 2026, but many stores start sales earlier in November. See our Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 guide for key dates. Adobe’s 2026 forecast expects computer discounts to peak on Cyber Monday, November 30, at up to 23% off (see Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday).
What should I do right after I buy?
Follow our new laptop setup checklist: 10 things to do first.
The Bottom Line
Decide what you need now: Windows, Mac or Chromebook, and at least 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage (16GB and 512GB is better). Then watch the seven laptops above. If one drops 10% or more below its usual price, that’s a real Black Friday deal. If a “deal” has 128GB of storage or a price that matches last month, skip it.
Want the full holiday plan? Visit our Holiday Shopping Center.