(Credit: Zain Awais)
Black Friday starts now. Everything is on sale from Apple AirPods to giant TVs and that includes one of our favorite categories: Laptops (we are PCMag, after all). Now we know a PC is a big purchase and you're probably not buying a new one every year. But if it's on your holiday wish list, now is the best time to get a major discount. Check out these on-sale laptops we like and get the best price you'll see all year.
And don't forget to check out the Best Black Friday Deals Available Now.
This no-frills large-screen Dell Inspiron is built with productivity in mind. The 16-inch display is large enough to view content without the need for a monitor, from spreadsheets to power points, and Windows 11 Home will streamline your user experience. At $250 off, now is the right time to buy.
The Asus Vivobook Pro 15 straddles the line between productivity and leisure. The 15.6-inch OLED display looks fantastic whether you’re juggling multiple spreadsheets or streaming your favorite movies during downtime. Plus, the dedicated graphics card is capable of 1080p gaming at medium settings. With $500 off, this is a fantastic price for a versatile laptop that will serve students and professionals alike.
A spacious 16-inch display and a powerful AMD processor make the Asus Vivobook S16 Flip a good candidate for a desktop replacement. This 2-in-1 laptop will easily handle Web surfing and document processing along with a healthy amount of multitasking. Thanks to the 360-degree hinge, you can switch seamlessly from laptop to tablet and utilize a compatible stylus for creative pursuits. The best part? It's $200 off for Black Friday.
Samsung fans will get the most mileage out of this Galaxy Book4, which can be used to seamlessly extend the display of their other Android-powered devices. It offers crisp, clear image quality and thanks to the 360-degree hinge you can transition from laptop to tablet to make better use of the touch screen. There’s a lot to like here, so that $450 discount should seal the deal.
In the market for a solid MacBook Pro alternative? This Dell XPS 13 is a great platform for artists and designers and this model includes a gorgeous OLED display with unparalleled dark contrast and color clarity. Students and work-from-homers who spend a lot of time looking at screens will also want to check out this deal.
Laptops FAQs
Hi, I’m Joe Osborne, PCMag's Deputy Managing Editor focused on computing hardware. I have more than a decade of experience testing and evaluating computers, so here are my answers to three of the most frequently asked questions about buying a new laptop, especially around a sales event like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
How Much Should You Pay For a Laptop?
Laptop prices will range based on features and performance. Basic but full-featured models can cost as little as $400, while gaming juggernauts and workstations can run you more than $3,000. The most important factors to remember are the ones you need most, as the price range will determine what you’re getting—and what you’re sacrificing. For example, a low-budget laptop will have less storage space and RAM than a high-end laptop. It will be suitable for casual use without multitasking or running CPU-demanding programs.
How Long Should My Laptop Last?
When it comes to long-term lasting power, a computer can last a few years if you treat it well. This means using malware protection when web browsing, a dedicated surge protector to protect your hardware from electrical damage, managing battery health, and more. Our how-to article has longevity-boosting tips for your laptop.
As for battery life, that generally varies based on usage. Laptops with 4K displays running demanding games that test the limits of your GPU will naturally drain more quickly than a laptop that is just being used to surf the web. We test battery life by playing a locally stored video file nonstop with no wireless connections active and 50% screen brightness, which may not match your usage profile but is the best comparative measure for which system will provide longer battery life overall. More processor-intensive work will soak up battery life, so keep that in mind.
What’s the Best Low-Priced Laptop?
PCMag’s current top-rated budget laptop is the Acer Aspire 3. Simple and effective, it's priced competitively for a Ryzen 3 processor, 128GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch 1080p display. It’s still one of the best deals in laptops after hitting shelves in early 2023.
Make sure to scope out our Black Friday hub for up-to-the-minute deals on the tech you want most.