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Short answer: Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday is November 30. The laptops most worth waiting for are the ones that are already good at full price: the MacBook Air 13 (M5) for most people, the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5) for creative work, the Dell XPS 14 for a premium Windows laptop, and the Lenovo LOQ 15 for budget gaming. Last year’s models, such as the 2025 Zephyrus G14 and the Legion 5 Gen 10, are the ones most likely to see big discounts now that their successors are out.
Prime Big Deal Days has ended. Black Friday is November 27, 2026, and Cyber Monday is November 30. Amazon's Black Friday deals often start a few days early. Our picks are chosen on year-round value, not just sale pricing; tap any link to see today's price.
How we put this together: this guide is based on manufacturers’ official specs, launch prices and published reviews (linked in each of our full guides). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. The prices below are full or starting prices, not Black Friday prices. We’ll add confirmed deal prices once retailers publish them in the week before Black Friday. See how we choose products.
The best laptops to buy on Black Friday 2026
| Laptop | Best for | Key specs | Full price |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13 (M5) | Most people | M5, 16GB, 512GB, 2.7 lb, up to 18 h video | From $1,299 |
| MacBook Pro 14 (M5) | Photo and video work | M5, 1TB, XDR display, HDMI + SD slot, fan | From $1,999 |
| Dell XPS 14 | Premium Windows | Core Ultra 7 255H, 3.2K 120Hz OLED, 3× Thunderbolt 4 | Varies by configuration |
| Acer Aspire Go 15 | Budget Windows | Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB, 512GB, 15.6″ Full HD | Budget class |
| Acer Chromebook 315 | School and browsing | Intel N100, 8GB, 15.6″ touch, up to 12 h | Budget class |
| Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 | Budget gaming | RTX 5060, Ryzen 7 250, 16GB DDR5 | Under $1,200 in RTX 5060 trim |
| Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 | 1440p gaming value | Up to RTX 5070, 15.1″ 2.5K 165Hz OLED | Discounted since Gen 11 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) | Compact gaming | RTX 5060 to 5080, 14″ 3K 120Hz OLED, 1.5 kg | Discounted since the 2026 model |
Apple prices are Apple’s US starting prices. For the Windows laptops, the price depends heavily on the exact configuration, so we compare the specs you should get rather than a single number.
1. MacBook Air 13 (M5): best laptop for most people
The M5 MacBook Air (March 2026) is the safest laptop to buy on Black Friday if you don’t game. It now starts with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, weighs 2.7 lb, and Apple rates it for up to 18 hours of video streaming. Reviews from TechRadar, Tom’s Hardware and RTINGS are consistently positive. The trade-offs: there’s no fan, so it slows down under long heavy loads, and there’s no HDMI or SD slot.
Prices are up this year: Apple raised Mac prices on June 25, 2026, and the Air went from $1,099 to $1,299 (MacRumors), so a Black Friday discount matters more than usual.
Black Friday tip: discounted M4 Airs will be everywhere. They’re still very good, but the base M4 model has only 256GB of storage, so compare like for like before you buy.
Check the MacBook Air 13 (M5) on Amazon →
Full MacBook Air 13 (M5) guide
On a tighter budget: the MacBook Neo is Apple’s cheapest laptop at $699 ($599 with education pricing), with an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. It lasted 13.5 hours in TechRadar‘s battery test and is enough for browsing, schoolwork and office apps, but not for photo or video work.
Check the MacBook Neo on Amazon →
2. MacBook Pro 14 (M5): best for photo and video work
The base 14-inch MacBook Pro now starts at $1,999 with 1TB of storage, after Apple’s June 2026 price increase. You get the 1,000-nit XDR display, HDMI, an SD card slot and a fan, so long exports hold their speed. It’s the cheapest MacBook that suits regular 4K editing. For 8K or heavy multicam work, the M5 Pro and M5 Max models are covered in our best MacBook for video editing guide.
Check the MacBook Pro 14 (M5) on Amazon →
3. Dell XPS 14: best premium Windows laptop
The XPS 14 pairs a sharp 14.5-inch 3.2K OLED touchscreen (48–120Hz) with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7 and a 70Wh battery. It suits photo work, heavy multitasking and anyone who wants a premium Windows machine. Skip it if you want to game (integrated Intel Arc graphics only) or want the lightest possible laptop: the OLED model weighs about 1.72 kg (3.79 lb).
Check the Dell XPS 14 on Amazon →
4. Acer Aspire Go 15: best budget Windows laptop
For office work, study and streaming, the Aspire Go 15 has what matters: an 8-core Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD and a 15.6-inch Full HD screen with a number pad. It isn’t for gaming (integrated Radeon graphics), and at about 1.8 kg (3.9 lb) it’s not one to carry all day.
Check the Acer Aspire Go 15 on Amazon →
5. Acer Chromebook 315: best for school and browsing
If most of your work happens in a browser, Google Docs or Classroom, the Chromebook 315 is a sensible low-cost pick: a 15.6-inch Full HD touchscreen, an Intel N100, 8GB of memory and up to 12 hours of battery. The catches: only 64GB of storage, and it can’t run Windows apps or PC games. For Lenovo Chromebooks and Windows laptops at a similar price, see the best Lenovo laptops under $500 or our best Chromebooks.
Check the Acer Chromebook 315 on Amazon →
6. Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10: best budget gaming laptop
The LOQ 15 Gen 10 with an RTX 5060, a Ryzen 7 250 and 16GB of DDR5 is the most balanced gaming laptop you can usually get under $1,200. On Black Friday, check two things: that the listing really has the RTX 5060 (many cheaper versions use an RTX 5050), and the storage, since 512GB fills quickly with modern games. Our best gaming laptops under $1,200 guide compares it with the Nitro V 16, TUF A14 and Victus 16, and covers the best options under $1,000.
For more gaming laptops to watch and how to spot a real deal, see our Black Friday gaming laptop deals guide.
Check the Lenovo LOQ 15 on Amazon →
7. Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10: best gaming value for 1440p
The 2026 Legion 5 (Gen 11) launched with an RTX 5060 at most (Lenovo has since added a 12GB RTX 5070 option to the Intel model), while last year’s Gen 10 goes up to an RTX 5070 with a 15.1-inch 2.5K 165Hz OLED. That makes the Gen 10 the one to watch this Black Friday: more GPU for 1440p, and it’s being cleared out now that Gen 11 is on sale. The differences between the two generations are in our Legion 5 Gen 11 vs Gen 10 guide.
Check the Legion 5i Gen 10 (RTX 5070) on Amazon →
8. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025): best compact gaming laptop
The 2026 G14 has a brighter OLED, but reviews point to a big price jump: GamesRadar+ found the RTX 5070 Ti model roughly $1,000 more than the equivalent 2025 configuration. The 2025 G14 keeps the same 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED and 1.5 kg aluminium body with RTX 5060 to RTX 5080 graphics, so a discounted 2025 model is the better Black Friday buy for most people. All three generations are compared in our Zephyrus G14 price guide.
Check Zephyrus G14 (2025) prices on Amazon →
How to tell a real Black Friday laptop deal
- Match the exact configuration. The same laptop name can hide a slower GPU, less memory or a smaller SSD. Compare the model number, not the headline.
- Check the price history. Price trackers such as Keepa or camelcamelcamel show whether a “deal” is lower than the price over the past few months, or just back to normal after a markup.
- Know which generation you’re getting. Last year’s model at a big discount can be the better buy (the Legion 5 Gen 10 and the 2025 G14 are good examples), as long as you know it’s last year’s model.
- Watch for reseller bundles. Some listings are “upgraded” by third-party sellers with extra memory, storage or docks. They can be fine, but the warranty may be split between the seller and the manufacturer.
- Check the return window. Amazon usually extends returns for holiday purchases, but confirm it on the listing, especially when the seller isn’t Amazon.
Should you buy now or wait for Black Friday?
If you need a laptop now, Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days (October 6–7, 2026) is the last big Amazon sale before Black Friday. If you can wait, Black Friday and Cyber Monday bring discounts from almost every retailer, not just Amazon, which gives you the widest choice, especially on last year’s models. Either way, decide which configuration you want before the sale starts, so you can tell a good price when you see one.
Frequently asked questions
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, the day after US Thanksgiving (November 26). Cyber Monday is November 30. Many retailers start their deals earlier in the week, so it’s worth checking from around November 20.
Is Black Friday a good time to buy a laptop?
Yes. Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to buy a laptop, especially last year’s models, which retailers discount to clear stock. Compare the exact configuration and the recent price history to make sure the deal is real.
Which MacBook should I buy on Black Friday?
The MacBook Air 13 with M5 is the best MacBook for most people: 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage and up to 18 hours of video streaming. Choose the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 if you edit photos or video, because it adds a fan, an XDR display, HDMI and an SD card slot. On a budget, the $699 MacBook Neo covers browsing and schoolwork.
What is the best gaming laptop to buy on Black Friday 2026?
The Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 with an RTX 5060 is the best budget pick. For more performance, look for discounts on last year’s Legion 5 Gen 10 with an RTX 5070 or the 2025 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, both of which have newer successors on sale.
Should I buy an older laptop model on Black Friday?
Often, yes. Last year’s models usually get the deepest discounts, and the difference from the new model can be small. The 2025 Zephyrus G14 costs much less than the 2026 model with a similar design, for example. Check the storage and memory, which new models often increase.
