Here’s how to spot a genuinely good laptop deal, plus the best discounts we’ve seen so far on everything from MacBooks to gaming laptops
Here’s how to spot a genuinely good laptop deal, plus the best discounts we’ve seen so far on everything from MacBooks to gaming laptops
Do you really need to buy a new laptop?
How to shop smart this Black Friday
Black Friday deals have started, and if you’ve been on the lookout for a good price on a new laptop, then this could be your lucky day. But with so many websites being shouty about their Black Friday offers, the best buys aren’t always easy to spot. So before you splash the cash, it might pay to do some research – and look closely at the specification.
I know this may not be welcome advice. After all, the thought of drawing up a spreadsheet of memory configurations and pricing history might put a slight dampener on the excitement that builds as Black Friday approaches. But buy the right laptop today and you can look forward to many years of joyful productivity. Pick a duff one, and every time you open the lid you’ll be cursing your past self’s impulsive nature. So don’t get caught out; be prepared with our useful tips – and a roundup of the Filter’s favourite laptop deals.
Before you make the jump, also be sure you really need a new laptop with our guide to making the most out of your existing one.How to find a genuinely good Black Friday laptop deal
Don’t sweat the CPU
Many people get hung up on processor power, but this is the one thing you rarely need to worry about these days. Although new processor models come out with alarming frequency, almost any AMD Ryzen, Intel Core or Apple M-series chip of the past few years will be fine for everyday web browsing and office tasks. High-end models are only really needed for particularly demanding workloads; a quick trip to Google (or your AI chatbot of choice) will help you see how different processor models measure up.
Plan ahead with plenty of RAM and storage
Every laptop needs a decent amount of memory. If the system is starved of RAM, then performance will be sluggish, regardless of the CPU’s speed. While Windows 11 runs acceptably in 8GB, a minimum of 16GB will help ensure that future updates continue to run smoothly. Some models are upgradeable, so you can start with a basic allocation of RAM and add more as your needs grow, but this certainly isn’t something you can take for granted.
Laptop storage is also rarely expandable, except by plugging in a USB flash drive or an external SSD. That might be fine if your device will spend much of its time on a desk, but if you want to carry it around with you – not an unreasonable ask for a computer of this type – it’s a drag. So while a base-level 256GB SSD might suffice for home-working, consider stepping up to 512GB or even 1TB of internal storage, especially if you want to edit videos or play big 3D games. Look into battery life, weight and overall dimensions, too, if portability is a priority.
Find out what it’s really like to use
Some important considerations – such as the quality of the screen and keyboard – don’t show up on the spec sheet, yet these things are arguably just as important as the processor and memory. If the display is dim and blocky, and typing emails feels like pressing Scrabble tiles into a flannel, it will make day-to-day working more difficult.
Since online retail doesn’t give you an opportunity to try tapping out “the quick brown fox” for yourself, the next best thing is to read reviews of other people’s hands-on experience. Pay particular attention to the model number, though: laptops often come in a few variants, including a high-end version that will usually get great reviews – and a more cheaply made model that can be flogged for a knock-down price on Black Friday.
Is this a genuine special offer?
The final thing to check is whether the bargain that’s flashing up on your screen is actually a deal at all. You can look up past prices for a vast range of items by going to CamelCamelCamel – yes, really – and either typing in a laptop model number or pasting in the web address of an Amazon product page. You may find that the heavily promoted Black Friday price is identical to last month’s standard price on Amazon. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad deal, but it signals that you probably don’t need to race to grab a once-in-a-lifetime bargain (we’ve made sure to list this price history on all the laptop deals below).
Indeed, with Cyber Monday, pre- and post-Christmas sales, Easter specials, Amazon Prime Day, back-to-school offers and so forth, you’re rarely more than a few weeks away from the next big discount event – so don’t let the excitement of Black Friday encourage you into making a hasty purchase. Darien Graham-SmithThe best Black Friday laptop deals in 2025A decent Chromebook
Asus CX34 Chromebook Plus
The CX34 provides a palatable, lightweight computing experience for a reasonable price in this Currys deal. It has a more compact 14inch Full HD 60Hz screen with decent detail across a smaller resolution, plus 8GB of RAM and a sizeable 512GB SSD. As most of your work may be online (in Google Workspace), that’s a solid amount of space for apps and games. It also comes with ample power for casual use with Intel’s 10-core Core i5-1334U processor.
This is a Chromebook Plus model, so it’s a more powerful option for multitasking and benefits from clever Google software integrations such as Photo Eraser, Offline File Sync and Google Meet effects such as auto-framing and background blur powers.
Price history: this is the best price in the past few months, but it’s been cheaper on Amazon in previous deals.An AMD-powered IdeaPad
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5
This Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 comes with a potent AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor inside, with eight cores and 16 threads. There’s 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for a solid amount of headroom for multitasking and storage. This model comes with a 14in 1,920 x 1,200 IPS screen that should be reasonable for work purposes, plus it comes in a fetching silver colourway.
Price history: this is the best price for this model.A more stylish Chromebook
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus is a strong choice for an upmarket Chromebook. It’s very sleek and lightweight at just 1.17kg, and it comes with a pleasant 14in Full HD panel, with up to 400 nits of brightness for sharp images. Inside, it’s got an Intel Core 5 120U processor with 10 cores and 12 threads to make productivity work a breeze. There’s 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, and battery life is solid for the price.
Price history: this is the best price for this model.A potent Snapdragon-powered choice
Acer Swift Go 14 AI
The Acer Swift Go 14 AI is a capable Windows laptop witha decent eight-core Snapdragon X processor that yields excellent efficiency, with Acer claiming up to 28 hours of battery life. There’s 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, plus a decent 14.5in 1,920 x 1,200 120Hz screen for solid detail and slick motion for productivity workloads. At 1.36kg, it’s lightweight and portable, too.
Price history: this is the best price for this model.A capable convertible choice
Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360
This Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is a powerful premium 2-in-1 laptop to use either as a laptop or tablet. This base model has 15.6in Full HD AMOLED touchscreen with decent detail for creative tasks, plus lovely depth and contrast. Inside, this Samsung laptop has a solid mid-range Intel Core Ultra 5 processor plus 16GB of RAM. The 256GB SSD feels a little stingy at this price tag, though. It also has a decent set of ports with a pair of Thunderbolt 4-capable USB-C ports, HDMI, USB-A, and a microSD card reader.
Price history: this is the lowest price it’s been in a month, although not the lowest ever.
***A slim and powerful laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
For this price, this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a decent core for productivity tasks as well as some headroom for more intensive loads. The Intel Core i5-13620H processor has eight cores and eight threads, while you also get 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for storage. It’s a slim laptop for easier portability, although it still comes with a mid-size 15in IPS screen.
If have a bit more to spend, £650 will get you a more powerful version with a faster eight-core AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor, plus 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Price history: this is the best price for this model, and you’d pay an extra £120 for a 1TB model from Amazon.A big-screen OLED Asus laptop
Asus Vivobook S16 OLED
This Asus Vivobook S16 OLED nails the basics, if you’re after a big-screen laptop with a little something extra. Its Intel Core Ultra 5 225H processor delivers solid performance, while 32GB of RAM and a hefty capacity 1TB SSD provide enough headroom for intensive multitasking and installing of all sorts of apps.
A larger 16in Full HD+ resolution OLED screen displays high-quality output with deeper blacks, stronger contrast, and more accurate colours than standard IPS screens found elsewhere at this price. Up to 20 hours of battery life is a boon if you’re going to be away from the mains, too.
Price history: not available, but this is the lowest price ever at Currys.A rare MacBook deal
Apple MacBook Air M2 13in
Apple’s M2 MacBook Air is a couple of years old now, but the Apple Silicon chip inside continues to deliver oodles of power for anything from productivity loads to editing high-res video on battery power. It’s sleek, portable and stylish, although it lacks ports, so you may need to pick up a cheap USB-C adapter to supplement. The 13.6in Liquid Retina screen is sharp and detailed, while 18 hours of battery life is sure to keep you up and running for a couple of working days away from the mains.
Price history: this is the lowest ever price.A top-end MacBook Air
Apple MacBook Air M4 13in
The current flagship MacBook Air has dropped back to its lowest ever price for Black Friday, complete with its capable M4 chip inside. It’s a beefier choice than older M-series chips, with faster single-core performance and two extra CPU and GPU cores for even more power. There are incremental upgrades elsewhere, such as 16GB on this base model, plus the ability to connect to two external displays with the lid down. Otherwise, this is the same modern MacBook Air we know and love, with a dazzling Liquid Retina screen and up to 18 hours of battery life.
