Best Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2021 Laptops deal, Reviews, and Buyers Guide.
Have you been holding off getting a replacement for your laptop, or you’re hunting for a new one? You made a wise decision – Black Friday is here, and there is no better time of the year to shop for a laptop.
Currently, there is a wealth of amazing laptop deals online, thanks to retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. They have made Black Friday into a series of small sales spanning out through November.
This means that you don’t have to wait to get your most desired laptop at a great discount. You can buy it now! Most of these deals are likely to come and go quickly. Therefore, if you are primed to purchase a laptop, you should have a pretty good idea of what you want.
The best portable PC will get you through most of your needs – whether at work, e-learning or for playing your favorite games. Luckily, these machines are more powerful and highly portable, which is why we have scoured the internet for the best laptops worth hunting down during Black Friday 2021.
We picked the ones that offer remarkable performance within minimalist and slim designs. Of course, if you want something specific, a MacBook or a Chromebook, we’ve got you covered. So, read on!
The Seven Most Amazing Laptops that are worth hunting down on Black Friday include:
Best Black Friday Laptops Review
1. Dell XPS 13 (11th Gen)
- Screen Size: 13.4 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4
- Hard Drive: 512 GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
The Dell XPS 13 is an all-around near-perfect product, thanks to its blazing performance and elegantly sleek design. With an evolved 11th Generation CPU and Xe integrated graphics, this machine could be the ultimate laptop to buy.
The latest version of Dell XPS 13 comes with a beautiful 4-sided InfinityEdge display, with Core i3, i5, or i7 processors. With the 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, you get 8GB of RAM, Intel UHD Graphics, and a 256GB SSD.
For the Intel Iris Xe graphics, however, you need a Core i5 processor. The Core i7 gives you a larger touch screen display and larger storage – 512 GB SSD. It comes with plenty of optional upgrades, including more colors, apart from the default silver and black; up to 2TB SSD, and Infinity Edge 4K display.
The design itself is gorgeous. With a compact, lightweight build, the XPS 13 boasts an aluminum outer construction with an Arctic White interior that is very pleasing. But the design comes at the expense of a few port selections. It only has 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, 1 microSD card slot, and 1 3.5mm headphone jack.
The screen is 13.4-inch with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. The viewing experience is immersive and near-borderless, with a screen-to-body ratio of 91.5%. It can hit high levels of brightness with true-color performance.
The speakers are loud enough with a boosted audio output for enhancing the songs you are listening to or the movies you are watching.
In terms of performance, there is no doubt that you can chew through loads of tasks with the 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPU this machine comes with. You can juggle through file transfers, web browsing, listening to music, and file conversion at amazing speeds.
The Xe integrated graphics live up to your expectations and can allow you ran your favorite games at lower frames per second. Add that to the bouncy and smooth keys, and you are well on your way to spending hours typing or playing with your laptop comfortably without a hassle.
The camera is decent, and the battery life can last for hours. It can get you a full workday or through your lessons for the day, which makes it worth a buy.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Immersive display
- Options for upgrades
- Intuitive keyboard
Cons
- Not the best webcam
- Few ports
2. MacBook Air with M1
- Screen Size: 13.3 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB LPDDR4
- Hard Drive: 512 GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Plus
If you are a MacBook enthusiast, look no further than Apple’s MacBook Air with an M1 chip. It is an iconic portable PC with a powerful battery and unparalleled performance.
Powered by an M1 processor with 16GB of RAM, you will experience no hiccups when playing games. The high-speed performance makes this laptop a multitasking friend. With Apple’s decision to shift to ARM-based processors, you get to enjoy other essential benefits such as the ability to run iPad and iOS applications on your machine!
Better yet, Apple delivered on its promise to provide two times faster speeds in MacBook Air M1. With the storage of up to 2TB SSD, you can hit read speeds of more than 2GB a second! And with the 8-Core GPU configuration, your hunt for a gaming laptop with zero-lag ends with this model.
The MacBook Air with M1 laptop sports a battery with a life of up to 18 hours, beating most of the laptops on the market today. With that kind of power, you can browse all day and work from home comfortably even when there is a power outage.
For virtual meetings and video presentations while at home, you will be happy to know that the MacBook Air M1 features a full HD camera. Thanks to the new M1 chip, your images will appear even better than you look. It offers a better palette of colors and skin tones for an incredible video quality output.
The design is still wedge-shaped, with an aluminum chassis, and is availed in a range of colors, including silver, gold, and space grey. In a nutshell, if you are a MacBook enthusiast, then the MacBook Air with M1 is identical to its predecessor, the intel-based version.
The MacBook Air M1 is a little light on ports. It features 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB 4 ports and a headphone jack. Its Type C USB ports are both on the left and separated by XPS 13 splits for easy device connections.
Its screen comes with a Retina display resolution of 2,560 x 1600 for fine details and high brightness levels. This helps prevent colors from darkening when you are viewing videos from certain angles.
The keyboard is soft and intuitive, while the trackpad produces precise input recognitions and scrolling. It comes with stereo speakers and has support for the Dolby Atmos.
Pros
- Blazing performance
- Legacy app support
- Extended battery life
- HD camera
Cons
- Not so slim
- Few ports
3. HP Elite Dragonfly
- Screen Size: 13.3 Inches
- RAM: 16 GB LPDDR3
- Hard Drive: 512 GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Plus
Featuring blue-magnesium chassis, a beautiful display, and an almost bezel-less design, the HP Elite Dragonfly laptop is an extremely lightweight machine you can carry anywhere – particularly since it has extra-long battery life.
This 2-in-1 machine is available with different processors of up to Core i7 and 512GB SSD. For a Core i5 processor, you get 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. Still, you can upgrade the RAM to 16GB and take advantage of the Intel vPro security, a better resolution, a 1,000-nit panel, as well as the manufacturer’s Sure View privacy-screen technology.
It also has an 8th Gen Intel processor that guarantees a speedy performance. You can copy large files in seconds, especially with the 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD.
Coupled with the Intel UHD 620 GPU, you get a good amount of decent in peak gaming at frames per second that is negligible from the premium laptop average.
Despite its slim nature, the HP Elite Dragonfly is not flimsy. The build is robust, doesn’t bend, and with the oleophobic coating, cleaning smudges left on the metal shell is effortless.
Unlike the MacBook Air M1 and Dell XPS 13, this laptop is rich in terms of ports. It has 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB-Cs, 1 USB 3.1, HDMI, and a headphone jack. This makes the HP Elite Dragonfly easy for other direct connections, say, a larger display for movie streaming.
One of the best reasons why this machine is ideal for your use is because of Intel’s vPro technology, which gets lots of remote management from IT experts. Better yet, with a self-diagnosing and healing BIOS technology, this model can fight attacks automatically.
Adding to these security features is a fingerprint reader and a physical webcam guard that can be utilized whenever necessary.
With a screen of 13.3-inches and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, it is quite decent for viewing, playing games, and multimedia editing. It produces lots of true colors, can emit a high number of nits for brightness, and extends an excellent range of viewing angles.
You will fall in love with the keyboard, which allows your fingers to easily fly by precisely and the glass touchpad only serves to make your experience even more thrilling.
The HP Elite Dragonfly can get so loud, and while the audio is great, there is room for improvement regarding quality. Too loud, and the audio can become a bit muddied.
The machine also comes with a four-cell battery that can last for the whole day!
Pros
- Eye-catching aesthetics
- Optional battery upgrade
- Lots of security options
- Large, bright, and colorful display
Cons
- Not easily affordable
4. Google Pixelbook Go
- Screen Size: 13.3 Inches
- RAM: 8 GB
- Hard Drive: 128 GB
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
The Google Pixelbook Go is no doubt one of the best portable PCs for students. Way better than the original Pixelbook, it comes with a lightweight build, is slim, and packs a snug grip, thanks to the rubberized black only and Not Pink chassis.
Sporting a premium design magnesium shell, this unit is available in Core i3, i5, and i7 models. The Core i5 variant is equipped with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. You can also get the 16GB version with Core i7 processor, 4K resolution, and 256GB storage.
With ChromeOS, the apps have mostly been adapted for the keyboard and the touchpad. Contrary to what you would expect, however, this laptop is not convertible. But it is thin and weighs less than most PCs on the market.
The Google Pixelbook Go incorporates a pair of USB-C ports on each side of the laptop, as well as a headphone jack. Other pricier Pixelbook models come with more ports.
It also comes with a 13.3-inch touch screen that can render bright and colorful images. The touch sensitivity is quite snappy. Incidentally, the brightness it produces outshine the standard range for Chromebooks. The audio is also decent. While it has a good amount of sound, it doesn’t have lots of basses.
Apart from the good response to taps, Google Pixelbook Go has an intuitive keyboard that can give your fingers a snug spin while typing, enabling you to effortlessly hit your speed of words per minute. The keyboard is backlit, and the navigation using the keypad is equally smooth and prompt.
Should you opt to buy the Intel Core i5-8200Y CPU with 8GB of RAM, you will get enough power to multitask and make good use of the Android App emulation. It stacks up well against the competition in gaming, especially light games, which it renders smoothly.
The Google Pixelbook Go battery is an improvement from the earliest version, and it can last for well over 12 hours.
Pros
- Highly portable
- Long battery life
- Smooth scrolling and snappy response to touch
Cons
- Few ports with USB-A
- The clamshell design might be a little limiting
5. Alienware m17 R2
- Screen Size: 17.3″ FHD
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- Hard Drive: 256 GB SSD
- Graphics: n Vidia GeForce RTX 2060
The Alienware m17 R2 is a complete beast of a gaming laptop that offers unmatched power and looks while at it. It comes with a distinct design with alluring RGB lighting that can be personalized.
Unlike other bulky gaming laptops, the Alienware m17 R2 is the thinnest 17-inch laptop ever in its category. While it is surprisingly portable, it hasn’t sacrificed much of its capabilities. The internal hardware can be upgraded to a whopping Core i9 CPU with the all-powerful RTX 2080 graphics.
The Core i5 version of the m17 gives you 8GB RAM, 256 SSD, and Nvidia 1660 Ti graphics. But if you can splurge for the RTX power, you can go for the Core i7 CPU and RTX 2060 GPU.
Although the laptop is portable, it is big compared to the standard types. It features a magnesium chassis with an angular design carrying soft-touch finishes for easy grips. The laptop is equipped with 2 USB 3.1, a normal USB, a Thunderbolt 3 Type-C, HDMI 2.0, a 1.4 mini-display, an Alienware Graphics amplifier, Ethernet ports as well as a headphone jack.
It has a screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The color reproduction on this screen is vibrant and accurate. Thanks to the full RGB lighting array, this laptop feels great to type on. It has a rainbow wave pattern that needs some getting used to.
With an overall brilliant performance, loading up games is a breeze. It doesn’t drop the frame rate. They remain solid across several games. The audio is decent, but speakers can crackle at high volumes.
With all that power, web browsing, file transfer, multimedia streaming, and any other basic laptop activities can be executed without a hassle. Loading the applications take seconds!
As you’d expect in a machine with heavy hardware, the battery isn’t that great, but it can last for more than 5 hours. This is still better than most laptops.
Pros
- Beautiful keyboard with smooth operation
- Amazing performance
- Lightweight for a gaming laptop
- Has an attractive build
- Room for hardware customizations
Cons
- Has a conservative design
- Very pricey
6. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
- Screen Size: 9 14″ FHD
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- Hard Drive: 512 GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
If your work demands serious productivity, such as graphic design and video editing, this 14-inch 8th Generation Intel Core laptop should be among the first, you hunt for this Black Friday. It provides all the specs you want in a minimalist and slim design.
Made of a sleek aluminum chassis, with an unmatched screen and a robust build, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon comes with a 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution with an 8GB RAM and 256GB NVMe SSD.
With a few more bucks, you can get a better Core i5 and enjoy the Intel vPro remote IT management, among other features. Better yet, you can get other screen options, including the 1080p touch screen with or without a privacy filter, a 2560 x 1440-pixel or a 4K resolution one with Dolby Vision HDR 400 display. For these versions, you can install 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage.
You can also choose the Core i7 model for more processing power. But it suffices to say that whichever processor you prefer, you can handle whatever tasks are thrown at you, including video transcoding, web browsing, or running other multiple applications.
The laptop’s design is compact for portability, and the screen bezels are thin. Much like the HP Elite Dragonfly, its security features include a fingerprint reader, a webcam shutter, and face recognition.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, Ethernet, a USB 3.2 Type-A port, HDMI, and a headphone jack.
The webcam can capture good images with colors devoid of noise, and with its tweeters and woofers, you can rest assured that the audio output is up to par with most of your needs. It is even supplied with Dolby software for an immersive and dynamic listening experience.
The 14-inch display can hit a good level of brightness and contrast that permits comfortable viewing from broad angles. The details remain sharp, and the colors remain well saturated. The backlit keyboard is near-perfect, offering a seamless and snappy typing experience, and the touchpad is precise and perky.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon can manage up to 13 hours of battery life, which means that it holds up well for tasks such as business meetings, Zoom calls, online classes, and the like.
Pros
- Features a compact, lightweight construction
- Brilliant keyboard and display
- Has a good number of ports
- Good performance for a litany of tasks
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Has no microSD card slot
7. LG Gram 17
- Screen Size: 17″ IPS WQXGA
- RAM: 16 GB
- Hard Drive: 1TB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Packing a large 17-inch screen with a sleek and lightweight design, the LG Gram 17 is an excellent choice for anyone on the go. But if you a serious gamer and need a laptop that can double up as work and a video-gaming unit, it can fall short of your expectations.
Featuring a Core i7 processor with a storage of 1TB SSD and 16GB of RAM, you can accomplish almost anything with the LG Gram 17. It is lightweight because of the metal alloy of nanocarbon and magnesium. Compared to other laptops with the same screen size on the market, it is the lightest but robust to withstand shock, dust, and vibration.
With dark silver and black aesthetics, the LG Gram 17 comes equipped with a USB 3.0, Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C, and HDMI ports on the left. On the right side are two more USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack, and a microSD slot.
This laptop supports logins through a fingerprint sensor that’s built into the power button. Its keyboard, on the other hand, comes with a small backspace key, which needs some getting used to. Other than that, one can type remarkably well. The keys have that bouncy feel that elevates your typing experience.
The touchpad is also large and responsive. You can control the cursor with ease as well as customize it to fit your needs.
Although the 17-inch screen is gorgeous, it is not 4K. But the 2560 x 1600 resolution reproduces over a hundred percent color gamut with a brightness that’s better than the MacBook Air M1. The audio speakers are also loud enough but can be muffled due to their position – they are bottom-mounted.
The LG Gram 17 may not be the fastest laptop in its class, but with the 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8565U processor, with UHD 620 graphics combined with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD storage, you can keep up with a lot!
You can stream music while working, hop from one tab to another, and edit videos at incredible speeds. Its SSD can clock well over 200MBps while copying files, which is still remarkable. Its battery can last for up to 12 hours!
Pros
- Bulky, but lightweight
- Comfortable keyboard
- Good battery life
- Good resolution
Cons
- Lack good support
- Not the best speakers
Black Friday Laptops Buyer’s Guide
Buying a laptop largely depends on what you hope to accomplish. They come in different sizes and with various capabilities. Others are quite expensive, for that matter. But before you decide, consider its purpose and factor in the following:
Performance
Depending on your budget and your needs, look for a laptop with at least Intel Core i3. But for the best performance, Core i5 or i7 8th Gen and above processor packs the best performance for handling a wide range of tasks.
Storage
Storage is more than just the space accommodating your files. It contributes to the overall performance of your laptop. If you desire faster operation, go with the SSD setup as opposed to the HDD. Although they are expensive, they are the ideal choice.
RAM
For good gaming, 16GB RAM will suffice, but for most of your daily use, 8GB RAM is okay. The 4GB RAM and below is for the budget-conscious individuals. Nonetheless, you always have the laptop modified to a higher level.
Graphics
Having a higher graphics card allows your laptop to reduce stutter and input lag. For instance, gaming enthusiasts should go with the NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync graphics for the fastest experience. For light needs, Intel HD Graphics will do.
The Form Factor
It is highly recommended that before buying a laptop, one needs to match their interests with the form factor, which includes the design, the build, weight, size, configuration, battery life, and or the physical arrangement.
If you need a portable machine, get a compact, lightweight one with pleasing aesthetics.
Resolution
Flaunt at least a laptop with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This is clear enough for daily use. If you are not going to be playing any games, then there is no need for a 4K resolution.
Operating System
Software efficiency depends largely on the OS your laptop uses. Mac OS, for instance, can run most applications without lag, Windows OS can be a great option if you need to install lots of third-party programs, while Chrome OS is only for Chromebooks and can run most Android apps.
Programmers will do better with DOS and UBUNTU because they are Linux based. Luckily, even these other famous OS can support coding.
Features
These largely depend on your preference. Do you need a touch screen? A laptop with a backlit keyboard? Bezel-less displays? It all depends on you. Other features include fast charging support, type of ports, fingerprint sensors, face recognition, to name but a few.
Battery
A good laptop can only do so much, but without a lasting battery, it can be quite frustrating. If you are dependent on heavy tasks, look for a sufficiently configured battery module.
FAQs
How much discount can I possibly get on a laptop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
The amount of discount offered on Black Friday Laptops varies from one dealer to another. You will get a discount ranging from 20% all the way up to over 80%+. For instance, Lenovo announced a whooping 80% OFF on a wide range of laptops for example:
- Lenovo ThinkPad x1 Carbon (Gen 8) selling at $1999.99 down from
$2,299
Some other players like Microsoft announced that the Xbox X series (1TB) will be selling at $499.99.
Are Black Friday Laptops Deals Worth It?
Yes, they are worth it. Black Friday deals are good because you get the discount directly from the vendors of the product. That means you will end up getting a quality product at a very low price. If you are on a budget and still need a laptop with premium features, then you don’t wanna miss the Black Friday and Cyber Monday laptop sales.
Whether you are looking for a gaming laptop or a business laptop, you will not miss a good fit on the day. And you really don’t have to wait until the 27th of Friday to get your machine. Most of the vendors like Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo, Microsoft, Apple, and many more have already started their Black Friday offers.
What is storage? Is it different from memory?
Storage and memory are two different things. Storage refers to the space used to store files such as documents, videos, and photos. It is a general recommendation that you buy a laptop with at least 128GB of storage so as not to run out of space.
What screen size do I need?
It depends on your needs. Most screens range from 11 to 13 inches, which can accommodate a good viewing experience. If you are work-oriented or are a gamer, a bigger screen, a 15 to 17-inch, will be appropriate.
How many ports do I need?
You will mostly need USB ports – including the newer USB-C ports – HDMI if you plan to connect your laptop to your TV, Ethernet for direct connection to your home internet, and a headphone/microphone jack.
Notably, ports serve different needs for different people. This should be considered.
What is a 2-in-1 laptop?
Simply put, it is a PC that carries both the features of a laptop and a tablet. It is also known as a convertible laptop. They can be detachable, while others can fold in 360 degrees.
What laptop brand is the best?
The popular brands are HP, Lenovo, and Asus. Personal preferences dictate the best brand, not to mention its purpose, the specifications, design, and the accompanying features.
Conclusion
The above buyer’s guide offers insightful information on what you should look for while hunting for a laptop this Black Friday. They cover the design, performance, screen resolution, and general specifications to make your hunt easier.
Ranging from 4K resolution to the 1080p, NVIDIA Graphics to the conventional types, and bezel-less screens to conspicuous ones, the above laptops are some of the best you can hunt for this Black Friday.
Retailers such as Amazon have already started early online deals with great discounts. This means that you can get your desired laptop at a reduced price.
Remember to bookmark this page for easy reference while searching for the best year-round deals on laptops.