The Best Time to Buy a Laptop (2023): Shop Smart, Save More

Laptop shopping can be overwhelming, with so many options and prices to consider. Is that $800 laptop actually a good deal, or are you overpaying?

The best time to buy a laptop is when deals and sales happen. Luckily there are optimal times of the year when laptops go on sale, and you can score big bargains.

In this article, we’ll explore major sales seasons, when new models are released, and insider strategies to save money.

With these tips, you can buy your next laptop – whether a budget Chromebook, gaming powerhouse, or MacBook – with total confidence you found a fantastic deal.

Let’s uncover the best times to buy your ideal laptop.

If you want to learn more details about the insider tips and the best times to buy laptops, be sure to read through the entire article!

Plan Around the Major Sales Holidays

First, let’s look at the major sales times that happen annually. These big holidays are your best chance to get a seriously discounted price on a laptop.

1. Black Friday and Cyber Monday

The Super Bowl of laptop sales is undoubtedly Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Taking place right after Thanksgiving, this is when retailers roll out their very best deals of the year.

It’s not uncommon to come across discounts ranging from a generous 20% to a whopping 30% or even more on popular brands and models.

In 2022, some of the top Black Friday laptop deals included:

• Lenovo Chromebook 3 for $79 (43% off)
• HP 15.6-inch Laptop for $249 (29% off)
• Dell XPS 13 Laptop for $749 (25% off)
• Dell XPS 13 for $849 (23% off)
• Apple MacBook Air M1 for $899 (10% off)
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 for $1,000 (23% off)
• Asus ROG Zephyrus 15.6 for $1,100 (32% off)
• Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro for $2,299 (8% off)

* Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, with Cyber Monday falling on the following Monday. But Black Friday deals tend to last for several days, spanning the whole weekend.

With major online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy leading the pack, your options for where to find these deals are extensive.

But they’re not alone. Walmart also comes forward with exciting offers, and laptop manufacturers like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Apple frequently join the fray with enticing deals of their own.

2. Back to School Season

As summer heats up and families begin to prepare for the upcoming school year, another golden window of opportunity opens for laptop shoppers: the Back to School season.

Typically spanning July and August, this period sees retailers vying fiercely for the attention of students and parents gearing up for the academic year.

To outshine their competitors, they roll out alluring deals and discounts, making it an excellent time to score a laptop deal.

With discounts applied not just to budget-friendly models but also to high-end laptops like MacBooks, there’s something to suit every need and budget.

In the heat of this retail competition, you can find deals around $100-$200 off the regular prices. In 2022, the Asus ZenBook Pro with RTX 3060 graphics was 50% off for just $1,299 during back-to-school sales.

Other top deals included:

• Dell Inspiron 16 5635 for $840 (20% off)
• Asus Vivobook 17X for $879 (12% off)
• Lenovo Yoga 7i for $549 (35% off)
• Lenovo Chromebook 3 for $79 (43% off)
• HP Envy x360 2-in-1 Laptop for $500 (40% off)
• Apple MacBook Air for $799 (20% off)
• Microsoft Surface Pro 8 for $900 (33% off)
• Dell XPS 15 Laptop for $1,399 (26% off)

Retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon, Dell, and even laptop manufacturers dish out many discounts. But that’s not all!

This is also an opportune time to add any laptop accessories and peripherals you need to your shopping cart, as items like monitors, keyboards, and headphones often join the discount party.

3. Prime Day

Prime Day is Amazon’s own massive sale event! Held annually in July, this 48-hour event has made its mark on the calendar as a serious contender for the best day to buy a laptop, rivaling the well-known Back-to-School sales in terms of discounts.

As a sales event exclusively for Amazon Prime members, Prime Day has swiftly become a shopping phenomenon. While it’s often compared to Black Friday for its flurry of deals, Prime Day has its own unique character.

It serves as a robust counterpoint to competitors, allowing Amazon to showcase an extensive range of laptops.

Chromebooks, in particular, often take center stage during Prime Day. The simplicity and affordability of these devices make them a popular choice for those on a budget or seeking a lightweight laptop for basic tasks

During Prime Day, you can often snag a Chromebook for an absolute steal, thanks to discounts that frequently reach 25-30%. However, the laptop deals on Prime Day are far from limited to just Chromebooks.

Whether you’re seeking an everyday-use laptop, a robust workstation, or a gaming behemoth, there’s a good chance you’ll find a significant discount on Prime Day.

For example, some of the best Prime Day laptop deals for 2022 were:

• HP 14-inch laptop for $150 (25% off)
• Lenovo Slim 3 Chromebook for $169 (47% off)
• Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for $500 (29% off)
• HP Victus 15.6-inch gaming laptop for $680 (24% off)
• Apple MacBook Air M2 for $1,199 (8% off)

While it’s true that Prime Day is only available to Amazon Prime members, this isn’t necessarily a barrier.

A clever shopper might time their free trial membership to coincide with Prime Day, gaining access to these discounts without an ongoing commitment.

New Model Releases

Navigating the world of laptop shopping can feel like finding your way through a maze with myriad choices and a wide range of prices.

However, knowing when to buy can tilt the odds in your favor, making it easier to snag a fantastic deal.

An often overlooked yet excellent opportunity to find value is during new model releases.

1. January/February

We see the first wave of these releases early in the year, typically around January or February. It’s no coincidence that this is when the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) takes place.

Held annually in Las Vegas, CES is the epicenter of tech innovation, where manufacturers flaunt their newest gadgets, laptops included.

The announcement of these shiny new models kickstarts a race among retailers to clear their shelves.

This need to make space for incoming inventory translates into discounted prices on previous-generation laptops, making the months of January and February a savvy shopper’s paradise.

2. Late Summer/Fall

The cycle repeats in late summer, around August or September, with a second wave of laptop releases. Much like the beginning of the year, retailers will begin trimming down existing stock prices to accommodate the new arrivals.

As a side note, tech enthusiasts should watch for announcements from Intel and AMD, the leading laptop processor manufacturers. The unveiling of a new chip is often the herald of an impending laptop refresh, a hint to potential buyers to ready their shopping carts.

The key to taking advantage of these release cycles is staying informed. Follow tech news, keep an eye on rumors about upcoming laptop models, and periodically visit manufacturers’ or retailers’ websites for clearance sales.

Remember that you’re hunting for a machine that suits your needs, not necessarily the newest one on the shelf.

For instance, if we turn back the clock to 2022, you could have scored:

• Dell XPS 13 (2022 model) for $749 (25% off)
• Apple MacBook Air M1 (2021 model) for $799 (20% off)
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022 model) for $900 (31% off)
• Asus ROG Zephyrus Gaming Laptop (2022 model) for $900 (36% off)
• Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro M2 (2022 model) for $1,909 (5% off)

Holiday Weekends Year Round

Another way to find a good deal on a laptop is to shop during holiday weekends. These are the times when retailers often run sales and promotions to attract customers who have some extra time and money to spend.

You can find discounts on laptops that are not as big as Black Friday or Prime Day but still worth checking out.

Memorial Day

This federal holiday, held on the last Monday of May, pays homage to the men and women who have given their lives while serving in the U.S. military.

As the unofficial start of summer, it’s an excellent opportunity to hunt for laptops fit for your summertime activities, be it travel, entertainment, or working remotely.

Independence Day

Independence Day celebrated on the fourth day of July, is another perfect time to get a head start on laptop deals. As the name suggests, it commemorates the birth of American independence.

This mid-summer holiday often sees discounts on laptops tailored for outdoor use, boasting long battery lives, bright displays, and sturdy designs.

Labor Day

Fast forward to Labor Day, and you have another window of opportunity. Falling on the first Monday of September, Labor Day recognizes the labor force’s vital contributions to the country’s progress.

With the unofficial end of summer and the start of a new school or work year, Labor Day deals are ripe, with laptops sporting fast processors, ample storage, and sleek designs.

Sometimes you can combine a laptop sale price with an additional rebate or promo code only valid during holiday weekends for extra savings. So keep major 3-day weekends on your radar for laptop deal hunting.

For a dash of inspiration, let’s turn the pages back to 2022.

• HP Pavilion 15 for $599.99 (40% off)
• Dell Inspiron 16 5635 for $840.00 (20% off)
• Dell Inspiron 2-in-1 for $899.99 (28% off)
• Asus ZenBook Pro for $1,299.99 (50% off)
• Acer Swift X for $803.91 (25% off)

Ongoing Ways to Save

Of course, you don’t have to wait for a specific time of the year to buy a laptop. There are ways that you can save money on laptops, as long as you’re willing to do some research and be flexible. Here are some of them.

1. Making the Most of Price Tracking Tools

Consider price tracking tools as your secret weapon for finding a good laptop deal. These nifty tools are akin to online sentinels, monitoring price changes and alerting you when the value of your desired product dips within your specified price range.

A deeper look into these tools can reveal more than just the current price; they can unveil the historical price movement of the product.

Popular choices among shoppers include:

• CamelCamelCamel is a site focused on Amazon pricing.
• Honey is a versatile browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupons and discounts when you shop online.
• Slickdeals is a website and app aggregating top deals on various products from different sources. You can browse by category, search by keyword, or follow specific deals.

Harnessing the power of these tools can help you strike when the price is right.

2. Choosing Refurbished or Used Laptops

Venturing into the territory of refurbished or used laptops can lead to substantial savings. Typically, their previous owners or retailers have repaired, returned, or resold these units.

They’re often more affordable than new laptops but still, function as expected. However, it’s important to note that with this route comes its fair share of considerations.

For instance, you may miss out on the original packaging, warranty, or accessories that come with new laptops, or there might be some uncertainty about the laptop’s past.

Therefore, it’s essential to ensure the seller’s reliability, the warranty’s validity, and the laptop’s overall condition and specifications before making a purchase.

3. Avoiding Unnecessary Features

Saving on laptops also extends to the consideration of what features you actually need. It’s easy to get drawn into the allure of high-tech features that, while impressive, might not be essential for your usage.

These could range from touchscreen capabilities, which can add unnecessary weight and power consumption, to high-end graphic cards that are primarily beneficial for intensive gaming or video editing.

And let’s not forget the optical drives – mostly redundant in this era of digital downloads. So, it’s always best to zoom in on the features that cater to your needs, eliminating unnecessary extras that do little more than ramp up the price.

Consider it as customizing your laptop, focusing on what’s essential for you, and saying no to the superfluous. Doing so ensures you get a laptop that’s perfect for your needs without breaking the bank.

Putting It All Together

As you can see, there are definitely optimal times to buy a laptop at a bargain price.

No matter what time of year you need to purchase a new laptop, apply deal-hunting strategies like price tracking, checking for refurbished models, checking our shared deals, and avoiding overspending on unnecessary specs.

Time your purchase right by watching for sales during peak deal holidays and when new models come out. With some strategic shopping, you’ll be sure to snag that new laptop at the best possible price.

Featured Deals

• MSI Thin GF63 Black Friday Deals 2023 – RTX Graphics for Less!
• MSI GE76 Raider Black Friday Deals 2023: Unreal Discounts
• Huge Acer Nitro 5 Black Friday Deals 2023: Don’t Miss Out!
• Unbeatable ASUS Gaming TUF F15 Black Friday Deals 2023: Don’t Miss!