Using data we’ve accumulated over the year on Ben’s, we’ve found the most popular laptops and determined what prices you can expect to find them during Black Friday shopping season this year.

We broke down laptops into 6 segments:

1. Chromebooks: these cheap laptops have been very popular for bargain shoppers and students alike;
2. Budget PC laptops: the prices are usually under $500 but have older specs;
3. Mid-range PC laptops: newer and better specs and prices can creep up to the $1000 mark;
4. Premium PC laptops / workstations: retailing for over $1000, have the latest specs and are the thinnest and lightest laptops;
5. Macs: the M1 chip has made the Mac a big seller; and
6. PC gaming laptops: this niche category has really taken off in the last few years as manufacturers have managed to slim down their machines while still offering robust gaming-quality specs.

Laptop models tend to have a short retail lifespan, but that’s been worsened by the supply chain issues, due to the number of different parts involved in making laptops (like chips and displays). We’ve tried to stick to models that you can still find and are not closeouts.

Take note of your favorite models below and set a deal alert on Ben’s to get a jump on the lowest prices of the holidays!

Chromebooks

Google Chromebooks have really come into their own lately and are star players on Black Friday, with prices sometimes approaching the coveted $100 mark (or even lower).

1. Lenovo Chromebook S330 14″ MTK Quad-Core 32GB (2018): Walmart posted this old, barebones 1366 x 768 laptop for just $99 in October (impressive for the 14-inch class). Expect that price to make one last hurrah come Black Friday. [Walmart]
2. Acer Chromebook 512 12″ Celeron Dual-Core 32GB (2021): This “ruggedized” laptop with a spill-resistant keyboard has the popular 3:2 aspect ratio. It has hit $129 a few times this year and that’s the price to watch for in the coming weeks. [Best Buy]
3. Samsung Chromebook 4 11.6″ Celeron N4000 32GB (2020): Walmart priced this for a mere $87 in one of its Early Access Black Friday sales in early November. The question is if it will come back for a second round, because currently it’s out of stock. [Walmart]
4. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 11.6″ 2-in-1 MTK Quad-Core 64GB (2020): This sleeker 2-in-1 Chromebook has recently appeared in Woot! sales from $140 to $150. Expect to see its price tag creep down below those prices in November and December. [Amazon]
5. HP 11A-NB0013DX Chromebook 11.6″ Dual-Core 32GB (2020): Best Buy is certain to roll out this well-reviewed little laptop for $99 again. [Best Buy]

Budget PC Laptops

Budget PC laptops usually make some compromises with older specs and build quality to stay under $500. Dell has been very popular in this category on Ben’s for years.

6. Gateway GWTN156 15.6″ FHD / Ryzen 5 3450U / 16GB RAM / 256GB SSD (2021): This Gateway branded laptop (made for Walmart by Bmorn Technology in China), has hit $349 several times. Pretty good price for those specs, but right now most colors are out of stock except purple. [Walmart]
7. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 15.6″ FHD / 11th Gen Core i3 / 4GB RAM / 128GB SSD (2021): It’s currently on sale for $300, the Black Friday price. If you miss it, Dell will repeat this sale a few times in November and December. [Dell]
8. Lenovo Ideapad 5 15.6″ FHD / 10th Gen Core i5 / 512GB SSD (2020): These aren’t budget specs, but it’s gone down as low as $450 at Office Depot. It’s been several months since we’ve seen that price, but this model is still being sold at Office Depot and it could get close to that low price again for Black Friday. [Office Depot]

Mid-Range PC Laptops

Deals on mid-range laptops are usually found in the $500 to $700 range and are most popular among consumers.

9. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12.4″ Touch / 10th Gen Core i5 / 128GB SSD (2020): Currently selling for $550 at Best Buy, this quality touchscreen laptop has a sharp 1536 x 1024 display. We’ve seen it as low as $532 at Office Depot and that’s the price to aim for around Black Friday. [Best Buy]
10. Dell XPS 13 (9305) 13.3″ FHD / 11th Gen Core i5 / 256GB SSD (2021): This always highly rated laptop is currently on sale for the barnburner Black Friday price of $637. Plus, select American Express cardholders can get a $120 statement credit with a purchase of $599+ at Dell (see Amex Offers & Benefit on your card account for more details). [Dell]
11. ASUS VivoBook 15 K513 15.6″ FHD / 11th Gen Core i7 / 512GB SSD (2021): On sale again at its all-time low price of $580 at Office Depot, this one had solid specs (plus fingerprint reader). A good one to pick up at this price. [Office Depot]
12. Dell Inspiron 15 15.6″ FHD Touch / Ryzen 7 5700U 8-Core (2021): We’ve seen this touchscreen laptop for as low as $617 and expect it to get close to that price again after Nov. 15 when Dell rolls out its Black Friday sales. [Dell]
13. ASUS ZenBook 13 13.3″ FHD / 11th Gen Core i7 / 512GB SSD (2020): We haven’t seen this sleek laptop hit $750 for almost a year, but that’s what Black Friday is for, and it’s still in stock. [Office Depot]

Premium PC Laptops / Workstations

Typically retailing for over $1000, high-end laptops are usually the lightest and slimmest or are aimed at professional users.

14. Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 13.3″ FHD AMOLED / 11th Gen Core i7 (2021): Amazon had this ultra light (1.92 lbs.) and sleek (0.44″ thin) laptop on sale for $840 back in October (and the Core i5 model for $760). Keep an eye out for those prices in late November. [Amazon]
15. MSI Prestige 14 Evo 14″ FHD 11th Gen Core i5 / 512GB SSD (2020): Weighing 2.62 lbs. and measuring 0.6″ thin, this laptop hit an all-time low of $599 on Amazon for a hot minute back in August. It’s more likely to be at $699 in November and December, but you just might see another quickie flash sale under that price. [Amazon]
16. Dell Vostro 5510 15.6″ FHD / 11th Gen Core i7 / Win Pro (2021): Aimed at professional users, this laptop has been on sale for as low as $649. Look for this price after Nov. 15 when Dell rolls out its Black Friday sales. Plus, select American Express cardholders can get a $120 statement credit with a purchase of $599+ at Dell (see Amex Offers & Benefit on your card account for more details). [Dell]
17. Dell Latitude 3420 14″ FHD / 11th Gen Core i7 / Win Pro (2021): This workstation laptop has been as low as $836, and we expect to see it get close to that price again in November and December. [Dell]

Macs

In fall 2020, Apple introduced its Apple-made M1 SoC (System on Chip), and sales of Macs have soared.

18. Apple MacBook Air M1 13.3″ 8-Core CPU / 7-Core GPU / 256GB (2020): We saw it at an all-time low of $800 on Amazon in early November (normally $100 more). That’s the sale price to circle when the Black Friday sales begin, and Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video and Micro Center are the most likely places. [Amazon]
19. Apple MacBook Pro M1 13.3″ 8-Core CPU / 8-Core GPU / 256GB (2020): It’s currently $1100 on Amazon after a $99 checkout discount, which matches the all-time low price. If you miss that sale, Amazon and Best Buy are likely to hit that price point again in the coming weeks. [Amazon]

PC Gaming Laptops

Laptops in this category are tailored to their gaming users, with robust graphic cards, high display refresh rates and other features like RGB lighting.

20. Dell G15 15.6″ 120Hz FHD / 10th Gen Core i5 / 4GB RTX 3050 (2020): This affordable gamer has been as low as $650. That’s almost $200 off its usual price, but we should see something similar after Nov. 15. Plus, select American Express cardholders can get a $120 statement credit with a purchase of $599+ at Dell (see Amex Offers & Benefit on your card account for more details). [Dell]
21. GIGABYTE AERO 15 OLED 15.6″ 4K / 11th Gen Core i7 / 6GB RTX 3060 (2021): The best price we’ve seen is $1249 after a $100 rebate back in August. Newegg will likely repeat that promotion in late November or December. Alternatively, we’ve seen the 8GB RTX 3080 configuration (YD-73US624SP) go for as low as $1649 (after a $500 rebate). [Newegg]
22. Alienware m15 R5 15.6″ 165Hz FHD / AMD Ryzen R7 5800H / 6GB 3060 (2021): This well-regarded gaming laptop has been on sale for as low as $1180 at this configuration, and it should hit that price point sometime after Nov. 15 when Dell’s Black Friday sales begin. [Dell]

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2021 Gift Guide: Top Laptops and How Much You Will Pay For Them

With more and more working from home, chances are people want to pick up a new laptop for heavy-duty use or maybe a second laptop (apart from work) to stream movies, work on personal projects or play games.  (If you’re into gaming, check out our Favorite Affordable Gaming Laptops Guide.) 

Right now, “screen-to-body ratio” is a big thing (90% or higher is very desirable). As with TVs, consumers want thinner bezels and a smaller overall footprint. Can you squeeze a 15.6″ display into a traditional 14″ laptop size? How about a 14″ display into a 13.3″ laptop? (In addition, 16:10 screen ratios are becoming popular, as they offer more vertical depth than the ubiquitous 16:9.)

Apple pulled this move last year when it replaced its iconic 15″ MacBook with a new 16″ model that basically fit in the same body. 

Faster is always better, and this year Intel saw huge competition from AMD in the form of its affordable yet powerful Ryzen 4000 Series chips. Many felt AMD leapfrogged its main competitor in terms of performance.

This past week, Apple announced its own Silicon M1 SoC (System on a Chip), marking the end of its 15-year partnership with Intel for its computer processors. The M1 is based on Apple’s A14 Bionic chip found in the new iPad Air and iPhone 12.

Faster also meant faster Wi-Fi in the form of Wi-Fi 6, which adds a premium to the price but also promises much bigger bandwidth and ultrafast speed.

Lighter and thinner is the holy grail for laptops. While laptops weighing under 3 pounds are becoming more commonplace, we’re even seeing some under 2 pounds, but of course that’s going to cost you.

Lastly, due to the pandemic and the widespread use of Zoom and other video conferencing, the once neglected webcam is now making a comeback. However, manufacturers are obviously behind on this late-breaking trend, because most laptop cameras are still terrible. (720p, seriously?)

Below, we’ve put together some of the hottest laptops for the holiday season, including perennial favorites from Apple and Dell, popular models on Ben’s, and one very cutting edge machine. Watch for price drops and deals on Ben’s in the coming weeks (set deal alerts here)!

I’m a Mac

Apple Silicon M1 MacBook Air (2020)

Starts at $999 @ Apple Store Check Deals on Ben’s

Few have gotten their hands on the MacBook Air with the Apple Silicon M1 Chip, since it doesn’t even ship till the third week of November—or a week after this article is posted—but it’s poised to become the Mac highest on the wishlist of Apple fans.

The new M1 chip’s benchmarks have leaked to the press, and it’s already outclassing 11th Generation Intel Core i7 results. However, the new MacBook Air is fanless, which means that speeds will likely be throttled for cooling purposes. It also has a 7-core GPU (rather than the 8-core GPU found in the other M1 Macs), but that’s keeping the price at the sweet spot below $1k. The MBA is the low-end Apple laptop meant to appeal to the average consumer, and this year the price point and performance look to be just right.

I’m a PC

Dell XPS 13 (2020)

Starts at $980 @ Dell Check Deals on Ben’s

The Dell XPS 13 continues to be the top Windows laptop year after year by making subtle improvements with each new iteration. It now has a 91.5% screen-to-body ratio with “barely there” bezels that have more in common with sleek smartphones. Plus, there’s more screen real estate in its 13.4″ 16:10 display (vs. 16:9).

Many other premium touches abound, like the white woven glass-fiber wrist rest (or black carbon fiber), 0.58″ thin aluminum body, easy-to-open twin-coil hinged lid and larger keyboard and touchpad. Also, the XPS 13 still has great battery life at over 12 hours a charge (Full HD config).

Added bonus: the new 11th gen “Tiger Lake” Intel CPUs are now available in the XPS 13 (9310).

I’m a… Chromebook

Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2020)

Starts at $280 @ Lenovo Check Deals on Ben’s

One of the low-cost favorites on Ben’s, the little 10.1″ 2-in-1 Lenovo Chromebook Duet really outperforms its price point. It packs 10 to 11 hours of battery life, an aluminum alloy/plastic tablet body, bright 16:10 display, detachable keyboard, denim fabric rear cover (kickstand) and decent webcam in a total package under $300, and we’ve recently seen it as low as $229 for the 64GB model.

With keyboard and kickstand, the ultraportable Duet is a smidge over 2 pounds, making it a handy laptop/tablet that travels with you everywhere— airplane, coffee shop, wherever. It supports the use of Android apps (though the user experience is so-so) and plays well with Android phones (e.g. instant tethering).

I’m on a Budget

Acer Swift 3 Ryzen (2020)

$680 @ Amazon Check Deals on Ben’s

The affordable Acer Swift 3 Ryzen laptop uses the powerful Ryzen 4000 series processors, whose price-to-performance ratio have made them very popular among consumers.  You get a lot of premium laptop specs for the money: a svelte 2.7-pound aluminum-magnesium body, 14″ IPS display, fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard, USB-C, the new Wi-Fi 6 and good battery life of 8 to 10 hours. (The 720p webcam is just okay, like many laptop cameras.)

While the beastly octa-core Ryzen 7 4700U configuration sells for around $650, we’ve seen the also excellent Ryzen 5 4500U version under $500, which is a fantastic value.

I’m Really on a Budget

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (2020)

Starts at $450 @ Best Buy Check Deals on Ben’s

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a budget laptop aimed at a very broad audience. It’s available in multiple display sizes (14″, 15.6″ and 17.3″), various colors like “Abyss Blue,” touchscreen and non-touchscreen, and both 10th Generation Intel and AMD Ryzen processors. It’s very popular on Ben’s due to its affordable price and good performance.

As expected at its price point, some corners have been cut. There’s no USB-C, which is a bit surprising in 2020. The body is plastic, although it does sport a brushed metal appearance and you still get Lenovo’s distinctive 180-degree hinge. The 720p webcam is like other budget laptop cameras, i.e. not that good (though it does have a physical privacy shutter). Battery life is around 7 hours, about average for similarly priced laptops.

The price is where the IdeaPad 3 shines. We’ve seen the Full HD Core i7 17.3″ model for $550, the Full HD Ryzen 5 3500U 15.6″ model for under $400, and the 10th Gen Core i3 variant as low as $300.

I’m Flexible

Lenovo Flex 14 Ryzen (2020)

$600 @ Amazon Check Deals on Ben’s

Like the other lower-priced Lenovos on this list, the 2-in-1 Lenovo Flex 5 14 Ryzen is a popular laptop on Ben’s because of its excellent value. The 360-degree hinge allows you to flip the lid back for tablet mode, and the Lenovo Active Pen is included in the box. Battery life is very good: you can get 8 hours for a full day’s work.

The most popular configuration for $600 offers an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U mobile CPU, 16GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, backlit keyboard, fingerprint sensor and Full HD IPS touchscreen display. That display is also where the Flex 5 14 falls short—like a lot of laptops in this price range, its screen brightness is rated at 250 nits, and that results in a bit of a washed out or dim appearance in very bright environments. Overall, however, the Flex 5 is going to be a great 2-in-1 laptop for most users.

I’m a High Roller

HP Elite Dragonfly G2 (2020)

Starts at $1,779 @ HP Store Check Deals on Ben’s

The 2-in-1 HP Elite Dragonfly (Gen2) is an elegant, very pricey laptop for the type of user who travels business class. The display’s Privacy Mode (aka Sure View Reflect) prevents the guy in the next seat over from reading your screen while you sit back and enjoy selections from the wine list.

As you would expect from the name, the Elite Dragonfly is packed to the, uh, gills with other fancy features like: LTE or 5G compatibility, integrated Tile tracker, Sure Click (a browser security sandbox), very bright screen (850 nits), Bang & Olufsen 4-speaker system, mic mute button, 13 hours of battery life and a lightweight, blue magnesium alloy body.

So, about the price: models start at around $1,800, but if you want all the bells and whistles like Sure View and much, much more, configurations can run from $2,100 to the neighborhood of (gasp) $5,000.

I’m from the Future

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold (2020)

Starts at $2,499 @ Lenovo Check Deals on Ben’s

Early adopters, rejoice! Billed as the “world’s first foldable PC,” the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold has a 13.3″ plastic 2K OLED display that folds in the middle. On the outside, there’s a leather folio cover, giving the laptop the feel of a book when the display is closed.

The X1 Fold offers various innovative UI options: Type on the on-screen keyboard. Use the included Lenovo Fold Mini Keyboard, which magnetically attaches to the lower half of the display. Or flip open the display to its full dimensions, and use the keyboard in detached mode. Or you can use the Lenovo Mode Pen (also included), which slips into the side of the keyboard when done.

The wide bezels and plastic screen are the biggest giveaways this is a first gen product, but the foldable display is definitely a hint of things to come in the world of laptops.

The price for all this exciting new technology? Be prepared to spend $2,500 or more…

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