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]

Check Ben’s for the latest Wireless Headphone deals

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

If you’re shopping for a new premium laptop this holiday season, you’ll discover that the “one size fits all” laptop is less common while niches have become the trend. There are 2-in-1 laptops (like the Lenovo Yoga), hybrid tablet/laptops (like the Surface Pro), gaming laptops, desktop replacement beasts, ultrabooks, fancy Chromebooks and, of course, Macs.

Intel’s 8th Generation Core processors (aka Coffee Lake) have made their way onto many higher end laptops just in time for the holidays. Just don’t expect Apple to join that game until the spring.

Our picks from last year could all easily be on this list again in their 2017 iterations. Let’s briefly review them because they’re still worth considering:

• Dell XPS 13 [starting at $800 | shop Dell]
• HP Spectre X360 [starting at $1200 | shop HP Store]
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (5th Gen) [starting at $1376 | shop Lenovo]
• Microsoft Surface Book 2 [starting at $1499 | shop Microsoft Store]
• MacBook Pro with Touch Bar [starting at $1799 | shop Apple Store]

Now let’s take a look at 5 more premium laptops that are ready to join that esteemed lineup in 2017.

Microsoft Surface Laptop

Pros: Free Windows 10 Pro (before 12/31/17), Small footprint; Cons: Windows 10 S pre-installed, Only 7th Gen right now | MSRP: starting at $999

Click Here to Buy at Microsoft Or Search Ben’s for Surface Laptop Deals

Think of the Surface Laptop as the cool cousin of last year’s pick, the Surface Book. Introduced in 2017, the Surface Laptop is aimed directly at students rather than professionals, and Microsoft is clearly trying to pry them away from their MacBooks.

The Surface Laptop is still a premium laptop with premium specs and price tag, but its most controversial and talked-about “feature” is the Alcantara fabric around the keyboard. It’s been compared to the carpet in cars and it’s the most noticeable thing about the laptop when you first see it.

The next thing you notice is how light (2.76 lbs.) and thin (0.57”) it is and how small the footprint is for a 13.5” laptop (12.13” wide). Open up the lid and you see a gorgeous 2256 x 1504 (201 PPI) display with ultra-thin bezels.

Base specs are a 7th gen Core i5 processor, 4GB memory and 128GB SSD. If possible, bump up to 8GB memory and 256GB SSD (for another $300), but decide before you buy, because you can’t upgrade later. It comes in 4 colors, but annoyingly the more attractive colors like Cobalt Blue are only available at the higher $1299 price point.

Also annoying: the Surface Laptop comes pre-installed with the walled-off Windows 10 S. The good news is you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free by the end of 2017. Don’t forget to do that!

Asus Zenbook 13 (UX330UA-AH55)

Pros: Best ultrabook value on the market, 8th Gen CPU; Cons: No touchscreen option, Wide bezels | MSRP: $749

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for ASUS Zenbook 13 Deals

The ASUS Zenbook UX330UA-AH55 proves you can get a premium ultrabook for well under $1000 without sacrificing build quality or specs. If you plan to spend over $500 on a laptop, this is probably the best value on the market.

ASUS has updated the Zenbook 13 for 2017 with a new 8th generation chip while still keeping the list price at $749. Last year’s 7th Gen Core i5 model (UX330UA-AH54) has been as low as $630 on Ben’s Bargains (currently $699 on Amazon).

The Zenbook 13 has an amazing price when you get a Core i5-8250U processor, full HD display, aluminum alloy unibody chassis, 256GB SSD, backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader and USB-C Gen 1 port all in a half-inch thin package weighing about 2.5 pounds. There also three standard USB 3.0 ports so you don’t have to worry about adapters.

You can spring for the 3200 x 1800 display with the 7th Gen Core i5 processor for only around $760 on Amazon. Decisions, decisions!

ASUS has paid a lot of attention to the details, but there are some issues like lack of upgradeability (pretty standard for ultrabooks these days), no touchscreen option and bezels that are about 5 years behind the times. It also really looks like the (now-dated) MacBook Air, but maybe you’re OK with that.

Lenovo Yoga 920

Pros: Beautiful design, Ultra-thin, 8th Gen CPU; Cons: Active Pen 2 not included | MSRP: starting at $1230

Click Here to Buy at Lenovo Or Search Ben’s for Lenovo Yoga 920 Deals

In 2017, Lenovo upgraded its flagship 2-in-1 with 8th gen Intel processors and new “far-field” mics for use with Cortana from as far as 12 feet away, much like an Amazon Echo. The Yoga 920 keeps the unique, attention-getting watch band-style hinge of its predecessors.

The base model is frequently discounted on the Lenovo online store and will get you the Core i5-8250U processor, full HD touchscreen display, 256GB SSD and 8GB memory. It unfortunately doesn’t include the new Lenovo Active Pen 2 ($60), which behaves similarly to a Wacom pen. Of course, shell out a lot more money and you can upgrade to more powerful specs with 4K UHD display, Core i7 and 1TB SSD.

For Star Wars aficionados, the Yoga 920 will also be available in December in Rebel or Imperial Gorilla Glass cover designs (already available for the Yoga 910, which we’ve seen on Ben’s for as low as $930)

Despite all the metal and glass, it’s still just a shade over 3 lbs. and a mere 0.55” thin and remains one of the more stunning laptops out there, this side of the HP Spectre.

Dell Alienware 13 R3 (OLED)

Pros: Great display, Powerful specs; Cons: Awkward design, Short battery life (5 hrs.) | MSRP: starting at $2230 (OLED)

Click Here to Buy at Dell Or Search Ben’s for Alienware 13 R3 Deals

The redesigned Alienware 13 R3 hit the market this year as the first gaming laptop with an OLED display, and the 2560 x 1440 touchscreen is a beauty to behold.

The Alienware 13 R3 has also got a big, ahem, rear end because Dell moved the heatsinks behind the screen and used what’s called a “hinge-forward” design (about 1.5 inches forward). It allows the overall laptop to be under an inch (0.87”). While it’s relatively small for a gaming laptop,  it’s still pretty chunky at nearly 6 lbs. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but let’s just say this machine is, uh, super, super boxy.

The VR-ready OLED model is packed with powerful specs: a 7th Gen Core i7 Quad-Core processor with 6GB GTX 1080 discrete graphics, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. You can easily get smooth video at 30 fps but not necessarily at 60 fps. Extra bling: there are four customizable keyboard lighting zones and even a backlight for the trackpad.

Apple MacBook 12 (2017)

Pros: Improved 2nd-Gen Butterfly Keyboard; Cons: High starting price, No Touch ID, One USB-C port | MSRP: starting at $1299

Click Here to Buy at Apple Store Or Search Ben’s for MacBook (2017) Deals

In its third iteration, the vanilla MacBook gets its biggest change in the form of an improved keyboard. The controversial “flat” keyboard has been replaced with one that has more tactile response—a good move by Apple that should convince some potential buyers who’ve been on the fence.

For years, MacBooks have been market leaders in terms of design and build quality, but in 2017 it does feel like the competition (such as Microsoft’s Surface Line) is catching up in those areas. Still, if you live and breathe in the Mac ecosystem and don’t need the serious muscle that the Pro series provides, the MacBook is really your only portable choice and you’ll probably enjoy using it more. The MacBook Air sadly now feels like a relic.

The base model with a Kaby Lake Core m3 CPU starts at $1299, which seems high considering the comparable $1299 Surface Laptop configuration has a Core i5 processor, but if you’ve worked with Macs long enough, you’re obviously willing to make that tradeoff.

With the Macbook 2017, you’re getting a delightfully lightweight (2 lbs.), half-inch slice of minimalist aluminum tech goodness that will warm the cockles of your Apple-lovin’ heart.

2017 Gift Guide: Best, Most Lustworthy Laptops

God, expressing yourself is so tiresome! Picking out clothes, refining your tastes, forming opinions… We wish we were born in the 50s when everyone was the same. Where’s the shortcut to showing the world who you are? Where’s the quick avenue to demonstrating the kinds of things you’re into, in a creative way, and without speaking? How else is that cute girl at the coffeeshop going to know you’re cool?

(It’s not like you’re going to go over and talk to her! Are you reading this at the coffeeshop? Is she here? Just do it! Do it right now, today! Just go and say hi and ask her a question about what she’s doing! The shame of getting rejected is worse than the shame of not taking a shot!)

If you use your Macbook everywhere, that’s a good start to having an identity — Macbook people are a new personality type in this day-and-age. But they vary, and while most like comics and video games, which comics and video games, is the better question.

So here’s a list of 7 Macbook Covers to Impress the Cute Girl at the Coffeeshop. You can peruse the samples we gave, or maybe it’ll inspire you to find the one that’s just you. Because that cute girl knows nothing about you, and it’s not like you’re going to go over and introduce yourself, anyway.

(You’re not, are you? Go ahead, prove me wrong! I dare you! If logic won’t get through to you, maybe taunting will!) 

David Bowie in Labryinth Decal

David Bowie is Bill Murray-esque in that he can do wrong. It doesn’t matter if he’s writing songs that make us feel things or prancing around with a bunch of muppets as the Goblin King – either way, he knocks it out of the park. This David Bowie in Labyrinth Decal is sure to get you a lot of compliments… but be prepared to explain to the kids that it’s not some gay pirate.

Check Amazon for David Bowie in Labyrinth Decal

Iron Man 2 Decal

Iron Man is the new Batman. The titular role of Marvel’s most popular movie franchise translates well to other mediums… like the front of your Macbook. Good use of the glow!

Check Amazon for Iron Man 2 Decal

Magritte’s Son of Man Decal

You just can’t fake classic art, and Magritte’s Son of Man Decal is the surreal deal! Show off your artistic side by knowing what a Magritte is.

Check Amazon for Magritte’s Son of Man Decal

Lakitu Cloud Decal

While there’s no shortage of Mario Bros. decals, this one is our favorite. It’s amazing how a simple, pixelated smiley face can make almost anything part of the Mario Bros. universe.

Check Amazon for Lakitu Cloud Decal

Snow White Decal

Hands-down best use of the apple, and also something for the ladies. (Don’t think because you’re a girl, you’re exempt from approaching that cute guy at the coffeeshop! This is the 21st century, women make the first move, too! He wants you to talk to him!)

Check Amazon for Snow White Decal

Michael Jordan Decal

Haters gonna hate, but the man revolutionized the game. There can be only one “Best.”

Check Amazon for Michael Jordan Decal

Giving Tree Decal

And this is what it’s all about – a sentimental reminder of our childhood innocence, invoked by a sticker on a computer. Oh poor, trusting Giving Tree… we never would have cut you down if you were our tree. Just the thing to show people you’re all sensitive and crap.

Check Amazon for Giving Tree Decal

7 Macbook Covers to Impress the Cute Girl at the Coffeeshop

With summer’s superhero blockbusters upon us, I find myself daydreaming about superpowers (and muscular men in tight suits). While I can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound or create an iron suit that gives me superhuman abilities, I can type pretty fast. 100 words a minute may not save any lives, but it’s super, right? I’m celebrating my mediocre superpower by putting this Macbook Keyboard Super Hero Skin, from Killer Duck Decals, on my computer.

For a mere $12, spend your time in front of the computer with representations of everyone from Apocalypse to Joker to Punisher to Zorro.

Superhero Skin Makes Your Macbook Keyboard… Super!