Laptops can be a significant investment, but you can ease the financial burden by timing your purchase to coincide with major sales events. Even if you're eyeing the latest models in 2025, there are specific times throughout the year when you can snag a great deal. With President's Day sales approaching, let's explore the best times to buy a new laptop annually.
For the Best Time to Buy a Laptop in 2025, Keep in Mind:
- Big Sales Events: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Prime Day
- Back to School Timing
- New Hardware Releases
Black Friday / Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are prime times to purchase a laptop, offering more than just doorbuster deals. New laptop hardware typically launches at the beginning of the year or around October, which means older models see significant discounts. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy aim to clear their shelves for new arrivals, making last-gen laptops an attractive option. You might not get the newest model, but with potential savings of 20-30% off the original price, it's a compelling choice.
For instance, MacBooks often receive discounts shortly after new models are released, even though Apple's products are typically the last to see price reductions. Black Friday falls on November 28 in 2025, with deals starting as early as late October, right after Amazon's October Prime Day event.
Amazon Prime Day
Amazon's Prime Day is another opportunity to find laptop deals, though they may not be as robust as Black Friday. Prime Day is excellent for snagging affordable Chromebooks, which are already budget-friendly and see further price cuts. Prime Day 2025 is expected around mid-July, similar to last year's timing.
October Prime Day
Amazon's second Prime Day event in October offers similar discounts but with fewer laptop deals than Black Friday. It's still a worthwhile consideration if you're looking for a fall purchase.
Other Sales Events
Beyond Black Friday and Prime Day, retailers often discount tech items during holidays like President's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the Fourth of July. Keep an eye out for these events, as they can offer significant savings on laptops.
If You Want the New Hotness
If you're after the latest and greatest laptop, keep an eye on announcements from Nvidia, Intel, or AMD. New laptop hardware was unveiled alongside CES 2025, focusing on AI assistants and Mini-LED displays. For gaming laptops, next-generation graphics, like Razer's RTX 5090 lineup, are particularly noteworthy.
Stay updated with tech news to catch the release of new hardware, including Intel's U-series processors, which often arrive unexpectedly throughout the year.
New Hardware Can Lower Prices, Kind of
When new laptop hardware is released, it immediately reduces the price of last-generation models. While it might seem disappointing to buy a slightly older model, the incremental improvements between generations are minimal. For example, a 13th-gen Intel laptop remains highly capable even after the 14th-gen release. This strategy is effective for buying both regular laptops and MacBooks, especially when new MacBook models hit the market, flooding used marketplaces with discounted older models.
Top Affordable Laptops to Choose From Right Now
If you can't wait for a sale or new model release, consider these budget-friendly options from our laptop buying guides:
Dell XPS 13
If you don't want to splurge on a MacBook, the Dell XPS 13 is an excellent alternative.
$999.00 See it at Dell
Asus TUF Dash 15
For a gaming laptop under $2,000, the Asus TUF Dash 15 is a great budget choice.
$1,149.99 See it at Amazon
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
One of the best detachable laptops, we recommend the model with Microsoft's ARM-based SQ 3 processor.
$1,399.99 See it at Best Buy
Apple MacBook Air M2
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is ideal for everyday use.
$1,665.00 See it at Amazon
