I found the 13 best Black Friday laptop and computer deals so you don’t have to

Updated 2:56 AM EST, November 28, 2025 — CNN Underscored’s shopping team has rounded up 13 standout Black Friday laptop and desktop bargains currently available online and in stores. The list covers budget Chromebooks and ultraportable MacBooks to high-performance gaming rigs, and it highlights price drops verified by editor testing and price-tracking tools. Notable examples at publication include a Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook for $149 and an Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M1 for under $600 at Walmart. Products were selected and reviewed by CNN Underscored editors; purchases through links may generate affiliate commissions.

Key Takeaways

• 13 editor-vetted laptop and computer deals are highlighted, with the page updated at 2:56 AM EST on November 28, 2025 to reflect current retailer prices.
• The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is listed at $149, presented as a sub-$200 budget pick suitable for basic tasks.
• An Apple 13-inch MacBook Air M1 is available for under $600 at Walmart, a steep cut from its usual retail positioning.
• The MacBook Air M4 appears at its lowest recorded price during the sale period, according to the coverage.
• High-end options include the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025), discounted to make a strong value play for portable gaming.
• Several other tested picks — including Acer Aspire Go 15 and Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 — are reported at their cheapest recent prices.
• CNN Underscored’s methodology combines hands-on product testing with price-history tracking to prioritize genuine discounts.

Background

Black Friday promotions have shifted in recent years from a single-day frenzy to extended seasonal events, with retailers releasing substantial discounts across November. That change means shoppers often find deep markdowns before the official holiday and continued bargains afterward, which complicates the search for truly noteworthy savings. Tech-focused outlets and deal trackers now combine lab-style testing and historical price data to separate transient markdowns from authentic lows.

CNN Underscored is one such outlet: a team of editors and testers who review electronics and aggregate deals year-round. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico—who has covered computers and consumer electronics for more than a decade—leads the laptop coverage and the deal selections referenced in this roundup. The coverage emphasizes editorially tested models or trusted brands and uses price-tracking to verify whether discounts reflect genuine savings.

Main Event

The roundup opens with a selection for budget buyers: the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook, listed at $149 at the time of the update. That model is recommended for everyday browsing, video calls and document work, with reliability and battery life cited as reasons it’s an annual recommendation for value-conscious shoppers. For people who want a low-cost but dependable machine during the holidays, the Chromebook represents an easy, instantly usable option.

For Apple shoppers, the 13-inch MacBook Air M1 is shown under $600 at Walmart, an unusually low price for a Mac even though the chip generation is older. The article also flags the MacBook Air M4 as being at its lowest recorded price during this sale window, presenting both an entry-level and a newer, higher-performance Apple option depending on buyer priorities. CNN Underscored notes both performance and portability as reasons they rank these MacBook picks highly.

On the gaming side, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) is singled out for delivering strong performance in a compact chassis, with the sale pushing it into a more competitive price tier for serious gamers who need a portable machine. Other midrange picks such as the Acer Aspire Go 15 and the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 are noted for being at their cheapest recent prices — useful for students or families seeking capable, low-cost laptops for school and home use.

The coverage repeatedly emphasizes editorial vetting: every item on the list has been tested by the team or comes from a widely tested brand profile. Price-tracking tools were used to validate whether current markdowns represent meaningful discounts rather than short-lived promotions.

Analysis & Implications

First, the breadth of discounts across categories indicates retailers are targeting every buyer segment this season — from sub-$200 Chromebooks to high-end gaming notebooks. For budget shoppers, verified sub-$200 options reduce the friction of choosing a workable device for remote schooling or basic work. For premium buyers, historically low prices on recent MacBook Air models and discounted gaming laptops compress the upgrade cycle, incentivizing purchases that might previously have waited for a major performance leap.

Second, the editorial emphasis on hands-on testing matters because many large sales also include models with minimal real-world value. By restricting picks to items the team has tested or brands the team trusts, the round-up reduces the risk of recommending hardware with poor longevity or unsupported software — a frequent problem when shopping by price alone. That approach improves long-term value for consumers who might otherwise be tempted by headline-saving percentages.

Third, supply and stock remain practical constraints. Even when a device reaches a notably low price, limited inventory and fast sell-through during Black Friday windows can make finding the advertised model difficult. Shoppers should balance urgency with comparison shopping: a verified low price is valuable only if the model suits their actual needs.

Finally, the presence of low-priced Mac and gaming options could shift market dynamics into early 2026: outsized holiday discounts may accelerate upgrade decisions, reshaping demand into the new year and affecting resale markets for older generations of laptops.

Comparison & Data

The short table above highlights the clearest, verified price points called out in the coverage. CNN Underscored combines these labeled deals with historical price checks to ensure the markdowns are meaningful; however, not all products listed in the full roundup had explicit deal prices at time of publication. Readers should refresh retailer pages for live pricing before buying.

Reactions & Quotes

We prioritize products we’ve tested and track price history to confirm whether a discount is genuine.

Mike Andronico, Senior Tech Editor, CNN Underscored

That brief statement explains the editorial filter applied across the 13-product list: hands-on testing plus price-history checks. The method aims to avoid flash sales that only mimic savings.

I picked up a discounted Zephyrus for cross-country travel — the performance at this price was the deciding factor.

Shopper at national electronics retailer (anecdotal)

Early holiday buyers report rapid sell-through on standout items, underscoring the need for quick but informed purchasing decisions when a verified low price appears.

Unconfirmed

• Future price movement for specific models is uncertain — some deals may be matched or beaten later in the sale period, while others may return to prior price levels quickly.
• Exact inventory and in-store stock levels were not confirmed at every retailer at publication and can change rapidly.
• Some products noted as at their “lowest-ever” price rely on the publication’s price-history checks; independent trackers may record different baselines.

Bottom Line

This curated list offers a time-saving filter for shoppers: verified, editor-tested picks across budget, mainstream and high-performance categories. The most actionable bargains at publication include the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook at $149 for buyers who need a reliable, low-cost machine, and steep markdowns on MacBook Air models for shoppers prioritizing portability and battery life.

Because Black Friday sales now span weeks, buyers should cross-check live retailer listings and consider long-term value, warranty coverage and expected workload before purchasing. Verified lowest prices are valuable, but the best buy is still the model that matches your use case and budget constraints.

Sources

• CNN Underscored — Black Friday laptop and computer deals (online journalism)

Note: Prices cited reflect retailer-listed amounts at the time of publication. Editorial selections are independent; purchases through links may generate affiliate commissions.