Save almost $300 on the Microsoft Surface Pro 7, plus more laptop deals this weekend
These are the best deals on cheap laptops this weekend (Nov. 6) ahead of Black Friday:
OUR TOP PICK: Microsoft Surface Pro 7 — save $260
BEST DISPLAY: Asus VivoBook 15 — save $182
BEST ON A BUDGET: Samsung Chromebook with Intel N3060 — save $226.50
What's better than a great laptop? A great laptop that's cheap. Nowadays, even budget machines can pack the punch to carry you through whatever's on your to-do list, whether it's work, watching Netflix, or endlessly browsing your go-to social media sites.
If you're looking to pick up a new laptop yourself but don't necessarily want to drop your life savings in one go, we'll be compiling a list of the best deals on cheap laptops right here, each and every week. So, take a look at what we found this time around, and happy shopping.
OUR TOP PICK: Microsoft Surface Pro 7 — $699
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is one of the best 2-in-1 devices you can find at this price. It's fast, versatile, and ready to go with you wherever you need to be. Pick one up at Best Buy for only $699 (that's $260 off the original price).
BEST DISPLAY: Asus VivoBook 15 — $497
If your priority is having a nice display on a budget, the Asus VivoBook 15 is a good choice. The anti-glare HD screen in conjunction with the nano-bezel design looks really great, and you can get one for only $497 at Amazon (was $679).
BEST ON A BUDGET: Samsung Chromebook with Intel N3060 — $272.50
If you're on a bit of a tight budget but still really need a laptop, this 11-inch Samsung Chromebook is a speedy and compact device that covers all the bases needed for basic daily use, and it's only about $300. Like Google's pricier Pixelbook Go, it's great for taking on the move — it just won't empty your wallet in the process.
MORE GREAT DEALS
Microsoft Surface Go — $522.93
The Surface Go is yet another great 2-in-1 laptop from Microsoft, sporting an even more compact design than the Surface Pro 7 that's made for taking on the go (hence the name). This is a bundle deal, so in addition to the Surface Go, you'll also get the Surface Pen and Microsoft Office 360 (and you'll save $20).
Acer Chromebook 715 — $379
The Acer Chromebook 715 is one of our favorite budget laptops on sale at the moment. It's sleek, elegant, durable, and is a great pick for doing basic tasks like web browsing, streaming, editing files, and more. For such a cheap laptop, it has a really nice battery life of 12 hours, plus a solid 1080p display.
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S: — $523
The Lenovo IdeaPad 330S is a super well-rounded laptop that's suitable for both work and play. It's got a killer display, speedy processor, ample and fast SSD storage, and maintains an impressive battery life. Grab one on Amazon and save yourself $76.
Explore related content:
The best blue light glasses for combatting digital eye strain
Black Friday and Cyber Monday Computer and Laptop Predictions for 2020 (from BestBlackFriday.com)
How to shop for a new laptop:
Choosing a laptop is entirely dependent on what you'll be using it for. Beginner laptop owners need something user-friendly and straightforward, frequent travelers need something light with a long battery life, designers and gamers need top-notch 4K graphics and quick central processors, and everyone needs something that will last.
The first thing you should do is ask yourself a simple question: PC or Mac? This is an important question, as it's going to make a world of difference in what you can and can't do with your computer. Are you a gamer? A video editor? A business professional? An Apple device owner? The answer to any of these will probably point you towards your final answer. If you're constantly buying the new iPhone every year, editing YouTube videos, recording a podcast, or other creative endeavors of the sort, your best bet may be a Mac laptop. Apple obsessives will be happy with their Mac's compatibility with their other Apple products, and everyone can benefit from Macs' propensity to have better virus protection than that of a PC.
That brings us to the perks of picking up a PC. You can still complete a number of creative projects on a personal computer, but where PCs really shine are their options for customization. PCs are much easier to upgrade part-by-part, as they aren't constrained to Apple-manufactured products (like Macs). And because there is a seemingly endless supply of PC manufacturers, there are a lot more options from what brand you chose, to the software you buy, to the type of graphics card you pick out for your gaming rig. Yes, gamers should always go the PC route — they are far more powerful than what a Mac laptop can handle, and also give you the option to connect VR headsets, if you're into that sort of thing.
What size laptop should you get?
This really comes down to two things: Personal preference and lifestyle. Personal preference is self-explanatory, really — do you like having a huge display, or do you prefer something more compact? Lifestyle is where practicality comes into play. If you're traveling often and usually have your computer on your back in some way, you're going to want to go with something more light and compact (thin, 11-inch models will most likely be the best). But, if you're a huge movie buff who doesn't normally take their laptop on the road with them, spring for a 15-inch (and higher) screen with a bulky construction so you can have epic Netflix and chill sessions. If you're getting a gaming laptop, you should probably "go big or go home," as well.
How much should you spend on a new laptop?
This is much more subjective, and at the end of the day, it's really going to come down to your budget. But, if money isn't the number one concern for you, you should really think hard about what you're going to use your laptop for. Need a device with lots of power under the hood and bountiful storage space? Aim for something in the $800 and beyond range. Only using your laptop to edit the occasional Google Doc? Then you can probably get away with spending way below the $500 mark. In other words, don't blow your savings if you don't need to. And if you're looking to go all out, meaning buying a laptop with every bell and whistle imaginable, you can get a monster of a machine for somewhere closer to $2,000. Why not.
Are cheap laptops worth it?
You know the old saying: You get what you pay for. But thanks to the technology boom of the last few decades, a cheap laptop can actually take you pretty far and won't break down immediately. It's all about knowing which one to select. Depending on what you use your laptop for the most, staying stingy might be your best option. Check out our roundups for the ones that we think are worth it — here are our favorite cheap laptop models under $500, and the best under $300.
What does it mean when a laptop is certified refurbished?
Don't let the words "refurbished" or "renewed" scare you away — these types of devices are usually perfectly viable options and can end up saving you a lot of money without sacrificing much of anything. A refurbished device, in its simplest terms, is a product that has been bought, but then returned for some reason. Notice that we didn’t necessarily say that it was returned due to some sort of fault on the device’s part. While that can certainly be true in some cases, it isn’t always. Oftentimes, a certified refurbished laptop never even left its original packaging. While yes, saving money is a huge benefit of buying a "refurb," it's far from the only reason to consider getting one. What's great about refurbished devices is that they undergo rigorous performance tests to ensure that they are still in good condition (sometimes more strictly than the stuff coming right off the production line). There's also a chance that any refurbished laptop you buy may have been so lightly used, that it could almost be considered brand-new (just way cheaper). We're big fans of buying refurbished gear for kids, especially when it comes to electronics. If you're shopping for a laptop for a kid who is under the age of 15, then refurbished is really the way to go. For kids of high school age and beyond who are a bit more careful with their digital gear, then a new laptop isn't as risky. Of course, it depends on the kid. Happy laptop shopping!
Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, laptops, fitness, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.
