Tech / Technology

Best laptop deals ahead of Black Friday: MacBooks, Dell Inspiron, Alienware, and more

Posted on:

Here’s a running list of the best laptop deals from top brands like Apple, Alienware, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Razer, and more as of Oct. 28.
a close-up of a woman in striped shirt typing on a 15-inch apple macbook air at a wooden counter

UPDATE: Oct. 28, 2023, 5:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest laptop deals, pricing, and availability.

A quick look at this week’s best laptop deals:
Best laptop deal under $300

Dell Inspiron 15 3520 (Intel Core i3-1215U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$299.99 at Dell.com
(save $80)

the Dell Inspiron 15

Best laptop deal under $600

Dell Inspiron 16 5635 (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$599.99 at Dell.com
(save $400)

the Dell Inspiron 16 5635

Best laptop deal under $900

Apple MacBook Air, 13.3-inch (Apple M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)

$749.99 at Amazon and Best Buy
(save $249.01)

the 13-inch m1 apple macbook air

Best laptop deal under $1,200

Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (Apple M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)

$1,049 at Amazon and Best Buy; extra $50 off for paid My Best Buy members
(save $250)

the 15-inch apple macbook air

Best laptop deal over $1,200

Alienware x14 R2 (Intel Core i7-13620H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$1,699.99 at Dell.com
(save $300)

the Alienware x14 R2

The only thing better than a great laptop is a great laptop that’s on sale. To help Mashable readers find their next computer, we’re compiling a running list of the best laptop deals across major retailers right here every week. From the latest Apple MacBooks to cheap Chromebooks for homework, versatile 2-in-1s for streaming and drawing, and premium gaming machines with a ton of horsepower, read on for our top picks as of Oct. 28 (categorized by price) — including a handful of early Black Friday laptop deals at Best Buy and Dell.

Best laptop deals under $300


the Dell Inspiron 15

Credit: Dell


Our pick: Dell Inspiron 15 3520

$299.99 at Dell.com (save $30)

Why we like it

This Dell Inspiron 15 features a 12th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a spec sheet we rarely see at this price point: Most cheap, entry-level PCs under $300 have dinky Intel Celeron N Series CPUs, 4GB of RAM, pokier eMMC flash storage, and 60Hz refresh rates. It’s down to $299.99 on Dell’s website (normally $379.99) during its Black Friday Sneak Peek sale — that’s a fantastic price for these specs.

More laptop deals under $300

Best laptop deals under $600


the Dell Inspiron 16 5635

Credit: Dell


Our pick: Dell Inspiron 16 5635

$599.99 at Dell.com (save $400)

Why we like it

Dell’s 16-inch Inspiron laptop also punches above its current price point with 16GB of RAM (up from the 8GB we typically encounter in models under $600), a whole terabyte of storage, and a peppy AMD Ryzen 7 7730U processor — it’s stellar for multitasking. We spotted it on sale for just $599.99 on Dell.com, which is 40% off its suggested retail price of $999.99.

More laptop deals under $600

Best laptop deals under $900


the 13-inch m1 apple macbook air

Credit: Apple


Our pick: Apple MacBook Air, 13.-inch (Apple M1)

$749.99 at Amazon and Best Buy (save $249.01)

Why we like it

The 13-inch MacBook Air from late 2020 nabbed a Mashable Choice Award upon release for its zippy M1 chip, quiet fanless design, and 18-hour battery life. We’re still recommending it three years later as the best budget MacBook, and right now you can buy its 256GB base model for $749.99 (normally $999) via Amazon and Best Buy. That matches its record-low Prime Day price from July, which has been holding relatively steady ever since.

Read Mashable’s review of the Apple MacBook Air (2020).

More laptop deals under $900

Laptop deals under $1,200


the 15-inch apple macbook air

Credit: Apple


Our pick: Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch

$1,049 at Best Buy (save $250); extra $50 off for paid My Best Buy members

Why we like it

This year’s 15-inch version of the M2 MacBook Air upgrades it with a slightly larger (but just as pretty) Liquid Retina display and two extra speakers (six instead of four). Best of all, it still only weighs about three pounds. Best Buy and Amazon both have the 256GB model marked down to its all-time low of $1,049 (normally $1,299), though the former shaves an additional $50 off for paid My Best Buy members as part of its Black Friday Early Access sale.

Read Mashable’s review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air.

More laptop deals under $1,200

Laptop deals over $1,200


the Alienware x14 R2

Credit: Alienware


Our pick: Alienware x14 R2

$1,699.99 at Dell.com (save $300)

Why we like it

The Alienware x14 R2 earned an Editor’s Choice Award from the experts at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable’s publisher, ZiffDavis), who deemed it “a near-flawless compact gaming laptop.” This especially beefy configuration comes equipped with a 14-inch QHD+ 165Hz display, a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 H-Series processor, 32GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics; it should be able to plow through demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield. You can snag it for $1,699.99 (down 15% from its $1,999.99 MSRP) when you order it directly through Dell’s website.

More laptop deals over $1,200

Tech / Technology

Best Dell deals: Discounts on top Dell 2-in-1 laptops, traditional laptops, and gaming laptops before Black Friday

Posted on:

For its Black Friday Sneak Peek sales event, Dell is offering some juicy discounts on 2-in-1 laptops, traditional laptops, and gaming laptops. Grab these offers while they last.
Three Dell laptops overlaid on a purplish background

It’s not Black Friday quite yet, but many retailers are already rolling out some juicy deals. If you’re in the market for a laptop, Dell currently has a Black Friday Sneak Peek sale you don’t want to miss. Here are all the best deals on Dell laptops (2-in-1, traditional, and gaming) that are available now.

Our top picks:
Best 2-in-1 laptop deal

XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop (12th gen Intel Core i7-1250U, 16 GB: LPDDR4x, 512 GB SSD)

$1,199 at Dell
(save $250)

XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop shown with stylus pen

Best traditional laptop deal

Inspiron 15 (12th gen Intel Core i3-1215U, 8 GB DDR4, 512 GB SSD)

$299.99 at Dell
(save $80)

The Inspiron 15 laptop from Dell with a photo of two smiling women on screen

Best gaming laptop deal

G16 gaming laptop (12th gen Intel Core i7-12700H, 16 GB DDR5, 512 GB SSD)

$799.99 at Dell
(save $450)

Dell G16 Gaming Laptop shot from a bird's eye view

Whether you’re looking for a laptop that handily converts into a touchscreen tablet, a budget option, or a gaming laptop, Dell offers a wide range of reliable, powerful PC laptops for your needs. Plus, Dell is currently hosting a pre-Black Friday sale with stellar markdowns on top laptops. Check out all the best laptop deals Dell currently has to offer, below.

Best 2-in-1 laptop deal


XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop shown with stylus pen

Credit: Dell


XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop (12th gen Intel Core i7-1250U, 16 GB LPDDR4x, 512 GB SSD)

$1,199 at Dell (save $250)

Why we like it

Dell’s XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop is a beaut. It has 3K resolution that gives its display vibrancy; a pair of high-res cameras that allow you to take great pics while also looking amazing on Zoom; and an ultra-light, ultra-thin frame that makes transporting the device from work and back again a piece of cake. In case you want to use it as a touchscreen tablet only, be sure to grab the XPS Stylus as an add-on to your purchase. If you’re only planning to type on the XPS, you can quickly attach a keyboard to its base and adjust the screen’s angle level.

More 2-in-1 Dell laptop deals

Best traditional laptop deal


The Inspiron 15 laptop from Dell with a photo of two smiling women on screen

Credit: Dell


Inspiron 15 (12th gen Intel Core i3-1215U, 8 GB DDR4, 512 GB SSD)

$299.99 at Dell (save $80)

Why we like it

The Inspiron 15 might be a basic laptop, but that doesn’t mean it lacks amazing specs. With an HD webcam, 120hz display (meaning the screen refreshes very, very fast on this laptop), and ComfortView software (which reduces blue light emission and thus spares your eyes), the Inspiron is sure to become your trusty work or study buddy. All of these features for less than $300 is quite a steal — one you certainly don’t want to wait until November to snag.

More traditional Dell laptop deals

Best gaming laptop deal


Dell G16 Gaming Laptop shot from a bird's eye view

Credit: Dell


G16 gaming laptop (12th gen Intel Core i7-12700H, 16 GB DDR5, 512 GB SSD)

$799.99 at Dell (save $450)

Why we like it

The G16 gaming laptop from Dell boasts a three-sided narrow border that actually allows it to fit a 16-inch display screen into its 15-inch frame. More screen to play on is always a major win, so get excited. The G16’s other thrilling features include its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics and Game Shift macro key, which, when activated, pushes fan speeds to their max and optimizes your gaming performance. In heated virtual world scenarios where every second counts, you need a trusty device that won’t crash if overloaded. This gaming laptop is the perfect solution.

More Dell gaming laptop deals