We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
-
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
-
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
-
Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.
-
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
Sales season is here, and if you’ve been on Amazon, Best Buy, or any other site that sells computers this week, you’ve probably noticed dozens of deals on laptop PCs that are cheaper than $500 or even $300. They’re tempting impulse buys, and I’ve actually recommended them here and there in the past. But the truth is, if you have a phone or tablet, or even if you’re only going to use them to browse the internet, there are probably better options out there. You can get a good computer for cheap, but as for those suspiciously inexpensive laptop PCs you’re seeing this week, here’s why that $300 deal probably isn’t worth it.
These PCs are old tech
As time marches on, even the simplest programs get more demanding to run. That’s a problem for these cheap laptop deals, because they already tend to be using pretty old tech by the time you get to them.
Scroll through Best Buy’s official list of inexpensive laptops, and you’ll find a lot of machines powered by Intel’s Celeron chips, which are low-power processors that were discontinued in 2023. Most are using the N4500, too, which is from 2021. On a human scale, that’s not too long ago, but time moves fast in the world of computers. As Microsoft continues to put AI features into even the base version of Windows, this chip is going to have a hard time keeping up, and the more bloat your computer has, the more lag you’ll see performing even simple tasks like opening files. In other words, your new purchase could be e-waste shortly after you get your hands on it.
What makes that worse is that, generally, Celeron is meant more for low-power corporate terminals than general consumer use. So on top of being old, if you want to do any kind of multitasking, you’re fighting an uphill battle.
But the chip isn’t even the biggest issue. The real problem here is RAM, or memory. This is short-term cache space your computer can use to help it run tasks in real-time, and if you’re a Chrome user, you’ve probably noticed that it’s gotten pretty RAM hungry as of late. It’s been a common complaint for decades, with the browser regularly eating over 1GB even during light tasks. That’s not so bad if you have the minimum 8-16GB that most computers come with these days, but these cheapo Black Friday deals are almost all topping out at 4GB. That doesn’t give you much headroom. Another blow for multitasking, but even if you only use your browser, don’t expect to open too many tabs at once.
You could use a more lightweight browser, turn on memory limits, or make use of hacks like suspending or preloading tabs, but no matter what you do, most developers aren’t making their apps, even web browsers, for machines with a 4GB limit anymore. And that’s an issue, because relying on browser-based applications is a great way to take strain off a weak computer, since it lets it shunt most of its processing to the cloud. Having so little breathing room for your memory puts a tight expiration date on your new purchase, aside from limiting how many tabs or extra programs you can open now.
Then there are matters of convenience, like resolution and battery life. These won’t affect performance, but they’ll probably be lower than you might expect. Usually, most monitors and televisions these days start at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, the bare minimum to be considered “Full HD.” But laptops like this one from HP and this one from Lenovo are just about half of that, so your image is going to be noticeably less sharp. Battery life, meanwhile, is usually quoted at about 10 to 12 hours, and while that’s not small, it is also about half of what you might get from a MacBook, Microsoft Surface Laptop, or even a more powerful generic laptop. Windows is a heavy operating system, and running it on weak specs in a machine that’s designed to be thin and light is going to draw a lot of power.
Are any of these issues death sentences? Not necessarily. If you understand that one of these machines might be a bit sluggish and won’t last you long, it could serve in a pinch. But you’re still probably going to have to replace it sooner rather than later, which could cost you more in the long run, while giving you a worse experience than just getting a nicer computer now would.
I understand that not everyone has the money to spend on a nice laptop now, though. But even if you need to cut costs, these laptops come with enough compromises that they’re far from being your best option, even at a low price point.
Chromebooks are the new cheap laptop
Part of what makes these cheaper laptop PCs viable at all is that they most rely on the internet for their productivity. Assuming you have the RAM to operate an internet browser, a cheap laptop can rely on the cloud for activities like watching videos, prepping spreadsheets, and increasingly, gaming. But if you’re just going to use your laptop as a portal to the internet, it might be better to ditch the heavy requirements of Windows and go for something lighter instead. Enter Chromebooks.
Introduced in 2011, Chromebooks run on ChromeOS, which is an offshoot of the much more lightweight Linux operating system. That means your laptop will be snappier even with less powerful specs, and while ChromeOS can come with some compatibility issues for more serious Windows programs, it does introduce compatibility with Android apps, and is just fine for browsing the web and lightweight tasks like word processing or making spreadsheets.
These advantages mean Chromebooks have started to replace more traditional budget laptops as of late, which is probably part of why these sub-$300 Windows machines are using such old tech. Chromebooks are used in schools, and because of Google’s support, they can promise a certain level of quality while keeping costs low.
Part of that is thanks to the Chromebook Plus certification program, which started in 2023, and has quickly gotten pretty popular. These Chromebooks are a little swankier, but still affordable compared to Windows machines, and have to offer a minimum of an Intel Core i3 12th gen or AMD Ryzen 3 5000 series chip, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 1080p webcam, and a 1080p screen. That loadout is a major improvement on the non-Chromebook deals listed above, and while there are still some new Chromebooks that aren’t Chromebook Plus certified, these are becoming few and far between. And even the non-Plus Chromebooks are likely still a better deal than a similarly priced Windows laptop, as they’ll have an easier time with their weaker specs thanks to ChromeOS.
Lifehacker sister site PCMag has a whole list of tested Chromebooks across various price ranges, but for a specific pick, I’d opt for the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, which is $300 for Black Friday, hits all those Chromebook Plus minimums, and has a generous 15.6-inch touch display. Or, if that’s a bit too large for you, you can pay $355 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514.
Tablets are becoming more like laptops
Tablets are becoming more and more like computers these days, which is why you might already have a good cheap laptop replacement kicking around, or could get one for cheap. That’s especially true if you’re a fan of Apple.
That’s because Apple recently released iPadOS26, and while it’s not a full replacement for a MacBook, it comes stunningly close. New with this update is the ability to run multiple windowed apps at once, complete with a menu bar, in a user interface that looks a lot like Apple’s full-blown computers. It’s even got the traffic lights in the top-left corner of your windows for minimizing them or taking them fullscreen.
You still lose out on a few niceties, like compatibility with the full array of apps offered on MacBook, as well as the Terminal and some external display support. But, if like on a Chromebook or cheaper Windows laptop, you mostly intend to work online, it could be a compelling and familiar solution for you. And the chips Apple puts in even its entry-level iPads are far stronger than Celerons.
Right now, you can get an 11-inch A16 iPad for $279 for Black Friday, although an official Magic Keyboard Folio for that will run you an additional $199. That takes this from being one of this article’s cheaper options to one of its priciest, but the iPad will work with any Bluetooth keyboard, so you could also opt for a cheaper third-party option instead. Here’s one for $24, although I haven’t tested it personally.
It’s also worth pointing out that, in addition to working with the A16 iPad, iPadOS26 is compatible several generations back across the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini, so you might already have a device that works with it. Before buying a new, cheap, and probably less powerful laptop, try using your iPad like a tablet and seeing if that’s enough for you. If you’re giving a gift, a Magic Keyboard for an iPad your family member or friend already owns is probably going to get a warmer reception than a generic cheapo Windows laptop.
Most Android tablets, meanwhile, aren’t as functional here, but could still work for you, especially if you intend to use your tablet like a Chromebook. Here, you’ll probably need to rely on split-screen mode, which can place two apps side by side, although the specifics might vary depending on your device. Using a tablet as your cheap laptop is likely a better choice for iPad users, but again, it’s worth playing around with what you already have before buying a laptop that’s probably going to be sluggish and frustrating anyway.
Just use your phone
Finally, the elephant in the room: Why are you buying a weak, cheapo laptop when you probably already have a phone in your pocket that’s ten times more powerful?
The answer is probably that you need a big screen or a laptop-like interface, but I’ve got some good news for you. There are ways to use your phone for that without paying for a new, worse device.
The most obvious of these is Samsung DeX, a desktop-like interface built into most Galaxy phones. Simply connect your Galaxy phone to an external monitor (you can do this with a cable or wirelessly via Miracast) and launch DeX from either the Settings app or the swipe-down Quick Settings panel.
From there, you’ll see a similar interface to Windows, ChromeOS, or MacOS, and you’ll be able to open apps in multiple windows and freely resize them or move them around. It’s a lot like what’s available in iPadOS 26, and because your Galaxy device is probably running a recent flagship processor and definitely has at least 8GB of RAM, it’s going to be snappier than that cheap laptop would.
You can also connect wireless or USB-C accessories like keyboards and mice, and if you need more than one wired connection, hubs and docking stations work, too. This will make it easy to use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl/Cmd + Enter, which will take you right to the home screen if you ever get lost. However, you don’t need an external keyboard or mouse to use DeX—your phone can also act as a keyboard and trackpad combo.
This versatility means you might already own a “budget laptop” that’s going to be way stronger than anything you can buy on the cheap. Compatibility goes back to the S8, so it’s worth checking your drawers if you’ve ever been a Samsung customer.
If you’re not a Samsung user, though, you’ve still got some options. Now that the iPhone uses USB-C, most smartphones now support some type of external monitor connectivity, for both mirrored and wired connections. It’s probably not going to be as natural to use as iPadOS 26 or DeX, but if you just need to get to a browser to access your Google Workspace, it’ll do. Here are a few ways to connect an iPhone to a monitor or TV, and the same for non-Samsung Androids.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
Does Apple do Black Friday?
Yes, Apple participates in Black Friday, though you may want to compare their sales with other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. Apple is offering an exclusive $250 gift card for eligible purchases, but so far, the best Black Friday sale on an Apple product is the M4 MacBook on sale for cheaper than ever.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
UploadVRDavid Heaney
UploadVRDavid Heaney
