Black Friday has officially arrived in the UK, bringing with it a wave of tempting laptop offers. For those seeking a new machine, this could be the perfect opportunity to secure a significant saving. However, navigating the sea of promotional noise to find genuinely good deals requires careful consideration and research.
How to Identify a Genuine Black Friday Laptop Bargain
Before committing to a purchase, it is crucial to understand what makes a laptop deal truly worthwhile. Many retailers promote offers that appear impressive but may not represent real value. The key is to look beyond the flashy marketing and examine the actual specifications and price history.
Processor power is often overemphasised. For everyday tasks like web browsing and office work, most modern AMD Ryzen, Intel Core, or Apple M-series chips from recent years are more than sufficient. High-end processors are only necessary for demanding workloads such as video editing or complex data analysis.
Memory and storage are critical considerations. While Windows 11 can operate with 8GB of RAM, opting for a minimum of 16GB ensures smoother performance and future-proofs your device against software updates. Storage is equally important, as many modern laptops do not allow for internal upgrades. A 256GB SSD might suffice for basic use, but for editing videos or storing large game libraries, 512GB or 1TB is a wiser investment.
The quality of a laptop's screen and keyboard cannot be discerned from a spec sheet alone. Since online shopping prevents hands-on testing, reading detailed reviews from users who have experienced the specific model is essential. Pay close attention to the exact model number, as manufacturers often release multiple variants with significant differences in build quality.
Verifying the Authenticity of a Deal
Is that flashing discount a true bargain? Tools like CamelCamelCamel allow you to check the price history of products on Amazon, revealing whether the Black Friday price is genuinely lower than usual. You may find that the 'special offer' matches the standard price from last month. This doesn't make it a bad deal, but it indicates there is no urgent need to purchase immediately.
Remember, the retail calendar is filled with discount events, from Cyber Monday and post-Christmas sales to Amazon Prime Day. You are rarely more than a few weeks away from the next promotion, so resist the pressure to make a hasty decision.
The Best Black Friday Laptop Deals of 2025
Here is a curated selection of the most compelling laptop deals available this Black Friday, covering a range of budgets and needs.
Budget and Chromebook Options
Asus CX34 Chromebook Plus is available for £299 at Currys. This model features a 14-inch Full HD screen, 8GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an Intel Core i5-1334U processor. As a Chromebook Plus, it includes enhanced software features from Google.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 offers remarkable value at £235.99 from Amazon. It includes an Intel processor, 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch Full HD display.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 presents a Windows alternative at just £299 from Amazon, featuring an Intel Core 3 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD.
Mid-Range and Premium Laptops
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 is priced at £599.99 at John Lewis. This model boasts an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor, 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch display.
Acer Swift Go 14 AI, at £688.94 (was £799.99) on Amazon, is powered by a Snapdragon X processor, promising up to 28 hours of battery life. It includes 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Apple MacBook Air M2 (13-inch) has dropped to a record low of £699 at John Lewis and Currys. The M2 chip remains powerful for most tasks, and the laptop offers up to 18 hours of battery life.
Apple MacBook Air M4 (13-inch) is available for £849, matching its lowest ever price. It features the latest M4 chip and 16GB of RAM.
Gaming Laptop Deals
Acer Nitro V15 is an affordable gaming option at £849.99 from Amazon. It features an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, an Intel Core i7-13620H processor, a 15.6-inch Full HD 165Hz screen, and a 1TB SSD.
Asus ROG Strix G16, priced at £1,599, is one of the most affordable laptops equipped with an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti GPU, paired with an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX processor.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI offers excellent value at £1,599.99 (reduced by £300). It combines an RTX 5070 Ti with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and a 16-inch, 240Hz display.
By focusing on the specifications that matter and verifying the legitimacy of the discounts, you can make an informed purchase this Black Friday and secure a laptop that will serve you well for years to come.
