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The best budget laptop for Black Friday 2026 is the Dell XPS 13 (2026) for Windows users and the Apple MacBook Neo for Mac fans, and buying one this month makes sense because a global memory shortage keeps pushing laptop prices higher. Apple raised the MacBook Neo’s price by $100 in June, market tracker TrendForce warned that a mainstream laptop’s price could climb close to 40%, and International Data Corporation (IDC) expects no relief before the end of 2027.
Quick verdict: Get the Dell XPS 13 (2026) if you want a light, premium Windows laptop at $699, or the MacBook Neo if you live in Apple’s world. If you want 16 gigabytes (GB) of random access memory (RAM) for less, the ASUS Vivobook 14 and Acer Aspire Go 15 have sold for about $550. Check the Dell XPS 13 price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- Best overall: The Dell XPS 13 (2026) costs $699 with a 13.4-inch, 120-hertz touchscreen and lasted 14 hours 26 minutes in Tom’s Guide’s battery test.
- Best budget pick: The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i sold for $369 at Best Buy in October 2026, but its 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage suit light use only.
- Why prices are rising: Memory makers are selling more chips to artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, so laptop RAM and storage cost far more than they did in 2025.
- Price: Our picks range from about $370 to $700 as of November 2026. Prices change often, especially around Black Friday.
Our quick picks
- Best budget Windows laptop: Dell XPS 13 (2026)
- Best budget Mac: Apple MacBook Neo
- Best 16GB laptop under $600: ASUS Vivobook 14 (Snapdragon X)
- Best big-screen value: Acer Aspire Go 15
- Best budget 2-in-1: HP OmniBook X Flip 16
- Best under $400: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i
Why laptop prices are rising in 2026
Laptops need dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and flash storage, and the same factories now supply AI servers that pay more for those chips. TrendForce reported in March 2026 that memory and storage would exceed 30% of a laptop’s parts cost in early 2026, up from about 15% in normal times. It estimated that a mainstream $900 laptop could need a price increase of close to 40% to protect margins (TrendForce report), and that Intel reportedly raised some entry-level processor prices by more than 15%.
Brands have already passed those costs on. On June 25, 2026, Apple raised the MacBook Neo from $599 to $699 and the MacBook Air’s starting price from $1,099 to $1,299, citing the memory shortage, MacRumors reported. IDC told HotHardware it expects personal computer (PC) shipments to fall 20% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2026, and an IDC vice president said he sees no relief from the shortage before the end of 2027. That’s why laptop prices rising in 2026 aren’t likely to reverse soon, and why a Black Friday discount on a model you’d buy anyway is worth taking.
The best budget laptops for Black Friday 2026
1. Dell XPS 13 (2026): Best budget Windows laptop
Dell rebuilt the XPS 13 in 2026 as a direct answer to the MacBook Neo, starting at $699 ($599 for eligible students). The base model pairs an Intel Core 5 320 processor with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB solid-state drive (SSD), plus a 13.4-inch 2,560 x 1,600 touchscreen that runs at 30 to 120 hertz (Hz). It weighs 2.2 pounds.
Tom’s Guide named it an Editor’s Choice and called it the best budget Windows laptop right now. Its reviewer measured 14 hours 26 minutes of battery life in a Wi-Fi browsing test and praised the bright touchscreen and everyday speed. The weaknesses: a blurry 1080p webcam, only two Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) ports, and no headphone jack. If you work in many browser tabs, pay extra for 16GB of RAM when you order. Our older Dell XPS 13 Plus review covers the premium XPS design. See the Dell XPS 13 on Amazon.
2. Apple MacBook Neo: Best budget Mac
Apple’s cheapest MacBook launched in March 2026 at $599 and now costs $699 for the base model with 256GB of storage, or $799 for 512GB with Touch ID. Apple’s education price also rose to $649 in October, MacTrast reported. It runs on the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro with 8GB of memory and a 13-inch, 2,408 x 1,506 display rated for 500 nits.
Tom’s Hardware called it a budget-priced game-changer, and IDC credited it with stronger-than-expected laptop demand in 2026. Apple claims up to 16 hours of battery life. The tradeoffs: no backlit keyboard, no MagSafe charging, and no Touch ID on the $699 model. Amazon has sold it for $689, slightly under Apple’s price. See the MacBook Neo on Amazon.
3. ASUS Vivobook 14 (Snapdragon X): Best 16GB laptop under $600
If you want a 16GB RAM laptop deal under $600, the Vivobook 14 (model X1407QA) delivers 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor and a 14-inch 1,920 x 1,200 screen. TechRadar spotted it at $548 at Best Buy in July 2026, down from $599.
Snapdragon chips are efficient, so these laptops tend to last a long time on battery. The catch is that they use an Arm design, and a few older Windows apps, games with anti-cheat software, and some printer drivers may not run. Check that your must-have software supports Windows on Arm before you buy. See the ASUS Vivobook 14 on Amazon.
4. Acer Aspire Go 15: Best big-screen value
The Aspire Go 15 puts a 15.6-inch 1080p screen and a full keyboard with a number pad on a tight budget. TechRadar reviewed a $549.99 configuration with an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, and it lasted close to 12 hours in a movie playback test. TechRadar praised the keyboard and everyday speed but called the display poor.
Acer sells many Aspire Go 15 versions, from about $300 models with entry-level chips to Ryzen 7 models. Tom’s Guide listed a Ryzen 7 7730U version at $549 at Best Buy in October 2026, down from $699. Pick a configuration with 16GB of RAM and at least 512GB of storage. Our Gateway 15-inch laptop review covers another big-screen budget option. See the Acer Aspire Go 15 on Amazon.
5. HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Best budget 2-in-1
This convertible folds into a tablet and pairs a 16-inch 2K organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touchscreen with an AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Its list price at Best Buy is $1,329, but Tom’s Guide listed it at $699 in October 2026, which makes it one of the best values on this list when that sale price returns.
At 16 inches, it’s heavy to use as a tablet. Our Lenovo Flex 7i review covers a smaller 2-in-1 alternative. See the HP OmniBook X Flip 16 on Amazon.
6. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i: Best under $400
If you only need email, web browsing, documents, and streaming, the IdeaPad Slim 3i with an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch 1080p screen sold for $369 at Best Buy in October 2026, down from $499, Tom’s Guide reported.
At this price, 128GB fills up fast once Windows updates and a few apps take their share, so plan on cloud storage or a cheap external drive. For a step up, look for a version with 256GB or 512GB of storage. Our Lenovo IdeaPad 1i review covers Lenovo’s even cheaper line, and the ASUS Chromebook CX1 review shows what a basic Chromebook can do for less. See the IdeaPad Slim 3i on Amazon.
How to choose a budget laptop in 2026
- Get 16GB of RAM if you can: 8GB handles browsing and documents, but 16GB keeps a laptop responsive for years. Most thin laptops solder their memory, so you can’t add more later.
- Aim for 512GB of storage: 128GB and 256GB drives fill quickly. With storage prices climbing, a 512GB model on sale is a good buy.
- Check the processor: Intel Core 5 or Core Ultra, AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7, Apple’s A18 Pro or M series, and Snapdragon X chips all handle everyday work. Avoid Celeron and older Pentium chips for anything beyond basics.
- Look at the screen: A 1,920 x 1,080 resolution is the minimum. Brighter screens of 400 nits or more work better near windows.
Compare budget laptops on Amazon
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries most of our picks plus close alternatives. Black Friday prices change daily, so check the current price before you buy.
| Laptop | Processor | Memory and storage | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell XPS 13 (2026) | Intel Core 5 320 | 8GB / 512GB | Light, premium Windows laptop | Check price |
| Apple MacBook Neo | Apple A18 Pro | 8GB / 256GB | iPhone owners and students | Check price |
| ASUS Vivobook 14 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X | 16GB / 512GB | 16GB of RAM under $600 | Check price |
| Acer Aspire Go 15 | AMD Ryzen 7 | 16GB / 512GB | Big screen on a budget | Check price |
| HP OmniBook X Flip 16 | AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 | 16GB / 512GB | OLED 2-in-1 on sale | Check price |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i | Intel Core i3-N305 | 8GB / 128GB | Basic tasks under $400 | Check price |
Protect your new laptop with a padded laptop sleeve, and add a USB-C hub if your laptop has only two ports.
Frequently asked questions
Will laptop prices go down after Black Friday 2026?
Laptop prices probably won’t go down after Black Friday 2026, because the memory shortage driving them up isn’t expected to ease soon. IDC said it sees no relief before the end of 2027, so a Black Friday sale on a laptop you need is likely one of the better prices you’ll see for a while.
Is 8GB of RAM enough in 2026?
8GB of RAM is enough in 2026 for browsing, email, documents, and streaming, but 16GB is better for heavy multitasking. Apple’s MacBook Neo manages well with 8GB thanks to its efficient chip, while Windows laptops benefit more from 16GB.
What is the best laptop under $600 in 2026?
The best laptop under $600 in 2026 is the ASUS Vivobook 14 with a Snapdragon X chip when it’s on sale, because it includes 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. The Acer Aspire Go 15 is the better choice if you want a bigger screen or need full compatibility with older Windows apps.
Why did the MacBook Neo price go up?
The MacBook Neo price went up because of the memory chip shortage. Apple raised it from $599 to $699 in June 2026, along with other Mac prices, as RAM and storage costs climbed.
Final verdict
The best budget laptop for Black Friday 2026 depends on your platform. The Dell XPS 13 (2026) offers the best mix of design, screen, and battery life on Windows, and the MacBook Neo is the easy pick for Apple users. If you want 16GB of RAM for less, watch for the ASUS Vivobook 14 and Acer Aspire Go 15 to return to about $550. Check the current Dell XPS 13 price on Amazon.