Need a New Laptop? This is the Best Time to Buy One!

And why Christmas is *not* the time to do it!

BY: John Zisa

UPDATED: October 18, 2024

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Here at Trendsicle we’ve been covering sales and deals every month on hundreds of popular products since 2017. From years of data we’ve discovered some of the best times of the year to score the best deals (here’s how we do that). This time around we’re covering all sorts of laptops. Let’s do this!

In today’s digital age, a reliable laptop is must whether you need it for work, for school, or just fort plain old entertainment (hello gamers!).

If you’re in the market for a new laptop, timing your purchase strategically can lead to significant savings and ensure you get the best deal possible. Let’s explore the optimal time to buy a new laptop, including the best month, as well as when to avoid purchasing, along with some top websites to find the best sales.

By the Numbers

Quick stats and facts based on our own internal data, experience, and years of covering the biggest laptop sales. Plus, it’s fun to see numbers move, right?

# of Years Covering Laptop Sales

years

# of Laptop Sales Analyzed

individual sales

Avg % You Can Typically Save

on average

0 %

The Best Month to Buy a New Laptop

Believe it or not, after researching our own internal sale recommendation data over the course of 7+ years we’ve found that the summer months of July and August are the ideal time to snag a deal on a new laptop. Why summer, you ask? Several factors contribute to this optimal buying window:

Back-to-School Sales: Retailers often roll out back-to-school sales and promotions during the summer months to cater to students and educators preparing for the upcoming school year. These sales events typically feature markdowns on laptops, making it an excellent time for anyone in need of a new device. And keep in mind that Back to School sales no longer take place the closer you get to September. In fact, over the past 4 years we’ve noticed BTS sale actually begin the first week of July.

Clearance of Old Inventory: In preparation for the release of new models in the fall, retailers may discount older laptop models or clearance items to make room for incoming inventory. This can result in significant savings for savvy shoppers looking to score a deal on a quality laptop. So if you don’t “need” the latest laptop and can be ok with last year’s model, this will be one of the best ways to save.

Amazon Prime Day: At this point we know that Amazon runs their famous Prime Day Sale in July (once in a while they’ll run another Prime event in October too). While hundreds of thousands of products are on sale during Prime Day, we’ve noticed that laptops (including Chromebooks and even tablets) are majorly on sale – upwards of 30% – 40% off. If you can hold out until Prime Day…do it!

Combo Deals: Alongside laptop discounts, retailers often offer bundle deals that include accessories such as headphones, backpacks, or software subscriptions. These value-added bundles can enhance your computing experience while providing additional savings.

The "Worst" Month to Buy Laptops

Now this is going to be controversial, but from our own 7-years of data analysis specifically on laptop sales, we’ve found one of the “worst” months to get a new laptop is during the Christmas season. Specifically, December.

While the holiday season may seem like an opportune time for laptop shopping, December is actually one of the worst months to buy a new laptop mainly because:

Holiday Demand: December sees a surge in consumer spending as shoppers scramble to purchase gifts for their family and friends. This heightened demand can lead to limited availability and higher prices for laptops, making it challenging to find the best deals.

Limited Selection: With holiday shoppers vying for popular laptop models, retailers may experience inventory shortages or sell out of certain configurations. This limited selection can restrict your options and make it difficult to find the specific laptop you’re looking for.

Black Friday is Over: If you didn’t snag an amazing deal during Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you may want to hold off. While there will still be some deals on laptops from select retailers, many will never go as low in pricing as they did during their Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales event.

What % is Considered a "Good" Sale Price?

Again, based on our data and analysis over the past 7 years we were able to figure out what is considered a good sale price and, more specifically, “percentage off” when it comes to scoring a deal on a new laptop. Of course it can vary depending on factors like the specific brand, model, and overall specs. However, as a general rule of thumb, we discovered that discounts of 10% to 20% off the retail price are considered modest savings, while discounts of 30% or more are considered excellent deals.

The Top Sites For Finding a Laptop Deal

Sure we’re going to say our site – Trendsicle – has the best and most up-to-date sales on thousands of products, but we love to give hat-tips where we can. Here are some of the top, most trusted, retailers online where you can typically score a great sale price on some of the most sought-after laptops of the year:

Amazon: As one of the largest online retailers, Amazon offers a vast selection of laptops from various brands and sellers. Keep an eye out for Lightning Deals, Deal of the Day offers, and Prime Day discounts for significant savings.

Best Buy: Best Buy is known for its extensive inventory of electronics, including laptops. Check out their weekly deals, student discounts, and open-box deals for discounted laptops and bundle offers.

Newegg: Newegg specializes in electronics and often features deals on laptops, especially during sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Back-to-School season. Look for Shell Shocker deals and daily promotions for extra savings.

Dell Outlet: If you’re in the market for a Dell laptop, the Dell Outlet offers refurbished and clearance laptops at discounted prices. These certified refurbished laptops come with warranty coverage and can offer significant savings compared to buying new.

In Conclusuion

So, to put a pin in this, timing your laptop purchase strategically can lead to significant savings and ensure you get the best value for your money. By taking advantage of back-to-school sales in July and August and avoiding the holiday rush in December, you can score a great deal on a new laptop while enjoying the latest technology at a fraction of the cost. Happy shopping!

If you found our research helpful, you may want to check out some additional research we’ve run on the best time to get a snowblower, the best month to buy a dishwasher, when you should buy a new mattress, and even some additional sales and deals happening today.

John Zisa

John has been our official deals, sales, and trends editor at Trendsicle for the past 3 years (since 2021). John spends his time digging through hundreds of product sales from top online retailers, including during major sale seasons like Black Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day and more. He's also a published author of the children's book, "The Very Patient Christmas Tree" and has a self-produced album of pop/jazz/gospel arrangements of pop songs throughout the decades, "You Gotta Be", which was released in May 2021. Read full bio.

Tags: best time ever
HUB: sales

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