The Best Times of Year to Buy Laptops and PCs

Buying a laptop or desktop PC at the right time can make a noticeable difference to your budget. Computer prices change throughout the year as retailers run seasonal promotions, manufacturers release new models, and older inventory gets discounted.

There is no single day when every laptop or PC will be cheapest. However, certain periods consistently create more opportunities for discounts.

For shoppers in the United States, the biggest opportunities generally include back-to-school season, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, holiday sales, and post-launch clearance periods. Manufacturer sales calendars also include events such as Presidents' Day and Memorial Day.

Here is how to approach each period and decide when it makes sense to buy.

1. Back-to-School Season: July Through September

Back-to-school season is one of the strongest periods for laptop deals, particularly for students.

Retailers and computer manufacturers know that students and families need laptops before the academic year begins, so promotions commonly appear from July through August and can continue into early September. HP, for example, identifies its back-to-school period as running from July through early September.

Current 2026 sales illustrate why this period matters. Recent back-to-school promotions have included discounted Dell, Lenovo, Apple, Acer, and other laptops, with some student-specific pricing available.

Best for:

• Students

• Everyday laptops

• Chromebooks

• Budget Windows laptops

• Lightweight laptops

• School accessories

If you need a laptop for the upcoming school year, waiting until November is not always necessary. A strong back-to-school price can already represent good value.

2. September and October: Watch for Model Changes

September and October can be interesting months because manufacturers and retailers are transitioning between product generations.

When newer models arrive, retailers may reduce prices on previous-generation machines to clear inventory.

This does not mean every laptop will suddenly become cheaper. Instead, it creates opportunities for shoppers who do not need the newest generation.

A previous-generation laptop can be an excellent choice when its specifications still meet your needs.

What to Check

Before buying an older model, compare:

• Processor generation

• RAM

• Storage

• Display

• Battery life

• Ports

• Warranty

• Software support

Do not buy an outdated computer simply because the percentage discount looks impressive.

3. Black Friday: November

For many shoppers, Black Friday remains one of the most important times of the year to look for laptop and PC deals.

Retailers compete heavily during this period, and computer manufacturers may discount laptops, desktops, monitors, accessories, and gaming equipment.

HP specifically identifies Black Friday and Cyber Monday as major sales periods for laptops and desktops, while TechRadar also describes Black Friday as one of the strongest periods for laptop purchases.

Why Black Friday Can Be Attractive

You may find promotions across several categories at the same time:

• Budget laptops

• Premium laptops

• Gaming laptops

• Desktop PCs

• Monitors

• Printers

• Accessories

• Storage devices

However, do not assume that every Black Friday deal is automatically the best price of the year.

Research the model's price before the sale so you can recognize a genuine discount.

4. Cyber Monday: Late November

Cyber Monday follows Black Friday and traditionally focuses heavily on online shopping.

For computer buyers, this can be another useful opportunity to compare laptop and PC prices.

Some deals may continue from Black Friday, while others may be introduced specifically for Cyber Monday.

The best strategy is not necessarily to wait until Monday itself. Retailers increasingly run promotions across an extended period rather than limiting discounts to a single day.

Therefore, monitor prices before and during the entire Black Friday/Cyber Monday period.

5. December Holiday Sales

December can provide another opportunity to find computer discounts.

Retailers are competing for holiday shoppers, and manufacturers may promote laptops, desktops, gaming PCs, monitors, and accessories.

Holiday promotions can also include bundles.

For example, a computer may come with an accessory or software offer instead of receiving a large reduction in the laptop's sticker price.

HP identifies the holiday period extending from December into January as another important window for computer promotions.

Best for:

• Gift purchases

• Gaming computers

• Accessories

• Monitors

• General-purpose PCs

6. January: Post-Holiday and New-Year Clearance

January can be useful for shoppers who are comfortable buying an older model.

After the holiday shopping period, retailers may want to clear remaining inventory.

There is another reason January can be interesting: CES, the major consumer electronics trade show, takes place early in the year and is often associated with announcements of new computer hardware.

When new products are announced or released, older models may eventually receive price reductions.

The key is patience. A new announcement does not necessarily mean an older laptop immediately receives a huge discount.

7. Presidents' Day: February

Presidents' Day sales provide another recurring opportunity to compare computer prices.

HP lists Presidents' Day among its major laptop and desktop sale periods, including opportunities for discounts on laptops, desktops, gaming PCs, monitors, and printers.

This period can be especially interesting if you missed Black Friday or need a computer early in the year.

Compare current prices against the price history rather than buying simply because a retailer labels something a "Presidents' Day Sale."

8. Memorial Day: May

Memorial Day is another major U.S. retail promotion period.

Computer manufacturers and retailers may offer discounts across laptops, desktops, monitors, and accessories.

HP includes Memorial Day among its annual sales opportunities.

This can be a good time to start watching prices if you plan to buy before the summer.

9. Look for Brand-Specific Sales

You do not always need to wait for a major national shopping holiday.

Manufacturers frequently run their own promotional events.

These may include:

• Student discounts

• Seasonal sales

• Clearance events

• Coupon promotions

• Bundle offers

• Refurbished-product discounts

For example, current 2026 back-to-school promotions from Lenovo have included significant discounts on selected laptops and accessories.

The important thing is to compare the actual price with competing retailers.

10. Consider Refurbished or Previous-Generation PCs

If your primary goal is saving money, do not limit your search to brand-new, current-generation computers.

A reputable refurbished laptop or previous-generation model may offer better value.

Refurbished devices can be especially attractive when you do not need the latest processor or design.

Before purchasing refurbished, check:

• Warranty

• Return policy

• Battery condition

• Device condition

• Included accessories

• Seller reputation

A low price is not useful if the product comes without adequate protection or does not meet your needs.

When Should You Actually Buy?

The best time depends on your situation.

If You Need a Laptop for School

July through August is a strong period to watch.

Back-to-school promotions can offer competitive prices on student-focused computers. Current 2026 sales demonstrate that discounts can already be substantial during this period.

If You Want the Deepest Major Sale Period

November is usually the period worth watching most closely because of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

If You Want an Older Model

Look around January or after a newer generation launches.

If You Need a Gaming PC

Compare Black Friday, holiday, and manufacturer-specific gaming promotions rather than focusing on one particular date.

If You Need a Computer Immediately

Do not wait several months just because another sale might eventually happen.

A good current price can be better than delaying an important purchase.

How to Know Whether a Laptop Deal Is Actually Good

A large discount percentage does not automatically mean a good deal.

Before purchasing, check the computer's specifications.

For a laptop, consider:

• CPU

• RAM

• SSD storage

• Screen quality

• Battery life

• Weight

• Ports

• Operating system

• Warranty

For a desktop PC, also consider:

• CPU

• GPU

• RAM

• Storage

• Power supply

• Upgrade options

• Cooling

• Monitor requirements

Most importantly, compare the exact model number across retailers.

Two laptops with similar names may have completely different processors, RAM, storage, or displays.

Don't Forget Student Discounts

If you are eligible for an education discount, check it before purchasing.

Some manufacturers and retailers provide special student pricing in addition to seasonal promotions.

Current 2026 laptop deals show examples of student-specific pricing, including discounts on Dell models.

However, always compare the student price with publicly available promotions. The student offer is not necessarily the cheapest price in every situation.

Final Thoughts

The best time to buy a laptop or PC depends on what you need and how flexible your schedule is.

For many shoppers, back-to-school season and Black Friday/Cyber Monday are the two most important periods to watch. January can be useful for clearance opportunities, while Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and holiday promotions provide additional chances to find a competitive price.

But timing alone is not enough.

Research the computer before the sale, track its price, compare exact specifications, check student or manufacturer discounts, and consider previous-generation or reputable refurbished models.

Most importantly, do not buy a computer simply because a retailer advertises a large discount. The best deal is a computer that meets your needs at a genuinely competitive final price.