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The Annual Laptop Pricing Cycle
Laptop prices follow a cycle driven by product launches, back-to-school demand, and holiday promotions. Unlike TVs where the annual cycle is very predictable, laptops are influenced by chip release schedules from Intel, AMD, and Apple that do not always follow a fixed calendar. Still, our data across 18 months and hundreds of laptop models reveals clear windows where prices consistently drop.
January and February: Post-Holiday Clearance
Retailers clear holiday inventory during these months, and you can find current-generation laptops at 15-20% below their pre-holiday prices. This is an especially good time for gaming laptops, which see aggressive markdowns as retailers make room for models with new GPUs. Business laptops from Lenovo, Dell, and HP also see deep discounts during their own direct-to-consumer sales in January.
March Through May: New Models Arrive
This is when new laptop models start hitting shelves, particularly from Apple with MacBook refreshes and from PC manufacturers incorporating the latest Intel and AMD chips. Last-generation models get clearance pricing that can exceed Black Friday discounts. If you do not need the absolute latest processor, spring clearance offers the best value of the year. We have tracked prior-year ultrabooks dropping 25-35% during this window.
June Through August: Back-to-School Sales
Back-to-school is the second biggest laptop sales event after Black Friday. Retailers target students and parents with promotions on mainstream and budget laptops. Apple offers its annual education pricing with gift card bundles. Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart run competing laptop sales throughout July and August. This is the best time to buy a mid-range productivity laptop in the $500-800 price range. Premium models see smaller discounts during this period.
September and October: The Worst Time to Buy
Laptop prices stabilize and sometimes increase slightly in early fall. Retailers have cleared back-to-school inventory and are holding prices steady ahead of holiday promotions. Unless you find a genuine clearance deal on a discontinued model, avoid buying during these months. Our data shows average laptop prices in September are 8-12% higher than their annual low point.
November and December: Holiday Deals
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deliver the broadest selection of laptop deals. Expect 15-25% off current models and up to 35% off prior-generation configurations. Watch out for Black Friday special models with reduced specs that are not available at other times of year. Always verify the processor, RAM, storage, and display resolution match what you expect. Gaming laptops see some of their best prices of the year during this window.
Best Timing by Laptop Type
For MacBooks, the best time is immediately after a new model launches when Apple and retailers discount the outgoing generation. For gaming laptops, January clearance or Black Friday are your best bets. For Chromebooks, back-to-school in July offers the widest selection at the lowest prices. For business ultrabooks, check manufacturer direct sales in January and May, which often beat retailer pricing.
Track Before You Buy
Search for the specific laptop model you want on PriceMirage and study the price history chart. Set an alert at 15% below the current price and wait for the next sale window. Laptops are a significant purchase, and the difference between buying at the right time versus the wrong time can easily be $100 to $300. Patience combined with price tracking is the most reliable way to get the best deal.