The Verge laptop reviewer Antonio G. Di Benedetto just dropped his personal Black Friday shopping guide, highlighting laptop deals with discounts exceeding $400. From Apple's new M5 MacBook Pro at $1,349 (down from $1,599) to gaming rigs with RTX 5080 graphics slashed by $1,400, this isn't your typical deal roundup - it's insider intel from someone who tests these machines daily.
Black Friday timing couldn't be better for laptop shoppers. While CES 2025 will bring new models in January, those are months from release. Right now, current-generation laptops from Apple, Microsoft, HP, Lenovo, and Asus are seeing their deepest discounts of the year.
The MacBook deals lead the charge. Apple's latest M4 MacBook Air dropped to $749 at both Amazon and Best Buy - a $250 discount on hardware that barely needs an introduction. But the real surprise is the brand-new M5 MacBook Pro hitting $1,349, matching discounts typically reserved for older models.
"The M5-equipped MacBook Pro is mostly a chip bump from the M4 model of 2024. But it remains an excellent choice for beginners and students in creative fields," Di Benedetto writes in his full M5 review. For power users, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max processor and 36GB RAM is seeing a rare $440 discount, dropping to $3,059.
Windows laptops are where the real steals emerge. Microsoft's 13-inch Surface Laptop hit an all-time low of $549.99 - a $350 discount that puts premium build quality within reach of budget shoppers. The machine runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus chip, delivering impressive battery life that Di Benedetto praised in his review.
Gaming enthusiasts face an embarrassment of riches. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with RTX 5060 graphics dropped $500 to $1,299, while the powerhouse HP Omen Max 16 with RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD is just $1,899 - a staggering $1,400 off retail. "It's quite a deal that you should grab before it's gone," Di Benedetto notes, "you can always do your own SSD upgrade later."
The deals extend beyond hardware. Mechanical keyboard maker Keychron is offering site-wide discounts, with additional $30 savings on orders over $300. Peak Design's camera bags - favorites among creative professionals - are 30% off, while even specialized accessories like the Shure MV7 Plus microphone see meaningful reductions.
