Laptop prices in the UK and Canada move a lot throughout the year. Buying at the right time can save you a meaningful amount, often more than any coupon code. Here’s when the best deals usually happen in each country, and how to tell a real deal from a fake one.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday (late November)
Black Friday started in the US, but it’s now one of the biggest shopping events in both the UK and Canada. Most major retailers start deals early in November and run them through Cyber Monday.
- Best for: mainstream laptops, gaming laptops and last year’s models.
- UK stores to watch: Amazon UK, Currys, Very, Argos, Box, Laptops Direct and AO.
- Canadian stores to watch: Amazon.ca, Best Buy Canada, Walmart Canada, Costco, The Source and Newegg Canada.
Boxing Day and Boxing Week (late December)
In Canada, Boxing Day on December 26 and the “Boxing Week” sales that follow are traditionally among the best times of the year for electronics. Some deals match or beat Black Friday.
In the UK, Boxing Day kicks off the winter sales, which often run into January. Laptop deals can be good, especially on stock that didn’t sell before Christmas.
Amazon Prime Day (usually July, plus a fall event)
Amazon’s Prime Day happens in both the UK and Canada, and Amazon often adds a second big sale in October. Other retailers usually run their own competing sales at the same time.
- Best for: popular mid-range laptops, Chromebooks and accessories.
- You’ll need a Prime membership for many Amazon deals, but competing stores don’t require one.
Back to school (July to September)
Retailers in both countries push student laptops in late summer. You’ll find good deals on everyday and budget laptops, and in the UK, many retailers and brands offer student discounts year-round.
- Best for: student laptops, Chromebooks and MacBooks with education pricing.
When new models launch
New laptop generations usually arrive in the first half of the year, often after the big tech shows in January. When they do, retailers discount the older models to clear stock. If you don’t need the newest processor, buying the outgoing model is one of the best ways to save.
Times to avoid
- Right before a big sale. If Black Friday is a few weeks away, it’s usually worth waiting.
- Right after a new model launches, when the new version sells at full price.
- When stock is tight, like during a component shortage. Right now, memory shortages are pushing up prices on laptops with lots of RAM. We explain why in Why Are RAM Prices So High?
How to spot a real deal
Not every “sale” price is a real discount. Here’s how to check:
- Check the price history. In the UK and Canada, price-tracking tools and browser extensions can show whether a price was recently raised before a sale.
- Compare the exact model. Retailer-exclusive configurations make price comparisons harder, so match the full model number and specs.
- Look at the specs, not just the price. A cheap laptop with 8GB of RAM and slow storage isn’t a deal if it won’t last. See our guide on why laptops don’t last as long as they used to.
- Check the return policy. In the UK, you usually have 14 days to cancel online purchases. Many Canadian retailers offer 14 to 30 days, often extended over the holidays.
The bottom line
In both the UK and Canada, the best times to buy a laptop are Black Friday, Boxing Day and Boxing Week, Prime Day, and whenever a new model pushes the old one into clearance. Plan your purchase around those dates, compare the exact model across stores, and check price history before you buy. Read why laptops cost more in the UK and Canada to understand what you’re paying for.
More reading: all Dealmania articles