Get the best Black Friday Chromebook discounts of 2024

What Chromebook Black Friday deals can you expect in 2024?

Chromebook Black Friday deals have been a highlight for many UK retailers in recent years, with sales promotions offering substantial discounts. According to industry trends and historical data, Black Friday discounts on Chromebooks typically range between 10% and 30%, although specific models and retailers may offer even greater reductions depending on stock levels and sales targets. High-street retailers like Currys and Argos are known for providing discounts on bundled deals, where Chromebooks are sold with accessories like a mouse, protective case, or extended warranties.

For instance, in 2022, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 received a 25% discount at Currys, while John Lewis offered similar deals on the Asus Chromebook C523. These reductions reflect a consistent trend of significant price drops during Black Friday.

To help you compare, here’s a table showcasing the lowest prices currently available for different Chromebook brands on Back Market UK versus major UK retailers:

*Prices checked on 28 November 2024 - prices subject to change

This comparison shows how refurbished Chromebooks at Back Market often present better value compared to buying new.

Is Black Friday the best time to buy a Chromebook?

While Chromebook Black Friday deals are well-known for their discounts, it’s not the only time to find deals on Chromebooks. According to data from CamelCamelCamel, Chromebook prices often dip during back-to-school sales in August and post-holiday clearances in January. For example, in 2023, popular models like the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 saw price drops of up to 15% during August promotions.

Back Market provides a unique proposition: refurbished Chromebooks that are regularly priced up to 50% lower than new models, year-round. Unlike typical seasonal sales, these prices aren’t temporary, but a part of Back Market’s ongoing mission to offer high-quality refurbished products at a reduced cost. This gives you flexibility and the peace of mind that you can find a great deal whenever you need a Chromebook, without the urgency and anxiety of Black Friday.

Should you buy a Chromebook during Black Friday?

While Chromebook Black Friday deals can be an exciting time for tech shoppers, it also presents certain challenges. Many customers find the intense promotional atmosphere overwhelming, with pressure to make quick decisions and constantly check whether they’re getting the best deal. Research by consumer advocacy groups has shown that not all deals are as good as they seem. Some retailers artificially inflate prices in the weeks leading up to Black Friday to create the illusion of a bigger discount. This is a known strategy and has been flagged by organisations like Which? in the UK.

Shopping with Back Market, on the other hand, offers a more relaxed and transparent buying experience. There’s no rush, no crowds, and no fear of missing out on a fleeting discount. Our customers can take their time exploring their options, knowing that our prices are consistently competitive. Plus, purchasing a refurbished Chromebook aligns with sustainable shopping practices, allowing you to make a responsible choice while saving money.

Our top Chromebook picks at Back Market

If you’re considering perusing Chromebook Black Friday deals this year, here are some of our top recommendations currently available on Back Market:

These Chromebooks cater to a wide range of users, from students to professionals, offering the reliability and performance needed for various tasks. By opting for a refurbished device, you not only save money but also contribute to sustainability by reducing electronic waste.

Should you buy a Chromebook?

A Chromebook is a kind of laptop that runs on Google's Chrome OS. It can run the Google Chrome browser, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets and the rest of the Google cloud apps. However, there’s no file explorer, and you can't run any programs that aren’t available on the Google Play store.

While that may sound restrictive to some, a surprisingly large amount of people can be happy with this. They're a particularly great option for students that just need a few productivity apps and even for younger and less savvy users that won't know how to take advantage of a "real computer."

If you need dedicated programs for creative work or a gaming laptop, the Chromebook is not for you. There are a decent number of cloud games and apps available, but they won’t be the most popular programs or game titles.

There isn't much that you can do on a Chromebook when it doesn't have access to the Internet either. So if your use case doesn't revolve around the Internet and web apps, we don't recommend any Chromebook deals, even if they are good.

Of course, we also don't recommend buying a Chromebook if you don't need one. A phone that came out in the last few years is probably going to be as powerful as the cheapest Chromebooks available. Similarly, a phone can do all the web browsing that you can do on a Chromebook -- it's just on a smaller screen instead.

What specs to look for when buying a Chromebook on Black Friday

If you're convinced about Chromebooks, there are a few things to keep in mind so you can buy the best one.

🖥 Screen - Most Chromebooks come in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes. This is excellent for portability, but some users might find it a little cramped. There are 15-inch Chromebooks, but anything much bigger than that simply doesn't exist. Of course, beyond screen size, you should also mind the display's specs. 1366x768-pixel resolution is good enough for text, but you'll want to upgrade to a FHD 1920x1080-pixel display if you want sharp images too. 

💪 Processor - A Chromebook's processor is generally good enough for simple browsing. The cheaper models usually have Intel Celeron CPUs inside and 2GB or 4GB of RAM inside. However, if you're someone who keeps dozens of tabs open and loves to multitask, you should probably get a faster processor and at least 8GB of RAM. There's nothing more frustrating than a slow computer so spending a little more on the processing power is definitely considerable so your Chromebook never slows down. 

🔋 Battery Life - If you're used to Windows laptops, the Chromebook battery life will seem exceptional. Even on the low end, you can usually get around 8hrs of continuous browsing. Some models can even achieve 11 hours, competing with Apple Macbooks which are famous for their great battery life. In any case, if you're going to be using your Chromebook on the go, make sure that you either have access to an outlet or that you have a good enough battery. 

💰 Price - One of the things that make Chromebooks so appealing is their low cost. You can get Chromebooks for as cheap as £149. On the other end, some models cost as much as £1,000. In our opinion, it's hard to justify an expensive Chromebook, even if it does come with nice features like a touch-screen, 2-in-1 form factor, and upgraded storage. At that price point, they compete with some very nice Windows and Macbook laptops. We'd advise most people aim for a mid-range Chromebook to get the best value. 

💾 Storage - A big HDD or SSD in a Chromebook tends to be overkill. Chrome OS is a lightweight operating system so Chromebooks usually only include about 32GB or 64GB of storage. As previously mentioned, they don't allow file management either. So instead, Chromebook users organize and store files on Google's cloud, known as Google Drive. By default, Google gives people 15GB of free space, but you can upgrade to more storage. It's probably worth saving money on more computer storage and springing for more cloud storage instead.

Are Chromebook Black Friday deals worth it?

In conclusion, while Black Friday Chromebook deals offer opportunities for savings, it’s essential to shop wisely. As mentioned earlier, some retailers inflate prices in October and early November to create the appearance of a larger discount during the Black Friday sales. According to consumer reports, this tactic has been used by several major retailers in recent years. Being aware of these practices helps ensure that you’re truly getting a good deal.

At Back Market, we provide year-round value on refurbished Chromebooks, with consistent discounts of up to 50% off versus new models, backed by a 1-year warranty and a 30-day returns policy. You’ll also be making an environmentally conscious choice, contributing to reducing e-waste while getting a quality device.