Laptops come in different sizes and functions which make a big difference in their price tags. A laptop can be pretty pricey if you go for one of the models made specially for gamers or developers. On the other hand, it can be quite affordable if you go for a model made for regular use.
Regardless of the price tag on the laptop, you would still want to save money on your purchase whichever way you can.
Best Times to Buy a Laptop in Canada
The best way to save money when buying a laptop is to make your purchase at the right time. In this piece, you will learn about the best times to buy a laptop in Canada when you’re more likely to find special deals
Back-to-school season
The end of July through September is one of the best times of the year to save on laptop purchases. During this time, students of different ages are prepping for school and they would be getting supplies. For college students, a laptop is a must and retailers will through it special deals to attract these students to their inventories.
Keep an eye out for outlets like B&H, Best Buy, and Staples. You can check out their online and in-store back-to-school deals. Ecommerce giant Amazon is also a good place to check out. You can also go through individual brands such as HP and Dell.
You could find discounts on their websites during this period. If you’re a student, you could get a discounted MacBook from Apple. Apple throws in a free pair of headphones or Airpods with a qualifying student purchase.
If you’re not a student and you want a MacBook, you might have to check other retailers. You can start with Apple’s refurbished store where you could find compelling discounts on older models.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
The holiday shopping season is one of the biggest in Canada where you can find amazing deals but only if you’re fast enough. Black Friday gives you a chance to cash in on a ton of deals. Retailers compete with each other for customers’ attention during this period. This includes adjusting their prices to even 2/3 of the original price.
To find the best deals as soon as possible, you can try out the price tracking browser extension. Some examples like Honey and CamelCamelCamel have proven to be useful during Black Friday. These extensions can track a product’s price history on Amazon to determine the actual value of a deal.
Another extension to consider is the Chrome extension for Capital One Shopping. With this, you can track discount codes and set it to automatically apply the best one to your cart.
While Black Friday offers most of the biggest deals, the best way to win on your purchases might just be three days later, that is, on Cyber Monday. Many statistics claim that Cyber Mondays offer the best deals on laptops and other gadgets and could be the best way to save on your purchase.
Right Before or After Big Product Releases
With gadgets, the release of a new model means that the older models will become fairly cheaper before they become obsolete. If you’re looking to get a MacBook, you might want to wait around till Apple announces a new model. This always happens in September.
After the special product event, you will find that the older models become a few dollars cheaper. The same goes for other manufacturers. The likes of Lenovo, HP, Acer, and Dell debut their new releases at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in early January. You should expect these new releases to fill up the shelves of retailers by February.
Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day is just like its own Black Friday. During this rush, you will find deep discounts on a wide array of products including laptops and other gadgets. Amazon usually announces the date of Prime Day a few weeks before the event.
This could be in June, July, or sometimes in October. To get the best deals, you need to keep your eyes out for the big announcements and be one of the first to check out your cart on your preferred laptop.
Buying a Laptop in Canada: Things to Consider
Choosing the right laptop depends on your preferences. If you’re a student, a software developer, or a gamer, your needs will always differ from mothers. Below is a round off of the most important factors to consider when searching for a laptop
Operating System
A laptop’s operating system (OS) refers to its software platform and interface. When making a pick, you have the choice between Microsoft Windows and macOS software.
There are also Linux operating systems but they aren’t as popular. If you’re not going for a Mac computer or you don’t own any Apple device, then you might want to consider a Windows Computer.
Specs
The features of the laptop (its capabilities) are another area you should look into. This dictates how useful the laptop will be. You need to check out features like the CPU or processor which dictates the power of the device, the memory (RAM) which allows the computer to multitask, the display (4K or FHD), and the number of ports available.
Keep in mind that the higher the specs, the more expensive the laptop will be. In some cases, you won’t find great deals on high-end laptops so you might not want to get too hopeful.
Finally, one of the most important specs to check out is the battery life. High-end laptops pack a heavy battery with a lifespan of up to 5 hours or more. Once again, it is all about the extra spending.
Size
Laptops come in a ton of sizes. The screen size is measured diagonally which will give you either 13 or 15 inches. These are the most popular laptop sizes out there, but you could go bigger with a 17-inch model.
When it comes to screen size, it is all about portability and power. Laptops with 13-inch screens are usually more portable, so you can easily carry them around in your laptop bag. However, they usually don’t compare in raw power to bigger laptops which are a pain to move around. Making a choice here requires weighing the pros and cons.