Top brands packed with features—some discounted by hundreds of dollars Shopping for a laptop around Black Friday is smart. Many retailers offer significant discounts on laptops ahead of the holiday season,

Amazon has it on sale for just $749 ahead of Black Friday, or $250 off its $999 MSRP. That's a 25% savings and a new record-low, matching the cheapest price the 8GB version saw. (The same deal was live at Best Buy for the paid tiers of its membership program on Thursday, Nov. 14; it'll be open to everyone there on Friday, Nov. 15.)

Whether you’re on the hunt for a souped-up gaming machine or an everyday Chromebook, Black Friday is the best time to look for a discounted laptop. Some retailers tout big savings that aren’t really savings at all,