If you thought Cyber Monday was over and you missed out on the best laptop deals of the year, think again. Some of the deepest discounts on MacBook, Alienware, and Acer laptops are still live—days after the official shopping frenzy ended. But why are these deals still around, and what does it mean for shoppers and the tech industry?

Why This Matters
- Extended deal windows signal a major shift in retail strategy. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are no longer single-day events. Retailers want to capture lingering demand and clear inventory after the initial rush.
- For shoppers, it means more time to make informed decisions—and less pressure to impulse-buy during the 48-hour sales blitz.
- Brands like Apple, Dell (Alienware), and Acer are keeping flagship products on sale to stay competitive as the holiday season ramps up.
Key Takeaways
- The 2025 MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is still under $800 at select retailers—a historic low for Apple’s latest ultralight laptop. Typically, Apple deals dry up fast, so this extended discount is highly unusual.
- Alienware 16X Aurora gaming laptop is holding at $1,649.99 (down from $1,999.99), with less-powerful configurations starting at $1,299. These specs (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, RTX 5070, 32GB RAM) make it a serious performer for gamers and creators.
- Acer’s 16-inch Chromebook remains on sale for just $279—a huge 42% discount. With over 14 hours of tested battery life, it beats most budget Chromebooks and even some expensive Windows laptops for longevity.
What Most People Miss
- Supply chain realities are shaping these deals. Many retailers ordered heavy for the holidays and are now sitting on extra stock. Rather than wait for inventory to move at full price, they’re willing to extend sale pricing.
- The specs on these machines are future-proof for most users. The M4 chip in the MacBook Air is reportedly faster than 83% of laptops tested in 2025, meaning you’re getting top-tier performance at a mid-tier price.
- Chromebooks are quietly evolving. That $279 Acer isn’t just cheap—it offers a 1200p display and is lighter than many Windows machines in the same size class.
Industry Context & Extra Insights
- Data point: According to Adobe Analytics, post-Cyber Monday sales (the “Cyber Week” period) grew by over 12% year-over-year in 2024, as consumers became savvier about waiting for deals to linger or even improve.
- Apple rarely discounts current-generation hardware this aggressively. The fact that the 2025 MacBook Air is still under $800 signals both strong competition and a possible softening in premium laptop demand.
- Gaming laptops like the Alienware 16X Aurora are now more accessible thanks to discounting, a trend driven by the surge in PC gaming and content creation post-pandemic.
Quick Pros and Cons Analysis
- Pros:
- Unusually low prices on current-gen hardware
- More time to research before buying
- Deals on both high-end and budget options
- Cons:
- Some deals are “while supplies last”—stock could dry up quickly
- Potential for newer models to launch in early 2026 (but at higher prices)
Action Steps for Shoppers
- Check warranty and return policies before you buy—retailers often have stricter terms for clearance or deep-discounted items.
- Don’t wait too long—if you need a new laptop, these prices may not come back until next year’s holiday season.
- Compare specs using trusted review aggregators to make sure a deal fits your needs (performance, portability, battery life).
The Bottom Line
Cyber Monday is no longer a deadline—it’s a starting line. For shoppers, the lingering deals are a rare chance to score high-performance laptops at prices that might have seemed impossible a year ago. For the industry, it’s a wake-up call: consumers are more informed and less impulsive, and retailers have to work harder (and longer) to win their loyalty. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this might just be it.

Sources:
- Source
- MacBook Air deal at P.C. Richard & Son
- Alienware 16X Aurora at Dell
- Alienware base model deals
- Acer Chromebook at Best Buy
- Laptop reviews on Mashable

