This $380 Dell Inspiron 15 has excellent reviews and everything you need for light computing
There are some great laptop deals going on right now for Black Friday. While you may be tempted to buy a Chromebook if you’re on a budget, there are affordable options on the Windows side of things. The Dell Inspiron 15 (3520) was a budget-friendly laptop when it launched at its normal price of $599.99, and it is still a bargain now thanks to a Black Friday that cuts its price to $379.99.
The Inspiron 15 is a consumer laptop that’s sold alongside business devices. That means it has a lot of legacy ports and focuses on productivity. It’s like a reliable sedan, it will get you from point A to point B, but it won’t look sexy during the trip.
More great early Black Friday deals
Windows laptops for under $400
Black Friday 2023
Just a few years ago, you had to spend far more than $400 to get a good Windows laptop. As technology has improved, more basic and affordable components have reached a point where they can handle everyday computing. If you need a powerhouse workstation or gaming laptop, you can pick up one with the latest specs, but if you just browse the web and do general productive work, your price point is likely lower than you expect.
When purchasing a laptop, Best Buy provides benefits you won’t get at all retailers. The most obvious is that Best Buy has physical stores, so you can order an item online then pick it up from a store. If you have a Best Buy membership, you can get free two-day shipping, additional discounts, and a 60-day return window. If you’ve never signed up for a membership, make sure our guide My Best Buy memberships breaks down all the costs and benefits.
I reviewed the non-touch version of the Dell Inspiron 15 back in December 2021. That laptop earned high marks for its wide port selection, large screen, and low starting price. The touch version of the Inspiron 15 has the same benefits but, of course, adds a touch screen.
If a touch screen isn’t important to you, the non-touch version of the Inspiron 15 is a better deal. Not only can you get the non-touch Inspiron 15 for $329.99 right now, that laptop has a 12th Gen Intel Core processor rather than the 11th Gen Intel Core processor seen in the discounted touch model.
