There’s no question that Black Friday is a fantastic opportunity to score a new laptop, but with the sheer volume of deals, picking the right one can feel daunting. Let’s face it, a generous amount of memory is crucial for many users—particularly for editors, designers, and other creatives. That’s why these two laptops have really grabbed my attention.
First up, there’s the HP Envy x360 16, which has been a personal favorite since I reviewed its predecessor a couple of years back. It’s known as a reliable, everyday laptop that’s now part of Best Buy’s Black Friday sale. Usually priced at $1,349.99, you can snag this beast for just $899.99. You’re getting a powerhouse with a Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 32GB of LPDDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a spacious 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
Now, if you crave a laptop with a higher-resolution display and more muscle in the CPU and GPU departments, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 might just be what you need. Also part of Best Buy’s sale, it’s been discounted from $1,699.99 to a more wallet-friendly $1,299.99. If memory struggles have been your battle, these solid alternatives should brilliantly serve you.
🔥 The Hottest Black Friday Deals 🔥
Why I Love HP’s Envy x360 16 Even at Full Price
When Black Friday rolls around, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the swarm of laptop deals. A common trap I’ve seen over the years is those PCs that appear tempting solely due to their seemingly low price, but offer the bare minimum in RAM and storage. That’s why I’m spotlighting these two standout deals.
The HP Envy x360 16 is the successor to the 15-inch model I reviewed back in 2021, and I was thoroughly impressed with the value HP delivered even then. The Envy series has upped its game, retaining a premium feel comparable to HP’s flagship models, while offering the flexibility of a convertible. From the comfortable and responsive keyboard and touchpad to the top-firing speakers that deliver great audio clarity regardless of usage mode, this laptop offers commendable features. It also boasts a modern array of ports, including Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1.
Fueled by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H CPU equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks, it may be considered an AI PC, yet it doesn’t have the heft to support Copilot+ features in Windows 11. The model on sale is stacked with 32GB of LPDDR5-6400MHz RAM and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. Though the RAM is soldered, the SSD is upgradeable.
It’s becoming rarer to find laptops with easy memory upgrades, so having 32GB right out of the box is perfect for power users engaging in RAM-heavy applications or intense multitasking. In my experience, 16GB doesn’t quite cut it anymore for photo editing and vigorous web browsing.
At a $450 discount via Best Buy, the Envy x360 16 drops to an astonishing $899.99. Even HP would be hard-pressed to beat this price.
🍁 More Great Black Friday Deals 🦃
- Best Buy: Huge discounts on video games, accessories, and more.
- Walmart: Early savings on nearly everything.
- Target: Current deals span a vast range.
- Dell: Noteworthy offers on laptops, gaming PCs, and accessories.
- HP: Significant savings on laptops, desktops, and add-ons.
- Lenovo: Doorbuster deals available across their PCs, monitors, and accessories.
- Newegg: Savings on gaming accessories, components, and more.
- Razer: Enjoy free shipping for a limited time.
- Samsung: Live holiday deals on laptops, TVs, phones, and more.
- Amazon: Regular changes to sales across a broad spectrum of products.
Why Recommend the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i as an Alternative?
The main downside of the Envy x360 might be its display. While the 1920×1200 (FHD+) resolution, touch support, and 300 nits brightness will suffice for most, some users demand a crisper image. Enter the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 (Gen 9).
Unlike its Envy rival, the Yoga Pro is not a convertible. So, if you need a PC that can moonlight as a tablet, the Envy remains your best bet. However, the Yoga Pro excels in nearly every other aspect. It includes a number pad attached to its keyboard, a generously sized touchpad, and top-firing speakers. The port selection is akin to the Envy x360, featuring Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and multiple USB-A ports.
Performance and display become game-changers. It’s built on a more robust Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, earning its AI PC status, with an added discrete NVIDIA RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, rather than just sticking to integrated Intel graphics.
You’ll find faster 32GB LPDDR5x-7467MHz RAM here, though it halves the storage to a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. Thankfully, that storage is also upgradable. The display leaps to a stellar 3200×2000 resolution, flaunting a 165Hz refresh rate, 400 nits brightness, touch capabilities, Dolby Vision, and 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage. Creators, take note—this laptop is built for you.
Currently, Best Buy offers the best deal on the Yoga Pro 9i 16, slashing the price from $1,699.99 to $1,299.99. Surely, you’ll pay $400 more than the Envy x360, but the upgraded features make every penny worth it.
