Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 deal updates
We update this section as retailers post their sales, and each entry carries its date.
- November 4, 2026: Black Friday is November 27 and Cyber Monday is November 30. GEEKOM’s Black Friday page is live. Beelink, Minisforum, and GMKtec have posted no 2026 Black Friday terms.
For prices right now, use our mini PC deals page.
Black Friday mini PC picks by use
Anyone buying this month has two decisions: which box to get, and whether a given sale listing is any good. Most of a listing’s value comes down to its chip, its memory, and who sells it.
The picks below are complete machines shown at our list price, not predicted sale prices. Use that list price as your reference point, not Amazon’s crossed-out price, and treat any lower price as the discount. The CPU Mark column is PassMark’s multi-thread score, which ranks processors well across brands.
| Use | Model | Chip | CPU Mark | Build | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday desk | Beelink EQi 304 | Intel Core 3 304 | 12,303 | 16GB, 512GB | $469 |
| Linux and all-round use | Beelink SER8 | Ryzen 7 8845HS | 28,853 | 24GB, 1TB | $799 |
| First home server | Beelink ME Mini | Intel N150 | 5,343 | 12GB, 2TB | $369 |
| Virtual machines and fast networking | MINISFORUM MS-A2 | Ryzen 9 9955HX | 55,754 | 32GB, 1TB | $1,335 |
| Gaming without a graphics card | MINISFORUM M2 Pro | Core Ultra X7 358H | 35,011 | 32GB, 1TB | $1,439 |
| Local AI | GMKtec EVO-X2 | Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | 55,005 | 64GB, 1TB | $2,199.99 |
Everyday desk
The Beelink EQi 304 has more than twice the CPU Mark of a budget Intel N100, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports and both 10GbE and 2.5GbE networking. This 16GB build has soldered memory on one channel, so it can never take more RAM and its graphics stay modest. Its built-in UFS storage is the weak spot: Wccftech’s reviewer wrote that “Windows encountered major hiccups when running on it” and moved to an M.2 drive, so budget for one.
Linux and all-round use
The Beelink SER8 is our pick for one machine that covers office work, photo editing, coding, and light gaming. Our Linux mini PC guide names the 8845HS as the chip for most desktop buyers, and Level1Techs praised the SER8’s Linux support on Nobara. Level1Techs called the bundled SSD underwhelming. Anyone installing Omarchy should read our Omarchy hardware guide first.
Home server
The Beelink ME Mini suits a first server, and the MINISFORUM MS-A2 suits heavy virtual machine work. NAS Compares measured 6 to 6.9 watts at idle with no drives and about 16.9 watts with six SSDs on the ME Mini. Its 12GB of memory is soldered, so it runs containers well and virtual machines poorly. The MS-A2 has a 16-core chip, two 10G SFP+ ports, two 2.5GbE ports, and memory you can add later. Level1Techs measured 25 to 30 watts at idle, which you pay for around the clock. Our home server guide sorts the choice by workload.
Beelink ME Mini
Best Value
MINISFORUM MS-A2
VersatileGaming without a graphics card
For new games at 1080p, the MINISFORUM M2 Pro has Intel’s Arc B390 graphics. In Notebookcheck’s test, it averaged 46 frames per second in a 30-minute Cyberpunk 2077 run at 1080p Ultra, and its load maximum was 34.4 dB(A). The 32GB of memory is soldered, there is no OCuLink port, and the case is about 7.7 inches square. For esports and older games, a Radeon 780M box such as the MINISFORUM AI X1-255 costs much less, at $695 with 16GB and 512GB. Our gaming mini PC guide covers every graphics tier, and the OCuLink mini PC list helps if you plan to add an external graphics card.
MINISFORUM M2 Pro
Best PerformanceLocal AI
Local models need a chip with fast memory and enough of it to hold the model, and that memory is soldered on the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, so the size you order is permanent. The EVO-X2 with 64GB is the entry point in this tier and handles mid-size models. Our local LLM guide explains why large models call for 128GB, which lists at $3,649.99 on the same box. The BOSGAME M5 uses the same Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and lists at $3,099 with 128GB and 2TB. If you only run small models, this tier costs far more than you need.
Mac mini Black Friday buying comes down to memory
Apple sells the 2026 Mac mini with an M6 or an M5 Pro. Apple’s spec page lists 16GB to 32GB on the M6 and 24GB to 64GB on the M5 Pro. The M6 with 16GB and 256GB lists at $899, and the M5 Pro with 24GB and 512GB lists at $1,699. PetaPixel scored the base M6 7 out of 10 and called it a strong Lightroom machine, but its verdict on buying that build was “The base Mac mini with M6? No,” and it advises more memory and storage. The card below is the 16GB, 512GB build, which lists at $1,099. Memory cannot be added later, so a discounted 16GB unit stays a 16GB unit. Our M6 vs M5 Pro comparison covers local AI, where the 16GB model is the one to skip.
Apple has replaced the M4 model, so a sale listing for one is older stock rather than the current machine. Apple’s own 2025 event gave a gift card on eligible purchases, with $100 for the Mac mini, instead of a price cut. As of an October 30 report, Apple had not confirmed a 2026 event.
Which chips to buy at each budget
The ranges in the table are list prices for builds in our comparison chart with at least 16GB and an SSD, so a barebones kit is not in them. Prices overlap because a small brand can sell the same chip for much less than a larger one, and the warranty can differ too. The graphic gives a rough budget and the table gives the full range.
| Chip | CPU Mark | Graphics | List price range | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel N100, N150 | About 5,300 | Intel UHD | From about $180 | Browsing, video, containers |
| Intel Core 3 304 | 12,303 | Intel | $469 to $715 | Office work, fast networking |
| Ryzen 7 7735HS | 24,264 | Radeon 680M | $409 to $660 | Multitasking and light games on a budget |
| Ryzen 7 H 255, 8745HS, 8845HS | About 28,000 to 29,000 | Radeon 780M | About $420 to $1,360 | Coding, photo editing, homelab, esports |
| Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 | 36,917 | Radeon 890M | $1,159 to $1,770 | Workstation use, virtual machines |
| Core Ultra X7 358H | 35,011 | Arc B390 | $1,129 to $2,799 | New games at 1080p |
| Ryzen 9 9955HX | 55,754 | Radeon 610M | From $1,335 | Many virtual machines, heavy compiles |
| Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | 55,005 | Radeon 8060S | From about $2,200 | Local AI, 1440p games |
Our mid-tier analysis found the middle of this table costs the least per CPU Mark, and the price-performance index ranks current models by processor and graphics value. The 9955HX is fast for its price, but its graphics are weak, so skip it for games. To browse by budget, the comparison chart can open on under $300, $300 to $600, $600 to $1,000, or $1,000 or more.
Older chips to skip in sale listings
These chips remain on sale in new mini PCs, often at prices close to an N100 box. Most score below an N100, and all are older designs. GEEKOM sells a Pentium Gold 7505 machine as the Air12 2026 Edition, and that chip has two cores.
| Chip | CPU Mark | Cores | Why to pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Celeron J3355 | 1,205 | 2 | Far below an N100, and the J3000 series is not on Microsoft’s Windows 11 list |
| Intel Celeron N4500 | 1,807 | 2 | About a third of an N100’s score |
| Intel Core i3-5005U | 2,008 | 2 | 5th-generation Core is not on Microsoft’s Windows 11 list |
| AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | 3,730 | 2 | Two cores and well below an N100 |
| Intel Celeron N5095, N5105 | About 4,000 | 4 | Below an N100 |
| Intel Core i3-8109U | 4,176 | 2 | Two cores and below an N100 |
| Intel Pentium Gold 7505 | 5,167 | 2 | About an N100’s score from half the cores |
| AMD Ryzen 5 3500U | 6,831 | 4 | About 29 percent above an N100 from a 2019 design; worth it only well below N150 prices |
The Windows 11 notes come from Microsoft’s supported Intel processor list. For a used business machine, which is a separate choice with its own checks, see our used mini PC worksheet.
How to judge a Black Friday mini PC listing
Start with six checks on the listing: the chip and its CPU Mark, the RAM and stick count, the SSD size and speed, the price with no parts missing, who sells and ships it, and the warranty through that seller.
Treat the crossed-out price as the seller’s claim
A discount badge with no event behind it tells you little. Beelink’s store showed percent-off badges from 6 to 24 percent across its home page on November 4, with no named sale attached. GEEKOM’s Black Friday page shows the A8 Max as “From only $349” with $1,699 crossed out. The A8 Max product page sells options from $449 to $1,199 and says “Now only $349 with code.” Its $449 option is a barebone kit with no memory, storage, or operating system, whose own crossed-out price is $959. The $1,699 figure is the crossed-out price of the top 32GB, 2TB build, so the two numbers on the sale page belong to different machines.
On Amazon, read the label beside Amazon’s crossed-out price. Amazon says its “List Price” label marks a figure provided by a “manufacturer, supplier, or seller,” while “Typical Price” is the 90-day median price paid by customers. The second tells you far more, and neither is our list price. Federal pricing guidance says a former price should be a real one the item was offered at on a regular basis, and a July report on inflated original prices describes Consumers’ Checkbook finding continuous discounts at most of the 25 retailers it tracked.
Find the same chip, memory, and storage on the comparison chart, open that model’s page, and compare the price you would pay to the list price it shows for that configuration and to other models with the same chip.
Add up coupons and codes before you compare
Many mini PC prices depend on a coupon or a code at checkout. Amazon listings may need a coupon box ticked on the page. GEEKOM’s page shows codes such as GKBF100 beside its lower prices. EVO Tech’s review of a Ryzen 5 7640HS box quotes a price that depends on coupons during AliExpress’s 11.11 sale, which the video says runs November 1 to 11. Compare totals in the cart, with tax and shipping, rather than the figures on a page. Check whether a code applies to the configuration you want, since a “from” price usually belongs to the smallest one.
Read the chip, RAM, and SSD lines on each configuration
One product name can cover very different machines. The SER8 name covers both an 8745HS and an 8845HS, and the MS-A2 is sold with four different processors. MeLE’s Quieter 4C comes in SE Grade versions with upgradeable memory and Business Grade versions where it is soldered. Open the exact configuration and read the chip name again, because the price you saw may belong to a different version.
Count the memory sticks too. Robtech tested a UM880 Plus with its single 32GB stick, added a second, and saw large 3DMark gains, saying “So much GPU performance is left on the table by only having a single stick of RAM.” That matters most for built-in graphics, and much less for a server. Listings often leave out the bundled SSD’s brand. If the box will run as a server and write constantly, our SSD endurance guide shows how to judge the drive.
Price a barebones kit with its parts
A barebones listing leaves out memory, an SSD, and often Windows. The MS-A2 lists at $799 barebones and $1,335 with 32GB and 1TB, a $536 gap. Digital Citizen reported that 32GB DDR5 kits often cost $350 to $480, before you buy a drive. ComputingForGeeks ran the same math on the MS-A2 and concluded a barebone “only makes sense if you already have DDR5 SO-DIMMs in a drawer.” The chart’s 16GB or more filter hides barebones rows. The upgradeable models with 32GB or more are the ones to compare if you want room to add memory later.
Check who sells it and what the warranty covers
Read the “Ships from” and “Sold by” lines on Amazon, because the same model can have several sellers and they do not all carry the same risk. One buyer posted on November 2 that two different sellers cancelled his Beelink order before he bought it elsewhere. A third-party seller’s price can also sit well below the maker’s: MiniPC Guru posted a $275.98 gap on a GEEKOM IT15 between Beach Audio and GEEKOM’s own store on October 31. Before you take a gap like that, ask who handles a warranty claim.
Warranty terms depend on where you buy. Minisforum’s policy does not cover units bought through Amazon or other marketplaces, where the seller handles claims, and GEEKOM’s three years apply to official channels. Our chart guide compares each maker’s warranty. Renewed, resealed, and “used, like new” offers often sit beside the new price on the same page, so confirm the condition of the offer you are about to buy and who stands behind its warranty.
RAM prices in late 2026 favor buying the memory with the box
Memory is still rising, though more slowly. TrendForce, a memory-market research firm, relayed an October 20 report that fourth-quarter DRAM contract prices should rise about 20 percent, after about 80 percent in the second quarter and 40 percent in the third. TheElec reported on November 2 that TrendForce expects PC DRAM contracts to rise 13 to 18 percent this quarter and that South Korean makers may cut PC DRAM output by 20 to 40 percent in 2027. Omdia reported in October that memory and SSD prices had risen more than fourfold and now make up nearly 40 percent of a PC’s parts cost.
Those are contract figures for manufacturers, and they do not tell you what any box will cost on November 27. They do explain why ComputingForGeeks found most mini PCs it tracks cost more heading into Black Friday than they did in August, and why it saw Amazon rise to Minisforum’s Halloween sale prices on the MS-A2 and MS-01 within days. By that account, many mini PC sales return a price to an earlier level. Our DRAM price article covers how the shortage began.
Order the memory you will need with the box, since loose modules are the expensive path, and soldered models cannot change at all. TrendForce’s client SSD report says “Client SSD contract prices continue to rise this quarter, though gains have narrowed markedly.” A free M.2 slot lets you add storage later if your needs grow or prices fall, though our SSD buyer worksheet expected no relief before late 2027, so a drive bought later may cost more. Used business desktops stayed flat or dipped over the same months, so their prices did not climb the way new boxes did, and our used mini PC worksheet lists what to check before you buy one. A buyer with a working PC and no deadline has no need to buy anything this month.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday terms from Beelink, Minisforum, GEEKOM, and GMKtec
Stores change these terms often, and this list dates from November 4, 2026, so confirm the configuration, code, and end date at checkout.
Beelink Black Friday
Beelink’s home page shows percent-off badges with no event name. The last named sale on its blog was the Prime Day sale of June 23 to 26, at up to 20 percent off.
Minisforum Black Friday
Minisforum’s store shows per-item savings badges, such as “Save $200.00” on the MS-A2. In 2025, its event ran in stages, a pre-launch from November 6, a main sale from November 14 to 28, and Cyber Monday bundles on December 1 and 2.
GEEKOM Black Friday
GEEKOM’s Black Friday page is live and advertises “Save up to 50%,” with codes such as GKBF100 and sections labeled for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It lists a 3-year warranty and 30-day returns and gives no end date. The store banner claims “Best Prices Guaranteed Across All Sales Channels,” so ask how that applies if you find a lower price elsewhere.
GMKtec Black Friday
GMKtec’s Black Friday page, with “Up to $500 off for Sitewide Mini PC,” dates from November 2025. Its store banner says “Price increase coming soon,” which is the seller’s own claim and does not say when a price would change.
Cyber Monday mini PC deals get the same checks as Black Friday
Cyber Monday is November 30. GEEKOM is the only one of these four makers that mentions it in its current sale, and it has published no separate terms. Minisforum’s 2025 event closed with Cyber Monday bundles on December 1 and 2, which says nothing firm about this year. The checks above apply on either day.
What to do this month
Choose the use first, then the chip tier, then the exact configuration on the comparison chart, including the two-port Ethernet view for servers and the fanless list for a silent room. Write down the list price on that model’s page, not Amazon’s crossed-out price. When a sale appears, compare your cart total to that figure, confirm who sells it and who honors the warranty, and buy when the total suits you.
