The right PC this Black Friday depends on what it needs to do, with gaming PCs from just under £1,000 suiting competitive titles, higher budgets covering AAA games at high settings, bundles suiting first-time buyers, mini PCs suiting small spaces and gaming laptops suiting anyone who plays on the move.
Black Friday has become one of the busiest times of year for buying a PC, with CyberPowerPC UK offering reductions across its gaming desktops, bundles, mini PCs and gaming laptops for both first-time buyers and those planning an upgrade.
Each type of PC suits a different kind of user, so the sections below explain who each one works best for and why, before pointing to the relevant Black Friday deals.
Gaming PCs for every budget
Competitive games such as Valorant and League of Legends ask relatively little of the hardware, which means an entry-level gaming PC at just under £1,000 can run them at the high frame rates those games reward.
That budget makes the most sense for players who mainly stick to esports titles, as well as anyone buying a first gaming desktop who wants a capable machine without stretching into premium pricing.
Stepping up to the mid-range, which runs from £1,000 to £1,500, opens up higher settings and resolutions in modern releases, so a PC at that level suits players who want a mix of competitive and story-driven games.
High-end gaming PCs, priced from £1,500 to £2,500 and beyond, target the latest AAA games at high graphics settings, along with players who want headroom for demanding releases over the next few years.
All three tiers feature in CyberPowerPC UK’s Black Friday PC deals, and the sale also gives buyers a chance to pick up a monitor, keyboard and mouse at the same time or move to a bundle that includes everything.
PC bundles for first-time buyers
That all-in-one approach makes the most sense for people who do not own a PC setup yet, since buying a desktop alone still leaves them needing a screen and peripherals before they can play.
A PC bundle packs a gaming PC together with a monitor, keyboard, mouse and headset, which gives a first-time buyer everything needed for a basic setup in a single order.
That also takes the guesswork out of matching parts that work together, and CyberPowerPC UK covers its gaming PC bundles with a five-year warranty alongside the latest version of Windows.
Mini PCs for small spaces
Not every home has room for a full-size tower, and a mini PC suits buyers who want a capable computer that fits on a crowded desk, beside a television or in a small flat.
At the simpler end, compact NUC-style mini PCs handle office work, media playback and digital signage well, and they can manage competitive games but tend to struggle with demanding modern releases.
Small form factor builds take a different approach, since they fit desktop-class gaming hardware into a compact case and can deliver full 1440p gaming performance without the footprint of a traditional tower.
That difference makes the choice between the two mostly a question of whether a buyer needs a compact machine for everyday tasks or a small gaming PC that can keep up with new releases.
Gaming laptops vs gaming PCs
For buyers who need to work or play away from a desk, a gaming laptop offers the main advantage a desktop cannot match, since it packs the screen, keyboard and hardware into one portable machine.
A desktop gaming PC still gives more performance for the money and more room to upgrade later, which makes it the better pick for anyone who games mostly at home and wants the system to last.
Black Friday suits either choice, since students and commuters can pick up a portable machine at a lower price while home players can put the savings towards a more powerful desktop or extra peripherals.
CyberPowerPC UK lists its gaming PCs, bundles, mini PCs and laptops together on its Black Friday deals page, which makes it straightforward to compare each type of PC before choosing one.