By the FlowUP team, gaming PC builder in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 29 September 2026
In short: in 2026, Black Friday falls on Friday 27 November and Cyber Monday on Monday 30 November. To buy a gaming PC during this period without getting caught out: compare the discount against the lowest price in the past 30 days (this is the rule in France and in Belgium), check the spec sheet line by line (exact graphics card model and video memory capacity, power supply, dual-channel RAM) and choose the configuration based on your screen, not on the “sale” label.
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Cyber Week: the 2026 dates
Black Friday always follows Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In 2026, that means a Friday 27 November, and Cyber Monday on 30 November. In between, many retailers talk about “Cyber Week”, with durations that vary from shop to shop: some start their deals a week earlier, others extend them until early December.
For a gaming PC, it’s not the date that matters, it’s the configuration. A discount on an unbalanced machine is still a bad buy.
Before looking at the discount percentage, check what’s in the case.
| Event | Date in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Black Friday | Friday 27 November 2026 |
| Cyber Monday | Monday 30 November 2026 |
| Cyber Week | Around these two dates, length set by each retailer |
How to tell if a deal is really a deal
Good news: the law helps you. Since 28 May 2022, a price reduction announcement must be calculated based on the lowest price charged by the seller during the 30 days prior. This comes from the European directive “Omnibus”, adopted in France in Article L112-1-1 of the French Consumer Code and in Belgium in Article VI.18 of the Code of Economic Law. So a price inflated the week before just to display a big “-30%” isn’t a valid reference.
This isn’t theoretical: the DGCCRF checks Black Friday promotions and publishes its findings. Three simple habits:
- Note the price right now for the two or three gaming PCs that interest you. By the end of November, you’ll know immediately whether the discount is real.
- Compare with the same configuration. Two “RTX 5060” PCs can hide very different processors, power supplies and amounts of RAM.
- Keep your rights in mind: 14 days to withdraw for online purchases, in France as in Belgium, and 2 years of legal guarantee of conformity on a new product in the European Union. Deal or no deal, they apply.
The spec sheet to check before paying
When we compare configurations in our Genappe workshop, it’s always the same lines that make the difference between a good deal and a PC you end up regretting after six months:
- The exact graphics card and its video memory. An RTX 5060 Ti exists in 8 and 16 GB, and the difference is visible in recent games. We explain this in RTX 5060 or RTX 5060 Ti: 8 or 16 GB.
- The power supply. Brand, wattage and certification must be written out. A “750 W” power supply without a name is a red flag. See how to choose your power supply.
- RAM: at least 16 GB, in two sticks for dual channel. Details in DDR4 or DDR5 in 2026.
- Storage: an NVMe SSD of at least 1 TB; recent games often exceed 100 GB.
- Windows: check whether it’s included and in what form (full licence or trial version).
In our Genappe workshop: each PC is assembled and tested before shipping.
Brand new on sale or second-hand? The question comes up often towards the end of the year. With a brand-new PC, you get the legal two-year warranty and a machine that’s tested before shipping. Here’s one of our PCs tested in games by Mathis and Gauthier:
Mathis and Gauthier, test of the FlowUP Rift PC, September 2026.
Which gaming PC to choose depending on your screen
Our rule: start with the screen. A PC built for 4K plugged into a 1080p 60 Hz display is money wasted. The other way around, a small setup on a 1440p 165 Hz screen, and you’ll spend your time lowering settings.
| Your screen | Recommended graphics card | What it’s for | Our PCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p, 144 to 240 Hz | RTX 5050 to RTX 5060 Ti, 16 GB | Esports games, recent games on high settings | Corvus, Swift |
| 1440p, 144 to 180 Hz | RTX 5070 or RTX 5070 Ti | Recent games on ultra, competitive in 1440p | Cheetoh, Rainbow V2 |
| 4K or 1440p very high FPS | RTX 5080 | Ray tracing, 4K with DLSS, creation | Abyssin, Arctic |
A word on 2026: RAM prices have risen sharply this year, which affects the price of complete PCs. Don’t count on spectacular discounts on 32 GB configurations. For everything else, our guide how to choose your gaming PC details every component, and where to find a cheap gaming PC has tips all year round.
Our PCs to watch during Cyber Week
Want to compare everything straight away? Our cheapest PCs with the same components, from entry-level to the RTX 5080, are brought together in Black Friday 2026: our gaming PCs at the best price.
Corvus PC: RTX 5050
Ryzen 5 5500 and RTX 5050 with DLSS 4: the current generation for 1080p, 12% below its equivalent.
Swift PC: RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB
Core i5 14400F, RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and DDR5: 1440p without running out of VRAM, 8% below its equivalent in DDR4.
Cheetoh PC: RTX 5070
Ryzen 7 7800X3D and RTX 5070, 16 or 32 GB of DDR5: 1440p at high refresh rate, 13% below its equivalent.
Rainbow V2 PC: 1440p ultra, gaming or creation
RTX 5070 Ti with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D or 9800X3D for gaming, or a Core i7-14700KF for creation, plus 16 or 32 GB of DDR5.
Arctic PC: RTX 5080
Core Ultra 7 265KF and RTX 5080 in an ARCTIC case: 4K, 8% below its equivalent.
Are you ordering during the promotions from Belgium or the Netherlands? UPS delivery, payment in instalments, and a 2-year warranty, it’s all explained in our guide before you click “Order”.
FAQ: Gaming PCs and Black Friday
When is Black Friday 2026?
On Friday 27 November 2026, the day after Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday follows on Monday 30 November.
Should you wait for Black Friday to buy a gaming PC?
If your current PC can hold out for two more months, then yes, it’s worth comparing. If it gives up on you now, a good setup at the right price today is better than a hypothetical discount at the end of November.
How can you check whether a discount is real?
The crossed-out price must match the lowest price from the previous 30 days. Take note of the prices a few weeks in advance and compare.
Is there a FlowUP promo code?
Be wary of sites that list “promo codes” in bulk: they often show expired or made-up codes. The only reliable test is the basket: a valid code applies before you pay. If you’re unsure, ask us.
Do return rights apply to discounted products?
Yes. The 14-day right of withdrawal for online purchases and the 2-year legal guarantee of conformity also apply to sale or promotional items.
Sources
- EUR-Lex, Directive (EU) 2019/2161 “Omnibus”
- Légifrance, Article L112-1-1 of the French Consumer Code
- FPS Economy, price reductions
- DGCCRF, price reduction announcements
- DGCCRF, Black Friday: beware of false promises (November 2025)
- Service-public.fr, right of withdrawal
- Service-public.fr, legal guarantee of conformity
