Microsoft Australia Cyber Monday 2023 sale: save big on Surface, Xbox and games

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass | 14 days for AU$1 (save up to AU$17.95)

If you haven't yet jumped on the Game Pass train – Microsoft's "Netflix of games" subscription – this discount lets you try a couple of weeks for next to nix. Game Pass Ultimate lets you play on console, PC, or even a mobile device and has over a hundred games on offer, while PC Game Pass provides just the PC aspect. New games are continuously added, and Game Pass gives a range of other discounts and perks. After the initial 14 day trial is up, you'll be charged the usual monthly fee (AU$18.95 for Ultimate and AU$10.95 for PC Game Pass) but this is a great way to try either service for just AU$1.

Game Pass Ultimate: AU$1 for 14 days
PC Game Pass: AU$1 for 14 days

Xbox Series X (1TB) | AU$799 AU$645 (save AU$154)

Microsoft’s flagship console is a great way to play the latest games, with 1TB of inbuilt SSD storage, a Quick Resume feature that lets you continue exactly where you left off and Dolby Vision HDR support – the only current-gen console to do so. There's also 4K Blu-ray playback and support for all the major streaming services, so it's an all-round entertainment powerhouse too. Microsoft's matching most other major retailers with this Black Friday discount of AU$154 off, bringing it down to just AU$645.

Xbox Series X bundles | from AU$695 (save up to AU$154)

If you're interested in picking up either Diablo IV or Forza Horizon 5 with a new Xbox Series X, the Microsoft Store has up to 18% off console + game bundles:

• Xbox Series X - Diablo IV Bundle | AU$849 AU$695 (save AU$154)
• Xbox Series X - Forza Horizon 5 Bundle | AU$849 AU$719 (save AU$130)

Xbox Series X|S controllers| AU$89.95 from AU$69.95 (save AU$20)

The black and white colours of the latest Xbox controller can often be found at this AU$69.95 price during big seasonal sales, but this Microsoft Store deal is also offering up the more colourful options at a discount, with the blue, red, pink, green, purple and neon pads going for AU$74.95. And with Bluetooth compatibility straight out of the box, you can use these with other devices too, including PCs and Android phones and tablets.

The Remix Special Edition controller (which is made from 1/3 reclaimed materials and includes the Xbox Rechargeable Battery Pack) is also reduced, down from AU$119.95 to AU$89.95 for the Black Friday sale.

Microsoft PC and Xbox games | up to 85% off

Microsoft has slashed the prices on a huge range of digital PC and Xbox games. You can browse the full list of Xbox and PC deals, and here are some of the Xbox Series X|S highlights:

• Cyberpunk 2077: AU$89.95 AU$53.97
• Red Dead Redemption 2: AU$89.95 AU$29.68
• Hogwart's Legacy: AU$109.95 AU$65.97
• Assassin's Creed Mirage: AU$79.45 AU$63.56
• Assassin's Creed Valhalla: AU$99.95 AU$24.98
• Far Cry 6: AU$99.95 AU$24.98
• Remnant II - Ultimate Edition: AU$104.95 AU$73.46

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 | from AU$1,397 (save up to AU$1,365) 

Microsoft's Surface Pro 9 range – its top convertible tablets – are up to 30% off for Black Friday, with discounts as high as AU$1,364 depending on the exact model you select. The cheapest option will get you a Core i5 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD for AU$1,397 (AU$552 off), but the biggest proportional discount is on the model with a Core i7 CPU, 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD – down by AU$1365 to AU$3,184. Note that, as always, you'll need to add a keyboard cover if you want to use the Surface Pro 9 as a laptop, with prices for those starting at AU$259.95.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 | from AU$1,297 (save up to AU$902)

If you're looking to save on Microsoft's latest iterations of its mainstream laptops, there's up to AU$902 off the 13.5-inch models, and AU$800 off the 15-inch models of the Surface Laptop 5. There's a huge range of colours and specifications on offer, and (unlike the Surface Laptop 4 range) all models use Intel CPUs. Our picks for each size are the i5/16GB RAM/512GB SSD for the 13.5-inch (AU$902 off, now AU$1,747) or the i7/16GB RAM/512GB SSD for the 15-inch (AU$800 off, now AU$2,349). 

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | from AU$1,143 (save up to AU$346)

The Surface Laptop Go 3 is Microsoft's compact 12.4-inch portable that's designed to be an affordable offering for everyday computing. The Black Friday 2023 discounts aren't quite as deep here as on more premium Surface devices, but 20% off is still appreciated. Both pack a Core i5 CPU and a 256GB SSD, with your choice of either 8GB or 16GB of RAM.

Surface Laptop Go 2 | from AU$899 at Microsoft Store (save up to AU$301)

Microsoft's most inexpensive laptop packs the basic specs you need for day-to-day home or office computing (a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage), and there's a respectable 23-25% discount on both capacities for Black Friday. Unless your computing needs are super meagre, our recommendation would be to spruik the extra AU$100 for the 256GB option – 128GB does not go far at all in 2023.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 | from AU$2,815 (save up to AU$900)

As with the Surface Laptop Go 3, Microsoft is offering a flat 10% off the entire range Laptop Studio 2s. These unconventional and innovative models are pitched at content creation, with integrated Nvidia GeForce GPUs (RTX 4050, 4060 or 2000 depending on the model) powering a 14.4-inch 2400 x 1600 touchscreen, and can be equipped with up to 64GB RAM, a Core i7 CPU and 1TB of storage. The Studio 2 is all about that specially hinged screen, which makes it possible to quickly transition from typing to touch to drawing (the latter with an optional Surface Pen).