If you’re looking to score a fast laptop at a killer price, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re on the hunt for a blazing fast gaming rig, a lightweight 2-in-1, or an everyday Chromebook, we’ve assembled a list of the best laptop deals available right now, using our finely honed editorial judgement to only recommend truly compelling deals on worthwhile notebooks.
For more notebook options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now. We’ve got can’t-miss picks for every use case and budget, putting our thousands of hours of hands-on testing to work for you.
Best laptop deals (at a glance)
- Lenovo IdeaPad 1, $249.99 ($170 off)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, $299 ($230 off)
- Acer Aspire 3, $349.99 ($250 off)
- HP Envy x360, $569.99 ($379.01 off)
- Dell Inspiron 14, $699.99 ($150 off)
- Dell XPS 13, $799 ($300 off)
- Acer Predator Helios Neo, $799.99 ($400 off)
- Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8, $799 ($510 off)
- XPG Xenia, $999 ($700.99 off)
- Lenovo Flex 7, $1,039.99 ($220 off)
- Lenovo Legion Pro 5i, $1,179 ($620 off)
- MSI Stealth, $1,599.99 ($250 off)
Best laptops deals under $500
Lenovo IdeaPad 1: $249.99 ($170 off at Microcenter)
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 has an AMD Ryzen 5 5599Y processor inside of it, which is capable of handling day-to-day tasks like browsing the web and checking e-mail. The 14-inch 1080p display is perfect for everyday use and the connectivity options include one USB 2.0 Type-A, one USB 3.2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 Type-A, one HDMI, and one audio. The port selection is surprisingly diverse for such an inexpensive machine, so you don’t have to carry around an adapter. The 720p webcam isn’t great, but you can always plug into an external webcam if you want to look better on Zoom calls.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: $299 ($230 off at B&H)
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is another good option for everyday work, school, or home use because of its Intel Core i3-1315U processor and robust connectivity options. You should be able to zip right through office tasks or binge your favorite show on Netflix, and the spacious 15.6-inch 1080p matte display is sharp enough for those types of tasks. The port selection includes one USB-C 3.0, two USB-A 3.0, one HDMI, and one audio–effectively eliminating the need for an adapter. Similar to other laptops in this price range, it has a 720p webcam, which isn’t the best, but it’s a reasonable sacrifice in the budget laptop realm.
Acer Aspire 3: $349.99 ($250 off at Best Buy)
The Acer Aspire 3 has a lot to offer at this price point. It’s zippy enough for everyday projects thanks to the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, the 1080p display is a roomy 15.6-inches and is touch-enabled, and the slim form factor means it’s portable. When we reviewed a different configuration of the Aspire 3 last year, we really liked the sturdy construction and the overall performance, awarding it four out of five stars. We described it as a “competent work machine that’ll make you look and sound good on Zoom calls.”
Best laptops deals under $1,000
HP Envy x360: $569.99 ($379.01 off at Adorama)
The HP Envy x360 is powerful, lightweight, and versatile. The 2-in-1 form factor means you can fold the screen back and use the laptop like a tablet, and it comes equipped with a good amount of RAM (16GB) and storage (512GB SSD). The 1080p display is quite large at 15.6-inches and it’s a touchscreen, which is perfect for habitual notetakers and doodlers. The keyboard is also full-sized and has backlighting–useful for when you’re using the laptop in low light environments.
Dell Inspiron 14: $729.99 ($120 off at Dell)
The Dell Inspiron 14 packs a good amount of power for the price. Inside you’ll find an Intel Core i7-1360P processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. That’s more than enough oomph (aka power) for school work, productivity tasks, and so on. The 14-inch 1200p display should be crisp and vibrant, and the laptop itself weighs 3.37 pounds, making it a solid travel companion. Additional features include a 1080p webcam, one SD card slot, a backlit keyboard, and an aluminum exterior shell.
Dell XPS 13: $799 ($300 off at Dell)
Dell’s XPS line of laptops are known for being beautiful, powerful machines. The Dell XPS 13 that’s on sale today is no different in that regard with its sleek silver chassis and powerful Intel Core i7-1250U processor. The 13.4-inch display has a resolution of 1920×1200 and a maximum brightness of 500 nits–so this screen should be quite vivid! It also includes two speedy Thunderbolt USB-C ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery. Finally, if you’re the type of person that’s always on-the-go, this laptop weighs just under three pounds, which is pretty darn lightweight.
Acer Predator Helios Neo: $799.99 ($400 off at Best Buy)
You don’t see gaming laptops going for $800 very often, full stop. The Acer Predator Helios Neo is rocking an Intel Core i5-13500HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, which means it should be able to blitz through most games on medium or high graphics settings. The 16-inch 1200p display also has a refresh rate of 165Hz, resulting in smooth gameplay. Other cool features include a 1080p webcam, RGB lighting, and a backlit keyboard.
Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8: $799 ($510 off at B&H)
The Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 is another good option for budget-minded gamers. It has an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, so you should be able to play most modern titles with the graphics dialed up to medium or high. The 15.6-inch 1080p display (tuned for 144Hz) is perfect for a gaming laptop with these entry-level components. The LOQ 15IRH8 also has a wide range of connectivity options that include one USB-C 3.1, two USB-A 3.1, one USB-A 3.0, one HDMI 2.1, one Ethernet, and one headphone/microphone input/output.
XPS Xenia 15G: $999 ($700.99 off at Walmart)
If you’re for a slightly more powerful gaming laptop, the XPG Xenia will certainly fit the bill. You don’t see many gaming laptops with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU go on sale for under $1,000 often, so this is a true deal. Between the Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, you should be able to play triple-A titles on the High or Ultra graphics detail. This machine even comes with 1TB of SSD storage, which is good news if you’ve got a massive backlog of games. The 15.6-inch 1080p display should also provide smooth gameplay thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate. If you can afford it, this would be a better long-term gaming option than the $800 models listed above thanks to the RTX 4060’s much faster performance.
Best laptops deals under $1,500
Lenovo Flex 7: $1,039.99 ($220 off at Adorama)
The Lenovo Flex 7 is a great laptop for those who want an affordable 2-in-1. You’re getting a lightweight design as well as a decent amount of power for just over $1,000. It has an Intel Core i7-1355U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Zipping through spreadsheet work, everyday tasks, and so on should be no problem for this machine. In addition to the 2-in-1 form factor, in which the screen swings back 360 degrees, it also weighs just 3.53 pounds. That means you can easily slip it in a backpack or messenger back and take it with you anywhere.
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i: $1,179 ($620 off at B&H)
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is a good option for those who play more intensive titles. We say this because of the display’s ridiculously high 240Hz refresh rate. Gameplay should be as smooth as your mother’s freshly churned butter. There’s a lot of power behind that display, too. You’re getting an Intel Core i7-13700HX CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 32GB of RAM (that’s a lot!), and 1TB of SSD storage. Other goodies include an Ethernet port, an RGB backlit keyboard, and a 1080p webcam.
Best laptops deals under $2,000
MSI Stealth: $1,599.99 ($250 off at Best Buy)
If you’re looking for a good mid-range gaming laptop, the MSI Stealth is the one to pick. It comes armed with an Intel Core i7-13620H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage–this laptop is definitely equipped to handle faster-paced titles with ease. The 16-inch 1200p display should deliver smooth visuals because of the 144Hz refresh rate. It’s not as fast as the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i’s 240Hz refresh rate display, but it’s still good. The casing is also made of magnesium alloy, so it should be durable, and it has a 1080p webcam. Plus, we love Gigabyte’s deliciously portable (for a gaming laptop) Stealth design. This is a fine machine on sale for a very fine price.
FAQ
How much RAM will I need in my laptop?
You’ll want at least 8GB, though 16GB is preferable, especially if you play games. Don’t buy laptops with under 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage—though on a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. Check out our article on how much RAM does a laptop need for more in-depth info.
What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop?
The one big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows. Chromebooks make good everyday machines because they’re designed for browsing the web, checking e-mail, and so on. They use less resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also don’t need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is a lot more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really pump a Windows laptop up with a ton of RAM, storage, and so on.
When should I look for a laptop deal?
You’ll likely find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (November 29th), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you’ll find good laptop deals throughout the year, but if you really want to save big, we’d recommend scoping out your favorite online retailers during those times.
Which retailers offer the best deals?
You can find all kinds of deals across a wide range of online retailers such as Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and so on. However, we’d recommend checking out deals from laptop manufacturers like Lenovo and Dell. You’ll usually find many different configurations on sale and the discounts can be pretty darn steep.
source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/550968/best-laptop-deals-3.html
