These Are the Best Deals on Laptops Right Now
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A smart laptop buyer should have a clear understanding of what’s important to them and what they’re willing to give up. Factors like screen size, battery life, operating system, and whether or not they have a backlit keyboard will matter more or less depending on what’s important to you. I’ve tried to highlight these differences and find the best laptop deals for gamers, high-end users who want performance, mid-range users who want a solid laptop at an affordable price, and those looking to save money.
The best deals on budget laptops right now
Budget laptops are great for those who primarily need to check email, browse the web, type documents, and participate in Zoom calls. Multitasking on these laptops is limited, so be prepared for some fan noise when trying to share a large Excel spreadsheet over Zoom with multiple tabs open in the background.
Right now, the best deal for $399.99 is the Dell 15 with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. While this laptop is priced at “budget,” don’t expect budget performance. It’s a full-fledged laptop that can handle more than just basic tasks. Just don’t expect the bells and whistles you’d find on more expensive laptops, like a backlit keyboard, a good camera, or a super-bright screen.
Additional budget options:
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Inspiron 14 Laptop : $599.99 (originally $899.99).
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HP 15z-fc100 Laptop : $379.99 (originally $739.99).
The best deals on mid-range laptops right now
Mid-range laptops are best suited for those who plan to do more resource-intensive work, such as working with large Excel spreadsheets, photo editing, or those who are used to keeping a dozen Chrome tabs open on their screen.
If you’re an Apple user, you’ll want to check out the M2 MacBook Air . At $699, this laptop is the best value for money in the midrange class. As Lifehacker senior tech editor Jake Peterson explained last year, it might be the last laptop you ever buy . It has the same amount of RAM and storage as the M3, but there are a few key differences between the two that you should be aware of. However, if you have an extra $176 to spend, upgrading to the M4 is a better deal.
Additional mid-level options:
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LOQ 15” AMD with RTX 5050 : $929.99 (originally $1189.99).
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ThinkPad E16 Gen 3 AMD 16″ : $999 (originally $1,369).
The best deals on premium laptops right now
High-end laptops are best suited for those who not only need a powerful laptop that can handle resource-intensive tasks like editing media files or running complex 3D design and rendering software, but who also value excellent build quality, advanced features, and long-term reliability (and can afford it, of course).
The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is powerful, stylish, and packed with features. It features a 2.5K display that’s bright enough for outdoor use. It can handle heavy-duty tasks thanks to an Intel Ultra 7 processor and 32GB of RAM. The 1080p webcam is perfect for Zoom video calls, and as the name suggests, it can be used as a laptop or tablet. It comes with a Dell Active Pen (PN5122W) for easy use. Price: $1,249.99 (originally $1,449.99).
More expensive options:
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XPS 13 Intel 9 1TB Laptop $1,599.99 (originally $2,049.99)
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MacBook Pro with M4 Pro – $1,699 (originally $1,999)
The best deals on laptops for gamers right now
Gaming laptops are a little different from business laptops. While the processor and RAM are still important, the key features to look at are the display, refresh rate, graphics card, and storage.
The 15.6-inch LOQ laptop with RTX 5050 won’t blow you away with its specs, but it will blow you away with its price. For under $1,000, you get a powerful gaming laptop with wide viewing angles, a high 144Hz refresh rate, a powerful Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a great keyboard. It can withstand extreme temperatures, dust, and shock, so while you’re not planning on taking it camping, you can take it with you if the need arises.
More options for gamers:
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HP Omen Max Intel Ultra 7 RTX 5070 Ti 512GB 16-inch 2K Laptop : $1,719.99 (Originally $2,319.99)
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Alienware 16 Aurora Gaming Laptop : $1,599.99 (Originally $1,899.99)