It’s almost impossible to conceive of going to school without a laptop these days. A few years of pandemic learning made digital devices a core part of the educational process, and that hasn’t changed now that we’re back in the classroom.
But here’s a hot tip: Even if you’re not a student, the late summer months are prime time to get a new laptop computer. That’s because retailers and manufacturers are expecting back-to-school volumes and get competitive with discounts to make as many sales as they can. Here’s a rundown on the best deals, plus spotlights on five different models that you can save big cash on—over $500 in some cases.
The Best Back-to-School Laptop Deals
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Not all laptops are created equal. Some pack peerless processing power for lightning-quick file opening, high-end graphics and gaming, or media creation. Others cut down on features to lower the price and the weight, so you’re not hauling around a beastly brick of a computer from class to class. It’s important to select a laptop that fits your needs and your budget. These sales will help for the second part, and these five laptops will hit different student sweet spots.
Best Overall Back-to-School Laptop
(Credit: Kyle Cobian)
Dell XPS 13 9315 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM
If you’re looking for a model that performs capably but doesn’t cost a ton or weigh a ton, Dell’s XPS 13 9315 laptop is our pick. In our review, we extolled its “sharp edge-to-edge 13.4-inch display” that pairs with the new Intel Alder Lake processor to deliver clear, bright visuals. Weighing in at just 2.59 pounds, it’s easy to carry around and durable enough to get you through to your degree. Taking $250 off is a pretty nice incentive here. This configuration comes with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and Windows 11 Home.
Best for Productive Study Sessions
(Credit: PCMag)
13.3″ Apple MacBook Air M1 Chip 256GB SSD
Apple’s shift away from Intel chips to in-house silicon marked a major sea change in how its laptops and desktops performed, and that was clear from the first time we booted up the MacBook Air M1. In our review, we gave it an Outstanding rating and an Editors’ Choice award, proclaiming that it’s “the best value among macOS laptops.” This one is great for focusing because of its epic battery life, solid performance, and all-metal construction. Taking 25% off the 256GB SSD model is a sizable discount. This configuration comes with 8GB of RAM and macOS Big Sur (the macOS Sonoma upgrade drops in the fall).
Best 2-in-1 Convertible Option
(Credit: Best Buy)
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 Ryzen 5 Pro 512GB SSD 8GB RAM 13.3″ 2-in-1 Laptop
The 2-in-1 form factor has been growing in popularity as people learn to love tablets, and many manufacturers have hopped on the bandwagon. Lenovo has been steadily innovating, and our review lauds the previous generation as a “top-notch convertible-laptop” for the $899.99 asking price, which makes this whopping $300 off even sweeter. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 Pro processor and the Windows 11 Home operating system, it’ll help you do your homework and do multitasking web browsing in the background. The 13.3-inch 1080p screen is comfortably sized to use in either tablet or traditional laptop mode.
Recommended by Our Editors
Best for Unwinding After Classes
(Credit: Matthew Buzzi)
Lenovo LOQ Intel i5 RTX 3050 1TB SSD 8GB RAM 15.6″ Laptop
Lenovo’s LOQ line is a budget-friendly option for gamers, and this configuration includes a 13th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and an RTX 3050 graphics card. In terms of gaming power, this laptop can play on medium settings in 1,080p resolution.The 1TB SSD is also a very nice feature at this price.
Best for Budget Buyers
(Credit: Best Buy)
Asus Chromebook Intel Celeron 17.3″ 1080p Laptop
If you’re pinching pennies and don’t want to go into even more student debt, a Chromebook might be the answer. Running on Google’s Chrome OS, these have become popular options for cash-strapped learners, as they deliver solid and reliable performance without a lot of bells and whistles. Some of the nicer features of the OS include cloud backups, built-in virus protection, and an extensive app library. This Asus model is a higher-end unit, with a nice-looking 1,920-by-1,080 full HD screen, and a $101 discount puts it in bargain bin territory. This configuration comes with 8GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD.
Is Back-to-School the Best Time to Buy a Laptop?
July and August rival November and December for the best months to buy a laptop. Retail giants like Dell(Opens in a new window), Best Buy(Opens in a new window), Walmart(Opens in a new window), Lenovo(Opens in a new window), and HP(Opens in a new window) hold sales specifically for the back-to-school season, which spans from June to September.
Can Students Get Cheaper Laptops?
Yes! College students can cash in on student-specific discounts.
Where Can Students Get Cheaper Laptops?
We thought you might ask. Check out these laptop retailers:
Dell(Opens in a new window) – Join Dell University membership for exclusive discounts and Dell rewards.
Apple(Opens in a new window) – Education pricing available to students of all ages—plus their parents—and educators.
Lenovo(Opens in a new window) – Exclusive discounts after verifying through ID.me.
Acer(Opens in a new window) – Extra 10% student discount and free shipping after verifying your student status with Student Beans.
HP(Opens in a new window) – Sign into the Education store to see exclusive discount pricing.
Which Is Best: Chromebook, Windows, or Mac?
It depends on the use case: Chromebooks are great for those who want a no-frills, easy-to-use laptop experience without the worry of viruses in the ChromeOS operating system. Not to mention rock-bottom prices; many Chromebooks are $300 or less. The downside to ChromeOS is the limited experience on many models. Our Best Chromebooks roundup(Opens in a new window) is a good place to start if you’re not sure which one to buy.
The Windows laptop market, though pretty wide open, offers a lot of perks, starting with their mid-tier prices—usually sitting somewhere in the $1,000 range. Windows-based machines offer access to the widest array of software (including most AAA games) and the most form-factor flexibility (like detachable or folding keyboards and stylus-friendly touch screens). Most midrange ultraportables use Intel’s Core i5 or Core i7 CPUs, which offer plenty of power for everyday computing. The biggest downside is choosing the right Windows machine from a growing array of options; get a head start on your hunt with our roundup of the Best Laptops.
Apple’s MacBooks are lauded for their superior user experience and easy connectivity with other Apple devices; they’re usually laptop of choice for more artistically inclined students. The MacBook Pro and MacBook Air feature similar aesthetics, but come in different screen sizes and levels of processing power. For more on that, check out our M1 vs. M2 comparison. The lineup starts at $999 and only goes up from there; learn more about what each model can do for you here.
For more, check out MacOS vs. Windows: Which OS Really Is the Best?
What Should I Look for in a Laptop?
Your choice of laptop will depend on your scholar’s needs. For instance, if you have a young child who is used to touch-screen devices, a sturdy 2-in-1 convertible laptop with a touch screen might be a smart option. On the other hand, if your college student plans on having multiple research tabs open and music playing in the background while they write a paper, you’ll want to invest in a laptop with more RAM (8GB is pretty standard) and a powerful CPU.
It may sound weird for some, but a gaming laptop might be worth considering for those who want to game and study on the go, or for those who don’t want the hassle (and expense) of buying a separate PC or gaming console. Either way, a gaming laptop offers more power than most traditional laptops, which is good for students who might work on more resource-intensive projects like 3D rendering or photo and video editing.
What Are Some Good Budget Laptops?
We have a full roundup of top budget laptops. Our current favorites include the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, Acer Aspire 5, and HP Laptop 17.
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