A new year is a great time to start fresh and change things up. That includes your laptop. But how can you upgrade without spending a bundle? Didn’t you miss all the major sales during the run-up to the holidays? Fortunately for you, the answer is no.
Retailers and manufacturers still have plenty of devices on sale, and if it’s been a few years since your last update, even a laptop model released in 2021 will most likely add some more speed and power to your daily computing experience—not to mention added storage space and a potentially better screen, maybe even one with touch capabilities.
If it’s your first time diving into the laptop market in a while, you might be surprised at the amount of variety on the market. Not only do you have the Mac-versus-PC question to ask yourself, but you also need to decide whether you want a lightweight Chromebook, a 2-in-1 device, or even a high-powered tablet with a detachable keyboard. Whatever you choose, here are the best options we’ve found recently that’ll save you a few of those post-holiday dollars.
The Best Traditional Laptop Deals
Our current traditional laptop deal picks include the Inspiron 15 3511 for budget shoppers, and the HP ProBook for working from home and mobile business use. With the new 16-inch M2 Apple MacBook Pro out now, this might be your last chance to save $400 on the previous-gen M1 Pro model at Amazon.
Best 2-in-1 or Touch Laptop Deals
If you need a budget 2-in-1 touch-screen laptop, the Gateway Elite notebook is a decent choice considering the fast Intel Core i7 processor, 14.1-inch 1080p display, and included stylus. Our midrange deal pick from Best Buy is the Samsung Galaxy Book Intel 5 option for $599.99; the premium pick would be Dell’s answer to the Microsoft Surface, the 13-inch XPS 2-in-1 with an aluminum chassis, 12th gen Intel i5 CPU, keyboard folio cover, and magnetic stylus.
Best Gaming Laptop Deals
Our current deal pick for midrange gaming PC is the MSI Sword from Best Buy, which features an Intel Core i7 processor with RTX 3060 graphics for $999.99. If you need more power, consider the Dell G15 with Intel Core i9 processor paired with an RTX 3070 Ti graphics card for around $1,400 after code. We’re not seeing much budget gaming PC discounts but at under $500, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE offers cloud gaming on a 16-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Has it been a while since your last laptop upgrade? Advances in screen resolution, memory capacity, processor power, and battery capability abound. For example, if you’re currently locked to the nearest outlet because your old battery no longer holds a charge, many models on the market today (especially lightweight Chromebooks) can last a full day or more on a single charge.
If your old machine still has an old-school spinning HDD, you’ll love how snappy and safe an upgrade to a solid-state drive will be. And if you’re in a lot of video conferences, pick a machine with a 1080p webcam, so you look as good (if not better) than everyone else who’s still stuck with a 720p lens. Are all your old peripherals are still USB-A corded? If so, note that most machines have moved up to mostly USB-C ports, so you might want to add a USB hub to your order.
Finally, even though discounts on Apple laptops are usually neither common nor high-value, we’ve been seeing some sale prices on original M1 and M1 Pro laptop devices in the wake of the M2 release.
(And if you don’t need a mobile PC, check our list of the best desktop deals out there today.)
Traditional Laptop Deals
Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro 14″ or 16″ 512GB SSD (2021)
Apple just refreshed the 16-inch(Opens in a new window) and 14-inch(Opens in a new window) MacBook Pros with the latest M2 Pro and M2 Max processors, but the 2021 models are very capable machines for those looking for a deal on a MacBook Pro for work or media. This 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro features Apple M1 Pro 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of solid state storage. Unlike the MacBook Air(Opens in a new window), this Pro model has cooling fans, slightly improved battery life, and only weighs an extra 0.11kg in comparison—though the 2021 iteration eliminates the controversial touch bar. Check out our 2021 14-inch MBP and 16-inch MBP reviews.
Dell Inspiron 16 5620 Intel i7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM FHD+ 16″ Laptop
The Inspiron 5620 series laptop features the 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor with a 16-inch 16:10 1,920-by-1,200 FHD+ high-resolution display. This laptop could be great for most school or office tasks thanks to its generous 1TB solid state storage and 16GB (2x 8GB) DDR4 3200MHz RAM memory. To save some cash, you could also go with the less powerful Intel i5 configuration with 512GB SSD and 8GB RAM.
HP ProBook 445 G8 Ryzen 5 14″ 1080p Laptop (Wolf Security Ed.)
This HP ProBook 445 G8 notebook makes cybersecurity its top priority with the included year of HP Wolf Pro Security Edition software. If you’re looking for a business laptop, look no further than this configuration which has a snappy AMD Ryzen 5, 16GB DDR4-3299 MHz RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Other features include a durable, spill-resistant keyboard, 720p HD privacy web camera, and a HP Long Life 3-cell, 45Wh Li-ion battery.
Dell Vostro 3510 Intel i5 256GB SSD 8GB RAM 15.6″ Laptop
With an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, Windows 11 Pro, and all-day battery life this business grade laptop is ready to get the job done. The Vostro 3510 is made to last with a durable metal frame and spill-proof keyboard and its low-profile form factor make it a great working companion on the go.
2-in-1 and Touch-Screen Laptop Deals
Lenovo Flex 5 Ryzen 5 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 14″ Touch Laptop
This versatile 2-in-1 by Lenovo has a 360-degree hinge for one of four modes: laptop, tablet, tent, or stand. Watch shows, surf the web, and even sketch with the included Lenovo Digital Pen. Measuring only 12.33 by 8.85 by 0.76 inches, this laptop will make a perfect travel companion.
Recommended by Our Editors
Samsung Galaxy Book Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6″ Touch Laptop
Measuring only 0.61 by 9.02 by 3.51 inches, the Samsung Galaxy Book is almost as thin and light as your smartphone and doubly powerful. The 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor is designed to zip through tasks and the 512GB SSD means quick startup as well as plenty of space for your files. If you don’t need as much power or storage, there’s also a configuration with an Intel Core i5 processor and 256GB SSD for $200 less.
Dell XPS 13 9315 Intel i5 512GB SSD 8GB RAM 3K 13″ 2-in-1 Laptop
Measuring 0.29 inches thick and weighing 1.6 pounds, the Dell XPS 9315 runs a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and 512GB SSD. It brings details to life with its 3K resolution and 500-nit touch display. Your purchase includes a magnetic XPS Stylus, which has programmable buttons and Bluetooth connectivity. It can be used for up to 50 days, depending on usage, and will reach full charge in under two hours by simply snapping it to the top of the XPS 13 2-in-1.
Gateway Elite 2-in-1 Intel i7 14.1″ 1080p Touch Laptop & Stylus
Powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7, this 14.1-inch Gateway laptop has 8GB RAM and a 256GB solid state drive. Quick and reliable, it weighs a mere 3.4 pounds making it an ultra portable companion for getting work done. The 1080p display will be easy on the eyes while multitasking between streaming content, creating documents, and surfing the web and the included stylus will be handy for navigation.
Gaming Laptop Deals
Dell G15 Intel i5 RTX 3050 120Hz
The price is right for this Dell G15 gaming laptop, which will be able to keep up with most modern-day titles without breaking the bank. The 15-inch screen boasts FHD resolution and a refresh rate of up to 165Hz; coupled with an RTX 3050 graphics card, you’ll be able to play in 1080p at medium to high settings without issue.
Alienware x17 R2 Intel i9 RTX 3080 Ti 480Hz
The Alienware x17 R2 is the brand’s thinnest 17-inch gaming laptop, but it’s still incredibly powerful. Running a 12th Gen Intel Core i9 processor and a RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, you’d be hard pressed to find a zippier laptop when it comes to gaming and surfing the web. And speaking of gaming: the massive 2TB SSD will hold plenty of titles and the 64GB of RAM will easily run multiple programs, plus resource-heavy ones like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Premiere.
MSI Sword Intel i7 RTX 3060 144Hz
Featuring a lightning-fast 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM, the MSI Sword is a laptop with a lot of power under the hood for gaming and multimedia creation. The powerful RTX 3060 graphics card offers gaming at max settings and, coupled with a 144Hz refresh rate, will render smooth, tear-free gameplay.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Ryzen 7 RTX 3060 144Hz
This Asus ROG Zephyrus gaming laptop runs an RTX 3060 graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS processor. The 14-inch 1,920-by-1,080-resolution display has a 144Hz refresh rate for tear-free, lag-free gaming and the proprietary ROG Intelligent Cooling will keep your hardware from overheating. Plus, with 512GB of solid state storage and 16GB RAM, you’ll be able to store and run a multitude of AAA titles.
What’s the best low-priced laptop?
PCMag’s current top-rated budget laptop is the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14, which offers excellent performance and a bevy of modern trappings that almost make you forget it rings up at less than $600.
Which is the best site for buying a laptop?
The usual suspects when it comes to buying a laptop are Amazon and Best Buy, but you can often snag a deal at Newegg and Walmart, too, or direct from PC makers like Dell and HP. They all want your money, so they’ll often price-match each other if a rival is having a sale. Use a price-comparison app to compare prices and read PCMag’s reviews to make sure you’re really getting a deal.
What is the most reliable laptop to buy?
The HP Pavilion Plus 14 is our current favorite among general-use Windows laptops. This laptop merges high-quality hardware and design with a surprisingly low starting price, bringing very capable computing power to more people than most flagship models. For those set on Apple, you can save some money and still get a powerful, long-lasting laptop by picking up the M1-based 2020 MacBook Air—otherwise, the pricier 2022 model is also a safe choice.
Which laptop is best in 2022?
Laptops come in many flavors. Do you need a gaming PC? A portable, convertible 2-in-1? Maybe you’re a macOS fan. We have top-rated laptops in each category, but our top-rated overall laptops include the HP Pavilion Plus 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14 mentioned earlier, as well as the 2022, M2-based Apple MacBook Air.
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