Since its inception, the PCMag Deals team has been dedicated to saving you money and serving up the best electronics sales, especially on laptops. During our curation process, we consider different budgets, how you’ll use the laptop, and the frequency with which we see particular configurations on sale.
We also monitor all major retailers to find you the best discounts and deals. More often than not, we select products tested and vetted in PC Labs by our experts, whose experience helps us to determine whether a model is worth your money. We’re here to ensure you’re getting quality and savings on your next major tech purchase because, after all, you’re probably not buying a new model every year (or even every few years). So let’s get to those laptop deals…
We’ve tested and reviewed the best laptops on the market. If you haven’t upgraded in a while, you’ll be pleased to see all the progress made in screen resolution, memory capacity, processor power (especially for Mac stans ready to step up to an Apple M3 or M4 chip), and battery longevity. Perhaps you’re stuck by the nearest AC outlet because your old battery no longer charges? In that case, many models today (especially lightweight Chromebooks) can go for a full day or longer on a single charge. Check out these deals on all kinds of laptops, which you can easily take during your out-of-town travels for work or play.
If you’re on the fence about a new laptop, check our list of the best desktop deals today.
Best Gaming Laptop Deals
Budget gamers shouldn’t miss out on the HP Victus, which will easily handle your 1080p gaming needs. Want more power? Check out the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9, which will be a content creator’s best friend.
Best Midrange
Our expert reviewed a previous generation model, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8, in 2023 and praised the quality build and port selection, terrific keyboard, and strong performance for the price. In testing, we found, “the Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 put up an excellent showing. It didn’t match the super-premium Legion Pro 7i, but it didn’t feel very far behind considering the whopping difference in price” with its RTX 4070 GPU, so imagine how well the new RTX 5060 will run! The main difference between generations lies in the components, namely, the speedier AMD Ryzen 9 CPU. That’s excellent news for you, the buyer, because the Legion Pro 5 Gen 10 is on sale right now for $279.85 off.
Best Next-Gen Value
The HP Omen Max features the next-gen Nvidia GPU and Ryzen AI CPU combo: an RTX 5080 GPU and Ryzen AI 9 CPU, to be exact. This potent combination will make light work of both gaming and productivity tasks. You’ll be able to run recent releases like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered at its highest settings to revisit a visually-enhanced Cyrodiil, and there’s enough storage to host your growing gaming library. The brilliant 16-inch display will render on-screen action in crisp, clear 2K, and 32GB of RAM is more than enough to tackle creative tasks like recording and editing your gaming highlights. You know, for those online bragging rights. This deep $1,150 discount is a compelling reason to buy. Don’t forget code LEVELUP20 to maximize your savings.
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More Gaming Laptop Deals
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Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 10 Ryzen 9 RTX 5060 1TB SSD 16GB RAM 16″ Laptop
for
$1,650.14
(List Price $1,929.99)
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HP Omen Max Ryzen AI 9 RTX 5080 1TB SSD 32GB RAM 16″ Laptop
for
$2,199.99 With Code “LEVELUP20” -
Alienware x16 R2 Intel Ultra 9 RTX 4080 1TB SSD 32GB RAM 16″ 480Hz Laptop
for
$2,499.99
(List Price $3,199.99)
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HP Victus Ryzen 7 RTX 4060 1TB SSD 16GB RAM 16″ Laptop
for
$1,039.99 With Code “LEVELUP20” -
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5070 Ti 1TB 16″ OLED Laptop
for
$2,218.49
(List Price $2,469.99)
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Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5070 Ti 2TB 240Hz Laptop
for
$2,799.99
(List Price $3,099.99)
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HP Omen Intel Ultra 5 RTX 4050 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 16″ Laptop
for
$735.99 With Code “LEVELUP20”
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Best Budget Laptop Deals
These laptops cost less than $1,000 and can easily handle daily tasks. Our top budget laptop deal is the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640, which delivers premium computing for under a grand. Additionally, we’ve found the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 to be a budget-friendly option for daily computing.
Best Daily Driver
A 13th generation Intel Core i5 for less than $500? Sounds like a good deal to me. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is a great option for daily use. This 15.6-inch laptop sports a 1080p display and enough RAM to multitask multiple browser tabs and applications. The Windows 11 Pro OS streamlines the user experience with a personal AI assistant, a modern interface, and pro features like enterprise-level security and remote PC control. Designed for productivity, this laptop has a multitude of ports that make it so you’ll have no issues connecting to peripheral devices, like a secondary display or flash drive to transfer files. Meanwhile, ExpressCharge technology brings your battery life up to 80% in just 60 minutes, so you don’t have to be tethered to an outlet. Get your hands on this capable productivity machine for $120 off retail, and quickly and efficiently browse the web, fire off emails, and run applications for less.
Best For Productivity
Our expert reviewed the previous-generation Lenovo ThinkPad E14 and gave it our Editors’ Choice stamp of approval as a budget business laptop. He went on to say, “sturdy build quality, excellent inputs, and long battery life uphold the ThinkPad tradition to make for an ideal productivity platform,” and these characteristics still ring true in the Gen 6 iteration. If you type a lot, you’ll want to get your hands on what our expert called the “Gold standard ThinkPad keyboard.” It’s responsive and comfortable to type on, and it’s backlit so you can type in any lighting.
Recommended by Our Editors
Wi-Fi 6 keeps you connected and disruption-free while juggling multiple webpages, and a 1080p Webcam will have you looking your best during Zoom calls and Google Meets. This $789 sale drops this productivity champ below $1,000 and is a great deal for a machine that works as hard as you do.
More Budget Laptop Deals
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Best 2-in-1 and Touch-Screen Laptop Deals
Transforming from tablet to laptop or just incorporating a touch screen for a more intuitive user interface, 2-in-1s are versatile devices. If you don’t need the 360-degree hinge typical of 2-in-1 models, a clamshell-style touch-screen laptop is a (sometimes) more affordable option. Our topmost touch laptop deal is the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2.
Best For Business
Our expert reviewed the previous generation of the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 and called it “a capable big-screen business laptop at a bargain price,” and ultimately awarded it an excellent rating. The Gen 2 offers performance improvements as well as the same plentiful ports, which make it easy to connect peripheral devices like keyboards, mice, and an optional monitor. Those familiar with the ThinkPad line will be happy to hear that the snappy, responsive keyboard and the large, smooth-gliding touchpad remain untouched from the previous model. $280 is a decent amount to save when investing in your workplace productivity, and that makes this deal even more valuable. Time is money, and this workhorse will power through your workload to save you both.
Best for Creatives
The HP OmniBook X Flip includes a potent Intel Ultra 7 CPU and integrated Arc 140V graphics. The generous 16-inch OLED display has a 3K resolution for unparalleled image quality, whether you’re watching a movie or surfing the web. The included MPP2.0 Tilt Natural Silver Pen enables writers, note-takers, and artists to do what they do best and is a $83 value. This 2-in-1 laptop delivers the portability of a tablet and the power of a laptop without having to buy two separate devices, which in and of itself is a great deal. Be sure to use code OMNIPC100 to maximize your savings.
More 2-in-1 and Touch Deals
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
What Are the Most Affordable Laptop Deals This Season?
Right now, the best deal in laptops overall is the $999 (retail price) 13-inch MacBook Air with M4 processor. Apple reduced the starting price by $100, so the M4 Air is now priced the same as the M2. That’s a considerable increase in value. However, the latest MacBook Air will have many rivals before the end of the year.
What’s the Best Low-Priced Laptop?
PCMag’s current top-rated budget laptop is the Acer Aspire 3. Simple and effective, it’s priced competitively for a Ryzen 3 processor, a 128GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch 1080p display.
Which Laptop Is the Best (So Far) in 2025?
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 Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406), the Acer Aspire 3, and the Apple MacBook Air (2025, M4).
Which Is the Most Reliable Laptop to Buy?
Again, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch (UM3406) is our current favorite among general-use Windows laptops. This laptop merges premium hardware and design with a competitive starting price, bringing capable computing power to more people than most flagship models. If you’re set on Apple, you can save money and still get a powerful, long-lasting laptop by picking up the M4-based MacBook Air 13-inch.
Is There a Best Time of Year to Buy a Laptop?
Black Friday is typically the best time to buy electronics, but for laptops specifically, you can also shop around the Back-to-School season, which starts in July and usually sees price drops on laptops suited for students. If you’re looking to maximize your purchasing power, look at our 15 Money-Saving Tips for Laptop Buyers article.
Is $1,000 Enough for a Gaming Laptop?
For as low as $700, you can get a budget laptop that will do a serviceable job at 1080p gaming while meeting the requirements for modern games. The Acer Nitro V 15 is our overall top pick, but our expert breaks down the best options for different gaming needs, so be sure to check out our Best Budget Gaming Laptops explainer.
Are 2-in-1 Laptops More Expensive?
2-in-1 laptops can be more expensive simply because, as the name suggests, you’re buying two devices in one: a laptop and a tablet. 2-in-1 laptops come in two formats: a convertible laptop, which is a one-piece machine, and a detachable tablet, which can divide into a tablet and keyboard. But it all depends on the model and the family, and how the laptop is configured. There are cheap 2-in-1s, just as there are expensive classic clamshell laptops that don’t convert into tablets.
What Is the Best Laptop Under $800?
You can get a lot of computing power nowadays for under $800. In fact, our topmost laptop for most people, the Asus Zenbook Touch, comes in at $799.99, and the 2025 Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 was named the best budget Chromebook overall. Check out our complete list of Best Budget Laptop Picks for more configurations.
How Can I Buy Apple Laptops at a Cheaper Price?
Retailers occasionally offer discounts on MacBooks, and students can take advantage of Apple education pricing on Apple.com. Our helpful buying guide will help you determine which model is best for you.
Which Is the Best Site for Buying a Laptop or Getting the Biggest Laptop Discounts During Prime Day or Cyber Monday?
The usual suspects when 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 ensure you’re getting a deal.
Is Buying a Laptop From Costco Worth it?
We certainly think so. Costco offers competitive pricing, and many of its laptops include a two-year warranty, technical support, and a hassle-free 90-day return policy.
Can I Get a Student Discount on a Laptop?
Yes, most but not every manufacturer provides student discounts. Here’s a list of the most popular laptop vendors that issue student discounts:
Is Dell or HP Better? How Much Should You Pay for a Laptop?
In our Readers’ Choice: Best Laptop Brands series, we asked our readers which laptop brands they preferred, and the general consensus is that Dell is ahead of HP. However, you should take that with a grain of salt, as buying a laptop based on brand alone might cause you to miss out on hidden gems.
Laptop prices will range based on features. Basic but full-featured models can cost as little as $500, while gaming juggernauts can run you over $2,000. The most important factors to remember are the components and specs you need most, as the price range will determine what you’re getting—and what you’re sacrificing. For example, a low-budget laptop will have less storage space and RAM than a higher-priced laptop. It will be suitable for casual use, but only if you’re not multitasking or running CPU-demanding programs.
How Long Should My Laptop Last?
A computer can last a few years if you treat it well. This means using malware protection when browsing the web, using a dedicated surge protector to protect your hardware from electrical damage, managing battery health, and more. You can find longevity-boosting tips for your laptop at the link, too.
If you have battery life in mind, that generally varies based on usage. Laptops with 4K displays running demanding games that test the limits of your GPU will naturally drain more quickly than a laptop just used to surf the web, all else being equal. At PC Labs, we test battery life by playing a locally stored video file nonstop with no wireless connections active and at 50% screen brightness. This may not match your usage profile, but it is the best comparative measure for which system will provide longer battery life overall. More processor-intensive work will soak up battery life, so keep that in mind. Our test is something of a best-case scenario.
How Much Memory Should My Laptop Have?
That depends on what you need your laptop for and how you use it. (Are you seeing a trend here?) If you’re thinking about “memory” as “storage,” SSDs are the best and most common drive configuration, as they’re faster at accessing data, as well as secure against jolts and bumps in comparison with their classic hard drive counterparts.
Some older laptops (almost all of them used or refurbished models) you see on sale may still use hard drives, and some older large laptops even use a combination of the two, which is fine if you want to save money and maximize local storage space. That being said, the minimum amount of storage space most laptop buyers should consider is 256GB, and it should be an SSD. If you have lots of videos, photos, and the like, you’ll want at least 512GB. Gamers will want at least 1TB to accommodate the large file size of game titles.
Then there’s system memory (or RAM), which works alongside your CPU to run apps and determine your multitasking ability. 16GB is the sweet spot for most people, from multitaskers to PC gamers, but the more, the better—especially for faster performance and better multitasking.
About Joe Osborne
Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware
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About Jade Chung-Lee
Merchandising Associate
