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
- Asus Chromebook Intel Celeron 17.3" 1080p Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $287.99 (List Price $389)
- Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Intel i5 512GB SSD 15.6" Touch Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $399.99 (List Price $629.99)
- Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Intel i5 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6" Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $429.99 (List Price $649.99)
- Dell XPS 13 9315 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM FHD+ Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $849.00 (List Price $1,099)
- Apple MacBook Air 13.3" Laptop With M1 Chip, 256GB SSD (Opens in a new window) for $749.99 (List Price $999)
- Acer Chromebook 516 GE Intel i5 16" WQXGA 120Hz Cloud Gaming Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $499.00 (List Price $649)
- Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 Ryzen 5 Pro 512GB 2-in-1 Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $599.99 (List Price $899.99)
- Lenovo LOQ Intel i5 RTX 3050 1TB SSD 8GB RAM 15.6" Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $679.99 (List Price $949.99)
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Chip 256GB SSD 13" Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $1,099.00 (List Price $1,299)
- HP Pavilion 15 Ryzen 7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6" Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $579.99 (List Price $849.99)
- Lenovo Yoga 7 Ryzen 7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 16" 2-in-1 Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $749.99 (List Price $949.99)
- Alienware m17 R5 Ryzen 9 RTX 3060 1TB SSD 17.3" Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $1,349.99 (List Price $1,949.98)
- Dell G16 Intel i7 RTX 3050 Ti 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 16" Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $899.99 (List Price $1,249.99)
- Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 Intel i7 512GB 15.6" AMOLED Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $1,099.99 (List Price $1,349.99)
*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.
- Dell XPS 13 9315 Intel i7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM FHD+ Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $849.00 (List Price $1,099)
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).
- Apple MacBook Air 13.3" Laptop With M1 Chip, 256GB SSD (Opens in a new window) for $749.99 (List Price $999)
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.
- Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 Ryzen 5 Pro 512GB 2-in-1 Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $599.99 (List Price $899.99)
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.
- Lenovo LOQ Intel i5 RTX 3050 1TB SSD 8GB RAM 15.6" Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $679.99 (List Price $949.99)
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.
- Asus Chromebook Intel Celeron 4GB 64GB 17.3" 1080p Laptop (Opens in a new window) for $287.99 (List Price $389)
