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 Lenovo LOQ, which will easily handle your 1080p gaming needs. Want more power? Check out the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 10, which will be a content creator’s best friend.
Best Premium Configuration
Alienware 16 Area-51 16-Inch 240Hz Laptop
Intel Ultra 9/RTX 5080/2TB SSD/32GB RAM
$2,699.99
at Dell
$3,449.99
Save $750.00
The Alienware 16 Area-51 features cutting-edge components, including the new RTX 50 series laptop GPUs and a powerful Intel “Arrow Lake” Core Ultra 9 275HX mobile processor. With a huge amount of power to go around, you’ll be able to fire up new video game releases or engage in video and photo editing with a healthy amount of multitasking. The sharp, bright 1600p screen has a rapid 240Hz refresh rate that, when coupled with G-Sync compatibility, provides high fidelity image quality across various gaming genres and content types.
“This laptop’s performance aligns with other top-end machines, even outperforming some better-equipped laptops, ensuring a smooth gaming experience at high resolution,” our expert states in his review. Its most notable drawback is its lackluster battery life, but gamers seeking a high-powered desktop replacement are in good hands with this configuration. You can save $650 during the sale and get your hands on a “true heavyweight contender” for less.
Best Budget Configuration
Lenovo LOQ 17.3-Inch Laptop
Intel i5 13th Gen/RTX 5050/1TB SSD/16GB RAM
$829.99
at Lenovo
$1,119.99
Save $290.00
LOQ is Lenovo’s budget gaming line, but this gaming laptop is still built to last, meeting MIL-STD-810H standards for resistance against extreme temperatures, dust, and shock, so you can take it on the go without fear of damage. The 1080p 15.6-inch display is well-suited for team shooters like Fortnite, thanks to a wide field of view and rapid 144Hz refresh rate.
Our expert reviewed the 15-inch Lenovo LOQ 15 with an RTX 4050 GPU and less RAM, and found it to be a competent 1080p gaming laptop with an excellent keyboard for the money. This model features a more powerful GPU and increased RAM, delivering even better performance without a significant price increase. $260 is a good amount to save on a capable budget rig that can play recent releases at medium to high settings without draining your wallet.
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More Gaming Laptop Deals
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Lenovo LOQ Intel i5 RTX 5050 1TB SSD 16GB RAM 17.3″ Laptop
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$829.99
($1,119.99)
Save $290.00 -
Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5080 2TB SS…
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$2,699.99
($3,449.99)
Save $750.00 -
Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5080 1TB SS…
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$2,549.99
($3,549.99)
Save $1,000.00 -
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5070 Ti 1TB…
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$1,959.99
($2,484.99)
Save $525.00 -
Alienware 16X Aurora Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5070 2TB 240Hz Laptop
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$1,749.99
($2,249.99)
Save $500.00 -
HP Omen Ryzen AI 9 RTX 5070 1TB SSD 32GB RAM 16″ Laptop
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$1,399.99
($2,099.99)
Save $700.00
*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 HP 15t, which is well-suited for casual use and costs under $500. For those seeking a premium feel, consider the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 6, a productivity-focused machine that punches above its weight.
Best For Productivity
Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 6 14-Inch Laptop
Ryzen 7/1TB SSD/16GB RAM
$859.00
at Lenovo
$1,239.00
Save $380.00
Our expert reviewed the previous generation Lenovo ThinkPad E14 and gave it the 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.
Those who type a lot will want to get their hands on what our expert called the “Gold standard ThinkPad keyboard,” which is responsive and comfortable to type on, and is backlit so you can type in any lighting condition. Wi-Fi 6 connectivity keeps you connected and disruption-free while juggling multiple webpages, and a 1080p webcam ensures you look your best during Zoom calls and Google Meet sessions. This $380 sale drops this productivity champ below $1,000 and is a great deal for a machine that works as hard as you do.
Recommended by Our Editors
Best for Daily Use
Dell 15 DC15255 15.6-Inch Laptop
Ryzen 7/1TB SSD/16GB RAM
$419.99
at Dell
$678.99
Save $259.00
If you’re familiar with the Dell Inspiron 15 line, you may recognize the Dell 15 DC15250 by its dimensions. This budget laptop is a great option for daily computing tasks, thanks to its Ryzen 7 processor, 15.6-inch 1080p display with a swift 120Hz refresh rate, and sufficient RAM to multitask multiple browser tabs and applications.
The Windows 11 OS streamlines the user experience with a personal AI assistant and more. Designed for productivity, this laptop features a multitude of ports, ensuring seamless connections to peripheral devices, such as a secondary display or flash drive, for file transfers. And you can skip scrambling to find an outlet, thanks to ExpressCharge technology, which brings your battery life up to 80% in just 60 minutes. This configuration offers a lot of value for the price, and this deal drops it down below $500.
More Budget Laptop Deals
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Best 2-in-1 and Touch-Screen Laptop Deals
2-in-1s are versatile devices that can transform from tablet to laptop or incorporate a touch screen for a more intuitive user interface. 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 Yoga 7i with an OLED display.
Best Touch Screen for Productivity
Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 2 16-Inch Touch Laptop
Ryzen 7/1TB SSD/16GB RAM
$909.00
at Lenovo
$1,239.00
Save $330.00
When our expert reviewed the ThinkPad E16 Gen 1, he described it as “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. Work smarter, not harder. This $330 discount grants you access to a productivity machine with an AI-enhanced processor, providing the power you need to handle demanding workflows and the durability and security to conduct business on the go.
Best for Creatives
HP OmniBook X Flip 16-Inch 3K 2-in-1 Laptop
Intel Ultra 7/Arc 140V/512GB SSD/16GB RAM
$849.99
at HP
$1,299.99
Save $450.00
The HP OmniBook X Flip includes a powerful Intel Ultra 7 CPU and integrated Arc 140V graphics. The gorgeous 16-inch OLED display features a 3K resolution, ensuring clear image quality whether you’re watching a movie or browsing the web. As a Copilot+ PC, you gain access to localized AI features, including text and image generation, as well as web page and document summarization. The included HP USB-C Rechargeable MPP2.0 Tilt Natural Silver Pen opens up a world of input possibilities, whether you’re drawing or taking notes, and is a $82.99 value. This 2-in-1 laptop offers the portability of a tablet and the power of a laptop, all in one device, which is a great deal in itself. You can save $450 when you check out now.
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:
Acer
Apple
Asus
Dell
HP
Lenovo
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 Our Experts
Joe Osborne
Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware
Experience
After starting my career at PCMag as an intern more than a decade ago, I’m back as one of its editors, focused on managing laptops, desktops, and components coverage. With 15 years of experience, I have been on staff and published in technology review publications, including PCMag (of course!), Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and IGN. Along the way, I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops and helped develop testing protocols. I have expertise in testing all forms of laptops and desktops using the latest tools. I’m also well-versed in video game hardware and software coverage.
Read Full Bio
Jade Chung-Lee
Merchandising Associate
Experience
When she isn’t perusing online stores for deals, Jade enjoys playing video games (mostly JRPGs and roguelikes), sorting board game components neatly into containers, and building Gundam models. Her love of electronics has persisted through her youth and has resulted in a collection of gaming peripherals including keyboards and controllers, scale figures, and art work. Jade lives in blissful harmony with her wife, cat, and two chinchillas—as well as a host of houseplants.
Read Full Bio
