You’ve gotta be careful buying random laptops on Amazon. There’s a lot of junk that masquerades as good deals, especially when you get under $500. Don’t fall for it though. Below, you’ll find the best Prime Day laptop deals on devices and accessories we’ve personally reviewed this year. More than ever, it’s possible to get an affordable computer you won’t instantly regret buying or a great discount on one you’ve had your eye on. Read our Best Prime Day Deals roundup or Prime Day Liveblog for more.
WIRED Featured Deals
Laptop Deals
The Best MacBook Deal
Yes, the MacBook Air M4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the top pick in our Best Laptops and Best MacBooks guides. But it’s also the laptop I find myself recommending to my friends and family most. There’s no other laptop under $1,000 that combines this balance of super-fast performance and a day’s worth of battery life, all in a chassis that is still the thinnest in the game. It even comes with 16 GB of RAM, though you may want to jump up to 512 GB of storage. Even with how much Apple charges to increase storage, it’s well worth it given how cheap it is right now.
A Reliable Surface Laptop
When I first reviewed the Surface Laptop 13.8-inch, also known as the Surface Laptop 7th Edition, (7/10, WIRED Recommends), it automatically became my daily driver. My favorite feature of the laptop is the display. It’s sharp and fast (with its 120-Hz refresh rate), but it’s the 3:2 aspect ratio display that really sets it apart. It’s a taller screen, and I love being able to see more of my work vertically. More than that, in its latest version, it finally gets great performance and battery life thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Pro (or even better, Elite) chips. There’s also a newer, more affordable model (confusingly, called the Surface Laptop 13), but it doesn’t have a lot of the features I like most about the 13.8-inch model. For what it’s worth, you can also pick up the base configuration for just $870.
A Surprisingly Affordable Windows Laptop
It’s hard to come by an affordable Windows laptop that isn’t awful. I’m always on the lookout, though, and this one is the best one I’ve reviewed in the past year. It’s not without its compromises, such as the quality of the display (the colors are a bit off), but that’s to be expected. What you get is some great performance and battery life for the money, something the Snapdragon X provides. Those are things cheap Windows laptops in the past severely underdelivered in, but for the first time, that’s changing. The Asus Vivobook 14 (6/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best example of that so far, and that’s even more impressive at this discounted price.
A Sensible Chromebook Plus
If you’re coming to Prime Day looking for something dirt cheap, I’ve got one for you. Yes, this device is a Chromebook, but as a “Chromebook Plus” model, it’s a big step up from the reputation these laptops have when kids are introduced to them in schools. The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 comes with a 1080p display, a spacious 15.6-inch display, and an Intel Core i3 processor. The screen isn’t a touchscreen, but there’s good port selection and decent speakers. For the price, it’s a really strong machine if your needs aren’t high.
A Killer Deal on a Tiny Laptop
Want a tiny laptop you can take anywhere? If you’re OK working within the confines of a Chromebook, then Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet is a must-have and a steal at this price. The 11-inch LCD is compact, and the trackpad and keyboard can feel cramped, but the overall build quality is great, the display is vivid, and performance is snappy.
A Solid Laptop Packed With Storage and RAM
There’s a lot to like about the Dell 14 Plus (6/10, WIRED Reviewed), such as the plethora of ports, solid build quality, decent IPS screen, and great battery life. My main criticism when I reviewed it was the pricing though. It was too expensive, overall, and I didn’t like the lack of lower-tier configurations, with storage options starting at 1 TB. The Prime Day sale doesn’t counteract those complaints, but it sure makes the overall package more desirable, bringing the price to $950 for an absolutely stacked configuration, including 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB of storage. If you equally configured the MacBook Air or Surface Laptop, you’d be paying a whole lot more.
Accessory Deals
A Stylish Stand
If something’s going to be sitting on your desk every day, it may as well be pretty. Branch is already known for that as a brand—it makes our favorite office chair—but this laptop stand really does look gorgeous. The combination of the walnut-colored wood and clean, minimalist aesthetic does just enough to spice up what is otherwise a pretty basic peripheral. There’s just not a better laptop stand out there.
For Extra Ports
When it comes to small accessories, sometimes simpler is better. That’s why this Anker USB-C hub just makes so much sense. Especially in a world where most laptops have limited ports, it’s the kind of thing almost everyone needs. Plenty of USB hubs offer a wider variety of ports and even external monitor support, but this Anker USB-C Hub is too convenient and cheap not to have.
Oh, you know. It’s that mouse. The one everyone raves about. And for Prime Day, it’s at its lowest price ever at $95, 21% off its retail price. And in case you’re wondering, it really is that good. If you’ve never used more than something basic like the Apple Magic Mouse, you’ll quickly appreciate not only the clicky buttons and grippy scroll wheels, but also the added ergonomics. Trust me, your thumb and writst will thank you later.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
