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Today’s best laptop deals: Save big on work, school, home use, and gaming
Image: IDG
If you’re looking for an affordable Windows machine under $500, a blazing fast gaming beast for those intense matches, or a portable 2-in-1 for school or work, you’ve got plenty of great choices right now.
Want to see even more? Take a peek at PCWorld’s list of the top laptops you can get right now.
Meet the GIGABYTE AERO X16, the one notebook that does it all. Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen processors and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series GPUs, this laptop is perfectly designed to game, create, or simply entertain on the go.
Why you should trust us: It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
Best budget laptop deals under $500
Dell
Our top pick: Dell Inspiron 15, $422.99 ($207 off at Best Buy)
Looking for a budget laptop that doesn’t cut many corners? The Dell Inspiron 15 is the one to spring for. The Intel Core i5-1334U processor keeps everyday work, streaming, and a pile of open tabs running smoothly, while the 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD give you enough space for daily use. The 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen is a nice bonus at this price and, at $422.99, it’s a straightforward deal that should last you a good while.
Amazon
- Acer Aspire Premium, AMD Ryzen 3 7330U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $359.99 ($40 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- Asus Vivobook 14, Intel Core i3-1315U processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, $249.99 ($200 off at Best Buy)
- Acer Aspire Go 15, Intel Core 5 Series 1 1334U processor/15.3-inch 1920×1200 display/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $349.99 ($250 off at Best Buy)
- Dell Inspiron 15, Intel Core i5-1334U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $422.99 ($207 off at Best Buy)
Drama
- Asus Vivobook 14, Intel Core i5-1334U processor/14-inch 1920×1080/12GB RAM/256GB SSD, $349.99 ($200 off at Adorama)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, Intel Core i3-N305 processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $489.99 ($60 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 1, AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $264.99 ($105 off at Newegg)
Best mid-range laptop deals ($500-$950)
HP
Our top pick: HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1, $929 ($120.99 off at Best Buy)
If you want a laptop that feels way nicer than what you’re paying, the HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 at Best Buy is the one to nab. It’s currently listed for $929 ($120.99 off), and you’re getting serious hardware for that price: a 14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display, an Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 256V processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD. So in other words, it’s fast and powerful–you’ve also got plenty of space for schoolwork or personal projects. And, since it’s a 2-in-1, you can flip it into tablet mode whenever you feel like it.
Amazon
- Dell Inspiron 5441, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD,$584.99 ($215 off at Amazon)
- Asus Vivobook 14, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD,$623 ($126.99 off at Amazon)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop (2025), Snapdragon X Plus processor/13-inch 1920×1280 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD,$649.99 ($250 off at Amazon)
- Apple 2025 MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD,$799 ($200 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- Samsung Galaxy Book4, Intel Core 7 Series 1 150U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $529.99 ($370 off at Best Buy)
- HP OmniBook 5 Flip 2-in-1, Intel Core 7 Series 1 150U processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $529.99 ($270 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 155U processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $818.99 ($231 off at Best Buy)
- HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 256V processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $929 ($120.99 off at Best Buy)
Drama
- Asus Vivobook 14, Intel Core 5 120U processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $549.99 ($100 off at Adorama)
- HP OmniBook 5, Snapdragon X processor/14-inch 1920×1200 OLED display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $599.99 ($100 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor/15.3-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $549.99 ($350 off at Newegg)
- Acer Aspire Go 15, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $549.99 ($270 off at Newegg)
HP
Our top pick: HP Omen 16, $1,099.99 ($380 off at Best Buy)
Looking for a gaming laptop that’s affordable and still brings serious power? The HP Omen 16 nails that balance. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor and RTX 5060 graphics, it delivers smooth performance for modern games. The 16-inch 1920×1200 display gives you enough screen space for gaming, streaming, and multitasking. With 16GB of RAM, you can easily run Discord, Spotify, and a dozen browser tabs without slowing down. Plus, the 1TB of SSD storage gives you ample room for all your games and files. Right now, it’s just $1,099.99 ($380 off at Best Buy).
Amazon
- HP Victus, AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor/RTX 2050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD,$549 ($61 off at Amazon)
- Alienware 16 Aurora, Intel Core 7-240H Series 2 processor/RTX 5060 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,099.99 ($300 off at Amazon)
- Asus ROG Strix G16 (2025), Intel Core i7-14650HX processor/RTX 5060 graphics/16-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,352.32 ($147.67 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- HP Victus, AMD Ryzen 7 7445H processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $798.99 ($101 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo LOQ, AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/12GB RAM/512GB SSD, $799 ($70.99 off at Best Buy)
- HP Omen 16, Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor/RTX 5060 graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,049.99 ($430 off at Best Buy)
Drama
- Asus TUF Gaming F15, Intel Core i5-12500H processor/RTX 3050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $719.99 ($200 off at Adorama)
- HP Omen Transcend 16, Intel Core i7-14700HX processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,899.99 ($120 off at Adorama)
- HP Omen Transcend, Intel Core i7-13700HX processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $2,049.99 ($569.44 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- MSI Thin A15, AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor/RTX 4060 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $679.99 ($120 off at Newegg)
- MSI Cyborg, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $829.99 ($170 off at Newegg)
- Lenovo Legion 5i, Intel Core i7-14700HX processor/RTX 5060 graphics/15.1-inch 2560×1600 OLED display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,139.99 ($160 off at Newegg)
Best premium laptop deals ($1,000+)
MSI
Our top pick: MSI Summit A16 AI+, $999.99 ($700 off at Newegg)
Out of all the Newegg deals listed below, the MSI Summit A16 AI+ is one of the strongest picks. For $999.99 (a hefty $700 off), you’re getting AMD’s new Ryzen AI 9 365 processor paired with Radeon 880M graphics, a sharp 16-inch 2560×1600 touchscreen display, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. That’s a premium blend of performance, storage, and sleek design. It’s the perfect buy for creators, professionals, and power users.
Amazon
- Apple MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD,$949.99 ($249.01 off at Amazon)
- Dell 14 Plus, Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor/14-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD,$1,049.99 ($350 off at Amazon)
- Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1, Snapdragon X Elite processor/13-inch 2880×1920 OLED display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD,$1,149.99 ($350 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $919.99 ($230 off at Best Buy)
- Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro, Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 256V processor/14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,099.99 ($250 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo Yoga Book 9i 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 1 155U processor/13.3-inch 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,499.99 ($500 off at Best Buy)
Drama
- Lenovo Slim 7, Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor/14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,049.99 ($250 off at Adorama)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12, Intel Co re Ultra 7 155U processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/32GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,649 ($600 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- MSI Summit A16 AI+, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor/16-inch 2560×1600 touchscreen display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 ($700 off at Newegg)
- MSI Prestige 16 AI+, Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,249.99 ($300 off at Newegg)
FAQ
1.
How much RAM will I need in my laptop?
You’ll want at least 8GB, though 16GB is preferable, especially if you play games. Don’t buy laptops with under 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage—though on a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. Check out our article on how much RAM does a laptop need for more in-depth info.
2.
What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop?
The one big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows.
Chromebooks make good everyday machines because they’re designed for browsing the web, checking e-mail, and so on. They use less resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also don’t need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is a lot more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really pump a Windows laptop up with a ton of RAM, storage, and so on.
3.
When should I look for a laptop deal?
You’ll likely find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you’ll find good laptop deals throughout the year, but if you really want to save big, we’d recommend scoping out your favorite online retailers during those times.
4.
Which retailers offer the best deals?
You can find all kinds of deals across a wide range of online retailers such as Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and so on. However, we’d recommend checking out deals from laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Dell. You’ll usually find many different configurations on sale and the discounts can be pretty darn steep.
For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.
Author: Ashley Biancuzzo, Associate Editor, PCWorld
Ashley Biancuzzo manages all laptop and Chromebook coverage for PCWorld. She’s been covering consumer tech since 2016, and her work has appeared on USA Today, Reviewed, Polygon, Kotaku, StarWars.com, and Nerdist. In her spare time, she enjoys playing video games, reading science fiction, and hanging out with her rescue greyhound.
Originally reported by pcworld.com. Adapted for our readers.
