If you want a great laptop, you’re going to have to spend a lot of money, right? Not necessary. There are dozens of good laptops on the market in different price ranges. While it can be overwhelming to find the right one for your needs (some are better suited to students, say, while others are ideal for gamers), we’ve put together this list of some of the best laptop deals available right now.
In addition to the latest deals, we share the best features (and drawbacks) of each discounted model to give you more clarity on your shopping journey. And if you need to do more research, you can also check out our guides to the best laptops on the market and the best cheap laptops.
And one last thing: The second Amazon Prime Day of the year is approaching on October 11 and 12. That means we may see even more great discounts on laptops, so you may want to hold off on buying a new one. In the meantime, get ready for Prime Day 2.0 with our guide to finding the best Prime Day deals.
The redesigned MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple’s latest chip. The M2 model also has a 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features such as long battery life and MagSafe charging.
We consider the latest MacBook Air with Apple’s M2 processor to be the best laptop for most people, one that offers all-day battery life and a combination of features that should be more than adequate for the average user. Plus, Apple’s new MacBook is powerful enough to handle even light gaming and even demanding photo and video editing apps like Photoshop and Adobe Premiere. It’s also faster than its predecessor thanks to Apple’s new M2 chip and offers a 1080p webcam, which is a welcome improvement given the disappointing camera on the 2020 M1 model. It’s much lighter and thus more portable, but it retains features like MagSafe charging and Touch ID, as well as a nice screen.
While it’s a great laptop overall, there’s one key area where Apple’s M1 model is better: storage. The base M2 MacBook Air with 256GB of storage is actually slower than its predecessor because it’s stored in a single NAND chip. Also keep in mind that the port selection isn’t great, and the included display notch – which can also be found on both the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros – can make using the menu bar more of a challenge.
If that doesn’t bother you though, we’re currently seeing the best discount yet on the M2-powered MacBook Air. Amazon is currently selling the dark blue “midnight” and cream starlight model with 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, an eight-core CPU and a 30 W power brick for $1,099, a $100 discount. B&H Photos also sells all colors for that discounted price.
The MacBook Air is Apple’s entry-level laptop, equipped with the company’s new M1 chip in one of three different colors (silver, space gray and gold).
For a cheaper alternative to our favorite laptop for most, check out the basic MacBook Air with the M1 chip, the best cheap laptop. Like its successor, it offers everything you need. It’s also faster than most Windows laptops at this price point, handling demanding photo and video editing apps like Photoshop and Adobe Premiere with finesse, especially when compared to its Intel-powered predecessors. Fortunately, all that power doesn’t come at the expense of battery life either. While not as good as the M2 model, we found it lasted between eight and 10 hours even when we played the game Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Not only does the laptop offer excellent performance, but it also has other useful features, including a comfortable keyboard and an excellent trackpad. Keep in mind that the 720p webcam isn’t particularly good, so if a high-resolution webcam is important to you, you may want to buy one separately. Also keep in mind that due to the limitations of the M1 chip you can only use one external display at a time and the port selection is also limited.
At the moment you can use the M1-powered MacBook Air with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage in select colors at B&H Photos and Amazon in front of $899 ($100 off). Pick up is also possible in store at Micro Center for $879.99.
13-inch MacBook Pro (M2 model)
The 13-inch MacBook Pro uses the 10-core M2 Apple CPU and can be configured to have up to 64GB of unified memory.
Right now, the MacBook Pro lineup consists of the newer 14- and 16-inch models released in late 2021 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro that just got an overhaul with the M2 processor in mid-2022.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is similar to the M2 MacBook Air, but is aimed at more demanding use. It is equipped with an M2 processor, unlike its predecessor, but still offers a fan and excellent performance that slightly exceeds the M2 Air. The battery – which we struggled to drain – remains one of the more impressive features, one that allows up to 18 hours of use on a single charge. Unfortunately, the laptop still suffers from the same outdated design (and Touch Bar) from 2016, as well as a mediocre 720p webcam. Plus, there’s no MagSafe charging and you only get a few USB-C ports.
Regular $1,499.99, the 512GB M2-equipped MacBook Pro is currently for sale in silver at Amazon for $1,299.99 ($200 off) like Best Buy. If you don’t need that much storage, the 256GB model also costs just $1,149 ($50 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro models)
The 14-inch MacBook Pro can be equipped with the new M1 Pro or M1 Max CPU and can be configured to have up to 64 GB of unified memory.
The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is a creative powerhouse equipped with Apple’s latest silicone. The 16-inch screen can be configured with the M1 Pro or the M1 Max and can be simultaneously loaned to up to three external screens and a 4K TV thanks to the sheer number of ports.
On the other hand, the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros are equipped with faster M1 Pro processors, and you can opt for an M1 Max CPU if you want to spend more money for even faster performance. They also offer a nice selection of ports, including multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe power connector. Whatever you get, these laptops offer incredible performance with some of the longest-lasting batteries we’ve tested yet.
Right now, the 14-inch silver model comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage $1,599 ($400 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. You can also buy the M1 Pro model with 1TB of storage for $2,099 instead of $2,499 of Best Buy and Amazon. If you prefer the 16-inch model, you can: get it with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD for the same price ($400 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i is a portable, convertible laptop with standout audio and a stylus in the garage.
Lenovo’s 14-inch Yoga 9i is our favorite laptop for multimedia entertainment. The convertible is equipped with fantastic speakers that deliver the best sound we’ve ever heard for a laptop of this size. It also comes with an excellent 1080p touchscreen and other perks, including a built-in stylus and an all-day battery. Keep in mind, though, that it comes with bloatware that can be a challenge to remove, and we found the 16:9 screen to be relatively cramped and dim.
Lenovo is currently purchasing hundreds of different configurations of the Yoga 9i. For example, at the moment you can buy the model equipped with 8 GB RAM, 512 GB storage and an Intel Core i5 processor for $1314.99 instead of $1,699.99 from Lenovo.
Acer’s Aspire 5 offers a nice selection of ports and a backlit keyboard that’s comfortable to use at an affordable price, but it also has poor battery life and bloatware.
The Acer Aspire 5 is another budget-friendly laptop to consider. The 15.6-inch laptop doesn’t offer Thunderbolt support, but it does have a wide port selection, including one USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1, two USB 3.1 Gen 1, one USB 2.0, one HDMI 2.0, one Ethernet, and a power port . The affordable laptop also has a great backlit keyboard that’s comfortable to use and has sound quality that’s above its weight class.
There are of course tradeoffs. Battery life is pretty poor — the Intel model we tested only lasted about five hours — and it’s packed with some bloatware. The touchpad can also be difficult to use, and the sheer width of the laptop means it can be a challenge to pack in a backpack. But if you just need a laptop that can get the job done, the Aspire 5 is the one now on sale at Amazon with 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage and an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor for $448.94 instead of $529.99.
Contents
