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The 13-inch, M2-powered Apple MacBook Air is one of four laptops we highly recommend buying this week. Credit: Apple
UPDATE: Apr. 4, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with new laptop deals, pricing, and availability.
The very best laptop deals at a glance:
A new laptop is almost always a splurge, but keeping your eyes peeled for deals can make it much easier to pull the plug on an upgrade. The good news is that you've got options at a variety of price points via Best Buy, Amazon, and beyond, whether you're looking for an everyday workhorse, a cheap Chromebook for homework, a 2-in-1 Windows PC for drawing, or a powerful premium gaming laptop.
Read on for our running list of the best laptop deals as of April 4. (And if you don't see any models that check all the boxes on your spec wish list, come back soon: We add new picks every other week.)
Best laptop deal under $300
Why we like it
This Dell laptop features a 12th-generation (2022) Intel Core i3 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's nothing spectacular and a little outdated, but this is a spec sheet we rarely see at this price point: Most cheap, entry-level PCs under $300 have dinky discontinued Intel Pentium/Celeron CPUs, 4GB of RAM, pokier eMMC flash storage that maxes out at 128GB, and 60Hz refresh rates. (Hell, even some nicer laptops don't have 120Hz refresh rates — M3 Apple MacBook Air included!) It's marked down to $279.99, which is a $100 discount that makes it the same price as its 256GB counterpart.
More laptop deals under $300
Acer Chromebook 315 (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) — $139 $219.99 (save $80.99)
Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)
Acer Swift 1 (Intel Celeron N4020, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $229.99 $369.99 (save $140)
HP Laptop 14t-ep000 (Intel Processor N200, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $299.99 $549.99 (save $250)
Best laptop deal under $600
Why we like it
Read Mashable's review of the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch.
Despite needing better speakers and battery life, HP's Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is a stellar big-screened laptop for budget shoppers. (Even more so at this price, which saves you 20%.) "[It] has capable internals, a vibrant display, and some interesting software features that make it a solid pick for Google-based productivity and (especially) entertainment," to quote my own review. This is the base configuration with an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, 8GB of memory, and 128GB of Universal Flash Storage (UFS).
More laptop deals under $600
Acer Aspire 3 (AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100)
Acer Spin 3 (Intel Core i3-1215U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300)
Dell Inspiron 16 7630 2-in-1 (Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)
HP Laptop 15t-fd000 (Intel Core i5-1334U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $379.99 $789.99 (save $410)
HP Laptop 17t-cn300 (Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $399.99 $829.99 (save $430)
HP Pavilion x360 15-er1000 (Intel Core i5-1235U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $449.99 $799.99 (save $350)
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook (Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) — $429.99 $549.99 (save $120)
Lenovo Yoga 6, 13-inch with Fabric Top Cover (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $529.99 $859.99 (save $330)
Best laptop deal under $900
Why we like it
Read Mashable's review of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).
Mashable Deals
The 13-inch version of Apple's previous-gen MacBook Air won a Mashable Choice Award upon release in mid-2022, with tech and games reporter Alex Perry praising its peppy M2 processor, superb battery life, satisfying keyboard, and lightweight frame. A permanent price drop spurred by last month's release of its (very comparable) predecessor has brought it down to a new starting price of $999, and B&H Photo's $100 discount scoots it even further into budget territory — as far as MacBooks are concerned, at least.
More laptop deals under $900
Acer Nitro 5 (Intel Core i7-12650H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,279.99 (save $380)
Acer Nitro 16 (AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)
Acer Nitro V 15 (Intel Core i5-13420H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $749.99 (save $150)
Acer Swift X 14 (Intel Core i5-13500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $1,099.99 (save $400)
Acer Swift X 16 (AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $749.99 $1,249.99 (save $500)
Dell Inspiron 16 5630 (Intel Core i7-1360P, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $699.99 $1,099.99 (save $400)
Dell XPS 13 9315 (Intel Core i7-1250U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699 $999 (save $300)
HP Envy Laptop 17-cr1087nr (Intel Core i7-13700H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $899.99 $1,249.99 (save $350)
HP Envy x360 15z-ey100 (AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)
HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14-ey0047nr (AMD Ryzen 5 7540U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $629.99 $999.99 (save $370)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, 13.5-inch (Intel Core i5-1235U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $799.99 $1,299.99 (save $500)
Best laptop deal under $1,200
Why we like it
Released in the U.S. in February, the brand-new Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro features a fresh Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, a 3K AMOLED touchscreen, AKG Quad speakers, and a Knox security chip. It also comes in a new Moonstone Gray finish. Here we have the 16GB RAM/512GB starting configuration, which boasts an 18-hour battery life and weighs in at an ultra-lightweight 2.71 pounds: It's up for grabs on the Samsung website and at Best Buy for $300 off, which is its first-ever discount.
More laptop deals under $1,200
Acer Swift Edge 16 (AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (Apple M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,049.99 $1,099 (save $49.01)
Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 (Intel Core i7-1360P, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999 $1,499 (save $500)
HP Spectre x360 14t-eu000 (Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,149.99 $1,449.99 (save $300)
Lenovo Legion Slim 5i Gen 8, 16-inch (Intel Core i5-13500H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $979.99 $1,349.99 (save $370)
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several times throughout the year when we see extra-low prices on laptops:
Around Amazon Prime Day and its fall counterpart (which typically happen in July and October, respectively)
During back-to-school sales in July and August (which come to a head over Labor Day weekend)
When retailers' Black Friday and holiday deals are in full swing from October to December
Whenever manufacturers unveil next-generation models
The same timing applies, said Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard, who tracks Apple deals year-round: She recommends purchasing a Mac or MacBook around Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday to nab the best deal. Shoppers should also keep an eye out for discounts during back-to-school season and right after new models are announced, Allard said.
Best Buy tends to be the best major retailer for laptop deals, followed by Amazon and Walmart. That said, all three sell a lot of discontinued models and often inflate original list prices, making their deals look better than they actually are. (Amazon and Walmart are also rife with sketchy listings from third-party sellers outside of major shopping holidays like Black Friday.) As such, we always cross-check model numbers and prices with manufacturers' direct websites and look for deals there, too.
We're partial to Acer, Apple, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft, MSI, Razer, and Samsung. They're reputable brands that typically tick most (or all) of the right boxes when it comes to innovative features, durable build quality, and overall value.
Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.
Haley received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and honed her sifting and winnowing skills at The Daily Cardinal. She previously covered politics for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, investigated exotic pet ownership for Wisconsin Watch, and blogged for some of your favorite reality stars.
In her free time, Haley enjoys playing video games, drawing, taking walks on Lake Michigan, and spending time with her parrot (Melon) and dog (Pierogi). She really, really wants to get back into horseback riding. You can follow her on X at @haleyhenschel or reach her via email at [email protected].
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