Shoppers looking for a new laptop can currently find discounts across several categories, from affordable Windows computers priced below $500 to high-performance gaming systems and premium ultraportables. The selection includes deals from Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Adorama.
For budget buyers, PCWorld highlights the Acer Aspire Lite 15 as its top choice. The model includes an Intel N150 processor, a 15.6-inch 1920×1080 display, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It is listed at $499.98 on Amazon, reflecting a $300.01 discount. The laptop is positioned for everyday activities such as web browsing, streaming and light productivity.
Other budget options include the Asus Vivobook 15 with an Intel Core 3 100U processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for $499.96 at Amazon. Best Buy lists the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i with an Intel N150 processor for $324.99, while the HP OmniBook 3, featuring an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and a 16-inch touchscreen, is priced at $429.99. Target also lists the HP Stream 14 at $369.95.
In the mid-range category, PCWorld selects the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i as its top pick. Its configuration includes an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 16GB of RAM, a 15.6-inch Full HD display and a 256GB SSD. The laptop is available from Best Buy for $612, after a $287.99 discount.
Additional mid-range deals include the Dell Pro 15.6-inch Laptop at $599.99 on Amazon, the Acer Aspire 14 AI at $597.86 and the Asus Vivobook 14 at $639.95. Best Buy also lists a Dell 15.6-inch touchscreen model with a 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $649.99.
Gaming laptop discounts include the refurbished HP Omen Max 16, which PCWorld identifies as its preferred option in this category. It combines an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, a 16-inch 2560×1600 display, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. Target lists it at $1,344.99, with a $1,155 discount.
Best Buy’s gaming deals include the HP Victus with Ryzen 7 7445HS and RTX 4050 graphics for $1,036.01, as well as the Lenovo LOQ with an Intel Core i7-13650HX processor and RTX 5060 graphics for $1,369. Target also lists the Lenovo Legion 5 with an OLED WQXGA 165Hz display and RTX 5060 graphics at $1,499.99.
Among premium laptops, PCWorld’s top pick is the Microsoft Surface Laptop. The listed configuration has a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, a 13-inch 1920×1280 touchscreen and a 512GB SSD. It weighs 2.7 pounds and is priced at $999 on Amazon, representing a $250.99 discount. Microsoft states that the model can provide up to 23 hours of battery life.
Other premium offers include the 2026 Microsoft Surface Laptop with a Snapdragon X2 Elite processor for $1,249.99, the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for $1,599, and the HP OmniBook X with a 17.3-inch touchscreen for $1,059.
PCWorld recommends at least 8GB of RAM for a laptop, while 16GB is preferable for users who play games or regularly multitask. It also advises avoiding laptops with less than 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage, although those specifications can be acceptable on some Chromebooks or entry-level Windows machines.
The guide notes that major discount periods often include Prime Day in mid-July, Black Friday and the back-to-school season from June through August. Deals are available throughout the year, however, and shoppers can compare offers from retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Newegg, as well as directly from manufacturers including Lenovo, HP and Dell.
Sources: PCWorld.