(PCMag/Amazon)
October's biggest sales event is going to be Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 6-7, but if you've got cash in pocket right now and need a new laptop, don't stress. We've already popped up a bunch of really solid offers on top-rated laptops that you can pick up before the sale starts. I've been running price comparisons and some of these models are the cheapest we've seen them all year. Whether you want a powerhouse MacBook, a budget Windows portable, or something in between, you'll find your dream machine here.
ASUS Vivobook S16
Microsoft Surface Laptop
Asus Vivobook 14 Laptop
Apple MacBook Pro M5
Lenovo Chromebook Plus i
Acer Aspire Go 16 Laptop Early Prime Day Deal
Let's lead off with a nice price on a big-screen budget laptop that doesn't skimp on quality. We have a review of the Acer Aspire 16, giving it an "Excellent" rating and an Editors' Choice award for its impressive IPS touch display, long battery life, and impressive performance. With a solid Intel Core 7 processor, everyday productivity tasks will run smoothly, and the sizable screen is great for video streaming. We also noted that the 1440p webcam was surprisingly crisp and sharp, making this a good option for people who have to do a lot of videoconferencing. We did note that the speakers could use a bit more power, but it's a mild criticism. Snag 12% off at Amazon.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Early Prime Day Deal
For a sleek-looking portable that also delivers some of the best battery life out there, Microsoft's Surface Laptop is a strong contender. Running off a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor not only gives it some of the top on-device Copilot AI performance of any PC in this price range, but it also squeezes every drop of power that it can. It tested at a staggering 30 hours of life on a single charge in our review. Other strong points include a high-end metal build that weighs in at just 2.7 pounds, making it a pleasure to carry around, and the touchscreen is bright and sharp, with a somewhat unusual 3:2 aspect ratio. Although the form factor is small, the keyboard is comfortable to use, and the touchpad is responsive. All in all, this is a great value with a $120 discount.
Asus Vivobook S16 Laptop Early Prime Day Deal
Big-screen laptops are getting slimmer and more portable all the time, and we're fond of how well the Vivobook 16 operates, with a potent AI-focused Ryzen 7 processor delivering the goods in a sleek form factor that's just 0.7 inches thick when closed and weighs in at 3.75 pounds. The colorful WUXGA screen is nearly bezel-free, with a 120Hz refresh rate and multi-touch support. We have a review of an earlier Vivobook to compare it to, noting that it delivered good value for the money with a wide selection of ports, but this model improves on it in virtually every way, with better battery life lasting up to 23 hours, more onboard storage, and up-to-date wireless connectivity. Snag a $200 pre-Prime Big Deal Days discount while you can.
HP OmniBook 3 Laptop Early Prime Day Deal
If battery life is your primary concern, HP's ARM-based OmniBook 3 will rock your world. This compact and well-built laptop has juice for days but still delivers solid results on productivity benchmarks. It's definitely a budget laptop, but it doesn't look like one, with a sleek and attractive build and nice 2K display. Under the hood, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X1 processor is a battery beast, delivering up to 41 hours of use on a single charge, with HP fast charging bringing it from 0 to 50% in approximately 45 minutes. It's also designed for optimal on-device AI functionality, backstopped by a Qualcomm Adreno GPU. While we're a bit disappointed with only 256GB of storage, that's a very minor complaint given the tremendous value.
Asus Vivobook 14 Laptop Early Prime Day Deal
One of the biggest complaints people have about budget laptops is that they often skimp on boot drive size, and once the Windows 11 install is accounted for, you don't have a ton of room for your documents and applications. That's why a bundle deal like this one is worth looking into. From the factory, this Asus Vivobook 14 comes with a pretty tiny 256GB internal drive, but adding a 512GB external SSD gives you twice the additional storage space. The rest of the machine is solid for the price, with a capable Intel Core 5 processor that runs everyday programs well. We have a review of a similar Vivobook 14, where we appreciated its solid performance for the price but wished it had more ports. Thankfully, the external drive also works as a USB hub for all the connectivity you need.
Apple MacBook Pro M5 Laptop Early Prime Day Deal
On the other end of the price spectrum, Apple's latest MacBook Pro is a beautiful beast, and it shows on the tag. The performance-oriented portable won an "Outstanding" rating and an Editors' Choice award in our review. PCMag expert Brian Westover gushed that it "vaults past what we expected generation to generation," thanks to the new M5 processor. With the addition of a Neural Accelerator to each of the chips' 10 graphics cores, visual performance and on-device AI benchmarks skyrocketed in our testing, making this the best machine on the market for video editing, 3D modeling, and other demanding applications. We also liked the 3,024-by-1,964-pixel display's new boostable mini-LED backlight for added brightness, as well as the solid port selection, including Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed transfers.
Apple MacBook Air M5 Laptop Early Prime Day Deal
We have a $100 discount on the latest MacBook Air as well, and this remains our pick for the best ultraportable laptop on the market, a gorgeously-built machine with exceptional materials and terrific performance. You can read our full review to learn about how great the Air M5 is, but the key factor here is the M5 processor, easily the top chip that Apple has released to date. It crushed all of our benchmarking tasks, with better graphics performance than ever before and optimal power efficiency, and we tested battery life at 18 hours. We did wish that Apple would upgrade the display to OLED technology, but the Liquid Retina screen still delivers great color and contrast.
Recommended by Our Editors
More Laptop Deals
- HP OmniBook X Flip Intel Ultra 7 512GB SSD 16GB RA... — $879.99 ($1,429.99) Save $550.00
- HP OmniBook 5 Intel Ultra 7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 16"... — $899.99 ($1,549.99) Save $650.00
- Dell 16 Ryzen 7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 16" Touch Laptop — $999.99 ($1,149.99) Save $150.00
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x Snapdragon X 512GB SSD 16GB... — $799.99 ($1,199.99) Save $400.00
- Get the Best Prices On Laptops — Download Our Free Price Comparison Tool $0
Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip Early Prime Day Deal
If the only kind of Chromebook you have experienced is the clunky plastic models handed out in schools around the country, you're in for a surprise. Google's ChromeOS is developing into a robust and cost-effective choice for all sorts of computers, and the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip shows just how much performance you can get out of one for an ultra-low price. We gave an Editors' Choice award to this unit in our review, with PCMag expert Matthew Smith saying that it was "outclassing many contemporary challengers" thanks to a crisp 1200p display, upgraded Intel Core i5 processor, and comfortable backlit keyboard. This model comes with a 360-degree hinge so you can use it as a tablet or tent display, as well as a garaged stylus for more precise touchscreen input. Save 38% off retail at Amazon right now.
Lenovo Chromebook Plus i Early Prime Day Deal
For something a little bit more traditional, this Chromebook is an all-around great value, with the typically high-quality keyboard and chassis that we expect from Lenovo. Although we haven't taken this specific unit into the lab yet, we have a review of a very similar model where we laud its efficient performance, well-built casing, and solid battery life. The 16:10 display is roomy enough for pleasurable Netflix streaming or serious spreadsheet work, and the MaxxAudio-tuned speakers are surprisingly assertive. While Chromebooks like this don't pack the "wow factor" of more luxurious laptops, they're ideal for everyday work at a very reasonable price.
More Chromebook Deals
- HP Chromebook 15a Intel i3 128GB UFS 8GB RAM 15.6" Laptop — $509.99 ($689.99) Save $180.00
- HP Chromebook 14a Intel N100 64GB eMMC 4GB RAM 14" Laptop — $299.99 ($419.99) Save $120.00
- Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip Intel i5 256GB SSD... — $499.99 ($799.99) Save $300.00
- Get the Best Prices On Laptops — Download Our Free Price Comparison Tool $0
Want even more pre-Prime Big Deal Days savings? Our deals page has everything.
The Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wi... — $234.00 ($249.00) Save $15.00
- Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $298.00 ($399.99) Save $101.99
- Ring Indoor Cam Plus 2K Wired Security Camera (2-P... — $59.98 ($119.98) Save $60.00
- Apple iPad 11" 128GB Wi-Fi Retina Tablet (Blue, 20... — $427.00 ($449.00) Save $22.00
- Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 3-Camera Kit With Sync Modul... — $65.99 ($259.98) Save $193.99
- Ring 2nd Gen 2K Wired Video Doorbell With Chime (2... — $49.99 ($114.98) Save $64.99
- Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Streaming Player With... — $37.99 ($69.99) Save $32.00
Exactly What Should I Look for in a Good Laptop Deal?
We asked this very question to our resident PC expert Brian Westover, whose been testing tech for over 15 years, specializing in MacBooks, 2-in-1 laptops, Chromebooks, and the latest AI PCs. Here's what he told us to look out for.
Watch the specs and model numbers. A unique model number that you can't find anywhere else might be a store-exclusive for the big sale—and one that's cheaper due to cheaper components or missing features.
Always compare prices. Sales create a false sense of urgency by inflating discount percentages and sometimes upping the “regular” price, so the big discount amounts to small savings. You can always check the price history using a tool like CamelCamelCamel. Take the Lenovo Chromebook Plus i for example. $450 is the lowest price we've seen, which is even cheaper than the previous all-time low from June of this year.
Don't sleep on last year's tech. Big sales like Prime Day are when stores try to clear out all the old inventory, meaning that the deepest discounts often come on last-gen hardware rather than the hot new flagship systems. The Microsoft Surface Laptop deal we featured is a great example.
Watch competitor sales. The best Prime Day deals might be at Best Buy, Newegg, or Walmart. Manufacturers like Lenovo and Dell run their own sales, too. Aggressive counterpromotions can score you some big savings.
Squeeze some extra value. Whether it's buying a bundle deal that throws in accessories, adding a student discount, or taking advantage of a credit card’s bonus rewards categories, you can grab some extra savings out of sales events by stacking rewards or discounts. The Asus Vivobook 14 above is a great example, with a bundled 512GB external SSD.
About Our Expert
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
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