Laptops are one of the biggest categories in the electronics world, and picking up a good one can be tough, especially with component prices getting more and more expensive. Every day, the PCMag Deals team drills through the listings at reputable retailers, using algorithmic tools and experiential knowledge, to find the best offers on all kinds of tech, comparing specifications, real-world use cases, and historical prices to ensure that every laptop we bring to you is worth the money.
I’ve found you ten laptops with significant discounts that have been tested and vetted by our educated experts using benchmarks developed over decades, with detailed reviews that explain why they’re worth your time and money. Read on for September’s best laptop deals.
We’ve found the best laptops from all the major brands. These machines have clear screens, long battery life, and high-speed connectivity. Check out the latest discounts on laptops.
If you’re not as concerned about portability, check our list of the best desktop deals we’ve found for the month.
Best Budget Laptop Deals
These budget laptops cost less than $1,000 and can easily handle daily tasks. We focused on capable PCs that will last a while, avoiding underpowered e-waste. Our top budget laptop picks are a low-cost Dell with a good-sized screen and an affordable Lenovo that we’ve reviewed positively.
Best For Students
If money’s tight and you need an ultra-budget option, we’d recommend this Lenovo portable, which is currently on sale for $137 off at Best Buy, the lowest price we’ve seen all year. This is a great choice for students, as it has a fairly large 15-inch FHD display and a full-size keyboard for comfortable typing. Under the hood, you get a capable and price-conscious Intel Core i3 processor, coupled with 8GB of RAM. In our review, we were impressed by the light weight and good value for the money, although the 128GB of internal UFS storage is pretty skimpy. Use that money you’ll save for an external flash drive.
Best Buy has a super-deep discount on this Dell portable that makes it absolutely dominate the budget category. You’ll have a hard time finding a laptop with a full 2K resolution touchscreen at this price, and it maintains a sleek, lightweight design despite the solid component loadout. While it’s not suited for resource-intensive gaming or creative work, it’ll more than handle daily productivity tasks, Web surfing, and video streaming without breaking a sweat. Also of note is its solid battery life, with Express Charge support letting you top it off quickly when it starts to run down. We wouldn’t expect this machine to last long at this price, so if it fits your needs, snatch it up.
Acer also makes reliable budget machines, and the Aspire Go 15 is a really solid unit at a nice price. You can read our extensive review to hear how it performs, but in short: even with less than cutting-edge components, it still knocked it out of the park in our productivity benchmarking, and the all-plastic build feels relatively sturdy. The FHD screen is decently sized, with Acer’s BlueLight Shield eye protection for long periods of use. Port selection is also decent for a low-cost machine, with USB Type-C for both charging and data transfer. A dedicated Copilot key launches Windows 11’s AI features with a single press. The $150 discount puts it into contention for sure.
More Budget Laptop Deals
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Best MacBook Deals
Apple’s MacBooks have always been a status symbol, with their sleek all-metal builds and consistently excellent performance. MacOS users are very loyal, but can end up spending more than comparable Windows models. We’ve got the lowest prices on the latest MacBook Pro.
At the absolute peak of Apple’s laptop line, the MacBook Pro M5 is a potent creative and productivity machine that even doubles as a gaming laptop thanks to a hugely boosted GPU and killer M5 processor. In our review, it easily took home an Editors’ Choice award, with expert Brian Westover noting that “with tuned-up processor cores, more memory bandwidth, and graphics silicon turbo-charged with AI acceleration, it’s a step forward that’s more than just incremental—it vaults past what we expected generation to generation.” This is the most impressive loadout in the line, with a full 24GB of system memory and a 2TB SSD for maximum storage. It dominated all of our benchmarking tests, feels great to use, has long battery life, and is on sale at Amazon for 9% off retail.
It’s not the deepest discount in the list, but being able to chop a hundred bucks off of the exceptional 2026 MacBook Air is well worth your attention. Apple’s ultralight portable has long been one of our favorite laptops in the world, and the most recent iteration is no exception. In our review, it earned an Editors’ Choice nod for boosted performance and exceptional style. The M5 processor is the star here, working closely with MacOS for terrific speed and stability in productivity tasks, creative work, and more. It remains the measuring stick by which we evaluate all other ultraportable laptops. Like the Pro above, this is a higher-end loadout with tons of storage and RAM.
Best Gaming Laptop Deals
If you want to play your favorite PC games on the go, you need to invest in a machine with a dedicated GPU and pumped-up cooling. Gaming laptops usually cost over $1,000, but ultrabudget models are out there. A good gaming deal includes capable components and a screen with the resolution and refresh rate to do them justice. We’ve got a few gaming machines this month, including a low-priced HP portable and an AI-focused MSI with a huge 18-inch screen and killer specs.
Budget gamers need durable laptops that have just enough power to run today’s top games. At retail price, we wouldn’t choose this HP portable over comparable models, but a price drop of over $300 makes it an incredibly competitive machine for budget shoppers. We gave the Victus a “Good” rating in our review, noting that even though it didn’t shine component-wise, the surprisingly good display and keyboard made up for it, making it a fine entry into the world of PC gaming. The RTX 3050 GPU isn’t going to give you dazzling next-generation effects, but it’ll handle most games in FHD at stable framerates. Battery life is also lengthy, and the fans are quiet and efficient.
Recommended by Our Editors
For another budget-priced gaming PC with more modern hardware, this Lenovo LOQ build is a nice pick. We have an extensive review of this machine, noting that it was a good value for the price, with the high-quality keyboard build that Lenovo is famous for, along with a good component loadout that made it well-suited for 1080p play across all of today’s latest games. The RTX 5050 is on the lower end of the new Blackwell series of GPUs, but it tested well in the labs and doubles as a performance booster for on-device AI. We did note that this machine felt a little heavy for its size, despite an all-plastic chassis, but that’s a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things.
Finally, here’s a laptop that hits right in the middle of the previous two, with a loadout that’ll please mid-range gamers looking for a rig under a thousand bucks. In our review of the MSI Cyborg 15, we noted that the laptop delivered impressive productivity performance, solid gaming, and had an attractive chassis design. The RTX 5060 is the best graphics card of the three laptops we’re featuring, an absolute 1080p monster. Display-wise, the Cyborg 15 boasts a FHD IPS screen with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate and good color coverage. This laptop also qualifies for a pair of free games during Intel’s latest promotion, making it an even more attractive offer.
More Gaming Laptop Deals
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Alienware 16 Aurora Intel 7 RTX 5050 512GB SSD 16G…
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$1,099.99
($1,699.99)
Save $600.00 -
HP Omen Max Intel Ultra 7 RTX 5070 Ti 512GB 16″ 2K Laptop
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$2,149.99
($2,549.99)
Save $400.00 -
HP Victus Intel i5 RTX 4050 1TB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6″ Laptop
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$849.99 With Code “JULY4PC50” -
Alienware 16X Aurora Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5070 1TB SSD Laptop
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$2,099.99
($3,079.99)
Save $980.00 -
Alienware 16X Aurora Intel Ultra 7 RTX 5060 1TB SS…
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$1,829.99
($2,149.99)
Save $320.00 -
Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5080 2TB SSD Laptop
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$3,699.99
($4,249.99)
Save $550.00
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Dell’s XPS 14 Is Back and Truly Better Than Ever
Best 2-in-1 and Touch-Screen Laptop Deals
2-in-1s are versatile devices that can transform from tablet to laptop or incorporate a touchscreen for a more intuitive user interface. If you like the freedom of a tablet but need more power than they usually provide, these deals are for you. While budget models are available, they typically cost $1,000 and more because of the additional manufacturing complexity. We consider a 2-in-1 deal good if it offers exceptional screen quality and a lightweight form factor. If you don’t need the 360-degree hinge typical of 2-in-1 models, a clamshell-style touch-screen laptop can be a more affordable option.
Best Budget 2-In-1
For a real two-in-one value, you’re going to find it pretty hard to beat this deep Best Buy price drop on a HP daily driver with some nice perks. We have a robust review of the OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 laptop, where we were impressed by its 120HZ OLED touchscreen, durable and stylish metal chassis, and easy customization. The Ryzen AI 5 processor is tuned to deliver exceptional smoothness with Copilot AI features in Windows 11, and the full-sized keyboard feels good to use. Port selection and connectivity are both really good for this price range as well. Our biggest criticism was that it felt a few ounces heavier than we’d like, making using it in tablet mode not as fun as it could be.
Best Dual-Screen
For a portable that’s off the beaten path, this $200 discount on the Zenbook Duo deserves your attention. Your eyes don’t deceive you: this is a laptop with a pair of screens for expanded vertical working area, multitasking, and more, with a detachable keyboard to give you even more flexibility. In our review, it easily earned an Editors’ Choice award, with PCMag expert Matthew Buzzi gushing that the unit was “a brilliantly executed two-screen convertible laptop with little compromise, gorgeous OLED displays, fast performance, and ultra-long battery life to enhance your productivity.” A solid component loadout, including an “Intel Panther Lake” processor and a generous 32GB of RAM, made it dominate our benchmarking tests, and dual batteries let it run all day without a charge.
More 2-in-1 and Touch Deals
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
How Much Should You Pay for a Laptop?
Laptop prices will range based on features. Basic but full-featured models can cost as little as $500, while gaming juggernauts can run you over $2,000. The most important factors to remember are the components and specs you need most, as the price range will determine what you’re getting—and what you’re sacrificing. For example, a low-budget laptop will have less storage space and RAM than a higher-priced laptop. It will be suitable for casual use, but only if you’re not multitasking or running CPU-demanding programs.
What’s the Best Low-Priced Laptop?
The 2025 Asus Chromebook Plus CX14 was named the best extreme budget Chromebook overall and comes in at $329.99. What we loved, other than the price tag is this model’s, “decent productivity performance, satisfactory battery life, and well-chosen port selection.”
What Is the Best Laptop Under $800?
You can get a lot of computing power nowadays for under $800. PCMag’s current top-rated budget laptop is the brand-new-to-market Apple MacBook Neo, which according to our experts, “rewrites the budget laptop playbook.” We’re talking a higher-end build, a more advanced screen, longer battery life, and faster speeds that similar models in this range.
Which Laptop Is the Best (So Far) in 2026?
Laptops come in many flavors. Do you need a gaming PC? A portable, convertible 2-in-1? Maybe you’re a macOS fan. We have top-rated laptops in each category, but some of our top-rated overall laptops include the HP OmniBook 5 14 (Snapdragon), the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (2026, M5), and the MSI Raider 18 HX AI for gaming.
How Long Should My Laptop Last?
A computer can last a few years if you treat it well. This means using malware protection when browsing the web, using a dedicated surge protector to protect your hardware from electrical damage, managing battery health, and more. You can find longevity-boosting tips for your laptop at the link, too. If you have battery life in mind, that generally varies based on usage. Laptops with 4K displays running demanding games that test the limits of your GPU will naturally drain more quickly than a laptop just used to surf the web, all else being equal.
Can I Get a Student Discount on a Laptop?
Yes, most but not every manufacturer provides student discounts. Here’s a list of the most popular laptop vendors that issue student discounts:
About Our Experts
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
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.
Joe Osborne
Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware
Experience
After starting my career at PCMag as an intern more than a decade ago, I’m back as one of its editors, focused on managing laptops, desktops, and components coverage. With 15 years of experience, I have been on staff and published in technology review publications, including PCMag (of course!), Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and IGN. Along the way, I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops and helped develop testing protocols. I have expertise in testing all forms of laptops and desktops using the latest tools. I’m also well-versed in video game hardware and software coverage.
Jade Chung-Lee
Merchandising Associate
Experience
When she isn’t perusing online stores for deals, Jade enjoys playing video games (mostly JRPGs and roguelikes), sorting board game components neatly into containers, and building Gundam models. Her love of electronics has persisted through her youth and has resulted in a collection of gaming peripherals including keyboards and controllers, scale figures, and art work. Jade lives in blissful harmony with her wife, cat, and two chinchillas—as well as a host of houseplants.
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