Summer break is flying by (boooo), and in some states, students head back to the classroom in just a matter of weeks (even bigger booooo). The cost of that back-to-school list can add up quickly, and that’s why we’re here to help you save some money on those academic necessities.
We’ve analyzed all the portable PCs that excel in the classroom and picked the best that are on sale right now. To learn more about what we look for in an education-focused laptop, check out our rundown of the best laptops for college students, and I’ll update this roundup when new deals pop up.
Apple MacBook Neo Back-to-School Deal
Apple’s MacBook line has long been the gold standard for luxe laptops, with sleek industrial design and competitive performance. They’re not cheap, though, which is why the introduction of the MacBook Neo earlier this year was such a seismic event. A budget-priced MacBook is a tough order, but this is a very capable machine that we thoroughly tested in our review. The verdict: Editors’ Choice-winning productivity speeds, graphics performance, and display quality. It redefines what a budget laptop can be. Other retailers have this base model on sale for the full $699 retail price, but buying directly from Apple can save you $100 if you qualify for the educational pricing.
Dell XPS 13 Back-to-School Deal
Other manufacturers aren’t taking the MacBook Neo challenge lying down, though. Dell just unleashed its ultralight and budget-priced XPS 13 laptop on the market, and students and teachers can snag a $100 discount through its education program. While we haven’t finished a full review of this model, we do have early impressions from the Computex trade show, where we noted that it’s slimmer and lighter than the Neo at just 2.2 pounds, boasts a larger touch-enabled screen, and has a backlit keyboard. Under the hood, you get an Intel Core 5 processor from Intel’s new Wildcat Lake platform that’s more than enough for schoolwork and entertainment, and the newly designed compact charger makes it even more convenient.
HP OmniBook 5 16 Back-to-School Deal
The advent of on-device AI in Windows 11 with Copilot spurred hardware makers to develop chips that are optimized for it, and Qualcomm was first out of the gate with the Snapdragon X Plus line. HP’s OmniBook 5 laptop uses that chip to deliver speedy performance and impressive visuals. We have a review of the 14-inch version of this laptop, where we raved about its exceptional battery life and class-leading 2K OLED display with HDR video support. At just 2.98 pounds, it’s light enough to carry from class to class all day, and the keyboard and touchpad are both comfortable and responsive. Amazon has this loadout on sale for 15% off right now, but we’re not sure how long it will last at that price.
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About Our Expert
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.
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