We’re neck-deep in all the back-to-school sales, with retailers and manufacturers competing to grab that cash in exchange for essential tech. Laptops are one of the most heavily discounted categories in August as new freshmen get ready for college, and deep discounts can be found if you’ve got the inside info. One sale you shouldn’t miss is at Dell‘s online store, which has exclusive educational discounts as well as massive price drops for everybody else. Here are the five best deals I’ve found so far.
Dell XPS 13 Laptop Deal
It’s been a breakout year for budget laptops, as Apple’s MacBook Neo disrupted the market with style and performance. Windows-based manufacturers are striking back, and while we don’t have a full review yet, our hands-on time with the new XPS 13 had PCMag expert Matthew Buzzi thinking that it might be the best new budget portable of 2026. This doesn’t look or feel like a low-priced PC, with a full metal build and backlit keyboard immediately drawing attention. The 1600p touch display is also extremely competitive at this price point. Under the hood, Intel’s new Wildcat Lake platform promises solid performance for productivity and entertainment. Dell has a student pricing program, where qualified buyers who provide ID can get a $100 discount on this portable.
Dell Pro 16 Laptop Deal
For something with a little more muscle under the hood, the Dell Pro 16 is a seriously well-designed midrange laptop with a lot to recommend it. The sizable 16-inch FHD+ screen on this portable adds some heft, but it also lets you work on presentations and papers with less eyestrain, as well as watch lectures (or Netflix) more comfortably. We have a write-up of this machine where we run down its many impressive features, including a slim, premium-feeling build, solid components, and great port selection. Dell has a bunch of configurations on sale, so make sure to click around the CPU and memory options to craft the perfect portable for your needs.
If your student needs a portable that’s a little more… portable, we happily recommend the Dell Pro 14 Premium, which crams a ton of performance into a pint-sized casing. In our review, we lauded the laptop’s battery life, solid build, and impressive array of ports. The Pro 14 Premium is the replacement unit for Dell’s long-running Latitude line of enterprise PCs, targeted at white-collar workers who need secure and reliable laptops for everyday tasks. The peppy Core Ultra 5 processor has the juice to tackle schoolwork as well. The sleek chassis is crafted from premium 90% recycled magnesium, and MIL-STD tested for durability and reliability. It’s also the quietest laptop in the Pro line, with a super-efficient dual fan system keeping it cool. It’s on sale for 31% off.
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Alienware 16 Aurora Gaming Laptop Deal
Buying a gaming laptop at a student discount might seem silly, but there are advantages to having a bigger screen, faster processor, and a dedicated graphics card beyond entertainment. Dell’s Alienware lineup is filled with beefy machines with solid specs for the price, and you can snag a $200 discount on this configuration, featuring a current-gen Nvidia GPU, right now. Although we haven’t tested this one, we do have an extensive review of the very similar 16X Aurora, where we note that it’s a super-capable midrange gaming machine with a bright, sharp display, sturdy design, and impressive port selection. Improved cooling means this design doesn’t need a thermal shelf, making it more ergonomic.
Recommended by Our Editors
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Dell 24 All-In-One Desktop Deal
If the student you’re shopping for already has a laptop but needs something with a bit more power and a bigger screen back at the dorm, Dell’s all-in-one desktops have the answer. These sturdy and reliable machines are great for both knocking out homework and streaming Netflix, with a big 24-inch FHD monitor that boasts good brightness and wide viewing angles. Under the hood, a solid Intel Core i5 processor can handle most everyday tasks, and plenty of RAM means multitasking is smooth and stable. We have a positive review of this model, in which we complimented its modern design, plethora of useful ports, and included wireless keyboard and mouse.
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Want to save even more on back-to-school tech? Our deals page has all the answers.
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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