Back to school laptop sales — 23 deals for every kind of student from $189

MSI Prestige laptop held in air
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Back to school laptop sales are hitting their prime. From Best Buy to Lenovo, shoppers can expect to see a flood of laptop deals now through the end of August. Even if you're not a student, the next few weeks are a great opportunity if you need to replace or upgrade your machine.

However, this year is different. Tariff wars could impact the price of everything from sneakers to laptops. That's why I'm recommending back to school shoppers get their purchases finalized now. Prices are very low at the moment with discounts on some of the best laptops we've tested.

Currently, my favorite back to school laptop sales come from Amazon. I'm a Mac user and right now Amazon has MacBooks on sale from $799. This includes the excellent 13-inch MacBook Air (M4) for $799 and the 15-inch MacBook Air (M4) for $999. That's cheaper than the prices I saw on Prime Day and a new all-time price low for both machines.

Every machine I'm recommending below is guaranteed to last you for several years thanks to their impressive spec sheets. Whether you're looking for an AI-based Copilot+ PC or an M4-powered MacBook, these back-to-school laptop sales are all-time price lows.

Below are the best deals I'd get ahead of back to school season. (For more deals, check out our guide to the best cheap laptop deals).

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Editor's Choice

Dell XPS 13
Epic Value!
Dell XPS 13: was $1,099 now $749 at Dell

Save big on this Snapdragon X Plus-powered laptop, which packs improved battery efficiency and top-tier AI processing. In addition to its CPU, this XPS 13 configuration is also equipped with 16GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, and a 13.4-inch 2K display with 120Hz refresh rate. In our Dell XPS 13 2024 review, we praised this laptop's amazing 19+ hours of battery life.

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Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4)
Lowest Price!
Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4): was $999 now $799 at Amazon

The new MacBook Air is powered by Apple's latest M4 chipset. It upgrades the camera from 1080p to 12MP with Center Stage support. The M4 chipset also supports dual external monitors, even when you have the laptop's lid open. It packs a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (2560 x 1664), Apple's M4 CPU w/ 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. In our MacBook Air M4 review, we said the Editor's Choice laptop is irresistible thanks to its speedy performance, sharper camera, and lower starting price.

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Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360
Save $1,000
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360: was $1,899 now $899 at Best Buy

This is one of the best Copilot+ PC deals available! This 16-inch laptop features an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU for impressive performance and power efficiency, complemented by 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It's all topped off with its gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED display.

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Windows

HP OmniBook 5 Copilot+ PC
HP OmniBook 5 Copilot+ PC: was $929 now $549 at Staples

The OmniBook 5 is a powerful AI-based laptop that doesn't cost a fortune. It features a gorgeous 16-inch 2K display, AMD Radeon AI 7 350 CPU, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and Radeon 860M graphics. Whether you're using it at work or at school, it's a budget friendly mainstream machine that won't disappoint.

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HP OmniBook 5 Copilot+ PC
HP OmniBook 5 Copilot+ PC: was $1,009 now $599 at Staples

The OmniBook 5 is a powerful AI-based laptop that doesn't cost a fortune. It features a gorgeous 16-inch 2K display, Core Ultra 7 255U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. Whether you're using it at work or at school, it's a budget friendly mainstream machine that won't disappoint.

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Dell Inspiron 16 Plus
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus: was $849 now $599 at Dell

Save on the Inspiron 16 Plus, decked out with AMD's Ryzen AI 5 340 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. This laptop is especially a great pick for students, as it's relatively affordable and well-equipped to last for years. Plus, after your work is done for the day, you can stream your favorite shows on its 16-inch display.

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Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge : was $899 now $599 at Best Buy

Want an inexpensive Copilot+ PC? This 15.6-inch laptop won't disappoint despite its low price. It features a Snapdragon X Plus CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Its 15.6-inch 1080p display is pretty standard, but at this price that's no dealbreaker.

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Asus Vivobook S 16 OLED Copilot+ PC
Asus Vivobook S 16 OLED Copilot+ PC: was $1,149 now $849 at Staples

In this impressively thin, light and premium-feeling notebook, you'll find a drop dead gorgeous OLED display, Core Ultra 9-285H chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. We reviewed the smaller 15-inch model and in our Asus Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ PC review, we said the Editor's Choice laptop is a great machine that puts Microsoft on a new path to truly take on the mighty MacBook.

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Asus Vivobook S 14 OLED
Asus Vivobook S 14 OLED: was $1,249 now $849 at Staples

Want a premium notebook that won't cost you $1,000+. The Vivobook S 14 is just that. It houses a Core Ultra 7 CPU, 32GB of super fast DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. We also love its 14-inch 1920 x 1200 OLED display.

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HP Envy x360 2-in-1
HP Envy x360 2-in-1: was $1,199 now $849 at HP US

This HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop features a 14-inch 2K touch display, Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Since it's a 2-in-1 device, you can use this device as a laptop or tablet. Right now it's $350 off, which is a great deal.

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Acer Swift 16 AI Copilot+ PC
Acer Swift 16 AI Copilot+ PC: was $1,249 now $899 at Best Buy

If you're looking for fast performance, long-lasting battery life, and excellent visuals for a fair price — the Swift 16 AI stands triumphant. This configuration packs a 16-inch 3K touchscreen display, Core Ultra 7 Series 2 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD.

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Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ PC
Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ PC: was $1,199 now $999 at Best Buy

Powered by a Snapdragon X Plus chipset, this powerful tablet features a 13-inch 2880 x 1920 PixelSense display with 120Hz refresh, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and Qualcomm Adreno GPU. Note: It doesn't include the Surface Keyboard.

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Asus Zenbook S 14 Copilot+ PC
Asus Zenbook S 14 Copilot+ PC: was $1,399 now $1,259 at Best Buy

This svelte PC packs enough style to make Mac fans jealous. Under the hood you'll find a Core Ultra 7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. There's also a 14-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate.

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Gaming

HP Omen 16 w/ RTX 5060
HP Omen 16 w/ RTX 5060: was $1,649 now $1,299 at HP US

Save big on this RTX 5060-powered HP Omen 16 configuration, an ideal pick for casual games or graphically intensive games at lower settings. It’s equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. You also get a 17.3-inch 1080p 144Hz display.

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Alienware 16X Aurora w/ RTX 5060
Alienware 16X Aurora w/ RTX 5060: was $2,049 now $1,649 at Dell

If you're looking to lock in with an upgrade on the classic Aurora laptop, the 16X model is a step up (though it's also pricier). Fortunately, there's $400 off this build with Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, 64GB of RAM, 2TB SSD, and an RTX 5060 GPU. Display wise, you're looking at WQXGA with a 240Hz refresh rate.

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Alienware 16 Area 51 Laptop w/ RTX 5060
Alienware 16 Area 51 Laptop w/ RTX 5060: was $2,099 now $1,849 at Dell

The Alienware 16 Area 51 Laptop is a new 2025 machine powered by Nvidia's new RTX 5060 GPU. This configuration also features an amazing 16-inch 2560 x 1600 240Hz LCD, Core Ultra 7-255HX CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Yes, it's pricey, but this is one of the first discounts we've seen on Alienware's just-released laptops.

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MacBooks

Apple 13" MacBook Air (M1)
Apple 13" MacBook Air (M1): was $999 now $599 at goto.walmart.com

The MacBook Air M1 offers fantastic performance and value. The M1 CPU never stuttered in our tests and also helped it reach over 14 hours of battery life. It features a 13.3-inch Retina display, Apple M1 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. In our MacBook Air M1 review, we said it offers amazing endurance and shockingly good speed.
Price check: sold out @ Best Buy | sold out @ Amazon

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Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4)
Lowest Price!
Apple 13" MacBook Air (M4): was $999 now $799 at Amazon

The new MacBook Air is powered by Apple's latest M4 chipset. It upgrades the camera from 1080p to 12MP with Center Stage support. The M4 chipset also supports dual external monitors, even when you have the laptop's lid open. It packs a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (2560 x 1664), Apple's M4 CPU w/ 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. In our MacBook Air M4 review, we said the Editor's Choice laptop is irresistible thanks to its speedy performance, sharper camera, and lower starting price.

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Apple 15" MacBook Air (M4)
Lowest Price!
Apple 15" MacBook Air (M4): was $1,199 now $999 at Amazon

Prefer a bigger screen? The 15-inch model is also on sale. It packs a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display (2880 x 1864), Apple's M4 CPU w/ 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD.

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Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M4/512GB)
Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M4/512GB): was $1,599 now $1,299 at Amazon

The M4-based MacBook Pro M4 is pretty close to being the perfect laptop. You get fantastic performance from the M4 chip, useful Apple Intelligence features, a better webcam and obscenely long battery life (18:31). In our MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 review, we said it's the best laptop for power users, now with more AI features. The base model features a 14.2-inch 3024 x 1964 Retina display, Apple M4 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
Price check: $1,299 @ Best Buy | $1,549 @ B&H

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Chromebooks

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook: was $449 now $299 at Best Buy

This Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is a cheap, durable Chromebook that's good enough for browsing the web or doing light schoolwork. The 15.6-inch 1080p screen gives you plenty of room to stream videos, and the 8GB of RAM and Intel Celeron CPU are good enough for basic work. The only big limitation is the 128GB of storage space, but Chromebooks rely on Internet access and cloud apps for most things anyway.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook: was $468 now $389 at Walmart

As long as you have a good connection, this Chromebook is well suited for Cloud gaming. It has a 16-inch display, an Intel Core i3-1215U, 8GB RAM and an 128GB eMMC. These specs mean it's a solid choice for everyday work, too.

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Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus: was $749 now $549 at Best Buy

The Galaxy Chromebook Plus is proof that Chromebooks can be used as mainstream machines. In addition to its 15.6-inch 1080p AMOLED display, this laptop also packs a Core 3 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. At 2.5 lbs., you can also take it just about anywhere.

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Louis Ramirez

As deals editor-in-chief at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets, appliances, and apparel. With over 10 years of deals-hunting experience, Louis price checks against multiple retailers and searches high and low for the best deals to bring readers. He's also always on the look out for the best coupon codes to use when shopping. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.

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