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Dell's back to school sale is here: 5 laptop deals I'd buy right now

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Plus, save $270 on Dell's new Panther Lake-based laptop

XPS 13 shown on desk
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We're approaching peak back to school season and if you still haven't started your shopping, Dell has a sale you can't afford to miss.

Right now, the Dell Back to School Sale is underway with laptops on sale from $449. One of the best budget machines in that sale is the new XPS 13 for $699. (Note: Students can get it for $599, which is cheaper than the competing $699 MacBook Neo). The budget XPS 13 packs a 13.4-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) 120Hz touch display, Core 5-320 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. In our initial hands-on, my colleague and senior computing writer Tony Polanco calls it "the best budget Windows laptop yet."

Below I've rounded up five of the best Dell back to school deals you can get, including a discount on Dell's just-released Panther Lake laptop. For more discounts and recommendations, check out our back to school guide and Dell coupon codes page.

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My Top Picks

Dell 15 Laptop
Dell 15 Laptop: was $799 now $649 at Dell

This laptop is a reliable pick for anyone looking for a mainstream machine that doesn't cost a fortune. It's equipped with an Intel Core i5-1334U CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch FHD display. It's a great machine for students or for light web-based work.

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Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 13: $699 at Dell

The new XPS 13 is a budget machine made with students in mind. It features a 13.4-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) 120Hz touch display, Core 5-320 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. In our hands-on, we called it an excellent alternative to the MacBook Neo. Note: Students can get it for $599, which is $100 less than the competing MacBook Neo.

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Dell Inspiron 16
Dell Inspiron 16: was $1,229 now $899 at Dell

Save on the Inspiron 16, decked out with a Core 7-150U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. This laptop is an especially great pick for students, as it's 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 2K (1920 x 1200) display.

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Alienware 15 w/ RTX 4050
Alienware 15 w/ RTX 4050: was $1,349 now $999 at Dell

The Alienware 15 Laptop is a budget-friendly machine for cash-strapped gamers. powered by Nvidia's RTX 4050 GPU, this configuration features an amazing 15.3-inch WUQXGA (1920 x 1200) 165Hz LCD, Core 5-210H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It won't break any speed records, but it's got enough muscle for casual gaming and all of your entertainment needs.

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Dell 14S
Panther Lake CPU!
Dell 14S: was $1,269 now $999 at Dell

The Dell 14S is a svelte, new laptop that sports Intel's newest Panther Lake CPU. The processor balances power, efficiency, and gaming/entertainment performance. This configuration sports a 14-inch FHD+ display, Core 5-322 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It's 3.2-lb. design also make it a great pick for campus life.

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Louis Ramirez
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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