Aside from TVs, Black Friday is the best opportunity to save on one of the biggest tech purchases we’re all likely to make: a new laptop. A new generation of laptops is always around the corner at CES in January, but they’re still months away from release. In the here and now, you can get big discounts on excellent current-gen Windows laptops, MacBooks, and Chromebooks.

There are hundreds of dollars to be saved on laptops from Apple, Microsoft, HP, Lenovo, Asus, and more. And there’s a mix of options, whether you prefer a thin-and-light for work and easy travel, a workstation for content creation, or a gaming laptop for graphical performance above all else. There are even some Chromebook deals if you’re shopping for a student or someone who wants a minimal-fuss solution for mostly browsing the web.

We’re also compiling some worthwhile deals on laptop peripherals and accessories, like cases, cables, and hubs we like. Here are our top picks among laptop and laptop-related deals for this Black Friday.

The best MacBook deals

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2025, M4)

Apple’s latest MacBook Air doesn’t mix things up very much from the previous M3 generation, but it’s got an M4 chip, more RAM, and a lower starting price. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $999 $749 at Amazon
• $999 $749 at Best Buy
• $999 $899 at B&H Photo

• The 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 is $949 ($250 off) at Best Buy and Amazon — the same discount as the 13-inch. It’s much the same excellent computer as the 13-inch version, just with a bigger screen, more battery life, and better speakers. Read our review.

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2025, M5)

The M5-equipped MacBook Pro is mostly a chip bump from the M4 model of 2024. But it remains an excellent choice for beginners and students in creative fields. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $1599 at Apple
• $1599 $1349 at Best Buy
• $1599 $1349 at Amazon

• If you need to sizable step up in power for a Mac laptop, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro processor is $1,749 ($250 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. It has a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 512GB SSD like the base M5 model, but 24GB of RAM and faster Thunderbolt 5 ports. You can also step up to a bigger and beefier 16-inch version with a 14-core / 20-core M4 Pro chip, 48GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD for around $2,535 ($360 off) at Best Buy and Amazon.
• At the top of Apple’s MacBook range, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max chip, 36GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD is $3,059 (around $440 off) at Amazon. It’s a lot of computer for those who need a laptop with about as much power and speed as you can get. Read our review.
• The Mac Mini isn’t a laptop, but it’s one of the best bargains for a lot of computing power in a wildly small desktop. The base M4 model is $479 ($120 off) at Best Buy and Amazon, while the more powerful M4 Pro version is $1,199.99 ($200 off) at Amazon. If you already have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, there’s no better deal for this kind of power.

The best Windows laptop deals

Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch

Microsoft’s slightly smaller, entry-level Surface Laptop trims some of the size and a few features from its bigger 13.8-inch counterpart, but it maintains excellent battery life and solid performance. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $899.99 $549.99 at Amazon
• $899.99 $549.99 at Best Buy
• $899.99 $549.99 at Microsoft

• In addition to the base-model 13-inch Surface Laptop hitting a new low of $549.99 ($350 off) at Best Buy, Amazon, and direct from Microsoft, the same model with 512GB storage is $749.99 ($250 off) at Amazon.
• If you want a Surface with a slightly bigger, nicer display and a higher-end Snapdragon X Elite processor, the Surface Laptop 7th Edition (13.8-inch) from 2024 is on sale for $899.99 ($500 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. It’s still a great machine if you prioritize battery life on Windows and want a nice screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2304 x 1536 resolution. Read our review.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch

Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro is smaller, with a new design and updated keyboard. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Arm64 Snapdragon X Plus chip. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $799.99 $649.99 at Amazon
• $799.99 $649.99 at Walmart
• $799.99 $649.99 at Best Buy

• Microsoft’s flagship 13-inch Surface Pro is also on a big discount, selling for as low as $749.99 ($450 off) at Microsoft with a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. It’s quite a deal, though the keyboard and stylus are sold separately. The convertible tablet has great battery life and solid performance. It’s much more useful as a full 2-in-1 laptop once you get the keyboard and stylus, which are available on Amazon (via a third party) for $307.89 (about $92 off). The Flex version of the keyboard with Bluetooth is particularly handy, especially if you use the Surface Pro with an external monitor.
• The Asus Zenbook A14 is selling for an all-time low of $549.99 ($450 off) at Best Buy. If you want a super-light laptop with an Arm-based Snapdragon chip for long battery life, the Zenbook is an impressive offering — especially since it has an OLED display to boot. I first handled this thing at CES, and the combination of its lightweight 2.4-pound chassis, unique finish with earthy colors, port selection, and OLED screen was really impressive. Now, at this price? It’s quite compelling.
• I’m currently testing the 14-inch HP OmniBook 5 and liking it, especially for the value it offers. It’s very affordable for a laptop with an OLED display and marathon battery life, and it’s just $529.99 ($170 off MSRP) at Amazon or $499.99 ($200 off) direct from HP. Its base Snapdragon X1 Plus chip isn’t very speedy, but it’s manageable if you’re not going too wild on multitasking. But the star of the show is this nice 1920 x 1200 OLED panel for such a low, low price.
• The Acer Swift 16 AI is once again available for a steal of $749.99 ($500 off) at Best Buy. Much like the Swift 14 AI that I reviewed, t’s got lots of ports and a great Intel Lunar Lake CPU that’s both powerful and power-efficient. But instead of the Swift 14’s meager 1920 x 1200 IPS display it’s got a bigger 16-inch OLED with 2880 x 1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh.

The best gaming laptop deals

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025)

Asus’ ROG Zephyrus G14 is the go-to choice for a portable gaming machine that’s great at regular laptop duties. It’s got a lovely OLED display, great keyboard and trackpad, and solid battery life. The base model with RTX 5060 graphics is fairly thin at around 0.63 inches, while the highest-end model with RTX 5070 Ti is a little thicker.

Where to Buy:

• $1799.99 $1299.99 at Best Buy (5060)
• $2099.99 at Asus (5070)
• $2399.99 $1999.99 at Best Buy (5070 Ti)

• The larger Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor and RTX 5070 Ti GPU is $2,179.99 ($450 off) at Best Buy. The 16-inch, like its smaller counterpart, offers a lovely OLED display, good graphics performance for its size and thickness, and battery life that gets you through most of a busy day. All this, in a gaming laptop with a large display that travels quite easily.
• The base Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop with a last-gen Intel Raptor Lake 14650HX CPU, RTX 5060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD is $1,199.99 ($300 off) at Amazon. For a higher-end model that doesn’t skyrocket in price, the Strix G16 with AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and RTX 5070 Ti is $1,599.99 ($400 off) at Best Buy. Strix models are much chunkier than their ROG Zephyrus cousins, but they’re a better deal if you prioritize performance over portability.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (16-inch, Intel)

Lenovo’s Legion Pro 7i is a well built gaming laptop with a lovely 2.5K OLED display and a powerful RTX 5080 GPU, enough to handle 4K gaming on an external monitor. It’s only major downsides are a lack of face or fingerprint unlocking and Lenovo’s tendency to pre-load some annoying bloatware.

Where to Buy:

• $3559.99 $2499.99 at Best Buy (RTX 5080, 1TB SSD)
• $3499 $2249 at B&H Photo (RTX 5080, 2TB SSD)
• $3559.99 $2469.99 at Lenovo (RTX 5080, 1TB SSD)

• The Lenovo Legion 7i above is one of my preferred gaming laptops if you like a beefy boy with high-end RTX 5080 graphics, but a solid alternative for less is the similarly-specced HP Omen Max 16. The Omen Max 16 with RTX 5080 graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD is just $1,899.99 ($1,400 off) direct from HP. It’s also at Best Buy with a 2TB SSD for $2,599.99 ($560 off), but the one at HP is the screaming deal that you should nab before it’s gone (you can always do your own SSD upgrade later).

HP Victus 15 (2025, RTX 4050)

The Victus 15 is a popular, budget-friendly gaming laptop that now comes with RTX 4050 graphics, more RAM, and an improved 144Hz screen.

Where to Buy:

• $1049.99 $599 at Walmart (Intel)
• $899.99 $549.99 at Best Buy (AMD)

Razer Blade 16 (2025, RTX 5090)

Razer’s latest and greatest version of its Blade 16 laptop returns to a thinner, more travel-friendly chassis. It comes with RTX 50-series GPU options but each configuration features an excellent OLED display. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $2399.99 $1599.99 at Razer (RTX 5060)
• $2799.99 $1899.99 at Razer (RTX 5070)
• $3499.99 at Razer (RTX 5080)

The best Chromebook deals

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (2025)

Where to Buy:

• $699 $599 at Best Buy
• $799.99 $769.99 at Acer

• The closest competitor to the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, which is on sale for a new low of $599.99 ($50 off) direct from Lenovo. It’s the base model with a non-touch OLED display, 12GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and the power-sipping MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor. The higher-end $749 model with a touchscreen that I tested in my review is slightly better, but these kinds of Chromebooks rarely go on sale.
• The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus is selling for $549.99 ($200 off) at Best Buy. I prefer the above Lenovo and Acer above, but the Samsung is still a solid Chromebook with a lovely OLED display and a number pad (if that’s important to you). But its display is an outdated 16:9 aspect ratio that’s better for consuming video content than viewing more on screen as you get work done.

The best deals on laptop accessories

• Keychron is discounting various models of its keyboards on its site and on Amazon, and if you spend $300 or more at Keychron’s site you get an additional $30 off. There are myriad options of mechanical keyboards from Keychron, including different layouts and switch types. For a good starter board filled with features, check out the Keychron V1 Max that’s currently $91.99 ($23 off) at Amazon and direct from Keychron. Read our buying guide on affordable mechanical keyboards.
• For an absolute steal of a mechanical keyboard with a hefty metal chassis, check out the Epomaker P75 with Wisteria linear switches for just $63.99 ($12 off) at Amazon. It’s got a bold, crisp, and slightly loud typing sound but it can be music to the ears of someone who likes a louder clack to their keys. Plus, it supports wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless modes, complete with a little magnetic garage to house the USB dongle when not in use.
• The Epomaker x Aula F75 mechanical keyboard with Leobog Reaper switches is just $53.59 (around $26 off) at Amazon. This is a banger of a budget keyboard that sounds satisfyingly creamy with every key stroke. There’s a reason TikTok is kind of obsessed with it.
• One of my favorite mice, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, is $129.99 ($50 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. It’s the perfect mouse if you want something lightweight and sensitive enough for competitive gaming while still being comfy and low-key looking for even long hours at the office. It also has a satisfying and unique click sound that’s slightly deeper than most mice. Read our hands-on.
• For a comfy ergonomic mouse, check out the Logitech MX Vertical that’s on sale for $97.49 ($22 off) at Amazon or for $99.99 at Best Buy. It supports both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless via an included USB receiver, and its upright 57 degree angle keeps your wrist at a comfy handshake-like position. Read our impressions.
• For a much more affordable mouse that handles great and goes a little harder on the gamer aesthetic, the wired Razer Basilisk V3 is just $29.44 (about $41 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Even at that price, you get 11 programmable buttons, a 26,000 DPI sensor, and loads of RGB lighting.
• Pluggable’s 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 dock is $215.96 ($64 off) at Amazon. The chunky hub has a plethora of ports and support for dual 4K displays (HDMI and DisplayPort) as well as 100W USB-C charging.
• The Shure MV7 Plus is a popular plug-and-play mic for high quality live streaming and podcasting, and it’s $269.99 ($50 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. It shares a lot in common with the legendary SM7b it’s based on, but it’s got both XLR and simple USB connections for a no-fuss setup.
• Peak Design is running a Black Friday sale with up to 30 percent off everything it makes, and that includes its Everyday Backpack (now $223.96 instead of $279.95) and Everyday Messenger bags (now $199.96 instead of $249.95). They’re some of my favorite laptop / commuter bags if you’re the type to carry photo or video equipment. I use and alternate between the original 30L Everyday Backpack and smaller 15L Everyday Backpack Zip (now $159.96 instead of $199.95) — depending on what I need to carry.
• If you’re in need of DeleteMe’s services for cleaning up your past digital footprint, you can save 30 percent now through December 5th with the coupon code BFCM30OFF25 — dropping an annual plan for one user to $90.30 ($38.70 off). I know it’s not laptop hardware, but DeleteMe relates to a lot of things we do on the internet via our laptops, and it’s a useful service for scrubbing old personal data from the web.
• The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are $149.99 ($50 off) at Amazon. If you’re a laptop gamer, these noise-canceling earbuds are excellent for their ability to quickly switch between your laptop (via low-latency USB-C receiver) and your phone (via Bluetooth). Read our review.
• Moft is offering a variety of discounts on Amazon, covering much of its line of origami-style folding accessories for phones, tablets, and laptops. This includes the Moft 2-in-1 Laptop Carry Sleeve, selling for $51.96 ($12.99 off). It’s a sleek case for protecting your laptop as you tote it around, and it opens to an impromptu angled laptop stand for comfier ergonomics. It comes in larger sizes to hold up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and in various color options.

Aside from TVs, Black Friday is the best opportunity to save on one of the biggest tech purchases we’re all likely to make: a new laptop. A new generation of laptops is always around the corner at CES in January, but they’re still months away from release. In the here and now, you can get big discounts on excellent current-gen Windows laptops, MacBooks, and Chromebooks.

There are hundreds of dollars to be saved on laptops from Apple, Microsoft, HP, Lenovo, Asus, and more. And there’s a mix of options, whether you prefer a thin-and-light for work and easy travel, a workstation for content creation, or a gaming laptop for graphical performance above all else. There are even some Chromebook deals if you’re shopping for a student or someone who wants a minimal-fuss solution for mostly browsing the web.

We’re also compiling some worthwhile deals on laptop peripherals and accessories, like cases, cables, and hubs we like. Here are our top picks among laptop and laptop-related deals for this Black Friday.

The best MacBook deals

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2025, M4)

Apple’s latest MacBook Air doesn’t mix things up very much from the previous M3 generation, but it’s got an M4 chip, more RAM, and a lower starting price. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $999 $749 at Amazon
• $999 $749 at Best Buy
• $999 $899 at B&H Photo

• The 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 is $949 ($250 off) at Best Buy and Amazon — the same discount as the 13-inch. It’s much the same excellent computer as the 13-inch version, just with a bigger screen, more battery life, and better speakers. Read our review.

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2025, M5)

The M5-equipped MacBook Pro is mostly a chip bump from the M4 model of 2024. But it remains an excellent choice for beginners and students in creative fields. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $1599 at Apple
• $1599 $1349 at Best Buy
• $1599 $1349 at Amazon

• If you need to sizable step up in power for a Mac laptop, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro processor is $1,749 ($250 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. It has a 12-core CPU and 16-core GPU, 512GB SSD like the base M5 model, but 24GB of RAM and faster Thunderbolt 5 ports. You can also step up to a bigger and beefier 16-inch version with a 14-core / 20-core M4 Pro chip, 48GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD for around $2,535 ($360 off) at Best Buy and Amazon.
• At the top of Apple’s MacBook range, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max chip, 36GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD is $3,059 (around $440 off) at Amazon. It’s a lot of computer for those who need a laptop with about as much power and speed as you can get. Read our review.
• The Mac Mini isn’t a laptop, but it’s one of the best bargains for a lot of computing power in a wildly small desktop. The base M4 model is $479 ($120 off) at Best Buy and Amazon, while the more powerful M4 Pro version is $1,199.99 ($200 off) at Amazon. If you already have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, there’s no better deal for this kind of power.

The best Windows laptop deals

Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch

Microsoft’s slightly smaller, entry-level Surface Laptop trims some of the size and a few features from its bigger 13.8-inch counterpart, but it maintains excellent battery life and solid performance. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $899.99 $549.99 at Amazon
• $899.99 $549.99 at Best Buy
• $899.99 $549.99 at Microsoft

• In addition to the base-model 13-inch Surface Laptop hitting a new low of $549.99 ($350 off) at Best Buy, Amazon, and direct from Microsoft, the same model with 512GB storage is $749.99 ($250 off) at Amazon.
• If you want a Surface with a slightly bigger, nicer display and a higher-end Snapdragon X Elite processor, the Surface Laptop 7th Edition (13.8-inch) from 2024 is on sale for $899.99 ($500 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. It’s still a great machine if you prioritize battery life on Windows and want a nice screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2304 x 1536 resolution. Read our review.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch

Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro is smaller, with a new design and updated keyboard. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Arm64 Snapdragon X Plus chip. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $799.99 $649.99 at Amazon
• $799.99 $649.99 at Walmart
• $799.99 $649.99 at Best Buy

• Microsoft’s flagship 13-inch Surface Pro is also on a big discount, selling for as low as $749.99 ($450 off) at Microsoft with a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. It’s quite a deal, though the keyboard and stylus are sold separately. The convertible tablet has great battery life and solid performance. It’s much more useful as a full 2-in-1 laptop once you get the keyboard and stylus, which are available on Amazon (via a third party) for $307.89 (about $92 off). The Flex version of the keyboard with Bluetooth is particularly handy, especially if you use the Surface Pro with an external monitor.
• The Asus Zenbook A14 is selling for an all-time low of $549.99 ($450 off) at Best Buy. If you want a super-light laptop with an Arm-based Snapdragon chip for long battery life, the Zenbook is an impressive offering — especially since it has an OLED display to boot. I first handled this thing at CES, and the combination of its lightweight 2.4-pound chassis, unique finish with earthy colors, port selection, and OLED screen was really impressive. Now, at this price? It’s quite compelling.
• I’m currently testing the 14-inch HP OmniBook 5 and liking it, especially for the value it offers. It’s very affordable for a laptop with an OLED display and marathon battery life, and it’s just $529.99 ($170 off MSRP) at Amazon or $499.99 ($200 off) direct from HP. Its base Snapdragon X1 Plus chip isn’t very speedy, but it’s manageable if you’re not going too wild on multitasking. But the star of the show is this nice 1920 x 1200 OLED panel for such a low, low price.
• The Acer Swift 16 AI is once again available for a steal of $749.99 ($500 off) at Best Buy. Much like the Swift 14 AI that I reviewed, t’s got lots of ports and a great Intel Lunar Lake CPU that’s both powerful and power-efficient. But instead of the Swift 14’s meager 1920 x 1200 IPS display it’s got a bigger 16-inch OLED with 2880 x 1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh.

The best gaming laptop deals

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025)

Asus’ ROG Zephyrus G14 is the go-to choice for a portable gaming machine that’s great at regular laptop duties. It’s got a lovely OLED display, great keyboard and trackpad, and solid battery life. The base model with RTX 5060 graphics is fairly thin at around 0.63 inches, while the highest-end model with RTX 5070 Ti is a little thicker.

Where to Buy:

• $1799.99 $1299.99 at Best Buy (5060)
• $2099.99 at Asus (5070)
• $2399.99 $1999.99 at Best Buy (5070 Ti)

• The larger Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor and RTX 5070 Ti GPU is $2,179.99 ($450 off) at Best Buy. The 16-inch, like its smaller counterpart, offers a lovely OLED display, good graphics performance for its size and thickness, and battery life that gets you through most of a busy day. All this, in a gaming laptop with a large display that travels quite easily.
• The base Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop with a last-gen Intel Raptor Lake 14650HX CPU, RTX 5060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD is $1,199.99 ($300 off) at Amazon. For a higher-end model that doesn’t skyrocket in price, the Strix G16 with AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and RTX 5070 Ti is $1,599.99 ($400 off) at Best Buy. Strix models are much chunkier than their ROG Zephyrus cousins, but they’re a better deal if you prioritize performance over portability.

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (16-inch, Intel)

Lenovo’s Legion Pro 7i is a well built gaming laptop with a lovely 2.5K OLED display and a powerful RTX 5080 GPU, enough to handle 4K gaming on an external monitor. It’s only major downsides are a lack of face or fingerprint unlocking and Lenovo’s tendency to pre-load some annoying bloatware.

Where to Buy:

• $3559.99 $2499.99 at Best Buy (RTX 5080, 1TB SSD)
• $3499 $2249 at B&H Photo (RTX 5080, 2TB SSD)
• $3559.99 $2469.99 at Lenovo (RTX 5080, 1TB SSD)

• The Lenovo Legion 7i above is one of my preferred gaming laptops if you like a beefy boy with high-end RTX 5080 graphics, but a solid alternative for less is the similarly-specced HP Omen Max 16. The Omen Max 16 with RTX 5080 graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD is just $1,899.99 ($1,400 off) direct from HP. It’s also at Best Buy with a 2TB SSD for $2,599.99 ($560 off), but the one at HP is the screaming deal that you should nab before it’s gone (you can always do your own SSD upgrade later).

HP Victus 15 (2025, RTX 4050)

The Victus 15 is a popular, budget-friendly gaming laptop that now comes with RTX 4050 graphics, more RAM, and an improved 144Hz screen.

Where to Buy:

• $1049.99 $599 at Walmart (Intel)
• $899.99 $549.99 at Best Buy (AMD)

Razer Blade 16 (2025, RTX 5090)

Razer’s latest and greatest version of its Blade 16 laptop returns to a thinner, more travel-friendly chassis. It comes with RTX 50-series GPU options but each configuration features an excellent OLED display. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $2399.99 $1599.99 at Razer (RTX 5060)
• $2799.99 $1899.99 at Razer (RTX 5070)
• $3499.99 at Razer (RTX 5080)

The best Chromebook deals

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (2025)

Where to Buy:

• $699 $599 at Best Buy
• $799.99 $769.99 at Acer

• The closest competitor to the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, which is on sale for a new low of $599.99 ($50 off) direct from Lenovo. It’s the base model with a non-touch OLED display, 12GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and the power-sipping MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor. The higher-end $749 model with a touchscreen that I tested in my review is slightly better, but these kinds of Chromebooks rarely go on sale.
• The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus is selling for $549.99 ($200 off) at Best Buy. I prefer the above Lenovo and Acer above, but the Samsung is still a solid Chromebook with a lovely OLED display and a number pad (if that’s important to you). But its display is an outdated 16:9 aspect ratio that’s better for consuming video content than viewing more on screen as you get work done.

The best deals on laptop accessories

• Keychron is discounting various models of its keyboards on its site and on Amazon, and if you spend $300 or more at Keychron’s site you get an additional $30 off. There are myriad options of mechanical keyboards from Keychron, including different layouts and switch types. For a good starter board filled with features, check out the Keychron V1 Max that’s currently $91.99 ($23 off) at Amazon and direct from Keychron. Read our buying guide on affordable mechanical keyboards.
• For an absolute steal of a mechanical keyboard with a hefty metal chassis, check out the Epomaker P75 with Wisteria linear switches for just $63.99 ($12 off) at Amazon. It’s got a bold, crisp, and slightly loud typing sound but it can be music to the ears of someone who likes a louder clack to their keys. Plus, it supports wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless modes, complete with a little magnetic garage to house the USB dongle when not in use.
• The Epomaker x Aula F75 mechanical keyboard with Leobog Reaper switches is just $53.59 (around $26 off) at Amazon. This is a banger of a budget keyboard that sounds satisfyingly creamy with every key stroke. There’s a reason TikTok is kind of obsessed with it.
• One of my favorite mice, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, is $129.99 ($50 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. It’s the perfect mouse if you want something lightweight and sensitive enough for competitive gaming while still being comfy and low-key looking for even long hours at the office. It also has a satisfying and unique click sound that’s slightly deeper than most mice. Read our hands-on.
• For a comfy ergonomic mouse, check out the Logitech MX Vertical that’s on sale for $97.49 ($22 off) at Amazon or for $99.99 at Best Buy. It supports both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless via an included USB receiver, and its upright 57 degree angle keeps your wrist at a comfy handshake-like position. Read our impressions.
• For a much more affordable mouse that handles great and goes a little harder on the gamer aesthetic, the wired Razer Basilisk V3 is just $29.44 (about $41 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Even at that price, you get 11 programmable buttons, a 26,000 DPI sensor, and loads of RGB lighting.
• Pluggable’s 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 dock is $215.96 ($64 off) at Amazon. The chunky hub has a plethora of ports and support for dual 4K displays (HDMI and DisplayPort) as well as 100W USB-C charging.
• The Shure MV7 Plus is a popular plug-and-play mic for high quality live streaming and podcasting, and it’s $269.99 ($50 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. It shares a lot in common with the legendary SM7b it’s based on, but it’s got both XLR and simple USB connections for a no-fuss setup.
• Peak Design is running a Black Friday sale with up to 30 percent off everything it makes, and that includes its Everyday Backpack (now $223.96 instead of $279.95) and Everyday Messenger bags (now $199.96 instead of $249.95). They’re some of my favorite laptop / commuter bags if you’re the type to carry photo or video equipment. I use and alternate between the original 30L Everyday Backpack and smaller 15L Everyday Backpack Zip (now $159.96 instead of $199.95) — depending on what I need to carry.
• If you’re in need of DeleteMe’s services for cleaning up your past digital footprint, you can save 30 percent now through December 5th with the coupon code BFCM30OFF25 — dropping an annual plan for one user to $90.30 ($38.70 off). I know it’s not laptop hardware, but DeleteMe relates to a lot of things we do on the internet via our laptops, and it’s a useful service for scrubbing old personal data from the web.
• The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are $149.99 ($50 off) at Amazon. If you’re a laptop gamer, these noise-canceling earbuds are excellent for their ability to quickly switch between your laptop (via low-latency USB-C receiver) and your phone (via Bluetooth). Read our review.
• Moft is offering a variety of discounts on Amazon, covering much of its line of origami-style folding accessories for phones, tablets, and laptops. This includes the Moft 2-in-1 Laptop Carry Sleeve, selling for $51.96 ($12.99 off). It’s a sleek case for protecting your laptop as you tote it around, and it opens to an impromptu angled laptop stand for comfier ergonomics. It comes in larger sizes to hold up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and in various color options.

We’re in the heart of summer fun, but it’s already time for back-to-school planning, especially if that involves buying a new laptop.

The dizzying number of different laptops and configurations can feel overwhelming, especially if you want something that doesn’t cost too much but will still last a long time. My general guidelines are to first pick the operating system you need (based on personal preference or class requirements), and then get the best specs you can afford. If your school has specific requirements or recommendations, they are likely found on the school website. A quality laptop should also have a good screen, keyboard, and trackpad — and preferably enough ports and some decent speakers.

Unless you’re buying a Chromebook, aim for an M4 processor (for Macs) or an Intel Core Ultra 5 or 7, an AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, or a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor on a Windows machine, especially if you want your laptop to last at least four years. Aim for at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. If your budget allows for more RAM or storage then go for it, especially if neither is user-replaceable — it’ll help with performance and longevity. If you have to choose based on budget, prioritize RAM, since external storage is easily available.

Taking much of that into account, here are our top picks among current laptops.

The best laptop for most students

Apple MacBook Air 13 (2025, M4)

Score: 9

Pros	Cons
Easily lasts a full day on battery Excellent choice for most people’s everyday needs Nails the basics in a thin-and-light while feeling like a nice place to be	Still starts with just 256GB of storage Still has limited ports Still prone to throttling under heavy creative tasks

Where to Buy:

• $999 $849 at Amazon
• $999 $849 at Best Buy
• $999 $949 at B&H Photo

Unless you’re going into a field involving lots of graphics rendering or video editing, a MacBook Air should be more than enough computer to last through the student years. The Air is our top laptop recommendation for most people, and that includes students — particularly students in high school or starting college. Nothing else offers quite the same balance of performance, build quality, and battery life as Apple’s entry-level laptop. It’s a speedy little machine that can even handle some heftier content creation work. Its battery can easily get you through a packed day of classes. And it has the best trackpad around. The only major downside with an Air (as with all modern MacBooks) is that you can’t upgrade the storage or memory after you buy it.

Now that MacBooks start with 16GB of RAM, even the base $999 13-inch model is excellent, if a little short on storage space at 256GB. So you may want to consider the $1,199 model with 512GB of storage. For the same price you can get the larger 15-inch model with roomier screen real estate and even better speakers, but then you’re once again starting with 256GB.

Apple MacBook Air 15 (2025, M4)

Score: 9

Pros	Cons
Easily lasts a full day on battery Excellent choice for most people’s everyday needs Nails the basics in a thin-and-light while feeling like a nice place to be Louder speakers over its smaller counterpart	Still starts with just 256GB of storage Still has limited ports Still prone to throttling under heavy creative tasks

Where to Buy:

• $1199 $1049 at Amazon
• $1199 $1049 at Best Buy
• $1199 $1069 at B&H Photo

Read our review of the M4 MacBook Air.

The best student laptop for serious content creation

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2024, M4)

Score: 9

Pros	Cons
Everything good about last year’s model but better  All the I/O of the pricier MacBook Pros More RAM New webcam is sharp and clear Nano-texture display is a nice add-on	Desk View webcam feature is low-res and overly distorted Space black finish can still be a little smudgy Apple’s price structure may still have you longing for M4 Pro / Max

Where to Buy:

• $1599 $1432.75 at Amazon (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
• $1599 $1549 at B&H Photo (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
• $1799 $1609.66 at Amazon (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

MacBook Pros have long been a staple on college campuses for students in creative fields, and the latest base version is one of the best laptops Apple has cooked up in years. Apple’s base model 14-inch MacBook Pro is a step up from the MacBook Air, with the same M4 chip. Its starting price of $1,599 is a significant jump from a $999 Air, but you get better performance and a bunch of worthwhile upgrades. The Pro has more ports than the Air, including an SD card reader and HDMI 2.1. Its screen is a nicer Mini LED panel with higher resolution and faster refresh rate. It’s got more ports, including an SD card reader and HDMI 2.1. It starts with 512GB of storage. And its battery lasts even longer. 

These upgrades go a long way in making the MacBook Pro better and more futureproof for heavier creative tasks. Especially since it has a fan to cool its chip, allowing you to use content creation apps like the Adobe Creative Cloud suite for longer — the passively cooled Air starts off fast in these apps, but slows down considerably once its chip starts getting too hot.

Apple has two higher-end MacBook Pros: the 14- and 16-inch models running M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. They’re fantastic laptops with even more processing power than the base M4, plus upgrades like Thunderbolt 5 ports, but they start at $1,999 and $3,199, respectively. An M4 Pro model is a more futureproof option, but these are better fit for a working professional than a student.

Read our review of the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4.

The best modular laptops you can upgrade yourself

Framework Laptop 13 (2025, AMD Ryzen AI 7 350)

Score: 9

Pros	Cons
Still the repairability champ with excellent, modular port selection Faster CPU performance over both Intel and previous AMD models High-res 3:2 aspect ratio screen is great for productivity Thin, light, and an overall great package	Radeon 860M iGPU performance is a little lacking Trackpad still feels a little cheap Screen is a little lacking in contrast and color quality Less repairable laptops offer more for similar prices or less

Where to Buy:

• $899 at Framework

The Framework Laptop 13 and 2-in-1 Laptop 12 are notebooks that can grow and change with you. They’re easily repairable, and even years down the road you should be able to upgrade the RAM, storage, ports, and the entire mainboard and processor. They even have optional DIY editions, requiring some easy assembly — which I assure you is a joyously nerdy way to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of your laptop. There’s nothing else like them, and if you or your kid are the tinkering types it’s a fun experience for running either Windows or Linux.

But you don’t have to be going for a computer engineering degree. Even a newcomer can appreciate how Framework allows you to choose modular ports and swap them out at will. You can go all USB-C like a MacBook Air, or you can get funky by mixing and matching USB-A, DisplayPort, HDMI, SD / microSD card readers, and even an ethernet port. 

You just have to be willing to pay extra for the Frameworks’ modularity, upgradeability, and easy repairability, as they cost more than equivalent or better-specced laptops from other manufacturers. The newer Laptop 12 isn’t as good a choice for most people because of its price and older Intel chips, but its shock-resistant chassis and convertible tablet form factor make it even more uniquely appealing for younger kids.

Framework Laptop 12

Score: 7

Pros	Cons
Easy repairs and potential upgrades Fun design Rubberized TPU edges make it more resilient for kids Modular ports with internal “child locks”	Not exactly cheap, especially with more RAM and storage Aging processor, starts with 8GB of RAM Chunky bezels No Windows Hello unlocking

Where to Buy:

• $799 at Framework

Read our reviews of the Framework Laptop 13 and Laptop 12.

A Windows laptop or tablet with amazing battery

Microsoft Surface Laptop, 13-inch

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
Exquisite hardware that feels great to touch and use Very good keyboard and one of the best mechanical trackpads Battery can stretch to 1.5 days (with native Arm apps) 3:2 aspect ratio screen is ideal for productivity	Webcam doesn’t support Windows Hello Loss of magnetic charging port Snapdragon X still has app and game compatibility issues that competing chips do not Why have Home, Page Up, and Page Down keys instead of media controls?

Where to Buy:

• $899.99 at Microsoft
• $899.99 at Best Buy

The latest, lower-cost Surfaces from Microsoft are great machines with excellent battery life, great standby times when left asleep, and solid performance. They’re Arm-based, which is what gives them that excellent battery life, but can lead to some app compatibility issues. Most common programs run fine, either natively or native-like via emulation. Just do your homework; if certain classes require specific apps, check to make sure they’ll run.

The 12-inch Surface Pro (starting at $799.99) and 13-inch Laptop (starting at $899.99) are well constructed, ultra-portable machines that feel very nice to use. Despite being the cheaper Windows laptops in this list, neither feels like a diminished experience (save for some odd design choices, like a lack of face unlock in the Laptop). 

You can look at it as simply picking your preferred form factor: a traditional clamshell laptop or a convertible tablet with keyboard cover. The Laptop is the better buy, because the Surface Pro’s must-buy keyboard cover is an extra $150 (or $250 bundled with the stylus) — meaning its true starting price is around $850. 

Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch

Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro is smaller, with a new design and updated keyboard. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Arm64 Snapdragon X Plus chip. Read our review.

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
Beautiful fanless design Great battery life The keyboard is a lot sturdier	Windows still needs a better UX in tablet mode The thick display bezels No haptic touchpad

Where to Buy:

• $799.99 $729.99 at Walmart
• $799.99 at Best Buy

Read our reviews of the Surface Laptop 13-inch and Surface Pro 12-inch.

The hands-down best Chromebook

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14

Score: 9

Pros	Cons
Beautiful OLED screen, even at $649 Marathon battery life Speedy performance with fanless design Good-sounding speakers	USB ports are only 5Gbps Trackpad, while solid, has a slightly loud click Webcam sometimes exhibits a green color cast ChromeOS app compatibility / performance can still be frustrating (e.g., Zoom and Slack)

Where to Buy:

• $749 at Best Buy
• $749 at Lenovo

If you need or prefer a Chromebook for school and favor a traditional clamshell laptop, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is the best one. It’s a great Chromebook for older students, and a solid machine for just about anyone who wants a no-nonsense everyday computer. For $750 you get a fantastic touchscreen OLED display with deep contrast and vivid colors, a great keyboard, and marathon battery life. It’s a package that’s well built and totally silent thanks to a fanless design.

The Arm-based MediaTek processor is what gives the Lenovo its zippy performance and battery stretching into a second day of use. It can also lead to some small compatibility issues if you venture into using Linux apps (they need to be Arm compatible), but that’s unlikely to affect most users.

The Chromebook Plus 14 has some other small flaws, like lackluster 5Gbps data speeds on its USB ports and an only-okay trackpad, but it nails most everything else. And, again, paying only $750 for a 14-inch OLED panel this nice is a rare treat. 

Read our review of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14.

The best 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024)

Acer’s Spin Chromebook is configured with Intel’s first generation of processor with an NPU. It also has Google Gemini baked right into the OS, and if you sign up for a new Google One AI premium plan, your first year of service is free.

Pros	Cons
The best convertible Chromebook experience Speedy Thunderbolt 4 ports Faster RAM than previous gen	No fingerprint sensor A little pricey when not discounted 8GB of RAM

Where to Buy:

• $799 $629 at Best Buy

If you want a 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is your bag. The 2024 Acer may now be getting outclassed by the freshly launched Lenovo, but it’s still one of our top picks since it’s so versatile.

The Chromebook Spin 714 and its Intel processor offers a great balance of performance, battery life, and specs for the money. It has speedy Thunderbolt 4 ports, and its x86 architecture allows for free rein to install and tinker with Linux apps.

Now that this latest version of the Spin is a year old (though still current), it can occasionally be had for $200 off. So if you want a top-flight Chromebook you can find for a decent discount, the Spin is a great choice.

The best Chromebook under $400

Chromebook Plus CX34

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
Excellent look and build Sharp 1080p display 1080p webcam with AI features and physical shutter	No touchscreen option Stiff touchpad Battery life could be a bit better

Where to Buy:

• $379 at Walmart (Intel Core i3)
• $599 at Best Buy (Intel Core i5)
• $599.99 at Asus (Intel Core i5)

If you’re shopping for a younger student and don’t want to spend a ton, but also don’t want to risk buying something crappy, the 14-inch Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a safe bet. It’s one of the cheapest Chromebooks with the Plus designation, which means it meets a certain level of performance, battery life, and quality. Chromebook Plus laptops have better-than-average screens, and they should be able to last through a school day without needing a charge. 

The CX34 normally costs $600 these days, but it sometimes sells for under $400. That’s the sweet spot, getting you excellent build quality, a nice screen, and a sleek design for an affordable price.

The CX34’s 1920 x 1080 / 250-nit display may feel a little cramped and dim compared to the 16:10 screens on the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 and Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, but it offers a sharp picture with minimal glare. It’s got a great keyboard that Asus claims to have tested as spill-resistant, giving a bit more peace of mind when entrusting it to a child. The Asus remains a go-to choice for something you can have younger students use that lasts some years.

Read our review of the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34.

A great higher-end Windows laptop with a big screen

Asus Zenbook S 16

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
It’s gorgeous Incredibly thin and light for a 16-inch laptop Great performance, especially the integrated graphics	Shorter battery life than major competitors StoryCube doesn’t work Couldn’t get a sense of how fast the NPU really is

Where to Buy:

• $1799.99 $1399 at Asus
• $1799.99 at Best Buy

Sometimes bigger is better, and the Asus Zenbook S 16 is a total treat of a Windows thin-and-light laptop. It’s got AMD Strix Point processors that are powerful enough for even some light gaming, and the star of the show is its 2880 x 1800 16-inch OLED touchscreen capable of a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

The Zenbook S 16 is one of the pricier options we have here, with a standard price of $1,799.99, but it sometimes goes on sale for as much as $500 off. This is a very capable option for high school or college students who need to run Windows and prefer a big screen for easier multitasking. And its thinness makes it very portable for a 16-inch machine, making it less of a hassle to tote a large laptop around campus. Asus also makes a 14-inch version — we expect it to be similar, but we haven’t tested the smaller model.

The downside of the Zenbook’s powerful chip and thin chassis is that it’s not the battery champ some of the other options here are. It’s still enough to get through an average day of classes, but it’s going to need a charge in the late afternoon if you have a lengthy sprint of back-to-back lectures or you’re cramming late into the night.

Read our review of the Asus Zenbook S 16.

The best gaming laptop for (very responsible) students

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025)

Pros	Cons
Balanced performance, battery life, and portability OLED display Programmable LED strip on the lid Great keyboard and smooth trackpad	Gets a bit hot and loud under load Soldered RAM Thermally throttles its GPUs

Where to Buy:

• $1799.99 $1349.99 at Best Buy (5060)
• $1799.99 at Asus
• $2399.99 $2049.99 at Best Buy (5070 Ti)

Treating your kid to a gaming laptop may seem like you’re inviting them to slack off, but if you want to splurge on one device for both schoolwork and play you can’t go wrong with Asus’ ROG Zephyrus G14. The G14 is as “normal” as gaming laptops get, with a design that doesn’t scream cringe-gamer too much (aside from some small ROG branding). Unlike many other gaming laptops, the Zephyrus has solid battery life that can get you through your day’s classes — assuming you save the gaming for when you plug in at the end of the day.

The $1,799.99 base model uses a capable AMD Ryzen 9 270 processor and discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, which is enough power to play just about any game, even the latest big-budget ones, albeit not at the highest settings.

An important part of what makes the G14 special is how good the rest of the laptop is. It’s got a crisp and lovely 14-inch OLED with 2880 x 1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh, a great keyboard, and a very good trackpad. It offers a bunch of ports, and it doesn’t run overly loud or hot when tackling the basic productivity stuff.

You’d be spoiling your kid a bit (maybe a lot of bit) with a laptop like this, but you can meet their school needs while also treating them to the world of PC gaming.

Read our buying guide featuring the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

On its face, today’s M3 MacBook Air-with-dual-monitors setup looks basic. But it brings some cool gear, and commenters offered good ideas.

(via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Today’s thoroughly satisfied M4 Mac mini user relies on an Obsbot webcam, the Tiny 2 Lite. It’s small but powerful.

(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

A user with M1 and M3 MacBook Pros says he “couldn’t be happier” with his “incredibly impressive” new M4 Mac mini setup.

(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Today’s MacBook Pro dual displays setup found an unusual place to stick the external webcam. Would it work for you?

(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

(via Cult of Mac – Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)