Image: IDG
If you’re looking for an affordable Windows machine under $500, a blazing fast gaming beast for those intense matches, or a portable 2-in-1 for school or work, you’ve got plenty of great choices right now. With Prime Day in full swing, there are tons of limited-time laptop deals worth checking out—and you can follow all of PCWorld’s Prime Day coverage for the best picks and updates.
Want to see even more? Take a peek at PCWorld’s list of the top laptops you can get right now.
Meet the GIGABYTE AERO X16, the one notebook that does it all. Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen processors and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series GPUs, this laptop is perfectly designed to game, create, or simply entertain on the go.
Why you should trust us: It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
Best budget laptop deals under $500

Dell
Our top pick: Dell Inspiron 15, $419.99 ($210 off at Best Buy)
Looking for a budget laptop that doesn’t cut corner? The Dell Inspiron 15 is the one to spring for. The Intel Core i5-1334U processor keeps everyday work, streaming, and a pile of open tabs running smoothly, while the 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD give you enough space for daily use. The 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen is a nice bonus at this price and, at $419.99, it’s a straightforward deal that should last you a good while.
Amazon
- HP 14 Laptop, Intel Celeron N4020 processor/14-inch 1366×768 display/4GB RAM/64GB storage, $170.23 ($59.76 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- Asus Vivobook 14, Intel Core i3-1315U processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, $209.99 ($240 off at Best Buy)
- Acer Aspire Go 15, Intel Core 5 Series 1 1334U processor/15.3-inch 1920×1200 display/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $299.99 ($300 off at Best Buy)
- Dell Inspiron 15, Intel Core i5-1334U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $419.99 ($210 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- HP 17-cn0513nr, Intel Celeron N4500 processor/17.3-inch 1600×900 display/4GB RAM/256GB SSD, $409.99 ($20 off at Adorama)
- Asus Vivobook 14, Intel Core i5-1334U processor/14-inch 1920×1080/12GB RAM/256GB SSD, $449.99 ($100 off at Adorama)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, Intel Core i3-N305 processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $489.99 ($60 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- Lenovo IdeaPad 1, Intel Celeron processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/20GB RAM/1TB SSD, $334 ($115 off at Newegg)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, AMD Ryzen 5 5625U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $458 ($71 off at Newegg)
- Asus Vivobook 15, Intel Core i5-1334U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $499.99 ($200 off at Newegg)
Best mid-range laptop deals ($500-$900)

HP
Our top pick: HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1, $729.99 ($320 off at Best Buy)
If you want a laptop that feels way nicer than what you’re paying, the HP OmniBook X Flip on Best Buy is the one to grab. It’s $729.99 right now ($320 off at Best Buy), and you’re getting a 14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display, a snappy new Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 256V processor, plus 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Translation: You’re getting plenty of power and you don’t have to worry about running out of space. Since it’s a 2-in-1, you can flip it around for tablet mode too, which is just a bonus at this price.
Amazon
- Dell Inspiron 5441, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $610 ($189.99 off at Amazon)
- Samsung Galaxy Book4, Intel Core 7 150U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $625 ($74.99 off at Amazon)
- Asus Vivobook 14, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $638.99 ($111 off at Amazon)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop (2025), Snapdragon X Plus processor/13-inch 1920×1280 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $720 ($179.99 off at Amazon)
- Apple 2025 MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $899 ($100 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- HP OmniBook 5 Flip 2-in-1, Intel Core 7 Series 1 150U processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $549.99 ($250 off at Best Buy)
- HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 256V processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $729.99 ($320 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 155U processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $699.99 ($350 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- Asus Vivobook 14, Intel Core 5 120U processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $549.99 ($100 off at Adorama)
- HP OmniBook 5, Snapdragon X processor/14-inch 1920×1200 OLED display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $699.99 ($175 off at Adorama)
- Asus Vivobook 16, AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $799.99 ($30 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- Acer Aspire Go 15, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $549.99 ($270 off at Newegg)
- HP 17 Laptop, AMD Ryzen 5 7430U processor/17.3-inch 1920×1080 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $599.99 ($200 off at Newegg)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor/15.3-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $649.99 ($250 off at Newegg)
Best gaming laptop deals

HP
Our top pick: HP Omen 17, $1,319.99 ($270 off at Best Buy)
Don’t want to settle for “good enough” but still want to save some cash? The HP Omen 17 strikes that balance. With an AMD Ryzen AI 7-350 processor and RTX 5050 graphics, you can crank up the graphics no problem. The 17-inch 1080p display gives you more real estate to game and multitask. And, with 16 GB of RAM, you can run Discord, Spotify, and a bunch of browser tabs all at once. Plus, the 512 GB SSD gives you enough space for your all of your essential files.
Amazon
- HP Victus, AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor/RTX 2050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $549 ($61 off at Amazon)
- Lenovo Legion 5i, Intel Core i7-14700HX processor/RTX 5060 graphics/15.1-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,498.99 ($500.01 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- Lenovo LOQ, AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/12GB RAM/512GB SSD, $579.99 ($290 off at Best Buy)
- HP Victus, AMD Ryzen 7 7445H processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $679.99 ($220 off at Best Buy)
- HP Omen 17, AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor/RTX 5050 graphics/17-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,319.99 ($270 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- Asus ROG Strix G16, Intel Core i5-13450HX processor/RTX 5050 graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,114.99 ($185 off at Adorama)
- HP Omen Transcend 16, Intel Core i7-14700HX processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,899.99 ($120 off at Adorama)
- HP Omen Transcend, Intel Core i7-13700HX processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $2,049.99 ($569.44 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- MSI Cyborg, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $829.99 ($170 off at Newegg)
- Asus TUF Gaming A16, AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor/RTX 5060 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,379.99 ($320 off at Newegg)
Best premium laptop deals ($900+)

MSI
Our top pick: MSI Summit A16 AI+, $1,049.99 ($650 off at Newegg)
Out of all the Newegg deals listed below, the MSI Summit A16 AI+ is one of the strongest picks. For $1,049.99 (a hefty $650 off), you’re getting AMD’s new Ryzen AI 9 365 processor paired with Radeon 880M graphics, a sharp 16-inch 2560×1600 touchscreen display, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. That’s a premium blend of performance, storage, and sleek design. It’s the perfect buy for creators, professionals, and power users.
Amazon
- Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), Snapdragon X Plus processor/13.8-inch 2304×1536 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $849.99 ($350 off at Amazon)
- Dell 14 Plus, Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor/14-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $949.99 ($450 off at Amazon)
- Apple MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,073.69 ($125.31 off at Amazon)
- Microsoft Surface Pro 2-in-1, Snapdragon X Elite processor/13-inch 2880×1920 OLED display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,299 ($200.99 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $919.99 ($230 off at Best Buy)
- HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 256V processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,049.99 ($50 off at Best Buy)
- MSI Prestige A16 AI+, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor/16-inch 3840×2400 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,206.16 ($193.83 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo Yoga Book 9i 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 1 155U processor/13.3-inch 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,499.99 ($500 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- Lenovo Slim 7, Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor/14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,049.99 ($250 off at Adorama)
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12, Intel Core Ultra 7 155U processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/32GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,649 ($600 off at Adorama)
- MSI Creator A16 AI+, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,674.99 ($24.01 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- MSI Summit A16 AI+, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor/16-inch 2560×1600 touchscreen display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,049.99 ($650 off at Newegg)
- MSI Prestige 16 AI+, Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,249.99 ($300 off at Newegg)
- Asus Vivobook S 16 AI, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor/15.6-inch 2880×1620 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,349 ($220 off at Newegg)
FAQ
1.
How much RAM will I need in my laptop?
You’ll want at least 8GB, though 16GB is preferable, especially if you play games. Don’t buy laptops with under 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage—though on a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. Check out our article on how much RAM does a laptop need for more in-depth info.
2.
What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop?
The one big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows.
Chromebooks make good everyday machines because they’re designed for browsing the web, checking e-mail, and so on. They use less resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also don’t need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is a lot more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really pump a Windows laptop up with a ton of RAM, storage, and so on.
3.
When should I look for a laptop deal?
You’ll likely find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you’ll find good laptop deals throughout the year, but if you really want to save big, we’d recommend scoping out your favorite online retailers during those times.
4.
Which retailers offer the best deals?
You can find all kinds of deals across a wide range of online retailers such as Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and so on. However, we’d recommend checking out deals from laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Dell. You’ll usually find many different configurations on sale and the discounts can be pretty darn steep.
For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.
Author: Ashley Biancuzzo, Associate Editor, PCWorld
Ashley Biancuzzo manages all laptop and Chromebook coverage for PCWorld. She's been covering consumer tech since 2016, and her work has appeared on USA Today, Reviewed, Polygon, Kotaku, StarWars.com, and Nerdist. In her spare time, she enjoys playing video games, reading science fiction, and hanging out with her rescue greyhound.