I’m not just talking about finding big sales events like Black Friday. For the observant shopper, there are plenty of savings to be made year-round, whether it’s through student discounts, coupon codes, shopping clearance mode or refurbished products. With these laptop-buying tips and tricks, you might never pay full price for a Windows laptop or MacBook again.
Before Shopping: Know What You Want and Need
Before we start talking about saving money, let me emphasize that the best value is not necessarily the laptop with the best discount, but the one that suits how you use it. No discount will change even the best laptop’s features or capabilities, whether it’s giving you the battery life you want or the fast-paced gaming you crave. You can find out these basic parameters and priorities by browsing different categories of laptops and finding the best one for you. Our selection of laptop buying guides can also help you with everything from choosing a laptop brand to choosing the right laptop processor, with top picks for each subcategory.
You should also consider which operating system you want to run it on. The three main operating system options are Microsoft Windows 11, Apple macOS Ventura, and Google ChromeOS. Each operating system has its key useful features, areas of focus, and weaknesses.
Ready to shop? You need to consider which features are essential and which ones can be left out. If you’re willing to skip the third USB-C port or can live with a full HD screen instead of one with a 4K display resolution and a base 60Hz screen refresh rate, you can find a great system for less than the latest specs.
Also consider which applications you need to access and which versions, which will vary depending on the operating system from which they are accessed. Microsoft Office is a good example because it works a little differently on a Windows laptop than it does on a MacBook Air or Chromebook.
Finally, consider your primary use for your laptop: Is it for video editing? Is it a business laptop? Do you need a more powerful gaming laptop? Or are you just following one of the new MacBook Pro models?
There is no perfect laptop, but finding the right machine will greatly increase the value you get because it will do what you need it to. This isn’t just an immediate issue, as a laptop that works for you will be more useful than one that feels like a compromise. The right machine is a better value in both the short and long term. Taking advantage of our laptop buying advice is easy with our help, thanks to our handy guides and curated lists of the best laptops of the moment, from cheap laptop options like Chromebooks to premium ultraportables, top Gaming laptop options and high-end mobile workstations.
While we have plenty of recommendations for budget laptops and cheap gaming laptops, you don’t need to compromise if you want a more premium model. No matter which laptop you want, our smart shopping tips will help you save money, so focus on what you actually need and the features you’ll be using. Once you have a clear idea of the features you need, it’s time to start shopping.
1. Set up some guardrails while shopping
When looking to save on a new laptop, the obvious place to start is checking out the latest deals. Our reviews are a great starting point, not only for learning about individual models and their features and performance but also for comparison shopping. Part of each review is a list of current prices and retailers, allowing you to start your search right from within the review.
We also offer regular roundups of the best laptop deals, and you can even sign up for our daily best deals newsletter to get the latest sales straight to your inbox. If you have a good idea of what you want, it pays to keep an eye on these types of listings so you can snag a discount before it wears off.
Finally, we have an extensive laptop buying guide in several subcategories. You can find these on our dedicated laptop buying guide page.
2. Really know the specs and models
A word of warning: when you’re perusing different online and brick-and-mortar stores, make sure you’re actually looking at the same laptop make and model. It’s easy to get fooled by similarly named models with different specs and think a laptop is a good deal at one store, only to buy it and realize its lower price reflects a less powerful processor, smaller solid-state drive Or missing features you thought were included.
Don’t be fooled. Sometimes (especially during major sales events like Prime Day or Black Friday), laptop retailers work with laptop manufacturers to offer store-specific models with slightly different specs and unique models. This tactic allows them to bypass the price-match guarantee since that exact model isn’t sold elsewhere.
Sometimes these “store exclusive” models will be pleasantly well-equipped surprises; other times, they’ll cut corners or forgo features for a lower price. Maybe it’s a plastic rather than metal construction, or a non-touchscreen or non-backlit keyboard. If a machine seems particularly cheap, it’s worth digging into the details, finding the model number, and comparing product specs to make sure you’re really getting a bargain.
The conclusion to be drawn from these warnings is that you should pay attention to the specific model (identified by model and part number) and required specifications. A lack of ports or Wi-Fi 5 support instead of Wi-Fi 6 probably won’t affect your satisfaction much, but it could be a source of significant savings.
3. Wait for seasonal sales
If you want the latest models, spring shopping is worth it. This is the most common (though certainly not only ) time when laptops are refreshed with new processor versions (mainly Intel Core and AMD Ryzen chip updates) , and sometimes with new integrated graphics hardware. New versions of dedicated graphics chips from Nvidia and AMD also sometimes come out in sync with the CPU, but not always. But to save the most money, you need to worry less about product launches and more about seasonal sales. If you have the luxury of waiting to buy, you can take advantage of the few sales that come and go throughout the year.
The biggest seasonal sales occur in the spring, late summer and fall, starting with Father’s Day and the end of the school year (sometimes advertised as Dads and Grads), followed by the back-to-school period from July to September, and finally with the traditional The holiday shopping season (Black Friday through Cyber Monday , though this sales frenzy is starting to build up faster and faster) starts the day after .
4. Don’t forget Prime Day
We mentioned one big sale that didn’t coincide with any particular holiday or school schedule: Amazon Prime Day. Prime Day, launched to mark the shopping site’s 20th anniversary, has become a recurring mega-sale – and other stores have responded with competing annual sales, making it a bargain to buy if you’re an Amazon Prime member ideal timing.
5. Find product launch specials
Less regular, but equally large savings opportunities are discounts around product launches. When new laptops are on the horizon, vendors and retailers often drop older models ahead of release. This allows sellers to clear out old inventory to make room for new inventory, and gives you the opportunity to save a lot of money.
6. Always compare prices
Take most of the hassle out of comparison shopping by using a price tracker app . Whether you’re waiting for a particular laptop (like a MacBook Air) to drop to a certain price point, or just want to make sure you don’t overpay when you click “Add to Cart,” these apps can be quickly set up to alert you You get a price drop on whatever product you’re watching.
7. Join the club to enjoy a member discount
Another way to find discounts is to show some loyalty. Whether it’s a membership-only store like Costco or an in-retailer program like Best Buy. My Best Buy (opens in new window) , or Best Buy Total Tech (opens in new window) membership, these programs can save you money over the long haul.
Costco is known for its members-only deals, and while the warehouse store doesn’t offer Black Friday-level discounts year-round, its prices are often equal to or lower than those at other stores. But Costco customers also get some unique perks, like a free extended warranty, no questions asked questions about returns within 90 days of purchase (no restocking fees), and free tech support through a concierge service available for the life of the product.
8. Find Coupon Codes
Another great way to knock a few bucks off the price of your new laptop is to use a promo code or coupon. Coupon codes can unlock everything from free shipping to percentage discounts on specific items. While a quick search for coupon or promotional codes might help you find useful savings opportunities, coupon code aggregator sites can be a lot of guesswork when it comes to finding currently active codes and knowing exactly what each code is for.
