Amazon’s biggest deal event of the year is around the corner, and we’ve already got big discounts on laptops ahead of the Prime Big Deal Days (a.k.a. October Prime Day), Oct. 7-8. There’s no doubt about it: 2025 was a huge year for laptops, and many of the best devices we tested this year are already marked down, like the MacBook Air M4, Apple’s latest ultraportable, and the Dell 14 Plus<!–>, a new versatile (and affordable) laptop from Dell.
Also: The best laptops we’ve tested this year
We’ve assembled a list of the best deals on laptops from a broad range of prices, but as always, we expect sale inventory to go quickly as consumers look to grab deals before tariffs impact prices. Here are the best early deals we’ve found so far.
Best laptop deals for Prime Day 2025
- Current price: $849
- Regular price: $1,099
We went hands-on with Dell’s new 14 Plus earlier this year, and praised it for its all-around reliability and performance relative to value. Armed with an Intel Core Ultra 7 and 16GB of RAM, you’re getting a device with the latest hardware for a competitive price point.
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- Current price: $1,069
- Regular price: $1,299
If you’re looking for a 15-inch laptop with a gorgeous OLED screen, the Vivobook S 15 has a 3K 120Hz display paired with a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor for vibrant visuals and fantastic battery life (two things that historically didn’t go together).
Review: Asus Vivobook S 15
We praised the Vivobook S 15 as one of the first Copilot+ PCs to be released last year with a lightweight 3.1-pound body and bright, 600 nit screen. In the office or at home, the 12-core, 3.4GHz chip with a 45 TOPS NPU is snappy and responsive, especially for the price.
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- Current price: $899
- Regular price: $1,049
Acer’s Swift 14 AI is a versatile laptop for work, school, or home use, covering the basics and a respectable hardware loadout for a midrange price point. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 processor powers the show, with 16GB of RAM and support for Wi-Fi 7, making it fast and responsive, with a solid selection of ports.
Review: Acer Swift 14 AI
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- Current price: $1,129
- Regular price: $1,599
When we tested the Surface laptop last year, it was a surprisingly enjoyable experience backed up by some pretty fantastic battery life. The Snapdragon X Elite processor gave us over 15 hours of use, and the portable, durable body makes for a solid device for hybrid commuters who utilize Windows’ suite of productivity software.
Review: Microsoft Surface laptop
The Surface laptop comes in a handful of different configurations, but the 14-inch model with 16GB of memory, 1TB of local storage is on sale for almost $500 off, making now the time to spring if you’ve got your eye on one.
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- Current price: $998
- Regular price: $3,799
Dell’s 16-inch Inspiron from 2024 is heavily discounted right now as the manufacturer rolls out its latest lineup (see the Dell 14 Plus also mentioned on this list). The fact is that the Inspiron 14 is still a versatile, reliable laptop that’s equally suited to most use cases.
Review: Dell Inspiron 16
With an Intel Core 7, 32GB of RAM, and a FHD+ touchscreen display, the Inspiron 16 is a big screen device with a full-sized keyboard and the power to back it up.
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Best Prime Day MacBook deals
- Current price: $999
- Regular price: $1,199
When the M4 MacBook Air dropped earlier this year, we praised it as one of the best laptops of 2025 and a solid pick for most people. The 15-inch Air is the “goldilocks” of laptops: not too small, not too big, but as ultraportable as it is powerful.
Review: MacBook Air M4 (15-inch)
The ability to drive two external monitors with the lid open, more starting memory, and Apple’s Liquid Retina technology provides a crisp display. The starting configuration with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of local storage is on sale for $999, a competitive price for the ultraportable that defined the category.
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- Current price: $1,499
- Regular price: $1,799
Apple’s latest and greatest MacBook Pro with the blazing-fast M4 chip is on sale for a competitive $1,499, a great deal for the configuration with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage. The MacBook M4 has a stunning display, Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, and is three times faster than the M1 Pro.
Review: MacBook Pro M4
It also supports up to 24 hours of battery life and the improved Phone app on the MacBook, allowing you to use your phone on the laptop exactly as if it were in your hands.
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- Current price: $799
- Regular price: $999
The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is Apple’s latest ultraportable, weighing just 2.7 pounds and thin enough to slip into a bag unnoticed. It comes in multiple versions, but the configuration with 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD starts at just $799.
The lightweight form factor doesn’t mean it’s not powerful — it features a 12MP Center Stage camera, fast and responsive performance, and sports 18 hours of battery life.
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- Current price: $699
- Regular price: $799
If you’re looking to save a little cash on a new machine, the 13-inch MacBook Air from 2023 is still a competitive laptop with the M3 chip — and less expensive than the newest M4 lineup.
Review: MacBook Air M3
The 10-core CPU is fast and responsive, and supports the latest and greatest MacOS 26 Sequoia, with all the same features as the M4: the new liquid glass UI design, all the new Apple Intelligence features, and up to 18 hours of battery life to top it all off.
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- Current price: $499
- Regular price: $599
The Mac Mini M4 is a huge upgrade from the last Mini, bringing more ports, tons of configurable options all the way up to 64GB of RAM, and compatibility with a wide range of monitors, keyboards, and peripherals.
Review: Mac Mini M4
The result is an accessible Mac that takes up very little desk space and one of the easiest ways to jump into the Mac ecosystem. With support for up to five external displays, it’s a productivity powerhouse in a small package.
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- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch–>: $2,249 (save $250 at Best Buy): If you’re on the hunt for a MacBook that will last you for years to come, consider the discount available on this 16-inch model, equipped with an Apple M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB storage.
- Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch<!–>: $2,249 (save $250 at Amazon): If you would prefer, you can purchase the same model for the same discount at Amazon.
- Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch, renewed–>: $665 (save $634 at Best Buy): Opting for a refurbished model can save you hundreds of dollars, and so we think this sale is worth considering. You can save on a 15-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage — plenty for day-to-day tasks.
- Current price: $370
- Original price: $620
- HP 17-inch touchscreen business laptop–>: $1,184 (save $2816 at Amazon): This very powerful HP Windows 11 Pro laptop is also on sale. It contains an Intel 12-core Ultra 7 processor, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage.
- HP ProBook 460 G11<!–>
: $889 (save $611 at Amazon): You can also save on an HP ProBook, a laptop equipped with a 16-inch display, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. - HP Stream 14–>: $217 (save $32 at Walmart): If you want an entry-level laptop for your kids, consider the HP Stream — a laptop I frequently recommend. You can save on the colored variations.
- Current price: $600
- Original price: $800
- Dell Inspiron touchscreen laptop–>: $420 (save $210 at Best Buy): If you don’t mind a less powerful processor and downgraded RAM, you can pick up a cheaper version of our top pick.
- Dell XPS touchscreen laptop<!–>
: $1,400 (save $100 at Best Buy): This impressive laptop comes with a crisp, vibrant OLED 13-inch display. If entertainment is your top priority, consider this option. - Dell Plus 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop–>: $1,000 (save $100 at Best Buy): While this discount isn’t massive, we like the look of this large, 16-inch 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop, equipped with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD storage.
- Current price: $2,717
- Original price: $3,700
- Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro–>: $1,400 (save $200 at Amazon): This lightweight laptop is a great option for work. Its specifications include a 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and 1TB of SSD storage.
- LG gram 17 laptop<!–>
: $1,400 (save $300 at Best Buy): Another work-ready laptop to help you with productivity is the LG gram, a 17-inch model with strong specifications and access to Copilot+. - Acer Swift 16 laptop–>: $800 (save $450 at Best Buy): If you’re looking for a cheaper Windows machine, the Acer Swift 16 is another of our recommendations. You can save $450 on a model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.
- Current price: $679
- Regular price: $829
- ASUS CX14 Chromebook–>: $139 (save $140 at Best Buy): This ASUS Chromebook provides you with a 14-inch Full HD display, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB eMMC storage.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook<!–>
: $169 (save $230 at Best Buy): If you’re looking for a slim, 14-inch Chromebook to take with you when you are attending school or need basic online access, this model is for you. - Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go–>: $270 (save $60 at Best Buy): If you’d prefer a Samsung model, check out the $60 discount on a 14-inch option with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. While the memory is low, granted, it might be worth it as a trade-off for the storage.
- Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook: $349 (save $50 at Best Buy): Another interesting deal we’ve spotted is for the Lenovo Duet, a Chromebook that can also be used as a touchscreen tablet.
Best Prime Day HP laptop deals
We like this early Amazon October sales event deal on a 15.6-inch HP Windows 11 Pro laptop. It has impressive specifications at this price — including 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage — making it a great choice for work and study. You can save 40% off the typical RRP.
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Best Prime Day Dell deals
At this price, the Dell Inspiron touchscreen laptop is certainly worth considering — and we can always hope the price falls further as we approach Amazon’s October Prime Day event. This 15-inch, touchscreen laptop comes with an Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage.
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Best Prime Day Windows laptop deals
Looking for a future-proof, powerful Windows laptop? While it’s still expensive, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is a 2025 model perfect for gaming and resource-intensive tasks. This laptop comes with a 16-inch, WQXGA OLED display (240Hz refresh rate), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Graphics, 2TB of SSD storage, and 64GB of RAM.
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Best Prime Day Chromebook deals
We really like the sales price on the ASUS ExpertBook Chromebook. Over at Best Buy, you can save $150 on this powerful Chromebook, which comes with specs outside of what you usually see — including 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. 12 months of Google AI access is available.
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When is October Prime Day 2025?
This year, Amazon’s October Prime Day sale runs on October 7 and October 8. The sales event will last for two days, and you can expect to see a range of deals on tech, including laptops, MacBooks, and Chromebooks.
Are laptops really cheaper on Prime Day?
Manufacturers know consumers are on the lookout for deals during Prime Day, so yes, quite a few of the laptop sales have significantly steeper discounts than during regular sales throughout the year.
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How did we choose these October Prime Day deals?
ZDNET authors only write about deals that interest us personally and include products that we own or want to buy. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are normally not on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal actually represents value for your money.
We also examined customer reviews to find out what matters to those who already own and use the products and deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing and hands-on experience.
Our top Prime Day deals
Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
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