The Asus Zenbook A14 redefines the ultraportable category.
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
It’s time to go back to school, and if you’re looking for a new (or refurbished) laptop, we’ve got you covered with some of the best deals live right now. We’ve personally tested all five of these laptops and singled them out as solid options for students for various reasons.
Also: The best laptops of 2025: I’ve tested dozens of laptops and these are the best ones
We’re talking light and portable, great battery life, solid performance, and most of all: fantastic value. The Asus Zenbook A14, for example, weighs 2.1 pounds and has a battery that will last multiple days on end for $599. If you’re looking for a deal on a new MacBook, Walmart has a new MacBook Air M1<!–> for just $599 – one of the lowest prices we’ve seen.
We evaluate laptops for their value and how specs like RAM, on-device storage, GPUs, physical build, and, of course, battery life factor into their overall performance. Here are five top picks for students, all on sale now.
- Current price: $599
- Original price: $999
The Zenbook A14 earned our Editors’ Choice award this year for its successful combination of balance: value, features, and form. Made of Asus’ proprietary ceraluminum material, it’s exceedingly light at just 2.1 pounds (for reference, the 13-inch MacBook Air is 2.7 pounds). The OLED display complements the ultralight body for a crisp and enjoyable user experience, even if it’s kept within affordable limits.
Review: This ultraportable Asus laptop is my favorite MacBook Air alternative (and it’s better in some ways)
Hands down, the best part of this laptop is the outstanding battery life, though. Asus advertises up to 32 hours on a single charge, and it’s not far off from what you can expect with everyday use. During my testing, a day’s work in the office didn’t take me down past 50%. This combination of traits make for a solid ultraportable at home or on campus.
Show more
<!–>
- Current price: $579
- Original price: $899
If you want something with a big, brilliant display, Samsung’s Galaxy Book 4 Edge is a great option. The 16-inch AMOLED display on this laptop feels like a flagship device, with 3K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the Snapdragon X Elite processor makes for a battery-efficient device — perfect for long days on campus.
Review: Samsung’s Galaxy Book4 Edge laptop has one of the best displays – and it’s $300 off
If you have a Samsung smartphone, this laptop becomes even more attractive, as it integrates deeply with Samsung’s ecosystem. For example, you can remote into your Samsung smartphone on the computer, something Apple just started doing with its iPhones.
Show more
<!–>
- Current price: $749
- Original price: $1,099
The new Dell 14 Plus is the company’s latest midrange laptop and successor to the Inspiron series. It sports the familiar all-silver body and instantly recognizable design. Internal components include an Intel Core Ultra 256V processor, Intel Arc graphics card, and 16GB of memory — a standard mid-range configuration for a very competitive sale price.
Review: This Dell laptop is my top choice for both work and travel – and it’s on sale for $420 off
Regarding battery life, the Dell 14 Plus ran for about 11 hours and 40 minutes in our testing, going well beyond what you’ll need for a day on campus (we hope). Dell’s latest machine is a great, affordable option that performs well among expensive computers.
Show more
<!–>
- Current price: $1,100
- Original price: $1,299
Of all the Copilot+ PCs released last year, Microsoft’s Surface Laptop was our surprise favorite. From the sleek, minimalist frame to the marathon battery to the snappy performance, it remains a solid pick for a 15-inch laptop that’s just the right size.
Review: The Surface Laptop is still one of my favorite Copilot+ PCs (and now it’s over $500 off)
The bright, 120Hz HDR touchscreen display looks excellent, but the Snapdragon X Elite processor keeps things running smoothly and efficiently. The keyboard is very satisfying, with well-textured and responsive keys matching the device’s unique color scheme.
Show more
<!–>
Deals are subject to sell-out or expire anytime, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to score savings and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.
Show more
ZDNET Recommends
<!–>
–>
Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
Apple’s improved Siri voice assistant may finally have a release date – and I’m ready to ditch Gemini for it
