Best back-to-school laptop deals: Get a workhorse from $149
If you’re heading back to school soon, you’re likely to be looking for different laptop deals then most people. Your focus is on convenience, portability so you can take it between classes easily, and often — the price of the laptop. That’s why we’ve picked out a bunch of back-to-school laptop deals that cater for every budget imaginable. We have some super cheap Chromebooks listed below if you just need the bare minimum and we also have some high-end MacBooks for when you need ultimate power. Whatever your intentions, take a look at what’s out there and see which one is best for your needs.
Contents
- HP 14-inch Chromebook — $149, was $299
- Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Gen 5 — $229, was $939
- HP 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook — $249, was $419
- HP 15-inch laptop — $280, was $460
- HP 17-inch laptop — $300, was $500
- HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 laptop — $480, was $700
- Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 — $629, was $1,819
- HP Victus gaming laptop — $700, was $900
- Apple MacBook Air M1 — $899, was $999
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 — $1,099, was $1,299
- Dell XPS 13 — $1,199, was $1,349
- Asus ROG Zephyrus gaming laptop — $1,300, was $1,900
- Dell XPS 15 — $1,599, was $1,999
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 14.2-inch — $1,799, was $1,999
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 16.2-inch — $2,250, was $2,499
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 14.2-inch — $2,899, was $3,099
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 16.2-inch — $3,250, was $3,499
HP 14-inch Chromebook — $149, was $299
While the HP 14-inch Chromebook isn’t one of the best Chromebooks, it is incredibly inexpensive. It has the basic essentials for typing up your reports via cloud-based apps. That includes an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory and 64GB of eMMC storage. Its 14-inch HD screen has anti-glare properties while you also have up to 14 hours of battery life at your disposal. There’s a HP True Vision 720p HD camera with integrated dual array microphones for all your video call needs too.
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Gen 5 — $229, was $939
The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Gen 5 is a little ambitious by offering Windows 11 Home with its fairly simple spec. If you don’t mind using Windows a little slowly though, it has some key advantages. For instance, it has 128GB of SSD storage rather than eMMC storage which helps a bit with speed compared to the Intel Celeron and 4GB of memory’s contributions. While the 11.6-inch HD screen is pretty small, it’s a touchscreen so you can be more hands-on with how you work, as helped by the included garaged pen. It’s built to last physically too with it having passed 12 military-grade requirements and being able to handle a drop of up to three feet.
HP 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook — $249, was $419
A fairly versatile machine for the price, the HP 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook has an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory, and 64GB of eMMC storage. It’s basic stuff but it handles ChromeOS well. Better is its 14-inch HD touchscreen that’s also paired up with audio by B&O, so if you’re looking for a machine to work on as well as stream your shows to, this one is a better bet in the budget price range than most. It also has HP Fast Charge support so you can go from 0% to 50% in about 45 minutes.
HP 15-inch laptop — $280, was $460
With an AMD Athlon Silver processor, 8GB of memory, and 128GB of SSD storage, this HP 15-inch laptop keeps things simple. It’s sufficient for running Windows 11 Home if you temper your expectations though. A 15.6-inch HD screen offers 250 nits of brightness and it has micro-edge bezels which add to the relatively sleek nature of the laptop. An 85% screen-to-body ratio is certainly good to see at this price, while there’s still room for the essentials like its 720p HD webcam and even a numeric keypad on the keyboard.
HP 17-inch laptop — $300, was $500
This HP 17-inch laptop offers a little more than the above example. For instance, there’s a slightly better AMD Athlon Gold processor paired up with 8GB of memory and 128GB of SSD storage. The highlight is in the name though — the 17.3-inch HD+ screen with 1600 x 900 resolution. It gives you a little more room even if it also means it’s slightly less portable. If you need something super lightweight, this probably isn’t it, but it’ll suit your dorm room. As before, there’s a 720p HD webcam along with a keyboard that fits in a numeric keypad.
HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 laptop — $480, was $700
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 — $629, was $1,819
Ideal for students that want to look professional as they work, the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 offers an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. It also has a 14-inch full HD screen with 300 nits of brightness, LED backlight, and 45% NTSC. Up to 9.7 hours of battery life is useful for a busy day of classes, while you’ll appreciate how slim the laptop is too. It’s also passed numerous military-grade requirements along with more than 200 quality checks.
HP Victus gaming laptop — $700, was $900
Apple MacBook Air M1 — $899, was $999
Apple MacBook Pro M2 — $1,099, was $1,299
Dell XPS 13 — $1,199, was $1,349
Asus ROG Zephyrus gaming laptop — $1,300, was $1,900
Dell XPS 15 — $1,599, was $1,999
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 14.2-inch — $1,799, was $1,999
For plenty of power, consider the Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro. It’s the smaller variety with a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display so it’s highly portable while still being incredibly speedy. Its M2 Pro chip has a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU while you also gain 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. The display has Extreme Dynamic Range and over 1,000 nits of brightness so it looks stunning, while you also gain a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio. A Magic Keyboard with Touch ID support is great to use while there’s up to 18 hours of battery life.
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 16.2-inch — $2,250, was $2,499
Need a larger display? The Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 16.2-inch is a great MacBook for that. It has a huge 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1,000 nits of brightness, and pro reference modes too. It also has a M2 Pro chip with 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU while you also benefit from 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. There’s the aforementioned six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, while video calls can be taken via the 1080p FaceTime HD camera. Up to 22 hours of battery life is remarkable stuff too.
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 14.2-inch — $2,899, was $3,099
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 16.2-inch — $3,250, was $3,499
For the ultimate Mac experience right now, buy the Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 16.2-inch. It oozes power and style. Its 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is great — of course — and makes everything look sharp and vibrant. It also has the M2 Max chip with 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU so it’s perfect for demanding work like video editing. 32GB of memory and 1TB of SSD storage further helps here. Up to 22 hours of battery life is stunning too ensuring this is a reliable laptop to take to class and beyond. It’s expensive but a worthwhile investment if you can afford it.
Editors’ Recommendations
If you’re heading back to school soon, you’re likely to be looking for different laptop deals then most people. Your focus is on convenience, portability so you can take it between classes easily, and often — the price of the laptop. That’s why we’ve picked out a bunch of back-to-school laptop deals that cater for every budget imaginable. We have some super cheap Chromebooks listed below if you just need the bare minimum and we also have some high-end MacBooks for when you need ultimate power. Whatever your intentions, take a look at what’s out there and see which one is best for your needs.
Contents
- HP 14-inch Chromebook — $149, was $299
- Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Gen 5 — $229, was $939
- HP 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook — $249, was $419
- HP 15-inch laptop — $280, was $460
- HP 17-inch laptop — $300, was $500
- HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 laptop — $480, was $700
- Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 — $629, was $1,819
- HP Victus gaming laptop — $700, was $900
- Apple MacBook Air M1 — $899, was $999
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 — $1,099, was $1,299
- Dell XPS 13 — $1,199, was $1,349
- Asus ROG Zephyrus gaming laptop — $1,300, was $1,900
- Dell XPS 15 — $1,599, was $1,999
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 14.2-inch — $1,799, was $1,999
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 16.2-inch — $2,250, was $2,499
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 14.2-inch — $2,899, was $3,099
- Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 16.2-inch — $3,250, was $3,499
HP 14-inch Chromebook — $149, was $299
While the HP 14-inch Chromebook isn’t one of the best Chromebooks, it is incredibly inexpensive. It has the basic essentials for typing up your reports via cloud-based apps. That includes an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory and 64GB of eMMC storage. Its 14-inch HD screen has anti-glare properties while you also have up to 14 hours of battery life at your disposal. There’s a HP True Vision 720p HD camera with integrated dual array microphones for all your video call needs too.
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Gen 5 — $229, was $939
The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Gen 5 is a little ambitious by offering Windows 11 Home with its fairly simple spec. If you don’t mind using Windows a little slowly though, it has some key advantages. For instance, it has 128GB of SSD storage rather than eMMC storage which helps a bit with speed compared to the Intel Celeron and 4GB of memory’s contributions. While the 11.6-inch HD screen is pretty small, it’s a touchscreen so you can be more hands-on with how you work, as helped by the included garaged pen. It’s built to last physically too with it having passed 12 military-grade requirements and being able to handle a drop of up to three feet.
HP 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook — $249, was $419
A fairly versatile machine for the price, the HP 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook has an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory, and 64GB of eMMC storage. It’s basic stuff but it handles ChromeOS well. Better is its 14-inch HD touchscreen that’s also paired up with audio by B&O, so if you’re looking for a machine to work on as well as stream your shows to, this one is a better bet in the budget price range than most. It also has HP Fast Charge support so you can go from 0% to 50% in about 45 minutes.
HP 15-inch laptop — $280, was $460
With an AMD Athlon Silver processor, 8GB of memory, and 128GB of SSD storage, this HP 15-inch laptop keeps things simple. It’s sufficient for running Windows 11 Home if you temper your expectations though. A 15.6-inch HD screen offers 250 nits of brightness and it has micro-edge bezels which add to the relatively sleek nature of the laptop. An 85% screen-to-body ratio is certainly good to see at this price, while there’s still room for the essentials like its 720p HD webcam and even a numeric keypad on the keyboard.
HP 17-inch laptop — $300, was $500
This HP 17-inch laptop offers a little more than the above example. For instance, there’s a slightly better AMD Athlon Gold processor paired up with 8GB of memory and 128GB of SSD storage. The highlight is in the name though — the 17.3-inch HD+ screen with 1600 x 900 resolution. It gives you a little more room even if it also means it’s slightly less portable. If you need something super lightweight, this probably isn’t it, but it’ll suit your dorm room. As before, there’s a 720p HD webcam along with a keyboard that fits in a numeric keypad.
HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 laptop — $480, was $700
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 — $629, was $1,819
Ideal for students that want to look professional as they work, the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 2 offers an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. It also has a 14-inch full HD screen with 300 nits of brightness, LED backlight, and 45% NTSC. Up to 9.7 hours of battery life is useful for a busy day of classes, while you’ll appreciate how slim the laptop is too. It’s also passed numerous military-grade requirements along with more than 200 quality checks.
HP Victus gaming laptop — $700, was $900
Apple MacBook Air M1 — $899, was $999
Apple MacBook Pro M2 — $1,099, was $1,299
Dell XPS 13 — $1,199, was $1,349
Asus ROG Zephyrus gaming laptop — $1,300, was $1,900
Dell XPS 15 — $1,599, was $1,999
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 14.2-inch — $1,799, was $1,999
For plenty of power, consider the Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro. It’s the smaller variety with a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display so it’s highly portable while still being incredibly speedy. Its M2 Pro chip has a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU while you also gain 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. The display has Extreme Dynamic Range and over 1,000 nits of brightness so it looks stunning, while you also gain a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio. A Magic Keyboard with Touch ID support is great to use while there’s up to 18 hours of battery life.
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 16.2-inch — $2,250, was $2,499
Need a larger display? The Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro 16.2-inch is a great MacBook for that. It has a huge 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1,000 nits of brightness, and pro reference modes too. It also has a M2 Pro chip with 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU while you also benefit from 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. There’s the aforementioned six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, while video calls can be taken via the 1080p FaceTime HD camera. Up to 22 hours of battery life is remarkable stuff too.
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 14.2-inch — $2,899, was $3,099
Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 16.2-inch — $3,250, was $3,499
For the ultimate Mac experience right now, buy the Apple MacBook Pro M2 Max 16.2-inch. It oozes power and style. Its 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is great — of course — and makes everything look sharp and vibrant. It also has the M2 Max chip with 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU so it’s perfect for demanding work like video editing. 32GB of memory and 1TB of SSD storage further helps here. Up to 22 hours of battery life is stunning too ensuring this is a reliable laptop to take to class and beyond. It’s expensive but a worthwhile investment if you can afford it.
Editors’ Recommendations