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Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
Asus Zenbook 14 (Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus (Intel i3-1315U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD)
It’s been [redacted] years since I’ve personally geared up for a new semester, but I still get excited for the back-to-school shopping season. That’s because part of my job here at Mashable entails hunting down great laptop deals — and after Black Friday, this is the time when I see the best discounts. Many of our favorite laptops for college students are on sale right now, including popular MacBooks.
Even the Apple Store joins the fray. As part of its back-to-school sale, one of its rare direct savings events, every MacBook purchased there through Sept. 30 comes with a $100 discount and a free Apple accessory worth up to $199.
To help you start the semester with the right device, I’ve compiled a list of the best back-to-school laptop deals on MacBooks, Windows laptops, and Chromebooks, which I’ll update throughout the season; the discounts should be plentiful up until Labor Day. Of note: The latest 13-inch MacBook Air is still less than $800 at Amazon; a well-specced Asus laptop has dipped under $1,000; and a lesser configuration of our favorite Chromebook is only $379.
A+ work, everyone.
Best MacBook deal
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
Why we like it
Apple’s new M4 MacBook Air is a Mashable Choice Award winner and one of the easiest laptops to recommend for students. It’s gorgeous, powerful, portable, quiet, and priced super competitively. Better yet, it’s also been incredibly easy to find on sale. For back-to-school and college shoppers, Amazon and Best Buy have it marked down to $799, beating its Prime Day discount by $50. (The 15-inch version is also $200 off.)
For comparison’s sake, the Apple Store is only offering a $100 student discount on both sizes of the M4 MacBook Air. However, it throws in your pick of a free accessory worth up to $199: AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2, a Magic Mouse, a Magic Trackpad, or a Magic Keyboard with a numeric keypad. Some shoppers will prefer the $200 straight-up discount from Amazon and Best Buy, but if you go the Apple Store freebie route, you can technically save even more.
More MacBook deals
– Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $599 (save $150)
– Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 (save $200)
– Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 (save $300)
– Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,499 (save $400)
– Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,699 (save $300)
Apple is offering significant discounts on various MacBook models, including the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, and 512GB SSD is available for $1,499, a $400 saving from the original price of $1,899. Similarly, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, and 512GB SSD is priced at $1,699, down from $1,999, saving $300. For those interested in the MacBook Air, the 13-inch model with M1 chip, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD is on sale for $599, reduced from $649, saving $150. Additionally, the 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 chip, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD is available for $999, down from $1,199, saving $200.
Best Windows laptop deal: Asus Zenbook 14
The Asus Zenbook 14, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD, is being offered at a competitive price of just $900. This laptop features an OLED touchscreen display and a slim profile of 0.59 inches, weighing only 2.82 pounds. With impressive specs and a budget-friendly price, the Asus Zenbook 14 is an excellent choice for college students seeking power, memory, and storage for their academic needs.
In addition to the Asus Zenbook 14, there are other notable Windows laptop deals available, such as the Samsung Galaxy Book5, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, LG gram 17, and Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro. Prices range from $799.99 to $1,199.99, with savings of up to $500 on select models.
For those interested in 2-in-1 laptops, options include the Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 16, HP OmniBook X Flip 14, Samsung Galaxy Book5 360, HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, and Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360. Prices start at $599.99 and go up to $1,349.99, with savings of up to $500 on specific models.
If you’re in the market for a gaming laptop, there are deals available on various models to suit different preferences and budgets.
Laptop Deals:
- Lenovo Legion 5i (Intel Core i7 14-700HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,349.99
$1,559.99(save $210) - Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (AMD Ryzen 9 270, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,349.99
$1,799.99(save $450) - Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99
$2,149.99(save $350)
Best Chromebook Deal:
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus (Intel i3-1315U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD)
Why we like it
An upgraded version of this 14-inch Lenovo hybrid is our current favorite Chromebook, combining solid performance with a long battery life. It’s a Costco exclusive that’s not on sale right now, but Best Buy’s lesser variant (which is normally priced the same) is a whopping 37% off. It comes with a downgraded Intel Core i3 CPU and half the storage capacity, but the same great 2-in-1 design featuring a 2K touchscreen.
More Chromebook Deals
– Asus Chromebook Plus CX14 (Intel Core 3 N355, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) — $279 (save $150)
– Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus (Intel Core 3 100U, 8GB RAM, 256GB UFS) — $549.99 (save $200)
– Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (Intel Core Ultra 5 115U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $599 (save $200)
UPDATE: Aug. 13, 2025, 12:40 p.m. EDT
This story has been refreshed with the latest back-to-school laptop deals.
