Best Laptop Deals Right Now (September 2026): MacBooks, Copilot+ PCs, Chromebooks and Gaming Laptops

Buying a laptop in 2026 is a stranger experience than it used to be. A global memory shortage, driven largely by AI data centres soaking up chip supply, has pushed prices up across the industry. Apple raised the starting price of the MacBook Air by $200 in June, and gaming laptop discounts have been thinner than usual for months.

That makes a genuinely good deal worth more than ever. We have rounded up the best laptop discounts we could find at major US retailers, organised by category, with a comparison table, advice on which one suits you, and the spec red flags that turn a "bargain" into a regret.

All prices were correct at the time of writing, but laptop deals move quickly and some of these are limited-time or limited-stock offers. Always check the final price, and the exact configuration, before you check out.

The best laptop deals at a glance

Headline pick: 13-inch MacBook Air (M5, 16GB/1TB) for $1,449

If you want one laptop that will suit almost anyone for years, this is it. Amazon has the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air with 16GB of memory and a 1TB SSD at $1,449, which is $150 below its $1,599 list price. Since Apple's June price rise, that is one of the better prices we have seen on a new-condition M5 Air.

The M5 chip is fast enough for everything from spreadsheets to photo editing, and the fanless design means it is completely silent. Apple rates battery life at up to 18 hours, and the 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is bright and sharp. The 1TB drive also matters more than it sounds, since Apple's storage upgrades are expensive and nothing can be added later.

Not every colour is always included at the lowest price, and discounts on this model have come and gone over recent weeks. If the price has bounced back up when you look, the 16GB/512GB version is the next best bet; it has dipped as low as $1,134 at Amazon in a short sale this summer, against a $1,299 list price.

Best MacBook deals

14-inch MacBook Pro (M5): $1,849 at Amazon

The entry 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M5 chip, 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage is $150 off at Amazon, and B&H has been matching it. Over the Air, you get a brighter display, more ports including HDMI and an SD card slot, and a fan that lets the chip sustain heavy workloads for longer.

It is the one to buy if you edit video, compile code, or keep lots of demanding apps open. For general productivity, the Air above is the better value.

MacBook Neo: $689 at Amazon

Apple's newest and cheapest laptop uses the A18 Pro chip, the same one found in the iPhone 16 Pro, paired with 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD. Its list price rose from $599 to $699 in June, and discounts have been minimal so far, so $10 off at Amazon is about as good as it has got.

It is a lovely, fanless machine for students and light users, but that 8GB of memory cannot be upgraded. If you tend to keep a browser full of tabs open alongside other apps, stretch to an Air.

What about the M4 MacBook Air?

The previous-generation M4 Air, with 16GB of memory as standard, is still worth buying if you can find it discounted. It has sold for as little as $749 in past sales, and dropped to around $799 at Best Buy over Labor Day weekend. Stock is thinning, so treat any 16GB M4 Air under $850 as a strong buy.

Best Windows ultraportable and Copilot+ PC deals

Copilot+ PCs are Windows laptops that meet Microsoft's bar for on-device AI features: a neural processing unit rated at 40 TOPS or more, at least 16GB of RAM and at least 256GB of storage. That minimum spec alone makes them a safer bet than many bargain Windows laptops.

Dell XPS 13 (9345, Snapdragon X Elite): $999.99 at Dell

Dell has knocked $400 off this Snapdragon X Elite version of the XPS 13, bringing it under $1,000. It is thin, light, and built around a Qualcomm chip that delivers long battery life. Qualcomm's newer Snapdragon X2 chips are now appearing in pricier models, but this remains a premium ultraportable at a mid-range price. Check the RAM and storage in the specific configuration before you buy, as Dell's pricing varies by build.

HP OmniBook 3 14-inch OLED: around $550 at Woot

This budget Copilot+ PC pairs Qualcomm's 8-core Snapdragon X chip with 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and, unusually for the price, a 14-inch 2K OLED display. Its regular price is $700, and it has recently sold for around $550 at Woot, which sells new units.

HP also sells an 8GB version, which has been discounted to about $450 at Best Buy. That one is not a Copilot+ PC, and it is not the one we would pick; the 16GB model is worth the extra money.

A quick note on Snapdragon laptops: they run Windows on Arm. Most mainstream apps work fine, either natively or through Microsoft's built-in emulation, but some older software, specialised hardware drivers, and games with anti-cheat systems may not. Check anything you rely on before buying.

Best Chromebook deals

Best Buy has been running some of the best Chromebook discounts we have seen this year, particularly on Chromebook Plus models, which have a higher minimum spec and access to Google's AI features. Google also commits to 10 years of automatic updates for recent Chromebooks, so these are not throwaway machines.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 OLED: $749 at Best Buy

This is our favourite Chromebook deal. It has a 14-inch OLED touchscreen, MediaTek's fast Kompanio Ultra 910 chip, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of storage, all in a fanless design. It is $250 off its $999 list price, and it has briefly dropped as low as $649 in Best Buy's daily deals, so watch for a repeat.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: $549 at Best Buy

If you want a 2-in-1 that folds into a tablet, this Acer uses the Kompanio Ultra chip with 12GB of memory, 256GB of storage, a 14-inch touchscreen, and Wi-Fi 7. It has been $549 at Best Buy, and occasionally dips to $499 as a one-day deal.

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX14: as low as $199 at Best Buy

For basic schoolwork and browsing on a tight budget, the CX14 has been as low as $199. Just know what you are getting: 8GB of memory and 128GB of eMMC storage, which is slower than a proper SSD. At $199 that is a fair trade; at its regular price, spend more.

Best gaming laptop deals

Gaming laptops have been hit hardest by the memory crunch, so good discounts are scarce. These are the two that stood out.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 (RTX 5070, 32GB): $1,249 at Walmart

Pairing an RTX 5070 with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for $1,249 is rare this year; this laptop lists at $1,849.99. It uses an older Intel Core i7-13620H processor and a 16-inch 1920 x 1200 display at 165Hz. Reviews note the GPU runs at a relatively low power limit and the fans get loud, so it will not match pricier RTX 5070 machines, but for 1080p gaming it is excellent value.

MSI Cyborg 15 (RTX 5060): $1,049 at Walmart

This is one of the least expensive ways to get an RTX 5060 right now. It has a 15.6-inch 1080p display at 144Hz and an Intel Core 5 210H processor. Walmart also has an upgraded Cyborg 15 with a Core 7 240H, an RTX 5070, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for $1,349. Check the memory on the base model before buying, and budget for an upgrade if it is less than 16GB.

Best budget laptop deals

If you have less than $700 to spend, these are the deals worth your attention:

• ASUS Chromebook Plus CX14 (as low as $199): the cheapest decent laptop here, for browsing, email and schoolwork.
• HP OmniBook 3 14-inch OLED, 16GB (around $550): the best-value Windows laptop in this roundup, with a screen that punches well above its price.
• MacBook Neo ($689): the cheapest way into macOS, provided you can live with 8GB of memory.
• Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 ($549): a flexible 2-in-1 with plenty of memory for a Chromebook.

Which laptop deal is right for you?

• Students on a budget: a Chromebook Plus, or the MacBook Neo if coursework needs Mac apps.
• Everyday productivity for years: the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air, or the Dell XPS 13 if you prefer Windows.
• Creative work and heavy multitasking: the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro.
• Windows on a budget: the 16GB HP OmniBook 3, but confirm your apps run on Arm.
• PC gaming: the Gigabyte Gaming A16 for the most performance per dollar, or the MSI Cyborg 15 to spend less.
• Anyone who can wait: fall sales, including Amazon's October event and Black Friday, may bring deeper cuts, though with memory costs still rising there is no guarantee.

Spec red flags to watch for

A low price can hide some expensive compromises. Before you buy any laptop deal, work through these checks:

1. Check the RAM. 8GB is the bare minimum for a Windows laptop in 2026 and will feel slow with many browser tabs open. Aim for 16GB, especially since most thin laptops have memory soldered in and cannot be upgraded.
2. Check the storage type. eMMC storage, common on cheap Chromebooks and Windows laptops, is noticeably slower than an NVMe SSD. Look for "SSD" in the spec sheet, and avoid anything under 256GB on Windows.
3. Check the GPU power limit on gaming laptops. The same GPU name can perform very differently depending on how much power the laptop gives it. Look for reviews that list the wattage.
4. Check the display specs. A 1366 x 768 resolution, brightness below about 300 nits, or poor colour coverage all make a cheap laptop feel cheaper every day.
5. Check the processor generation. Older chips sold at new-laptop prices are common in deal listings. They are not automatically bad, but they should be priced accordingly.
6. Check the "was" price. Some listings inflate the original price to make a discount look bigger. A price tracker or recent deal history tells you whether a sale is real.

Key takeaway: The best laptop deal is the one that meets your minimum specs at a price you are comfortable with. For most people in 2026, that means 16GB of memory and a proper SSD, and the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air at $1,449 is the easiest all-round recommendation right now.

FAQ

Why are laptops more expensive in 2026?

Memory and storage chips have become much more expensive as manufacturers shift production toward AI data centres. Apple cited those costs when it raised prices across its Mac lineup in June, and other laptop makers have been passing on higher costs too, often through smaller discounts rather than headline price rises.

Should I wait for Black Friday to buy a laptop?

If you do not need a laptop right away, fall sales often bring the year's lowest prices. This year, though, supply is tight and memory costs are still rising, so there is a real chance some of today's deals will not be beaten. If a laptop you want hits a price you are happy with, it is reasonable to buy now.

Is 8GB of RAM enough in 2026?

For a Chromebook or the MacBook Neo used for light tasks, 8GB is workable. For a Windows laptop, 16GB is the sensible minimum, and it is required for Copilot+ PC features. Since most thin laptops cannot be upgraded later, buy the memory you will need in three or four years.

Are refurbished laptops a good alternative?

Often, yes. Apple's official refurbished store sells Macs with a one-year warranty, and has had some M5 MacBook Air models well below the new price. Stock is limited and changes daily, so it is worth checking alongside the new-condition deals above.

The bottom line

Laptop deals are harder to find this year, but they have not disappeared. The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air at $1,449 is the pick for most people, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is the best Chromebook deal, and the Gigabyte Gaming A16 is the gaming bargain to beat. Whatever you choose, check the RAM, storage and final price before you buy, and move quickly, because the best offers rarely last long.