By We’ve gathered insider knowledge and tested and reviewed laptops for decades, so we know the best ways to get a new laptop for less money. In all the years I’ve reviewed laptops and given advice on how to buy one, the one issue I hear the most is, “Why are they so expensive?” That response may fill a whole essay series, but for now, allow me to offer some encouraging news to thrifty laptop shoppers: Our top laptops can be had for a significant discount from their sticker pricing if you plan ahead and are patient.
I’m not only referring to researching major buying occasions such as Christmas Sales. Big savings are always possible for conscientious shoppers, whether they come from student discounts, coupon codes, shopping clearance models, or refurbished goods. With these shopping tips and methods for laptops, you might never have to pay full price for a Windows or MacBook again.
Know What You Need and Want Before You Shop
It’s a good idea to think about the operating system you want to use. Microsoft Windows 11, Apple macOS Ventura, and Google ChromeOS are the three main operating system choices. Read our assessments of each operating system for additional details. Every operating system has some important beneficial features, areas of emphasis, and drawbacks. All set to shop? You should think about which features are absolutely necessary and which you can live without. You can get an outstanding system at a lower cost than one with the newest specifications if you’re prepared to forgo a third USB-C port or if you’re content with a full HD screen rather than one with 4K display resolution and basic 60Hz screen refresh rates.
Although there is no such thing as the ideal laptop, if you locate the correct one, the value will increase significantly because it will fulfill your needs. Furthermore, a laptop that is well-suited to your needs will seem helpful for a longer period of time than one that feels like a compromise, so it’s not only an urgent problem. Long-term and short-term values are both higher with the appropriate machine. Using our helpful guides and hand-picked lists of the finest notebooks available right now is simple. We cover everything from affordable laptop options like Chromebooks to high-end mobile workstations, premium ultraportables, and top gaming laptop options.
1. Get Detailed About Model Numbers and Specifications
A word of caution: Make sure you’re looking at the same laptop make and model when you browse several online and physical retailers. All too often, people get confused by models with identical names but different characteristics and believe they are getting a good deal on a laptop at one retailer, only to find out later that the cheaper price actually represents a smaller solid-state drive, a less powerful processor, or a lack of features you were expecting.
Never fall for it. Occasionally, a laptop maker will collaborate with a laptop retailer to produce a store-specific model with slightly altered specs and a distinct model number, particularly during significant sales periods like Black Friday or Prime Day. They can circumvent price-match commitments by using this strategy.
2. Await the seasonal sales
Going shopping in the spring is worthwhile if you want the newest models. This is when laptops are most frequently (though not exclusively) updated with new processor versions (mostly AMD Ryzen and Intel Core chip refreshes), and occasionally with updated integrated graphics technology.
Updates for the dedicated graphics chips from AMD and Nvidia occasionally coincide with CPU releases, but not always. However, you should be more concerned with seasonal sales and less with new product introductions if you want to save the most money. There are a number of sales that occur throughout the year that you can take advantage of if you can wait to buy.
3. Remember Prime Day(s)
As we previously said, Amazon Prime Day is a significant sales event that happens without conflict with any holidays or academic calendar. Prime Day was introduced to celebrate the online retailer’s 20th anniversary. Since then, it has grown into a yearly event with massive sales, and other retailers have responded with their own annual promotions. If you are an Amazon Prime member, this is the best time to shop for deals.
4. Search for Deals on New Products.
The reductions that accompany new product introductions are less frequent but still a significant savings opportunity. Retailers and vendors frequently reduce the price of the older model in the run-up to the release of a new laptop. You can get a great deal and sellers can get rid of outdated inventory to make place for new.
Specially for Apple products, there are always good sales right before and right after a new model enters the shop. These sales can occur at any time of the year because the company’s schedule isn’t as sensitive to calendar events and changes in the industry as other manufacturers’ schedules are.
5. Compare prices at all times.
Using a price tracker software can remove a lot of the headache associated with carrying out comparison shopping. These apps can be rapidly configured to notify you when the price of any product you’re watching reduces. This is useful if you’re waiting for a specific laptop (like the MacBook Air) to drop to a particular price point or if you just want to make sure you’re not overpaying when you click Add To Cart.
An app like ShopSavvy or a website like CamelCamelCamel, which are simple and free to use, can be quite helpful in determining whether you’re getting a good deal or simply the same as everyone else.
6.To Receive Member Discounts, Join a Club.
Being loyal is another method to get a discount. These programmes can save you money over time, whether it’s a retailer insider programme like Best Buy’s My BestBuy, a membership-only store like Costco, or the Best Buy TotalTech membership.
Although the warehouse shop doesn’t always offer Black Friday-level discounts, Costco is well-known for its members-only sales, and its prices are typically on par with or less than those of other retailers. However, Costco members also receive a few special benefits, such complimentary extended warranties, hassle-free returns within 90 days after purchase (without restocking costs), and complimentary technical help via a concierge service offered for the duration of the goods.
7. Look for Discount Codes
Using a promo code or coupon is another excellent method to reduce the cost of a new laptop by a few dollars. Everything from free shipping to percentage discounts on particular items can be accessed with coupon codes. While a fast Google search for promo codes or coupons may help you locate a helpful savings opportunity, coupon-code aggregation websites eliminate a lot of the guesswork involved in locating codes that are currently valid and in determining the precise uses for each offer.
Here at Bestcopmuterfinder, or on a discount code website such as RetailMeNot, you can find collections of coupon codes. As an alternative, you can register with your favorite store to receive email-based promo coupons and periodic offers. (See our tutorial on how to locate online coupons.)
8. Understand Credit Card Benefits
Applying for a store credit card is another excellent method to save a tonne of money on a large purchase, such as a new laptop. With your initial purchase, you’ll frequently receive a 10% or 15% discount, which can save you a few hundred dollars on more expensive laptops like the MacBook Pro.
But this is one tactic that should be used with prudence. Although the majority of retailer-specific credit cards have high annual fees, low credit limits, and relatively high-interest rates, first-purchase savings are intended to entice you to apply for the cards. Some are also limited to that particular business! This is in addition to the potential harm that creating another account may do to your credit score.
Using a standard credit card that isn’t store-specific and has a respectable cash-back offer is a better choice. Certain credit cards provide substantial cash back on each transaction, while others earn benefits like gift cards and frequent flyer miles. You might not receive a significant discount from these at the register, but the other benefits might make up for it.
9. Get Detailed About Model Numbers and Specifications
A word of caution: Make sure you’re looking at the same laptop make and model when you browse several online and physical retailers. All too often, people get confused by models with identical names but different characteristics and believe they are getting a good deal on a laptop at one retailer, only to find out later that the cheaper price actually represents a smaller solid-state drive, a less powerful processor, or a lack of features you were expecting.
Never fall for it. Occasionally, a laptop maker will collaborate with a laptop retailer to produce a store-specific model with slightly altered specs and a distinct model number, particularly during significant sales periods like Black Friday or Prime Day. They can circumvent price-match agreements with this strategy because no other retailer is selling that particular model.
10. Use Student Discounts To Shop Wisely
Student discounts can save you a tonne of money whether you’re a current student or you have a high school or college student living in your house. If you are eligible, this could be the simplest money-saving advice on our list to take advantage of because manufacturers and stores are offering big discounts.
You may easily locate the student discounts website of your desired manufacturer or merchant by just searching for its name online. Generally, having a working educational email account is all that’s needed to save 10% to 20%.
