Looking for a new laptop? Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event launches tomorrow, but there are some good early deals live now. We’re watching laptops on sale worth considering from Apple, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft, and more, and highlighting devices we’ve either personally tested or are familiar with. (Check out our picks for the best laptops you can buy, too.)
Our Picks
Bottom Line
Current price: $1,099 ($200 off)
Original price: $1,299
If you prefer a big screen, Asus’ S16 has a massive 16:10 WUXGA (1920 × 1200) 120Hz t…
Bottom Line
Current price: $1,399 ($300 off)
Original price: $1,699
The Surface Laptop consistently surprises us with its fantastic battery life, and thi…
Bottom Line
Current price: $849 ($150 off)
Original price: $999
This 15-inch convertible laptop is a great option for anyone looking for a laptop that ca…
Bottom Line
Current price: $1,399 ($200 off)
Original price: $1,599
The 13-inch MacBook Air with the M5 chip is the latest and greatest in Apple’s ultrap…
Bottom Line
Current price: $1,185 ($814 off)
Original price: $1,999
This 16-inch laptop from Dell comes with an Intel Core 7 processor and 32GB of RAM, m…
Bottom Line
Current price: $1,259 (37% off)
Original price: $1,999
If you’re looking for a 16-inch workhorse laptop for school, the office, or everyday u…
Bottom Line
Current price: $699 ($150 off)
Original price: $849
The aptly-named IdeaPad Slim is a lightweight and portable 15-inch laptop that comes with…
Bottom Line
Current price: $2,039 (7% off)
Original price: $2,199
The MacBook Pro with the M5 chip from 2026 is $150 off right now in several configurati…
Bottom Line
Current price: $1,999 ($100 off)
Original price: $2,099
The 16-inch Predator Helios Neo is a beast of a gaming laptop with an Nvidia GeForce…
Bottom Line
Current price: $949 (40% off)
Original price: $1,599
This HP touchscreen laptop has a nice 32GB of RAM, a full 1TB of local storage, and an A…
Bottom Line
Current price: $1,749 ($350 off)
Original price: $1,999
The ROG Strix redefined gaming laptops with their iconic thin and light build and sup…
Also: Best early October Prime Day deals: Save on TVs, smartwatches, and more tech
When considering which laptops to surface, we take into account RAM, storage, battery life, and compare that to the sale price. We only recommend laptops that we’d either buy ourselves or vouch for a family member. Here are the best early laptop deals on sale now.
Best early Prime Day laptop deals
for $1,099 ($200 off)
Asus Vivobook S16
- Current price: $1,099 ($200 off)
- Original price: $1,299
If you prefer a big screen, Asus’ S16 has a massive 16:10 WUXGA (1920 × 1200) 120Hz touch display that’s just as good with playing media as it is with navigating spreadsheets. This configuration comes with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 processor, a mid-range chip for everyday workflows.
for $1,399 (save $120)
- Current price: $1,399 ($300 off)
- Original price: $1,699
The Surface Laptop consistently surprises us with its fantastic battery life, and this year’s model was no different. The Snapdragon X2 Elite processor even improves on the 2025 model with a big step up in power and better battery life.
for $849 (save $150)
Lenovo IdeaPad 5a 2-in-1
- Current price: $849 ($150 off)
- Original price: $999
This 15-inch convertible laptop is a great option for anyone looking for a laptop that can handle work but also play videos, as the 2-in-1 form factor allows for tent or tablet mode. The 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) panel has a 16:10 aspect ratio that simulates a large screen area, and the whole package is only 3.5 pounds.
for $1,399 ($72 off)
- Current price: $1,399 ($200 off)
- Original price: $1,599
The 13-inch MacBook Air with the M5 chip is the latest and greatest in Apple’s ultraportable lineup, weighing just 2.7 pounds. The M5 brings a host of modern updates to the MacBook Air, including the ability to connect to two external displays with the lid open, and the best battery on any Air yet.
Review: MacBook Air M5 (15-inch)
for $1,185 (save $814)
- Current price: $1,185 ($814 off)
- Original price: $1,999
This 16-inch laptop from Dell comes with an Intel Core 7 processor and 32GB of RAM, making for a solid pro-level laptop for work or college. Windows 11 Pro and a full selection of ports (USB-A, -C, and HDMI) round out the package as a reliable workhorse.
for $1,259 (save $740)
Lenovo ThinkPad E16
- Current price: $1,259 (37% off)
- Original price: $1,999
If you’re looking for a 16-inch workhorse laptop for school, the office, or everyday use, this ThinkPad comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. You also get a very efficient battery for all-day use and the functional full-sized keyboard and trackpad ThinkPads are known for.
for $699 (save $150)
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i
- Current price: $699 ($150 off)
- Original price: $849
The aptly-named IdeaPad Slim is a lightweight and portable 15-inch laptop that comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU and 16GB of RAM, just enough to serve as a well-rounded and capable PC.
for $2,039 ($150 off)
- Current price: $2,039 (7% off)
- Original price: $2,199
The MacBook Pro with the M5 chip from 2026 is $150 off right now in several configurations, but the 24GB of memory and 1TB model is the one I’d recommend to most users who want the midrange Pro device that’s right at the $2,000 mark. The Pro stands apart with a brilliant Liquid Retina XDR display, fantastic battery life (up to 16 hours of regular use) and support for up to two external displays at 6K resolution.
for $1,999 (save $100)
- Current price: $1,999 ($100 off)
- Original price: $2,099
The 16-inch Predator Helios Neo is a beast of a gaming laptop with an Nvidia GeForce 5070 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor. This is hardware suited for top-tier gaming titles, complete with a 16-inch, 2560 x 1600 display that runs at 240Hz refresh.
for $949 (save $640)
- Current price: $949 (40% off)
- Original price: $1,599
This HP touchscreen laptop has a nice 32GB of RAM, a full 1TB of local storage, and an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, making for a versatile laptop for business. At 40% off, it’s a steal for a solid stack of hardware.
for $1,749 (save $350)
Asus ROG Strix G16
- Current price: $1,749 ($350 off)
- Original price: $1,999
The ROG Strix redefined gaming laptops with their iconic thin and light build and superior cooling technology. The G16 is stacked with an AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card, and gorgeous 165Hz/3ms FHD+ display.
More early Prime Day laptop deals
- HP 14-inch laptop: $299 (save $300): Need a super-affordable laptop that can handle the basics? This 14-inch with 4GB of RAM is 50% off for just $299.
- Lenovo 14-inch business laptop: $329 (save $130): This 14-inch with a MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor makes for a lightweight, battery-efficient device geared to handle the basics like web browsing and responding to emails. Good as a backup or travel device.
- Acer Nitro V 16-inch: $1,249 (save $150): Acer’s Nitro V 16-inch comes with all the right hardware for an affordable gaming package: an Intel Core 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card.
- HP Pavilion 17.3-inch: $1,099 (save $900): This massive 17-inch screen is great for creatives, featuring a Series 2 Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and 16GB of RAM.
- Lenovo 15-inch business laptop: $429 (save $200): This 15.6-inch with an Intel N150 processor makes for a good travel laptop for checking emails and staying connected on the go.
- Dell 16-inch touchscreen laptop: $699 (save $337): Here’s a 16-inch with a full-sized keyboard and AMD Ryzen 7 250 processor, with Dell’s signature premium physical build quality.
- HyperX Omen 15.3-inch gaming laptop: Looking for an affordable gaming device? This Omen config comes with a top-tier AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card — a very solid hardware combination for this sale price.
- HP OmniBook 3: $882 (save $617): Looking for a big 17-inch screen for watching movies? This OmniBook 3 is over $600 off right now, featuring an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Windows 11 Pro.
- MSI Cyborg: $899 (save $400): MSI’s Cyborg lineup is made specifically to pack as much power into an affordable build as possible, and this configuration is no exception. Here, you’ve got an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a cyberpunk-inspired design.
When is October Prime Day?
Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days is on Oct. 6-7 this year.
How did we choose these Amazon Prime Day deals?
We look through available deals and only highlight those we’d actually buy ourselves — either devices and products we’d recommend or vouch for being worth the price. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.
We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.
Where can I find the best October Prime Day deals?
ZDNET editors will be tracking October Prime Day deals before, during, and after the sale. Here are our favorite deals across categories now. If you aren’t a Prime member but want to shop the sale, here’s how to join with a free trial, and ways you might qualify for a big discount (including 6 months free if you’re aged 18-24).
