11 Sources
11 Sources
[1]
Grab Prime Day Laptop Savings: My Go-to Acer Aspire 14 AI Is Nearly 30% Off at Costco Right Now
Expertise Laptops | Desktops | All-in-one PCs | Streaming devices | Streaming platforms Amazon's Prime Day may have started July 8, but other retailers are offering some major discounts as well. Costco members can snag the Acer Aspire 14 AI for $500 (a $200 drop, nearly 30%) until July 20 or while supplies last. Laptop prices are on the rise -- and the more they increase, the better Acer's Aspire 14 AI looks. When I reviewed it in April, it cost $700 at Costco and was the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I had reviewed. Fast forward two months and it's now $500 at Costco, making it the the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I've seen -- and a great value. Acer cuts the right corners to hit such a low price for the Aspire 14 AI, delivering a well-rounded laptop with modern components. This is no budget laptop with outdated parts. It features the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor (codenamed Lunar Lake) that serves up competitive application and AI performance along with great battery life and a design that doesn't look all that different from Acer's pricier Swift laptops. The Aspire 14 AI's no-frills but future-proofed package makes it one of the best budget laptops of 2025. I'm still waiting for the killer AI app to make a laptop AI CPU a must but it's nice to know that when it arrives, you'll have a laptop that's built for it. Thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU that has a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS), the Aspire 14 AI hits the minimum requirement for Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC platform. Its AI processor can offload AI workloads -- constantly taking Windows Recall snapshots, blurring backgrounds for video calls and producing live translations -- to its NPU, keeping the CPU and GPU freed up for whatever primary task you're working on. Future-proofing is always valuable in any laptop, especially so in a budget model where it's not always a given. (You need to be careful when shopping for a low-cost laptop because so many are older models with previous-generation components that are discounted in an attempt to clear out inventory for newer units.) In testing, the Aspire 14 AI hung with the more expensive Copilot Plus PCs I've tested. Its scores on our application, graphics and AI benchmarks weren't all that far off from those of its pricier competitors. Its integrated Intel GPU doesn't provide much in the way of 3D gaming but the same can be said for any Copilot Plus PC as I've yet to encounter one with dedicated graphics. With the Aspire 14 AI, you avoid the budget laptop trap of buying a machine with outdated or soon-to-be-outdated parts. And you also skip past the specter of the Creaky Plastic Monster. Many budget laptops have flimsy plastic enclosures but the Aspire 14 AI has aluminum top and bottom panels with only a plastic keyboard deck. And the keyboard deck feels rigid and doesn't bend or flex like the thinner plastic common to other budget models. It's a solidly constructed laptop and you'd have to look closely to tell it apart from one of Acer's mainstream Swift laptops. The best part of the Aspire 14 AI is getting a modern CPU that delivers the performance needed for the laptop to act as your primary machine and not just a cheap, underpowered second system. And the efficient Intel Core Ultra CPU also allows the Aspire 14 AI to run for almost 19 hours on a single charge while also offering a bit of future-proofing with its AI capabilities. The uninspired design and meh display are really the only items that scream "budget laptop." The rest of the package is more mainstream than budget, including the 16GB of RAM and the roomy 1TB SSD. You are usually looking at 8GB of RAM and either a 256GB or 512GB SSD when shopping for a $700 laptop. If you are willing to spend a bit more, I have a couple of other Copilot Plus PCs you should check out. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is a winner for its slick and sturdy design and awesome haptic touchpad and the Asus Zenbook A14 boasts an ultralight yet rigid enclosure with a gorgeous OLED display. Plus, both offer even better battery life than the Aspire 14 AI.
[2]
Anti-Prime Day Laptop Deal: My Go-to Acer Aspire 14 AI Is $200 Off at Costco Today
Expertise Laptops | Desktops | All-in-one PCs | Streaming devices | Streaming platforms The Amazon Prime Day sales event is going strong, but other retailers are also offering deep discounts with their own Anti-Prime Day deals. Right now, Costco members can snag the Acer Aspire 14 AI for $500a $200 discount, until July 20 or while supplies last. Laptop prices are on the rise -- and the more they increase, the better Acer's Aspire 14 AI looks. When I reviewed it in April, it cost $700 at Costco and was the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I had reviewed. Fast forward two months and it's now $500 at Costco, making it the the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I've seen -- and a great value. Acer cuts the right corners to hit such a low price for the Aspire 14 AI, delivering a well-rounded laptop with modern components. This is no budget laptop with outdated parts. It features the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor (codenamed Lunar Lake) that serves up competitive application and AI performance along with great battery life and a design that doesn't look all that different from Acer's pricier Swift laptops. The Aspire 14 AI's no-frills, but future-proofed package makes it one of the best budget laptops of 2025. I'm still waiting for the killer AI app to make a laptop AI CPU a must but it's nice to know that when it arrives, you'll have a machine that's built for it. Thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU that has a neural processing unit capable of 40 trillion operations per second, the Aspire 14 AI hits the minimum requirement for Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC platform. Its AI processor can offload AI workloads -- constantly taking Windows Recall snapshots, blurring backgrounds for video calls and producing live translations -- to its NPU, keeping the CPU and GPU freed up for whatever primary task you're working on. Future-proofing is always valuable in any laptop, especially so in a budget model where it's not always a given. You need to be careful when shopping for a low-cost laptop because many offerings are older models with previous-generation components that are discounted in an attempt to clear out inventory for newer units. In testing, the Aspire 14 AI hung with the more expensive Copilot Plus PCs I've tested. Its scores on our application, graphics and AI benchmarks weren't all that far off from those of its pricier competitors. Its integrated Intel GPU doesn't provide much in the way of 3D gaming but the same can be said for any Copilot Plus PC, since I've yet to encounter one with dedicated graphics. With the Aspire 14 AI, you avoid the budget laptop trap of buying a machine with outdated or soon-to-be-outdated parts. And you also skip past the specter of the Creaky Plastic Monster. Many budget laptops have flimsy plastic enclosures, but the Aspire 14 AI has aluminum top and bottom panels with only a plastic keyboard deck. The keyboard deck feels rigid and doesn't bend or flex like the thinner plastic commonly found on other budget models. It's a solidly constructed laptop, and you'd have to look closely to tell it apart from one of Acer's mainstream Swift laptops. The best part of the Aspire 14 AI is getting a modern CPU that delivers the performance needed for the laptop to act as your primary machine and not just a cheap, underpowered second system. And the efficient Intel Core Ultra CPU also allows the Aspire 14 AI to run for almost 19 hours on a single charge while also offering a bit of future-proofing with its AI capabilities. The uninspired design and meh display are really the only items that scream "budget laptop." The rest of the package is more mainstream than budget, including the 16GB of RAM and the roomy 1TB SSD. You are usually looking at 8GB of RAM and either a 256GB or 512GB SSD when shopping for a $700 laptop. If you are willing to spend a bit more, I have a couple of other Copilot Plus PCs you should check out. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is a winner for its slick and sturdy design and awesome haptic touchpad and the Asus Zenbook A14 boasts an ultralight yet rigid enclosure with a gorgeous OLED display. Plus, both offer even better battery life than the Aspire 14 AI.
[3]
Last Chance Prime Day Deal: This Budget Acer Laptop Was Already a Great Value. I Recommend It Even More With This 34% Discount
Amazon Prime Day deal: The Prime Day sale ends tonight, but if you act fast, you can still score a 34% discount on the Acer Aspire 14 AI, the cheapest Copilot PC Plus PC I've ever reviewed. We're also seeing a discount at Costco, where it's down to just $500, but you'll need to be a Costco member to snag the deal. Laptop prices are on the rise -- and the more they increase, the better Acer's Aspire 14 AI looks. When I reviewed it in April, it cost $700 at Costco and was the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I had reviewed. Fast forward two months and it's now $550 and Amazon and $500 at Costco, making it the the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I've seen -- and a great value. Acer cuts the right corners to hit such a low price for the Aspire 14 AI, delivering a well-rounded laptop with modern components. This is no budget laptop with outdated parts. It features the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor (codenamed Lunar Lake) that serves up competitive application and AI performance along with great battery life and a design that doesn't look all that different from Acer's pricier Swift laptops. The Aspire 14 AI's no-frills, but future-proofed package makes it one of the best budget laptops of 2025. I'm still waiting for the killer AI app to make a laptop AI CPU a must but it's nice to know that when it arrives, you'll have a machine that's built for it. Thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU that has a neural processing unit capable of 40 trillion operations per second, the Aspire 14 AI hits the minimum requirement for Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC platform. Its AI processor can offload AI workloads -- constantly taking Windows Recall snapshots, blurring backgrounds for video calls and producing live translations -- to its NPU, keeping the CPU and GPU freed up for whatever primary task you're working on. Future-proofing is always valuable in any laptop, especially so in a budget model where it's not always a given. You need to be careful when shopping for a low-cost laptop because many offerings are older models with previous-generation components that are discounted in an attempt to clear out inventory for newer units. In testing, the Aspire 14 AI hung with the more expensive Copilot Plus PCs I've tested. Its scores on our application, graphics and AI benchmarks weren't all that far off from those of its pricier competitors. Its integrated Intel GPU doesn't provide much in the way of 3D gaming but the same can be said for any Copilot Plus PC, since I've yet to encounter one with dedicated graphics. With the Aspire 14 AI, you avoid the budget laptop trap of buying a machine with outdated or soon-to-be-outdated parts. And you also skip past the specter of the Creaky Plastic Monster. Many budget laptops have flimsy plastic enclosures, but the Aspire 14 AI has aluminum top and bottom panels with only a plastic keyboard deck. The keyboard deck feels rigid and doesn't bend or flex like the thinner plastic commonly found on other budget models. It's a solidly constructed laptop, and you'd have to look closely to tell it apart from one of Acer's mainstream Swift laptops. The best part of the Aspire 14 AI is getting a modern CPU that delivers the performance needed for the laptop to act as your primary machine and not just a cheap, underpowered second system. And the efficient Intel Core Ultra CPU also allows the Aspire 14 AI to run for almost 19 hours on a single charge while also offering a bit of future-proofing with its AI capabilities. The uninspired design and meh display are really the only items that scream "budget laptop." The rest of the package is more mainstream than budget, including the 16GB of RAM and the roomy 1TB SSD. You are usually looking at 8GB of RAM and either a 256GB or 512GB SSD when shopping for a $700 laptop. If you are willing to spend a bit more, I have a couple of other Copilot Plus PCs you should check out. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is a winner for its slick and sturdy design and awesome haptic touchpad and the Asus Zenbook A14 boasts an ultralight yet rigid enclosure with a gorgeous OLED display. Plus, both offer even better battery life than the Aspire 14 AI.
[4]
I Recommend This Budget Acer Laptop at Full Price, and It's an Even Better Value at $200 Off
Expertise Laptops | Desktops | All-in-one PCs | Streaming devices | Streaming platforms Laptop prices are on the rise -- and the more they increase, the better Acer's Aspire 14 AI looks. When I reviewed it in April, it cost $700 at Costco and was the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I had reviewed. Fast-forward two months, and it's now $500 at Costco, making it the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I've seen -- and a great value. Acer cuts the right corners to hit such a low price for the Aspire 14 AI, delivering a well-rounded laptop with modern components. This is no budget laptop with outdated parts. It features the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor (codenamed Lunar Lake) that serves up competitive application and AI performance along with great battery life and a design that doesn't look all that different from Acer's pricier Swift laptops. The Aspire 14 AI's no-frills but future-proofed package makes it one of the best budget laptops of 2025. I'm still waiting for the killer AI app to make a laptop AI CPU a must, but it's nice to know that when it arrives, you'll have a machine that's built for it. Thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU that has a neural processing unit capable of 40 trillion operations per second, the Aspire 14 AI hits the minimum requirement for Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC platform. Its AI processor can offload AI workloads -- constantly taking Windows Recall snapshots, blurring backgrounds for video calls and producing live translations -- to its NPU, keeping the CPU and GPU freed up for whatever primary task you're working on. Future-proofing is always valuable in any laptop, especially so in a budget model where it's not always a given. You need to be careful when shopping for a low-cost laptop because many offerings are older models with previous-generation components that are discounted in an attempt to clear out inventory for newer units. In testing, the Aspire 14 AI hung with the more expensive Copilot Plus PCs I've tested. Its scores on our application, graphics and AI benchmarks weren't all that far off from those of its pricier competitors. Its integrated Intel GPU doesn't provide much in the way of 3D gaming, but the same can be said for any Copilot Plus PC, as I've yet to encounter one with dedicated graphics. With the Aspire 14 AI, you avoid the budget laptop trap of buying a machine with outdated or soon-to-be-outdated parts. And you also skip past the specter of the Creaky Plastic Monster. Many budget laptops have flimsy plastic enclosures, but the Aspire 14 AI has aluminum top and bottom panels with only a plastic keyboard deck. The keyboard deck feels rigid and doesn't bend or flex like the thinner plastic commonly found on other budget models. It's a solidly constructed laptop, and you'd have to look closely to tell it apart from one of Acer's mainstream Swift laptops. The best part of the Aspire 14 AI is getting a modern CPU that delivers the performance needed for the laptop to act as your primary machine and not just a cheap, underpowered second system. And the efficient Intel Core Ultra CPU also allows the Aspire 14 AI to run for almost 19 hours on a single charge while also offering a bit of future-proofing with its AI capabilities. The uninspired design and meh display are really the only items that scream "budget laptop." The rest of the package is more mainstream than budget, including the 16GB of RAM and the roomy 1TB SSD. You are usually looking at 8GB of RAM and either a 256GB or 512GB SSD when shopping for a $700 laptop. If you are willing to spend a bit more, I have a couple of other Copilot Plus PCs you should check out. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is a winner for its slick and sturdy design and awesome haptic touchpad and the Asus Zenbook A14 boasts an ultralight yet rigid enclosure with a gorgeous OLED display. Plus, both offer even better battery life than the Aspire 14 AI.
[5]
One of the most battery-efficient I've tested this year is also one of the most affordable
At Costco, the Acer Aspire 14 AI with an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU is on sale for $700. Act fast because this deal ends on July 27. I went hands-on with Acer's Aspire Go 15 last year and praised it as one of the best cheap laptops you can get, priced at around $300. This year, one of the latest additions to Acer's Aspire line, the Aspire 14 AI, is a few steps up in terms of hardware and features, but maintains a competitive price point of $699 -- or $499 on sale. Acer's brand messaging has positioned itself as at the forefront of eco-friendly components and post-consumer recycled materials, and the aesthetic of its laptops from the past few years reflects this. Also: I recommend this low-cost ThinkPad to most professionals - and it's on sale for 19% off From the exposed grill on the hinge to the visible copper heat pipes on the bottom of the device to the thick bezels surrounding the display, the Aspire 14 AI isn't the sleekest laptop around. Still, it reflects an unpretentious, eco-conscious aesthetic with a solid suite of hardware that shows up ready to work. It features two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports that can support an external monitor at an 8K resolution, an HDMI 2.1, support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4, plus a Kensington lock slot. This spread of ports makes it a capable business laptop for remote or hybrid workers, particularly when paired with the battery. Battery life, however, is the Aspire 14 AI's best feature. I know we've been singing the praises of many laptops with marathon battery life over the past year, but Acer's Aspire 14 AI fills a niche: an AI-ready budget laptop with an absolute marathon battery that will last for days on end. During my testing, I brought the Aspire 14 AI into the office on a full charge and used it intermittently throughout the day. It was still above 90% by the end of the workday, and when I closed it up and brought it back out the next day, it hadn't dropped a single percentage point. The next day, I brought it back in and used it quite a bit more aggressively: holding multiple video calls, doing more sustained multitasking, and keeping the display jacked up. It finally started to dent the battery life, but by the end of the day, it was still just right around 30%. Like other power-efficient devices in its class, the Aspire 14 AI's power consumption drops to a trickle when it's not being pushed too hard and virtually stops depleting altogether when asleep and not in use. This makes it perfect for all-day use. Also: I spent a weekend with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, and I became more of a fan The fantastic battery life is enabled thanks partly to the Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor, which has performed very well on other machines I've tested, like the Asus Zenbook S 14 and the Dell XPS 13. With Acer's 14 AI, the trend continues, as this device not only competes with these two laptops but slightly exceeds them. The device's 3.05-pound physical form factor is non-descript, with an aluminum shell on the top and bottom and a lightweight plastic frame in a graphite finish. The keyboard is fine, without any noteworthy characteristics, although the keys feature a very short travel distance and are on the mushy side. Depending on how it's configured, the Aspire 14 AI comes with either a 14-inch WUXGA IPS touch display or an OLED. The IPS display is functional but not particularly noteworthy in terms of brightness or color gamut. The OLED, on the other hand, makes it feel more premium. The Aspire 14 AI is well-stocked in terms of memory, with up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD, making it a solid option for any mainstream workflow. As its name suggests, the Aspire 14 AI is expressly designed for AI tasks, delivering up to 40 TOPS and the usual suite of AI-specific features that come with other Copilot+ PCs. Also: This security-focused Linux distribution is surprisingly good for everyday use Additionally, the Intel Arc GPU supports up to 53 TOPS, with upscaling technology for gaming and better performance when it comes to graphics rendering and video editing. That being said, while gaming on the Aspire 14 AI is well-supported by the hardware, the IPS display may hold back the experience. Therefore, if you have any notions about gaming on this laptop, I'd suggest opting for the OLED configuration. Acer's Aspire 14 AI is one of the better bang-for-your-buck options available right now. On sale for $499, it offers some of the latest hardware and a battery that will last multiple days in a very competitive package. If you're looking for a "budget plus" laptop with respectable hardware that opts for a more utilitarian form factor (and approachable price), the Aspire 14 AI is a solid choice. I would suggest opting for the OLED configuration if you're willing to pay for the upgrade, especially if you'll be using it for visually creative work or gaming.
[6]
One of the most battery-efficient laptops I've tested this year is also one of the most affordable
At Costco, the Acer Aspire 14 AI with an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU is on sale for $700. Act fast because this deal ends on July 27. I went hands-on with Acer's Aspire Go 15 last year and praised it as one of the best cheap laptops you can get, priced at around $300. This year, one of the latest additions to Acer's Aspire line, the Aspire 14 AI, is a few steps up in terms of hardware and features, but maintains a competitive price point of $699 -- or $499 on sale. Acer's brand messaging has positioned itself as at the forefront of eco-friendly components and post-consumer recycled materials, and the aesthetic of its laptops from the past few years reflects this. Also: I recommend this low-cost ThinkPad to most professionals - and it's on sale for 19% off From the exposed grill on the hinge to the visible copper heat pipes on the bottom of the device to the thick bezels surrounding the display, the Aspire 14 AI isn't the sleekest laptop around. Still, it reflects an unpretentious, eco-conscious aesthetic with a solid suite of hardware that shows up ready to work. It features two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports that can support an external monitor at an 8K resolution, an HDMI 2.1, support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4, plus a Kensington lock slot. This spread of ports makes it a capable business laptop for remote or hybrid workers, particularly when paired with the battery. Battery life, however, is the Aspire 14 AI's best feature. I know we've been singing the praises of many laptops with marathon battery life over the past year, but Acer's Aspire 14 AI fills a niche: an AI-ready budget laptop with an absolute marathon battery that will last for days on end. During my testing, I brought the Aspire 14 AI into the office on a full charge and used it intermittently throughout the day. It was still above 90% by the end of the workday, and when I closed it up and brought it back out the next day, it hadn't dropped a single percentage point. The next day, I brought it back in and used it quite a bit more aggressively: holding multiple video calls, doing more sustained multitasking, and keeping the display jacked up. It finally started to dent the battery life, but by the end of the day, it was still just right around 30%. Like other power-efficient devices in its class, the Aspire 14 AI's power consumption drops to a trickle when it's not being pushed too hard and virtually stops depleting altogether when asleep and not in use. This makes it perfect for all-day use. Also: I spent a weekend with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, and I became more of a fan The fantastic battery life is enabled thanks partly to the Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor, which has performed very well on other machines I've tested, like the Asus Zenbook S 14 and the Dell XPS 13. With Acer's 14 AI, the trend continues, as this device not only competes with these two laptops but slightly exceeds them. The device's 3.05-pound physical form factor is non-descript, with an aluminum shell on the top and bottom and a lightweight plastic frame in a graphite finish. The keyboard is fine, without any noteworthy characteristics, although the keys feature a very short travel distance and are on the mushy side. Depending on how it's configured, the Aspire 14 AI comes with either a 14-inch WUXGA IPS touch display or an OLED. The IPS display is functional but not particularly noteworthy in terms of brightness or color gamut. The OLED, on the other hand, makes it feel more premium. The Aspire 14 AI is well-stocked in terms of memory, with up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD, making it a solid option for any mainstream workflow. As its name suggests, the Aspire 14 AI is expressly designed for AI tasks, delivering up to 40 TOPS and the usual suite of AI-specific features that come with other Copilot+ PCs. Also: This security-focused Linux distribution is surprisingly good for everyday use Additionally, the Intel Arc GPU supports up to 53 TOPS, with upscaling technology for gaming and better performance when it comes to graphics rendering and video editing. That being said, while gaming on the Aspire 14 AI is well-supported by the hardware, the IPS display may hold back the experience. Therefore, if you have any notions about gaming on this laptop, I'd suggest opting for the OLED configuration. Acer's Aspire 14 AI is one of the better bang-for-your-buck options available right now. On sale for $499, it offers some of the latest hardware and a battery that will last multiple days in a very competitive package. If you're looking for a "budget plus" laptop with respectable hardware that opts for a more utilitarian form factor (and approachable price), the Aspire 14 AI is a solid choice. I would suggest opting for the OLED configuration if you're willing to pay for the upgrade, especially if you'll be using it for visually creative work or gaming.
[7]
I've Never Seen an AI Laptop at a Price This Low, Grab It Before Prime Day Is Over
Most of the laptop deals we've spotted so far are in the 15% to 25% range, so this is one of the steeper discounts available on raw percentage. But a few hundred dollars off makes for an extremely high-value system when that PC usually sits in the midrange, approaching $1,000 category. Don't miss out on any of the savings. Keep an eye on our round-up of the Best Prime Day 2025 Deals. We reviewed the Aspire 14 AI just last month, so you can put any concerns over recency aside. While we didn't score the laptop with full marks, its downsides are more acceptable at this lower Prime Day price. So, why should you want this system? At the high level, the Aspire 14 AI is a portable, compact laptop with extra-long battery life of up to 17 hours in our testing. This longevity, paired with its relatively light 3.2-pound weight, immediately makes it an appealing option for daily work and travel. A snappy Intel "Lunar Lake" Core Ultra 5 226V processor, paired with 16GB of memory, drives this laptop to deliver snappy general-use performance across the board, including functions as an AI PC. You'll also find 512GB of SSD storage on board. The "AI" in its name is also worth zeroing in on, and relates to the processor. Manufacturers are now slotting AI into model names to indicate an AI-ready processor with an onboard neural processing unit (NPU) and for local tasks. Lunar Lake chips meet this requirement, a draw for those looking to dip a toe into this new laptop computing frontier. The Aspire 14 AI qualifies as one of Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs, a set of standards for AI readiness and other features. Before the Prime Day discount, this was already one of the most affordable Copilot+ laptops available. Now? It's an outright bargain as an entry point into this burgeoning tier. If you're looking for a portable work and entertainment PC with modern features, this is an excellent option for well less than $1,000. It has the battery life, ports, AI capabilities, and design to power your workflow on the road or at the office, even if you'll find a few downsides, like a so-so display. We thought the Aspire 14 AI was a fair deal before a sizable discount, and for this limited time, it's one of the best AI laptop values around.
[8]
Big AI Energy: This Acer Aspire, $579 for Prime Day, Is the Cheapest Copilot+ Laptop Yet
Most of the laptop deals we've spotted so far are in the 15% to 25% range, so this is one of the steeper discounts available on raw percentage. But a few hundred dollars off makes for an extremely high-value system when that PC usually sits in the midrange, approaching $1,000 category. (Don't miss out on any of the savings. Keep an eye on our round-up of the Best Prime Day 2025 Deals.) We reviewed the Aspire 14 AI just last month, so you can put any concerns over recency aside. While we didn't score the laptop with full marks, its downsides are more than acceptable at this lower Prime Day price. So, why should you want this system? At the high level, the Aspire 14 AI is a portable, compact laptop with extra-long battery life of up to 17 hours in our testing. This longevity, paired with its relatively light 3.2-pound weight, immediately makes it an appealing option for daily work and travel. A snappy Intel "Lunar Lake" Core Ultra 5 226V processor, paired with 16GB of memory, drives this laptop to deliver snappy general-use performance across the board, including functions as an AI PC. You'll also find 512GB of SSD storage on board. The "AI" in its name is also worth zeroing in on, and relates to the processor. Manufacturers are now slotting AI into model names to indicate an AI-ready processor with an onboard neural processing unit (NPU) and for local tasks. Lunar Lake chips meet this requirement, a draw for those looking to dip a toe into this new laptop computing frontier. The Aspire 14 AI qualifies as one of Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs, a set of standards for AI readiness and other features. Before the Prime Day discount, this was already one of the most affordable Copilot+ laptops available. Now? It's an outright bargain as an entry point into this burgeoning tier. If you're looking for a portable work and entertainment PC with modern features, this is an excellent option for well less than $1,000. It has the battery life, ports, AI capabilities, and design to power your workflow on the road or at the office, even if you'll find a few downsides, like a so-so display. We thought the Aspire 14 AI was a fair deal before a sizable discount, and for this limited time, it's one of the best AI laptop values around.
[9]
Act Fast: Always Wanted a Surface Pro Windows Tablet? This One's $500 Off on Prime Day's Last Day
If you're after laptop buying advice, I'm your man. From PC reviews to Starlink testing, I've got more than a decade of experience reviewing PCs and technology products. I got my start with PCMag but have also written for Tom's Guide and LaptopMag.com, and several other tech outlets. With a focus on personal computing (Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS), Starlink satellite internet, and generative AI productivity tools, I'm a professional tech nerd and a power user through and through. As Amazon Prime Day winds down today, one of the most compelling laptop deals I've seen all week remains the Microsoft Surface Pro (2024). Microsoft's latest premium detachable 2-in-1 laptop features a powerful Snapdragon X Elite processor and a stunning OLED display. Amazon has this top-tier device for just $899.99, a 36% slice off its list price of $1,399.99. That's an impressive discount on an equally remarkable machine. (Don't miss out on any of the savings. Keep an eye on our roundup of the Best Prime Day 2025 Deals.) The Microsoft Surface Pro tablet is the flagship Copilot+ machine, cramming a highly capable AI PC into the most flexible and adaptable form factor you can buy. As a laptop reviewer for more than 15 years, I've been impressed with the Surface Pro since its introduction. I was even in Redmond at Microsoft's 2024 Build conference when this model launched, seeing the new AI features and hardware firsthand, and I still have my unit for long-term AI testing. However, in the year or so since that first review, our skepticism about Snapdragon and Windows on Arm has been tempered by the success and reliability we've seen from many different Snapdragon-powered laptops. Microsoft's Copilot+ initiative for AI PCs has also matured considerably. Features like live captioning, sketch-based AI art generation, AI-enhanced webcam quality, and a ready-to-go AI assistant have evolved from novelty features to AI capabilities that people use daily. Even controversial features like Microsoft's repeatedly delayed Recall memory are finally available, along with new AI features like "Click to Do." This discounted Surface Pro tablet supports all of it for a pretty nice price. All the features we loved about this 2024 Microsoft Surface Pro when we first reviewed it are just as excellent today. The premium Snapdragon X Elite 12-core processor drives speedy performance and effective energy efficiency. The 13-inch OLED touch screen is stunning, with fantastic color reproduction and crisp visuals. The exceptional performance and battery life I saw in my review haven't gone anywhere. The slim Surface Pro tablet lasted more than 14 hours in our video rundown tests. Given its compact size, that all-day battery life is genuinely impressive, a testament to Snapdragon's energy efficiency and the battery-extending virtues of OLED panels. The Surface Pro remains one of the most portable and intuitive PC designs you can buy. It sticks with the tried-and-true ultra-slim tablet design with a built-in kickstand, letting you prop it up pretty much anywhere. This adaptability provides a level of portability few 2-in-1 laptops can match. While accessories like the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard are forever sold separately, the $500 savings on the tablet make picking up that cool detachable keyboard cover much easier. This keyboard cover elevates the 2-in-1 experience, even detaching to connect wirelessly over Bluetooth, providing unmatched freedom. For Prime Day shoppers seeking a premium, future-forward device that truly delivers on its 2-in-1 promise and offers a glimpse into the AI-powered future of computing, this deeply discounted Microsoft Surface Pro (2024) is a deal not to be missed. Hit the link above to see it on Amazon, or hit up our our review from last year if you want the full download.
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This Acer Laptop Costs $249 on Prime Day, but It Should Actually Cost Four Times More
xcluding Chromebooks, this is currently the cheapest laptop on the market. Acer has proven itself to be a reliable brand, especially when it comes to mid-range WIndows laptops. This 15-inch laptop on sale at Amazon is an example, and it is currently one of the top five best-sellers on Amazon during Prime Day. The official discount is 17%, which brings the price down to just $249 but in reality, this is a product that feels like it should cost much more. The Acer Aspire Go 15 is now available for $249, a significant drop from its typical price of $299. For this amount, you’re getting a device that’s ready for AI-powered features and daily productivity. The laptop is powered by the Intel Core 3 Processor N355, paired with 8GB of DDR5 memory and 128GB of fast UFS storage. See at Amazon The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS panel is a shining aspect with crisp visuals and excellent colors. Featuring a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and a razor-thin bezel design, the display is ideal for movie viewing, creative tasks, or just surfing the web. Acer's BluelightShield helps limit blue light exposure, so it's gentler on your eyes when binge-watching your favorite shows or working late at night. This laptop features two full-function USB Type-C ports, allowing you to plug in or charge multiple devices without a problem. HDMI 2.1 compatibility and additional USB 3.2 ports make it simple to connect external displays and accessories. The AcerSense feature gives you instant control over battery life, storage and system performance at the touch of a button. For video calling, the 720p HD camera uses Acer's TNR technology to offer crisp images even in low light, and Acer PurifiedVoice with AI noise reduction to make sure your voice is heard loud and clear. With Windows 11 Home in S Mode, the Aspire Go 15 gives you a secure and streamlined experience right out of the box. Copilot in Windows is your AI buddy that assists you to get more done across several apps with a single touch of the Copilot key. This Acer Aspire Go at $249 is a deal worth grabbing, make sure you don't miss it.
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Acer's fantastic 16-inch OLED laptop gets a massive $450 discount
Terrific battery life, excellent performance, a high-res OLED screen: there's a ton here for you to enjoy. Acer's Swift 16 AI laptop features both a robust, battery-sipping Intel Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake) chip and a gorgeous, large, high-resolution OLED display. Normally you'd pay well over $1,000 for it -- but a 36 percent Prime Day discount has dropped the price under $800. Acer's Swift 16 AI, priced at $799.99 at Best Buy, is basically one of those laptops that offers a combination of desirable features for a reasonable price. Acer's Swift 16 AI won four out of five stars in PCWorld's review of the laptop, which really only criticized it for its lack of true AI features and some bloatware. The Acer Swift 16 AI is a Copilot+ PC, which means that the Lunar Lake chip includes the NPU that gives the laptop its AI power. Unfortunately, Microsoft has prioritized support for Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite platform instead in terms of new AI features. That's fine. Sales numbers show that buyers aren't specifically seeking out Copilot+ features -- at all, really. Instead, my own tests of Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake) show that it's the great all-around chip you're probably looking for -- incredible battery life, great performance (including graphics, allowing it to play some games) plus the AI capabilities. Acer's Swift 16 AI is just a very capable laptop, period. I'm pretty impressed that this is the 16-inch model, too. By now, you're probably aware that OLED displays offer those inky blacks that really upgrade the visual experience. But this is a 16-inch screen with an upgraded 2880 x 1800 resolution, too. Acer calls this a "3K" screen, which is pretty accurate -- not quite the resolution of a 4K display, but with some additional detail that is really needed on a larger screen. (Our review model included a 120Hz screen, though it's not clear if Best Buy's model does. Users commenting on the page imply that it does.) The rest of the specs don't lag, either. The Swift 16 AI includes 16GB of RAM and a full terabyte of storage, certainly as much or more as you'll probably need. You'll also find two Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports, as well as a pair of USB-A ports for plugging in a keyboard or mouse. Remember, check out our review if you have any concerns. But with performance at the top of our charts and with real-world battery life at about 17 hours, this laptop should have everything you need -- and it's now at the right price.
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The Acer Aspire 14 AI, featuring Intel's latest AI-capable processor, offers impressive performance and battery life at a competitive price point, making it a notable entry in the budget laptop market.
The Acer Aspire 14 AI has emerged as a compelling option in the budget laptop market, offering a blend of performance, AI capabilities, and affordability. Priced at $500-$700 depending on the retailer and ongoing promotions, this laptop stands out as one of the most cost-effective Copilot Plus PCs available
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.Source: CNET
At the heart of the Aspire 14 AI is the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor, codenamed Lunar Lake. This CPU includes a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 40 trillion operations per second, meeting the minimum requirements for Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC platform
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. The AI processor can handle tasks such as Windows Recall snapshots, background blurring for video calls, and live translations, freeing up the main CPU and GPU for other tasks2
.Despite its budget-friendly price, the Aspire 14 AI delivers competitive performance. In benchmark tests, it held its own against more expensive Copilot Plus PCs in application, graphics, and AI performance
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. Perhaps most impressively, the laptop boasts an exceptional battery life of almost 19 hours on a single charge, making it one of the most power-efficient options in its class4
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.While not the sleekest laptop on the market, the Aspire 14 AI offers a solid build quality that belies its budget status. It features aluminum top and bottom panels, with only the keyboard deck made of plastic. This construction helps it avoid the "Creaky Plastic Monster" syndrome common in many budget laptops
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.Related Stories
Source: ZDNet
The Aspire 14 AI comes with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, which is generous for its price point. It offers two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.4 support
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. Display options include a 14-inch WUXGA IPS touch display or an OLED panel, with the latter recommended for users interested in visual creative work or gaming5
.Source: PC Magazine
As laptop prices continue to rise, the Acer Aspire 14 AI stands out as an increasingly attractive option. It offers a future-proofed package with its AI capabilities, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers who don't want to sacrifice performance or features
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. While it may not match the premium feel of higher-end models like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 or the Asus Zenbook A14, it delivers exceptional value for its price point3
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.In conclusion, the Acer Aspire 14 AI represents a significant step forward in the budget laptop segment, offering AI capabilities, strong performance, and impressive battery life at an accessible price point. As the market for AI-capable devices continues to evolve, this laptop positions itself as a noteworthy contender for consumers seeking affordability without compromising on modern features.
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