Back-to-School Tech Deals: Top Laptop Offers for Students

The best laptop deals to shop in July

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. If you're a parent, you know that now is the time to be shopping for back-to-school essentials, including computers. Right now, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and several popular computer makers are offering fantastic deals on bestselling laptops -- so now's the time to snag any of these offers before they expire or inventory sells out. We put our expert team of deal seekers and tech experts to work, with the goal of finding the best summer deals on laptops. They've curated this roundup of sales being offered right now -- many of which will save you hundreds of dollars on the latest and most popular laptops -- from brands like Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft and Samsung. So, whether you're shopping for an entry-level laptop, a feature-packed gaming laptop, or a mobile computer that'll allow you to handle the most advanced computing tasks while you're on the move, here are some of the incredible deals to be had right now. Samsung's much-anticipated Galaxy Book4 Edge CoPilot+ PC laptop is now available starting at $1,100. It's available in either a 14-inch or 16-inch version, both of which feature a stunning AMOLED 2x display. And with Microsoft CoPilot+ PC, these are among the first laptops to integrate powerful AI tools into the Windows operating system. For a limited time, Samsung is offering a discount of $250 off. Plus, when you order right now, Samsung will give you up to $500 in instant trade-in credit and throw in a brand new, 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 for free. You can also finance the Galaxy Book4 Edge for as little as $45.84 per month for 24 months for the 14-inch version, or $50.00 per month for 24 months for the 16-inch version. One of the key features offered by CoPilot+ PC laptops is Instant Recall. It allows you to find any document, email or web page almost instantly. And when you're participating in a video call, online class or virtual meeting, the computer can generate live captions. The AKG quad-speaker system with built in woofer supports Dolby Atmos. You also get a built in microSD memory card slot, so you can expand the storage at any time. Battery life is up to 18 hours for the 14-inch version of the Galaxy Book4 Edge. This gets boosted up to 21 hours by the 16-inch version. We also love that the laptop supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 protocols and comes equipped with a generous collection of ports. Oh, and the Galaxy Book4 is thin and lightweight, too. The 14-inch version is just 10.9mm thick and weighs 2.6 pounds, while the 16-inch version is 12.3mm thick and weighs just 3.4 pounds. If you're a teacher, student, first responder, member of the U.S. military (or a veteran), or a government worker, you can save even more through the Samsung Offer Program. Microsoft, the company that created Windows, offers an impressive lineup of Microsoft Surface laptops and 2-in-1 devices. Right now on Amazon, you can get your hands on the 2023 version of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 for 11% off its usual price. This means you can buy it for just $2,449. This laptop offers a 14.4-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It runs on the Intel Core i7-13700KF processor with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. The laptop comes configured with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage, but at the time of purchase, you can upgrade the RAM. Windows 11 Home comes preinstalled. From the Surface Laptop Studio 2, you can expect up to an 18-hour battery life per charge. One of the things we love about this laptop is that you can stream movies that look and sound exactly as the director intended, thanks to support for Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos. Plus, the Surface's 3:2 display ratio is ideal for editing photos and videos, or creating social media content. The computer is also equipped with a nice selection of ports. For a limited time, you can get this 2024 version of the bestselling Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 laptop for just $2,000, which is 9% off its regular price of $2,200. The most notable feature of this laptop is its stunning 14-inch OLED display that offers 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800 pixel) resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. This display offers an anti-glare, anti-reflection and anti-smudge coating, along with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 100,000:1 contrast ratio, a maximum brightness of 400 nits and a 100% sRGB color gamut. You also get Dolby Vision support. We also like that the laptop can be used with up to three external monitors via a HDMI or Thunderbolt 4 connection. The computer runs using the fast and powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and comes configured with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage. You can upgrade the SSD to 2TB or 4TB at the time of purchase. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers an all-day battery life and weighs in at just 2.42 pounds. Now that this laptop is on sale at Amazon, it represents a really good value for the investment. Right now, Walmart has the 11th generation version of this laptop on sale for $1,796. It offers a 14-inch display, runs using a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U processor and comes with 32GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. The 2024 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 processor is a lower-end laptop that's part of Apple's latest lineup of MacBook Airs. While not as powerful as the latest MacBook Pro laptops, this model can easily handle basic computing needs. What people love about the MacBook Air is that it's lightweight and super thin, which makes it easy to transport and use almost anywhere. It also offers up to an 18-hour battery life. And like all MacBooks, it runs the latest version of MacOS Sonoma and comes with the same collection of preinstalled apps as all other MacBook and iMac computers. As a result, right out of the box, the MacBook Air is ready to handle the most common tasks people use their laptop for -- from email and web surfing, to photo editing, time management, contact management, video streaming, music streaming and much more. The laptop also works seamlessly with Apple iCloud and all of Apple's other services, so it can sync your data, documents, files, photos and content between your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iMac and other compatible equipment within the Apple ecosystem. We recently weighed in on whether the 2024 Apple MacBook Air is worth it, and the answer was a resounding yes. Need a laptop with a larger display? This Asus TUF F17 has a 17.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution) screen with a zippy 144Hz refresh rate. Right now, the laptop is on sale for $819 at Amazon, which is a pretty stellar deal for a computer configured with an Intel Core i5-11400H processor, GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for storage. Windows 11 comes preinstalled. You also get an RGB backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6 support and a housing that's made to be durable. The laptop meets MIL-STD-810H military standard requirements, so it's built to last. At the moment, a 30-day trial subscription for Xbox Game Pass is also being thrown in. It's not a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, but it is a great one for a more casual gamer or someone who enjoys primarily cloud-based games. Check out this Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop that Amazon has on sale right now for 20% off. This sale brings the price down to $1,197. In addition to a 15.6-inch HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution) display with a maximum brightness of 300 nits, this Windows laptop comes equipped with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor and GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU. You also get 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. One of the best things about this gaming laptop is its backlit keyboard with programmable RGB lighting. Keep in mind, this computer was originally released in 2019 and it comes with Windows 10 Home preinstalled. Battery life is up to six hours. Here's a chance to get your hands on the 2024 version of the popular and powerful Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop at a slight discount. Amazon has it on sale for $1,290. The computer is equipped with a 16-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,200 pixel resolution) display with a 165Hz refresh rate. It's powered using a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX processor and GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. This version of the Asus ROG Strix G16 is configured with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage. It supports Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connectivity. Gamers will appreciate this laptop's full-size keyboard with 1.9mm travel distance. It uses the company's "Overstroke technology," which reduces key actuation and improves responsiveness. Walmart has put this entry-level Acer Aspire 3 laptop on sale for an impressive $140 off, which brings its price down to just $359. This is a Windows laptop that runs on an AMD Ryzen 7-5700U processor. It comes configured with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Battery life is up to 6.5 hours. The computer offers a 15.6-inch Full HD display and weighs in at just 3.92 pounds. We consider this a well-rounded, family-friendly laptop that's well suited to handle most common computing tasks. The laptop's display is perfect for casual web browsing and watching movies or streaming. It provides a sharp, 1080p resolution picture and uses blue light shield filtering to help prevent eye strain. The CX34 runs the ChromeOS operating system, which makes it compatible with Android apps. But it already comes with a hefty selection of Google Workspace apps and integrates with Google online services, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Calendar, Chrome, Google Photos and Meet. You also get seamless Google Drive access for cloud storage. Right out of the box, it's ready to handle many of the tasks a college student needs a computer for. This Chromebook has a traditional laptop computer design and weighs in at just 3.17 pounds, so it's easy to transport within a backpack or laptop case. Battery life is up to 10 hours. If you're someone who primarily uses cloud applications and storage, or enjoys online gaming, a Chromebook Plus can be a cheaper and effective laptop compared to a traditional Windows option. One of the standout features of this Chromebook Plus is how Google's Gemini AI now seamlessly integrates with the operating system and many popular applications. These AI-powered tools aim to simplify and streamline common computing tasks, such as web browsing, word processing, photo editing, summarizing documents, translating between languages and creating engaging content. Other than that, this laptop features a versatile 12.2-inch touchscreen display, which means you can switch between laptop and tablet modes. It also comes with a pen-shaped stylus, enabling users to write or draw directly on the screen. The display also has 360-degree rotation for maximum versatility. Right now, this Chromebook Plus is on sale for just $249, which is 50% off its normal price of $500.

Best back-to-school deals to shop this week at all retailers

It's still July, but if you're a parent, you're likely already starting to think about back-to-school deals for your kids. Believe it or not, mid-summer is a great time to save money on back-to-school supplies and helpful tech gear students of all ages will likely need. To help you save money during your annual back-to-school shopping trip, we rounded up deals on a variety of necessities, ranging from classroom and dorm essentials such as a laptop, towels and of course, plenty of notebooks and pens. Shop now and you can save up to 58% off from retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target today. From low-cost Windows laptops and Chromebooks, headphones, dorm room bedding, TVs and other essentials, to school supplies and other back-to-school necessities, we found the best deals at your favorite retailers. Check out these deals on laptops, tablets, wireless earbuds and more. At the moment, the iPad (9th generation) is the least expensive iPad you can buy. It relies on older technology, but it runs the latest version of the iPadOS operating system and comes with the same collection of preinstalled apps included with all current model iPads. This model also allows users to download and install additional apps from the App Store. Its performance is a bit slower than newer models, and its screen offers a lower resolution. And the tablet also runs using an older processor. Yet, for a young user, this version of the iPad is more than adequate. If you plan to give the iPad to a young child, we highly recommend a kid-friendly, full-body case to protect it from accidental spills, drops and other potential damage. For a younger user, the iPad 9th generation is a great entry-level option. For more help choosing the perfect iPad for the person you're shopping for, be sure to read our 2024 Apple iPad buyer's guide. Right now, the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are Apple's most advanced and best-sounding wireless earbuds. These were our top pick within our 2024 Apple AirPods buyer's guide, and for good reason. They also fared well in our roundup of the six best wireless earbuds with spatial audio in 2024. These earbuds are ideal for Apple enthusiasts and students of all ages. Key features include spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and support of Dolby Atmos. Their noise-canceling technology works exceptionally well. The design of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) is fairly similar to the previous generation, but Apple has introduced touch controls to the stems of these earbuds. Plus, you can also now choose between a USB Type-C or Lightning-compatible charging case. These are powerful, general-purpose, wireless earbuds that offer spacial audio with dynamic head tracking to make music and audio from TV shows and movies that support it sound truly immersive. The audio instantly adapts when you move your head. Looking for a bargain on a laptop from an elite brand? Walmart has the Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip for just $649 this week as a back-to-school deal. Though this is an older model compared to the just-released MacBook with the M3 chip, the configuration is powerful enough to handle today's computing tasks (and more tasks for years to come). The Apple MacBook Air with the M1 chip features a 13.3-inch Retina display, 8GB of unified memory, 256GB of storage, an 8-core CPU and a 7-core GPU. Choose between a space gray, silver or gold casing. As part of the MacBook Air product line, this budget-minded laptop weighs in at a mere 2.8 pounds and offers a battery life of up to 18 hours per charge. This computer is equipped with a TouchID sensor that can unlock the laptop and authorize Apple Pay payments while shopping online. When surfing the web, you'll enjoy Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. Like all current MacBooks, this one runs using Apple's MacOS 14 Sonoma and comes equipped with a generous collection of preinstalled apps. Among high school and college students who use Android smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phones are extremely popular and have been for several years. They're full-featured Android phones with a folding display, so the phone fits nicely in a pocket when not in use. Enhanced durability, improved displays, a better camera system and integrated Google AI are some of the key upgrades offered by the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. It's now thinner and lighter, with a 4,000mAh capacity battery so you can expect all-day battery life. The AMOLED cover display measures 3.4 inches, has a maximum brightness of 1,600 nits, a 60Hz refresh rate and offers 720 x 748-pixel resolution. When unfolded, the main Dynamic AMOLED 2x display provides 6.7 inches of on-screen real estate, with a 2,640 x 1,080-pixel resolution, a maximum brightness of 2,600 nits and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The phone weighs a mere 6.6 ounces. It measures just 3.35 x 2.83 x 0.59 inches when folded, so it easily fits in a pocket. The phone runs using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy processor which has a processing speed up to 3.4GHz, so it's the fastest folding Samsung phone yet. The phone is IP48 rated for water resistance. And since AI is evolving so quickly, Samsung has pledged to support the phone with new OS and security updates for seven years. Choose from six casing colors. This new phone begins shipping on July 23, well before students go back to school. As an incentive to pre-order the new phone from Amazon, it's currently being discounted, plus you get a free memory upgrade (a $120 value) and a bonus $200 Amazon gift card you can use for future Amazon purchases. Tired of buying ink for your printer? This phenomenal Best Buy back-to-school deal nets you a great printer with up to two years' worth of ink, ready to go when you are. On top of that, the HP Smart Tank 6001 printer is all about speed, value, and eco-friendly tech. With print speeds up to 12ppm black and 7ppm color, plus auto two-sided printing, it can zip through any task quickly with deep blacks and crisp text. Plus, you get an ultra-low cost-per-page, thanks to its high-capacity ink tank - it can print up to 8,000 color pages with the ink included. And if you need to refill, you can look forward to spill-free replenishment (and clean clothes). Built-in security features like encryption and password protection keep documents safe, too. Plus, Bluetooth LE connectivity and smart buttons make it easy to set up print jobs and keep them flowing. Regularly $345, you can get this printer for $220 at Best Buy this week. A comfortable, well-decorated and nicely equipped dorm room is essential for any student. Here are some must-have dorm items currently on sale before back-to-school season. Many college students use their laptop or tablet to stream TV shows, movies, YouTube videos and other content for entertainment, but this provides a more private viewing experience. To binge-watch shows, movies and sports with roommates and college friends, a traditional TV is more suitable. This 55-inch smart TV from Amazon is an affordable option for a dorm room that's short on space. It's currently on sale for 37% off, so it can be added to a dorm room for just $330. As a smart TV that runs using the FireTV OS, it can access any popular video streaming service your college student subscribes to, such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix or Hulu. This is a 4K resolution, 55-inch, LED smart TV. However, if you're looking for a TV that's even less expensive, the Amazon Fire TV 2-Series has a starting price of just $130 for the 32-inch model (now that it's also on sale for 35% off). For the college student who already has a comfortable pillow and comforter, this three-piece sheet set comes in a variety of solid color options and the popular twin or twin XL size. Each set includes a pillowcase, flat sheet and fitted sheet. These microfiber sheets are wrinkle-free. The fitted sheet offers deep pockets to provide a snug fit around any twin or twin XL-size mattress. Now that this sheet set is on sale for an incredible 52% off, you can purchase it for just $24. At this price, it makes sense to buy a college student two or three sets in their favorite colors. This Ailbron LED neon rope light offers a low-cost way to decorate a dorm room using programmable and color-changing smart lighting. The light rope can be controlled using the supplied handheld remote or any smartphone. While it's not bright enough to fully light up an entire room, this light strip is perfect for creating a vibe. This flexible 32.8-foot long LED rope light is IP65 rated to be waterproof. And it has a built-in feature that allows it to animate itself and sync with music. Based on the dimensions of a dorm room, similar LED rope lights are available in a variety of lengths, from 20 feet up to 120 feet. This 32.8-foot version has 300 mini LED lights built in, each of which can showcase several hundreds of selectable colors. Currently, you can get this rope light for just $30, which is 25% off its normal price. American Soft Linen six-piece towel set: $43 (save 34%) It's surprising how expensive towels can get, which is why we are so into the discount on this set from American Soft Linen. The set includes two bath towels, two hand towels and two wash clothes. Each is made of Turkish cotton, a premium cotton known for being soft, absorbent and long-lasting. The towel set also boasts an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, meaning that this product has been verified to have been made without harmful substances. You can get this set in your choice of 20 color options. These range from neutrals such as white and gray to vibrant colors such as yellow and lilac. The American Soft Linen six-piece towel set has a 4.6-star rating on Target. One reviewer wrote, "They are a nice shade of gray, have a good texture and are very comfortable. Highly recommend them and I might get a second set for my other bathroom!!" This air fryer is a great cooking tool that allows you to cook in your dorm without having to put a lot of effort into cooking. The size is quite generous; at eight quarts, the pro air fryer can serve more than six people (depending on the serving size, of course). It also has ten cooking settings, including options dedicated to specific foods. These include French fries, fish, eggs and chicken. You can also reheat, defrost, bake, broil and even dehydrate food. The PowerXL Vortex pro air fryer has a 4.5-star rating on Target. One reviewer wrote, "This is the best thing yet. I love how this cooks my food. It gives the best taste. All the seasonings come through when using this fryer." Another customer said, "Perfect size for our family of five! Easy to use and clean. Also like that there is a removable shelf if you want to cook more than one item at a time." Save on school supplies The smaller items that add up... unless you seek out sales. There are plenty of fantastic deals to be found on common school supplies from Amazon and Walmart.