Summer vacation has barely begun, but it's not a bad idea to start thinking about upgrading or getting a computer for the 2022-2023 school year as major manufacturers discount older models to make room for the newer, pricier laptops.

The Best Back-to-School Laptop Deals

Your choice of a laptop will depend on how you plan on using it. For instance, if you have a young child who is used to touch-screen devices, a sturdy 2-in-1 convertible laptop with a touch screen might be a smart option. On the other hand, if you’re a college student who plans on having multiple research tabs open and music playing in the background while you write a paper, you might want to invest in a laptop with a more powerful CPU and more RAM.

It may sound weird for some but a gaming laptop might be also worth a consideration for those who want to game and study on the go or for those who don't want the hassle of buying a separate PC or gaming console. Either way, a gaming laptop offers more power than most traditional laptops, which is good for those students who might work on more resource-intensive projects like 3D rendering or photo and video editing.

Apple MacBook Air M1 13.3-Inch Laptop

Winner of our Editors’ Choice Award, the MacBook Air offers an ultraportable experience for those looking for a thin and lightweight laptop with enough battery life to get through the day. The Apple M1 processor packs a decent amount of punch while also being energy-efficient compared to older Intel-based models. A perk of being in the Apple ecosystem is that you can sync Apple apps like iMessage, Calendar, and Mail with your iPad or iPhone for a seamless experience.

Lenovo Flex 5i 2-in-1 Intel i3 14-Inch Touch

The Lenovo Flex 5i offers a decent amount of features considering its very affordable price. We would’ve expected this 2-in-1 convertible 11th Generation Intel Core i3 laptop with a 1080p resolution display to go for $400 when on sale, but you can get it now for under $300. This would be a great option for students who just need something for word processing, streaming video, and web browsing. The higher spec’d Intel Core i5 variant won our Editors’ Choice Award.

Dell XPS 13.3-Inch Intel i7 16GB RAM 512GB SSD

Dell’s flagship ultraportable is backpack-friendly, weighing about 2.7 pounds. It's powered by the fast 11th Generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics and 16GB of 4267MHz DDR4 RAM memory. This is a great MacBook alternative for those who prefer a Windows-based laptop. Its aluminum chassis and carbon fiber palm rest offer a premium aesthetic.

Alienware x15 Intel i7 RTX 3070 15.6-Inch 360Hz

This might be a head turner when used in class due to its sleek, gamer aesthetic. The Alienware x15 offers a ton of power to tackle resource-intensive school projects and runs most AAA games with ease. This might also be a great desktop replacement if you don't have the space for a monitor and desktop. We gave a similar configuration an excellent rating.