Has it been a minute or three since you've treated yourself to a new laptop? Unlike desktop PCs, the upgrade path in most laptops is limited at best, and sometimes non-existent. At some point, it comes time to bite the bullet and splurge on a new system. If you're at that point, don't despair—there are bargains to be had, including on some slightly older MacBook models.
Case in point, the
13-inch MacBook Air pictured above is on sale for
$789 at Amazon (save $210). This is Apple's 2020 model so it's not the latest iteration, but it's also still a relevant and capable machine. It's based on Apple's home-brewed
M1 silicon with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU sporting 128 execution units, and a 16-core Neural engine.
Other key specs include 8GB of RAM, 256GB solid state drive, backlit keyboard, FaceTime HD camera, Touch ID, and up to 18 hours of battery life. And if you're feeling adventurous, there's a
thermal mod that you can give a whirl, which has been demonstrated to improve heat dissipation and improve performance.
To save even more, you can pick up a
renewed 13-inch MacBook Air for
$699 on Amazon (via marketplace seller). It comes with a 90-day warranty.
Switching gears to the Windows ecosystem, you can score a heavily discounted
Samsung Galaxy Book2 for
$999.40 on Amazon (save $850.60). The Galaxy Book series is one of the best semi-hidden gems in the Windows space (see our
Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 review, and also our
review of the first-gen model). In short, these are well-built laptops with solid hardware configurations.
This particular setup is aimed at business users. It features an Intel 12th Gen Core i5-1250P processor (12C/16T, 3.3GHz to 4.4GHz, 12MB L3 cache, 28W base TDP) armed with vPro technologies for enhanced security, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB solid state drive, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and Windows 11 Pro.
For those who prefer to go with an AMD foundation, the
Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 1 fits the bill and is on sale for
$1,141.35 on Amazon (save $657.65). As the model name gives away, this is a 16-inch laptop with a 1920x1200 resolution (WUXGA).
It's powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 6650H processor, which is a Zen 3+ chip (Rembrandt) wielding 6 cores, 12 threads, a 3.3GHz base clock, up to a 4.5GHz boost clock, and 16MB of L3 cache wrapped in a 45W package. And as a Pro processor, it sports enhanced security features similar to Intel's vPro designation.
Other specs include 16GB of RAM and a 256GB solid state drive.
Here are a few other noteworthy laptop deals...
Bonus deal—you can grab a set of
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) for
$199 on Amazon (save $50) to pair with your laptop and/or use for workouts, walks, or whatever.