A laptop is a big investment, so if you’re planning on getting one, you should wait for a major shopping event to get a big discount. These shopping events usually have some of the best laptops on sale, letting you grab a machine with the specs of your choice while saving a solid chunk of cash. Right now, we have two big shopping events — the Fourth of July and Prime Day — just around the corner, which makes it a good time to shop. Major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon have slashed prices on some great laptop models, whether you prefer a Windows laptop or a MacBook.
Not sure where to look? We’re here to help. CNET’s shopping experts have rounded up some top picks below to save you the effort. We’ll continue to update this page throughout both sales, so be sure to check back often for the best prices out there.
Best early July 4th laptop deals
The M4 MacBook Air is the latest model in Apple’s lightweight lineup and our overall favorite laptop on the market right now. The basic model comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and there are plenty of more advanced configurations also on sale — including the 15-inch model for people who prefer a larger display.
This midrange Samsung laptop is an excellent option for Windows users who don’t want to spend a small fortune. It’s got enough hardware to handle all your basic needs, including an Intel Core 7 processor 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It’s also got a large, 15.6-inch HD display, and it supports Microsoft Copilot AI features. Plus, the HDMI port, SD card reader and multiple USB ports make it easy to connect all your accessories.
Why choose between a laptop and a tablet when you can get the best of both worlds? This two-in-one HP OmniBook features a 16-inch 2K touchscreen display and a 360-degree hinge, so you can easily use it with or without the keyboard. It has an advanced Intel Core Ultra 5 processor to help support tons of helpful onboard AI features, as well as 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
More July 4th sales and laptop deals:
- Apple MacBook Pro M3 (14-inch): $1,199 (save $400). Apple is a super reliable brand and this MacBook Pro is no exception, with its solid battery life and a bright screen, along with Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI 2.1 support.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i: $470 (save $150). Battery of a beast, this Lenovo gets two hours of power on just a 15-minute charge.
- Asus Zenbook S16 OLED: $1,400 (save $400). OLED laptops have the crispest, brightest screens out there and a $400 discount is exceptional.
- Acer Chromebook 315: $139 (save $160). This affordable Chromebook is perfect for folks looking for something simple to browse the web.
- Asus ProArt PX13: $1,250 (save $550). This compact 13-inch Asus features some impressive hardware, including a 3K OLED display, 32GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU.
- Dell 16 Plus: $750 (save $350). It has an ultra-speedy Intel Core Ultra 7 series processor, which is great for multitasking.
- Lenovo Yoga 7: $550 (save $400). With a 2K display and 16GB of RAM, this 16-inch Lenovo two-in-one is a steal at less than $600.
- HP Omen Transcend 14: $1,480 (save $350). With a 3K display and some impressive hardware, this is our top pick if you want a general-purpose laptop that’s also great for gaming.
- Alienware 16X Aurora: $1,650 (save $450). A seriously high-end gaming laptop with 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU.
- Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11: $279 (save $120). With a detachable keyboard and 2K display, this 11-inch Chromebook also doubles as a tablet.
Should you shop July 4th laptop deals or wait until Prime Day?
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee of which event will offer better prices. In reality, it’s most likely that both the Fourth of July and Prime Day will blur into one massive shopping event that spans multiple days and retailers. With that in mind, we’d lean toward getting your order in sooner rather than later. While there’s a slight chance we’ll see prices dip a little lower later in the sale, there’s a much greater chance that the best bargains will sell out fairly early. If you see a laptop that fits your needs and budget for several hundred dollars off, we’d recommend grabbing it before it goes out of stock.
Which retailers offer the best July 4th laptop deals?
As you might expect, major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon will be offering some excellent deals for both the Fourth of July and Prime Day. You’ll also want to check out smaller online-only retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama, as they may be offering some under-the-radar bargains that aren’t being matched elsewhere. Plus, brands like HP and Acer are offering some direct deals of their own.
What else will be on sale for July 4th?
There will be a huge variety of deals that you can shop across retailers for the Fourth of July. These include tons of top tech like TVs and laptops, as well as tons of home goods and big-ticket items like mattresses and major appliances. There will also be plenty of seasonal deals on things like grills, outdoor gear and other summer essentials. To give you a good idea of what’s already out there, you can check out our full roundup of all the best Fourth of July deals already available.
How we choose the best July 4th laptop deals
Many of us at CNET have covered shopping events for over five years, including Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless others. We’ve become good at weeding out scams and superficial deals, so you’ll see only the best offers on our lists.
When choosing laptop deals, we look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time. Our team of experts has tested hundreds of laptops to ensure we’re bringing you the best options at the best prices.
- Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history for that product to make sure no brands are inflating prices to make the discount seem more substantial than it is.
- Quality reviews and testing are important for any product, including laptops. If you’re unhappy the first time you turn it on, the discount wasn’t worthwhile.
- Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a deal seems like it will only be around for a short while or will only be available for the remaining stock, we’ll let you know up front so you don’t come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.