3 of the best Prime Day laptop deals, according to an expert

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As one of Mashable's senior shopping reporters, I vet thousands of laptop deals on a very regular basis. This means I'm always hoarse from hollering about how Amazon is the worst place to find them.

Shoppers can be easily misled by the retail giant's myriad incorrect sticker prices, and its selection of laptop brands pales in comparison to that of other retailers (particularly Best Buy); the only models it reliably stocks and discounts year-round are newer Apple MacBooks. Outside of that category, a good chunk of the laptops I encounter on Amazon (too many) are sold by sketchy third-party sellers instead of Amazon itself. Generally speaking, the laptop deals there just aren't worth most people's time — or mine, frankly.

I sing a different tune on Prime Day, though. Once Amazon's flagship summer sale starts (and not a moment sooner), it conveniently decides to list a wider array of legitimately good deals on laptops that it personally ships and sells — that I'm more likely to recommend. Why doesn't it do this year-round? Good question! Regardless, Amazon and I have a peace treaty of sorts for those blissful 48 hours.

SEE ALSO: 250+ Prime Day deals our shopping experts have deemed worth it: Save on Apple, Echo devices, TVs, headphones, and more

A peace treaty... but not an exclusivity agreement. Having scoped out some of the best laptop deals available during Prime Day 2024 (live through Wednesday, July 17), I can tell you that Amazon has some good options for those looking for Apple MacBooks, LG grams, and gaming laptops from Acer and Asus. But I'd also still encourage you to branch out to Best Buy: Its Black Friday in July savings event has shaped up to be some serious Prime Day competition, and smart shoppers would be remiss not to cross-check both sales.

If you don't want to wade through their dueling discounts yourself, I've highlighted three of the very best laptop deals I would snap up in a heartbeat if I was in the market for a new machine.

My favorite MacBook deal

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849.00 at Amazon with on-page coupon
$1,099.00 Save $250.00

Why I like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M3).

A big price drop on a MacBook? At Amazon? Groundbreaking. Seriously, though, this is an unprecedented record-low for Apple's latest 13-inch MacBook Air, a Mashable Choice Award-winner (and our current favorite MacBook for most people) that has a peppy CPU, WiFi 6E support, and the closed-lid ability to drive two external monitors at once. Its discount comes thanks to an on-page coupon that drops its sale price by an additional $50, so be sure to tick that box next to the orange flag on its product page before heading to checkout. (The 15-inch model was getting the same treatment at the time of writing, if you want two extra speakers and a bigger display.)

For what it's worth, Best Buy was matching this offer during its Black Friday in July sale, but only for paid members of its My Best Buy program.

Honorable mention

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799.00 at Amazon and Best Buy
$999.00 Save $200.00

Why I like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M2).

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Related Stories

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• Everything you need to know about Prime Day 2024, according to our team of professional deal hunters
• Live now: Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale is coming for Prime Day
• Prime Day laptop deals: Shop new record lows on MacBooks, gaming laptops, more
• Here's when to buy a laptop, whether you need the latest specs or a great deal
• What not to buy on Prime Day, from third-party scams to Ring cams

For only $50 more, I'd strongly consider buying the M3 Air if you're looking to upgrade from an older MacBook. But if you just want to spend as little as possible, the M2 version is an excellent value at just $799, its own all-time low. It's up for grabs at both Amazon and Best Buy, with no memberships required to access their deals.

Mashable Deals Want more hand-picked deals from our shopping experts? Sign up for the Mashable Deals newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

My favorite Windows laptop deal

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook X (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $999.00 at Best Buy
$1,199.00 Save $200.00

Why I like it

Read Mashable's full review of the HP OmniBook X.

The OmniBook X is one of the all-new CoPilot+ PCs powered by a snazzy Snapdragon X Elite chip, and this is the first time I've caught it on sale since it launched in mid-June. (Come to think of it, this is the first time I've caught any CoPilot+ PC on sale.) Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon recently gave it a 4.5/5 rating and a Mashable Choice Award, deeming it "the best Windows laptop I've tested this year" in her review: "It's fun, fast, and fierce," she wrote, commending its MacBook-beating performance and battery life. I'll soon be updating our Windows laptop guide accordingly.

My favorite Chromebook deal

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (Intel Core 5 120U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $549.00 at Best Buy
$649.00 Save $100.00

Why I like it

Mashable's favorite cloud gaming laptop got a "Chromebook Plus" upgrade this spring that made it over in edgy obsidian black, swapped in a newer Intel Core 5 120U processor, and tacked on some new Google AI features (including Google Photos Magic Editor and a built-in Gemini chatbot). It's not specced to the nines, but it's an awesome, approachable option for casual gamers with an awesome, approachable price — now more than ever. After dropping to $579 at Best Buy last month, it's now on sale there for $549. That's $100 off and its lowest price yet.