I’m really looking forward to checking out the new laptops for 2025, even though they don't seem to offer much benefit for their steep prices. I texted Matt about it the other night, and we both laughed because it’s true—laptop prices are skyrocketing, especially in the USA. Not only are manufacturers raising prices for minor upgrades, but we’re also facing higher tariffs. I’ve seen new gaming laptops going for over $5,000 and thin laptops for nearly $2,000. While some countries have dealt with high laptop prices for a while, this price increase feels way out of hand.
The good news is that you don’t have to put up with these high costs. There are plenty of excellent laptops from last year that can provide 90% of the performance of the new models for half the price. Today, I’m going to share some of the best laptops from last year that often go on sale.
First up is the HP 13, which is a lightweight 13-inch laptop loved for its value, typically selling for around $600 on sale. It has a comfortable keyboard, a decent screen, and a powerful processor for everyday tasks, plus it comes with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. The only downsides are its plain design and slightly cheap feel.
If you’re mostly using basic office apps and browsing the web, the Slim 7X is a fantastic choice. It looks good, performs well, has an amazing keyboard, long battery life, and a large 14.5-inch display that’s the best OLED I've seen. You can often find it on sale for about $799, sometimes even $749—a great deal. However, there are a couple of drawbacks: it uses Qualcomm's processor which means some specialized apps and games might not work on it, and its trackpad isn’t great, requiring a lot of pressure to click and making a loud noise.
For those who care about trackpads and want a premium experience, I recommend the Surface Laptop 7, which I personally own. It’s beautiful, has a bright screen with high resolution, a very comfortable keyboard, and a stunning trackpad. It usually sells for around $950 for the version I recommend, which is the X+ model. You don’t need the more powerful version, as it uses more battery power. The downsides are that it has short battery life, runs on Qualcomm’s ARM version of Windows—which means some applications won’t work— and it can get warm while in use. Microsoft also sells a better Intel version of this laptop, but it’s only available for businesses at a much higher price.
If you want to avoid Qualcomm laptops altogether, check out the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i. This 15.3-inch laptop has everything you need without any major issues. Its screen is bright, the trackpad is better than the Slim 7X, and the keyboard is very comfortable. Though it's a bit larger, it’s still portable and light. It gets great battery life, has an Intel processor, and usually sells for about $999.
For something smaller but still powerful, the Asus Mbook S14 is a compact and lightweight option, featuring a beautiful OLED display and fantastic battery life, often available for around $1,000. Just keep in mind that its glossy screen might not be the best in bright conditions.
For students or anyone needing a lightweight laptop, check out the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip. This 2-in-1 laptop is versatile and includes a touchscreen with pen support. It offers a bright display and has a comfortable keyboard. It usually goes for around $1,100.
As for why you might consider the two Qualcomm laptops I mentioned earlier: they are usually cheaper and have more comfortable keyboards compared to some Intel options. The trade-off is that they might not support as many applications.
Now, let’s quickly discuss the new MacBook Air. The latest version is a bit of a disappointment, keeping the same design and shortcomings while offering a $100 discount. However, the older MacBook Air models are now a great value, often available for $800 with decent specs. For light computing needs, you likely won’t notice a difference between the M3 and newer M4 versions when it comes to daily tasks, but their prices vary quite a bit.
For those who need a laptop that can handle serious performance on the go, I initially didn’t like the HP OmniBook Ultra, but considering its price, I’ve changed my mind. It often sells for around $1,000 and packs a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor with 32GB of memory, making it incredibly fast for its size. Just note it’s heavier than some laptops.
If you're looking for a dedicated graphics laptop on a budget, the iDad Pro 516 is decent, providing low-end graphics for about $800. The Asus Zephyrus G14 and G16 are also good portable gaming options, priced around $1,100 and $1,400 respectively, but they have some performance limitations.
The Yoga Pro 9i is a solid choice for those who do a bit of everything. It’s powerful, has a stunning display, and is comfortable to use. It’s usually priced at $1,300 for its mid-range model, which is great for programmers and content creators.
If you’re set on better graphics performance around $1,300, check out the Predator Helios Neo 14. It’s robust and well-built, though it can get warm and is a bit heavy.
My top pick right now goes to the MacBook Pros with M4 chips. They are fantastic for performance and efficient power use. Whether you choose a 14 or 16-inch model, you can expect a premium experience, and they tend to last longer than many Windows laptops.
For a powerful Windows laptop, keep an eye out for the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i. It's a heavy and thick option, but often available for around $2,200, making it a solid value for serious gamers.
To wrap things up, while I can’t guarantee prices in every location, the laptops I mentioned are often on sale and represent great value. If you see one you like, consider waiting for a sale before buying, as prices can be inflated.
Remember, the more we refuse to pay those high prices, the better chances we have of slowing down these constant price hikes.
The good news is that you don’t have to put up with these high costs. There are plenty of excellent laptops from last year that can provide 90% of the performance of the new models for half the price. Today, I’m going to share some of the best laptops from last year that often go on sale.
First up is the HP 13, which is a lightweight 13-inch laptop loved for its value, typically selling for around $600 on sale. It has a comfortable keyboard, a decent screen, and a powerful processor for everyday tasks, plus it comes with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. The only downsides are its plain design and slightly cheap feel.
If you’re mostly using basic office apps and browsing the web, the Slim 7X is a fantastic choice. It looks good, performs well, has an amazing keyboard, long battery life, and a large 14.5-inch display that’s the best OLED I've seen. You can often find it on sale for about $799, sometimes even $749—a great deal. However, there are a couple of drawbacks: it uses Qualcomm's processor which means some specialized apps and games might not work on it, and its trackpad isn’t great, requiring a lot of pressure to click and making a loud noise.
For those who care about trackpads and want a premium experience, I recommend the Surface Laptop 7, which I personally own. It’s beautiful, has a bright screen with high resolution, a very comfortable keyboard, and a stunning trackpad. It usually sells for around $950 for the version I recommend, which is the X+ model. You don’t need the more powerful version, as it uses more battery power. The downsides are that it has short battery life, runs on Qualcomm’s ARM version of Windows—which means some applications won’t work— and it can get warm while in use. Microsoft also sells a better Intel version of this laptop, but it’s only available for businesses at a much higher price.
If you want to avoid Qualcomm laptops altogether, check out the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i. This 15.3-inch laptop has everything you need without any major issues. Its screen is bright, the trackpad is better than the Slim 7X, and the keyboard is very comfortable. Though it's a bit larger, it’s still portable and light. It gets great battery life, has an Intel processor, and usually sells for about $999.
For something smaller but still powerful, the Asus Mbook S14 is a compact and lightweight option, featuring a beautiful OLED display and fantastic battery life, often available for around $1,000. Just keep in mind that its glossy screen might not be the best in bright conditions.
For students or anyone needing a lightweight laptop, check out the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip. This 2-in-1 laptop is versatile and includes a touchscreen with pen support. It offers a bright display and has a comfortable keyboard. It usually goes for around $1,100.
As for why you might consider the two Qualcomm laptops I mentioned earlier: they are usually cheaper and have more comfortable keyboards compared to some Intel options. The trade-off is that they might not support as many applications.
Now, let’s quickly discuss the new MacBook Air. The latest version is a bit of a disappointment, keeping the same design and shortcomings while offering a $100 discount. However, the older MacBook Air models are now a great value, often available for $800 with decent specs. For light computing needs, you likely won’t notice a difference between the M3 and newer M4 versions when it comes to daily tasks, but their prices vary quite a bit.
For those who need a laptop that can handle serious performance on the go, I initially didn’t like the HP OmniBook Ultra, but considering its price, I’ve changed my mind. It often sells for around $1,000 and packs a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor with 32GB of memory, making it incredibly fast for its size. Just note it’s heavier than some laptops.
If you're looking for a dedicated graphics laptop on a budget, the iDad Pro 516 is decent, providing low-end graphics for about $800. The Asus Zephyrus G14 and G16 are also good portable gaming options, priced around $1,100 and $1,400 respectively, but they have some performance limitations.
The Yoga Pro 9i is a solid choice for those who do a bit of everything. It’s powerful, has a stunning display, and is comfortable to use. It’s usually priced at $1,300 for its mid-range model, which is great for programmers and content creators.
If you’re set on better graphics performance around $1,300, check out the Predator Helios Neo 14. It’s robust and well-built, though it can get warm and is a bit heavy.
My top pick right now goes to the MacBook Pros with M4 chips. They are fantastic for performance and efficient power use. Whether you choose a 14 or 16-inch model, you can expect a premium experience, and they tend to last longer than many Windows laptops.
For a powerful Windows laptop, keep an eye out for the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i. It's a heavy and thick option, but often available for around $2,200, making it a solid value for serious gamers.
To wrap things up, while I can’t guarantee prices in every location, the laptops I mentioned are often on sale and represent great value. If you see one you like, consider waiting for a sale before buying, as prices can be inflated.
Remember, the more we refuse to pay those high prices, the better chances we have of slowing down these constant price hikes.