Shop Chromebooks, Dell, HP, Lenovo

It may still be July, but if retailers are to be believed, it’s already time to start taking a look forward to the fall. For students, that means hearing the three words they fear the most: “back to school.” Whether it’s heading to college at the end of August or high school after labor day, education is going to be the priority again.

If there is a silver lining to this time of year, it’s all the back to school sales that have or are going to start in the coming weeks. Whether you need basic class supplies or have to load up for a dorm, everything you could possibly need will be on sale.

That also means it’s the perfect time for anyone looking to get a new laptop. The right laptop is essential. Luckily, finding a good laptop on sale at this time of year is not a difficult task. Here are some of the best deals right now:

The best thing about Chromebooks are their simplicity. These are computers designed for some light web surfing and getting work done and not much more than that. The Samsung XE500C13-S03US is the perfect example of that simple and reliable design. It sports 2GB of RAM with a 16GB SSD, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but makes it perfect for school work. And with an 11-hour battery life, you’ll be ready to go for those long class days and study sessions.

If you need something that might be a little bit faster, then the HP Chromebook 11 G5 could be the laptop for you. On the whole, the HP Chromebook isn’t much different from the Samsung Chromebook mentioned above, both sporting the Celeron processor and a 16GB SSD for storage. However, you do get 4GB of RAM with this model from HP, which will provide a nice boost in performance for anyone who needs a little extra oomph out the Chromebook.

While regular Chromebooks are always useful, sometimes there’s a need for a little more flexibility. To that end, the ASUS Chromebook Flip provides that flexibility with a 2-in-1 design. At a technical level, it’s on par with the previously mentioned Chromebooks with 4GB of RAM and 16GB of storage for reliable performance. But, as the name implies, the screen can flip for anyone who may need a tablet in a pinch. That sort of flexibility can be a welcome addition, especially in the classroom.

As reliable as Chromebooks can be, some classes and school needs may demand more out of your computer. Thankfully, there are laptops that can provide that power without breaking the bank, and Lenovo provides that with the 320-15. Under the hood, the Lenovo sports 6GB of RAM for faster performance and a 1TB HDD, so it doesn’t skimp on storage. That extra space is especially useful for those semesters where it seems like you have a paper due every week.

Dell is one of the biggest in the game. Because of that, there are certainly plenty of choices available under the Dell banner. And for the average student looking for an above average computer, the Inspiron 15 is the laptop to check out. The Inspiron 15 5000 2-in-1 is perfect for anyone who needs a killer laptop/tablet combination. And with 8GB of RAM and, again, a 1TB HDD, it delivers flexible power on a budget.

This is the alternative to the 2-in-1 mentioned above, more suited for anyone looking for a more traditional laptop out of the Dell Inspiron 15. At a technical level, it’s nearly identical as the aforementioned Dell 2-in-1. However, while the 2-in-1 sports the IntelR Core i3, this one has the AMD Ryzen 5, which has emerged as a viable alternative to the Intel line of processors that have dominated the market. And given AMD’s background in the games space, the Ryzen processor reflects that with an extra bump in power.

If you like the Chromebook, but wish it had a little extra power behind it, Google has just the thing to scratch that itch in the Pixelbook. The Pixelbook offers the flexibility of the basic Chromebooks with specs on par with laptops similar to the aforementioned Dell computers. For example, it uses the Chrome OS and sports an Intel Core i5 processor, highlighting the balance between simplicity and power the Pixelbook offers. And with a 2-in-1 design, it’s yet another laptop bolstered by some excellent physical flexibility. All that makes for a laptop that, if you’re going into your freshman year at college, will provide longevity.

Those are just a few of the laptops you can on sale right now. As the start of the year gets closer and closer, more deals will hit and more laptops will be available at excellent prices. Just keep you’re ear to the ground and your browsers locked to Amazon, Walmart, and others for more deals.