How to buy a laptop in 2026

Laptops got more expensive in 2026. Memory chips cost more because AI data centers are buying them up, and makers passed it on: Apple alone raised Mac prices in June. That makes it more important than usual to buy the right spec the first time, and to know which week of the year to buy. This guide covers both, with picks at every budget.

The five specs that matter

Ignore most of the spec sheet. These five decide whether a laptop will feel fast and stay useful for years:

The processor matters less than it used to: every current chip from Apple, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm is quick enough for school, work, and streaming. If you'll edit video or play games, see the gaming note below and our AI laptops guide.

Picks by budget

Under $500

At this price, a Chromebook usually beats a Windows laptop: it runs well on modest hardware and gets automatic updates. The other smart move is a refurbished business laptop, which gets you better build quality and more memory for the money.

1

Under $500, and kids' school laptops

Lenovo Chromebook Plus i (15-inch)

Lenovo

A big-screen Chromebook built to a military durability standard. Google now gives Chromebooks 10 years of updates, counted from when the model was released.

• Intel Core 3 N355, 8GB memory
• 15.3-inch screen
• MIL-STD-810H durability testing

Maker's price: Lenovo's estimate at CES in January 2026 was $469.99. Store prices change; check the current price before you buy.

See it on eBaySee price on Amazon

Source: Notebookcheck, Lenovo Chromebook Plus i 15 launches

2

The most laptop for the money

A Certified Refurbished business laptop

Various

Last year's ThinkPads, Latitudes, and EliteBooks often come back from company leases. Certified Refurbished on eBay means the maker or an approved refurbisher restored it, with a two-year warranty.

• Look for 16GB of memory and an SSD
• Check it runs Windows 11
• Two-year warranty on Certified Refurbished

Maker's price: Prices vary by model and condition; compare a few listings. Store prices change; check the current price before you buy.

Refurbished ThinkPadsRefurbished LatitudesRenewed laptops on Amazon

Source: eBay Refurbished

$500 to $1,000

This is where you can get a Mac or a Copilot+ PC. Apple's MacBook Neo is the cheapest new Mac; the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x is the least expensive current Copilot+ PC we could confirm.

3

Students and light use on a Mac

MacBook Neo

Apple

The cheapest new Mac, with an iPhone-class A18 Pro chip. Fine for school, browsing, and documents; its 8GB of memory can't be upgraded, so it's not the one for heavy AI work.

• A18 Pro chip
• 8GB memory (fixed), 256GB storage
• Education pricing for students

Maker's price: Launched at $599 on March 4, 2026; raised to $699 on June 25, 2026. Education price $649. Store prices change; check the current price before you buy.

See it on eBayCertified RefurbishedSee price on Amazon

Source: MacRumors, Apple announces MacBook Neo

4

A Copilot+ PC under $1,000

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (Snapdragon X2 Plus)

Lenovo

The least expensive way into a current Copilot+ PC we could confirm, with the same 80 TOPS NPU class as laptops costing far more.

• Snapdragon X2 Plus
• 16GB memory, 512GB storage
• Copilot+ PC

Maker's price: Lenovo's estimate at CES in January 2026 was $899; its own store later listed it at $969.99. Store prices change; check the current price before you buy.

See it on eBayCertified RefurbishedSee price on Amazon

Source: Lenovo StoryHub, Lenovo at CES 2026

$1,000 to $1,500

The sweet spot for a laptop that will last five years or more: 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and long battery life as standard.

5

Most people who want a Mac

MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)

Apple

16GB of memory comes standard and storage starts at 512GB, so the base model already meets the bar most AI features need. Fanless and silent.

• 16GB standard, up to 32GB
• Apple quotes up to 18 hours of battery life
• 15-inch model also available

Maker's price: Launched at $1,099 in March 2026; Apple raised it to $1,299 on June 25, 2026, citing memory costs. Store prices change; check the current price before you buy.

See it on eBayCertified RefurbishedSee price on Amazon

Source: Apple Newsroom, the new MacBook Air with M5

6

Windows users who want Microsoft's AI features

Surface Laptop 13-inch (Snapdragon X2 Plus)

Microsoft

Microsoft's own Copilot+ PC, with an 80 TOPS NPU, twice Microsoft's 40 TOPS minimum for Copilot+ features like Recall and Click to Do.

• Snapdragon X2 Plus with an 80 TOPS NPU
• Copilot+ PC
• Windows 11 on Arm

Maker's price: $1,199; in stores October 13, 2026. The previous model started at $899. Store prices change; check the current price before you buy.

See it on eBayCertified RefurbishedSee price on Amazon

Source: Thurrott, Surface Laptop 13-inch with Snapdragon X2

Gaming laptops

NVIDIA's RTX 5060 laptops launched in May 2025 starting at $1,099, with 8GB of graphics memory. That's enough for most games at 1080p. For newer games at high settings, or for video work, look at RTX 5070 Ti laptops, which have 12GB. Gaming laptops are heavier and their batteries run down faster, so they're a poor pick if you'll carry one to class all day.

Windows, Mac, or Chromebook?

• Windows runs the most software and comes in every size and price. Buy one that runs Windows 11: Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Windows 11 needs a chip with TPM 2.0 security, which every new laptop has.
• Mac laptops have long battery life (Apple quotes up to 18 hours for the MacBook Air) and are widely available refurbished. Since June 25, 2026, the MacBook Air 13-inch starts at $1,299 and the MacBook Neo at $699.
• Chromebooks are simple, cheap, and hard to break. Google now gives them 10 years of automatic updates, but the clock starts when the model was first released, not when you buy it. Buy a current model, not old stock.

When to buy

• Cyber Monday is the day. Adobe's 2026 forecast names Cyber Monday, November 30, as the best day of the season for computers and electronics, with electronics discounts up to 30%. It expects discounts of 10 to 15% through December.
• Back to school, late July through August, is the other good window, especially with student pricing from Apple and others.
• Don't wait for prices to fall. Memory costs have pushed laptop prices up all year. If you need a laptop now, buy now, or look at last year's model refurbished.

Before you pay

1. Check the memory. 16GB, unless it's a Chromebook or a light-use laptop. Watch for deals on 8GB versions of a laptop that's usually 16GB.
2. Check the storage type and size: an SSD, 512GB if you can.
3. On a Windows laptop, confirm it ships with Windows 11. On a Chromebook, look up its update end date in Google's Auto Update policy list.
4. Compare the same model Certified Refurbished; it often costs less and comes with a two-year warranty on eBay.
5. Read the return policy, and keep the box until you're sure.

Ready to shop? Our laptops page has new laptops by budget, refurbished laptops, and Amazon's best sellers.