Heading off to college? Here are this weekend's three best laptop deals

Dell Inspiron 15 laptop on orange background with big savings text overlay

(Image credit: Future)

Picking the suitable machine for college can be tricky, but there are some superb laptop deals this weekend thanks to the ongoing back to school sales.

I've rounded up my three favorites below, starting with this Dell Inspiron 15 for $379.99 (was $529) at the official Dell store. While it's nothing super fancy, this one is a great budget choice thanks to its combination of a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD - specs that are more than enough to handle the basics like essay writing and researching.

For the slightly more flush student, I'd recommend the excellent Apple MacBook Air M1 for a record-low price of $749.99 (was $999). Despite its age, this one is still one of our favorite laptops here at TechRadar, and it makes an excellent pairing for college thanks to its unbeatable battery life and portability.

Finally, if you require a machine that can handle heavy lifting, consider this Dell XPS 13 for $899 (was $1,099) at the official Dell store. Yes, it's pricey, but the Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD will set you up for a good few years while providing plenty of power for demanding programs.

Today's best back to school laptop deals

1. Dell Inspiron 15 laptop: was $529 now $379.99 at Dell
Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD

Dell's back-to-school sale has some really fantastic cost-effective options for laptops, with this Inspiron 15 being my top budget pick this weekend. Sure, it's not exactly a looker but it's a solid choice for the money thanks to its Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and relatively sizeable (for the price) 256GB SSD. For basic tasks and browsing, this one is a superb choice that won't break the bank.

2. Apple MacBook Air 13: was $999 now $749.99 at Amazon
Processor: Apple M1
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD

Even though it's a little older now, 2021's Apple MacBook Air 13 is still one of the best laptops you can buy - especially at this record-low price of just $749. Outwardly, this machine looks a little more dated when compared to the latest MacBook models but it's still gorgeous thanks to the thin aluminum chassis. Inside, the M1 chip is still more than enough to blaze away at all but the most intensive of tasks and offer neat unbeatable battery life. Check out our Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) review.

3. Dell XPS 13 laptop: was $1,099 now $899 at Dell
Processor: Intel Core i7-1250U
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD

For those students requiring serious performance from a Windows laptop, my top pick is this Dell XPS 13. This is another one of our favorite models here at TechRadar thanks to its gorgeous design, lightweight, and fantastic display. This particular configuration also features a potent combination of a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, giving it plenty of power for all but the most intensive of applications. While pricey, this one is a good investment because it'll easily see you through three years of college and even beyond. Check out our Dell XPS 13 (2022) review.

Check out more recommendations over at our main laptop deals page. Alternatively, see our cheap gaming laptop deals roundup for gaming-ready machines for college. See more ways to save at the Dell Store with our Dell coupon codes page.

You can also look forward to laptop discounts at the 2023 Labor Day sales event.

See more Laptop Deals

Alex is TechRadar's deals editor, specializing in getting our readers the bang bang for the buck on the tech that we know and love. He's a dab hand at covering retailer events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day having over seven years of e-commerce experience at Future PLC; including bylines at our sister sites T3 and GamesRadar. Alex's expertise touches on most areas of TechRadar but he has a particular love for phones, laptops, and cameras, being an avid photographer. Outside of work, you'll find him indulging his love for street and travel photography, at home working on music, or down at the local climbing gym.