I’m a MacBook expert, but these cut-price Dell laptops have me considering swapping sides

As TechRadar's computing expert, I've been telling pretty much everyone to buy a MacBook Neo if they're looking for a great budget laptop, but Dell's early Memorial Day sales could change that.

The deal that really caught my eye is the Dell 15 laptop for just $399.99 from Dell.com. Thanks to a $240 price cut, this drastically undercuts the MacBook Neo, and with a 6-core Intel Core 3-100U processor, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD, it'll offer a similar level of performance, all for the price of a Chromebook.

• View Dell's full Memorial Day sale

While the MacBook Neo has a better screen, the Dell 15 has a larger display at 15.6-inches, which some people will find more comfortable to work on compared to the Neo's 13-inches.

If you have a bit more budget, the Dell 16 Plus has had a huge $530 discount, and is now just $899.99 at Dell's website. For this MacBook Air-challenging price, you get a powerful 8-core Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD space and a sharp and vibrant 16-inch screen.

The smaller Dell 14 Plus, which is now $959.99 (down from $1,379.99), offers similar specs for a sub-$1,000 price tag - something that's increasingly rare these days thanks to the global memory shortage.

The standout deal, though, remains the Dell 15 I mentioned at the start, as it finally gives Windows 11 users a real alternative to the MacBook Neo.

Check out our Memorial Day sales hub for more great offers on the latest tech.

Today's best Dell laptop deals

Save 38% ($240)

Dell Dell 15 Laptop: was $639.99 now $399.99 at Dell

This is a brilliant laptop for under $400. For the price you'd usually pay for a Chromebook, you get the full Windows 11 experience, and while that might not sound too exciting, it does mean you'll have no issues with app compatibility, and for this price it's a great pick for students.

View Deal

Save 37% ($530)

Dell Dell 16 Plus Laptop: was $1,429.99 now $899.99 at Dell

While this is more expensive, thanks to a HUGE $530 price cut, the Dell 16 Plus is a brilliant pick for people looking for a high-end laptop for the relatively affordable price of $900, making it cheaper than the MacBook Air.

View Deal

Save 30% ($420)

Dell Dell 14 Plus Laptop: was $1,379.99 now $959.99 at Dell

This is another great offer from Dell, but for a more compact 14-inch laptop. With an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, you're getting a powerful workstation laptop that can be used for even demanding creative tasks, all for under $1,000. It's great to see that even in 2026, there are still some great laptop deals like this to be found.

View Deal

More of today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Best Buy: 60% off appliances, TVs, laptops & more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills, rugs & more