Laptops from Apple, HP, Lenovo, and more are up to 40% off in the back-to-school sales — here are the top 12 deals I’d buy

I’m seeing lots of laptop deals at retailers and manufacturers right now, as many have launched back-to-school sales for the upcoming year. That’s good news if you’re searching for a new device for yourself or a loved one, with a variety of options available to suit several different budgets and needs. Using my deals hunting experience, I’ve picked out my six top picks in both the US and the UK.

Below, I’ve included everything from cheap Chromebooks to big discounts on modern and powerful laptops from the likes of Dell and Apple. I’ve not only considered price in these hand-picked deals, but also the views of TechRadar’s expert computing team who have tested and reviewed several of the models below — and rated them highly.

For example, in the US, you can find the fantastic Dell XPS 13 for a shockingly low $599.99 when you apply for the student discount. That’s very hard to beat if you want a capable and portable all-around laptop.

Meanwhile, in the UK, there is a handful of great laptop deals at Amazon, such as this modern and efficient Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for £429.99 (was £649.99). It boasts a Snapdragon X processor and 16GB of RAM to ensure speedy everyday performance and impressive all-day battery life. That’s ideal to last you a full day at school or college, and beyond.

All of my top picks are below, with prices starting as low as $199 / £159. No doubt I’ll be updating this page with more offers as sales start or expand throughout the rest of the month.