The best last-minute Labor Day 2026 laptop deals: Apple, Lenovo, Dell, and more

Labor Day weekend is a great time to swipe a laptop for back to school, as retailers often mark down prices substantially to make room for new models coming before the holiday season. We’re tracking deals on Macs and PCs we personally recommend — not just for students, but for the office, for creators, or everyday use.

Also: The best laptops of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

All the laptops on this list we’ve either tested in our lab, gone hands-on with, or are familiar with through testing similar devices. We approach testing in two parts: assessing performance through real-world scenarios and industry-standard benchmarking programs. With that in mind, we’re confident these laptops are solid picks for a variety of use cases. 

Also: The best Labor Day deals to shop now: Save on TVs, Apple devices, and more

The best Labor Day laptop deals of 2026

for $1,299 (save $900)

Lenovo ThinkPad E16 (Gen 3)

• Current price: $1,299 (40% off) 
• Regular price: $2,199

Looking for a good deal on a ThinkPad? This 16-inch model from the 2024 E-series features 16GB of RAM and an Intel Core Ultra 5 255H at almost half off — a substantial discount for a reliable workhorse device with great battery longevity. 

for $1,849 ($150 off)

Apple MacBook Pro M5 (14-inch)

• Current price: $1,849 (8% off) 
• Regular price: $1,999

The M5 MacBook Pro is the latest in Apple Silicon, on sale now as it prepares to launch the next generation of processors later this fall. This is a well-priced but high-end model featuring 16GB of unified memory, a 1TB SSD, and the gorgeous 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display that’s vivid enough for content creators, designers, or any professional.

Also: M5 MacBook Pro vs. M4 MacBook Air: I compared Apple’s most popular laptops, and this one wins

for $2,379 (save $322)

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (14th Gen) Aura Edition

• Current price: $2,379 (10% off) 
• Regular price: $2,785

When this laptop debuted at CES, we were impressed with its modular, extremely lightweight build. The 14th-gen ThinkPad is way more repairable than an average laptop, with replaceable parts that either an IT team or consumer will appreciate — especially with the inflated cost of RAM right now.

Review: I tested Lenovo’s new modular ThinkPad, and it renewed my faith in repairable laptops

for $750 (save $230)

HP OmniBook 5 (16-inch)

• Current price: $750 (23% off)
• Regular price: $979

HP’s 16-inch OmniBook 5 was one of the most battery-efficient laptops in this price range I’ve ever tested — hands-down. It’s got a standard set of hardware that places it firmly in the mid-range category, with a typical build and average display. But that 20+ hour battery is what really sets it apart, especially at $600 off.

Also: This $700 Windows laptop has better battery life than some of the newest models I’ve tested

for $1,099 (save $150)

MSI Cyborg

for $1,449 (save $150)

Apple MacBook Air M5 (13-inch)

for $1,799 (save $1,100)

Alienware Aurora 16X OLED

• Current price: $1,799 (38% off)
• Regular price: $2,899

This high-end gaming laptop features a 16-inch OLED display with 2K resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a max brightness of 500 nits. It’s built with an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX CPU, 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card, and 1TB SSD for all the power, performance, and storage you need for your favorite games and new releases.

More Labor Day laptop deals 

• Alienware 15: $1,199: (Save $800): Alienware’s most affordable laptop to date features one of the best builds you’re going to find at this price point. 
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: $349 (save $550): Looking for a mid-sized laptop with a full keyboard and lightweight build? This 15.6-inch IdeaPad features modest hardware designed for basic tasks at an extremely competitive price.
• Asus Vivobook Go (14-inch): $297 (save $110): Asus’ portable Vivobook Go series focuses on everyday use cases with affordability in mind; perfect for students on a budget.
• Dell 15 Touchscreen Laptop: $640 (save $120): Powered by the 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1334U processr, this laptop delivers reliable performance for multitasking, office applications, online meetings, browsing, and everyday workflows.

Also: The best Labor Day Costco deals 2026: TVs, smartwatches, Apple devices, and more

FAQs

When is Labor Day?

This year, Labor Day falls on Monday, Sept. 7th. Many of the sales will kick off the week prior, with many sales already live.

Are laptops really cheaper during Labor Day sales?

Yes, because Labor Day is the last chance for retailers to offload certain models before they are refreshed in fall lineups, and ahead of Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, which kicks off the holiday shopping season. 

What stores have Labor Day sales?

You’ll find Labor Day deals this week at most major retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Costco.

Kyle Kucharski

Senior Editor

Kyle Kucharski is a Brooklyn-based writer and Senior Editor at ZDNET. He’s interested in emerging technologies and all things futurism, and when he’s not covering new laptops, he’s writing about music and speculative fiction.

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