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Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on Chromebooks‎

PCWorld
11:28

Amazon’s Prime Day offers some of the best opportunities to score Chromebook deals, and the earliest Chromebook deals are already rolling in. Although Amazon Prime Day(s) officially run from July 8th to July 11th, Amazon and its vendors rarely confine themselves to the actual event dates, and Prime Day 2025 is no exception. I’ve already found several early deals, and popular Chromebook vendors have already begun announcing early deal pricing. We already test and recommend the best Chromebooks available, which means that we already understand what makes for a great Chromebook. I personally have compiled lists of the best Chromebook deals for Prime Day, Black Friday, and more throughout the past few years. While I don’t expect the very best Chromebooks to go on sale for Prime Day, I do think that you’ll find that some good deals on good Chromebooks — and determining what those are is where PCWorld, and I, come in. To compile PCWorld’s list of Chromebook deals for Prime Big Deal Days, I looked at the specifications, the price, the manufacturer, and any reviews we’ve published on a specific Chromebook. But there’s an enormous wild card out there that we can’t do anything about: tariffs. President Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs expires July 9th, the second official day of Prime Day, and we really won’t know what will happen there. Buying early is the safest bet. Best Prime Day 2025 deals on Chromebooks at Amazon Lenovo IdeaPad 3i, Intel Celeron N4500/8GB RAM/64GB SSD, 15.6-inch 1080p display, $188.88 (35% off at Amazon) Lenovo Chromebook 15, Celeron N4500/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 15.6-inch 1080p display, $219.99 (27% off at Amazon) Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, MediaTek Kompanio 520/4GB RAM/64GB SSD (plus docking station), 14-inch 1080p display, $279.00 (15% off at Amazon) Acer Chromebook Plus 514, Core i3-N305/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 14-inch 1080p display, $319.99 (20% off at Amazon) Right now, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i deal at the top of the above list is the best no-compromise Chromebook deal I’ve been able to find, period. It has everything you need at an outstanding price. The Lenovo Chromebook 15 just below asks to compromise with 4GB of RAM, but the price makes up for it. The others? Not bad, but I’d compare them to the other deals listed below. Best Prime Day 2025 deals on Chromebooks at Amazon’s competitors Lenovo IdeaPad 3i, Intel Celeron N4500/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 15.6-inch 1080p display, $119.00 (52% off at Best Buy) Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook, Pentium Silver N6000/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 15.6-inch 1080p display, $319.00 (29% off at Best Buy) Asus CX15, Celeron N4500/4GB RAM/128GB SSD, 15.6-inch 1080p display, $159.00 (28% off at Walmart) Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, Kompanio 520/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 14-inch 1080p display, $169.00 (47% off at Best Buy) HP Chromebook 14, Core i3-N305/8GB RAM/128GB UFS, 14-inch 1080p display, $329.99 (44% off at Target) Acer Chromebook Plus 516, Core i3-1315U/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 16-inch 1920×1200 display, $359.00 (25% off at Best Buy) Lenovo IP5 (Refurbished), Core i3-1215U/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 16-inch 2560×1600 display, $274.99 (48% off at Target) Best Buy is usually the source of some outstanding Chromebook deals, but right now Amazon has it beat on the best all-around Chromebook sale. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i at the top of the list is a world-beater in terms of price, and even slightly smaller amounts of RAM and storage won’t detract from it. There’s a second IdeaPad 3i Chromebook with a Pentium N6000 right beneath it. It offers a bit more power and storage. Does it justify a $200 premium? Not comparatively, no. But if the cheaper IdeaPad is sold out, it’s a reasonable second choice. I very rarely recommend refurbished Chromebooks, because they can be a crapshoot in terms of flaws. Here, the Lenovo IP5 offers an absolute ton of solid features for a very reasonable price. I don’t think of Chromebooks as gaming machines, but you’ll feel the improvements in the screen and memory. Expect those more powerful components to reduce the battery life, however. FAQ 1. How much should I pay for a Chromebook during Amazon Prime Day? Expect to pay between $170 to $250 or so, depending on the configuration. You’ll see bargain-basement options below $120 and more premium versions will cost $300 and above. We’ve used that advice for the past few years, and even with inflation that still seems to hold true. I’m not expecting sharp discounts to take hold once Prime Day deals officially begin. You may see some on older hardware, but the sense is that the sales will be somewhat muted for Prime Day 2025. Of course, we’ll highlight the best deals above. 2. What’s a good Chromebook to buy during Amazon’s Prime Day sales? There are two ways of shopping during Amazon’s Prime Day. The first is to go down our list of recommended Chromebooks until you find a price you like. Our real-time pricing services should reflect real-time discounts, but occasionally “lightning” or instant sales may slip through. The other way is to shop using our recommended deals above. Typically, I look for at least a large 1080p display unless it’s an absolute budget model. (Anything higher than 1080p is a bonus.) I also really prefer a Chromebook with at least 8GB of RAM, for keeping many tabs open and running programs. The third priority is actually the processor, and it’s a bit of a challenge to explain which is the “right” chip to buy. A recent Intel Celeron, AMD Ryzen, or Arm chip from Qualcomm or Mediatek is a good choice. Chromebooks are now supported for ten years, which is fantastic. But that also leads to “trap bargains” like this Samsung 12.2-inch Chromebook, whose processor was discontinued eight years ago in 2017 and has 4GB of RAM to boot. 3. How does PCWorld decide what a good Chromebook deal is? Generally, Chromebooks tend to fall into three categories: ultracheap models at about $100 to $200, which can offer solid discounts but can hide gotchas like a subpar screen; the typical midrange price of between $250 and $400; and premium Chromebooks at $500 or more.  Those prices can sometimes blur together, of course. I basically compare the price with the specifications. As I said above, I’m looking for a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM and at least a 1080p screen, along with a “good” processor. (I typically make a list of processors, mental or otherwise, with the relative performance of each one and how old they are.) I then start selecting candidates for good deals. Are they one of our recommended Chromebooks? They then go to the top of the list. At this point, I start checking for how long the support window is. Chromebooks are supported for ten years after their ship date, but most of these deals use Chromebooks which have been on the market for at least a few years. No one wants a Chromebook which won’t receive upgrades next year. I also almost always recommend a “new” Chromebook, rather than one which has been refreshed or “renewed” by Amazon. 4. Will tariffs affect the price of a Chromebook and Prime Day Chromebook deals? Yes and no. Remember, tariffs only take effect when the product enters the United States, so it’s very likely that a bargain Chromebook has been available on the market and even sat on a U.S. store shelf for a few years. Chromebooks are very price-dependent. Right now, the Trump Administration has paused its reciprocal tariffs until July 9, day two of Amazon Prime Days. At a guess — and that’s all we can do right now — I wouldn’t think that tariffs will affect the price of most of the Chromebook deals we feature. But it could add to the price of new, premium Chromebooks, shipping from where they’re manufactured overseas. 5. Are the best Chromebook deals during Prime Day at Amazon? Amazon would like to think so! But we check other sites as well, just to make sure. You’ll find those Chromebook deals from sites other than Amazon listed above, too. 6. Does a Chromebook’s brand matter? Interestingly, Chromebooks are one of the few tech categories whose products are almost all made by big “name” brands. We might prefer a Chromebook made by one company over another, but generally Chromebooks are manufactured by companies like Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and more — all big, reputable brands.

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PCWorld

Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on security cameras and video doorbells‎

Amazon Prime Day 2025 is happening next week, but we’ve already spotted some fantastic deals on the hottest home security cameras, video doorbells, and floodlight cameras. While the semi-annual sales doesn’t officially start until July 8 and concludes July 11, lots of manufacturers are jumping the gun in the hope of beating their competitors to the punch. Just remember that you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to bag the best deals. I oversee all of TechHive’s smart home and home security coverage, and I personally review a lot of cameras and doorbells myself, so I’m very knowledgeable about the state of the market and what constitutes a good deal; you can count on me to point you in the right direction. And if you’re looking to save money on more of the latest technology, visit PCWorld’s Amazon Prime Day Tech Deals 2025 hub. Best early Prime Day deals on indoor security cameras Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, AC-powered, 1080p resolution: $39.99 (50% off at Amazon) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) 2-pack, AC-powered, 1080p resolution: $59.98 (40% off at Amazon)   Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) bundled with Ring Pet Tag, AC-powered, 1080p resolution: $34.98 (46% off at Amazon) Tapo C120 Indoor/Outdoor Wi-Fi Security Cam, AC powered, 2K resolution: $24.97 (38% off at Amazon) Best early Prime Day deals on outdoor security cameras Arlo Essential Security Camera, indoor/outdoor, 2K resolution: $49.99 (50% off at Amazon) Arlo Pro 5S 2K (model VMC4060P-100NAS), battery powered, 2K resolution: $114.99 (36% off at Amazon) Blink Outdoor 4, battery powered, 1080p resolution: $44.99 (55% off at Amazon) Blink Outdoor 4, 2-pack, battery powered, 1080p resolution: $69.99 (61% off at Amazon) Blink Outdoor 4 bundled with Blink Sync Module XR: $89.99 (50% off at Amazon) Ring Outdoor Cam, 3-pack, battery powered, 1080p resolution: $149.97 (32% off at Amazon) Ring Spotlight Cam Plus, 2-pack, battery powered, 1080p resolution: $179.98 (36% off at Amazon) My top picks: The Blink Outdoor 4 is an exceptionally good outdoor security camera that will run for a year or more on a pair of lithium batteries. And when you bundle it with the Blink Sync XR, you get local storage that largely eliminates the need for a cloud subscription. The Ring Outdoor Cam (aka the Ring Stick Up Cam) usually costs $80 each, so $150 for a 3-pack of these indoor/outdoor cameras is a fantastic value. You will want a Ring Home subscription if you settle on Ring security cameras, however, because there’s no local storage option (well, it’s optional if you also own a Ring Alarm Pro home security system, but you’d want a sub with that, too). A Ring Home Standard plan will cover all your Ring cameras and offer some other benefits at a cost of $10 per month ($100 per year). Best early Prime Day deals on floodlight cameras Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera (model FLW2001-100NAS), AC powered, 2K resolution camera with 2,000-lumen floodlight: $99.99 (33% off at Amazon) Arlo Wireless Floodlight  (model FB1001-100NAS), battery or AC powered with adapter, 2K resolution camera with up 3,000-lumen floodlight (much less bright when running on battery power): $168.99 (32% off at Amazon) Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera bundled with Blink Sync Module 2, 1080p camera and 700-lumen floodlight (both battery powered): $59.99 (54% off at Amazon) My top picks: The Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera is a fabulous solution if the spot where you want to mount it lacks the electrical wiring that most other floodlight cameras depend on. This bundle with the Blink Sync Module 2 significantly reduces the need to pay for one of Blink’s subscription plans, which cost $10 per month or $100 per year. If you have other Arlo cameras and are paying for an Arlo Secure Plan, the Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera is a terrific home security solution that can replace the outdoor fixture next to your entry doors. But Arlo has one of the more expensive subscription plans at $8 per month for a single camera ($18/mo for unlimited cameras), and those are billed annually. Best early Prime Day deals on video doorbells Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (model AVD4001-100NAS), wired or battery power, 2K resolution: $59.99 (54% off at Amazon) Reolink Battery Doorbell, wired or battery powered, 2K resolution: $95.99 (20% off at Amazon) Tapo D210 Video Doorbell Camera with Chime, battery power, 2K resolution: $44.99 (24% off at Amazon) Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera with Chime, battery or wired power, 2K resolution: $79.97 (20% off at Amazon) My top picks: While the Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera isn’t the most beautiful device you can mount next to your door, we deemed it a terrific value at its full price of $100. So, it’s a no-brainer at 20 percent off, especially when you consider that it can run on wired or battery power, and it has a microSD card slot that can store up to 512GB of video recordings—no subscription needed. Frequently asked questions about buying security cameras 1. What type of security camera should I buy? First, consider where you intend to set up the camera. Indoor cameras are a no-go if they’re going to be exposed to the elements. While you can set an indoor camera on a window sill and aim it into your yard, you’ll run into problems with glare and/or reflections. A floodlight camera will provide both video security and a wide pool of light. Video doorbells are, of course, the perfect solution for keeping an eye out for visitors—and porch pirates! 2. How much resolution do I need in a security camera? The higher the camera’s video resolution, the more detail it will capture about things such as faces, license plate numbers, clothing, and other bits that can be used as forensic evidence. Consider 1080p to be the absolute minimum but know that a camera that touts its 2K resolution doesn’t offer twice as much resolution. A 1080p spec usually means the camera captures 1920 x 1080 pixels. 2K usually means the camera will capture 2560 x 1440 pixels. So, you will see more detail with a 2K camera compared to a 1080p model, but it won’t be that significant–the difference is an increase of only 640 x 360 pixels, after all. On the other hand, a 2K camera might offer lots of desirable features in addition to higher resolution. If you’re shopping for a video doorbell, you’ll also want to consider the camera’s aspect ratio. A video doorbell with a 1:1 aspect ratio can provide head-to-toe views of the visitors on your porch. 3. Are pan/tilt cameras better than stationary models? Where stationary cameras focus on a single area of your room or yard, a pan/tilt model can cover more than twice as much real estate. This isn’t an option with video doorbells, but lots of indoor, outdoor, and even floodlight cameras have pan/tilt motors that can move the camera’s lens nearly 360 degrees left and right and up to 180 degrees up and down. Some models leave this positioning up to you and the camera’s app, but others can track an object or person moving in the camera’s field of view and automatically pan and tilt the lens to keep them in frame. 4. Should I pay for a subscription for the security camera I choose? Smart home dwellers have a love/hate relationship with subscriptions. On the one hand, you often can’t unlock all the most powerful features of many cameras without ponying up for a subscription, because those features depend on a connection to the cloud—and not just for storing the camera’s video recordings. On the other hand, you’ll find yourself paying for that subscription for as long as you want to get full use of the camera. Manufacturers have a reasonable expectation to recoup the costs of their cloud services, so make sure you know what you’re getting into when you buy a camera—or at least make sure you’re comfortable with not getting any features that are tied to one. Subscription prices also vary—by a lot. Caveat emptor! 5. Are pan/tilt cameras better than stationary models? Where stationary cameras focus on a single area of your room or yard, a pan/tilt model can cover more than twice as much real estate. This isn’t an option with video doorbells, but lots of indoor, outdoor, and even floodlight cameras have pan/tilt motors that can move the camera’s lens nearly 360 degrees left and right and up to 180 degrees up and down. Some models leave this positioning up to you and the camera’s app, but others can track an object or person moving in the camera’s field of view and automatically pan and tilt the lens to keep them in frame. 6. Will tariffs affect security camera and video doorbell prices? Given that most consumer electronic devices—including security cameras and video doorbells—are not manufactured in the U.S., tariffs are likely to increase the prices of these home security devices. This is a low-margin business for manufacturers, so it would be extremely difficult for them to just absorb the cost of tariffs—these taxes will be passed along to consumers at some point. No one can say with any certainty how much the price of any given product will go up, but the Consumer Technology Association issued a report in May predicting that the price of tech products such as smartphones could increase by 31 percent, while laptops and tablets could go up as much as 34 percent. 7. Is now a good time to buy a home security device? Given that President Trump has paused tariffs until July 9—and he has said as recently as two days ago that he doesn’t intend to extend the pause beyond that date­—Prime Day looks to be a great time to buy. Any goods already in Amazon’s warehouses have already been subjected to existing tariffs, so buyers should be in the clear at least until the Prime Day sale ends on July 11.

PCWorld
11:56
תפריט כתבה
PCWorld

Best early Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs‎

Amazon’s Prime Day sales offer one of the year’s best opportunities to score deals on USB-C hubs and docks and their more powerful cousins, Thunderbolt docking stations. All offer important, necessary ways to expand your laptop’s ports and connect legacy devices like printers and mice. Officially, Amazon’s Prime Day begins on Tuesday, July 8, and will run through Friday, July 11. But sales on USB-C hubs, docks, and Thunderbolt ports will run up until and through the four Amazon Prime Days. Early Prime Day deals are on now, and we’ve begun checking Amazon and its top competitors for the best deals. I write, test, and recommend the best USB-C hubs and dongles, and do the same for the best Thunderbolt docks. For the past several years, I’ve been responsible for seeking out the best deals in both categories for Amazon’s Prime Days, Black Friday, and more. I think it’s fair to say that you’ll find the best USB-C and Thunderbolt docking station deals right here. Below, you’ll find a list of deals, as well as a list of frequently-asked questions explaining what you should look for. This is an interesting transitional period! I don’t expect anything unusual in terms of USB-C hub prices. Thunderbolt docks, however, are a different story: Thunderbolt 5 is arriving in the market, and older Thunderbolt 3 products (which are still somewhat viable) are being phased out. And yes, there are tariffs, which are in flux — although some just kicked in today and more may take effect on day 2 of Amazon’s Prime Day sales. At that point, who knows? Last updated at 9:58 AM on July 3. Best Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks StarTech USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, 98W charging, $248.36 (25% off at Amazon) Ugreen Revodok Max 208 8-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock, 85W charging, $169.99 (32% off at Amazon) Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock (TBT4-UDZ), 100W charging, $269.95 (16% off at Amazon) Microsoft Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock, 96W charging, $199.99 (33% off at Amazon) Ugreen Revodok Max 2131 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Dock, 140W charging, $299.99 (25% off at Amazon) Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, 90W charging, $163.99 (25% off at Amazon) CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: 98W charging, $379.99 (16% off at Amazon) I value flexibility in my docking station choices, and right now StarTech’s dock offers the most port flexibility. (I reviewed an earlier StarTech dock, but not this one.) I really like Ugreen’s hardware as well, but it’s more of a hub, and you’ll need to buy display cables that take its USB-C video connections and translate them to HDMI. Those are about $20 per cable. Weirdly, I still haven’t reviewed Microsoft’s Surface docking station. But I’ve either used these specific docks or one that’s very similar, and I think you’ll be happy with every one on this list. Just make sure they offer the ports you need at the price you want. I was expecting closeout deals on older Thunderbolt 3 hardware, but I haven’t seen them yet. Hopefully some pop up during Prime Day proper! Best Prime Day deals on USB-C dongles and hubs Ugreen Revodok Pro 6-in-1, $13.99 (30% off at Amazon) Ugreen Revodok Pro 8-in-1, $19.99 (20% off at Amazon) Anker 11-in-1 USB-C Hub, $45.99 (30% off at Amazon) Baseus 9-in-1 Laptop Docking Station, $39.98 (38% off at Amazon) Baseus 11-in-1 Laptop Docking Station, 100W charging, $119.98 (25% off at Amazon) I was expecting all sorts of pre-Prime Day deals…and there really aren’t. Instead, you’re better off picking and choosing from what you need from the list above. There are some deals, and anything less than $20 won’t strain your wallet. I’ve reviewed the Baseus Spacemate 11-in-1 dock listed here, and I rather liked it, even though it felt a little unnecessarily over-engineered. Note that the price when I reviewed it was $199.99, so the discount is a little deceiving — it’s closer to half off the initial price. Note that the 11-in-1 supplies its own charger; the 9-in-1 does not. That’s an added cost you’ll have to pay for. FAQ 1. How do I know whether to buy a USB-C hub or a Thunderbolt docking station? USB-C hubs and Thunderbolt docks use the same physical USB-C connection. A USB-C port (and USB-C hub or dongle) use a basic 10Gbps connection, while a Thunderbolt port increases the throughput to 40Gbps. Ideally, you should see a small “lightning bolt” icon signal a Thunderbolt port, while an unmarked port may be just a generic USB-C port. Manufacturers, though, aren’t forced to label their ports. Your best bet is to haul out your laptop’s manual and check. Thunderbolt docks will only work with a Thunderbolt connection. You can buy a USB-C hub or dongle and connect it to a Thunderbolt port, but it will only run at the 10Gbps speed. 2. Why should I buy a USB-C hub or Thunderbolt docking station? Laptops have generally begun replacing all of the legacy ports (the boxy USB-A plug, HDMI, SD card slots, and more) with generic USB-C ports. That’s fine, but what if you have a wired printer or mouse or external SSD? You’ll need to connect it to your laptop, and you might need the right physical port connector. If you have a fast external SSD or hard drive, the external throughput will certainly help you get the most out of your peripheral. And if you want to connect multiple displays, you’ll need a USB-C hub (and preferably a docking station) with support for two display connectors. 3. USB-C hubs, dongles, and docking stations: what’s the difference? I use hubs and dongles interchangeably to describe the small devices that hang off your USB-C port with a short cable. A docking station is generally large and heavy enough that it will remain on your desk. Virtually all Thunderbolt devices are large enough to be considered docking stations. You can buy USB-C docking stations that lack Thunderbolt connections, but those are a bit rarer. A docking station also usually includes a charger so you can use it instead of your laptop charger. 4. My laptop has USB4, not Thunderbolt. Can I use a Thunderbolt dock? USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 are functionally the same. Intel refuses to certify non-Intel platforms like AMD’s Ryzen for Thunderbolt, and the new Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips are in the same boat. USB-C hubs work with basically anything with a USB-C port on it. Don’t worry about those at all. 5. How do I know whether to buy Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5? Thunderbolt is backwards-compatible, so you can own a laptop with Thunderbolt 4 and connect it to a Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 dock without worry. It’s not forward-compatible, however. While Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 both transfer 40Gbps, you’re probably best to play it safe and match the specs of your port to the specs of the device. 6. How will tariffs affect the prices of Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs during Prime Day sales? This is the big wild card. The United States has paused its reciprocal tariffs on foreign goods until July 9, the second day of Amazon’s Prime Day deals. At that point, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen. Many hubs and docks are made in China, which has been a prime tariff target for this administration. On the other hand, dock makers like Plugable have specifically told me that they’ve moved manufacturing out of China, too. But consider: CalDigit announced its TS4 docking station in 2022 for $359.95. Its current list price: $449.95, and it’s “on sale” at Amazon for $379. Unfortunately, it’s become even more complicated, practically overnight. Some dock and hub makers have moved their manufacturing out of China and Taiwan to Vietnam, and the Trump administration just set a 20 percent tariff on goods imported from Vietnam, and 40 percent on goods routed through the country. It’s just not clear exactly which company makes its products in Vietnam or China, however. There’s probably one sure answer to avoid tariffs: buy early to avoid paying the possibility of extra import tax. 7. Some of these docks have had bad reviews on shopping sites. Why? While Macs adopted Thunderbolt first, some of the Apple M1 silicon couldn’t keep up with Intel Thunderbolt controllers used by Windows PCs, and the Apple MacOS experience suffered as a result. If you see a negative comment, try and determine if it’s a Windows user making it. The experience may be totally different. 8. Are the best Thunderbolt dock and USB-C dongle deals at Amazon? Historically, yes. I check other sites, but over the past few years Amazon has consistently offered the best deals on these two product categories. Thats not always the case; Best Buy, for example, is often very competitive in Chromebooks.

PCWorld
11:39
תפריט כתבה
PCWorld

Best early Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more‎

Amazon Prime Day 2025 is nearly here, and if you’ve been eyeing those juicy laptop deals, now’s the time to commit and jump in. This year, Amazon’s switching things up. Instead of the usual two-day event, Amazon has lengthened it to four days (July 8th to July 11th), giving you more time to snag the deep discounts. Just remember, you’ll need a Prime membership to access the deals. Here’s how to get it for free. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with a curated list of the best early deals that are already appearing as Prime Day approaches.   Why should you care about what I’ve got to say? Fair question. I oversee all laptop and Chromebook review coverage at PCWorld. I also maintain our best laptop deals roundup daily, along with our best laptops of 2025 roundup weekly. That means I’m hunting for the best laptop discounts online every single day, so I’m pretty well-attuned to the landscape, while my hands-on knowledge helps me unearth the true gems. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on budget laptops HP 14 Laptop, Intel Celeron N4020 processor/14-inch 1366×768 display/4GB RAM/64GB storage, $175 ($54.99 off at Amazon) Dell Inspiron 15 3535, AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $398.97 ($51.02 off at Amazon) Our top pick: With 8GB of RAM, a comfortable 1080p display, and a spacious 512GB of storage, the Dell Inspiron 15 3535 really hits the sweet spot at this price point (under $500). If you want a laptop that remains peppy after weeks of use, then this is the one to pick. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on mid-range laptops Dell Inspiron 5441, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $699.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Samsung Galaxy Book4 (AI), Snapdragon X Plus processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $708.86 ($191.13 off at Amazon) Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $949.99 ($2,050 off at Amazon) Dell Inspiron 16 Plus, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $824 ($125.99 off at Amazon) Apple 2025 MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $849 ($150 off at Amazon) Asus Vivobook 14 Flip, Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor/14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $899.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Our top pick: The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 catches my eye in particular because of the 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Normally, you’d see these specs in laptops that cost anywhere from $1,000 to $1,200. The Ryzen 5 8640HS is also a solid mid-range processor and the 2-in-1 form factor is perfect for those that want the experience of having both a tablet and a laptop.  Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on premium laptops Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), Snapdragon X Elite processor/13.8-inch ‎2304×1536 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $959.99 ($440 off at Amazon) Apple MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,049 ($150 off at Amazon) Asus Vivobook S 14, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor/14-inch 3840×2160 OLED display/24GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,057.99 ($142 off at Amazon) Asus ZenBook 15 Pro OLED, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,099.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Samsung Galaxy Book5 360, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch 1920×1080 AMOLED display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $999.99 ($350 off at Amazon) HP Envy, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/17.3-inch 1920×1080 display/64GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,329 ($360 off at Amazon) Our top pick: Just a little over a grand for the Asus Vivobook S 14? That’s an excellent price for a laptop with the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor and a super crisp 14-inch 3840×2160 display. You’re also getting 24GB of RAM, which is more than most laptops get at this price point. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on gaming laptops Asus TUF A15, AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS processor/RTX 3050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $754.99 ($45 off at Amazon) Acer Nitro 17, AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS processor/RTX 4050 graphics/17.3-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $969.99 ($230 off at Amazon) Asus ROG Strix G16, Intel Core i9-14900HX processor/RTX 4060 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,399.99 ($300 off at Amazon) Lenovo Legion 16, Intel Core i9-14900HX processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/64GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,999 ($239.74 off at Amazon) Our top pick: The Asus ROG Strix G16 really stands out. Not only does the RTX 4060 graphics card deliver excellent gaming performance, but you’re also getting 16GB of RAM (ideal for running modern games) and 1TB of SSD storage for large installs. The 16-inch 2560×1600 display also gives you slightly more vertical space than your standard 1080p panel.  FAQ 1. What kind of laptop should I get? Well, it depends on your needs and lifestyle. A 2-in-1, for example, is a good fit for someone who travels often. You can swing the screen back 360 degrees and use it in tablet mode for taking notes or you can prop it up like a tent for watching movies with others. If gaming is a top priority, then you’ll want to look into a laptop with powerful graphics hardware and a display with a high refresh rate. For those of us who need a basic laptop for general web browsing, a low-powered Windows laptop should do you just fine. 2. How can I tell whether a laptop is a good Prime Day deal? I always use CamelCamelCamel, a free tool that tracks Amazon price history. Just create an account, enter a product’s ASIN (found in its Amazon URL–it starts with the letter B), and you’ll see a graph of its price over time. It’s an easy way to spot genuine deals and know if you’re getting the lowest price. 3. Do laptop brands matter? Not particularly, as long as you stick to well-known brands. Big manufacturers like Acer and Dell make solid machines and often offer steep discounts on their websites. You might have a personal preference. For example, Dell has great customer service and an easy-to-use site. 4. How much memory do I need in a laptop? I always tell my friends and family to aim for at least 8GB of RAM. Anything less, and you’ll likely notice things starting to slow down. If you can go higher than 8GB, even better. The more RAM you have, the snappier your laptop will feel, especially for everyday tasks like web browsing or working in spreadsheets. For more demanding work, 16GB is a solid choice for productivity and gaming, while 32GB+ is ideal for video editing and other intensive tasks. 5. Is now a good time to buy a laptop? Will tariffs affect laptop prices? Yes! Prime Day tends to offer some of the lowest laptop prices of the year, especially on budget and mid-range models. Prices on premium and gaming laptops are all over the place, but Prime Day is one of those rare times where you’ll see solid discounts across every category.  As for external factors like tariffs, there are currently no major new tariffs affecting laptops in the U.S., but this can change fast depending on trade decisions. Manufacturers hike the prices up later in the year, especially if supply chain issues pop up again, so if you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on a new laptop, now’s a good time to do it.

PCWorld
11:08
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PCWorld

Best early Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage‎

Summer means leisure time, and what better way to spend it than upgrading your PC setup? If you’re eager to jump on SSD and storage deals now, you’re in luck—even though Amazon Prime Day doesn’t officially begin until next week, you can already score solid discounts on storage. Shopping now can be a smart move, too, given the potential for further uncertainty around prices. Tariff rates are set to change once again on July 9, which could increase costs in the second part of the year. The bargains you catch between now and the end of the Prime Day sale period (July 8-11) could be the best you’ll find for a while. Read on for the best SSD and storage bargains, and also check out our Amazon Prime Day 2025 deals hub for great sales in other tech categories. Want to know the best drives out there? Have a look at our top picks for the best SSDs of 2025 and the best external drives of 2025. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on internal SSDs 2.5-inch SATA SSDs Teamgroup T-Force Vulcan Z, 1TB – $48 (26% off) TeamGroup T-Force Vulcan Z, 2TB – $88 (14% off) Teamgroup’s Vulcan Z line is a solid choice for expanding storage affordably. That’s especially true if you’re looking to store games, photos, and other files–these benefit from faster read/write times, but don’t usually need premium speeds. M.2 NVMe SSDs Crucial P3 Plus, 1TB Gen 4 – $57 (7% off) Crucial P310, 1TB Gen 4 – $60 (20% off) Samsung 990 Evo Plus, 1TB Gen 4×4. 5×2 – $80 (27% off) Nextorage NEM-PAB2TB/N, 2TB Gen 4 – $120 (52% off on Newegg) WD Black SN770M, 2TB Gen 4 (Steam Deck compatible) – $180 (30% off) SSD prices have largely held steady since last fall—a good thing given spring 2025’s fiscal volatility. So while the best prices now don’t match historical all-time lows, these are good prices on well-regarded drives. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on external storage Samsung T7, 2TB USB 3.2 Gen 2 portable SSD – $150 (44% off) Crucial X10 Pro, 4TB USB 3.2 Gen 2 portable SSD – $272 (11% off) External storage sales haven’t started heating up just yet. But if you need faster external SSDs, a couple of deals already stand out—like the 2TB version of Samsung’s popular, fast T7, which is close to its all-time low price. SSD & storage deals FAQ 1. Why aren’t SSDs as cheap as they once were? The balance between demand and supply has shifted—with fewer drives on the market, prices drifted up over 2024. (Black Friday 2023 marked the end of a golden era.) The deals picked for this roundup may not always match those incredible 2023 prices, but they do hit a low for the period since the cost increases. 2. Do brands matter for SSDs and storage? Yes, but only to a point. Major manufacturers are generally reliable—think Samsung, Crucial, Western Digital (aka WD), SK Hynix, Corsair, Kingston, and even newer players like TeamGroup and Solidigm. Outside of that, you may be playing a bit fast and loose with your data’s longevity. However, everyone has that one horror story about a hard-disk drive that failed, and why they’ll never use, say, WD or Crucial again. That’s less commonly a manufacturing error, and more so a matter of luck. No drive is guaranteed to meet its life expectancy, which is why you should perform regular backups. 3. Is an SSD better than a HDD? SSDs are faster and take less room in a PC than a hard-disk drive (HDD), which gives them a strong edge. If you only have one storage drive in your PC, it should ideally be an SSD so you get faster boot times and quicker access to your files. A HDD as your primary drive will feel much slower. But HDDs still have their advantages. First, they’re much cheaper. The going price of a 2TB HDD is about the same as the sale price for a 1TB SSD. You also can get them in higher capacities than SSDs. If you work with huge files, you can pick up an 18TB or 20TB HDD (and as mentioned, since HDD cost less, you’ll spend as much or even less as a 4TB SSD). If you need secondary storage and you don’t need it to be fast, HDDs are a fantastic option. 4. How do I know if an SSD deal is good? Here’s the guideline we use for picking deals: First, it should be for an SSD that performs well (or in select cases, performs well for its MSRP), and is a reasonable price when not on sale. The discount should also be significant for that particular model. Ex: For SSDs that almost never go on sale, a reduction of $5 to $10 is already hefty. For others, that might be closer to $20 to $30. In other words, expect to pick up high-performing drives at an all-time low (or very close to that) during a Prime Day sale. Ignore the options that don’t meet this criteria. 5. Will tariffs affect SSD and storage prices? Possibly. As of this article’s publishing, the Trump administration intends to reinstate high tariffs on goods from many countries, which could impact SSDs. If implemented, costs could increase in the second part of 2025. The smartest strategy is to buy now if you know you need the upgrade soon, especially on any discounted drives that you like.

PCWorld
10:48
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PCWorld

Best early Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks‎

The ergonomics of your desk and chair greatly influence how good you feel after a long session at your PC. But you don’t have to spend a ton on an office chair or standing desk—especially not at the moment, in the lead-up to next week’s Amazon Prime Day. Popular chairs and desks are already on sale, even in advance of the big shopping event’s July 8 start date — and not just on Amazon. That includes fan favorites like Staples’ Hyken, which is back down to nearly its all-time low. Read on for all the current best deals on standing desks and office chairs, and check out our Prime Day 2025 deals hub for juicy bargains in other tech categories. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on office chairs Staples Cartwright Task Chair, Black – $50 (58% off at Staples) Staples Hyken Mesh Task Chair, Black – $120 (60% off at Staples) Staples Dexley Mesh Task Chair, Black – $160 (50% off at Staples) Staples always gives Amazon a run for its money with sales on affordable office chairs, and three of its more popular chairs are close (if not at) all-time low prices. Reddit’s beloved Hyken model leads the pack, with its wider-frame Dexley chair also on a sizable discount. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on standing desks Dekhaoxe 31×15 Adjustable Height Mobile Computer Desk, White – $50 (38% off) Flexispot 48×24 sit-stand desk, Black – $110 (35% off) ErGear 48×24 Adjustable electric standing desk, Black – $99.98 (17% off) Fezibo 42×24 Adjustable electric standing desk, Rustic brown – $90 (25% off) Comhoma 48×24 Adjustable electric standing desk with monitor stand, White – $189 (30% off) Flexispot’s standing desks start at much lower prices than competitors, making them popular among Amazon shoppers to begin with. With additional discounts, they’re a great entry into motorized sit-stand setups. Standing desks and office chairs FAQ 1. What features should I look for in a standing desk? We like dual motor standing desks with programmable controls—they’re a little more expensive, but moving the desk up and down is smoother. Their frames usually have a better build overall, too, making for less wobble during height adjustments and while in use. Programmable controls means you can go back and forth between two or even three height positions with a single button press, which makes for much better quality of life. No need to wait and monitor the adjustment as it’s happening. (That might sound like not such a big deal, but if you do it multiple times a day over the course of the year, those seconds feel tedious. Trust me on this one.) 2. What makes for a good office chair? This question can be tricky to answer, since what’s comfortable is a little different for everyone. Generally, you want enough support for your back so it doesn’t take on a hunched position, but not so much you can’t feel relaxed while sitting. You also ideally want to keep pressure off your lower back if you’ll be sitting for long periods—office chairs usually have seats shaped for this, rather than the flatter surfaces of kitchen and casual desk chairs.  Armrests, head supports, and mesh fabric can also play a role in comfort, but you may want to try out those features on a sample chair that a friend owns or in a store to see if you need those features. The mesh is particularly good if you sweat or get warm. Wheeled models are also useful for easily moving the chair—and you can upgrade the casters, as Reddit recommends for an even smoother experience. 3. How do I know if I’m getting a good deal on standing desks or office chairs during Prime Day? The deals we select are chosen not just for the product, but because their prices are among the lowest we’ve seen, especially given the pricing history over the last year.  If you’re striking out on your own, be sure to look at reviews, as well as Amazon’s AI summaries of user reviews—avoid anything with high return rates, or a known flaw. Also look for brands with not just high user reviews, but independent reviews online. Many standing desks are just rebranded models, and so too for cheaper desk chairs. 4. Will tariffs affect office chair and standing desk prices? Should I buy now? Very possibly yes. A high portion of manufacturing happens overseas, and the U.S. government intends to resume imposing sizable taxes on imports from many countries on July 9. If that happens, costs for goods will likely rise over the second part of 2025—and because most items won’t jump in price immediately, choosing to shop sooner rather than later could be the savvier financial move.

PCWorld
10:24
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