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You don't need to wait until Amazon launches the Prime Early Access Sale to snag a great deal on a laptop. While Amazon's new sales event is right around the corner, right now there are great deals to consider on a range of PCs for work and play.
Whether you need a new day-to-day laptop, gaming rig, machine for remote work, or a Chromebook, we have been keeping an eye on sales that can save you time and money today.
Also: What is Amazon Prime Early Access Sale and when is it in October?
ZDNET rounded up our top picks for early laptop deals ahead of the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale. Plus, we're keeping watch for more laptop deals, and we'll update this roundup accordingly -- so check back often.
If you're on the hunt for a portable workhorse suitable for work and entertainment, we spotted a great deal for an HP laptop. Running on Windows 11 Home, HP's device comes with a 15.6" Full HD IPS anti-glare display (82% screen to body ratio), an Intel i5 processor, 256GB SSD storage, and 8GB RAM.
The Apple MacBook Air laptop, the 2020 model, is currently discounted on Amazon. This laptop comes equipped with a 13" Retina display, an Apple M1 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage.
You can expect up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge with casual use. If you opt for AppleCare+ protection, you will pay $998.
The Acer Aspire 5 is also on sale during Amazon's sales event. This Windows 11 laptop offers users a 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon Graphics, and 256GB SSD storage. Whether you need it for work or play, the specs on this device have you covered for daily use.
Here are the latest Amazon Prime Early Access Sale deals we could find on laptops:
Target, Walmart, and other retailers are running competing sales at the same time as Amazon Prime Early Access Sale. ZDNET is keeping an eye on those sales and plans to include the top deals on laptops from them.
ZDNET looks for deals on gadgets that we would want to know about as customers. Our product recommendations are based on the quality, customer reviews, and whether or not a deal is truly valuable for the price.
We also track product price history and use price comparison tools to ensure we've found the best offers. Plus, we often conduct our own quality tests to review devices for ourselves. The goal is to get you the best deals possible, even if they're only available for a limited time.
In October, Amazon will kick-off its newest sales event called the Prime Early Access Sale. It's designed to give shoppers early access to thousands of deals. Although it's not officially branded a "Prime Day" sale, the event has a number of similarities, including the 48 hour-length. Also, it's restricted to Prime subscribers (or those who sign up for a free 30-day trial).
Also: Prime Day 2: What is Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale?
Amazon's Prime Day-like sale, the Prime Early Access Sale, will take place ahead of Black Friday and other seasonal shopping events. The new sale will start on October 11 (Tuesday) and last through October 12 (Wednesday).
Also: Amazon Prime Day 2 sale will take place Oct. 11 and 12
ZDNET has been scouring the sale to find the best deals by category:
And we're rounding up the best deals under $20: