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The best summer laptop deals at Amazon are perfect for back to school
Razer
If it’s time to buy a new laptop, you’re likely hoping to avoid paying full price. The bad news: We’re way past Amazon Prime Day, and there are Labor Day deals to be had soon. But there’s also good news: There are deals happening right now, whether you’re looking for a Windows laptop, Apple MacBook or Chromebook Plus. If you head over to Amazon, you’ll save hundreds on a laptop that can fit a variety of use cases, and all for affordable prices.
We even found savings on gaming laptops ready to take you on all sorts of virtual adventures. If brands are important to you, know this: Apple, Acer, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft and Samsung are all represented here.
The best summer laptop deals at Amazon
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (2023): $2,102 (12% off)
Amazon
Microsoft, the company that created the Windows OS, offers an impressive lineup of Microsoft Surface laptops and 2-in-1 devices. One in particular is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
This laptop offers a 14.4-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It runs using the Intel Core i7-13700KF processor with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and comes configured with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage, but at the time of purchase, you can upgrade the RAM. And Windows 11 Home comes preinstalled.
From the Surface Laptop Studio 2, you can expect up to an 18-hour battery life per charge. One of the things we love about this laptop is that you can stream movies that look and sound exactly as the director intended, thanks to support for Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos. Plus, the Surface’s 3:2 display ratio is ideal for editing photos and videos, or creating social media content. The computer is also equipped with a nice selection of ports.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (2024): $2,000 (9% off)
Amazon
For a limited time, you can get this 2024 version of the bestselling Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 laptop for just $2,000. The most notable feature of this laptop is its stunning 14-inch OLED display that offers 2.8K (2,880 by 1,800 pixel) resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
This display offers an anti-glare, anti-reflection and anti-smudge coating, along with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 100,000:1 contrast ratio, a maximum brightness of 400 nits and a 100% sRGB color gamut. You also get Dolby Vision support. We also like that the laptop can be used with up to three external monitors at once via a HDMI or Thunderbolt 4 connection.
The computer runs using the fast and powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor and comes configured with 32 gigs of RAM and a 1 terabyte SSD for storage. You can upgrade the SSD to 2TB or 4TB at the time of purchase. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon offers an all-day battery life and weighs in at just 2.42 pounds. Now that this laptop is on sale at Amazon, it represents a really good value for the investment.
Apple 2024 13″ MacBook Air with M3 processor: $850 (9% off)
Amazon
The 2024 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 processor is a lower-end laptop that’s part of Apple’s latest lineup of MacBook Air computers. While not as fast or powerful as the latest MacBook Pro laptops, this model is easily able to handle all of an average user’s everyday computing needs.
What people love about the MacBook Air is that it’s lightweight and super thin, which makes it easy to transport and use almost anywhere. It also offers up to an 18 hour battery life. And like all MacBook’s, it runs the latest version of MacOS Sonoma and comes with the same collection of preinstalled apps as all other MacBook and iMac computers.
As a result, right out of the box, the MacBook Air is ready to handle the most common tasks people use their laptop for — from email and web surfing, to photo editing, time management, contact management, video streaming, music streaming and so much more.
The laptop also works seamlessly with Apple iCloud and all of Apple’s other services, so it can sync your data, documents, files, photos and content between your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iMac and other compatible equipment within the Apple ecosystem. At the moment, this is Apple’s least expensive 2024 MacBook Air, although the 2022 model (that runs using the older M2 processor) is also on sale (see below).
To learn all about the latest 2024 MacBook Air laptops, check out our take on whether the Apple MacBook Air is worth it. (Spoiler alert: It very much is.)
Apple 2022 13″ MacBook Air with M2 processor: $799 (20% off)
Amazon
For average users who want an entry-level MacBook, without having to spend extra money for technology and features they don’t need, this 2022 13-inch MacBook Air — which runs the older M2 processor — is a viable option.
Yes, this laptop runs the latest version of MacOS Sonoma and comes with the same powerful apps that are preinstalled on all current MacBooks. This version of the MacBook Air simply runs an older version of Apple’s silicon (the M2, as opposed to the M3), so the computer won’t perform as quickly as the newer models.
This version of the MacBook Air comes configured with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for storage. It’s also equipped with a bright and vibrant 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display and a 1080p resolution webcam. Choose between four casing color options.
The 2022 MacBook Air weighs in at just 2.7 pounds and offers a battery life up to 18 hours per charge.
HP 14″ ultra-light laptop: $235 (13% off)
Amazon
So if your computing needs are very basic or rely primarily on the cloud, this ultra-low-cost Windows laptop from HP is available on sale from Amazon right now. It runs on an Intel Celeron quad-core N4120 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM and just 64GB of internal storage. However, the laptop does offer a microSD memory card slot and includes a 128GB memory card which provides additional storage.
And, when you purchase this discounted laptop from Amazon, you’ll get a one year subscription to Microsoft 365 for free, so you can handle tasks like word processing, spreadsheet management, digital slide presentations, email, scheduling, web surfing and more.
The computer comes preinstalled with Windows 11 Home. We don’t recommend this laptop for gaming or any tasks that require a lot of computing power. But for someone who needs just the basics, this laptop offers a really good value.
Samsung 2-in-1 Chromebook Plus V2: $259 (42% off)
Amazon
For anyone who relies primarily on the cloud — think Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 apps — or who enjoys playing online games, a Chromebook Plus is an affordable alternative to a Windows laptop.
Like all Chromebook Plus laptops that run the ChromeOS operating system, this one now has Google Gemini AI-powered tools integrated into the operating system and many popular apps. These AI tools are designed to streamline common computing tasks and make them easier to perform. This includes everything from web surfing and word processing to photo editing and creating content for social media.
This particular Chromebook Plus offers a 12.2-inch touchscreen. The device can easily be used as either a traditional laptop or tablet. It comes with a pen-shaped stylus, allowing users to handwrite or draw directly on the screen. The display rotates a full 360-degrees. We also like that this laptop has a built in microSD memory card slot, so it’s easy to expand onboard memory at anytime. And the computer weighs in at less than three pounds. It measures 11.34 x 8.2 x 0.67 inches, so it’s extremely portable.
While not fully waterproof, the Chromebook Plus V2 is spill-resistant. It also runs many Android apps available from the Google Play Store and comes with all of Google’s most popular apps and services preinstalled.
Acer Aspire 3 laptop: $295 (7% off)
Amazon
Sometimes you just don’t need a laptop with all the RGB lighting or bells and whistles. You need a serious workhorse that can get you through your day. The Acer Aspire 3 is the ideal computer to handle basic tasks. It’s super thin and lightweight, but still capable of multitasking.
This configuration offers a AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD for storage. Its 15.6-inch, 1080p display offers crisp colors and great viewing angles, while its keyboard feels great to use for long periods of time. The computer is also equipped with a webcam and Wi-Fi connectivity. And with an 11-hour battery life, it can get you through your entire workday and then allow you to stream your favorite movies and TV shows at night.
Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop: $1,197 (20% off)
Amazon
Check out this Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop that Amazon has on sale right now. It’s a great computer with fantastic specs that you won’t want to miss out on.
In addition to a 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution) display with a maximum brightness of 300 nits, this Windows laptop comes equipped with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor and GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU. You also get 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
One of the best things about this gaming laptop is its backlit keyboard that offers programmable RGB lighting. Keep in mind, this computer was originally released in 2019 and it comes with Windows 10 Home preinstalled. Battery life is up to six hours.
This is a great gaming laptop option for casual gamers who prefer games via an online service, like Xbox Game Pass or Nvidia GeForce Now.
Razer Blade 16 gaming laptop: $3,500 (19% off)
Amazon
If you’d like a souped-up, 2023 version of the Razer Blade 16 gaming laptop that’s powered by a 13th Gen Intel i9-13950HX processor and a GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for storage, this is the laptop to go with.
The 16-inch dual mode mini-LED display offers stunning 4K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits. Or it can provide FHD+ resolution at a refresh rate up to 240Hz. And of course, the display offers 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy. In other words, you’ll be getting the processing and graphics power needed to experience any and all of your favorite AAA games.
Windows 11 comes preinstalled on this gaming laptop, which weighs in at 5.4 pounds. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a hard-core gamer in your life, this Razer Blade 16 will provide a top-notch gaming experience.
TRENTON, N.J. — Democratic Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver has defeated Republican small businessman Carmen Bucco in a contest in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District that opened up because of the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. in April.
McIver will serve out the remainder of Payne’s term, which ends in January. She and Bucco will face a rematch on the November ballot for the full term.
McIver said in a statement Wednesday that she stands on the “shoulders of giants,” naming Payne as chief among them.
She cast ahead to the November election, saying the right to make reproductive health choices was on the ballot as well as whether the economy should benefit the wealthy or “hard working Americans.”
“I will fight because the purpose of politics and the purpose of our vote is to give the people of our communities and our nation a bold voice,” she said.
Bucco congratulated McIver on the victory in a statement but said he’s looking forward to the rematch in November.
“I am not going anywhere,” he said in an email. “We still have a second chance to make district 10 great again!”
Who are LaMonica McIver and Carmen Bucco?
McIver emerged as the Democratic candidate in a crowded field in the July special election. A member of the city council of New Jersey’s biggest city since 2018, she also worked for Montclair Public Schools as a personnel director and plans to focus on affordability, infrastructure, abortion rights and “protecting our democracy,” she told The Associated Press earlier this summer.
Bucco describes himself on his campaign website as a small-business owner influenced by his upbringing in the foster system. He lists support for law enforcement and ending corruption as top issues.
The 10th District lies in a heavily Democratic and majority-Black region of northern New Jersey. Republicans are outnumbered by more than 6 to 1.
It’s been a volatile year for Democrats in New Jersey, where the party dominates state government and the congressional delegation.
Among the developments were the conviction on federal bribery charges of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, who has denied the charges, and the demise of the so-called county party line — a system in which local political leaders give their preferred candidates favorable position on the primary ballot.
Democratic Rep. Andy Kim, who’s running for Menendez’s seat, and other Democrats brought a federal lawsuit challenging the practice as part of his campaign to oust Menendez, who has resigned since his conviction.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs at same Brooklyn detention center that held R. Kelly, Sam Bankman-Fried, other high-profile inmates
A second judge refused to grant bail to Sean “Diddy” Combs on Wednesday and he could remain in federal custody at a Brooklyn detention center until his trial for sex trafficking charges. Combs joins other high-profile inmates, such as singer R. Kelly, fallen cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, rapper Ja Rule —even Al Sharpton served a brief stint— who were held at the same federal detention center.
Notorious for its horrible conditions —inmates won a $10 million class action settlement after enduring frigid conditions during an 8-day blackout in 2019— the waterfront industrial complex, MDC Brooklyn, houses 1,200 inmates.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images
Violence and corruption have long plagued the facility; U.S. District Judge Gary R. Brown of the Eastern District of New York wrote the detention center had “dangerous, barbaric conditions” in a recent sentencing opinion. Two inmates were stabbed to death in recent months and several correction officers have been convicted for smuggling contraband and accepting bribes.
Combs joins a list of high-profile personalities that have landed at the MDC Brooklyn, partly because the city’s other federal detention center, MDC New York, closed in 2021, also due to horrible conditions. The disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in his cell there in 2019. “Numerous and serious” instances of misconduct among corrections staff gave Epstein the opportunity to kill himself, a subsequent federal watchdog investigation found.
Kelly sued the federal detention center in 2022 for wrongly putting him on suicide watch after his sentencing. Kelly sought $100 million because he said the detention center knew he wasn’t suicidal after he was convicted in 2021 for racketeering and violating the Mann Act, which bars transporting people across state lines for prostitution.
Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Former crypto billionaire Bankman-Fried survived on bread, water and sometimes peanut butter when he was in the MDC Brooklyn, his attorney said, because the detention center continued to serve him a “flesh diet” despite requests for vegan dishes.
Ja Rule stayed at the MDC Brooklyn for a brief time before being released after serving most of his two-year sentence for illegal gun possession. Most of his prison time was spent in a state prison in New York.
Sharpton served a 90-day sentence in 2001 and went on a hunger strike for protesting the U.S. Navy bombing of the island of Vieques, in Puerto Rico.
Combs was taken into custody on Monday and according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday he was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.
His attorney Marc Agnifilo told CBS News, “It’s impossible to prepare for a trial from where he is,” after a first federal judge denied Combs bail on Tuesday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky agreed with prosecutors who argued the hip-hop mogul, who is accused of using his business empire as a criminal enterprise to conceal his alleged abuse of women, is a flight risk and poses an ongoing threat to the safety of the community.
Agnifilo said the part of the detention center where Combs is being held is “a very difficult place to be.”
contributed to this report.
