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The best laptop deals to shop in July
Lenovo
If you’re a parent, you know that now is the time to be shopping for back-to-school essentials, including computers. Right now, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and several popular computer makers are offering fantastic deals on bestselling laptops — so now’s the time to snag any of these offers before they expire or inventory sells out.
The best deals on laptops now
We put our expert team of deal seekers and tech experts to work, with the goal of finding the best summer deals on laptops. They’ve curated this roundup of sales being offered right now — many of which will save you hundreds of dollars on the latest and most popular laptops — from brands like Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft and Samsung.
So, whether you’re shopping for an entry-level laptop, a feature-packed gaming laptop, or a mobile computer that’ll allow you to handle the most advanced computing tasks while you’re on the move, here are some of the incredible deals to be had right now.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge CoPilot+: $1,100 (save $250)
Samsung
Samsung’s much-anticipated Galaxy Book4 Edge CoPilot+ PC laptop is now available starting at $1,100. It’s available in either a 14-inch or 16-inch version, both of which feature a stunning AMOLED 2x display. And with Microsoft CoPilot+ PC, these are among the first laptops to integrate powerful AI tools into the Windows operating system.
For a limited time, Samsung is offering a discount of $250 off. Plus, when you order right now, Samsung will give you up to $500 in instant trade-in credit and throw in a brand new, 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 for free. You can also finance the Galaxy Book4 Edge for as little as $45.84 per month for 24 months for the 14-inch version, or $50.00 per month for 24 months for the 16-inch version.
One of the key features offered by CoPilot+ PC laptops is Instant Recall. It allows you to find any document, email or web page almost instantly. And when you’re participating in a video call, online class or virtual meeting, the computer can generate live captions.
The AKG quad-speaker system with built in woofer supports Dolby Atmos. You also get a built in microSD memory card slot, so you can expand the storage at any time. Battery life is up to 18 hours for the 14-inch version of the Galaxy Book4 Edge. This gets boosted up to 21 hours by the 16-inch version.
We also love that the laptop supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 protocols and comes equipped with a generous collection of ports. Oh, and the Galaxy Book4 is thin and lightweight, too. The 14-inch version is just 10.9mm thick and weighs 2.6 pounds, while the 16-inch version is 12.3mm thick and weighs just 3.4 pounds.
If you’re a teacher, student, first responder, member of the U.S. military (or a veteran), or a government worker, you can save even more through the Samsung Offer Program.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 (2023): $2,199 ($600 off)
Amazon
Microsoft, the company that created Windows, offers an impressive lineup of Microsoft Surface laptops and 2-in-1 devices. Right now on Amazon, you can get your hands on the 2023 version of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 for 11% off its usual price. This means you can buy it for just $2,449.
This laptop offers a 14.4-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It runs on the Intel Core i7-13700KF processor with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. The laptop comes configured with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage, but at the time of purchase, you can upgrade the RAM. 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, which is 9% off its regular price of $2,200. The most notable feature of this laptop is its stunning 14-inch OLED display that offers 2.8K (2,880 x 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 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 32GB of RAM and a 1TB 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.
Right now, Walmart has the 11th generation version of this laptop on sale for $1,796. It offers a 14-inch display, runs using a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U processor and comes with 32GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.
Apple 2024 13″ MacBook Air with M3 processor: $999 (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 Airs. While not as powerful as the latest MacBook Pro laptops, this model can easily handle basic 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 MacBooks, 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 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. We recently weighed in on whether the 2024 Apple MacBook Air is worth it, and the answer was a resounding yes.
Asus TUF F17 gaming laptop: $819 (9% off)
Amazon
Need a laptop with a larger display? This Asus TUF F17 has a 17.3-inch (1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution) screen with a zippy 144Hz refresh rate.
Right now, the laptop is on sale for $819 at Amazon, which is a pretty stellar deal for a computer configured with an Intel Core i5-11400H processor, GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for storage. Windows 11 comes preinstalled.
You also get an RGB backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6 support and a housing that’s made to be durable. The laptop meets MIL-STD-810H military standard requirements, so it’s built to last. At the moment, a 30-day trial subscription for Xbox Game Pass is also being thrown in.
It’s not a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, but it is a great one for a more casual gamer or someone who enjoys primarily cloud-based games.
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 for 20% off. This sale brings the price down to $1,197.
In addition to a 15.6-inch 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 with 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.
2024 Asus ROG Strix G16: $1,290 (8% off)
Amazon
Here’s a chance to get your hands on the 2024 version of the popular and powerful Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop at a slight discount. Amazon has it on sale for $1,290.
The computer is equipped with a 16-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,200 pixel resolution) display with a 165Hz refresh rate. It’s powered using a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX processor and GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. This version of the Asus ROG Strix G16 is configured with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage. It supports Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connectivity.
Gamers will appreciate this laptop’s full-size keyboard with 1.9mm travel distance. It uses the company’s “Overstroke technology,” which reduces key actuation and improves responsiveness.
Acer Aspire 3: $359 ($140 off)
Walmart
Walmart has put this entry-level Acer Aspire 3 laptop on sale for an impressive $140 off, which brings its price down to just $359. This is a Windows laptop that runs on an AMD Ryzen 7-5700U processor. It comes configured with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Battery life is up to 6.5 hours.
The computer offers a 15.6-inch Full HD display and weighs in at just 3.92 pounds. We consider this a well-rounded, family-friendly laptop that’s well suited to handle most common computing tasks.
The laptop’s display is perfect for casual web browsing and watching movies or streaming. It provides a sharp, 1080p resolution picture and uses blue light shield filtering to help prevent eye strain.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: $429 (7% off)
Asus
The CX34 runs the ChromeOS operating system, which makes it compatible with Android apps. But it already comes with a hefty selection of Google Workspace apps and integrates with Google online services, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Calendar, Chrome, Google Photos and Meet. You also get seamless Google Drive access for cloud storage.
Right out of the box, it’s ready to handle many of the tasks a college student needs a computer for. This Chromebook has a traditional laptop computer design and weighs in at just 3.17 pounds, so it’s easy to transport within a backpack or laptop case. Battery life is up to 10 hours.
Samsung 2-in-1 Chromebook Plus V2: $245 (51% off)
Amazon
If you’re someone who primarily uses cloud applications and storage, or enjoys online gaming, a Chromebook Plus can be a cheaper and effective laptop compared to a traditional Windows option.
One of the standout features of this Chromebook Plus is how Google’s Gemini AI now seamlessly integrates with the operating system and many popular applications. These AI-powered tools aim to simplify and streamline common computing tasks, such as web browsing, word processing, photo editing, summarizing documents, translating between languages and creating engaging content.
Other than that, this laptop features a versatile 12.2-inch touchscreen display, which means you can switch between laptop and tablet modes. It also comes with a pen-shaped stylus, enabling users to write or draw directly on the screen. The display also has 360-degree rotation for maximum versatility.
Right now, this Chromebook Plus is on sale for just $249, which is 50% off its normal price of $500.
For more help choosing a laptop, be sure to check out our coverage of the five best laptops for 2024, the best laptops for high school grads in 2024, the six best gaming laptops for 2024, the five best laptops for college in 2024, the six best laptops under $500, and the five best budget laptops for 2024. Whether you need to know about the very best laptop computers or any other types of tech, we’re constantly expanding and updating our coverage to offer the most informative, timely and accurate information.
CBS News
Austria election results put far-right Freedom Party on top, but leader Herbert Kickl faces coalition hurdles
Berlin — Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) emerged Monday as the winners in national parliamentary elections, marking a first victory for a far-right Austrian party since World War II. The Freedom Party, led by Herbert Kickl, secured 29.2% of the vote, topping the center-right Austrian People’s Party with 26.5% and the Social Democrats with 21%.
The far-right win reflects a broader European trend of rising popularity for nationalist, anti-immigration parties, fueled by public frustration over issues including inflation, the war in Ukraine and rising migrant populations.
Kickl’s party has drawn widespread attention for its anti-immigrant, nationalist rhetoric, with the party campaigning on a vow to seal the country’s borders to create “Fortress Austria.”
SeanGallup/Getty
The Freedom Party has promised a crackdown on immigration, including the forced “remigration” of non-Austrian nationals and stricter control over asylum laws. Kickl, a former interior minister, has also been critical of Austria’s participation in international sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The party leader has promised to lead Austria as a “Volkskanzler,” or chancellor of the people — a term used by the German Nazi party to refer to Adolf Hitler. His campaign leaned heavily on nationalist sentiment, with promises to restrict immigration and distance Austria from European Union policies on Ukraine and Russia.
The results of Austria’s vote largely mirror the trend seen in recent elections in neighboring Germany, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made significant gains. The AfD won big in rural areas in Germany’s state elections, taking more than 30% of the vote in the states of Thuringia and Saxony.
Despite its victory, the Freedom Party did not win anywhere near enough of the vote to form a new government on its own, so it will need to find partners to build a governing coalition. That is certain to prove a challenge.
Austria’s other major parties, including the center-right FPO and the Social Democrats, have already said they will not form a coalition with the far-right, raising doubts about the path to power for Kickl’s party. Without a coalition partner, the Freedom Party may struggle to build the necessary majority in parliament to for the next government.
The same situation is faced by the AfD in Germany, where the party’s rise has been met with firm opposition from the established parties, making it difficult for them to participate in government.
The election results also highlight the decline of the center-right in Austria, which has been in power in various coalitions for the last decade.
Current Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who led the People’s Party to second place on Sunday, saw his party lose significant ground compared to its 2019 results, as many Austrians appeared to blame the center-right movement for Austria’s economic challenges and some controversial policies, including a temporary COVID vaccine mandate.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Social Democrat SPD also saw their popularity wane in the recent state elections in the eastern states of Saxony and Thuringia.
Kickl’s ascent has not been without controversy, including allegations during his tenure as interior minister that the FPO was involved in the 2019 “Ibiza Affair,” a corruption scandal that brought down the Freedom Party’s last coalition government with the center-right.
But he has, since then, helped rebuild the party’s reputation – much like the AfD in Germany, in part by positioning it as a defender of national sovereignty and staunch critic of the EU.
Both Kickl and his counterparts in Germany now face major hurdles in converting their electoral success into governance.
Lemonsoup14/Getty Images
Gold continues to attract investors in today’s unpredictable economy. This year, the precious metal has repeatedly broken price records as people look for ways to protect their wealth. With inflation concerns and global uncertainties on the rise, gold’s role as a safe haven investment is particularly strong now.
In September, the price of gold hit another all-time high. Now, as we enter October, many are asking: Will this upward trend keep going? Or are we due for a price drop?
To get an idea of what might happen next, we talked to three top financial advisors. Their predictions for October’s gold prices could help you make smarter investment choices, whether you’re a seasoned buyer or beginner to the gold market.
Start by exploring your top gold investment options here now.
Here’s the gold price forecast for October 2024
As we step into October, gold seems poised for further gains, with forecasts ranging from $2,600 to $2,800 per ounce. This optimistic outlook builds on gold’s impressive climb since the start of the year.
Henry Yoshida, certified financial planner and co-founder of Rocket Dollar predicts that “gold prices will likely continue to climb steadily.” He points to potential central bank purchases and expected Fed rate cuts as key drivers. His bullish forecast of $2,800 per ounce reflects strong confidence in gold’s upward momentum.
While Yoshida looks to monetary policy, Will Rhind, CEO of investment company GraniteShares, finds inspiration in historical trends. “Gold prices have appreciated an average of 8.5% in the six months following a rate cut of 50 basis points,” he notes, referencing data since 2020. This pattern fuels his forecast of $2,700 by month’s end.
Jerry Prior, COO and senior portfolio manager at Mount Lucas Management, has a more measured view. He sees gold holding steady between $2,600 and $2,700 in October. “We see no reason to sell gold here,” he asserts, pointing to the Fed’s supportive rate path as a key reason.
Get invested in gold now while the price is still affordable.
Key factors driving gold prices
Despite varying gold price forecast predictions, our experts agree on one thing: Gold’s upward trend is likely to continue. But what’s driving this golden opportunity? Here are three factors:
- Interest rate shifts: Yoshida highlights that as interest rates fall, various markets are seeing a boost. He expects gold to follow this trend, benefiting from the changing rate environment.
- Global uncertainties: Geopolitical tensions are high right now with the looming U.S. election and ongoing conflicts abroad. Rhind notes that “increasing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine” drive gold demand.
- Dollar dynamics: “As the Fed has moved toward rate cuts, the dollar has weakened and gold has trended higher,” Prior observes. This inverse relationship between gold and the greenback often propels gold prices when the dollar dips.
What October’s gold outlook means for investors
October’s gold outlook presents both opportunities and challenges for investors.
We’ll soon see more economic data such as what the job market is looking like. “If jobs numbers continue to deteriorate, you may see that reflected in a higher gold price as expectations for the Fed to cut rates more aggressively might rise,” Rhind says.
Besides the job market, Rhind advises keeping an eye on the U.S. dollar’s performance, as these could also sway the price of gold. “If interest rates continue to fall, that should benefit gold prices,” he explains.
If you’re considering gold investments, Yoshida offers strategic advice. “Consider purchasing physical gold within a tax-deferred vehicle such as an IRA,” he says.
Going the gold IRA route means you don’t have to worry about capital gains taxes right away. This tax break can help your investment grow more over time, whether you’re investing in gold or other assets. In the long run, this approach could lead to better returns on your investment.
Yoshida also recommends that long gold investors maintain their positions, while those new to gold or underinvested should think about increasing their allocation.
Remember that gold can act as a buffer against stock market volatility. “If stocks go through another bout of volatility, that could benefit gold due to uncertainty,” Rhind points out. This highlights gold’s role in diversifying and stabilizing investment portfolios, especially during turbulent economic times.
The bottom line
Gold’s potential for growth in October looks promising, but smart investing goes beyond short-term forecasts. “Gold should be part of every diversified portfolio for risk management purposes rather than speculation,” Rhind says. Think of gold as an insurance policy for your investments — it’s better to have it before you need it.
If you want to add gold to your portfolio this fall, start by talking to several financial advisors. They can help you explore different options, including physical gold and ETFs, and discuss strategies such as dollar-cost averaging.
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