Laptops are indispensable in today’s world. Every day, more people are choosing the convenience and capability of laptops to handle their most important tasks. Laptops make up the majority of PC sales, and that trend is not slowing down any time soon.

However, by impulsively buying a new laptop or not taking advantage of seasonal sales and retailer discounts, millions of Americans are missing out on significant savings. The laptop market is ultra-competitive, and unsold never-used models are having their prices slashed every day. To learn how to maximize your savings, read on.

Essential Laptop Shopping Tips

Unless you happen to walk by an electronics store that’s going out of business, you’ll likely have to do a little research. That’s okay though. A bit of bargain hunting can lead to great savings. If you spend enough time looking, you’ll probably score a great deal. If you don’t have a lot of time, the following tips will help expedite your laptop search.

Know Your Needs

Understanding what you need and how much you’re willing to spend is essential to making the most of your money. Pick your price range and prioritize your must-have features. Storage space, speed, brand, and screen size all come into play here. Be realistic about your budget and clear on your needs to ensure you don’t spend too much on extra features that you’ll never end up using.

Know When to Buy

While there are always great laptop deals to be found, there is a higher concentration of deals at certain points throughout the year. Annual shopping seasons that typically feature laptop deals include:

• Back to School
• Black Friday
• Cyber Monday
• Boxing Day

Brands slash the price of older models around the time they announce and release their latest ones. So if there is a brand you like, keep an eye out for new product launches and the deals that follow.

Take Advantage of Student Discounts

Laptops are an essential part of the modern learning experience. Having a reliable laptop for schooling, social media, and more makes students’ lives easier. Students also make up a large portion of annual laptop sales each year. To entice students to their respective brands, laptop makers and sellers offer a variety of student discounts for eligible buyers.

Apple

Current and newly accepted college students, their parents, faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers are eligible for special Apple education pricing on a new Mac or iPad.

Dell

Students save 10% on select Dell products and are eligible to participate in the PC maker’s popular trade-in program to save even more.

Microsoft

Microsoft offers savings of up to 10% on select products and Surface devices for students, their parents, and faculty.

Samsung

Qualified buyers can take advantage of up to 15% in additional savings, which can be used on already discounted laptops for even more savings.

Best Laptop Deals

There are numerous places to get a great deal on a laptop. Most of the biggest brands ship directly to consumers, and your local area likely has several electronics stores and computer retailers. Online, the most popular places to buy laptops are Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon.

Save Big on a Brand New Laptop Today

Never pay full price for a laptop again. With many independent and big-ticket retailers vying for your laptop dollar, there’s always another great laptop deal waiting for you. Mark the deal seasons on your calendar, take advantage of any applicable student discounts, or opt for a refurbished model and score a great deal on a quality laptop today.