Introduction: The Harsh Truth About 2025 Laptops
I can’t wait to review the latest 2025 laptops that offer minimal benefit for twice the price,” I texted Matt Munus the other night. He laughed, but we both know there’s truth behind the sarcasm. Best Value Laptops to Buy in 2025
Laptop prices are rising rapidly — especially in the U.S. Manufacturers keep inflating costs while offering marginal upgrades, and tariffs are only making things worse. I’ve seen gaming laptops pushing over $5,000 and thin-and-lights touching $2,000.
But here’s the good news: You don’t have to fall into this trap. Many laptops from last year deliver 90% of the performance of the newest models at half the cost. So today, I’m breaking down the best laptops of 2024 that are still worth buying in 2025 — often at amazing sale prices.
Best Thin & Light Laptops
1. HP Pavilion Aero 13
- Price: ~$600 on sale
- Why it’s great: Super portable and light, solid screen, comfortable keyboard, and surprisingly powerful for daily tasks.
- Specs: 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- Drawbacks: Plain design, feels a little cheap
A consistent favorite — the Pavilion Aero 13 gets the essentials right for a very friendly price.
2. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x
- Price: $749–$799 on sale
- Why it’s great: Gorgeous OLED display, premium build, great battery life, fast performance.
- Drawbacks: ARM-based (limited app compatibility), noisy & stiff trackpad
If you’re sticking to Office apps, Zoom, and browsing, this is one of the best bang-for-your-buck premium laptops.
3. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (X+ Version)
- Price: ~$950 on sale
- Why it’s great: Stunning looks, bright screen, amazing keyboard, haptic trackpad
- Drawbacks: Short battery life, ARM-based limits app compatibility, runs warm
It’s my personal laptop for a reason. If you don’t need to run every app under the sun (like games), it’s a top-tier pick.
4. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i (AA Edition)
- Price: ~$999 on sale
- Why it’s great: Lunar Lake Intel chip, large bright screen, excellent keyboard, long battery life
- Drawbacks: Slightly larger size, boring design
Perfect for anyone who wants everything just to work without worrying about compatibility or heat.
5. Asus Zenbook S 14
- Price: ~$1,000
- Why it’s great: Ultra-compact, sleek design, OLED display, great battery
- Drawbacks: Reflective screen, not bright enough for outdoor use
Best suited for indoor or low-light environments, this is a beauty with brains.
6. HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14
- Price: ~$1,100
- Why it’s great: 2-in-1, Pen & touch support, solid screen, haptic trackpad
- Drawbacks: Slightly bulkier than competitors
Ideal for students or anyone wanting flexibility without performance sacrifice.
7. MacBook Air M3 (2024)
- Price: $800–$1,000 (for M3 version, depending on storage)
- Why it’s great: Premium design, excellent battery, solid graphics, reliable
- Drawbacks: Still has 60Hz display, limited ports, minimal design change
Don’t buy the new M4 version unless it’s on sale. The M3 is more than fast enough for light users — and a steal when discounted.
Best Performance Laptops (for Power Users)
8. HP OmniBook Ultra 14
- Price: $900–$1,000
- Why it’s great: Ryzen 9 Zen 5 chip, 32GB RAM, great value
- Drawbacks: Heavy, only 60Hz display, shallow keyboard
Massive performance for the money. Programmers, creators, engineers — this one’s for you.
9. Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 16
- Price: ~$800
- Why it’s great: Dedicated graphics on a budget
- Drawbacks: Not premium, but does the job
If you’re after GPU power without killing your wallet, this one’s a sleeper pick.
10. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 & G16 (2023)
- Price: G14 (
$1,100), G16 ($1,400) - Why it’s great: Compact, powerful, OLED display, premium design
- Drawbacks: Older processors, warm during use
They may not be the latest, but you’re getting serious value. Still excellent for gamers and creators.
11. Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i
- Price: $1,300 (RTX 4050), $1,500 (RTX 4060)
- Why it’s great: Mini LED screen, 32GB RAM, great for typing & media
- Drawbacks: Heavier, dated look, weak battery
An all-rounder powerhouse — perfect for coding, editing, or side gaming.
12. Acer Predator Helios Neo 14
- Price: ~$1,300
- Why it’s great: RTX 4070, Core Ultra 9, solid build
- Drawbacks: Gets hot, heavy, narrow color display
A hidden gem for raw graphics power under $1,500. Great keyboard too.
13. MacBook Pro M4 Series
- Price: Starting around MSRP, occasional $200 off
- Why it’s great: Ultimate efficiency + performance, premium build, low noise
- Drawbacks: Pricey, but worth it Best Value Laptops to Buy in 2025
Whether it’s the 14″ or 16″, M4 Pro or Max — you just can’t go wrong. These machines are built to last and perform.
14. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (2023)
- Price: $2,200 (RTX 4080), $2,500 (RTX 4090)
- Why it’s great: Top-tier performance, upgradable RAM, fantastic screen
- Drawbacks: Big & heavy, loud fans, older ports
If you’re hunting beast-level power and don’t mind the size, this is the best value flagship from last year.
Final Thoughts: Buy Smart, Not Shiny
We can’t predict pricing or tariffs in every region, but these laptops consistently offer the best value laptop to buy in 2025 when they’re on sale.
Pro Tip: Never buy a laptop at full MSRP — the sale price is the real price. Set alerts, track deals, and wait. It’s the smartest move you can make. Best Value Laptops to Buy in 2025
If one of these isn’t on sale when you’re ready to buy, hold off. And the best way to fight inflated prices? Stop paying them.