How to save up to $200 on a quality laptop right now

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If you’re among the millions of Americans still working or going to school from home, you may be hoping to buy a new laptop. The good news: Experts say August is a good time to buy, as back-to-school shopping deals abound and many top models will be deeply discounted. (Some of the best deals I’m seeing include:

Lenovo 81JW0001US Chromebook S330, 14′′ HD Display

($159 from Walmart),

an $80 savings and a Walmart exclusive;

EVOO 11.6′′ Ultra-Thin Notebook

($129 from Walmart)

, a $100 savings; and the

HP 14′′ Pentium 4GB/64GB Chromebook

($229 from Walmart)

, a $50 savings). But you need to be smart about how and where you shop. Here’s what you need to know:

Where to shop

Keep an eye on

Best Buy

and

Dell

as both retailers historically offer discounts of more than $200 on mid-range Lenovo, Dell, and HP laptops this time of year, says Louie Patterson, senior tech editor for

Slickdeals

. Here’s how to scan through the deals they are offering now:

Dell is offering an extra $200 off select PCs

through mid-August

Best Buy is offering $200 off a variety of laptops here

Walmart also has strong laptop deals, some exclusive to the big-box retailer. My favorites:

Lenovo 81JW0001US Chromebook S330, 14′′ HD Display

($159), an $80 savings and a Walmart exclusive

EVOO 11.6′′ Ultra-Thin Notebook

($129), a $100 savings

HP 14′′ Pentium 4GB/64GB Chromebook

($229), a $50 savings

But Patterson says that if you are interested in a MacBook, wait until September, when you can often find deals at wholesalers like Costco.

Save more with student & teacher discounts

Several laptop retailers, including Apple, Dell, Samsung, Best Buy, Amazon offer discounts to students and/or teachers with ID. Samsung, for example, offers students and teachers added savings on laptops, tablets, and more through the Samsung

Student & Educator Discount Program

. Get an extra 15% off on select

Tab S7

and

Galaxy Book Pro

devices, and a complimentary pair of

Galaxy Buds Pro

. These savings can often be combined with other promotions.

Consider refurbished

If you’re looking to purchase a laptop on a budget, consider a refurbished model, which typically comes in “as-new” condition. “You can

save big on a refurbished Apple MacBook directly from Apple.com

and have the assurance of knowing that it’s certified,” says Kristen Gall, president at

Rakuten

Best Buy

and

Amazon

also offer discounts on refurbished devices from a variety of brands. Many refurbished models come with a warranty, but read the fine print before purchasing so that you know exactly what you’re getting.

About the author:

Trae Bodge is a journalist and TV commentator who specializes in smart shopping, personal finance and retail. She has appeared on TV hundreds of times, including on Good Morning America’s GMA3 and Inside Edition. In 2018, she was named a