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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Steve Hogarty

The best laptop deals this October, chosen by a tech expert

Here are my favourite laptop deals of the month, plus tips on how to save. - (The Independent)

Shopping for a new laptop? Lots of sites are boasting big reductions on PCs and MacBooks, but our expert deal-hunters know which ones are actually bargains and which are nothing to write home about.

When you’re dropping hundreds – if not thousands – on a new laptop, it’s important to know how to spot a deal from a dud. There are plenty of cheap, obscure brands floating around on Amazon that you should avoid. Instead, stick to trusted names to ensure you’re buying a laptop you can rely on. We only include laptops we’ve tested and from brands we trust.

Of course, you can also save a lot by opting for a refurbished laptop — hundreds, according to our research. Make sure you choose a reputable retailer, read reviews and always avoid deals that seem too good to be true. You still have the right for an item to be as described, even if it’s second-hand or refurbished, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with the retailer if something’s wrong.

If you’re wary of shopping on the second-hand market, Apple, Microsoft and Dell all sell refurbished versions of their products. The prices are likely to be beaten elsewhere, but it’s worth a look.

If you do want to opt for a new device, we’ve rounded up the best laptop deals worth shopping below.

Why you can trust us to find the best laptop deals

As IndyBest’s laptops expert, I’m constantly scouring the internet for discounts on the best laptops that I’ve tried and tested, from brands I know and trust. These deals include the best available prices on the most popular laptops, such as the MacBook Air, as well as discounts on laptops to suit a range of users.

I won’t recommend a laptop simply because it’s cheap. I’ll also factor in quality, durability, reliability and security when collating the top laptop deals, so you can be sure you’re getting a good deal on a great device.

Best Windows laptop deals in October 2025:

Best Apple MacBook deals in October 2025:

How to know if a laptop deal is worth it

Because most laptops can be configured with extra RAM, bigger hard drives and better displays, it can sometimes be hard to tell if a discount is actually worthwhile.

Our team of IndyBest experts have decades of experience testing and reviewing laptops. We track prices over time and know how much you should expect to spend on the latest tech, and we know a misleading discount when we see one.

Are there any key specs you should look for in a laptop?

Start by looking at the processor (or CPU) – specifically the generation it belongs to. There are two major CPU brands. Intel’s latest processors are 13th and 14th generation, while AMD recently launched its 9000-series processors. The best deals tend to be found on laptops using last-generation CPUs, which are still speedy enough for most users.

Generally speaking, the rest of the laptop specs will be designed around the CPU. RAM is the next most important specification to look for. 16GB is ideal but expensive, while 8GB is fine for everyday purposes.

Hard drive capacity isn’t as important as it used to be, thanks to cloud-based storage and entertainment streaming. For the average user, 512GB will be plenty, and 256GB will do in a pinch.

Your specific needs will determine which specs you should look for after that. For gaming and multimedia work such as video editing, a discrete GPU (a separate graphics processing unit, usually made by Nvidia or AMD) will give you an enormous performance boost.

If you don’t plan on using your laptop for demanding tasks, you’ll save a lot of money by sticking with the standard option of an integrated GPU.

Want to know which model to buy? Check out our list of the best laptops

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