Back-to-school often means a hefty bill, but not with these thin and light laptop sales I handpicked myself

An arrangement of Prime Day back-to-school deals on a stylish background. — (Image credit: HP | Logitech | SanDisk | Acer | Samsung | Dell | Edited with Gemini)

Whether it's summer classes or early prep for a fresh college start in the fall, Amazon Prime Day (and all the other competing sales) is a perfect time to set your student up for success on the cheap.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals

I've combed through the best deals from Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and more to come up with this varied list of laptops, monitors, and accessories.

I found quite a list of thin and light PCs starting at just $479 that are perfect for students, and be sure to scroll through to the accessories that complement them!

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Cale Hunt

This is my ... tenth? eleventh? year covering Prime Day deals at Windows Central. To say I know when a deal is actually a deal is an understatement, and all I'm aiming to do is make sure you don't waste your money.

Best thin and light laptop deals for students 💻

Best Prime Day accessory deals for students

Prime Day 2026: FAQ

Amazon Prime Day deals from Windows Central

Amazon's Prime Day is an annual event that sees a ton of sales on great tech, but it's certainly not the only event on the go. Competing retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Newegg, and many more often have better deals on similar products, and I'm always checking the big names for the best prices.

When is Amazon Prime Day in 2026?

Prime Day is a four-day event that started at 12:01 AM PDT on Tuesday, June 23, and runs until the end of Friday, June 26.

Which countries are taking part in Prime Day 2026?

While Windows Central primarily covers Amazon Prime Day sales in the United States and the United Kingdom, the event takes place in 26 countries, including Canada and Ireland.

Do I need an Amazon Prime membership for Prime Day?

Generally, yes, you need an active Prime membership to take advantage of Prime Day benefits and deals hosted at Amazon. If you aren't already a member, you can quickly sign up for Amazon Prime for $14.99 per month (taxes not included). New customers can take advantage of a 30-day trial of Prime membership, while anyone between 18 and 24 years old (and students) can sign up for a separate, free 6-month "Prime for Young Adults" trial.

Are other retailers hosting competing sales?

Yes, Amazon's rivals are running competing events, including Best Buy's "Tech Fest", Newegg's "FantasTech Sale", and Walmart's "Deals & More", which all end on June 28, 2026. Each retailer can offer its own membership perks, such as My Best Buy Plus / Total and Walmart Plus, and it's important to remember that Amazon does not always offer the best deal during Prime Day. Windows Central will compare prices across retailers, so you can choose the best fit for you.

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Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than nine years of experience writing about PC gaming, Windows laptops, accessories, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.