Laptop Market Heats Up: Deals, New Chips, and Touchscreen Rumors

The laptop market in late 2026 is buzzing with activity, from deep discounts on high-end MacBooks to the emergence of new chip platforms and a flurry of budget-friendly options. The 16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro is currently available at its lowest price ever, $3,499, a 20% discount that undercuts previous lows by $150 Source: Wired. This deal arrives just as rumors swirl about an upcoming touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro, expected to be announced within a week Source: Wired.

New Chips and Platforms

Nvidia's RTX Spark platform is making waves, with the ASUS ProArt P16 showcasing its capabilities. The system scored 4,700 points higher than the MacBook Pro M5 Max in Geekbench 6's GPU benchmark and excelled in AI workloads Source: engadget. However, its Arm-based architecture means it relies on Microsoft's Prism emulator for many games, introducing potential compatibility issues Source: engadget. Meanwhile, Microsoft is reportedly developing a 12-inch Surface Laptop with a custom AMD ARM-based chip to compete with Apple's $700 MacBook Neo, aiming for a more affordable price point Source: Gizmodo.

Budget and Value Options

For budget-conscious buyers, several compelling deals exist. The HP New Everyday Slim Laptop, with an AMD processor, 4GB RAM, and Windows 11, is available for $310, a 58% discount Source: Gizmodo. Best Buy is also offering discounts of up to $200 on Chromebooks, with models like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook starting at $299 Source: Tom's Hardware.

The Software Question

While hardware advances are plentiful, software remains a concern. The new Googlebook OS, found on premium $900+ laptops from HP, Acer, and Lenovo, is described as a frustrating experience with bugs and lackluster app support, feeling like an Android tablet with a keyboard rather than a cohesive laptop OS Source: The Verge. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition is praised as the best Windows laptop of 2026, offering a bold new design and excellent build quality Source: ZDNet.