How to buy a laptop when everything’s expensive | The Vergecast

The Verge29 min2026-08-27 ▶ Watch on YouTube

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What this video is

⚡ a 30-minute video, readable in 60 seconds

This episode of The Vergecast opens with an unrelated tech news brief (Apple's September event, Xbox updates, Playdate tariff refunds) before shifting into its main segment, a laptop buying guide discussion featuring Verge reviewer Antonio G. Di Benedetto and a co-host named David; other commentary is attributed only generically as 'the host' or 'a speaker' where the extracted points do not resolve identity. The core of the discussion is how to navigate a volatile 2026 laptop market marked by post-launch price hikes (the Asus Zenbook A16 and Framework Laptop 13 Pro are cited examples), tariffs, and a RAM shortage, while weighing new purchases against refurbished and used routes through sellers like Best Buy Outlet, eBay, BackMarket, Apple, and Lenovo. Rather than staking out opposing positions, the speakers share concern that current elevated prices may be a 'new normal,' and spend much of the conversation comparing which laptops and buying channels still offer reasonable value across budget tiers.

This episode centers on a laptop buying guide discussion between Verge reviewer Antonio G. Di Benedetto and a co-host, examining how tariffs, post-launch price hikes, and a RAM shortage are reshaping which laptops and buying routes offer good value.

Key takeaways

[00:45] A speaker reported that Apple has formally announced a September event expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro series, a new Apple Watch, and Apple's first foldable smartphone.
[00:59] A speaker said the Apple event is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Pacific time on September 9th.
[01:06] A speaker described a new Microsoft Xbox disc-to-digital feature that lets owners digitize existing game collections, tying the digital entitlement to the specific disc, which is lost if that disc is sold.
[01:22] A speaker noted Microsoft's limited edition translucent Xbox Series X, priced at $899, sold out in minutes.

+ 64 more takeaways

[01:31] A speaker reported that Playdate manufacturer Panic began issuing tariff refunds ranging from $12.36 to $23 after the Supreme Court overturned the government's tariff charges.
[02:51] Antonio G. Di Benedetto rated the current laptop-buying despair level at about 8 out of 10, saying there is room for it to go higher.
[03:19] Di Benedetto noted the Asus Zenbook A16 rose about $100 in price the day it launched compared to what Asus had told The Verge.
[03:24] Di Benedetto's reporting on the Zenbook A16 was updated when Best Buy listed the laptop at $1,699.99 after the article published, versus the originally stated $1,599.99.
[03:29] Di Benedetto said the Framework Laptop 13 Pro's price changed within a week of the review unit arriving, before the review could even publish.
[03:36] Di Benedetto specified that the exact configuration of that Framework Laptop 13 Pro review unit rose $800 in price within that week.
[03:52] Di Benedetto wrote an article titled 'An okay laptop with 16GB of RAM is better than a nice laptop with 8GB, and this $520 HP OmniBook proves it,' published August 22, 2026.
[04:19] Di Benedetto said the need for 16GB of RAM over 8GB is largely a Windows issue, noting the MacBook Air works fine with 8GB but offers less headroom over time.
[04:47] Di Benedetto described the HP OmniBook 3 16 as a roughly $500 Windows laptop whose MSRP is often inflated to around $1,000, a price it rarely actually sells for.
[05:22] Di Benedetto said the HP OmniBook 3 16 comes with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a base-level Snapdragon X chip, making it a Windows-on-ARM device.
[05:44] Di Benedetto noted Windows on ARM app compatibility has gotten pretty good, though some apps still may not be fully compatible.
[05:53] Di Benedetto said the HP OmniBook 3 16 has mediocre speakers and screen along with some plastic creakiness, despite its big, cheap display.
[06:46] A speaker noted the HP OmniBook's price dipped into the 400s at one point.
[06:53] A speaker speculated the price could rise from around $520 to $550 or $580 over time.
[08:07] A speaker described Apple's refurbished laptops as practically new, comparing them to a certified pre-owned Mercedes, and noted they come with a warranty.
[08:20] A speaker said Lenovo sells a lot of refurbished ThinkPads, often sourced from business fleets a few years old.
[08:42] A speaker noted Lenovo ThinkPads can easily cost $2,000 or more new and are built to last a long time.
[09:08] An eBay listing shown on screen offered a certified refurbished item priced at $699.00 with a one-year warranty included.
[09:19] A speaker said Acer has a very good eBay store where it channels refurbished laptops and also sells monitors.
[09:39] A speaker said Best Buy Outlet sells open-box, clearance, and refurbished items with easy returns and warranty included.
[09:43] The host said he bought a gaming laptop as an open-box item during the pandemic, estimating savings of $400 to $500 versus buying new.
[10:12] A speaker described BackMarket as an industry that has recently emerged to certify device repairs and refurbishments.
[10:18] On-screen BackMarket footage showed a claimed '100-point quality inspection,' including a phone diagnostic test screen and test-probe connector.
[10:22] The host said he has not used BackMarket and knows only a little about it, advising buyers to use judgment and be wary if a deal seems too good to be true.
[11:29] The host joked that buyers should tell themselves they are getting a deal even at MSRP, since prices may only get more expensive from here.
[12:13] The host said Apple laptops with M-series chips are generally still a safe buy, citing M1 MacBook Air users who still report satisfaction in review comments as evidence.
[12:45] The host compared buying an older used laptop to buying a used car, saying 'the odometer has already been run up a bit' when weighing remaining runway.
[13:03] A speaker called Intel's last-generation Lunar Lake chips a very good, efficient balance of power capable of some light gaming.
[13:20] A speaker described AMD's Ryzen AI PRO 300 series (Strix Point) as a similar story to Lunar Lake.
[13:27] A speaker noted Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 generation is now out, following the original Snapdragon X.
[13:36] A speaker said Snapdragon X laptops offer a lot of battery life but are not the best for graphics.
[13:58] A speaker cited Intel's older Alder Lake (12th gen) chip as an example where battery life starts to lag behind current offerings.
[14:40] A speaker said Nvidia's RTX 50 series requires spending a minimum of $1,000 to get into an RTX 5050.
[14:45] A speaker called the HP HyperX Omen 15 a fine entry-level gaming laptop priced around $1,000 to $1,200, despite using components comparable to an $800 laptop.
[16:10] One host said his desktop PC still runs a 1080 Ti and plays Dota 2 fine, calling it 'the goat of desktop GPUs.'
[17:43] The host said he wrote a back-to-school laptop buying guide meant as a survival guide that can serve as a general rubric for buying a laptop.
[18:19] The host said MacBook Pros, a well-equipped Mac Mini, or an entry-level Mac Studio in the $2,000 to $3,000 range are aimed at pros, semi-pros, or freelancers who need that power for creative apps.
[18:52] The host said the target budget for most people should be sub-$1,000.
[19:02] The host's buying criteria included chips with headroom so a laptop doesn't feel like a 'penalty box' after a few years, a bright screen visible outdoors, a trackpad that works well, and speakers that don't mangle music.
[20:05] The host's easy recommendation right now is the MacBook Air, which he called 'the Mac for the masses' in his review.
[20:17] The host said the MacBook Air is easy to give to a student from middle school into high school, citing great battery life, balance, speaker quality, screen quality, a trackpad clickable corner to corner, and a great webcam.
[20:38] The host said that with similarly priced Windows laptops, buyers are making compromises somewhere, whereas the MacBook Air avoids that.
[20:57] Asked whether the MacBook Air is still good now that its starting price has risen to $699, the host said he still thinks so.
[21:53] A speaker noted the Asus ZenBook A16 weighs as much as the MacBook Air despite being a 16-inch laptop.
[22:04] A speaker said the Asus ZenBook A14 can be found on sale for around $700, under $1,000.
[22:13] A speaker advised against buying a Snapdragon laptop for gaming, saying to treat game compatibility like a Mac, with only sparse titles working well.
[22:56] A speaker said the Acer Aspire 14 AI uses an Intel Lunar Lake chip and can drop to around $600 or lower on sale.
[23:23] A speaker said the Acer Aspire 14 AI has an almost garbage screen and speakers, but a great processor and Thunderbolt 4 ports.
[24:10] A speaker named Asus's TUF line and ROG line, including ROG Strix and Strix G models, as strong contenders for gaming laptops, though pricier ROG models are big, heavy, and have some build quality shortcomings.
[24:41] A speaker said Lenovo's Legion series has some really nice gaming laptop options.
[24:44] A speaker described Lenovo LOQ as the lower-end, more budget-friendly line, while the Legion line, such as the Legion 5i, starts around $1,000.
[25:10] A speaker said laptops between $1,500 and $2,000 can get a big, beefy desktop-replacement gaming laptop such as the MSI Crosshair 18-inch.
[25:46] A speaker said an RTX 5070 mobile GPU, not the Ti or 5080 variants, now typically pushes gaming laptop prices well above $2,000.
[26:15] A speaker predicted current high laptop prices are likely the new normal, expressing fear things could get worse rather than better, stated without evidence given.
[26:37] A speaker predicted the mid-range laptop market may hollow out, with low-end and high-end laptops remaining but mid-range 'bang for the buck' options for students suffering, stated without evidence given.
[27:13] A speaker claimed companies have received tariff refunds but are not passing the savings back to consumers through lower prices, stated without evidence given.
[27:55] A speaker suggested Black Friday sales may not reach the historical lows tracked by tools like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa, instead dipping closer to old MSRP.
[28:30] A speaker recalled advising a member last year to buy a Surface Laptop 13-inch for about $650, down from roughly $800 at the time.
[28:58] That speaker said the same laptop configuration now costs $950 with half the RAM it had at $650, adding that price will never happen again.
[29:14] David said he hopes the RAM shortage will not be as bad in the coming year.
[29:19] Antonio responded that hoping is free.
The extracted points show no explicit disagreement between the speakers; both express shared concern that laptop prices are on an upward trajectory with limited relief in sight.
we think of like $2,000, $3,000, it's
like $200, whether used or somehow new,

How this brief was shaped: Discourse (interview / podcast / video essay) · confidence Low

floor demotion: 'comparison_guide' 0.58 < 0.65 floor -> classifier fallback 'discourse'. This is the recurring Ramageddon Survival Guide segment where the host interviews a laptop reviewer about buying routes during a RAM shortage, weighing new vs used vs refurb vs Facebook marketplace, and the OCR shows a side by side Framework laptop configuration and pricing table plus an Asus Zenbook price correction, which is comparison shopping data rather than a single product verdict. Only two of five transcript slices were provided so the middle and ending of the episode are unseen, which caps confidence.

The lens sets this brief's structure, never its facts — every claim is held to the same citation and fact-check standard.

Jump to a moment

0:00Intro 0:4290 Seconds on The Verge 2:08The Laptop Buying Crisis 3:53Do You Need 16GB of RAM?7:19Buying Refurb and Used 11:35How Far Back Should You Buy?17:43What to Buy Under $1000 23:48Best Gaming Laptop Picks 26:01Will Prices Ever Drop?29:10Wrap Up

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