Decide what it is for first
Before opening a spec sheet, sum up in one sentence what you will use the laptop for; that alone halves the options. If it is mostly documents, browsing and video, you do not need high-end parts, and weight and battery matter more. For heavy work such as photo or video editing or software development, spend on the processor and memory. Recent games practically require a dedicated graphics processor, and you have to accept the extra weight and shorter battery life that come with it. Also decide whether you will carry it around a lot or leave it on a desk most of the time.
Read the processor by generation and tier
A processor's name encodes its generation, tier and intended use in numbers and letters. The rules change between manufacturers and from year to year, so rather than memorising names, compare tiers among products from the same period. More cores help when many tasks run at once, and higher clock speeds help finish one task quickly, but numbers from different generations cannot be compared directly. The same chip also delivers noticeably different performance depending on how much power the laptop's thickness and cooling allow. Once you have a model in mind, look up reviews and measurements of that laptop, not just the chip.
Get enough memory, with the future in mind
Memory holds the programs and browser tabs you have open at the same time. When it runs out, the computer uses storage in its place and slows down noticeably. Even for documents and the web, choose generously if you tend to keep many tabs open, and get more still for editing or development. Thin laptops in particular often have memory soldered to the board, so it cannot be upgraded later. Check the spec sheet or the manufacturer's information for a memory slot and the maximum supported capacity; if the model cannot be upgraded, choosing one step up from the start saves regret a few years later.
Storage type first, capacity second
Most laptops now use SSDs, but budget models and old stock sometimes come with a hard disk or a slow type of storage. Boot and app launch speed depend more on storage than on the processor, so confirm it is an SSD first. Choose capacity by how many photos and videos you keep. The operating system, built-in apps and updates take up space, so you cannot use the full advertised amount. Why a drive's capacity seems smaller than advertised is covered in the data size guide of the units topic.
- Check whether it is an SSD or a hard disk
- Check for a free slot for extra storage
- With many photos and videos, plan for an external drive or cloud storage
Screen, weight and battery
In the end, the screen is what you look at every day. Check resolution, brightness, whether the surface is glossy or matte, and colour range. The monitor guide explains resolution and refresh rate in detail. For a laptop you will carry, add the charger's weight to the body's. Manufacturer battery figures are often measured under light workloads, so real life is usually shorter and varies a lot with screen brightness and the kind of work. Compare battery capacity in watt-hours (Wh) for an accurate picture.
Check ports and keyboard in person if you can
The thinner the laptop, the fewer the ports, which can mean carrying adapters. Think about the mouse, external drives and monitor you use now, and check that the ports you need are there. Even USB-C ports can differ in whether they support charging, video output and fast data. The keyboard makes a big difference to fatigue over time, so try typing on it in a shop if possible. Key layout, arrow key size, backlighting and touchpad size are also frequent complaints in reviews.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is looking only at the processor name and nothing else. A good processor paired with little memory and slow storage feels disappointing. Conversely, buying a high-end gaming laptop just for documents means living daily with the weight, fan noise and short battery life. Be wary of choosing an older generation just for the discount: the older the model, the sooner its operating system support may end. Whether the operating system is included or sold separately is also easy to miss when comparing prices.
Checklist before you buy
Before paying, run through the items below once more. Warranty length, service centre access and return conditions vary by seller, so go by the latest information on the sales page.
- Processor tier suits your use
- Memory capacity and whether it can be upgraded
- SSD, its capacity, and any extra slot
- Real weight including the charger
- Ports you need and whether the OS is included
- Warranty length and return conditions
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