Are you in the market for a new laptop? With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. However, fear not! Our ultimate laptop buying guide is here to help you find the perfect device that suits your needs and budget.
In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to choosing a laptop. From understanding the different types of laptops available to determining the specs you need, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.
But why is it important to choose the right laptop? Well, for starters, a good laptop can help you increase productivity, work on the go, and even provide entertainment during downtime. On the other hand, a laptop that doesn’t meet your needs can be frustrating and a waste of money.
That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide that includes tips, tricks, and expert advice to help you make the best decision. We’ll cover topics such as processing power, storage, display, and connectivity options, as well as the pros and cons of different operating systems.
So, whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone who simply needs a laptop for personal use, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to take the first step in finding the laptop that’s perfect for you.
Ahead over heels
Price is important, of course, but thinking long-term is a good idea because laptops are really not designed to be opened up and upgraded – so opting for a cheap laptop with very small storage means you might have to shell out for an external drive, or going for a too-small screen might be a corner you’ll later regret cutting. So if you can spend a bit of time thinking about the apps you want to use (or games you want to play), where you’re going to be using them, and what features are most important to you, you’ll find that narrows down your search considerably.
And if the perfect laptop is just a little bit too expensive, don’t despair: you can pick up older models for considerably less, and many manufacturers’ refurbished laptops are available on eBay in near-perfect condition for very low prices. Recent laptops are so powerful that a model from a few years ago will still have lots of life in them.
Apple MacOS
Apple makes MacBooks, some of the top laptops you can buy – and because it creates the hardware, the software (macOS), and the processors, these machines can deliver a level of refinement and integration between hardware and software – as well as work seamlessly with other Apple devices, plus iCloud services such as Apple Music, iCloud Drive, and Apple TV+ – that rival manufacturers simply cannot provide. However, that comes at a cost: Apple makes premium products and that means it charges premium prices, with even its cheapest laptops costing considerably more than similarly powerful Windows machines. Yes, they are worth the money, but it is quite a lot of money.
Microsoft Windows
Windows 11 laptops are the choice of business users and gamers too: with a huge variety of options, from cheap and cheerful PCs to powerful workstations and laptops that can be twisted and folded into
all kinds of useful shapes, there’s a Windows option for every kind of user and for every budget. But some of the really cheap ones are underpowered and/or stingy with storage, and all that choice can be quite confusing when it comes to deciding which one to buy: do you want an Intel or an AMD processor? A Celeron or a Core i5? Don’t panic: if you do a little bit of research and check out reviews, it’s possible to configure the perfect PC.
Google Chrome OS
Chromebooks run Chrome OS, Google’s lean and speedy operating system based on the Chrome web browser. Although Chromebooks do have storage and can run apps locally, they’re really designed to be used with cloud-based apps such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail, YouTube, and so on. Because Chrome is so lightweight it doesn’t need as much horsepower as Apple or Windows PCs, and because most of the heavy lifting is done by Google’s servers your Chromebook won’t slow down over time. There are some great high-spec Chromebooks but we prefer the more basic ones: they’re impressively speedy, portable, and great value.
Tablets aren’t laptops, we know. But many of the best tablets, such as Apple’s iPads and Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs, can become very laptop-like with the addition of the right keyboard. If you already have a high-quality tablet that’s a cheap way to upgrade to a laptop-type experience; and while even the most powerful tablets don’t multitask as well as proper computers (although they’re getting better and there are big changes coming to the iPad operating system this autumn), they’re great for working on the move. You can also use additional accessories such as an Apple Pencil for a more paper-like writing or drawing experience, and the battery life is often spectacular.
Laptop buying tips
Display quality
If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in front of your laptop’s screen, make sure it’s big enough, bright enough, and crisp enough for the apps you want to use. The very cheapest laptops tend to have darker, less vivid displays, and for photography or writing, you might regret compromising.
Storage and memory
While 64GB of storage might sound like a lot, some of us have photo libraries of four times that. Think about how much space you need now and what you might need in the future: games, phone photos, and video need lots of storage, and heavy-duty apps need plenty of memory.
Graphics
You don’t need a powerful graphics card for Facebook, Amazon, and emailing. But if you plan to play games or edit videos, you’ll want something a bit heftier than the graphics systems in the most affordable laptops. Again, think long-term: if it’s just about adequate now, it might not be in a year.
Portability
Some laptops are more portable than others – and the more moving around you do, the more this matters. That 17-inch display might look brilliant, but you’ll struggle to open it in an economy airline seat, and that high-powered laptop will feel like a lump of the lead after a few hours in a shoulder bag.