which laptop should i get

Laptop buying guide: 8 essential tips to know before you buy

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Laptops are compact plenty to carry with you lot, yet versatile enough to run demanding applications. Notebooks are the best tool for doing serious work or play whether you're at home, on the road or in a college classroom. For those reasons, we've compiled lists of the best concern laptops and best college laptops, not to mention our best laptops rankings for most users.

While standalone tablets and smartphones are always popular, most people realize that everything from typing a research paper to crunching videos to gaming works better on a laptop. So what type of laptop should you get? We put together a laptop buying guide to aid you out.

There's a broad variety of sizes, features and prices, which makes choosing the all-time laptop a challenge. That's why yous need to figure out what your needs are.

Quick Tips

These are the nigh important things to consider when choosing a new laptop. For a lot more particular, run across the sections beneath.

12.5 to 14-inch screensoffer the best rest between usability and portability. Larger screens are fine if you don't travel much and smaller models are groovy for kids.
If yous're spending over $600, shoot for these minimum specs: Core i5 or Ryzen five CPU 1920 x 1080 screen 8GBof RAM and SSDStorage instead of a difficult drive.
nine+ hours of bombardment life is platonic if you programme to take your laptop anywhere at all.
Consider a 2-in-1 laptop (either a bendback or detachable) if yous want to use your laptop as a tablet. If not, a standard clamshell notebook may be a better option.
Chromebooks are expert for kids and students and their functionality is expanding speedily. Windows 10 laptops and MacBooks both offer plenty of functionality; which platform you lot prefer is a matter of personal taste.

1. Pick a platform: Windows 10 vs. Mac vs. Chrome Os?

This is not an easy question to reply, peculiarly if yous're not familiar with both Macs and PCs. But this quick overview of each platform's strengths and weaknesses should help.

Most laptops come up with one of three operating systems: Windows, Chrome OS or MacOS (for MacBooks simply). Choosing the right ane is a personal preference, but here'due south a quick summary of what each offers.

Windows 10

The most flexible operating system, Windows 10, runs on more laptop models than Chrome OS or MacOS. Windows notebooks range in toll from nether $150 to several thou dollars and offer a wide array of features from touch screens to fingerprint readers to dual graphics chips. Windows 10, the latest version of Microsoft's flagship operating system, provides a number of improvements over Windows 7 and 8, including the power to switch between tablet and desktop modes, a revamped Start menu with Live Tiles and the Cortana digital assistant.

Since its launch in July 2022, Windows 10 has as well added a host of improvements, including the ability to use follow-upwards questions with Cortana, search your email using natural language and use your stylus to scribble almost anywhere. Windows x laptops are swell for students, researchers and concern users, and they're the merely machines gamers should consider.

More than: 100+ Windows 10 Tips to Assistance You Principal Microsoft'south OS

Apple macOS

All MacBooks come with Apple's latest desktop operating system, macOS Large Sur. Overall, the operating system offers similar functionality to Windows 10, but with a different take on the interface that substitutes an apps dock at the bottom of the screen for Microsoft's Start carte and taskbar. Instead of the Cortana digital assistant, Mac users become Siri. They tin likewise perform transactions with Apple Pay, take calls or texts from their phones and unlock their laptops with an Apple Lookout man.

However, macOS isn't fabricated for touch, because no MacBook comes with a touch screen. The latest macOS Big Sur operating system brings iPad apps over to Mac (and iPad and iPadOS apps tin can run natively on M1 Macs), too as huge improvements to both the Safari browser and Siri.

MORE: MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: What Should Yous Purchase?

Chrome Os

Plant on cheap Chromebooks such every bit the Samsung Chromebook 3. Google's Bone is uncomplicated and secure, but more limited than Windows or macOS. The user interface looks a lot like Windows with an application carte, a desktop and the ability to elevate windows effectually, but the primary app y'all use is the Chrome browser. The downside is that many of the "web apps" you utilise don't work particularly well offline. However, that'southward changing as all new Chromebooks, including the high-stop, Google PixelBook, tin now run Android apps.

If you lot need a device to surf the Web and check email, navigate social networks and conversation online, Chromebooks are highly portable and tend to offer skillful bombardment life at low prices. They are as well extremely popular with schools and parents considering they are hard for kids to infect with malware and more functional than nearly tablets. If you need a Chromebook, look for ane with at to the lowest degree 4GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. A 1920 ten 1080 resolution preferred and 4K is meliorate only very uncommon. Pay extra to get a ii-in-1 if you program to use Android apps.

MORE: Best Chromebooks Bachelor Now

2. Decide If Y'all Desire a two-in-1

Many PC laptops fall into the category of 2-in-1 laptops, hybrid devices that can switch between traditional clamshell mode, tablet manner and other positions in between such every bit tent or stand modes. 2-in-1s by and large come up in 2 unlike styles: detachables with screens that come off the keyboard entirely and flexible laptops with hinges that curve dorsum 360 degrees to change modes.

Well-nigh of these systems are much improve at serving one purpose than the other, with bend-backs existence laptops start and detachables offer a superior tablet feel. However, if yous don't see the need to use your notebook every bit a slate, you lot'll normally become more performance for your money with a traditional clamshell laptop.

MORE: Windows Detachables Have Big Battery Life Trouble

3. Choose the Right Size

laptop different display sizes 13-inch 15-inch and 17-inch

Earlier yous look at specs or pricing, you need to figure out just how portable you need your laptop to be. Laptops are usually categorized past their display sizes:

11 to 12 inches: The thinnest and lightest systems around have 11- to 12-inch screens and typically weigh two.v to 3.5 pounds.
thirteen to 14 inches: Provides the best balance of portability and usability, specially if you get a laptop that weighs nether 4 pounds.
15 to 16 inches: The most popular size, 15-inch laptops usually weigh 4 to five.5 pounds. Consider this size if you want a larger screen and you're not planning to acquit your notebook around often. Laptops with sixteen-inch displays are rare but Apple tree might get the trend started with its 16-inch MacBook Pro.
17 to 18 inches: If your laptop stays on your desk-bound all day every solar day, a 17- or 18-inch system could provide you with the kind of processing power yous need to play high-finish games or do workstation-level productivity.

four. Bank check that Keyboard and Touchpad

The most impressive specs in the world don't hateful diddly if the laptop you lot're shopping for doesn't accept good ergonomics. If you program to do a lot of work on your reckoner, brand sure the keyboard offers solid tactile feedback, enough of cardinal travel (the distance the key goes downward when pressed, usually 1 to 2mm) and enough space between the keys. If yous're ownership a Windows laptop, be sure it has Precision touchpad drivers.

Look for an accurate touchpad that doesn't give you a jumpy cursor and responds consistently to multitouch gestures such equally pinch-to-zoom. If you're buying a business concern laptop, consider getting one with a pointing stick (aka nub) between the G and H keys so you can navigate around the desktop without lifting your fingers off the keyboard's home row.

five. Pick Your Specs

Notebook components such as processor, hard drive, RAM and graphics chip can confuse even notebook aficionados, so don't experience bad if spec sheets look like alphabet soup to you.

Hither are the master components to keep an eye on.

CPU: The "brains" of your estimator, the processor has a huge influence on functioning, but depending on what you lot want to practice, even the least-expensive model may exist good plenty. Here's a rundown:

Intel 11th Gen CPUs: Intel introduced 1th Gen Tiger Lake processors that will power the next generation of laptops. You can read well-nigh these processors in more detail here. To summarize, Tiger Lake --- a x-nanometer scrap --- offers improved integrated Iris Xe graphics with up to 4.8Ghz speeds too every bit Thunderbolt 4 support. The new EVO brand sets parameters for pinnacle laptops, including a minimum of ix hours of battery life.
Intel Core i9:Supplanting the Core i7 equally the top-of-the-line CPU from Intel, Core i9 processors provide faster performance than any other mobile scrap. Available just on premium laptops, workstations and high-cease gaming rigs, Cadre i9 CPUs are only worth their premium price if y'all're a power user who uses the most enervating programs and apps.
Intel Core i7: A step up from Cadre i5, models with numbers that end in HQ or K use higher wattage and take four cores, assuasive for even faster gaming and productivity. In that location are too Core i7 Y series fries that have lower power and performance. Continue an heart out for CPUs that have a 10 in the model number because they are part of Intel's latest, 10th and 11th Gen Generation Core Series, and offer better performance.
Intel Cadre i5: If y'all're looking for a mainstream laptop with the best combination of cost and operation, get ane with an Intel Core i5 CPU. Models that cease in U are the nigh common. Those with a Y in the proper name are low power and have worse performance while models with an HQ use more wattage and appear in thicker gaming and workstation systems. Intel's newest 11th Generation Tiger Lake CPUs take four cores, and a number of useful features, including Wi-Fi half-dozen support, Thunderbolt 4 integration and better AI.
Intel Core i3: Performance is simply a step beneath Cadre i5 and so is the cost. If you can possibly step upwardly to a Core i5, nosotros recommend it.
Intel Xeon: Extremely powerful and expensive processors for big mobile workstations. If you do professional-grade engineering, 3D modeling or video editing, you might want a Xeon, just you won't get skillful battery life or a light laptop.
Intel Pentium / Celeron: Mutual in sub $400 laptops, these fries offer the slowest performance, just can do if your main tasks are web surfing and light document editing. If y'all can pay more than to get a Core i3 or i5, you'd be better off.
Intel Cadre 1000 / Cadre i5 / i7 "Y Series:" Low-power and low heat allow systems with these processors to go fanless. Operation is amend than Celeron, but a notch below regular Core U series.
AMD Ryzen 4000 and Ryzen 5000: A new set of chips that are designed to compete with Intel Core i5 and Core i7. We've found Ryzen 4000 and Ryzen 5000 fries to outperform equivalent Intel Core processors. For example, the Ryzen 5 4500U CPU delivers about the aforementioned performance as an Intel Core i7 CPU. Not only practice you lot get great performance and endurance but Ryzen 4000 and Ryzen 5000-equipped laptops tend to be cheaper than their Intel counterparts.
AMD A, FX or Eastward Series: Plant on low-cost laptops, AMD's processors -- the company calls them APUs rather than CPUs -- provide decent performance for the money that's practiced enough for web surfing, media viewing and productivity.
Apple M1: The first of Apple'due south custom silicon, the ARM-based M1 fleck crushes the competition when information technology comes to raw performance and endurance. Establish on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

MORE: Which Laptop CPU is Right for You?

RAM: Some sub-$250 laptops come up with only 4GB of RAM, but ideally you want at least 8GB on even a budget system and 16GB if you lot can spend simply a little more. For most folks, 32GB or more than is more than than enough while 64GB and higher up is reserved for power users.

Storage Drive (SSD): Even more of import than the speed of your CPU is the performance of your storage bulldoze. If you can afford information technology and don't need a ton of internal storage, get a laptop with a solid state drive (SSD) rather than a hard drive, because you'll see at least iii times the speed and a much faster laptop overall.

Among SSDs, the newer PCIe x4 (aka NVME) units offering triple the speed of traditional SATA drives. Sub-$250 laptops use eMMC retention, which is technically solid-state but not faster than a mechanical hard drive.

Display: The more pixels you have, the more content you can fit on-screen, and the sharper it volition wait. Sadly, some upkeep laptops still have 1366 x 768 displays so practise a few business laptops, merely if you tin can afford information technology, we recommend paying extra for a console that runs at 1920 x 1080, also known as Full Hard disk drive or 1080p. Higher-cease laptops take screens that are 2560 x 1600, 3200 10 1800 or even 3840 x 2160 (4K), which all await sharp simply consume more ability, lowering your battery life.

Display quality is about much more than than resolution. IPS panels range in colour and effulgence, and so read our reviews to detect out if the laptop your considering has a expert brandish. Nosotros typically look for an sRGB color rating of over 100% and brightness great than 300 nits results. If yous desire the very best picture quality and don't care about battery life, consider an OLED brandish. You should likewise keep an centre out for upcoming display engineering science to hit laptops, including miniLED.

Bear on Screen: If you're buying a regular clamshell laptop, rather than a 2-in-ane, you won't get much do good from a affect screen and you will become ane to 2 hours less battery life. On two-in-1s, bear upon screens come standard. If y'all still desire a bear upon screen, bank check out our all-time touch screen laptops page.

Graphics Flake: If you're not playing PC games, creating 3D objects or doing high-res video editing, an integrated graphics fleck (one that shares system memory) volition be fine, specially Intel'due south latest Iris Xe graphics. If you have whatsoever of the above needs, though, a detached graphics processor from Nvidia or AMD is essential.

As with CPUs, there are both high- and low-stop graphics chips. Low-end gaming or workstation systems today usually have Nvidia MX450 or GTX 1660 GPUs while mid-range models have RTX 2050 or RTX 2060 and high-end models have 30-series chips like the RTX 3070 or 3080 GPUs. Nvidia maintains a listing of its graphics chips from depression to high end.

Nvidia's rivals, AMD, is Apple tree's vendor of option for graphics cards, although you really shouldn't buy a MacBook for gaming. AMD launched the Radeon RX 5600M and the Radeon RX 5700M GPUs last year. AMD too keeps a list of its graphics cards.

Ports: While the absence of ports is normally not a deal-billow when choosing a laptop, it's helpful to get the connections you need right on the system, rather than having to conduct a slew of dongles. Most mainstream laptops will have USB 3.0 ports and HDMI out for video. However, an increasing number of laptops utilise USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 ports that are USB Type-C uniform.

Getting Type-C is a definite plus because you can use it to connect to universal chargers and docks. If you tin look, USB 4 volition arrive soon with faster transfer rates and the ability to daisy-chain 4K monitors with one cablevision. Other useful connections include SD carte du jour slots, headphone jacks and Ethernet ports (especially if you're a gamer).

Connectivity: If yous demand to use your laptop on the go, consider ownership a notebook with 4G LTE or 5G support. Yous'll take to pay for a data subscription program, merely this will allow y'all to access the net away from a router. If you want a laptop with the latest and greatest connectivity options, find ane with Wi-Fi vi back up. Wi-Fi 6 offers increased theoretical throughputs and a more stable connection than 802.11ac.

Nosotros also suggest looking for a laptop with Bluetooth 5, the latest standard that offers improved connectivity with Bluetooth-enabled devices, like mice and headphones.

DVD/Blu-ray Drives: Few laptops come with optical drives, because all software and movies are downloadable, though we've kept rails of the laptops with DVD drives. Nonetheless, if yous really demand to read/write discs and your laptop of choice doesn't come with a congenital-in DVD drive, yous can always buy an external one that connects via USB for nether $twenty.

half-dozen. Don't Skimp on Bombardment Life

If y'all're ownership a large, bulky notebook or a gaming rig that you lot'll use but on a desk-bound well-nigh an outlet, you don't have to worry near battery life. However, if you plan to use the laptop on your lap, even if it'due south at dwelling and or piece of work, you'll desire at least 7 hours of endurance, with 8+ hours beingness ideal. To make up one's mind a notebook'south expected battery life, don't take the manufacturer's word for it. Instead, read third-party results from objective sources, such as our reviews.

MORE: Laptops with the Longest Battery Life

7. Plan Based on Your Budget

These days, you lot can buy a usable laptop for under $200, but if yous can upkeep more, you'll get a organisation with better build quality, stronger performance and a better brandish. Hither's what you can get for each toll range.

$150 to $250: The least-expensive notebooks are either Chromebooks, which run Google's browser-centric OS, or depression-end Windows systems with minimal storage and slower processors, such equally the HP Stream 11 and the Dell Inspiron 11 3000. Use these as secondary computers only or give them to the kids.
$350 to $600: For well nether $600, y'all can get a notebook with an Intel Core i5 or AMD A8 CPU, 4 to 8GB of RAM, and a 500GB difficult drive, all respectable specs. However, at this price, near notebooks don't take an SSD, a total-HD display or long bombardment life. In that location are a few notable exceptions, such every bit the Acer Aspire Due east 15 and Asus Chromebook Flip C434.
$600 to $900: Every bit you become to a higher place $600, you'll beginning to see more premium designs, such as metal finishes. Manufacturers likewise kickoff to add together in other features as you lot climb the price ladder, including college-resolution displays and SSDs. The Lenovo IdeaPad 530s and Asus ZenBook UX333FA are nifty examples of laptops that offering all these perks for less.
Above $900: At this toll range, await notebooks that are more portable, more than powerful or both. Look higher-resolution screens, faster processors and perhaps discrete graphics. The lightest, longest-lasting ultraportables, like the Apple tree MacBook Air and the Dell XPS xiii, tend to cost more than $1,000 (although you can get the Dell for less if you don't opt for a touch screen). High-finish gaming systems and mobile workstations commonly cost upward of $1,500 or even as much as $two,500 or $3,000.

MORE: All-time Laptops Nether $500

8.Mind the Brand

Your laptop is only as good as the company that stands behind it. Accurate and timely technical back up is paramount, which is why Laptop Magazine evaluates every major make in our almanac Tech Back up Showdown. This by year Apple tree came in first place, followed by the big story of the year: Razer, while Dell rounded out the top iii.

Support is merely role of what makes a notebook make worth your money. You also take to consider how the manufacturer stacks up to the competition in terms of design, value and selection, review performance and other criteria. In our 2022 All-time and Worst Laptop Brands study, HP placed showtime, followed by Asus and Dell. We've also rated gaming laptop brands, with MSI taking first place and Acer and Alienware rounding out the top three.

Laptop Guide

The Best & Worst Laptop Brands
Laptop Tech Back up Showdown: Hole-and-corner Written report
Should I Buy a Chromebook? Buying Guide and Advice
Laptops with the Longest Bombardment Life
Chromebooks vs. Windows x Laptops: What Should You Purchase?
Out of the Box Tips: Fix Your New Laptop Like a Pro
The All-time Fourth dimension to Buy a Laptop
Chromebook vs. Tablet: Which Should You Buy?
Laptop Buying Tips for Students
10 Primal Features to Wait for in Your Laptop
How to Buy a 2-in-i Laptop Hybrid
USB Type-C FAQ: Everything You Need to Know
How to Become Rid of Your Sometime Laptop
Laptop Warranties: What They Comprehend
Which CPU is Correct For You?

Phillip Tracy is the assistant managing editor at Laptop Magazine where he reviews laptops, phones and other gadgets while covering the latest industry news. After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Phillip became a tech reporter at the Daily Dot. There, he wrote reviews for a range of gadgets and covered everything from social media trends to cybersecurity. Prior to that, he wrote for RCR Wireless News covering 5G and IoT. When he's not tinkering with devices, you tin detect Phillip playing video games, reading, traveling or watching soccer.