Laptop Buying Guide

You don't have to sacrifice power for portability

What will you be using your laptop for? This is an important question to ask as you search for the right laptop for you. Your laptop computer can be used for both work and play, at home or on the go. Determine your laptop?s primary use and consider the factors listed here as you move forward with your purchase decision.

How Do You Plan to Use Your Laptop?

Basic task laptops

I want to:
∙ Check email.
∙ Browse the web.
∙ Post to social media.

Travel Laptops

I want to:
∙ Have something light and portable for frequent traveling.
∙ Access the internet for work or leisure while on a trip.
∙ Watch movies while on an airplane, bus, train, etc.

Students Laptops

I want to:
∙ Transport my laptop to and from school in my bag.
∙ Take notes in class and connect on the go.
∙ Have a battery life that lasts all day while in school.

Professional Laptops

I want to:
∙ Have powerful processing features and a fast operating system.
∙ Access all files with ease and secure private work-related documents.
∙ Use a webcam to connect with colleagues and/or clients while working remotely.

Gaming Laptops

I want to:
∙ Play computer games wherever I am.
∙ Have enough storage space to download games.
∙ Use a webcam or headset when playing interactive games.

Design / Multimedia

I want to:
∙ Design graphics and websites.
∙ Edit videos and other multimedia content.
∙ Save all of my creative work to my hard drive to show potential clients.

Determine Your Laptop’s Portability

One of the main features of a laptop is its portability. Weight and screen size play important roles in determining just how portable your laptop is.

Weight

3.9 lbs or less:

This laptop is good for day-to-day tasks, especially if you’re carrying it around often, such as meeting clients at different locations or in your backpack at school.

4 to 5.9 lbs:

This is helpful when you need a laptop with more power but have to carry it regularly.

6 lbs or more:

When power is more important than portability, you need a larger screen, or work from a desk but don’t want all the equipment required for a desktop computer, this laptop might be the right fit.

Screen Size

13–13.9 inches:

This screen size is good for traveling and basic tasks.

14–14.9 inches:

Pick this screen size when you need a laptop with a slightly larger screen but use it for travel.

15–16.9 inches:

A laptop with this screen size is good for everyday use at home or in the office.

17 inches and up:

This screen size is good for multitasking, gaming, and creative work.

Screen Features

Screen Sizes

Although the screen size is an important factor when determining your laptop’s portability, there are additional screen features to consider that can make or break visual quality.

Full HD (1920 x 1080)

4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160)

Screen Resolutions

Your laptop’s screen resolution will determine its picture quality. A higher resolution, measured in pixels (horizontal x vertical), means a better picture. The standard HD screen resolution is 1366 x 768 pixels, which allows for a clear picture for basic tasks like using the internet and writing emails.

If you are going to use your laptop for things that need an even better quality picture, though, consider these higher resolutions:

1600 x 900 pixels:

For standard games and movies

1920 x 1080 pixels:

For Blu-ray movies and video games with a lot of attention to detail

2256 x 1504 pixels:

For high-definition movies and games, professional graphic design, and photography and video editing

2560 x 1600 pixels:

For high-definition movies and games, professional graphic design, and photography and video editing but with an even sharper, more crisp picture

Display Options

LED:

One of the primary reasons you may want a laptop with an LED screen is to save battery life. An LED display is brighter and much more energy-efficient, which can increase your screen time on your laptop without needing to be plugged into a power source.

OLED:

This technology is now available for laptops and provides even more beautiful, vibrant colors with better contrast than an LED display. It’s also a thinner panel and uses less power.

IPS Display:

This LCD screen display option is made for bright colors and wide viewing angles. An IPS panel is good if you 're using your laptop to watch TV shows or movies or play high-quality, fast-paced video games.

Touchscreen:

A touchscreen laptop allows for a more interactive and hands-on experience. With this kind of laptop display, you can control what’s happening on your screen much more intuitively. Think of these laptops like a smartphone or tablet. You can use your fingers to tap, swipe, pinch, and expand to move, open, and delete all files, programs, and documents. Popular touch-screen laptops include those made by HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft.

Operating Systems (OS)

The operating system is essentially the backbone of your laptop. It manages all of the hardware, software, and any resources and programs installed on the laptop. Two popular laptop OS are:

Microsoft Windows:

Windows can be used for your PC or Apple laptop, with a touch screen or mouse and keyboard. This user-friendly operating system is good for everyday use. It’s also good if you plan to use your laptop for activities like gaming, photo and video editing, or high-quality graphic design that requires strong, expansive bandwidth. You can check out the most recent upgrade, Windows 10, which features the latest built-in apps and software to increase productivity and efficiency.

Google Chrome:

The fundamental feature of Chrome OS is that all programs, files, and documents on the laptop are saved in the cloud instead of on the laptop itself. This means your data is stored in a web-based folder that is always accessible from your laptop. The Chromebook laptop uses this cloud-based system and its namesake Chrome browser. This operating system is good for more basic tasks like web browsing, social media, email, word processing, and spreadsheets.

Shop by operating system: Windows │ Chrome

Processors

Think of your laptop’s processor as its brain. The processor determines how information is processed and at what speed. You want to make sure the processor you select is in line with what you plan to use your laptop for. If you plan to use your laptop for high-performance tasks, you need a high-performance processor. If your laptop is used for more simple activities, something cost-effective yet efficient will do just fine.
The two main processor brands offered are Intel and AMD, but there are many processors available within each of these that can cater to your specific laptop needs.

Intel® Processors

Intel® Core™

Core™ i9: For responsive gameplay
Core™ i7: For high-end gaming, multitasking, and content creation
Core™ i5: For business laptops
Core™ i3: For everyday tasks

AM D Processors

AMD Ryzen™

Ryzen™ 7: For high-performance, ultrathin laptops
Ryzen™ 5: For high productivity and entertainment in ultrathin laptops
Ryzen™ 3: For basic tasks in ultrathin laptops

AMD Athlon™

For high-quality visuals and features in mainstream laptops

AMD A-Series

A10: For gaming and entertainment
A9: For basic activities

Shop by processor brand: Intel │AMD

Memory

System memory, also referred to as random access memory (RAM), is what your laptop’s processor uses to run data and software while using it. If you’re using your laptop for projects that require a lot of multitasking, consider starting with a high amount of memory space. The memory will also impact the speed at which your laptop runs.

Memory is measured by gigabytes (GB). Most laptops come with 8GB of RAM, and high-performance/gaming laptops often have between 16 GB and 32GB of RAM. Since memory is not automatically included in your laptop, you can always purchase more if necessary.

Bus Clock: 100-166 MHz
Prefetch: 1n
Data Rate: 100-166 MT/s
Trans. Rate: 0.8-1.3 GB/s
Voltage: 3.3 V

Bus Clock: 533-800 MHz
Prefetch: 8n
Data Rate: 1066-1600 MT/s
Trans. Rate: 8.5-14.9 GB/s
Voltage: 1.35/1.5 V

Bus Clock: 1066-1600 MHz
Prefetch: 8n
Data Rate: 2133-3200 MT/s
Trans. Rate: 17-21.3 GB/s
Voltage: 1.2 V

Shop by memory type: SDRAM │ DDR3 │ DDR4

Internal Storage

Now it’s time to choose how your data and software will be safely stored. The two main types of storage are hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD).

Hard Drive Disks (HDD):

This is the most traditional option. They are inexpensive, so you can get more space for less money. You may consider going with HDD for heavy downloading, multimedia usage, graphic arts, and other tasks that need a lot of storage space.