1. Introduction
- Choosing the right laptop can be hectic, especially with so many options available. Whether you’re a student, editor, gamer, or casual user, having access to the best tips for buying a laptop can make the process easier and faster. This guide will help you selecting a laptop that fits both work and play.
- Not all laptops are equal. So, the main thing to remember is that the best laptop in the market is the best for you. With so many options available, it can get difficult to choose the right laptop.
- Whether you’re a student, a working professional, a gamer, or really just a casual user, laptop selection can quickly get overwhelming. In this article, we’ll go through some important factors and give you tips for buying a laptop. We will explain key features to help buyers make a decision.
2. Define Your Needs
- Work : If you’re a student, you need a laptop for surfing web, research, projects, document or video editing, and attending classes online. Whereas working professionals need laptops to be able to work away from the confines of the office, create documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
- Gaming : For gamers, performance is key. Pay attention to important tips for buying a laptop related to gaming specs like GPU, CPU, and display features. High refresh rate displays and cooling systems.
- Hybrid (for both): Hybrid laptops are focused on slim and lightweight designs, making them easy to carry between workspaces, working from home or gaming. These laptops are a balance between size and weight.
3. Key Specifications to Consider
- Processor (CPU): Think of the CPU as the heart of your laptop. For gaming and productivity on the same device, look for laptops equipped with the latest-generation top of the line CPUs, with 4.0 GHz clock speed or more, 8+ cores, 12+ threads, and overclocking features. Windows laptops are primarily powered by Intel or AMD Ryzen chipsets.
- Intel’s main processors are the Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. The Core i3 is the least powerful, and the Core i9 the most.
- The AMD Ryzen series has a similar categorisation of its Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 laptops. However, both Intel’s and AMD’s chipsets will also have yearly generations, where newer chipsets have more improvements and optimisations.
- Apple makes a number of chips these days, used in both MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones. Fortunately, the designations are pretty simple. There are three chips in the lineup: the M1, M2, and M3. The M1 is the oldest and slowest; the M3 is the newest and fastest.
- Memory (RAM): RAM is important because it gives functioning room to your computer’s brain, the CPU. RAM is extremely fast and responsive, so the CPU can fetch the data and instructions from there without slowing itself down. Thus, having more RAM and high-speed RAM is vital for a perceivably smooth experience on your PC.
- Older devices often have less than 4GB RAM. However, we do not consider 4GB or less RAM adequate for a good experience. You can get away with 4GB on Chromebooks, but we highly recommend everyone consider 8GB as the bare minimum. The experience you get with 8GB of RAM is functional and comfortable for personal and office use, like a handful of applications and browser tabs. 16GB is a comfortable amount of RAM for most people and is long term use as well. You can run various apps and games and multitask comfortably across both personal and office use cases.
- Storage (SSD vs. HDD): SSD and HDD are both storage devices used in computers, but they are different in how they store data. While a Solid-State Drive (SSD) stores data in integrated circuits, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) stores data magnetically via spinning disks. These storage devices also vary in terms of speed, adaptability, modernity, and user experience.
- In contrast, a Solid-State Drive (SSD) is a more advanced and efficient secondary storage device. It stores data using flash memory, which allows for faster, motionless operation.
- Battery Life: The battery life is very important to look for. One should always go for one that has long battery life. Most have six to eight hours of battery life. To determine a laptop’s battery life, don’t just believe what the brand says. Instead, try reading user reviews to know more about the laptop’s battery life.
4. Design
- Screen Size and Resolution: If you stare into your laptop screen for hours every day, make sure you go for a screen that’s easy on the eyes. Glossier screens tend to reflect surrounding light, so keep that in mind. Also note that touch screen laptops will have a glossy screen, so weigh up the pros and cons.
- Depending on how you will use your laptop, screen resolution will also be important. 1920×1080 is a full HD screen. This will give you great image quality and plenty of room to keep your windows in view.
- The standard FHD screen (1080p) should be good enough for most students and working professionals. This resolution is available on compact laptops and may also be seen with larger screens. It won’t be as crisp as your 4K TV, but will still maintain a good pixel density, enough to get work done, enjoy a movie or play a casual game.
- Keyboard and Trackpad: A comfortable keyboard is crucial for long hours of typing while working from home. Look for well-spaced keys and a tactile feel that suits your typing style. Some laptops also offer backlit keyboards for better visibility in low-light conditions.
5. Operating System: Windows, macOS, or Chrome OS?
- Windows: Most Indians learn how to use computers on a Windows machine. It’s the best choice if you need Microsoft apps like MS Office, Access, or Outlook. There are also more Windows computers to choose from than any other OS. Windows-based machines are also available in all price segments.
- macOS: Apple’s macOS is a bit more beginner-friendly than Windows, but it’s tightly coupled with the company’s hardware. Apple’s MacBook series come with the macOS operating system. Known for their supreme performance and feature-rich updates, macOS machines also work seamlessly with other Apple devices.
- Chrome OS: If you can do most of your tasks in a web browser, Chrome OS is a good choice. Chromebooks are affordable and well-integrated with Google apps and services, and are easy to use. However, Chromebooks lack the powerful specs of Windows laptops and the MacBook. Chromebooks are not that powerful for gaming.
6. Graphics Card
- For basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and watching videos, integrated graphics or entry-level dedicated GPUs are usually sufficient. An integrated GPU is advantageous for these tasks due to its cost-effectiveness and reduced power consumption.
- For gamers, the requirements vary based on the types of games you play and your desired settings. Modern games often demand high-end GPUs for optimal performance. Discrete GPUs are crucial for high-end gaming performance as they provide enhanced processing power and upgradability.
7. Budget Considerations
When choosing a new laptop, it’s important to search according to your budget. Here some key tips for buying a laptop to get the best value for your budget.
- Entry Level Laptops (Rs20000-Rs30000): Ideal for casual work, surfing, and streaming.
- Mid Range Laptops (Rs30000-Rs50000): Balancing work and light gaming.
- High End Laptops (Rs60000+): Powerful machines for professionals editors, gamers, and content creators.
8. Conclusion
- Everything you’ve read thus far should have given you a fair idea of what to pick in each category, similar to adding items to your cart at the store.
- Once you’ve narrowed the field to a few models, read some reviews and look for things beyond the specifications, like how the hinge holds up over time, how the keyboard feels, how the trackpad performs, and even how hot the bottom gets in your lap. Reading reviews like those is helpful because looking at specs won’t tell you whether a hinge is poorly made or feels sticky, or whether the lid scratches easily. Now at the end this tips for buying a laptop will help you find the one you are looking for.
Some Good Laptops
- ASUS Vivo book 14 Thin – Intel Core i3 1215U Processor 1.2 GHz (10M Cache, up to 4.4 GHz, 6 cores) Efficient Multitasking. 512GB M.2 NV Me PCIe 4.0 SSD. 8GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM. 14.0-inch (35.56 cms), FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz Refresh Rate, IPS-Level Panel. Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
- Apple MacBook Air – System on Chip (SoC), Apple M1 chip, 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, 16-core Neural Engine. 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology. Apple 8-core GPU. 2560-by-1600 native resolution at 227 pixels per inch with support for millions of colours.
- HP Chromebook x360 – MediaTek Kompanio 1200 (up to 2.6 GHz(2j), 2 MB L3 cache, 8 cores). 8 GB LPDDR4x-4266 MHz RAM (onboard)| Storage: 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD 100 GB Google Cloud storage (1 year). 13.3 FHD multitouch-enabled, IPS, edge-to-edge glass, micro-edge, Brightness: 250 nits, Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080, Color Gamut: 45% NTSC. Graphics: MediaTek Integrated Arm Mali Graphics.
- Dell Inspiron 3505 – AMD Ryzen 3 3250U Mobile Processor with Radeon Graphics. 8GB RAM, 1TB 5400 RPM 2.5″ Hard Disk Drive. 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-glare LED Backlight Narrow Border WVA Display. Integrated graphics with AMD Radeon Vega.
- Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop – AMD Ryzen 7-7735HS processor – 8 cores, max turbo up to 4.75 Ghz, RAM: 16 GB of DDR5 system memory, upgradable to 32 GB (Memory Frequency: Up to 4800 MT/s). 15.6″ display with IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology, Full HD 1920 x 1080, Acer ComfyView LED-backlit TFT LCD, 16:9 aspect ratio, supporting 144 Hz refresh rate. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6. 512 GB SSD.
- MSI Crosshair 16 HX – 14th Generation Intel Core i7-14650HX Up To 5.2GHz. 16:10 QHD+(2560 x 1600), 240Hz, 100% DCI-P3, IPS-level panel. 8GBx2 DDR5 Dual Channel RAM. Storage: 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 SSD. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, GDDR6 8GB.