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

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Laptops are compact enough to carry with you, yet powerful 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.

Whether you are just browsing the web, needing to type a research paper, working on video production, or playing some of the best PC games, it's all best done on a laptop. So, how do you know what to look for in a laptop? Well, we've put together this laptop-buying guide to help answer that question for you.

Laptops come in a wide variety of sizes, features, and prices, making choosing the best laptop a challenge. That's why you need to figure out what your needs are.

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Quick tips

• 12.5 to 14-inch screens offer the best balance between usability and portability. Larger screens are fine if you don't travel much and smaller models are great for kids.

• If you're spending over $700, shoot for these minimum specs:

  • CPU: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 

  • Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080

  • RAM: 8GB 

  • Storage: 128GB SSD

• 10+ hours of battery life in our test is ideal if you will regularly be working away from an outlet.

• Consider a 2-in-1 laptop (either a convertible or detachable) if you want to use your laptop as a tablet. If not, a standard clamshell notebook is a better choice.

• Chromebooks are excellent options for kids, students, or as secondary laptops, but their functionality keeps growing so if web browsing, content consumption, and light productivity are all you want, don't rule them out. If you need access to more powerful software and hardware then Windows 11 laptops and MacBooks both offer plenty of functionality; which platform you prefer is a matter of personal taste.

1. Pick a platform: Windows vs. macOS vs. ChromeOS?

Depending on your needs this could be an easy choice, but if you don't have any existing loyalties to a platform or specific software that you need this can be a challenging question to answer. If you are in that latter camp here's a quick overview of each platform’s strengths and weaknesses to help you decide.

Most laptops come with one of three operating systems: Windows, ChromeOS, or macOS (for MacBooks only).

Windows 11 (or Windows 10)

The most flexible operating system, Windows 11, runs on more laptop models than Chrome OS or macOS. Windows notebooks range in price from under $150 to several thousand dollars and offer a wide array of features from touch screens to fingerprint readers to dual graphics chips. Windows 11, the latest version of Microsoft's flagship operating system, provides several improvements over Windows 10, including the revised interface, the new Microsoft Store, handy features like Snap View.

Since its launch in October 2021, Windows 11 has also added many improvements, including Focus Sessions and a Do Not Disturb mode. The 22H2 update also came with notable performance and battery optimization enhancements. Windows 11 laptops are great for students, researchers, and business users, and they're still the only gaming laptops anyone should consider.

macOS

All MacBooks come with Apple's latest desktop operating system, macOS Sonoma. Overall, the operating system offers similar functionality to Windows 11, but with a different take on the interface that substitutes an apps dock at the bottom of the screen for Microsoft's Start menu and taskbar. Instead of the Cortana digital assistant, Mac users get Siri. They can also perform transactions with Apple Pay, take calls or texts from their phones, and unlock their laptops with an Apple Watch.

However, macOS isn't made for touch, because no MacBook comes with a touch screen. While Apple did bring iPad apps to its laptops starting with macOS Big Sur  (iPad and iPadOS apps can run natively on M1, M2, and M3 Macs), you have to rely on a touchpad or mouse to navigate them. macOS Ventura brought Apple's Stage Manager for handling multitasking, which is an upgrade, but much more difficult to master than Windows solution.

ChromeOS

Google's ChromeOS is simple and secure, but more limited than Windows or macOS. The user interface looks a lot like Windows with an application menu, a desktop, and the ability to drag windows around, but the primary focus is still the Chrome browser. All modern Chromebooks, like the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook can run Android apps, but they aren't always optimized for use in a laptop form factor.

The growing functionality of ChromeOS and improved performance of even relatively cheap recent Chromebooks like the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 have expanded the use cases for ChromeOS laptops in recent years. Unless you have specific software only available on Windows or macOS, a Chromebook is a solid choice for most users.

They are also extremely popular with schools, parents, and increasingly businesses because they are hard to infect with malware. For educational use, they offer something closer to a full laptop experience and are more functional than most tablets. If you need a Chromebook, look for one with at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage if this is a secondary laptop, if it's a primary laptop we'd recommend 8GB of RAM and an SSD rather than eMMC flash memory. A screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution is preferred and you can now find 4K and OLED models if you plan to watch a lot of content on the Chromebook.

2. Decide if you want a 2-in-1

Many PC laptops fall into the category of 2-in-1 laptops, hybrid devices that can switch between traditional clamshell mode, tablet mode and other positions in between such as tent or stand modes. 2-in-1s generally come in two different styles: detachables with screens that come off the keyboard entirely and convertible laptops with hinges that bend back 360 degrees to change modes.

Most of these touchscreen laptops are much better at serving one purpose than the other, with convertibles being laptops first and detachables offering a superior tablet experience. However, if you don't see the need to use your notebook as a slate, you'll usually get more performance for your money with a traditional clamshell laptop.

3. Choose the right size

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

• 11 to 12 inches: Maximum portability, but outside of cheap laptops and detachables we rarely see this size class as new materials and slimmer bezels made the next size class easily portable as well.

• 13 to 14 inches: This is the sweet spot for a lot of laptop users as it gives you enough screen real estate while typically weighing 3 pounds or less and easily fitting in any laptop bag.

• 15 to 16 inches: The most common size remains 15-inch laptops, usually weighing between 3 and 5.5 pounds, while 16-inch laptops like the MacBook Pro 16 are rising in popularity. Consider these sizes if you want a larger screen and you're not planning to carry your notebook around too often.

• 17 to 18 inches: If your laptop is basically a desktop that you only occasionally pick up and go. A 17-inch laptop or one of the newly emerging 18-inch laptops could provide you with the power you need to play high-end games or do workstation-level tasks.

  • See our guide to the best 17-inch laptops.

4. Check that keyboard and touchpad

The most impressive specs in the world don't mean diddly if the laptop you're shopping for doesn't have good ergonomics. If you plan to do a lot of work on your computer, make sure the keyboard offers solid tactile feedback, plenty of key travel (the distance the key goes down when pressed, usually 1 to 2mm) and enough space between the keys. If you're buying a Windows laptop, be sure it has Precision touchpad drivers.

Look for a large and accurate touchpad that doesn't give you a jumpy cursor and responds consistently to multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom. Lenovo fans still love the pointing stick (aka nub), which looks like an eraser head between the G and H keys so you can navigate around the desktop without lifting your fingers off the keyboard's home row.

5. Pick your specs

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

Here are the main components to keep an eye on.

CPU: The "brains" of your computer, the processor has a huge influence on performance, but depending on what you want to do, even the least-expensive model may be good enough. Here's a rundown:

• Apple M1, M2 and M3: Apple's custom silicon, the ARM-based M1, M2 and M3 chips set a new standard when it comes to a balance of raw performance and endurance that is only now being challenged. Opt for the Pro or Max variants if you need even more power for tasks like content creation or programming.

• Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite: Qualcomm's new ARM-based chip is grabbing a lot of attention as the only currently shipping chip in Copilot+ PCs. While it isn't ideal for gaming, it offers excellent productivity performance and strong battery life for Windows laptops.

• Intel 14th Gen CPUs: Intel's 14th Gen Meteor Lake processors are its latest and we've reviewed several laptops with these chips already. If you are in the market for a Windows laptop the AI tech built into the new Intel Core Ultra CPUs combined with the impressive performance and battery life we've seen on many is hard to beat.

• Intel 13th Gen CPUs: Intel's 13th Gen Raptor Lake processors are the previous generation, but still power the majority of new laptops on the market. From the HX series at the high-end to the balanced P-series and thin-and-light friendly U-Series, Intel started to deliver a better

• AMD Ryzen 8000: AMD's answer to Intel's Core Ultra chipset, the Ryzen 8000 series features a similar focus on AI enhancements, we are still waiting to get an AMD Ryzen 8000 laptop in to review, but will update once we see how it stacks up against the competition.

• AMD Ryzen 7000: The Ryzen 7000 chips from AMD are just rolling out now, so we are still waiting to get laptops with them in our labs for texting, but the company claims we can expect a roughly 78% boost to CPU performance at the top end. If it can still maintain its excellent battery life along with it that will be incredibly compelling.

• Intel Core i9: Core i9 processors provide faster performance than any other mobile chip. Available only on premium laptops, workstations and high-end gaming rigs, Core i9 CPUs are only worth their premium price if you're a power user who uses the most demanding programs and apps. Typically feature 14 total cores.

• Intel Core i7: A step up from Core i5, models with numbers that end in H use higher wattage and have between 10 and 14 cores, allowing for even faster gaming and productivity. There are also Core i7 P and U series chips that have lower power and performance. Keep an eye out for CPUs that have a 12 in the model number because they are part of Intel's latest lineup.

• Intel Core i5: If you're looking for a mainstream laptop with the best combination of price and performance, get one with an Intel Core i5 CPU. Models that end in U are the most common with lower power and performance to preserve battery life while models with a P use more wattage, while still offering better efficiency than the H-Series.

• Intel Core i3: Performance is just a step below Core i5 and so is the price. If you can step up to a Core i5, we recommend it.

• Intel Xeon: Extremely powerful and expensive processors for large mobile workstations. If you do professional-grade engineering, 3D modeling or video editing, you might want a Xeon, but you won't get good battery life or a light laptop.

• Intel Pentium / Celeron: Still found in sub $400 laptops, these chips offer the slowest performance, but can do if your main tasks are web surfing and light document editing. If you can pay more to get a Core i3 or i5, you'd be better off.

• AMD A, FX or E Series: Found on low-cost laptops, AMD's processors -- the company calls them APUs rather than CPUs --  provide decent performance for the money that's good enough for web surfing, media viewing and productivity.

RAM: Some sub-$250 laptops come with only 4GB of RAM, but ideally you want at least 8GB on even a budget system and 16GB if you can spend just a little more. Even for most power users 32GB is more than enough, while 64GB and above is reserved for professional power users, high-end gamers, or those who just want to see how much RAM can fit in a laptop.

Storage (SSD): As important as the speed of your CPU is the performance of your storage drive. Actual hard drives have no place in a laptop in 2023, so stick to a solid state drive (SSD).

Sub-$250 laptops often use eMMC memory, which is technically solid-state but not faster than a mechanical hard drive, so if you have the choice of bumping up to an SSD from eMMC on even a budget laptop it will have a considerable impact.

Display: The more pixels you have, the more content you can fit on-screen, and the sharper it will look. Sadly, some budget laptops still have 1366 x 768 displays, but if you can afford it, we recommend paying extra for a panel that runs at 1920 x 1080, also known as Full HD or 1080p. Higher-end laptops have screens that are 2560 x 1600, 3200 x 1800, or even 3840 x 2160 (4K), which all look sharp but consume more power, lowering your battery life.

Display quality is about much more than resolution. IPS panels range in color and brightness, so read our reviews to find out if the laptop you're considering has a good display. We typically look for a DCI-P3 color rating of over 85% and brightness great than 300 nits. If you want the very best picture quality consider an OLED display or miniLED, but read reviews of these models carefully as there can be battery trade-offs.

Touch Screen: If you're buying a regular clamshell laptop, rather than a 2-in-1, you won't get much benefit from a touch screen and you will get 1 to 2 hours less battery life. On 2-in-1s, touch screens come standard. If you still want a touch screen, check out our best touch screen laptops page.

Graphics Chip: If you're not playing PC games, creating 3D objects or doing high-res video editing, an integrated graphics chip (one that shares system memory) will be fine, especially Intel's Iris Xe graphics. If you have any of the above needs, though, a discrete graphics processor from Nvidia or AMD is essential.

As with CPUs, there are both high- and low-end graphics chips. Low-end gaming or workstation systems today usually have Nvidia GTX RTX A1000 or RTX 3050 Ti GPUs while mid-range models have RTX 4050 or RTX 4050 Ti and high-end models have RTX 4070 or above chips. Nvidia maintains a list of its graphics chips from low to high end.

Nvidia's rivals, AMD, launched the Radeon RX 7000 GPUs at CES in January of 2023. AMD also keeps a list of its graphics cards.

Ports: While the absence of ports is usually not a deal-breaker when choosing a laptop, it's helpful to get the connections you need right on the system, rather than having to carry a slew of dongles. However, many mainstream laptops now only offer USB Type-C, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4 ports that are USB Type-C compatible. Having legacy USB 3.0 ports, an audio jack, an SD card reader, and HDMI can be useful, but depending on the type of laptop you are considering these features are growing harder to find.

With that said, USB Type-C is a definite plus because you can use it to connect to USB Type-C hubs or docking stations that can give you any combination of ports you might need.

Connectivity: If you need to use your laptop on the go, consider buying a 4G LTE laptop or 5G laptop. You'll have to pay for a data subscription plan, but this will allow you to access the internet away from a router. If you want a laptop with the latest and greatest connectivity options, Wi-Fi 7 is it. However, Wi-Fi 6e is still excellent and far more common. Keep in mind that you also need a Wi-Fi 6e or Wi-Fi 7 router in order to actually enjoy the benefits of that performance boost.

We also suggest looking for a laptop with Bluetooth 5.3, the latest standard that offers improved connectivity with Bluetooth-enabled devices, like mice and headphones.

DVD/Blu-ray Drives: If you love physical media times are tough in the laptop world for you. Optical drives are virtually entirely gone, because all software and movies are downloadable, we continue to track down laptops with DVD drives, but it's a challenge these days. If you really need to read/write discs we strongly recommend leaving this off the wish list for your laptop and buying an external DVD drive.

6. Don’t Skimp on Battery Life

If you're buying a large, bulky notebook or a gaming rig that you'll use only on a desk near an outlet, you don't have to worry about battery life. However, if you plan to use the laptop on the go, you'll want at least 8 hours of endurance, with 10+ hours being ideal. To determine a notebook's 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 can buy a usable laptop for under $200, but if you can budget more, you'll get a system with better build quality, stronger performance and a better display. Here's what you can get for each price range.

• $150 to $250: The least-expensive notebooks are either Chromebooks, which run Google's browser-centric OS, or low-end Windows systems with minimal storage and slower processors, such as the HP Stream 11 and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. Use these as secondary computers only or give them to the kids.

• $350 to $600: For under $600, you can get a notebook with an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5000 CPU, 4 to 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, all respectable specs. However, there are sure to be some trade-offs to hit that price. There are outliers like the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook or the Samsung Galaxy Book.

• $600 to $900: As you get above $600, you'll start to see more premium designs, such as metal finishes. Manufacturers also start to add in other features as you climb the price ladder, including higher-resolution displays and SSDs. The Apple MacBook Air M2 is typically in this price range along with Acer Swift Go 14.

• Above $900: At this price range, expect notebooks that are more portable, more powerful or both. Expect higher-resolution screens, faster processors, and possibly discrete graphics. The lightest, longest-lasting ultraportables, like the MacBook Air M3 or Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (2024), tend to cost more than $1,000. High-end gaming systems and mobile workstations usually cost upward of $1,500 or even as much as $2,500 or $3,000.

MORE: Best Laptops Under $500

8. Mind the Brand

Your laptop is only as good as the company that stands behind it. Accurate and timely technical support is paramount, which is why Laptop Mag evaluates every major brand in our annual Tech Support Showdown. This year Apple claimed first place, followed by Razer in second and Lenovo in third.

Support is only part of what makes a notebook brand worth your money. You also have to consider how the manufacturer stacks up to the competition in terms of design, value and selection, review performance, and other criteria.