Choose a laptop that fits your needs and budget
A laptop worth buying is one with enough power for what you do, no more and no less. The tool below asks about your main use, preferred brand and any extras, then takes you to the right group in thirty seconds.
What will you mostly use it for?
Any brand preference?
Anything else you need?
The three specs to check first
- RAM: 8GB is a comfortable minimum for office work today; go for 16GB if you keep many tabs open or use creative software.
- SSD storage: a must; machines with old hard drives boot and open apps far more slowly.
- CPU: look at the generation, not just i5 or i7; a recent i5 often beats an older i7.
Used laptops: what to check on arrival
Check the battery wear, every key, the hinges, charging port, speakers, webcam and the screen for dead pixels. Ask the seller exactly how long the warranty lasts and keep the box and receipt. Read how to buy a used laptop.
Gaming laptops: the graphics card decides
For games and video editing, the dedicated graphics card matters more than the CPU. Gaming laptops run hotter, weigh more and have shorter battery life, so a cooling pad and the original charger are close to essential.
Accessories worth buying together
A backpack or padded sleeve sized to your screen, a stand or cooling pad that lifts the screen for your neck, and a separate mouse for long sessions. See laptop backpacks and cooling pads.