Laptop Buyer’s Guide

First things first, do you need a laptop?

No, really! Laptops may not always be the best choice for everyone. If you don’t plan on taking your computer anywhere, perhaps a desktop would be better. If you need some serious graphics power and already know your way around computer parts, your money may go farther building your own desktop computer. If you already have a budget in mind, check out the pricing brackets on logicalincrements.com.

Do you prefer the touch interface and smaller size of a tablet but need to some real typing every now and again? See if you can find a keyboard accessory that suits you. If portability is key and gaming is your focus, consider Valve’s Steam Deck. Similar to an Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck runs on an OS by Steam that allows you to play many computer games that may already be in your Steam library. The Steam Deck starts at $399, but consider upgrading to one of the new OLED models (starting at $549) that boasts a better screen and battery life along with other optimizations.

Which Operating System?

For the time being, Laptop Seeker is focused on developing guidance for Windows laptops.

Apple of course provides a range of alternatives in both laptops and tablets. While Apple laptops tend to be more expensive for the raw specs compared to Windows, many people like the interface better and some developers focus on software for Apple. Some people also like the built-in integration with other Apple devices such as phones and smart watches.

Chromebooks are decent budget choice for accessing the internet and streaming content, but are limited to Google’s ecosystem of apps on the Google Play store. Since most of the processing and nearly all of your data is in the cloud, the processors do not need to be very powerful – but these savings come at the cost of offline functionality. If you need to work offline or have a poor internet connection, Chromebooks may not be for you.

However, if you need a device for a child that will prevent them from accessing inappropriate content or messing with the device’s settings, Chromebooks may be the answer, especially if you are already familiar with Google’s interfaces. While it is possible to place parental controls on a Windows laptop, these are more complex to set up.

Performance vs Price: What do you want to do with your laptop and how much will it cost?

This is central question that Laptop Seeker hopes to help you answer. These ranges are based on typical retail prices for new computers without accounting for sales, etc.

Budget Range: ~ $300 to ~ $500

Do you just need to check your email, do some homework, and stream your favorite shows? Budget laptops should be able to handle this with ease. Some light gaming is possible in this performance bracket, but don’t expect much beyond older games and e-sports titles. Be sure to check out our minimum recommended specs for this tier.

Mid-Range: ~ $500 to ~ $1000

If you intend to use your laptop extensively for work or leisure then the stronger processors in mid-range laptops may serve you well by ensuring a smooth experience and minimizing the time you spend waiting on the computer. With more RAM and better processors, more complex workloads and multi-tasking become possible without substantially increasing the time you spend waiting on your laptop to catch up. You can expect play recent games on gaming-oriented laptops at this tier, but on reduced settings. Mid-range may not get as much bang for the buck as a budget laptop, but the improvements in performance are still significant relative to the increase in price.

High-End: ~ $1000 and up

Professionals and serious gamers on the move should consider high-end machines that rival their desktop counterparts. Obtaining that level of performance in a portable package does not come cheaply however. Give serious consideration to a desktop system that will usually be cheaper for the same performance. Still, the premium price tag for high-end laptops may be well worth it for people without fixed places to work or play. Professionals should also view their laptop as an investment and factor in the value of the time that could be saved by a more powerful machine.

Ergonomic considerations:

Give some thought to how large of laptop you prefer. Laptops usually range from 11.6 to 17.3 inches, measured diagonally, with 13 to 15 inches being the most common. Buyers looking for a full keyboard will need to shop for 15 inches and larger.

Would like to open up your laptop in non-traditional ways? Look for hinges that allow the laptop to lay flat or swing back around like a tablet and make sure it has a touch screen.

Double-check the number and type of ports that the laptop has to make sure that your accessories will fit. Traditional USB ports (Type A) or USB Type-C? Is HDMI sufficient for your video cable needs or do you need something different? Do you require a highspeed connection like Thunderbolt? Check the specifications of the laptop to make sure.

How important is the visual quality of the screen to you? Higher resolutions may give you sharper images but also bring higher performance requirements.

Finally be sure to look over the laptop for other nice-to-have features that may matter to you like a backlit keyboard, or nicer speakers.

Battery Life: General Guidance

Not all laptop processors are equal in wattage. While battery capacities between laptops vary, lower wattage processors will tend to last longer while on battery. Intel and AMD use some similar suffixes for their processors, but the actual wattage ranges vary. For AMD, U < HS < H & HX. For Intel U < P < H.

If battery life is most important to you, go for a U class processor. For more performance while retaining some decent battery life, go for P or HS class processors. If you want a mobile workstation or gaming setup that will usually stay tethered to a power outlet, the H and HX class processors will probably serve you best.

Purchasing with the intent to upgrade later:

Only buyers who are confident in their technical skills should consider this strategy. Manufacturers and retailers frequently list laptops with higher RAM and Storage options at a considerable markup to the base model. This markup is often more expensive than the price to purchase a larger SSD or more RAM yourself – provided you can install the upgrades yourself. However, paying a technician to perform the upgrade may be expensive enough to erase your intended savings. Replacing RAM yourself is relatively straightforward as it only requires disassembly to access the RAM modules and then reassembling the laptop. The process gets more complicated when upgrading storage drives. Unless you have cloning software, replacing the drive also requires transferring data and reinstalling the OS/programs.

Buying Used Laptops

Like bargain hunting to upgrade later, shopping used laptops requires a bit of expertise. Be careful when considering a deal. Battery life degrades over time and with every charge cycle. Factor in the cost of replacing the battery if battery life matters to you. Also, the original warranty will have probably expired so pay close attention to photos of the laptop for damage to the screen and other components. For these reasons, if you do go for a pre-owned PC, check out refurbished laptops. Refurbished laptops typically have a short warranty guaranteeing the laptop’s functionality and battery condition, but usually have some degree of cosmetic imperfections and wear.

Keep in mind that improvements in computer processing power continue to compound over time and that the difference in performance over a few years can be enormous. Be sure to compare the performance of the used computer to similarly priced new alternatives.