Laptops

How to choose a laptop

The right laptop depends on how you actually use it every day. A student who mainly writes assignments and browses the web doesn’t need the same machine as someone editing 4K video or playing the latest games. Before looking at models, think about where you use your laptop most – at a desk, on the sofa or on the go – and which tasks matter most: office work, study, creative projects, light gaming or a mix of everything.

Once you’re clear on your main use cases, it becomes easier to choose the right balance of performance, battery life, screen size and price. The goal is to avoid both extremes: overpaying for power you never use, or saving a little now and ending up with a slow, frustrating laptop in a year or two.

• Processor (CPU): Modern Intel Core and AMD Ryzen chips are usually more than enough for everyday tasks. People who edit photos, videos or work with large files benefit from mid-range or higher-end CPUs.
• Memory (RAM): 8 GB can still handle basic use, but 16 GB is a much safer baseline for multitasking, study and most professional work. Heavy creative or development work may benefit from even more.
• Storage (SSD): An SSD makes the whole system feel faster. Aim for at least 512 GB if you plan to keep lots of apps, documents and media on the laptop; 1 TB is more comfortable for large photo or video libraries.
• Screen & size: 13–14″ models are great for portability, while 15–16″ laptops offer more space for multitasking. If you work long hours, a brighter, sharper display is worth prioritising.
• Battery life: If you move a lot between rooms, classes or offices, look for models known for lasting a full day away from a charger.

Laptops by type of user and budget

Instead of scrolling through hundreds of listings, it helps to think in clear groups: laptops for students, business laptops for work, creator laptops for editing, or affordable all-rounders for home and family use. Each group can focus on the features that matter most for that user – weight, ports, battery, graphics or screen quality.

Some laptops are designed to be as light and quiet as possible, others focus on raw performance, and many try to balance both. Knowing which group you belong to makes it easier to ignore models that don’t fit your daily routine.

• Laptops for students and online classes with good keyboards and long battery life.
• Business and remote-work laptops with strong build quality and useful ports.
• Budget laptops for everyday home use, browsing and simple office tasks.
• Creator laptops with better graphics and colour-accurate screens for editing.
• Lightweight ultrabooks for frequent travellers who value portability.

When is it time to upgrade your laptop?

Laptops don’t last forever. Even if they still turn on, older machines can become slow, noisy and frustrating to use. If you’re waiting a long time for apps to open, your battery no longer lasts through a meeting or lecture, or your laptop struggles with new software, it may be more efficient to upgrade than to keep patching an outdated system.

Common upgrade triggers include moving from a hard-drive laptop to a modern SSD machine, stepping up from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM, or switching from a bulky model to a lighter laptop that’s easier to carry every day.