Technology isn’t what it used to be. Back in the day, we’d be lucky if a new, faster computer or cell phone came out every few years. Nowadays, it seems like a new smartphone is being released every 6 months and the same goes for laptops. When these new models are released, stores need to get rid of their old laptop inventory and sell it for much cheaper than they cost just months before.
If you’ve ever tried shopping for a laptop before, the massive amount of options might have been overwhelming. In addition to the general hardware specs, there are other things to keep in mind such as weight, battery life, and other choices that are unique to laptops in particular. Should you go with a larger and faster unit, or should you select a portable 2 in 1?
Instead of trying to answer all those questions separately, a good tactic is to pick your use case before everything else. Figure out what you want to do with the laptop first. Are you going to play lots of games on it, or will it strictly be for word processing and some light web browsing? Once you have that settled, you will be able to drastically narrow down your perfect purchase.
What will you be doing on the laptop?
It’s important to remember that unlike a desktop, laptops aren’t very easy to upgrade. Because of that, you should figure out everything you will be doing before you buy a particular model. If you’re a student who just needs something to type up reports and take to class, you could grab a lightweight budget model. Mid-range units with a decent processor and memory will give you more oomph if you are going to be coding and compiling. If gaming or video editing, you’ll want to open up your wallet for something more high-end with a dedicated graphics card on top of a strong CPU.
What features on a laptop are important?
The categories that will matter to most use cases are performance, processor speed, graphics power, weight, battery life, screen size, and budget. If you plan to use your laptop on the go, you might be willing to sacrifice computing power and screen size for lower weight and longer battery life. On the other hand, if this will primarily be used at home plugged in, battery life and weight might not matter at all to you. A dedicated graphics card comes into play if you plan on doing some gaming or video rendering. Speaking of games, you’ll probably also want to spring for a high-resolution screen and ample storage too.
Of course, there are a few things that you’ll want to have no matter what other features you focus on. Among them are:
• At least 256 GB of storage space on a laptop, or 64 GB on a Chromebook.
• At least 8 GB of RAM, or 4 GB on a Chromebook.
• USB Ports to plug in peripherals like your mouse or external hard drives. Be sure to see what type they are too, since most mice will require older USB-A ports and not USB-C.
• A webcam so you can do conference calls or other forms of telecommunication when needed. This is especially important in the world we live in today.
Other options that could be nice but aren’t absolutely necessary are:
• A touchscreen, which will be standard on most 2-in-1s or other tablet-like laptops.
• A keyboard with backlighting so you can type in the dark.
• A screen with at least 1080p resolution.
• A camera with at least 1080p resolution and a decent built-in microphone for video conferencing.
• USB-C charging so you can charge your laptop with a wide range of cables instead of a proprietary brick.
• A microSD card slot so you can add more storage, or easily transfer photos from other devices.
• Modern security features such as facial recognition or a finger print scanner.
• Latest Wi-Fi technologies such as 802.11ax (WiFi-6) so it can take advantage of the newest wireless standards.
Things to avoid when buying a laptop
Everyone loves a good deal, but keep in mind the old adage of “you get what you pay for”. After all, cost reductions have to come from somewhere. You might be sacrificing on features you will end up needing by going with something too cheap. Saving some money now could mean needing to upgrade sooner, which would end up costing you more in the long run.
That’s why it’s so important to really nail down what you will need before you make a final purchase. If you go with a cheaper model with less battery life even though you’ll be traveling around, it could run out of juice at an inopportune time. Not getting enough storage space up front could spell disaster, especially since it’s becoming harder to upgrade the hard drive on certain newer models.
In the same vein, don’t pay extra for things you know you won’t need. If you won’t be doing a lot of gaming or video editing, good graphics on a laptop carry a very high premium. Having the option is nice, but will it be worth hundreds of dollars to you? Going super thin and lightweight when you don’t need to will also add a lot of cost while taking a performance hit. Finally, some premium features are only worth it in fringe cases. Built-in broadband is almost never worth the extra dough unless you know for certain you will need to use the internet in areas with no wi-fi.
Where should you buy your laptop?
There are three choices when you are finally ready to make your purchase. You can either buy online directly from the manufacturer, buy online through an online store like Amazon, or buy in-person from a brick-and-mortar store like Best Buy. Each has their own advantages, and the final choice is ultimately up to you.
If you know what specific model and brand you want, buying direct from manufacturer will give you the most customization options. Or rather, you will have access to pretty much ALL of the options, including ones that might not be available in stores. While going with an online retailer might mean you can’t get certain configurations, you do have access to all of the other brands. That gives you a lot of flexibility.
Finally, brick-and-mortar stores have the least options, but give you an option to try and feel a laptop before buying. This could be important if you want to see how the image quality or viewing angles look in-person, or how the keyboard feels to type on. In addition, it’ll make returns and replacements quicker if you take home a dud or a unit with immediate problems.
As for which of the three will give you the best value, that’ll be up to you to figure out. Sales are constantly going on, and doing your research ahead of time is the only way to save the most possible. In fact, doing your research is probably the most important takeaway of this article. Reading reviews and spec sheets will be able to tell you if you are paying the best price for the laptop that will be perfect for you.
Top Laptop Deals
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Price: $199
Specifications:
MediaTek Helio P60T processor
4GB RAM
64GB eMMC storage
10.1-inch Full HD touchscreen display
Chrome OS
Long battery life
Detachable keyboard
Description: The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a great option for students or anyone who wants a versatile and portable laptop. It’s a 2-in-1 laptop, which means you can use it as a traditional laptop or as a tablet. It’s powered by a MediaTek Helio P60T processor, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. The 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage are also sufficient for these tasks. The 10.1-inch Full HD touchscreen display is clear and bright, and the Chrome OS operating system is simple and easy to use. The Chromebook Duet also has a long battery life, so you can use it all day without having to worry about running out of power.
HP Chromebook 11 G6
Price: $199
Specifications:
Intel Celeron N3350 processor
4GB RAM
32GB eMMC storage
11.6-inch HD display
Chrome OS
Long battery life
Description: The HP Chromebook 11 G6 is a great option for students or anyone who wants a basic laptop for everyday tasks. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron N3350 processor, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. The 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage are also sufficient for these tasks. The 11.6-inch HD display is clear and bright, and the Chrome OS operating system is simple and easy to use. The Chromebook 11 G6 also has a long battery life, so you can use it all day without having to worry about running out of power.
ASUS VivoBook L203MA
Price: $299
Specifications:
Intel Celeron N4000 processor
4GB RAM
64GB eMMC storage
11.6-inch HD display
Windows 10 Home in S Mode
Long battery life
Lightweight and portable
Description: The ASUS VivoBook L203MA is a great option for students or anyone looking for a basic laptop for everyday tasks. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. The 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage are also sufficient for these tasks. The 11.6-inch HD display is clear and bright, and the Windows 10 Home in S Mode operating system is easy to use. The VivoBook L203MA also has a long battery life, so you can use it all day without having to worry about running out of power.
Lenovo IdeaPad 330
Price: $299
Specifications:
Intel Celeron N4100 processor
4GB RAM
128GB SSD storage
15.6-inch HD display
Windows 10 Home
Durable build quality
Description: The Lenovo IdeaPad 330 is a great option for students or anyone looking for a budget-friendly laptop with a bit more power than the ASUS VivoBook L203MA. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron N4100 processor, which is a bit faster than the N4000 processor in the VivoBook L203MA. The 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD storage are also more generous, which will give you more room to store your files and applications. The 15.6-inch HD display is also larger than the VivoBook L203MA’s display, making it a better option for watching videos or working on documents.
HP Chromebook 14
Price: $299
Specifications:
AMD A4-9120 processor
4GB RAM
32GB eMMC storage
14-inch HD display
Chrome OS
Long battery life
Description: The HP Chromebook 14 is a great option for students or anyone who wants a laptop that’s easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. It’s powered by an AMD A4-9120 processor, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. The 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage are also sufficient for these tasks. The 14-inch HD display is clear and bright, and the Chrome OS operating system is simple and easy to use. The Chromebook 14 also has a long battery life, so you can use it all day without having to worry about running out of power.
Lenovo Flex 11
Price: $299
Specifications:
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 processor
4GB RAM
64GB eMMC storage
11.6-inch HD touchscreen display
Windows 10 Home in S Mode
2-in-1 design
Description: The Lenovo Flex 11 is a great option for students or anyone who wants a laptop that’s both portable and versatile. It’s a 2-in-1 laptop, which means you can use it as a traditional laptop or as a tablet. It’s powered by an Intel Pentium Silver N5000 processor, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. The 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage are also sufficient for these tasks. The 11.6-inch HD touchscreen display is clear and bright, and the Windows 10 Home in S Mode operating system is easy to use.
ASUS Chromebook C223NA
Price: $299
Specifications:
Intel Celeron N3350 processor
4GB RAM
32GB eMMC storage
11.6-inch HD display
Chrome OS
Long battery life
Description: The ASUS Chromebook C223NA is a great option for students or anyone who wants a laptop that’s easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron N3350 processor, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. The 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage are also sufficient for these tasks. The 11.6-inch HD display is clear and bright, and the Chrome OS operating system is simple and easy to use. The Chromebook C223NA also has a long battery life, so you can use it all day without having to worry about running out of power.
Acer Chromebook 11
Price: $299
Specifications:
Intel Celeron N4000 processor
4GB RAM
32GB eMMC storage
11.6-inch HD display
Chrome OS
Long battery life
Description: The Acer Chromebook 11 is a great option for students or anyone who wants a laptop that’s easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. The 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage are also sufficient for these tasks. The 11.6-inch HD display is clear and bright, and the Chrome OS operating system is simple and easy to use. The Chromebook 11 also has a long battery life, so you can use it all day without having to worry about running out of power.
HP Stream 14
Price: $299
Specifications:
Intel Celeron N4000 processor
4GB RAM
64GB eMMC storage
14-inch HD display
Windows 10 S Mode
Long battery life
Description: The HP Stream 14 is a great option for students or anyone looking for a basic laptop for everyday tasks. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, which is enough for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and watching videos. The 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage are also sufficient for these tasks. The 14-inch HD display is clear and bright, and the Windows 10 S Mode operating system is easy to use. The Stream 14 also has a long battery life, so you can use it all day without having to worry about running out of power.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
Price: $299
Specifications:
Intel Celeron N4020 processor
4GB RAM
128GB SSD storage
15.6-inch HD display
Windows 10 Home
Durable build quality
Description: The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a great option for students or anyone looking for a budget-friendly laptop with a bit more power than the HP Stream 14. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, which is a bit faster than the N4000 processor in the Stream 14. The 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD storage are also more generous, which will give you more room to store your files and applications. The 15.6-inch HD display is also larger than the Stream 14’s display, making it a better option for watching videos or working on documents.
