Buying a new laptop is never an easy task. Regardless of your price category, there are too many different types of laptops, and which one is the best, completely depends on your needs. However, there is a set of criteria that everyone should consider before finding what perfectly fits their preferences.
Features to Look for in a Laptop
Here is the ultimate list of the features to look for in a laptop, to help you in making the decision.
1. Size and form
The right size and the form of your next laptop depend on what you plan to be doing with it. Laptops sizes tend to go from 11.6inches up to 17.3 inches. If portability is your priority, it is best to go for a smaller-sized Windows laptop.
On the other hand, if the nature of work requires a larger display or standalone graphics power, you’ll probably need to look at a larger size. The same goes If you need a PC with an optical drive or long battery life. You will almost certainly have to look for something larger in size.
2. Screen quality
If you are spending a lot of time staring at your laptop screen, you’ll probably want to make sure it’s as painless as possible to do so. A factor to consider first when it comes to choosing the type of screen you are looking for is if you want it to be a touchscreen or not.
Keep in mind that opting for a touchscreen can often add a glossiness to the display. This can be a drawback if you’re gaming or editing images and video content. The next thing to check is the resolution where 1920×1080-pixel resolution (Full HD) should be considered the minimum and it is enough for an average user. Modern laptops now also offer 4K resolutions, but it’s a costly and not always necessary add-on.
3. Keyboard quality
A comfortable keyboard is a key element for long typing sessions. If you spend a lot of time typing, the ideal keyboard to look at has a comfortable layout with full-sized keys and some space around the arrow keys.
The keys should have sufficient travel on the downstroke and high responsiveness when you let them go. This factor largely depends on what you got used to by now. If you’re already used to typing on a keyboard that stretches to the edge of the frame then it will probably be best to go for the same thing with your new laptop.
4. CPU
CPU might be the most important feature of any computer, including laptops. Even if you’re not a pro when it comes to the technical details, you have probably heard of the famous Intel Core-based processors. When it comes to multitasking, Intel Core Processor offers the best performance for most users.
Core i3-based are generally found in entry-level systems, while Core i5 makes up the majority of modern computers. However, If you want the best performance from your laptop, experts from Laptop Verge suggest going for the Core i7 system, or even one step further for i9 Core processors, which can rival desktops for performance.
5. RAM
RAM is something that allows for more applications to be run at the same time. This means more RAM – more data will be quickly accessible by the system at any one time. This is very convenient for tasks such as editing photos or video content.
Today, we tend to think of 8GB of RAM as a bare minimum, if you want your laptop to work fluently. If you are the regular power-user, 16GB will be ideal to go for. However, gamers who want the best experience will probably go for 32BG or even more. RAM is relatively cheap and it is often easy to upgrade in modern laptops.
6. Storage
When it comes to storage, a solid-state drive (SSD) might be the ultimate choice for the majority of users. It offers a lot more speed than a hard drive, runs silently, and doesn’t add too much to the weight and bulk of a laptop. The speed with which it can load programs and boot up your system is the greatest advantage.
The only problem is that SSDs don’t offer as much capacity, meaning you will probably end up with a drive that’s either 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB in size. This issue is easily solved by getting an external hard drive to add up to the storage capacity.
When balancing the budget and your needs, you might have to make a few compromises with some of these features. Since not many people are experts in this field, this article will hopefully bring this subject closer to understanding and help you pick the new laptop to perfectly suit your needs.
