Buying a laptop: decide the three things that can't be upgraded

Screen, memory and the chip class are fixed for the life of the machine. Pick those for how you actually work, then let price decide the rest.

Most laptop regret comes from one of three things you can't change later: the screen, the amount of memory, and the processor class. Storage and accessories can be fixed; these can't.

1. Screen

• Size: 13–14 inches travels; 15–16 inches is a desk machine you occasionally carry. Weight follows size more than anything else.
• Resolution and panel: 1080p-class is fine at 13 inches; at 16 inches you'll notice the difference a sharper panel makes. OLED is gorgeous and costs battery; matte finishes matter if you work near windows.
• Brightness: 300 nits is the comfortable floor; outdoor use wants 400+.

2. Memory

16 GB is the sensible minimum for anything beyond browsing; 32 GB if you edit video, run virtual machines, or keep a hundred tabs open. On most thin laptops the memory is soldered — what you buy is what you'll have in year four.

3. Processor class

Within a generation, the difference between a mid and a top chip is smaller than the difference between generations. Buy the current generation's mid-range chip over last generation's top chip at the same price. For battery life, the efficiency-focused chips in thin-and-light models beat the performance chips in gaming machines by hours, not minutes.

What to check

• Ports: count what you plug in daily. Two USB-C ports and nothing else means a dongle forever.
• Keyboard and trackpad: the thing you touch for thousands of hours. Reviews that mention key travel and trackpad glass are the useful ones.
• Webcam and microphones if you take calls; 1080p is now standard on good models.
• Storage: 512 GB is comfortable; some models can be upgraded, many can't. Check before assuming.
• Repairability and warranty: battery replacement cost and whether the maker sells parts.

Ignore, mostly

• Peak clock speeds and core counts in marketing copy.
• "Gaming" branding unless you game; it costs you battery and weight.
• Touchscreens on a clamshell you'll use at a desk.

Timing

New chip generations arrive roughly annually; the outgoing generation drops 15–30% in the two months after. Back-to-school and the November sales carry the deepest cuts on last year's models. Refurbished units sold by the manufacturer with a full warranty are a sound buy; marketplace "renewed" listings are a different thing.

Today's prices

Every seller we found, ranked by total price: laptop · tablet.

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