Laptops

Laptops can cost a pretty penny. Before you drop $5000 on a MacBook Pro, think about how often you’ll use your laptop and for which tasks.

If you’re a light user, only browsing the web and using simple apps like word processors, you don’t need to spend more than $1200.

A computer that will get sustained use, or run games or other intensive apps, is worth spending up to $2000.

Think carefully about spending more than $2500. It might be worth it if you’re interested in editing video or playing the newest games, for instance.

Once you’ve worked out the basics and how much to spend, you want to maximise the speed and power of your notebook. Performance is important because computers slow as they age – so if you opt for the bare minimum, your laptop will soon be unbearably slow.

That means it’s time to dive into technical specifications, but don’t panic – there are only three main things to keep track of.

CPU (central processing unit)

The CPU, often called the “processor”, is fundamental to any computer. It’s the part that actually performs the tasks that make up programs, so CPU speed has a very close relationship with overall computer speed.

Intel and AMD are the two major brands of CPU. Understanding their naming conventions takes some practice, but it goes a long way to choosing a good laptop. The best rule of thumb is that, within the same brand, higher numbers are better.

Intel

• Intel Core is the most popular family of CPU. It features, from slowest to fastest, the lines Core 3, Core 5, Core 7 and Core 9. This is a slight rebrand – you may recall terms like i5 and i7, but the “i” was dropped in 2023.

  • Next comes the generation number. The current generation is 2nd, after the 2023 reset. Laptops with CPUs using the old naming convention are still on the market – the latest generation before the reset was 14th, so a code like 14700 still indicates a quality processor.
  • After that are 2-3 SKU digits which you can ignore, and sometimes a letter suffix. You don’t need to learn what they mean, but they can be helpful – for example, “U” stands for ultra-low power, indicating better energy efficiency.
    

• Intel also produces processors that sit below the Core family and are associated with budget laptops and mid-level hybrids. These are simply branded with an “N” or “U” prefix followed by a numeric code – for example, Intel N200.

AMD

• Ryzen is AMD’s most popular CPU family. It competes closely with Intel Core and follows near-identical naming patterns. Ryzen 5/7/9 are directly comparable to Core 5/7/9. The exception is the Ryzen 3 series, which tends to be cheaper and slower than Core 3.
  • Ryzen debuted in 2017, so we’re up to the 9th generation.
    
  • The three SKU digits after the generation number are more important than for Intel – again, higher is better.

Arm

MacBook laptops use Apple’s own proprietary processors which are equivalent to the best Intel Core and AMD Ryzen processors.

They’re built on an architecture called Arm which has historically been used for mobile devices like phones and tablets due to its excellent battery efficiency.

In 2024, Windows PCs using Arm-based Snapdragon processors began to appear. This shift is backed by Microsoft itself, so we expect Arm-based PCs to grow in popularity.

RAM (random access memory)

Data stored in this kind of memory is lost when the computer shuts down, so it’s useless for storing files. Instead, RAM usually works in tandem with the CPU to store instructions between tasks. All you need to know is that more RAM lets you get more out of your CPU, especially when running multiple programs at once.

For light users, 4GB of RAM is enough. A chronic multi-tasker with lots of open browser tabs might be better off with 8GB. If you do processor-intensive work, such as graphic design or playing the latest games, you could consider 16GB of RAM.

Storage

You can get by with a hard drive as small as 32GB if you use cloud storage, such as iCloud or Google Drive, or run a lightweight operating system like ChromeOS or Ubuntu. Otherwise, we’d advise investing in 128GB or more, to avoid future regret.

Cloud storage

The safest way to store your files, cloud storage services house your data online. They’re only accessible via the internet, but mean your data is automatically backed up. However, you can’t totally replace your laptop’s internal storage, as its operating system still needs to be housed on-board.

While any laptop can use cloud storage, Chromebooks are designed for it. Because their ChromeOS operating system is lightweight, they need very little internal storage. If you’re on a tight budget, a Chromebook is a good choice – prices start at just $300.

While our test results can steer you in the right direction, and this guide gets you closer to a decision, minor design details can change your new laptop from a proud purchase to a big regret.

Before buying, try out a few in-store.

• Feel how easy it is to pick up and carry, open and close (and fold/detach, if it’s a hybrid).

• Consider its size and weight. Is it easy to carry? Would it fit in your backpack?

• Test if it’s comfortable to use. How well does it balance on your lap?

We ask thousands of Consumer members about their products to find out which brands are most reliable and satisfying to own. The results are available to members and Digital Pass holders.

Get access