What Laptop Should I Buy?

Here is our 2024 important questions to ask when buying a laptop.

Laptop Screen

• Screen Sizes : 17″ is massive and usually a desktop replacement. Only get this if you really want a very large laptop.
18″ is huge (for a laptop) and ideal for gaming or detailed DTP/CAD but not that portable.
16″ is very big and good for CAD/Media work but far less portable.
15″ is large and often a good middle ground from desktop vs portable but will not be a light or small travel device.
14″ is fairly optimal these days. Its not too small and still easy to read. It is our most common recommendation.
13″ is very portable and typically lightweight but might be too small for some. How good is your eyesight?
• Screen Resolution: No matter what size the screen is – you need to check the resolution of the display. 1K 2K 4K HD FHD are thrown around a lot but look at the real numbers:
1920×1080 (or 1920×1200) is true full HD 1080 and is the absolute minimum you should ever buy. This size will produce large is text by default and websites will be typically fitting in at their minimum size – some may require zooming out to look good. We no longer recommend this unless there is a very low budget in mind.
2560×1440 (or 2400×1600) is QHD 2K 1440 and is a really good size. You can adjust your fonts to be big or small and still be very readable. It also allows websites to fit in nicely and it is the size we prefer.
3840×2160 (or 4096×2160) is UHD 4K 2160 and is very high resolution. It is the most versatile size. Bigger is better except that its more expensive and may not be that much better than 2K if you are just web surfing. It does use more processing power and if you are gaming it may be too much for the laptops graphics card to maintain a playable system without dropping down the resolution. If budget allows then its worth it otherwise go 2K.
• Screen Type: This is the technology behind the display itself. It is almost more important than anything else. A cheap, low quality display can even be found in expensive laptops. With laptops the screen cannot be changed but other items may be upgradable like RAM or Drive space. So choose wisely. The found main types:
IPS displays are excellent and have good viewing angles. Great colour. If work or game related its a good option. If gaming get a 120hz+ version.
OLED displays are literally amazing with amazing colour. They are the best screens on the market but watch out for highly reflective versions.
VA displays are common on cheap(er) laptops and they are usually not great. Poor viewing angles. Poor colour. Poor contrast.
TN displays are just terrible and they are basically a worse version of the VA display above.
Just don’t buy a laptop that has a screen with less than 170′ degree viewing angle.
For work or general use any refresh rate is good 60hz+ but for gaming try to get 100hz+ with 144hz to 240hz being a good option.
Also if you work in bright environments check the NITS brightness. They go from 200 being quite dim to 600 being fairly bright. Most are around 300/400 but the brighter the better. Try to get something over 300 nits but aim for 500+ to be impressed. Some are amazing at 1000 to 1600 nits.

Weight

People often forget to check the weight of the laptop they are buying. If it needs to be portable then you should really pay attention to this.
The lighter – the more expensive by far.
Under 1kg is ultra light and great for portability.
1.0 to 1.5kg is a very common weight and is a good balance. However you can easily feel the weight difference from a 1.2kg laptop vs a 1.5kg
1.5 to 2kg is getting rather heavy and heading into the realms of a desktop replacement. Try to aim lower if portability is required.
2kg + should really only be for desktop replacements or laptops that don’t need to move very far.

Speed

To keep this simple try to look up the CPU mark rating on this website: https://www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html
If it is under 14000 in the CPU ranking results then don’t buy it. Ideally get something with a CPU score of 15500 to 23000 for office work.
Make sure it is an Intel i5 / i7 / i9 or newer Intel Ultra 5 / 7 / 9 (Series 1) or AMD Ryzen 5 / 7 / 9 processor.
Some very new laptops have Snapdragon X Elite processors but there are major compatibility problems with software so best avoided for now.
Be careful as Intel i5 or i7 come in ‘generations’ so you could accidently pick one that is already 7 years old by accident.
Make sure its 12th to 14th Generation versions. The Intel Ultra Series 1 is basically 15th Generation but with some AI built in.
Never buy less than an Intel 12th Generation and never buy anything that says Intel Celeron, (starts with) Nxxx or Nxxxx (eg: N4020), Uxxx, Pentium, Gold, Silver, Go, Chromebook, Atom, AMD Ryzen 3, AMD Athlon, Intel i3 or Snapdragon.
Note that if your laptop is for gaming you should really consider the graphics card too and don’t go with anything less than a 4060/4070 Nvidia.

Storage

Firstly never ever buy a laptop that has a mechanical HDD hard drive (this has a spinning disk that can fail with bumps and is typically slow).
Run away if you see this. They are only good for extremely large storage requirements or as an external backup drive. Only buy laptops with at least an SSD (solid sate drive) but ideally it should say NVMe quite specifically. The NVMe is a drive that is purely based on solid state micro chips with really good access speed.
Old laptops will say HDD and SSD is the the version just before the NVMe modern go to standard. If it says eMMC run far away.
Second is size. If its for work or general use. Many people are tempted by a 250Gb price tag but most of the time they run out of space. Get a system with 500Gb+ and ideally 1000Gb/1Tb which will be plenty for most uses. A drive needs at least 30 to 50Gb free that never gets used to use for operating system spare capacity for things like swop files or temp files. Going under this will cause the system to go slow or start to crash when drive space is near full. Just remember any drive with any system including Mac can fail no matter if its 1 day old or 10 years old – use a cloud backup.
Check if the laptop storage can be upgraded here: https://uk.crucial.com/upgrades

RAM Memory

This is the working memory of any computer. It is quite shocking that there are still suppliers who provide laptops with 4Gb of RAM. With any modern operating system – running multiple web pages or an Adobe editor of some kind will work a lot better with 16Gb of RAM. We recommend 16Gb for most people and the lowest we will ever allow is 8Gb on the provisor that the laptop has a slot for upgrades. 32Gb+ is good if you are doing graphics work or working on a lot of things at the same time. A good tip to know if the motherboard is newer is to check if the RAM is stated as DDR4 or DDR5 versions. If its DDR5 then you know its much newer but DDR4 is still quite common though. If its DDR3 then its extremely old.
Check if the laptop RAM can be upgraded here: https://uk.crucial.com/upgrades

Ports and Charging

Very important! Older generation laptops will not have modern high speed USB C / Thunderbolt ports. Make sure the laptop has at least 1x USB C 3.2 Gen 2 and Thunderbolt 4 port. The latest is USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 or USB 4.0 with Thunderbolt 5 arriving at the end of 2024. Those technologies have been out for a good few years and should come with your laptop. If it only has USB C 3.1 or USB C 3.2 Gen 1 or Thunderbolt 3 then don’t get it. Not only is it a sign of old technology but it can stop you from using certain multi hubs and charging solutions. Finally make sure the laptop can charge from USB C (USB C PD – Power Delivery) otherwise you will be stuck carrying a very large single use charger everywhere you go. Some laptops will charge from USB C and a pin style connector which is also good. Finally if charging from a USB C cable make sure its rated at least 100W for USB C PD if using third party cables.

Upgradeability

Many people buy laptops and never check if it can be upgraded. RAM and drive Storage are the two common upgrade paths of laptops as the rest of the equipment (CPU/Graphics) is usually fixed into the mainboard. So if you think you may need to upgrade at some point in time – check if its possible.

Operating System

This one catches out business owners all the time. If you are using a laptop for business make sure it comes with Windows 11 Professional as it is very likely that your business software (like Microsoft 365/Win Login/Security) will require Pro edition to work correctly. It is often possible to upgrade but it will cost more to do this afterwards. Home edition works fine if its purely for home use or just gaming. Avoid the laptop if it says “S Mode Windows”. Also if you need to upgrade from Home to Pro – speak to us first to see if it is possible to upgrade under our contract plan discount.
Just remember to remove Norton or McAfee (also Avast or AVG) as the first thing you do when getting your new laptop – they cause slowness, high cost, offer false sense of protection and are generally ineffective. Ask your IT company to install a professional anti-virus solution like Malwarebytes Threat-Down.

Battery Life

This one is fairly easy. Look at the manufacturers rating and you can pretty much expect about 2/3 to 1/2 of what they say in real life use.
A work/home laptop should have a battery life rating of no less than 5hrs. Ideally around 10 to 15hrs is good. Also check if someone reviewed it.
Laptops that are best for battery life are Microsoft Surface 7 (19h50m), Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (13h40m), Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 (13h11m), Microsoft Surface Pro 11 (12h51m), Asus ExpertBook B9400CBA (12h19m), Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga Gen8 (12h8m), Lenovo Slip Pro 7 (12h7m), Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (11h), Samsung Galaxy Book 3/4 Ultra (10h34m) – The 2023/2024 MacBook Pro 16,14,Air13 are all 17 to 21hrs but we are not recommending Mac for work use.
Gaming laptops will state 5 to 12hrs typically but only run for 1 to 3hrs when being used.

Webcam+Audio+Mic

Webcams come in a mixture of qualities. Ideally get an AI 1080p FHD camera if you want good image quality. A bog standard 720p will work but may not look that great. For audio check the reviews but its always good to get a system with DOLBY ATMOS. The newer AI Noise Cancellation Microphones are really good but you could get around this with a good quality headset with noise cancelling mic instead. Take note of the location of the Camera and Mic – do not buy one with them located at the bottom of the screen.

Graphics – DTP CAD / Gaming

If you are specifically looking for a laptop rather than a desktop for high end graphics work or gaming then make sure you get one that has at minimum a Nvidia RTX 4070 or 4080 or 4090. Avoid the older 30 or 20 series.
For basic CAD that is not 3D intensive a high end CPU may be enough but it would be best to investigate this further.

Costs

Cost wise laptops that are worth buying start at £500/$550 with mid basic being around £850/$900, good ones are £1100/$1200 and amazing ones are from £1500/$1650 to £2500/$3000. For most work use cases the spend would be typically around £700/$800.

Brands

Brands: We currently prefer ASUS but other good options are Samsung, MSI, Lenovo, Razer and Microsoft.
Please DO NOT buy HP, Dell and Acer. The high end Dells like the XPS or Alienware still seem to be good just avoid the cheap options.
As with any brand there are hundreds of options – some good and some bad.
ASUS – We like the Zenbook, Expertbook, ProArt/Vivobook Pro and TUF/ROG just don’t buy a Chromebook by accident!
Microsoft – All surface products are good but note that many are not that upgradeable.
Lenovo – Quite a wide range and you will need to go through their extensive range.
Samsung – Galaxy Book4, Book4 Pro or Book4 Ultra or Book4 Pro 360 or Book4 360 or Book4 Edge. (360 versions can flip into tablet foldable format with touchscreen)

What else?

Don’t forget to check reviews online as there could be something quirky about a particular laptop.

Make sure when you compare one shop to another that the full model number is an exact match. In this case not just the first 6 letters but all 14.
Example: Asus “Zenbook 14” UX3402 VA-KN114W is the not the same spec as “Zenbook 14” UX3402 VA-KN521W
They will all be advertised as “Zenbook 14” or even “Zenbook 14 UX3402” but often there are 2 to 20 versions of the same product which are represented in the last few digits of the full product number.
All manufacturers have this phenomena.

Always take an “Extended Warranty” – its worth the tiny bit extra to get you 3+ years of service without worrying.
You usually have a few weeks after purchase to deal direct with manufacturer to arrange this. Just don’t forget!
Often if a laptop fails after 1 year it is cheaper to buy a new one than to get it repaired. So it makes sense.

Besides those important points. Look at the general style. Thickness. Touchpad size. Maybe pay attention to where the laptop has vent holes so that you don’t overheat it when in use. Ideally always put your laptop on a solid surface to allow for air flow underneath.
Things like WiFi are pretty much a given when you select a laptop that is good quality. Some laptops have AI noise cancellation or other AI features that might be worth considering. But for sound we recommend a good headset anyway. For teams/zoom/voip calling we always use something like Yealink BH76 Plus for amazing background noise cancellation to give both parties crystal clear calling even in the noisiest environments.
Its also a good idea to get a separate mouse and mouse pad. Maybe a docking station if you need one that is USB C 3.2 Gen 2 / Thunderbolt 4. Also get a soft laptop bag for transport.

Useful Links

Best Online Shops:
https://www.scan.co.uk/
https://www.ebuyer.com/store/Computer/cat/Laptops
https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/laptops
https://box.co.uk/laptops
You may be tempted by Currys/Argos/JohnLewis/EE/etc and sometimes their online stores have good deals but triple check all the specifications are exactly what you are expecting. Often they will be cheaper because they have a lesser quality screen or lower version of windows or some trick.
While sourcing stock for this website we actually found significant changes in the laptops provided by Curry’s vs other retailers (Mostly lower quality screens). Avoid going into a store to choose one as you will somehow walk out with the wrong model as it takes time to compare all details online.

Best Laptop Brands Direct:
https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/
https://www.asus.com/uk/store/laptops/
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/collections/laptops
https://www.msi.com/Laptops
https://www.samsung.com/uk/computers/all-computers/
https://www.razer.com/gb-en/pc/gaming-laptops

Upgrade Checker:
https://uk.crucial.com/upgrades

Benchmark and Reviews:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html
https://www.rtings.com/laptop
https://www.pcgamebenchmark.com/compare-laptops

Summary

• Screen Size – Your preference 13,14,15,16,18 with 14″ being a good middle ground. 13″ is small and very portable. 15.6″ is decent but some say too big others just right. 16 and 18″ are for the less portable and graphic intensive laptops.
• Screen Resolution – Cheap laptops will be 1920×1080 but the best options are 2560×1440 or greater.
• Screen Type – Always make sure its IPS or OLED. Check brightness “nits” if working in sunlight. Aim for nits over 400+
• Weight – If portable get something under 1.1kg. Avoid anything over 2kg unless its for gaming/DTP and a desktop replacement.
• Speed – Make sure you check the CPU benchmark results (14000+). If not stick with i5 or i7 generation 12+ or the newer Intel Series 1 AI.
• Storage – Make sure its NVMe and 500Gb of bigger. 1TB is a good size if its in the budget.
• RAM – Only choose 8Gb if you are on a really tight budget but make sure its upgradable. Typically get 16Gb for all round use. 32Gb+ for DTP.
• Ports – Check it has at least 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 or better Gen 2 and/or Thunderbolt 4 with USB C PD allowing USB C charging.
• Upgradability – See if its possible to upgrade the RAM and NVMe Storage. Some laptops are not upgradable.
• Webcam,Audio,Mic – Good webcams are 1080p ideally with AI. A 720p camera is low quality. If sounds matters get Dolby Atmos. Mic ideally AI.
• Graphics – For general work the on-board CPU will provide adequate graphics quality. If gaming or DTP get Nvidia RTX 4070/4080/4090.
• Operating System – If its for work then get Windows 11 Pro. If it only comes in Home edition expect to pay a bit more for the upgrade.
• Battery Life – Many will use it plugged in most of the time but check the stated run time. Check reviews for real battery life.

Laptop Comparison Chart 2024

Note: This is a selection of currently available laptops. You will see manufacturers have multiple versions of each. So choose carefully.
Some of the options in the comparison chart will be the cheaper of the available range on offer but meeting our minimum requirement.
You may find a more expensive version with more memory or better display.
Once you have found one you like, check all the specifications are correct as they are subject to change or may contains errors from original content.