With the rise of work-from-home setups and online classes, there is an increasing need for online gadgets to keep up with internet-related needs as well.
Given the current situation, getting a laptop for each working or studying individual seems to be the logical choice. If you still haven’t gotten one and you’re already on the fence about shopping for a new laptop, check out the article below for more insights on what to look for in a new laptop.
Operating System
Considered as the core of the laptop, the OS can determine how you’ll navigate the entire system. This will also decide the type of software you’ll use to browse the internet, create your documents, edit your photos, and other relevant functions.
There are three main operating systems to choose from at the moment:
- macOS
- Windows
- Chrome OS
Windows
Most of the laptops that you can buy in the country are supporting the Windows OS. Because it’s more widely used than the two other operating systems, there are also more features and apps dedicated to it.
If you’re planning to use your new laptop for more than a year and you eventually decide on one with Windows, make sure it’s compatible with Windows 11 so you won’t run into major issues when the updates start rolling in.
macOS
On the other hand, if you’re planning to invest in a laptop with a cleaner navigation experience without worrying too much about viruses and malware, macOS is the way to go. This OS is suitable for laptop users who only need the unit for basic laptop functions and fundamental designer-related needs.
Chrome OS
Among the three operating systems mentioned above, Chrome OS is the least popular. One of the factors at play here is the fact that you need to use web-based applications most of the time. With the current speed and situation of the internet setup in the country, going for this OS may not be the most practical for most people who need to WFH or take up online classes.
CPU
Most of the good laptops that are up for sale are made by two main manufacturers.
Intel
Between the two, this is the more common CPU that you can see installed in most types of laptops. The brand modifier typically shows you how powerful the processor is when performing certain laptop functions. For instance, if you’re into basic word processing and internet browsing for most of your screen time, going for a Core i3 or even i5 (if you want to upgrade a little bit) is a good start.
On the other hand, if you need a much higher level of processing for heavy computer use (i.e., online gaming or video editing), you may want to consider getting an i7.
AMD
This is considered as Intel’s direct competitor, and Ryzen is considered its most popular line to date. Therefore, if you’re going for this type of processor, keep in mind that a Ryzen 3 is highly similar to Intel’s i3, Ryzen 5 to Core i5, and so on.
Ports
Aside from the laptop itself, you’ll need to have access to other tools that will make your online job or course easier for you. For instance, you’ll need slots for your earphones or headphones, you’ll need an accessible port for efficient file transfer, and of course, a dedicated port for ease of charging your device.
In general, larger laptops tend to have more available ports for these purposes. While you can always buy “extension ports”, nothing beats the convenience of having these slots built in the device.
Hard Drive
Think of it as your laptop’s memory where you’ll store most of your much-needed files for your notes, presentations, and other materials that you’ll most likely need to get back to from time to time.
HDD are the “traditional” hard drives that you’ll usually see in most laptops for sale. The higher the number of revolutions per minute (RPMs), the faster it will take to process your files. On average, the RPM for most laptops is at more than 5000.
On the other hand, if you want to go for a hard drive with higher durability and faster processing time, for the SDD variant.
Unlike the HDDs, these do not have moving parts, so they’re less likely to deteriorate over time. Instead of the usual magnetic disks, it utilizes flash memory to store and retrieve your files.
RAM
Also known as random access memory, RAMs are the temporary storage spaces for the laptops and even for the other electronic gadgets you use. Like hard drives, higher memory warrants a faster operation in terms of data storage and retrieval.
If you’re planning to use your laptop for basic computer functions, a RAM of 2 to 4 GB should be enough not to crash the entire system.
However, if you’re expected to open multiple browser tabs on top of numerous apps in the background, you may want to go for at least 8 GB or RAM.
For heavier gadget use, it’s best to get a laptop with around 16 or 32 GB or RAM to ensure smooth operations and prevent crashes while you’re using one or more applications.
Some functions that may require this include using AutoCAD, gaming streams, heavy video editing, high-resolution online gaming, and working with at least two relatively large files at the same time.
Battery Life
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of a laptop next to the technical features, the battery life ensures that you can get more work done within its given lifespan per full charge.
On average, the average battery life of a fully-charged laptop ranges somewhere from three to five hours. That’s generally true for low- to mid-range laptops.
But if you’re traveling often and you need to bring your work laptop with you in the process, you may need to look for a laptop with higher specs because they usually offer a longer battery life as one of their core features.
Warranty and Inclusive Services
Each laptop manufacturer can provide the buyers with different packages that include the warranty and after-sales services. Review each package carefully to see if any of these will fit your current needs.
On average, the warranty for a brand new laptop is somewhere between one to two years. Is this something that’s amenable to you or do you need to have a longer period to assess if you will indeed get the most out of what you paid for?
Also, are the included services relevant to what you might need to avail a few months after buying the laptop?
According to what you looked up online, how is the after-sales service of the manufacturer? How long do they respond if ever you’ll have questions or concerns? Are they helpful in guiding you in the next steps in case you have to bring the laptop to their service center?
Looking for the best laptop to help you fulfill your online tasks can be initially daunting if you do not have an inkling of where and how to start looking. Fortunately, there are a lot of choices to consider and reviews to see if you’re still in doubt about what to choose.