The process of buying a laptop can be confusing. It doesn’t matter if everything is clear and you know what you want. Even worse, it can be frustrating just to navigate the websites of the manufacturers in an attempt to buy the model that you want.
We hope you find this guide helpful in navigating the complex world of modern laptops. This section covers every major component you need to know as you search for your next laptop. We try to simplify complex terms and make things simple.
Before you look at the best laptop for office use, you need to know which operating system (OS). The best way to determine the hardware you will need is to think about what software you need and which operating system it runs.
There are four main computer operating systems. Each one has its strengths as well as weaknesses. Here’s a quick overview of each.
Windows: While this stalwart OS isn’t often mentioned, it is still a reliable one. Windows is the best OS if you use Microsoft applications like MS Office, Access, and Outlook. Windows also has more choices than any OS. To see some of the options, check out our picks on best laptops and gaming laptops as well as best cheap laptops.
MacOS: Apple’s MacOS has a slightly easier interface than Windows. However, it is closely integrated with Apple’s hardware. This is probably not the best choice for you if your device isn’t an iPhone or iPad. Our guide will help you choose the best MacBook.
Chrome OS: Chrome OS can be used to perform most laptop tasks from a web browser. Chromebooks (also called Chromebooks) are one of the most cost-effective (and the least powerful) laptops available. If you’re tight on budget, the OS might be worth your consideration. Apps like Adobe Creative Suite or Microsoft Office won’t work on Chromebooks. Although some apps, like Office, have an Android phone/tablet edition that you may be able install on your Chromebook’s Chromebook, I have found Android apps rarely run well. Our guide to the best Chromebooks.
Linux: Linux is possible on any piece of laptop hardware. You won’t be able to run popular apps such as Adobe Creative Suite or MS Office. There are however free and open source alternatives such as LibreOffice, Darktable (Adobe Lightroom substitute) and GIMP(Adobe Photoshop alternative).
Once you’ve decided on the operating system that you want, and you know what software you intend to use, you can calculate the minimum hardware specifications. First, we recommend looking at the processor. Also called the chip or CPU.
There are basically two companies who make laptop processors: Intel & AMD.
Intel Processors
Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, Core i9 and Core i9 are Intel’s main processors. Core i3 has the lowest power, Core i9 has the highest. We often drop the “Core” part of the name, as it can become repetitive.
Intel uses encrypted strings of numbers, letters and numbers within each of these chip lines to provide more information about the chip’s capabilities as well as when it was released. You will be able to better make buying decisions if you can decipher them. Here’s Intel’s guide on model naming.
Intel Core I5-10510U is a way that laptop manufacturers might list the type processor.
Let’s look at the details. The first number, “10”, refers to the generation. This is the 10th-generation chip. The i5-9510U could be considered a ninth-generation chip or one that is likely to be at least a year old.
Performance is represented by the following numbers (“510”): These numbers will indicate the chip’s performance. This applies only to the particular chip line. The Intel Core i5-10510U may be slightly faster than the Intel Core i5-10210U but is much less powerful that the Intel Core i7-10350U. The i7 chips are always more powerful than those of the i5 and the difference is much greater than between the two chips in the same line.
The Intel chip’s purpose designation is indicated by the letter at “U” (in our example). For laptops, you will see the letters Y, U, or H at the end. The Y series chip, which is optimized for battery life, are the only ones you should be concerned about. While this is great if you don’t have a lot of power, it can also mean that your battery life will be reduced. H chips are optimized for performance. U chips, on the other hand, are more “power efficient” than the Y-line.
AMD Processors
AMD’s chip naming scheme is just as complicated to decipher than Intel’s.
In AMD Ryzen 5 (3600X) the “3” is the generation. It indicates how old it is and the “6” its power. A 6 would indicate a chip with medium power, while a 3 or 4-level processor would be less powerful (slower). The two next numbers have little impact on anything. The letter “X” at its end signifies high performance. U can be used to indicate ultra-low energy.
Is there a significant difference between Intel and AMD chips. Based on my testing of dozens upon dozens each year, I can tell you that there is a difference. An Intel i5 can be distinguished from a Ryzen 5 Ryzen 5 if you don’t use very specific benchmarks. You can browse the web and edit documents with them being very similar. The same applies to the Intel i7, Ryzen 7, as well as the Intel i3 & Ryzen 3.
The other area where you will notice a significant difference is graphics performance. In both benchmarks and actual work usage, AMD’s integrated GPUs performed better than Intel when it comes to graphics-intensive tasks like editing video or playing with games. While the gap between Intel and AMD has narrowed significantly in recent years, AMD still retains an edge. An AMD machine may be beneficial if you’re a gamer and/or video editor. However, what you really need is a dedicated graphics card. (Read on in the GPU section.
How much processing power do I need?
A laptop with an Intel Core i5 eighth generation or later processor is recommended for users who use a web browser, Microsoft Office Suite, and maybe even photo editing software. It would display something like “Intel Core i5-8350U”.
A nice upgrade for your laptop is the Intel i7 chips. However, the increased power can mean a shorter battery life so make sure you balance your needs with that. An i7 chip would be used for gaming, while an i3 or an i5 would work well for tasks that are less demanding.
The AMD Ryzen 5000 series will be sufficient for the average user, but the Ryzen 7000 offers a nice upgrade–again, at the price of battery life.
Are You A Power User?
You’ll need more processing power to edit video or compile software. I recommend the Intel i7 and Ryzen 7. You will also need to increase your RAM. However, that’s another topic we’ll discuss in a moment.
Chrome OS Laptops: The Best Processors
Lenovo Flex 5
Chrome OS is built on Google’s Chrome browser. Most software runs directly within the browser. This means that it doesn’t require large, powerful Intel chips. This is at least the theory. Chrome OS works best with an Intel i3 chips or, as I believe, the best value with a Chromebook is an AMD Ryzen4000 chip.
The AMD Ryzen 4000 series is one of my favorite chips for Chromebooks. (Here’s my list of favorite Chromebooks. The series is powerful enough to perform most tasks, and it has great battery life – a combination that’s rare in Intel-powered Chromebooks.
There are some high-end Chromebooks that have Intel i5 chips and others with i7 processors. However, unless your heart is set on Chrome OS, it’s better to buy a Windows laptop.
Intel Celeron series processors are used in some Chromebooks. The Celeron processors will work if your needs are very minimal and you only need to surf the web occasionally. However, if your goal is to run Android apps and install Linux apps on a Chromebook, the Celeron processors may not be able to handle it.
What about a graphics card?
Technically, all laptops have graphics cards (also known by “discrete” and “GPU”) but many are bundled with the processor. This method, also known as integrated graphics, is acceptable for most users. This will allow you to enjoy HD movies and casual games seamlessly.
You’ll need a laptop that has a discrete graphic card if you are a gamer, or do a lot with video editing. This is a separate, more powerful card. Nvidia, AMD, and Nvidia are the main manufacturers of laptop graphics cards.
Nvidia GeForce cards are the most common Nvidia graphics cards. They will usually be paired up with Intel-based laptops. They are often labeled by the card name and Max-Q. For example, the GeForce GTX1080 Max-Q. The card of 2,000 level will be more powerful, but have shorter battery life. While Max-Q cards generally have 15-25 percent less power than desktop versions, they can still be used for video editing and gaming.
AMD’s GPU range is called Radeon. It includes the highest end Vega cards and RX cards, as well as R-series cards. These cards mirror the Ryzen naming scheme. The Radeon R9 is faster, more powerful, and more powerful that the Radeon R7 which is more powerful and powerful than Radeon 5 and Radeon 5 respectively.
How much RAM are you able to use?
The more you have, the better! Your laptop uses random-access memory, also known as RAM to store data, while the processor works with it. RAM is your desk. Everything you need to do right now should fit on your desk. You can’t work if your desk gets too small. You will also lose the ability to view other browser tabs and finish your video compilation if you run low on RAM. Your computer will eventually stop working and must be restarted.
8 gigabytes of RAM should provide enough for most Windows users. But upgrading to 16 GB will make your computer more powerful and is essential for gamers. It is important to check that the RAM has been properly attached to the motherboard before purchasing. You won’t have the ability to upgrade your RAM if it is soldered.
Again, 16GB is the minimum RAM you need if your tasks include compiling and coding software, as well as editing video clips. 32 GB is more likely to be sufficient, if you can afford it.
Chrome OS, like processors requires less. A Chromebook can typically run on 4 GB RAM. However, upgrading to 8 GB will allow for more tabs and less slowdown.
DDR4 RAM should be next to your RAM. DDR stands for double data rate. DDR4 RAM is fast and can do almost anything you want. DDR3 RAM has become less popular and is more rare. DDR4 RAM is common in most laptops, but manufacturers will list it on their websites next to the amount. It’s worth checking before purchasing.