BUYING A LAPTOP is an exercise in confusion. Even if you know what everything means, and know exactly what you want, finding it can be difficult. Heck, just navigating the manufacturers' websites to try buying the model you want is frustrating.

We hope this guide will help you navigate the morass of modern laptops. Below is a section on every major component you'll want to know about when you browse for your next PC. We break down the jargon and try to explain things on a practical level.

  1. Pick Your Operating System
  2. Know Your CPUs
  3. Graphics Cards
  4. Pick Your Processor
  5. How Much RAM?
  6. How Much Storage Space?
  7. Check Your Ports!
  8. Webcam and Other Worries
  9. Make Your Choice
First, Pick Your Operating System

Before you begin to look at laptops, you must figure out which operating system (OS) works best for you. Thinking through what software you need to run and on which operating systems that software runs will help you determine the hardware you need.

There are four major computer operating systems. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Here's an overview of each:

  • Windows: This stalwart OS doesn't get much press anymore, but it gets the job done. It's the best choice if you need Microsoft apps like MS Office, Access, or Outlook. There are also more Windows laptops to choose from than any other OS. Read our picks for best laptops, best gaming laptops, and best cheap laptops to see some of the choices out there.
  • MacOS: Apple's MacOS is a bit more beginner-friendly than Windows, but it's tightly coupled with the company's hardware. It probably isn't your first choice if you don't own an iPhone or iPad, and your options are limited to MacBooks. Be sure to read our guide to picking the best MacBook.
  • Chrome OS: If you can do most of your laptop tasks in a web browser, Chrome OS is a good choice. Chrome laptops (called Chromebooks) are also among the cheapest (and least powerful) you'll find, so the OS is also worth considering if you're on a tight budget. The catch is that apps like Adobe's Creative Suite or Microsoft Office won't run. Some apps, notably Office, do have Android phone/tablet version you might be able to install on your Chromebook, but I have found Android apps often don't run well. Read our guide to the best Chromebooks.
  • Linux: If you don't need MS Office and don't mind a learning curve, you can install Linux on just about any piece of laptop hardware ever created. The catch is that popular apps like MS Office and Adobe's Creative Suite won't run. However, there are free, open source alternatives like LibreOffice, Darktable (Adobe Lightroom replacement), and GIMP (Adobe Photoshop replacement).


How Much Processing Power Do You Need?

If you're a typical user who runs a web browser, Microsoft's Office Suite, and perhaps even some photo editing software, we recommend a laptop with an Intel Core i5 eighth-generation or later processor. That would be displayed something like “Intel Core i5-8350U.”

If you can afford it, an Intel i7 chip makes a nice upgrade and will make your laptop feel snappier. The extra power often means shorter battery life, though, so you'll need to balance that with your needs. A gaming laptop, for instance, would use an i7 (or i9) chip, but an i3 or i5 is usually fine for less demanding tasks.


Are Ya Power User?

If you compile software, edit video, or work with very large databases you're going to want more processing power than the rest of us. I suggest an Intel i7 or Ryzen 7. You'll also want to load up on RAM, but we'll get to that in a minute.


What About a Graphics Card?
rtx 3080

Nvidia RTX 3080

 PHOTOGRAPH: NVIDIA

All laptops technically have graphics cards (also called “discrete” graphics and GPU), but most are bundled into the motherboard with the processor. This approach, known as "integrated graphics" is fine for most users. You'll be able to watch HD movies and even play casual games without issue.

If you're a gamer or do a lot of video editing, you'll want a laptop with a discrete graphics card—a separate and much more powerful graphics card. AMD and Nvidia make most of the graphics cards you'll find in laptops.

Most Intel-based laptops will be paired with an Nvidia graphics card in the GeForce line, usually one of the Max-Q cards, which is the power-efficient, laptop-friendly spin off of Nvidia's desktop cards. They are usually labeled with the card name, then Max-Q: for example, the GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q. (A 2,000-level card will be more powerful but may have worse battery life.) The Max-Q cards are generally about 15 to 25 percent less powerful than the desktop versions but are still plenty powerful for gaming and video editing.

AMD's GPU line is called Radeon and ranges from the top end Vega and RX cards down to R-series cards that mirror the Ryzen naming scheme, where the Radeon R9 is faster and more powerful than the Radeon R7 series, which is more powerful than the Radeon 5 series.


How Much RAM Do You Need?
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PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY IMAGES 

The more the merrier! Random-access memory, known as RAM, is what your laptop uses to hold data while the processor does things with it. Think of RAM as your desk. All the things you're working right now should be able to fit on your desk. If your desk is too small, things fall off and you can't work on them. In the same way, if you run out of RAM you won't be able to open any more browser tabs or finish compiling your video. Eventually your laptop will freeze up and need to be restarted.

Eight gigabytes of RAM should be plenty for the average Windows user, though upgrading to 16 GB will make your laptop much more capable (and is a necessity for gaming). One thing to investigate before you buy is whether the RAM is soldered to the motherboard. If it is soldered you won't be able to upgrade the RAM yourself.


SSD Storage or Spinning Drive?
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PHOTOGRAPH: ALFRED PASIEKA/GETTY IMAGES

The hard drive is where you'll store all your data. Think of this as the filing cabinet next to your desk. The most common choice these days is a solid state drive (SSD), although some budget laptops still use spinning drives.

Go for an SSD drive if you can afford it—at least 256 gigabytes. SSDs are faster, especially if they use an NVMe connection, which moves data in and out of the hard drive much quicker than the older standard, known as SATA. Sometimes you'll find laptops with an SSD with NVMe to run the operating system but an older SATA drive to store files. This gives you best of both worlds: speed where you need it but still budget-friendly.

The minimum amount of space we recommend is 256 gigabytes. If you store everything in the cloud or are looking at Chromebooks, you might be able to get by with less, but it's good to have the space if you ever need it. If you plan to install a lot of games or software, or save a lot of photos or video, that will quickly eat up space.


Check for Ports!
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PHOTOGRAPH: RYAN MCVAY/GETTY IMAGES

While the CPU, RAM, and hard drive will have the biggest impact on performance, the amount and types of ports on your laptop are important. Ports are the various ways of plugging things in to your laptop, like USB devices, or recharging it. 

You will want at least one 1 USB-C, at least one 1 USB-A, and a microphone/headset jack. Look into USB-C charging, and an SD reader too.

I recommend laptops that can charge via USB-C. A laptop should say it can charge via USB-C on the page or in the specs section. This method of charging allows you to use a portable charger if you ever need extra time away from a power outlet. USB-C chargers also tend to be cheaper to replace, and you may already use them to charge your android phone (or high-end iPad). Never buy those cheap, no-name replacement chargers you see on Amazon. Just don't. Spend extra and buy the manufacturer's charger or a known brand. I have destroyed multiple laptop batteries by relying on junky chargers.

Make sure your laptop has an SD or MicroSD card reader if you're a photographer and need to constantly download images from your camera. Otherwise you'll need to carry a dongle.


Webcams and Hinges
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Acer Chromebook Spin 514

 PHOTOGRAPH: ACER

Your laptop should have a webcam. For some reason, there are still laptops in 2021 that don't have them. Most webcams are still 720p, especially on lower-priced laptops. That's fine if you're not using it much, but with Zoom being a way of life for many folks these days, you might be happier with a 1080p camera.


Make Your Choice
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Microsoft Surface Pro

 PHOTOGRAPH: MICROSOFT

Once you've narrowed the field to a few models, read some reviews and look for things beyond the specifications, like how the hinge holds up over time, how the keyboard feels, how the trackpad performs, and even how hot the bottom gets in your lap. Reading reviews like those here at WIRED is helpful, because looking at specs won't tell you if a hinge is poorly made or feels sticky, or if the lid scratches easily.

Your own feelings matter, too. Do you want something that looks a certain way? There's nothing wrong with that. Some people hate the idea of a plastic shell. Others wouldn't be caught dead with anything other than black plastic. Design is important in both practical and aesthetic terms. It's no fun to use a laptop you don't like.

Sometimes what you like about something is hard to define and on paper may not make much sense. For example, I wrote this article on a Lenovo X270, which is, by the standards of this guide, outdated and underpowered. But I like it better than the much faster, newer, shinier laptops sitting on the shelf behind me, waiting to be tested. 

As they say, there is no accounting for taste, so be sure to factor that into your decision.