As store clerks in computer shops say, the best laptop is one you don’t want to throw out of the window. In other words, a mobile device should always delight its owner based on several criteria:
- Have decent performance. So that programs run quickly and comfortably.
- Be convenient. On the desk, in a chair, on the sofa, or on the floor. Lightness and compactness are a priority.
- Last at least 5 years. Better yet – 10 years.
And you don’t necessarily have to buy a gaming laptop or a gadget from the Premium segment for this. Even in the budget class, solutions are always available. You just need to find them.
Which Laptop Is Better to Buy for Home in 2022
Strangely enough, but brand matters a lot here. Laptops from brands like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, MSI, and Gigabyte are highly reliable. At least, in service centers, new equipment is rarely found. However, you will have to pay extra for the brand. It’s worth it. It’s better to sacrifice some ergonomics or performance to buy a laptop from a well-known manufacturer than to get maximum power and compactness from an unknown brand.
Normal performance of a laptop is understood as:
- System response time to user actions. This includes launching programs, switching between applications, and absence of video or audio lag.
- Handling large amounts of information. Specifically, the ability to open multiple documents or more than 20 bookmarks in a browser. Alternatively, editing photos in a graphic editor.
- The ability to run a non-resource-intensive game. Or at least play on minimal quality settings.
Performance is primarily determined by the processor and RAM. Therefore, these two components are always the focus. In the budget or mid-range segment, it’s better to prefer Intel processors like Core i3 or Core i5. And AMD processors like Ryzen 5 or 7. The RAM should be at least 8 GB, preferably 16 GB. This guarantees performance for 5 years ahead. Moreover, laptops with 8 and 16 GB of RAM have a small price difference, which is convenient.
As for permanent storage (SSD), it should definitely be at least 250 GB. Ideally – 1 TB, for example, to store movies. In the $800-1000 range, you can buy a great laptop with high performance, Intel Core i5, 16 GB RAM, and 512 GB SSD. This will be enough for 5 years.
Ergonomics of the laptop and pleasant features
The price of a laptop, apart from the brand, depends on two components – the processor and the screen. We are not talking about gaming devices, where a discrete graphics card is also considered. Having understood performance, now let’s look at the screen (display):
- Diagonal. Chosen for convenience. Classic – 15.6 inches. If the laptop will be used in bed, it’s better to look at versions of 14 or 13 inches.
- Screen resolution. It’s recommended to choose Full HD (1920×1080 pixels per inch). This way, videos will take up the entire screen without black bars. Plus, windows and applications will be more comfortable to view on the screen. There are also laptops with 2K, 3K, and 4K screens, but their prices are higher.
- Type of matrix. TN, VA, IPS, or OLED. The first option does not excel in color reproduction, and OLED has a cosmic price. Therefore, it’s better to focus on the two remaining types.
- Presence of a sensor. A cool feature for those who do not have a tablet. A convertible laptop is very convenient, especially for creative people. But. You need to consider the Windows operating system (not Android). Not all programs are designed to work with multitouch.
The convenience of operation is affected by the material of the laptop case. Budget solutions are mostly made of plastic. But there are inexpensive models with an aviation aluminum case. Besides durability, they improve heat dissipation from the system components. Accordingly, during long work sessions, they will maintain the desired performance. Because, under heavy heating, the processor automatically reduces the clock speed of the cores. And this effectively slows down the entire system.
Wireless interfaces such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a webcam are standard in all models and are not discussed here. Mobile internet 4G or 5G is a matter of preference. And keyboard backlighting is also optional. But the presence of an HDMI port is welcomed. It allows connecting a large monitor or TV to the laptop. This is very cool and convenient.
