How to choose a laptop: expert advice on choosing an inexpensive and good device for home

When choosing best laptop you need to ask yourself the main question: for what purposes it will be used.

It can be a versatile home system, powerful game gadget, budget option for home and office.

In each case, you need to take into account many characteristics, ranging from the diagonal of the screen to the amount of RAM, the frequency of the processor and the quality of the video core.

In this article you will find a complete guide to choosing a laptop for different needs from experts and professionals in the field of computer technology.

How to choose a laptop?

Going unprepared for a laptop is not worth it, because the right device can become a universal assistant for the whole family, replace a TV, desktop computer and tablet, and generally serve faithfully for many years.

To choose a good device, you need to pay attention to many parameters, the main of which are:

• screen diagonal;
• case material;
• screen resolution and matrix;
• the amount of built-in and RAM;
• processor type, its power and clock speeds;
• video card;
• availability of all necessary inputs, connectors, modules, interfaces, etc.;
• autonomy of work (or battery capacity);
• speed and storage capacity;
• weight and dimensions;
• quality of the cooling system;
• manufacturing firm.

In many ways, the choice of a laptop is determined by the purpose of its use..

For studies, the autonomy and ergonomics of the device are important, for games - the speed of the processor and the cooling system, for three-dimensional modeling and video editing - screen quality and video core.

With a competent approach to choosing this complex device, you can purchase a reliable, powerful, convenient and multifunctional device within the planned budget..

What characteristics are considered the best?

Screen size and resolution

Ideally, screen resolution should be directly proportional to processor power. It’s bad if a productive device has a low resolution and average picture quality, and it’s just as bad if a weak laptop is equipped with a great screen.

If we talk about the diagonal, you can follow the following rules:

• for frequent travel and movement (for example, for study), compact laptops with a diagonal of 13,3 before 14 inches;
• optimal universal home computer systems can have a screen with a diagonal of 15.6 to 17.3 inches;
• laptops designed for gaming or watching movies must have a diagonal of 17.3 inches or more.

At the same time, an important nuance: laptops with a miniature screen cannot physically have a good resolution, because in small models there are usually stripped-down versions of discrete video cards..

As a result, according to the passport, the device has good graphics, but in fact it has a weak video card with low performance.

The “golden mean” in terms of convenience and comfortable work are models with a diagonal of 15.6 inches. If they are equipped with a good graphical foundation, they will do. for work with text editors, web surfing, gaming and watching video content.

As for permission, here it is also worth starting from personal needs.. To communicate in social networks and run weak games, too high indicators are not needed: the full potential of the graphics will not be used, but you will have to pay for the powerful stuffing of the laptop.

But gamers and designersfor example, a good screen resolution is very important.

In general, resolution determines almost all picture parameters: brightness, contrast, detail, juiciness, saturation, realism and clarity.

If the main goal is to choose a budget laptop for home or office, you can limit yourself to a more modest resolution: 1366x768 (HD) or 1600x900 (HD+). But in this case, you should not rely, for example, on impressive special effects and voluminous color gamut when watching videos on YouTube.

For those who appreciate the quality and realism of what is happening on the screen, devices with a resolution of 2560x1440 (2K) or 3840x2160 (4K or Ultra HD) are suitable.

Laptops with these parameters are usually not cheap.

Processor - main series and which ones are suitable for what purposes

For those who are well versed in processors, this criterion will be the main one when choosing a laptop.

It is the processor that determines the performance and power of the device, its speed, overclocking capabilities and much more..

In other words, the cooler the processor, the smoother, more stable and correct the operation of the laptop, the fewer errors and brakes, and the more resource-intensive applications and games the device will pull. Leadership in the microprocessor market today is shared by 2 brands - AMD and Intel.

Each corporation offers several series of CPUs, and they have a large variety of models.

Intel processors are classified into the following series (in ascending order of performance and, in most cases, price):

• atom;
• Celeron;
• Pentium;
• Core i3;
• Core i5;
• Core i7;
• Core i9.

The first three series are found in budget devices, and the Core family CPUs are found in more powerful and expensive ones. At the same time, it often happens that a representative of an older family turns out to be more powerful and nimble than his younger brother.

Pay attention to the numbers after the designation of the generation.

Processors whose names begin with a figure eight (Core i3 8130U, Core i5 8250U, etc.) belong to the 8th generation (2017-2018). In 2024-2025, the tenth and eleventh generations of CPUs from Intel are relevant.

If you dig deeper, then such crystal parameters as clock and maximum frequencies, cache memory, manufacturing process, integrated graphics, heat dissipation and energy efficiency are also taken into account..

When buying, it is almost impossible to take all this into account without understanding the topic, so it is better to pay attention to the generation and read reviews about processors on the Internet. It also indicates for what purposes it is better to choose one or another CPU.

For home universal systems for work and entertainment, the tenth generation Intel Core i5 processors are considered the most optimal.

For professional and gaming laptops, CPUs of the Core i7 and i9 families are more suitable. A budget laptop will have an Atom, Pentium, Celeron, Core i3 processor at best.

Speaking of Intel's main competitor, it is worth considering only AMD Ryzen processors no older than the 2000th generation: it was after the release of these CPUs that the company was noticed and appreciated in the microprocessor market.

What crystals from AMD are suitable for what purposes?

• Ryzen 3: for office and simple multimedia tasks;
• Ryzen 5: mid-range processors, an alternative to Intel Core i5 for home, office, heavy gaming and multimedia tasks;
• Ryzen 7: Semi-professional level CPU for gaming systems, rendering, editing;
• Ryzen 9: premium segment for complex computing tasks, running powerful games and programming.

AMD processors released before 2018 should not be considered at all: their performance is too modest.

Video card - main series and their performance

A laptop can have only an integrated video card or a pair of video cards - discrete and built-in.

In the first case, the price / quality, energy efficiency and autonomy of the device will please, but the performance in graphics tasks and games will disappoint. Therefore, buying a laptop without a discrete graphics card can be a waste of money.

If we talk about a discrete graphics card, it may belong to Nvidia or the already well-known manufacturer AMD. Video cards also have a huge number of characteristics in which there is nothing to understand.

The main thing is to remember that the amount of video memory in the core is at least 4 GB.

As far as performance is concerned, Nvidia has so far outperformed the competition by offering more powerful graphics cards at a similar price point.

Before buying, in general, you can open any rating of video cards (even in text format, even on YouTube), study the options within the established budget and make a choice.

RAM - how much should be for comfortable work

RAM is the amount of storage that stores data for quick access while working on a computer. A good example is multiple open browser tabs. The data of each tab is temporarily loaded into the RAM, so switching between them is carried out instantly.

How much RAM should be for comfortable work?

• 8 GBif the laptop is designed for office, everyday tasks and running some games.
• 16 GBif the laptop is predominantly gaming and multimedia or designed to run resource-intensive applications. This is the most optimal amount of RAM for universal laptops, which is also called "with a reasonable margin."

As for the minimum 4 GB, at first it may seem that this is quite enough, but over time, the speed of work will infuriate.

Only a browser with several open tabs takes up about 2-4 GB, so it is better not to pay attention to such devices.

Screen matrix - which one to choose?

The screen matrix determines the richness and realism of the picture, as well as viewing angles. Outdated matrices make work comfortable only if you look at the screen at a right angle, i.e. Watching a movie together will be uncomfortable.

The most popular are IPS-matrices and their alternatives MVA and PLS. The latter are less common, but in terms of characteristics they are close to the leader.

TN matrices are considered obsolete, like their slightly more promising SVA competitors.

SSD or HDD?

These abbreviations encrypt the built-in memory, which stores all user files, as well as the installed OS.

There are 3 types of storage:

• hard disk drive (HDD);
• solid state drive (SSD);
• hybrid hard drive (SSHD).

The first ones are more voluminous, but they are inferior in speed and are afraid of mechanical impact, so now not everyone is in a hurry to buy devices with a hard drive.

More modern SSD memory is faster and not afraid of shock, but it is also more expensive.

The ideal option, if there are no hard budget constraints, would be hybrid memory. It is a large hard drive and a small SSD drive. It is the most reliable storage system at a cost to match.

Windows or macOS?

The operating system determines the convenience of working with a computer: ease of settings, ease of management, logical interface.

The most common is the Windows platform, which is installed in most modern laptops..

macOS is the brainchild of Apple, so this system is found only in MacBooks. If you do not take into account the indicators of affordability, ease of installation and performance, then, of course, whoever can afford a laptop from the "apple" company can choose it and not know the troubles.

Windows is a stable, universal OS with a license that can be installed on a laptop of any brand..

In management, both systems are equally simple and intuitive, if only because Apple is for simplicity, and everyone who has worked at a computer or laptop has seen Windows at least once.

Speaking about the characteristics and parameters, both systems have their advantages and disadvantages, so the choice of platform is a matter of taste and wallet.

Autonomy of work

Autonomy is often associated with battery capacity, but this is not entirely true, because there are other parameters (for example, speed) that determine how long a laptop can work without a power source.

Here you should adhere to the following rule: if the laptop becomes part of the home system and will “travel” only in exceptional cases, 5 hours of work without recharging is enough.

Mobile laptops for study or office must withstand at least 10 hours of operation from the battery.

Weight and dimensions

The weight and dimensions of the laptop, which, in fact, determine its ergonomics, also directly depend on whether the device will stand on the table or lie in a bag that needs to be transported daily from home to work.

But not everything is so simple.

The dimensions of the device directly depend on the diagonal: if you need a large screen with a good resolution, a laptop cannot be a miniature a priori. There is another nuance: the metal case is more reliable, but it also adds weight to the laptop.

In addition, the models are simpler and cheaper usually have a greater thickness, while more modern options are slightly thinner.

So the weight and dimensions, perhaps, should be the result of choosing more important characteristics (screen diagonal, case material).

Main interfaces

The additional functionality of the laptop is represented by all kinds of connectors, outputs, inputs and wireless modules, thanks to which you can connect various devices to the device.

Interfaces that a laptop should definitely (or very desirable) have in 2024-2025:

• WiFi module;
• bluetooth;
• USB port (and preferably not one);
• HDMI;
• DisplayPort;
• Ethernet;
• audio jack;
• docking station connector;
• expresscard.

Choosing a laptop for tasks

Now it's worth considering what characteristics a laptop should have for different types of activities.

The presence of a discrete card is not necessary at all, but the battery life is better from 10 hours. As for the screen, for long-term work behind it, it is advisable to spend money on an IPS-matrix and Full HD-resolution.

For the office, a device is suitable that will easily provide comfortable work with Internet pages, text editors, spreadsheets, suitable for preparing presentations and checking e-mail.

Such tasks will be within the power of laptops with 4 GB of RAM, a 15.6-inch screen, an Intel Core i3 processor or a more budgetary AMD Ryzen 3, TN-matrix and HD resolution. Battery life - 5-7 hours.

Dimensions and autonomy are important for study, so you can make your choice in favor of a 13.3-inch laptop or ultrabook with Windows OS, 8 GB of RAM, Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor, integrated graphics, Full HD resolution and IPS matrix. The battery should work at least 10 hours, and you can choose a plastic case.

A versatile home laptop can have a screen with a 17.3-inch diagonal, preferably with a matte finish, 2K resolution, IPS-matrix, SSD storage, 16 GB of RAM and any operating system.

Choose Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 as the processor, for more performance you should consider Intel Core i7 and AMD Ryzen 7. Battery life is not important.

Finally, gaming systems must be powerful, performant and have very good graphics..

For this reason, the best option would be a large 17.3-inch laptop with an 11th generation Intel processor running Windows, always with a discrete graphics card, at least 16 GB of memory, an IPS panel, SSHD memory, a powerful video card and several USB ports. .

Which firm to choose?

Here are the most popular manufacturers producing high-quality equipment:

• Huawei. This freema is famous for its mid-budget laptops, in the price segment up to 50000 rubles.
• HP. This company is famous for its convertible laptopswhich have proven themselves in the market.
• Dell. This manufacturer has proven itself in the low price segment - up to 20000 rubles.
• MSI. The company is based on gaming laptops in the high price segment. up to 70,000 rubles.
• Xiaomi. This Chinese manufacturer also performs well in work and gaming tasks, in the price segment - up to 60000 rubles.
• Acer. This manufacturer performs well in any price range, including up to 25000 rubles.
• Lenovo. An excellent company that produces high-quality models in the middle price segment - up to 40000 rubles.
• Honor. A great manufacturer of laptops for the middle price segment - up to 30000—35000 rubles.

TOP 5 best laptops by price / quality

ASUS TUF Gaming FX505

Powerful gaming laptop with a 15.6-inch screen and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels designed for everyday work tasks, work in text and graphic editors, games and complex computing tasks.

Depending on the purpose of the laptop, you can optionally select the main parameters, for example, the total amount of drives, the amount of RAM, the processor.

The widescreen display has a matte or anti-reflective coating, making it easy to use the device in any light.

It is glare-free and features dimmable LED backlighting..

The video card is also optional: there are modifications with both AMD and NVIDIA. The storage configuration is optional - HDD / HDD+SSD / SSD.

Interfaces include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, several USB ports, Ethernet, audio input and microphone.

The battery has an autonomy of 3 to 5 hours of operation without recharging, depending on the battery capacity 2526 ... 4240 mAh.

Specifications:

• resolution: 1920?1080;
• CPU (optional): Core i5 / Core i7 / Ryzen 5 / Ryzen 7;
• RAM: 6…16 GB;
• matrix: IPS;
• operating time: 3…5 h;
• diagonal: 15.6 ".

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro 15.6 GTX

A thin gaming laptop from a Chinese manufacturer with a worldwide reputation has an SSD-drive for long and reliable storage of information with a total volume of up to 1 TB / 256 GB.

The model has a metal body and a glossy screen with a diagonal of 15.6 inches and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, as well as an IPS-matrix with good viewing angles.

The laptop is compact and lightweight (2 kg), so you can take it with you to study or to the office.

There is a webcam for video communication or video conferences, and a security lock slot to protect personal data. Unlocking is done by fingerprint.

The design has a microphone and good speakers, and for the convenience of working with text in low light conditions, the keyboard is backlit.

The model has a 4-cell Li-Pol battery that provides up to 9 hours of operation without recharging.

Specifications:

• resolution: 1920?1080;
• CPU (optional): Core i5 / Core i7;
• RAM: 8…16 GB;
• matrix: IPS;
• working time: 9 h;
• diagonal: 15.6 ".

Apple MacBook Pro 16 with Retina display and Touch Bar Late 2019

16" laptop with Apple's own macOS, SSD and large set of functions and options.

Optionally, the processor can belong to the Core i7 or Core i9 family and have 6 or 8 cores, making the performance and speed of the device suitable for everyday tasks, as well as for games and complex multimedia processes.

RAM 16…64 GB. This is enough for multitasking. However, Apple devices fundamentally do not have slots for memory cards, so it will not be possible to increase the built-in storage.

The total amount of drives is 512…8000 GB.

The screen has an unusual diagonal size - 16 inches, the highest resolution of 3072 × 1920 pixels and an IPS matrix, and is also equipped with a LED screen backlight. As a graphics card, the manufacturer chose the fifth generation AMD.

Interfaces include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thunderbolt 3x4, headphone jack and microphone. There's also a Touch Bar, speakers and a subwoofer with clear, loud sound, a webcam, and a fingerprint scanner.

Specifications:

• resolution: 3072?1920;
• CPU (optional): Core i7 / Core i9;
• RAM: 16…64 GB;
• matrix: IPS;
• working time: 11 h;
• diagonal: 16 ".

ASUS VivoBook 15 X512

Notebook Asus with a wide range of configurations, from body color to generation of the processor, due to which you can choose the appropriate option for each specific user.

The model has a 15.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1920×1080 or 1366×768 pixels and an integrated video core Intel HD Graphics 610.

A widescreen screen can optionally be constructed on an IPS or TN matrix. In the latter case, the final cost of the device is reduced, but the viewing angles are significantly narrowed.

LED backlighting and anti-glare or matte finish ensure a comfortable working experience even in low light conditions.

The manufacturer offers optionally several options for video cards, both NVIDIA and AMD, but the amount of video memory in any case is 2 GB. The total amount of drives varies from 128…1256 GB.

The model has Wi-fi and Bluetooth modules, slots for memory cards, HDMI input, headphone output, audio input, several USB ports and speakers.

Specifications:

• resolution: 1366x768 / 1920x1080;
• CPU (optional): Core i3 / Core i5 / Core i7 / Pentium / Ryzen 3 / Ryzen 5 / Ryzen 7;
• RAM: 4…12 GB;
• matrix: IPS/TN;
• working time: 5 h;
• Diagonal: 15.6".

HONOR MagicBook Pro

Versatile powerful laptop with a large screen with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels, IPS-matrix and capacious battery, which allows you to work in active mode up to 12 hours without recharging.

The model has a modern SSD drive, a preinstalled Windows 10 Home operating system and a mid-range processor capable of working in office, gaming and professional modes, Core i5 / Ryzen 5 is optional.

The device supports DDR4 memory and has a reserve of 8…16 GB of RAM, which is quite enough to run heavy applications, work in multitasking mode and run modern games.

The screen has a diagonal of 16.1 inches and a matte finish with LED backlight. The amount of video memory is only 2 GB. Of the interfaces, there are Wi-fi and Bluetooth modules, USB 3.0 Type A x 3 / USB 3.1 Type-C / HDMI output / microphone / headphones Combo.

Unlocking is done through a fingerprint scanner.

Specifications:

• resolution: 1920?1080;
• CPU (optional): Core i5 / Ryzen 5;
• RAM: 8…16 GB;
• matrix: IPS;
• working time: 9…12 h;
• diagonal: 16.1?.

Conclusion

Choosing a laptop for home, office, gaming or professional workload is not difficult.It is enough to know the main characteristics and parameters, which will be enough for certain tasks, and decide on the budget and the manufacturer.

Useful video

From the video you will learn how to choose a laptop: