Look, I’ve been through enough laptop purchases to know that walking into a tech store (or doom-scrolling through online specs) can feel like you’re trying to decode the Matrix. Everyone’s got an opinion, every salesperson has a commission to earn, and suddenly you’re being told you need 64GB of RAM to check your emails.
Let’s cut through the nonsense.
What Are You Actually Going to Do With It?
This is the question nobody seems to ask themselves before dropping two grand on a machine that could probably run NASA simulations when all they needed was something to write essays on.
For work: Unless you’re a video editor or running serious creative software, you probably don’t need the specs you think you need. Most office work, web browsing, and general productivity tasks will run perfectly fine on mid-range hardware. I’m talking about Word documents, spreadsheets, Zoom calls, and the seventeen browser tabs you swear you’ll close later.
For school: Similar story. Students often get sold premium machines when a decent mid-ranger would do the job. Sure, if you’re studying engineering or architecture and running CAD software, that’s different. But for most courses, you’re looking at note-taking, research, and essays. Save your money for textbooks (or, let’s be honest, food).
For gaming: This is where things get expensive, and deservedly so. Modern games are resource-hungry beasts, and if you want to play anything released in the last few years at decent settings, you’re going to need proper hardware.
The Specs That Actually Matter
Let’s talk numbers without making your eyes glaze over.
Processor (CPU): Think of this as the brain of your laptop. For general use, an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 will handle most tasks without breaking a sweat. If you’re gaming or doing intensive work, you’re looking at i7/Ryzen 7 or higher. Don’t get too caught up in the generation numbers, though later generations generally mean better performance and battery life.
RAM (Memory): Here’s where people get oversold. For basic work and school, 8GB is the minimum you should consider in 2025, but 16GB is the sweet spot that’ll future-proof you a bit. For gaming, 16GB is pretty much standard now, with 32GB being nice to have if you’re running demanding titles or streaming while you play.
Storage: SSDs have basically made traditional hard drives obsolete in laptops, and thank goodness for that. A 256GB SSD is workable if you’re cloud-focused, but 512GB gives you breathing room. Gamers, you’re looking at 1TB minimum because modern games are absurdly large (looking at you, Call of Duty).
Graphics Card (GPU): For work and school, integrated graphics are fine. For gaming, you need a dedicated GPU. NVIDIA’s RTX series or AMD’s Radeon cards are your friends here. Don’t expect to run everything on ultra settings with a budget gaming laptop, but mid-range options can handle most games at medium to high settings perfectly well.
Screen Size and Portability
This is the eternal trade-off. A 17-inch screen is glorious for gaming and working at home, but hauling it to the library or a cafe? You’ll develop one very muscular shoulder.
For students and mobile workers, 13 to 14 inches hits a nice balance between portability and usability. For gaming or desktop replacement, 15 to 17 inches makes more sense. Just remember, bigger screens usually mean shorter battery life and heavier bags.
Battery Life (Or Lack Thereof)
Gaming laptops and battery life have historically been enemies. If you’re buying a gaming machine, accept that you’ll be hunting for power outlets. For work and school laptops, aim for at least eight hours of real-world use, which usually means manufacturers claiming ten to twelve hours (they’re optimistic like that).
Build Quality and Keyboard
You’re going to be touching this thing constantly. A wobbly hinge or a keyboard that feels like typing on a biscuit gets old fast.
Aluminium builds tend to feel more premium and last longer than plastic, though they cost more. Check reviews for keyboard quality because specs sheets won’t tell you if the keys feel like mush. And please, please test the trackpad if you can. A terrible trackpad is the kind of low-level annoyance that’ll drive you mad over time.
Operating System: The Choice Nobody Thinks About
Windows dominates the market and runs basically everything, which makes it the safe choice for most people. MacBooks run macOS, look gorgeous, and work brilliantly within Apple’s ecosystem, but you’ll pay premium prices and gaming is basically off the table.
Chromebooks run Chrome OS and are perfect for budget-conscious students who live in Google’s ecosystem, but they’re limited to web apps and Android apps. Linux exists too, offering powerful customisation if you’re into that sort of thing, but it’s not for everyone.
The Budget Reality Check
You can find perfectly serviceable laptops for work and school in the $800 to $1,200 range. Gaming laptops start around $1,200 for entry-level options, with mid-range sitting around $1,800 to $2,500. Premium gaming rigs can easily hit $3,000-plus, and at that point you might want to consider whether a desktop would serve you better.
Don’t finance a laptop you can’t afford. That monthly payment seems fine until you’re stuck with it for three years and the laptop’s already outdated.
Brand Matters (Sort Of)
Dell, Lenovo, HP, and ASUS all make solid machines across different price points. For gaming, ASUS ROG, MSI, Alienware, and Razer are the big names, though you’re often paying a premium for the branding.
MacBooks are their own category. They’re expensive but well-built, and if you’re already in Apple’s ecosystem, they work seamlessly with your other devices.
What To Avoid
Don’t buy a laptop with less than 8GB of RAM in 2025. Just don’t. Don’t buy from brands you’ve never heard of just because they’re cheap. Don’t ignore the return policy. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t buy a laptop without reading actual user reviews, not just the manufacturer’s marketing spiel.
The Honest Truth
You probably don’t need the most expensive option. You definitely don’t need the cheapest. Work out what you’ll actually use it for, set a realistic budget, and find the best specs you can afford within that range.
And remember, the best laptop is the one you’ll actually use, not the one with the fanciest spec sheet sitting in your drawer because it was too heavy to carry.
