Laptop prices have skyrocketed ever since #WFH became our new normal but that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your life savings on a trendy device. Here is our easy guide in understanding laptop specs and why prices vary. Maybe you won’t need that $3000 laptop!

Processor Matters

Let’s start with your laptop’s brain. Just like human beings, some people tend to use their right brain more and lean towards artistic roles. You can’t force someone who loves creativity into doing structured paperwork! They’ll take twice as long and get burnt out sooner. 

Same logic applies for laptops. Deciding on your processor is dependent on the day-to-day tasks you would need your laptop to do. The more advanced and newer the processor is, the more expensive it’ll get. The two main processors in the current market are Intel and AMD which are similar in prices depending on the level of processor you’d need. Most laptops on the market today have a variety of processor options thus the wide price range. 

Let’s say you need a laptop to work on paperwork with limited web surfing. Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 is more than adequate, laptops with these processors or lower are more budget friendly too. Checkout: Dell XPS 13 2-in1 with Intel i3

Operating System

Here’s where preference comes in. Operating systems are like your aesthetics: are you into the Y2K look or classic Audrey Hepburn? There is no right or wrong to this question, some people even bounce between. Depending on what your preference is, you could either be a Microsoft or IOS user. Most software are now available for both operating systems too, so you don’t have to worry about not being compatible with your coworkers. My advice would be to choose whichever you’re more comfortable with; tech is supposed to help you, not make you cry. 

Newcomers Google are also coming out with their own operating system, Chrome OS. To try this new operating system check out: Google Pixelbook Go 

Storage vs Memory 

I always get tripped up over this, doesn’t the two just mean the same thing? 

Basically memory is the amount of capacity your laptop can hold and manipulate in the long run. Where as storage is the short term data like documents or photos that you’d need it to keep. You can always add more storage options like using a hard drive or USB but memory is fixed and internalized within your laptop’s interior. 

The average memory I’d recommend would be anywhere above 8GB. With software files becoming more advanced the average user is finding themselves needing more memory space. Meanwhile the average storage size is anywhere from 250 to 320 GBs, that’s more than 30,000 average size photos or songs. 

For example, if you’re a photographer and use a lot of Adobe Suite programs then getting a laptop with a large memory should be your priority. This allows your laptop enough capacity and strength to keep the software’s information while smoothly supporting the processes when you edit. Most photographers would opt to save their files on external hard drives to prevent lagging their laptops too. If these heavy lifting duties sounds like something you’ll be doing checkout: HP Spectre x360 14

Having just enough storage size would be more ideal for someone who intends to view photos or documents on their laptop. Downgrading your memory requirements will help you save the money you didn’t need to spend on. If this sounds like you checkout: Lenovo Chromebook 2-in-1 

Other Tech Specs to Lookout For

We’ve covered the main necessities but here are some details you’d might want to walk yourself through before finalizing on your big decision.

Battery life

Are you on the go or just sitting at home? If you’re always on the go, make sure your laptop has a good battery life and can support your full day of work with one charge. Nothing is worse than having your gadgets die on you in the middle of an important task. It’s not always easy to find a charging outlet when you’re traveling.

Ports 

If you do a lot of presentations or require other external tools, make sure your laptop has enough ports to support your day to day work. I recently launched a podcast with my best friend and luckily my 2015 Macbook Pro still has two USB ports to support plugging in the two mics we need. 

Display

If you enjoy a high quality and crisp display when you play games or stream movies, you might want to look into sharper displays that offer 4k resolution like the Dell XPS 15. But if you’re just looking at documents, your average display will work fine too. The words on your document won’t start karate chopping each other any time soon. 

Touchscreen / Keyboard

It gets REAL fancy these days. If portability is your main concern, going touchscreen is the way to go. These devices tend to be lighter and more compact. You can always get a bluetooth keyboard when you need to do the occasional paperwork. 

Size 

There’s a whole spectrum of sizes for laptops now. Going smaller doesn’t always necessarily translate to cheaper either. There is a huge amount of investment that goes into developing smaller and more compact laptops. Unlike our phones that are getting larger and larger, customers are demanding more capabilities with smaller laptops. 

Phew. We made it through! Now that you understand what all those tech specs mean, you can highlight specs that you really need. Hopefully this guide will help you make an informed decision and not just settle on the more popular but expensive option. Good luck!

If you need more guidance in finding your ideal laptop read: What Laptop Should I Buy? 5 Things to Ask Yourself Before