Start with what you will do on it
| If you mostly… | Prioritise | Do not pay extra for |
|---|---|---|
| Browse, write, study, video-call | Battery life, weight, keyboard, screen | A top processor or a graphics card |
| Edit photos or video | Screen quality, memory, processor, storage | A very thin and light design that runs hot |
| Play games | Graphics card, cooling, screen refresh rate | All-day battery — gaming laptops rarely have it |
| Write code | Memory, keyboard, screen size and resolution | Graphics, unless your work needs it |
The specs, in order of how often they matter
- Memory (RAM). Too little makes a laptop slow for its whole life, and on most thin laptops it cannot be added later. Check how much you are getting and whether it can be upgraded.
- Storage. An SSD, and enough of it for your files plus room to spare. More is cheap to buy now and often impossible to add later.
- The screen. Resolution, brightness and how accurate the colours are. Reviews that measure the screen are worth more than the brochure.
- Battery life as measured by a review, not the maker's figure, which is usually taken under the lightest possible use.
- The processor. Compare generations, not just tiers: a newer mid-range chip often beats an older top one. Look for benchmark results rather than names.
- Weight, ports and the keyboard — the things you notice every day and that no benchmark measures.
Where to look
For measured battery life, screen quality and noise, a review site that tests, such as Notebookcheck. For the maker's full specifications, its own product page — and check the exact configuration, because one model name can cover several very different laptops. For what goes wrong, owners' forums.
Side by side, for your use
Type two to six laptops into compare⁄io and write how you will use one in the box beneath: "university, carried all day, some photo editing". The verdict is written for that; the table lays out at least ten attributes side by side, each with a badge saying where it was found, plus what owners most often report going wrong. Then ask the chat: "is 16GB enough for what I do?"
Compare laptops now
Questions people ask
How do I compare two laptops side by side?
Decide what you will mostly use it for, then compare memory, storage, screen, measured battery life and the processor in that order. compare⁄io lays these out side by side for any laptops you name, with a verdict for your use.
Is the processor the most important spec?
For most people, no. Too little memory, a dim screen or a short battery will bother you more often than a slightly slower processor.
Should I buy a laptop or a tablet?
It depends on whether you type a lot and need desktop software. Compare the two directly on compare⁄io with your use written in, and ask the chat about the software you rely on.