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Everything about picking a laptop in 3 minutes




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Choosing a new laptop that suits your requirements is a confusing task. There are many brands, and multiple product line-ups with different features and specifications. You need to figure out what screen size you want, what processor, RAM and graphics card you would like in your laptop. Without being fully aware of what these components are and which one to buy, you could end up with a laptop that’s far from ideal. This is our attempt to demystify the complicated world of laptops into a simple buying guide.

Types of laptops

Most standard laptops are good for everyday work and play. These make up for the vast majority of models. There are also 2-in-1 laptops that include convertible and detachable laptops. These can be folded or detached, so they are easier to adapt to the kind of work you’re doing, or if you’re travelling.


CPU – It’s the heart of your laptop

When you’re looking for laptops, look at AMD and Intel processors, and their families of models. AMD’s processors are marked as A-series and E-series processors whereas the Intel processor family includes Atom, Pentium, Celeron, Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7. Besides the product family, look for dual-core, quad-core and octa-core processors for better performance.


RAM –Multitasking between intensive software

Depending on your requirement, look for laptops that come with more memory. Most entry-level laptops today come with 4GB of RAM, while those meant for professionals and designers come pre-configured with 8GB of RAM and above. Extreme performance laptops may even come with 16GB of RAM and more!


Graphics card – Not just for gaming anymore

One of the easiest ways to know if a particular laptop comes with a discrete graphics solution is look out for an AMD or NVIDIA logo. Laptops with only an Intel logo run only an Intel integrated graphics solution. If you want to know more about graphics cards, we have an entire feature dedicated to it.


Hard drive – Store everything you need

Laptops today come built with a 1TB hard drive at the very least. Higher-end laptop models come with 2TB drives. Some laptops use SSDs in place of hard drive and these usually have lower capacity, but way higher performance (click to read more about SSDs). These capacities may range from 128GB to 256GB to even 512GB, depending on the kind of laptop.


Battery – Keep going for hours on end

Choosing a laptop battery is nothing more than looking its capacity. It is measure in mAh and is mentioned on the sticker at the back. A higher mAh value means a longer battery life. Most laptops come with removable batteries, while others do not. Removable batteries are convenient to replace. You can carry an extra battery which you can easily swapped if needed. Laptops with non-removable batteries are usually compact and sleek. They may contain batteries with higher capacities. This depends from one model to another.


Display – Do more with larger workspace

The screen size and resolution is an important factor while selecting a laptop. Sometimes, it is difficult to work on a small display which leaves very little space for the actual workspace. The basic thumb rule is - higher the resolution, the better. Look for laptops that have at least a 1366 x 768 (HD) resolution display or preferably higher, 1920 x 1080 (FHD). The screen size should be your next consideration. Choose a large screen size which should help you easily navigate from one menu to another.


Types of connectivity you should look for

Hopefully, this guide has helped you with figuring out what to look for, the next time you’re out shopping for a laptop. For more customised guides specific to your requirements, don’t forget to read our articles on laptops for college students, programmers, gamers and graphic designers. Now you can buy a laptop right on RelianceDigital.in or as always, by visiting your closest Reliance Digital store.