Picking a laptop is easier once you know what you will mostly do on it. This guide walks through the choices that matter, in the order we ask about them in the store.
1. Start with what you will use it for
- Uni and office work: a light laptop with a good keyboard and a full day of battery matters more than raw power.
- Gaming: the graphics card decides how well games run. Look at it first, then the screen's refresh rate.
- Design, video and 3D: you need a strong processor, plenty of memory and a screen with accurate colour.
2. Memory and storage
16 GB of memory is a comfortable minimum for most people today; heavy creative work is happier with 32 GB. Choose an SSD of at least 512 GB, since games and projects fill smaller drives quickly.
3. The screen
For gaming, a 120 Hz or faster screen feels noticeably smoother. For creative work, check colour coverage (sRGB or DCI-P3). A brighter screen also helps if you work near windows.
4. Power cuts and battery
With load-shedding, battery life is a real feature. Gaming laptops usually last a few hours away from the charger; thin and light models often last most of a working day.
5. New, open box or used
Open-box and used laptops can save a lot, but always ask about the warranty and the battery's health. We list the condition of every laptop on its page.
Still not sure?
Message us with what you do and your budget, and we will suggest two or three laptops that fit.
