Whether you are a regular Windows user or a Mac fan, if you’ve picked something worthwhile, it means you have made an excellent investment. The market is filled with some brilliant laptop brands including Samsung, Dell, HP, Apple, etc., but which one is more reliable. Picking a suitable device that fulfills your requirements with a limited budget could be an overwhelming task.
If you want to spend on a robust and high-end product, you should know what traits to look upon. Do you want to buy a competitive and high-end laptop, but have a limited budget? I have brought a thorough buying guide for you to aid you in picking the best laptops under $700. In this guide, you will go through numerous factors that can affect your purchase optimally.
What to Look for While Picking the Best Laptop in 2021 | Buying Guide
Now the question is, what makes a laptop worthwhile? Well, you should understand the price of a laptop and several other elements. If you get a laptop at an affordable price with premium performance, it means you’ve successfully picked the best laptop.
Operating System
The operating system is one of the main elements to consider, which is typically available in macOS, Windows, and ChromeOS. These three operating systems are the most famous and popularly used in most laptops.
These three major computer operating systems come with unique specifications, which are mentioned below:
- MacOS is dominated by Apple Company, which comes in the best laptops for beginners. This system is firmly paired with the company’s hardware. However, if you don’t use an iPhone or an iPad, you may get limited options with your MacBook.
- Windows is the most common operating system in most laptops, especially in cheaper alternatives. Besides, it is the most straightforward system to operate, which gets its job done quickly. If you want to access Microsoft applications, such as MS Office, Outlook, etc., it is the best option.
- ChromeOS is a good choice for those who have to execute most of their projects on browsers. The laptops with the Chrome operating system are called Chromebooks. These laptops are the least powerful, which usually come in low-end devices.
Laptop Size
Before getting into the features of the best laptop, determine the exterior. The size of a laptop matters a lot, particularly if you want to get a lightweight and easily portable laptop. A big laptop would definitely not fulfill these criteria. Therefore, below are some standard laptop sizes.
- The 11 to 12 inches laptop is the thinnest, smallest, and lightest system which has approximately 2.5 to 3.5 lbs weight.
- A 13 to 14 inches laptop delivers the best balance if you want a portable yet adequate display. This laptop weighs nearly 4 lbs.
- 15 to 16 inches laptops are the most common and popular size which most people prefer. This device has a weight of probably 4 to 5.5 lbs. Most businessmen and regular users usually use this laptop.
- The 17 to 18 inches laptop has a large display with a powerful processor. This laptop is generally adopted by gamers or graphic designers. The weight of these laptops is approximately 6.5 lbs, which might not be easily portable.
Battery Life
Then comes the battery, which is another major component of a laptop. What if you spend hundreds of dollars on a laptop, but its life is for a couple of hours? Well, this feature should not be overlooked. Furthermore, a battery is also a vital element for a portable laptop. When you get a gadget with durable battery life, you don’t need to charge it frequently all day.
Other Specifications
Well, it is recommended to spend much time looking into the laptop’s several factors because they are considered the key components to pick the most reliable model for you. With thousands of numerous options on the market, a laptop comes with varied RAM, storage, resolution, processors, and many other components differently.
- Display Resolution is the part of the laptop’s exterior components that come in numerous options presently; most laptops offer a resolution of 1920 x 1080p, which is a good option for regular use. Yet, if you are into gaming, photo or video editing, or graphics designing, you must opt for a 4K display laptop.
- RAM stands for Random Access Memory, is the temporary storage device that helps your system to run efficiently. The higher the RAM, the smoother the system will operate. Usually, a mediocre laptop offers 4 GB RAM, which is acceptable for many users. However, if you are looking for a high-end gaming laptop, no one should compromise on picking a device with 8 GB memory so that it supports the latest video games.
- Storage is a permanent storage device that saves all the data for a longer time. Many laptops come with varied storage; some offer 256 GB and some 512 GB. This storage is sufficient for a regular user. However, if you pick a laptop with a 1 TB hard drive, what could be better than that?
- Processor, also known as the CPU, helps in running the system smoothly and quickly. Currently, the Intel Core i5 processor is a good option for high performance. Some others include Core i7 or quad-core CPUs, which are an excellent option for video editing or 3D modeling tasks.
- GPU is a crucial element for gaming laptop users because it aids in image and video rendering. However, a discrete GPU is entirely reasonable to run a game or your favorite software. On the other hand, an Intel GPU is also an acceptable option.
Final Thoughts
So, this was an elaborated buying guide for the best laptops in 2021. Keep in mind to determine all these considerations before making your final decision. I hope this guide has made some points clearer to you and helped you recognize your requirements. Hence, choose a model that fulfills your demands and delivers the best execution.