Once you know the right areas to focus on, finding the right laptop for you is simple.
The larger the screen, the larger and heavier the laptop, which means less portability.
Once you’ve decided on a screen size, you’ll also need to choose the display technology.
That said, color accuracy is paramount for video and photo editing as well as numerous othercreative fields.
You’ll also need to consider how important a touchscreen is to you.
Again, for coding and most documents, a touchscreen may be nice to have but isn’t essential.
Of course, you’ll also need to consider how powerful you need the hardware to be.
For light web browsing and casual document editing, most computers will work.
You’ll likely need more power for more demanding workloads like editing photos or video or compiling software.
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
Gaming performance comes at a premium for laptops.
While the XPS 13 Plus attempted to move forward from that venerable laptop, it fell short.
The display is one of the first things you’ll notice using the XPS 14.
Dell
The keyboard, on the other hand, makes for an excellent typing experience.
There are only Platinum and Graphite options, but it’s still nice to have some choice.
While the touchpad may take some getting used to, the keyboard should have you feeling right at home.
Even at the base-level configuration, the laptop has plenty to offer for the price.
Budget laptops often feel distressingly outdated, but everything about the Aspire 3 seems modern.
You get Wi-Fi 6 instead of some older version, which you’ll often see on budget laptops.
Of course, you could’t expect top-level performance from this level of hardware.
Battery life is surprisingly decent, especially for a budget laptop.
It’s also worth pointing out how spacious the keyboard is, something made possible by the 15.8-inch display.
While it’s not a powerhouse, it performs well for everyday tasks and has battery life to spare.
TheASUS Zenbook 14 OLEDcontinues this tradition but adds a stunning OLED screen.
As the number in the name implies, the screen is 14 inches, with a resolution of 2880x1800.
The Zenbook 14 OLED gets its juice from a four-cell, 75Wh onboard battery.
That may not sound like much, but ASUS claims this gives the Zenbook a 15-hour maximum battery life.
When it comes to available configurations, you don’t have much in the way of choices.
The portability and battery life will help you get work done anywhere, any time.
Regarding RAM, the m18 R2 starts at 16GB and is available with up to 64 GB.
Storage options range from 1TB to 8TB M.2 SSD storage.
Dell
Either way, you get 100% DCI-P3 coverage, complete with NVIDIA G-Sync support.
Things get more interesting when it comes to the keyboard.
The basic option is Alienware’s M-series keyboard, which offers per-key backlighting.
The Dell XPS 14 takes most everything that made its 13-inch predecessor great and updates it with a larger OLED display and a sleek, slim exterior. While the touchpad may take some getting used to, the keyboard should have you feeling right at home.
The battery is a six-cell, 97-Wh model powered by a 280-watt adapter.
Still, this is a gaming laptop, so don’t expect stellar battery life.
Don’t expect a ton of color options, either.
Acer
Fortunately, there’s plenty of it to be had, even on the base model.
That includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity as well.
Turning to the display, the IdeaPad 1 boasts a 15.6-inch display with a 1080p IPS panel.
ASUS
Sitting above the display is a 720p webcam with a privacy shutter built-in.
Lenovo doesn’t give concrete numbers on the capacity of the battery supplying the IdeaPad 1.
That said, the company claims up to nine hours of battery life on a single charge.
Alienware
The laptop uses USB-C to connect to the charger, and comes with a 65-watt charger in the box.
Either way, you could’t go wrong.
TheLenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (14-inch Intel)is a perfect candidate.
Lenovo
Meanwhile, the base configuration is still quite well-equipped, with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
Most models run Windows 11 Home, though Pro is also available.
The highest-end model features a higher resolution at 3840 x 2400, but only a 60Hz refresh rate.
Lenovo
The battery features a capacity of 75Wh, which is roughly typical for a laptop in this price range.
At worst, you may need to top up midday.
Finally, the Yoga 9i has a bit of an ace in the Lenovo Slim Pen.
FAQ
How do I clean my laptop’s screen and keyboard?
Can I use a monitor with my laptop?
Yes, at least in most cases.
Many laptops feature HDMI or mini-HDMI ports that let you easily connect to a monitor.
Can I upgrade the internals of my laptop?
Sometimes, but this is becoming less common.
Check your laptop’s manual for more details.
How do I take a screenshot on my laptop?
Then you’re free to paste it into another app with Ctrl+V.
you might also use the built-in Snipping Tool, available in both Windows 10 and 11.
What should I do if my laptop is overheating?
First, shut down your laptop and wait until it has cooled down.
Then, try blowing out any vent areas with canned air, being careful not to get too close.
Once you’re sure your laptop has cooled down, try turning it on again.
If the problem persists, you may need to have it serviced.
