Those who regularly edit photos and videos or play PC games should consider a 15-inch model that has more powerful hardware, such as a dedicated graphics chip for creating multimedia content and gaming.
Pick a laptop sporting a screen with the 3:2 aspect ratio. You will get more vertical screen real estate and can view documents or Web pages with less scrolling.
3. DISPLAY
Choose an in-plane switching [IPS] display with decent colour quality and excellent viewing angles.
Screens have become sharper over the years. A Full-HD screen [1,920 x 1,080 pixels], found in most mainstream and even some entry-level notebooks, is recommended.
Your viewing experience is also affected by whether the screen is matt or glossy. The former reduces glare and reflection, but a glossy screen produces richer and better-looking images.
Also, consider the brightness. A screen with 300 nits and higher brightness level is recommended, though a dimmer display uses less power.
To prevent nosy parkers from viewing the content on your screen, opt for the privacy-screen filter - if available.
4. WEB CAMERA
With video conferencing on the rise, it is the time for the Web camera to shine. The 720p camera in most new laptops is more than adequate. When buying an external Web camera, a higher-end one may have a privacy cover that physically blocks the Web camera's view. Others may have an additional infrared camera that unlocks the computer via facial recognition.
Check the location of the Web camera. To achieve a near-bezel-less display, PC makers have moved the Web camera from above the screen to below it. The latter can lead to less-than-flattering views as the camera will be pointing at the lower part of one's face.
5. CPU
Chances are, you will buy a notebook that uses a Core processor from market leader Intel.
Intel's Core series' naming convention ranks the processor's capabilities - Core i3 [entry-level], Core i5 [mainstream], Core i7 [high-end] and Core i9 [flagship].
Laptops powered by AMD chips are viable alternatives, especially if they come with the latest processors launched earlier this year. Like Intel, AMD processors have a similar naming convention [Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9] - with Ryzen 9 giving the best performance.
6. GRAPHICS
The visuals you see on a notebook screen are produced by a graphics chip. This is either integrated as part of the processor [the CPU] or a separate dedicated chip.
A dedicated graphics chip offers better performance and is a must for those who play games or produce digital content. Gaming firm Nvidia recently refreshed its entire GeForce mobile graphics chips, so there are plenty of updated options at any budget for gamers.
7. MEMORY AND STORAGE
System memory or RAM affects the responsiveness of a computer and the number of applications that can be running at the same time. 8GB of RAM should suffice for most users. Those who edit photos or videos will need more. Most laptops now have solid-state drives [SSD] that are faster and more reliable, albeit pricier than traditional hard drives. You should expect at least a 256GB SSD in mainstream notebooks.
8. BATTERY
The manufacturer's battery life estimates are based on a specific set of tests. Your mileage will vary depending on usage. Most thin-and-light 13- or 14-inch notebooks offer seven to eight hours of uptime, while larger or gaming models will offer much less.
9. PORTS AND CONNECTIVITY
Ideally, you want a laptop that can be charged via a Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C port. But this feature may be available only in higher-end models.
It is good to have an HDMI port or USB Type-A ports as they do not require a dongle to use with compatible devices. If you can, spring for a laptop that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard that can achieve speeds approaching that of a Gigabit Ethernet port, when used with a Wi-Fi 6 router.
10. OPERATING SYSTEM
Microsoft's Windows operating system [OS] is the de facto choice for most users, though Apple's macOS and the open-source Linux operating system have their niche.