Can’t decide? Find the perfect Windows laptop with our quiz!
First of all, which one of the below most resonates with you?
Navigate this guide
What do you want to use your laptop for?
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Operating systems
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Things to consider
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Which processor
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Advice from our blog
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What do you want to use your laptop for?
Productivity
If you're working or studying, then you'll want a laptop with a fast processor and a decent amount of RAM (Random Access Memory). That means you can run lots of apps at the same time without any lag. Look for lots of built-in storage (256GB or 512GB) for saving files locally and a good-sized screen for all those spreadsheets. Long battery life lets you work on the go.
Windows laptops are a no-brainer as they feature familiar programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook along with your typical USB ports for connecting an extra screen or two. Apple MacBooks and Plus Chromebooks might be a great pick too, with their user-friendly interfaces and great speed.
Creativity
If you want to edit videos, photos and music on apps like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, then you’ll need a laptop with a lot of processing power to keep things smooth. Lots of RAM is also a must, as you’ll need lots of memory for fast performance when working on large files. You’ll want a powerful graphics card that’ll help you render and edit videos, along with a high-resolution display so colours pop and look accurate.
Apple MacBooks are go-to laptops for lots of designers and creative types. But there are loads of Windows laptops with high-performance specs too. Premium Chromebooks are also powerful enough to keep up with content creators.
Browsing
You won’t need a high-end processor for everyday use, and a modest amount of RAM will do — say 8GB or 16GB. Battery life is important if you like to browse on the move. As for screen size, most medium-sized displays are fine for streaming, shopping and some light gaming.
Standard Chromebooks are top for browsing. Lots of them come in the form of a 2-in-1 laptop, which is a flexible hybrid device that lets you use the laptop as a tablet with an interactive touchscreen. Windows laptops or MacBooks work with 3rd-most third-party browsers but have their own versions too, in Edge and Safari.
Gaming
If you’re after a laptop geared up for serious gaming, then you’ll need something more specialised. Big brands such as Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, MSI and Medion make gaming laptops which pack powerful processors, dedicated graphics cards and plenty of RAM for smooth gameplay. Most gaming laptops also feature large, high-quality displays with a fast refresh rate for lag-free visuals. Look for an RGB or anti-ghosting gaming keyboard, 120Hz refresh rate and a high-resolution screen if you want a powerful gaming setup.
Gaming laptops that run on Windows are a popular choice for gamers thanks to their extensive library of games, compatibility with various hardware, and support for gaming-related software. Cloud gaming Chromebooks let you stream games from the Cloud, so you don’t have to install anything.
Teams is the Microsoft chat and video calling app, and Windows 11 puts it right on your taskbar — so you can tap once to start chatting with work colleagues, family or friends. Very handy.
Mish, Currys tech expert
Cloud gaming Chromebooks are becoming a go-to choice for gamers — letting you stream top titles with nothing more than a reliable internet connection.
Katrina, Currys tech expert
How powerful a processor do you need?
A processor (CPU) is the brain of your laptop. From opening a program to loading a file, the processor makes it happen. Two of the best processor brands for laptops are Intel and AMD. Intel processors are popular with gamers as they’re capable of serious speeds, while content creators like multi-core AMD processors that allow for smooth multitasking.
Intel processors
Intel® Core™ processors have impressively high clock speeds for quicker loading times. The higher the number, the more powerful:
- i3 — Handles basic everyday programs like Word, web browsing, emails and video/music streaming.
- i5 — A more powerful option for multimedia editing, gaming and even live-streaming.
- i7 — A high-performance processor for professionals and serious gamers, designed for demanding programs that require quick rendering speeds (like 4K video editing).
- i9 — A rapidly-fast CPU featuring multiple cores so that you can use various advanced programs at once.
If you want a laptop for gaming, keep an eye out for Intel’s 11th Gen processors. They give you the power to seamlessly game and stream at the same time, with great battery life to boot!
AMD processors
AMD’s Ryzen processors are made for multitasking and are famous for next-level graphics. The latest Ryzen 5000 laptop processors have dazzling speeds and game-ready AMD integrated graphics.
M5 / Mac processors
Offering fantastic speed, amazing graphics and all-day battery life, Apple’s M5 processors for Macs allow you to fly through tasks, create like a pro and play console‑quality games.
The iCloud lets you sync up the data on all your different Apple devices, so you can move between them easily. Start a message on one device, finish it on the next.
Chloe, Currys tech expert
