Did you know that every year over 300 million laptops are bought around the world? But, choosing the right laptop has never been easy, as there are many different types of laptops available. And unfortunately, most people who do buy a computer do so without the proper knowledge.
Do you know the most common mistakes in choosing laptops? If you don’t, you should keep reading, because we’re about to give you some insider tips on purchasing laptops. So, be sure to pay close attention, because we’ve got the top 10 mistakes consumers make when choosing the best laptop for their needs.
Let’s begin!
1. Not Knowing Which CPU to Get
Perhaps the most common mistake for people to make is getting a laptop without looking under the hood. One very important hardware to keep an eye on is the CPU (Central Processing Unit), as it’s the brain of the laptop. The CPU dictates how much processing power the laptop has when performing certain tasks.
In simple terms, the processor determines how fast your laptop will execute a task. As you can expect, the more expensive the CPU, the better it’ll perform, but having that much power isn’t always necessary.
For example, Intel’s i9 offers the best processing speed, which means you can run high-end programs simultaneously, like Photoshop or Dreamweaver, without the laptop slowing down.
Even more, if the laptop has an Intel Evo processor since it carries the latest i9 updates. But, if you’re someone that only needs the laptop for basic tasks, then the i5 or i7 is more than enough processing power. So, be sure to look at what CPU the laptop you are planning to get has, so you get one that has the right amount of processing power.
2. Thinking Bigger Is Better
As you can imagine, small and large laptops offer different features. But many people think that if they get a bigger laptop, they’ll have everything they need. The truth is that a bigger laptop doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better one, as size isn’t everything in the world of laptops.
For example, let’s take a look at Dell’s XPS 17.
The CPU of this laptop is one of the best ones, being the 11th Generation Intel Core i9-11980HK. Additionally, it has an absolute powerhouse of a GPU (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060), which means you can play all of the latest PC games, like Battlefield 2042 or Call of Duty Vanguard.
But, what about the size?
As you can expect, this laptop is a whopping 17 inches! So, it’s not the type of laptop you’ll be carrying around on the subway or train. So, what are the alternatives?
Instead of getting the Dell XPS 17, you can get a smaller laptop with almost identical specs. For example, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 carries the 10th-generation Intel Core i3 CPU, which is still powerful enough to play most games. And it’s only 13 inches, which is perfect for commuting.
As you can see, both big and small laptops have the latest laptop features you can desire. So, don’t be fooled the next time you see a big laptop!
3. Falling for a Sales Pitch
Even though this can happen with almost anything you purchase, falling for a sales pitch can be even worse when searching for a laptop, as the salesperson can sell you extra features you may not even need. For example, they may entice you by saying that you need a certain CPU or GPU, even though you won’t use its full potential. That’s why it’s important to understand what type of laptop you want to get before heading to the nearest electronic store.
So, be sure to research different laptop models and have in mind the average price range. That way, you won’t end up paying more than you should.
4. Choosing Brand Over Specs
As you already know, there are several major laptop brands in the market. But, the most common ones are Lenovo, Dell, Apple, and ASUS. But, as you can expect, each brand is tailored for a specific user, so it’s important to know what user you are.
For example, if you’re someone that works in the graphic design industry, then an Apple laptop will be best for you. Why is that? Macbooks have all the hardware required to run any photo or video editing software, which is why they’re the perfect laptops for graphic designers.
But, if you’re a gamer, getting a MacBook is the worse mistake you can make since they have a very limited number of games that you can install. In that case, you’re better off buying a Lenovo Legion Pro 5 or ASUS Rog Strix, as the manufacturers built them specifically for gamers.
5. Not Reading Online Customer Reviews
Another common mistake when choosing a laptop is not reading the customer reviews. You should read customer reviews because they can provide insight into how well a laptop performs. Additionally, some reviews can answer questions you may have about the laptop, which can prove helpful in determining if that’s the laptop for you.
Needless to say, be careful while reading the reviews, as sometimes organizations (usually the laptop manufacturer’s competitions) do what some call “review bombing.”
6. Not Getting the Warranty
People don’t opt for the warranty because they think they’ll be extra careful while using the laptop. But, life is full of surprises, so even if you’re extra cautious while using your computer, something can happen that will ruin it.
Fortunately, if you have a warranty, you won’t have to pay a dime for any repairs, but if you don’t, prepare yourself for a hefty repair fee.
7. Buying a Cheap Laptop
A huge mistake people make when shopping for laptops is getting one off a cheap website. For example, certain sites sell “brand” laptops for less than $200, and while that may seem like a good deal, it’s more than likely a cheap knockoff of the real thing. So, comparing laptop prices is a good idea before deciding on one.
8. Forgetting About Ports
Nothing is worse than getting a new laptop and realizing that you need to purchase a port hub. While most Windows-based laptops carry all the necessary ports, Macbooks are notorious for only having one type of port: the Thunderbolt 3. So, if you’re planning to get a Macbook, be sure to also look for a port hub.
But, what ports should you make sure that your laptop has? Here are the most important ones:
- USB-C
- USB-A
- HMDI
- DisplayPort
- Ethernet
- VGA
Additionally, some laptop models have SD card readers, which is useful for photographers. And even if the laptop you pick doesn’t have all the ports you need, you can also get a mini-port hub that has the ones your computer doesn’t have.
9. Thinking a 2-In-1 Laptop Is a Laptop
While the name may sound contradicting, the truth is that a 2-in-1 laptop isn’t a real laptop, but rather a high-end tablet. Most 2-in-1 laptops use the operating system Chrome OS, which is an OS that only allows you to install apps from the Playstore. So, as you can expect, you won’t be able to install most programs like Microsoft Word or even Adobe Photoshop.
It goes without saying that some of the more expensive 2-in-1 laptops, like the Lenovo Legion 7i, are more laptop than a tablet in terms of specs. But, as you can imagine, it’s not as compact as other 2-in-1 laptops since it has more high-end hardware.
10. Not Getting Enough Storage
Unfortunately, as time passes, programs and video games have become larger in terms of size, which means you’ll need a decent size hard drive. The good news is that most modern laptops have at least 128GB of SSD storage, but even that may not be enough. That’s why when looking through the different types of laptops, be sure to get one that has at least 300GB of storage space.
Additionally, you can purchase an external hard drive if you feel you don’t have enough storage on your laptop.
Avoid These Mistakes in Choosing Laptops
Hopefully, with these ten tips, you can avoid the most common mistakes in choosing laptops. Of course, it takes time to understand what type of laptop to get, so don’t feel pressured in getting the first one you see, and take your time. So, don’t wait any longer and start researching laptops today!
Did you find this post about laptops helpful? If so, we invite you to check out our other posts that are tech-related!
