When you are looking to buy a laptop for home use, you must take your budget into consideration. I mean, who wants to buy a heavy machine if the only thing you want to do is browse and make assignments?
But that’s not all; everyone has different preferences when they look for laptops to buy; some want them for gaming, while others may choose them for watching movies, surfing the web, or working on documents.
In this article, I will talk about all these things and give your preferences the highest priority. Read on to find out how much you should spend on a laptop for home use.
Key takeaways:
- Determine your usage needs: Identify the primary purpose of your laptop – whether it’s browsing, office work, media editing, gaming, etc. Each task requires different specifications, so understanding your usage pattern is crucial.
- Set a realistic budget: Define your budget based on your intended use. For basic tasks like browsing and office work, a budget of $500-$600 is reasonable. However, for gaming or intensive tasks, be prepared to spend $700 or more to ensure optimal performance.
- Choose the right category: Understand the distinctions between laptop categories – Chromebooks, Macs, and Windows devices. Windows laptops offer versatility with a wide range of options, while MacBooks are renowned for quality albeit at a higher price. Chromebooks are a more budget-friendly option suitable for basic tasks.
Consider laptop usage before deciding:
First and foremost, understanding your needs is key. As John Webster, the managing director of digital doctors in Brighton, says, first ask yourself, What are you going to be using it for? “That’s what helps us suggest what someone might buy in the end.”
Like I said, think about what you’ll do with the laptop. Are you planning on checking your emails and browsing the internet? Will you use any programs, such as Microsoft Office? Are you going to edit pictures or videos, or would you like to play games with cool graphics?
Every task demands different specifications. Therefore, you should always select a laptop that is suitable for all tasks.
If you just browse the web or work with simple programs like Skype, Zoom, or Office, let’s say for education and fun, you can opt for an affordable laptop suitable for basic use.
However, playing fancy games and editing images and videos require a good screen, a fast processor, higher refresh rates, and decent RAM. You might need gaming laptops or a high-end computer.
Think not only about what you currently do on a computer but also what you would like to do occasionally in the next few years. In this way, you either purchase a better machine or, at least, one with upgradability options.
Webster explains that laptops are essentially divided into three categories. The first is for personal use. If you only need a laptop to browse the web and do your homework, a Chromebook is enough.
Chromebooks are cheaper than Windows laptops, and there are even Chromebook models under $500. Chromebooks natively support Google Classroom and are easy to use.
For work, Webster recommends Windows laptops with Intel CPUs. Intel Core i5 is a minimum, but the i7 will last longer and bring more value, so be ready to pay more. If one is interested in gaming, find a model with a dedicated graphics card.
Decide how much you want to spend.
John Webster says that if you are purchasing a laptop for home use, plan for $500–$600. This will buy you a current, good-looking device that is also able to withstand future changes.
If you play games on your laptop, then think of spending $700 or more. And if you are on a tight budget, around $300 will get you a basic laptop.
Jason Stevenson, who is the head of IT at famous tech company, suggests that deciding how much to spend on a laptop is pretty simple. “If you’ll be using it every day, try to spend as much as you can afford. That way, you’ll probably get a laptop that stays useful for a bit longer. But if you don’t think you’ll use it all that much, a cheaper model should be fine.
We can differentiate laptops into three major categories: Chromebooks, Macs, and Windows devices. Windows laptops have the greatest number of choices, as they cost around $350.
MacBooks are renowned for their quality but are expensive, starting at $999. Chromebooks are more basic and cheap, beginning at about $200. If you’ll be taking your laptop with you, keep in mind that a maximum 15-inch screen is usually best for travel.
Laptops for home use: Mid-range options:
Now that you have a better idea of what to look for and how much to spend on a laptop for home use, let us talk about how mid-range laptops work and why you might want to consider one.
These laptops are not super cheap, but again, they are not top-of-the-line. They are somewhere in between. Instead of being super basic, like a Chromebook, or super fancy with a graphics card for gaming, they give you a bit of both.
Even the least expensive midrange laptop can handle simple tasks like surfing the web, typing documents, and making spreadsheets.
They will have enough power to run Windows smoothly, a strong body, and a comfy keyboard.
You can expect a 15-inch screen, basic graphics, and 4GB to 8GB of memory. Additionally, they come with Wi-Fi connection, internet access, a webcam for video calls, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Laptops under $500 that fall within this range are most popular for everyday home use.
High-end choices:
Do you want a laptop that works really fast? Maybe you would like one that is excellent for gaming, or maybe something very strong for work purposes?
If so, then a high-end laptop may just be what you need.
The finest high-end laptops usually cost between $800 and $1000, but they are often worth it.
If you read reviews, more costly laptops get better ratings than cheaper ones.
So which laptop is the best for your money?
In most cases, the best bang-for-the-buck laptops cost around $800 to $1000. That’s where you can really save some money.
But there are great deals out there for less. Your ideal computer might not have all of the bells and whistles but it can still make you happy without making it feel like you are settling on quality.
Choosing a laptop can sometimes be difficult, though. There are lots to choose from and some of them aren’t so good. Find one that caters to your budget as well as what you desire in terms of usage and frequency.
Look around and compare:
To buy a laptop, you must do some research. You can read reviews in places like Amazon or check out laptop buying guides and compare laptop prices at different places.
Find out what others have to say about them. Make sure you are getting the best deal for what you are looking for in a laptop.
Look for “open box” items if you want to cut costs. Some are sold at a discount by the manufacturer after being returned by customers. You can save up to 15% with these.
Final thought:
For everyday computer tasks, mid-range laptops are the way to go. Nonetheless, take note that a cheap laptop bought today may not be durable enough due to its obsolescence.
Now that the highs and lows are at your fingertips, you can select the perfect laptop for yourself. But before you do that, think of how much time you spend on your laptop every month and year.
A well-thought choice will make it possible for a laptop to remain an extremely helpful tool over a long period of time.