How to Choose a Laptop

Laptops range from a few hundred dollars to well over $2,000. Answer these five questions in order, and you'll know which kind to buy before you look at a single model.

Start with step 1 Take the laptop quiz

Updated November 2026 · 5 minute read

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Five questions to ask

What will you use it for?

Browsing, email, and streaming need far less power than video editing or gaming. Think about the hardest thing you'll ask it to do, and buy for that.
Mac, Windows or Chromebook?

Pick the system that matches the phone and apps you already use. Switching is possible, but it takes time to learn.
How portable does it need to be?

If it goes in a bag every day, aim for a 13 to 14 inch screen and a light build. Bigger screens are nicer on a desk.
Memory and storage

For most people, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage is a comfortable starting point that won't feel slow in a year or two.
Set your budget

Match the laptop to the kind of buyer you are. The table below is a quick shortcut.

Want us to narrow it down for you? Pick your brand, memory, storage, screen size, graphics, and budget in our laptop quiz, and we'll show you three laptops that match. →

Which laptop is right for you?

Type of buyer	What to look for	Our pick
Students	Light, long battery life	Apple MacBook Air 13-inch
Everyday use	Good screen, good value	ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED
Business	Great keyboard, durable	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Gaming	Powerful graphics, fast screen	Dell Alienware m16