Hi, I’m Matt Smith and I perform many of the laptop reviews here at Digital Trends. The laptop is the most popular category of PC on the market. While desktops still can be found in retailers, and tablets have stolen the popular spotlight, it is the laptop that captures the heart of most consumers looking for a new computer. 

Consider the advantages, and you’ll find that to be no surprise. Laptops have more than enough power for the average consumer, but they’re also portable. Many consumers wonder why they would want a desktop when a laptop is available for nearly the same price, and many who look at tablets find them to be lacking the software compatibility and performance they demand.

Popularity can breed confusion, however. These devices are available in many sizes and shapes with substantially different hardware, which can make deciding difficult. Read on to find out to select the right laptop for you, or use the checkboxes below to start your search based on features.

All shapes and sizes

Before looking at the hardware inside, it’s wise to ask what size of laptop you’re looking for. They come in a wide variety, from tiny netbooks that will fit almost anywhere to hulking desktop replacements that won’t fit in most full-sized backpacks. 

Larger laptops will, generally, offer a better user experience than small ones. They have larger displays, larger keyboards, and more powerful hardware. However, portability is important, so you must balance the desire for a computer that’s small and light with the desire for a computer that’s powerful and easy to use. Most consumers decide that a laptop with a 15.6-inch display is the right choice, but 13.3-inch and 14-inch laptops are also popular. 

You can also throw money at the issue. Powerful yet small laptops, such as the MacBook Air and Sony Vaio Z, are available for those with a thousand dollars or more to spend.

The processor wars

While the most powerful computer hardware available today is insanely quick, it’s overkill for users who simply browser the Web or watch video online. As a result, there’s a larger gap between the slowest and quickest laptops than ever before.

Processors are still a key component. The most inexpensive netbooks and laptops use Intel Atom or AMD Fusion C-Series and E-Series processors. Of the two, the Atom usually offers better battery life, but at the expense of graphics performance relative to AMD’s Fusion. Neither option is a powerhouse, but the AMD Fusion laptops can handle HD video and even play older 3D games.

Look beyond inexpensive laptops and you’ll find that Intel’s Core processors offer better performance than AMD’s Fusion A-Series with the exception of graphics, which is often superior with Fusion. With this said, consumers who don’t intend to use their laptops for processor intensive software (like Photoshop, for example) are likely to be happy with either option, and should use price to break any ties.

RAM, HDDs and USB, Oh My!

While the processor is important, there’s a constellation of other options available. Detailing every potential hardware combination is an impossible task, but there are some general guidelines worth following.

When looking at RAM, always try to purchase a laptop that offers 4GB or more, unless the laptop is priced at $500 or below, where 2GB should be considered a reasonable value. On the other hand, don’t be tempted by “more is better.” For most consumers, upgrading beyond 4GB is pointless.

With hard drives, however, more capacity is always better. That’s not to say that performance isn’t different between products, but there’s often no way for a consumer to know what brand of drive is inside without opening the laptop, or at least running a diagnostic tool like PC Wizard. Do look for hard drives labeled as 7200 RPM, however, as they offer better performance. Solid state drives are quicker still, but they remain rare outside of luxury laptops, and even then they’re often an expensive option. 

Connectivity is also worth consideration. Laptops offer a buffet of ports including USB, eSATA, HDMI, VGA and FireWire, but few laptops offer everything. While there are some ports that are technically better than others (USB 3.0 is quicker than USB 2.0, eSATA and FireWire, for example) buying based on those specifications might be foolhardy. We suggest that buyers first consider the ports required to use items that you already own. This will ensure that you don’t bring a laptop home only to find it isn’t compatible with your camera. An adapter can usually fix such an error, but it will be an additional cost and a minor annoyance.

Do you game?

Gaming has always been a weakness of laptops. This is because the powerful graphics hardware demanded by modern games is at odds with the small size of a modern laptop.

As a result, consumers need to ask if games will ever be part of a laptop’s workload. If they will, it’s necessary to look for a laptop with a specific discrete graphics solution. While it is true that both Intel and AMD now integrated graphics in some of their laptop processors, these solutions are still a bit underpowered. If you only play World of Warcraft, they may be fine. If you want to play Just Cause 2 at high detail settings, more power will be needed.

This can be found in the form of Nvidia GeForce and AMD Radeon discrete graphics. New parts are released so frequently that there’s no way to recommend any specific GPU, but we do suggest referring to Notebook Check’s mobile graphics list, which ranks all released mobile graphics solutions by their benchmark scores. The list is updated frequently. 

Do keep in mind the trade-offs that come with more powerful hardware. Gaming laptops are more affordable than ever, but they’re still bulky beasts that are awkward to carry around. Battery life has improved, but is still short relative to other laptops. If you’re a serious gamer, but you don’t need to bring your gaming along on your travels, buying a dedicated gaming desktop and an inexpensive laptop may be the best solution. 

The temptation of endurance

Battery endurance is a common concern among consumers, and it’s easy to understand why. Nothing is more frustrating than being forced to find a plug because a battery is about to die.

Today’s laptops are more portable than ever before, thanks to improvements in processor efficiency. The average life away from a socket is around four hours, and some models can achieve eight or even ten hours of light use, which is nearly on par with tablets and better than most smartphones (when used constantly).

Some consumers over-estimate the importance of endurance, however. While more is better, batteries are not cheap or small. This is yet another trade-off, as laptops with excellent life are often more expensive or less powerful than their rivals. For many consumers, endurance of four hours is more than enough.

Think about your own usage patterns before you buy. If you’re like most consumers, your laptop will spend most of its time in your home, where battery life is not as important. On the other hand, true road warriors will need as much endurance as possible, and should consider an extended battery if it is available. 

Making the purchase

Once you’ve decided the type of laptop you’re looking for, and the performance you’d like to aim for, it’s time to track down the specific model that will suit your needs.

Reviews are obviously a great tool, and we have plenty of them here at Digital Trends. By reading reviews, you’ll discover the strengths and weaknesses of each laptop, as found by someone with experience using many different products. While in-store impressions are also valuable, there’s simply no way for a consumer to test a laptop thoroughly before purchasing it. 

Searching for the best deal is also recommended. Spending less is always for the best, of course, but laptops are known for major price fluctuations. We’ve found laptops selling for $100 less on Amazon than on Newegg, and vice-versa. It is also common for specific retailers to sell special-edition laptops that are exclusive to that store. These often have a specific combination of hardware designed to offer an outstanding value. 

Whatever your choice, be careful not to be sucked in by marketing machinations. There are a lot of absurd claims out there. For instance, it’s still common to hear salespeople state that quad-core processors are twice as powerful as dual-cores, and using this as a way to sell consumers a more expensive model than they’d originally wanted. That’s not to say everyone at your local electronics retailer is trying to pull one over on you, but if you do your research first, you’ll have a much better experience. 

Happy hunting!