Which laptop to choose?

The processor, also known as a CPU (central processing unit), is the heart of your laptop. The more powerful the processor, the better you can run demanding programs or multiple tasks at the same time. Windows laptops and Chromebooks usually run on processors from Intel or AMD. The number in the processor name indicates the power. For daily tasks such as browsing the internet and emailing, for example, a laptop with an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor is fine. For more demanding tasks, such as light video editing or Netflix, you’re more likely to use an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5. Do you work a lot with heavy software, or do you play 3D games? Then go for a laptop with at least an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor. MacBooks run on Apple Silicon processors. You can recognize it by the letter 'M' with a number behind it. The M3 chip is strong enough for basic tasks. The M4 Max and M4 Pro are Apple's most powerful processors.

When buying a laptop, sooner or later you will have to choose how much storage and RAM you need. The storage memory determines how many programmes, photographs, and text files you can store on your laptop's internal hard drive. A laptop with 512 GB (gigabytes) or less is suitable for storing mostly photographs and text files. To store larger video files and games, you'll need at least 1 TB (terabyte). RAM, also known as random access memory, determines how fast and smooth your laptop works. The more RAM, the smoother your laptop will continue to run when you're doing large or different tasks. A laptop with 8 GB of RAM is enough if you're mostly doing basic tasks. For demanding graphic tasks and 3D games, your laptop needs at least 32 GB RAM.

Personal use

You usually use a laptop at home to use the internet, send emails, and occasionally watch a series. You don't need a very powerful laptop for these tasks. A laptop with Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor is more than enough. For Apple enthusiasts, an M3 chip is enough to perform those basic tasks quickly. If you don't store a lot of documents on the laptop, then a model with a maximum of 512 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM will suffice. Because many tablets also meet these requirements, the choice between a tablet and laptop for home users is interesting. A laptop is more useful if you download a lot of programmes and regularly write texts. If you only browse the internet and watch series, tablets are an interesting option. You can also easily take them with you on the go. Can't choose? Opt for a 2-in-1 laptop with touchscreen.

Study

For your studies, it’s especially useful if your laptop is light and compact, so that you can easily take it with you to lectures or the library. Therefore, choose a lightweight model that you can easily put in your bag and take with you. How powerful the laptop's processor should be and how much storage and RAM you need depends largely on your studies. For creative or technical studies, you need a very powerful laptop. If you only use the laptop to make reports and presentations, a less powerful device will suffice.

Work

Which laptop is most useful for work largely depends on the work you do. Do you mainly have to answer emails and use the internet? Then we recommend a laptop with a medium-strong processor. Do you often edit photographs and videos, work as a coder or programmer, or do you need to download large accounting programmes on your laptop, for example? Then we recommend a laptop with at least an Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen 7, or M4 Pro processor. It’s also important that your work laptop is extra secure, so that business-sensitive data and customer data do not fall into the wrong hands. A reliable business laptop has a chip that protects these types of files well. Laptops with Windows Pro, for example, meet this requirement.

Photo and Video Editing

Photograph and video editing is a tough task for laptops. That's why you need a powerful laptop for this. Opt for a laptop with at least an Intel Core i7, AMD Ryzen 7, or M4 Pro processor, and make sure you have at least 2 TB of storage and 16 GB of RAM. Ideally, you should choose a laptop that you can easily expand with more memory.

Gaming

The more fanatical you game, the more powerful the laptop should be. Especially if you play large graphics games such as Fortnite or Call of Duty, you need a laptop with a large processor. For gamers, it’s also important that games display smoothly and razor-sharp. Therefore, opt for a laptop with the highest possible refresh rate and a good graphics card. This is always a good thing if you choose a special gaming laptop. They have all the functionalities to be able to game fanatically.