Choosing a notebook in 2022 may seem easier than a few years ago, now it’s really hard to find a laptop that performs badly right out of the box. The reality of the facts, however, is different, the market is full of laptops almost all the same and it is not easy to disentangle processors, acronyms, RAM, internal storage and display size.
To all this must be added the budget factor. Usually one wonders what specifications of a notebook to aim for for the amount you want to spend. We then begin to compare the various models, specifications, operating system, offers and value for money. Not satisfied, one of the doubts that most haunts buyers is the durability of the notebook that you are going to buy. For these reasons it is essential to be clear on how to choose a notebook in 2022 .
How to choose a notebook, the needs
Before taking a look at the hardest part of choosing the best notebooks, it is very important to have in mind what kind of use the new laptop is going to make . Knowing what you are looking for in the future notebook is a factor of primary importance to calibrate the choice on the right price for the right specifications.
If you are a student, you will not want to spend too much on a new notebook and you will not need mind-boggling specifications, especially if you need to take and read pdfs. Even in this case, however, the choice may depend on various factors. Do you need a notebook for school or university? Do you need a laptop for both study and play? Is the new notebook an investment for the future of business? to answer some of these questions we have prepared a guide to the best notebooks for the study.
If you are a worker, however, the needs multiply dramatically. Also in this case we have already prepared a detailed focus for the best notebooks for work but it is clear that there is a need to give here two general lines for choosing notebooks for your needs. If you do mainly office work, you don’t need to spend a lot on a new laptop, you don’t need too much hardware base. If, on the other hand, you do graphics, video editing or design work, then it is advisable to focus on machines capable of having great computing power.
Having in mind your needs, business or otherwise, it will be much easier to set a budget for the new notebook to buy. Once the maximum spending limit has been set, you can finally enter a real jungle made up of offers, technical specifications, acronyms and many details that can be confusing.
How to choose a notebook, the hardware
When choosing a new notebook, it is important to take a look at the data sheet. Let’s be clear, the exaggerated specifications do not make a laptop a good laptop. Hardware isn’t all there is a need for software optimization. Having said that it is important to carefully choose the foundation of a notebook. The most important factors to consider when choosing a notebook are :
- Display
- Processor
- RAM
- Internal storage
- Keyboard and touchpad
- door kit
The display is too often underestimated by those who want to buy a new notebook. The display is the part of the notebook that we observe the most, it is where the operating system is shown to us. Having a good display allows you to consult it in any light or environment condition. There are glossy, matte type displays. There are TN, LCD, IPS and OLED displays with attached HD, FullHD and 4K resolutions. The aspect ratios also change, there are the classic 16: 9 more suitable for multimedia or the 3: 2 perfect for work and consultation of documents.
Another big hinge for the display is the choice of the diagonal. We thought of splitting two guides on the best 13-inch and 15-inch notebooks which are the two cuts that are the most popular. To clarify the ideas a little, we leave some basic specifications for choosing a notebook display. If you are aiming for something cheap, at least try to get a FullHD resolution display with IPS technology. If, on the other hand, you want the maximum obtainable in terms of display of a new notebook then it is the case to aim for a borderless OLED with 4K resolution.
With the display aside, it’s time to focus on the processor. Most notebook processors are from Intel and in this focus we have selected the best laptops with Intel Core. for some years, however, the choice is no longer relegated to a single processor manufacturer because AMD is back in a big way, here we have the focus dedicated to the best notebooks with ADM Ryzen processor.
The Intel processor family is divided into Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7. In turn, the Core processors are divided by acronyms that correspond to the power they can deliver but it is not the case to go into too much detail. The ADM Ryzen processors are also divided into Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7. Both for Intel and AMD the entry-level processors are the first Core i3 and Ryzen 3. The mid-high range is busy with a great detachment in terms of power. from Core i5 and Ryzen 5 to then aim for the top of the range with Core i7 and Ryzen 7. We do not recommend aiming for entry-level solutions (if you don’t want to spend too much, those are fine too) but always go back to at least one Core i5 or Ryzen 5that are able to cover the vast majority of needs both from a work and personal point of view. If you do not want any sacrifice, it is clear that there is to get the top with Core i7 and Ryzen 7 but do it only if you really need it.
Chapter three, the RAM. Let’s face it clearly, notebooks even with “only” 4 GB of RAM for elementary operations or if you know how to use the laptop well may be enough. They are not recommended but they can be enough if you do not have big demands and if the budget is limited. The general advice is to choose a cut of at least 8 GB of RAM . Some notebooks also offer the option to expand the available RAM but are the high-end ones that will probably already have 16 or more GB of RAM.
Internal storage is to be kept under close observation. The thing to keep in mind when buying a new notebook is to avoid classic hard drives. HDDs are slow and weary memories, if you find a notebook with a large 1 TB HDD don’t take it into consideration. While it is increasingly rare to find only HDDs on modern notebooks, it is a mantra that is always worth emphasizing. On any notebook, even inexpensive ones, you need to aim for an SSD module . SSD memories are much faster in reading and writing than classic HDDs, trivially the whole operating system will have much faster reaction times.
In some cases it is possible to find a HDD paired with the SSD module, in that case the choice may be wise. Usually with this combination the operating system is installed on the SSD module and less important files can be stored on the HDD. The advice is as follows, even for the low-end it is mandatory to choose an SSD, it is an investment on the future stability of the laptop and on performance. The recommended Memory Cut is at least 256 GB.
Keyboard and touchpad are two other elements that are too often underestimated. Let’s start with the keyboard. On a notebook it is not possible to be faced with mechanical keyboards, only a few high-end gaming laptops can boast this solution. It is not to be expected who knows what performance from notebook keyboards but some evaluation can always be made.
Keyboard (and touchpad) on low-end laptops are among the things that will leave you most disappointed, so much so that you have to use an external mouse instead of the small inaccurate touchpads of the low-end. The keyboards work but they are subjected to a lot of wear and if not of level, after a while they will lose precision or will start to lose the symbols from the keycaps. All these problems go away the more you go up in price but the advice is to try to evaluate live the response or the resistance of a keyboard. If you really can’t do it live, find out online, read reviews and learn more.
The door set is increasingly snubbed by manufacturers who now limit themselves to the bare essentials, delegating the rest to increasingly expensive external dongles. To stay covered for any type of use, the advice is to equip yourself with at least 3 full size USB, 1 audio jack, 1 HDMI and an SD card reader. The reality of the facts is different, however, in the high-end of the market there are notebooks with doors reduced to the bone, it is much easier to find an entry-level laptop with a good supply of ports. How to do it then? Arm yourself with a dongle, an external accessory with all ports missing. An interesting observation can be made thanks to the adoption of reversible USB-C ports, often able to charge the laptop, connect the notebook to an external monitor and take advantage of external GPUs.
There are many other aspects to consider on the hardware part of a new notebook. Those selected have an evaluation priority but the general construction, the materials used, the audio section, the battery, a dedicated GPU for gaming notebooks and the possibility of updating the hardware should not be underestimated. Summing up this review, here are three examples of minimum configuration to keep as a basis for evaluating how to choose a notebook :
- Low-end notebook: Core i3 or Ryzen 3 CPU, 4 GB of RAM; 128 GB SSD, FullHD Display.
- Notebook fascia medio alta: CPU Core i5, Ryzen 5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, FullHD display.
- Premium range notebook: from Core i7 or Ryzen 7 to go up with dedicated graphics card, from 16 GB of RAM to go up, SDD + capacious HDD, borderless FullHD display to go up (touchscreen, 4K, OLED, HDR, etc ..).
How to choose a notebook, the software
For many, the choice of software may seem trivial, for many others it is not. The consumer market is dominated by Windows, an almost mandatory choice if you don’t look at Apple with macOS. There are actually two other options that could be an idea for those who have in mind what kind of use to do with their notebook.
In choosing a new notebook you will surely have come across the Windows operating system. The most famous OS in the world, it is the one recommended for most. Everyone knows how to use a notebook with Windows that in the latest versions has improved to the point of forgetting the great and historical problems that plagued the older versions. Of course, it’s still a bit confusing, there are still things that could be handled better but having to choose a notebook with Windows is like coming home after a long journey.
MacOS is to be recommended to those who already have an iPhone, an iPad or to those who want to enter the famous Apple ecosystem that many can only envy. Choosing a Macbook with MacOS is a valid choice to have a great ease of use, a not indifferent system stability. Also in this case there are limits of the operating system, it is perfectly normal. And if you come from Windows it will take a little learning period.
There is also Chrome OS, Google’s cloud-based operating system. It is not to be recommended to everyone but Chrome OS is on the rise for the Educational sector and beyond. If all you have to do with your new notebook is browse the web and little else, Chrome OS can be a decidedly economical choice. For some time now, Google has extended support for Android apps to Chrome OS as well in order to maximize the usability.
If we mention Linux and it doesn’t sound new to you, then you know what the possibilities of a distribution like Ubuntu are. It is absolutely not recommended for a consumer audience, also because there are no notebooks on the market with a Linux distribution already installed. However, there are some notebooks sold without an operating system, some of these laptops are of enormous quality from MSI and if you know how to get your hands on it, it could give you a lot of satisfaction.
How to choose a notebook, the best brands
If after all this examination you still have doubts about how to choose a notebook , let’s try to give you some more useful information on the best brands to bet on. You will find only notebook brands with updated products and solid performance. Do not underestimate the safety factor, you will not find low cost brands that do not guarantee security updates or that are not very attentive to the longevity of laptops.
Best Huawei notebooks: Huawei has recently entered the notebook market and is already making itself noticed thanks to very high quality laptops offered at a price, in some cases, competitive. The brand has the ability to be able to build machines with a refined design and with some particularities that distinguish Huawei laptops from others.
Best Dell notebooks: Dell is a historic brand, one of those that made the history of the notebook market not only in the computer sector but also in the corporate sector. It has succeeded thanks to products with convincing performance and an elegant and resistant design. Being able to become one of the top brands for the business notebook world is not easy, the quality of Dell products is very high.
Best Microsoft notebooks: For lovers of the Windows operating system, knowing that Microsoft has been offering laptops designed and studied at home for some years is a dream, Microsoft notebooks are the best for those looking for the best Windows experience around.
Best Lenovo notebooks: Lenovo notebooks are not so popular in Italy, which is a real shame. The brand is an important giant in the PC and notebook market, aiming for a Lenovo notebook is certainly a smart choice, almost for a connoisseur.
Best MSI notebooks: All fans of the gaming world are familiar with the quality of MSI products, laptops with almost handcrafted workmanship. MSI notebooks are the best for those who love attention to detail, those who are excited for a cooling system and for those who are amazed at how much power can be enclosed in a notebook.
Best Acer notebooks: Acer is a well-known brand, it is one of those laptop manufacturers that does not neglect any market segment trying to offer a notebook for every need and price availability even in the gaming world.
Best Asus notebooks: Asus is a well-known brand in the notebook market, especially for having invaded the low-end market with many entry level solutions. For some years, however, the manufacturer has given up a bit ‘its grip on low cost products and is moving to the high end.
Best HP notebooks: HP notebooks in Italy are very popular, they can be found everywhere, in any store and in all online shops. The notebooks offered by HP are many and for all budgets but for this reason it is not easy to choose one.
Best Chromebooks: Google has decided to officially bring the family of notebooks with the Chrome OS operating system, the famous Chromebooks, to Italy. Here are the best.
Are you still confused, have questions or curiosities? You can leave a comment below or enter our Community on Facebook, the TuttoTech and TuttoAndroid team is always ready to help you choose the laptop for your needs.