When it comes to buying a new laptop, it’s a tough choice because there are so many different options out there. That’s why we’ve provided you with this easy laptop buyer’s guide so you can make an easy and swift decision! Happy shopping
MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13”, Macbook Pro 14”-16”
The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13” are pretty similar in features. The biggest differences are battery life, weight, and price. They both offer an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB unified memory 2TB storage, 13.3” retina display. The MacBook Air starts at $999, weighs 2.8lbs, and has 18 hours of battery life. In contrast, the MacBook Pro 13” starts at $1299, weighs 3.0lbs, and has 20 hours of battery life. The MacBook Pro steps up the game with a 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 64GB of unified memory, 8TB of storage, 14.2” or 16.2” liquid retina XDR display, 21 hours of battery life, and 1080p FaceTime HD camera. The MacBook Pro 14” or 16” is a powerhouse and weighs 3.5lbs or 4.7lbs respectively. These iterations of the MacBook Pro start out at $1999.
Android
Android has entered the laptop market and brings a much smaller price tag. Android laptops run the same system as Android phones, so they come with limitations not found in other systems. When shopping for an Android laptop, you’ll find several manufacturers and brand names, meaning the specs of each laptop model will vary. One of the most budget-friendly Android laptops is the Andoer 10.1” Netbook Lightweight, sold by Walmart for $154.99.
These laptops are best used for streaming, Android apps, and web browsing.
Gaming Laptops
Gaming laptops have a steeper price tag because the hardware needed to power those games is much pricier. Currently, many pieces of hardware are harder to come by. If you’re shopping for a gaming laptop this holiday season, you’ll pay a premium due to chip shortages and video card shortages.
On the higher end, the Alienware m15 R5 15.6” AMD Ryzen 7 5800H with Nvidia RTX 3060 and 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD is more than adequate for high-resolution gaming. The graphics card may not be as fast as the RTX 3080, but will still pull its weight, even at 1080p. The Alienware m15 R5 starts out at $1,393.98.
If you’re on a budget, check out the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop. Even the base model with no additions should handle most fan-favorites. This laptop comes with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, 8GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM, and 256GB PCle NVMe M2 SSD. This model, with no customization, begins at $799.99.
And there you have it! There’s a laptop available for everyone this holiday season from basement budget to high-end.