What to Look for When Buying a Laptop in 2026

After 25 years repairing laptops, Darren has seen which machines last and which ones don't. Here's honest, experience-backed advice on what to look for when buying a laptop in 2026.

The specifications that actually matter

Processor

For everyday use: Intel Core i5 (12th gen or newer) or AMD Ryzen 5 (5000 series or newer) is perfectly adequate. The Intel Core i3 is fine for very basic tasks. Core i7 and Ryzen 7 are for demanding users — photo/video editing, software development. Don't pay for more processor than you'll use.

RAM

16GB is the recommendation for 2026. 8GB is acceptable but starting to feel tight with modern browser tabs. Avoid any new laptop with only 4GB — it will feel slow immediately. Crucially: check whether the RAM is upgradeable or soldered to the motherboard.

Storage

Insist on an SSD — never buy a new laptop with a traditional spinning hard drive. 256GB is sufficient if you use cloud storage for photos and documents. 512GB gives comfortable headroom. Check whether storage can be upgraded later.

Display

Full HD (1920×1080) is the minimum for a comfortable experience on a 15-inch screen. Check the panel type: IPS panels offer better viewing angles and colour than TN panels. Higher resolution (2K/4K) is nice but reduces battery life and is only noticeable on larger screens.

Battery life

Manufacturer claims are optimistic — halve the advertised figure for real-world use. Look for reviews that test real-world battery life. Anything genuinely above 8 hours in real use is excellent.

Brands worth considering in 2026

For reliability and repairability, Darren rates: Lenovo ThinkPad (outstanding build quality, very repairable), Dell Latitude/XPS (good build quality), HP EliteBook (business-grade durability). For value: Acer Aspire and ASUS VivoBook offer good specs for the price.

What to avoid

• Laptops with only 4GB RAM
• Any machine still sold with an HDD (spinning hard drive)
• Chromebooks if you need Windows software
• Extended warranties from retailers — rarely worth the cost
• Laptops with glued-together cases (MacBook Air excluded — they're different)