Department
Computers & Laptops
Laptops, components, software and broadband.
- Sections
- 4
- Buying guides
- 1
Choosing a laptop, accessories, software or broadband is easier once you know which specifications change how a computer feels day to day: memory that often cannot be upgraded later, storage that fills up faster than expected, screens that are hard to read in bright rooms and battery figures measured under light conditions. Our guides explain what to prioritise for study, office work, creative projects, gaming and travel. We do not run benchmarks; for measured performance, read independent benchmark publications alongside the specifications. Graphics cards and processors have their own Computer Hardware department.
As retailers are connected, every offer here is ranked by its total landed price — the item price plus standard delivery — with the time each price was checked. Some retailer links are affiliate links; a commission never changes which offer we label as the cheapest.
HOW
How to choose: computers & laptops
- Computers & LaptopsLaptop buying guideProcessor, memory, storage, screen and battery explained — how to choose a laptop for study, work, creative projects, gaming or travel.Read the guide
- How we compareHow to read a price history and when to buyWhy a “was” price is not enough, how to read a price history chart, common price patterns and how HotWhatHow spots genuine drops.Read the guide
- How we compareDelivery costs, returns and the true landed priceHow delivery charges, free-delivery thresholds and returns costs change the real price — and how HotWhatHow ranks offers by total cost.Read the guide
How to choose
Choosing computers & laptops: what to look for
Three questions to ask yourself, and the specifications that matter for each answer.
1.How will you mostly use your laptop?
- On the move — battery and weight matter
- Prioritise weight, real-world battery life and USB-C charging.
- Mostly at a desk
- More memory and processor cores help with multitasking and heavier apps.
2.How much storage do you need?
- 256 GB is enough (I use cloud storage)
- Fine if most of your files live in the cloud — check whether the drive can be upgraded.
- 512 GB or more
- Worth it for photo libraries, games and offline files.
3.Which operating system do you prefer?
- macOS
- Check your essential apps run on macOS before you switch.
- Windows
- The widest choice of hardware and software; compare keyboards and screens carefully.
- No preference
- Choose by the software you rely on — and how long updates are promised.
Live top-3 recommendations, ranked against these rules, appear here once retailers are connected and computers & laptops are listed.
Products & prices
Live price comparison is being connected
We are connecting retailer feeds through affiliate networks. When computers & laptops are listed, every offer here shows its total price including delivery and when it was checked — and the cheapest is always labelled honestly. Until then, the buying guides and checklist on this page explain what to look for.
Computers & Laptops: common questions
Do you benchmark laptops?
No. Our guides are based on manufacturer specifications and general product information. For measured performance, consult independent benchmark publications alongside the specifications.
Why do two laptops with the same processor perform differently?
Laptop makers set different power limits and cooling designs, so a thicker laptop with better cooling can sustain higher performance than a thin one with the same chip.
Can I upgrade a laptop's memory later?
Often not — many laptops have memory soldered to the board. Check the specifications, and if it cannot be upgraded, buy enough at the start.
Where are graphics cards and processors?
PC components have their own Computer Hardware department at /computer-hardware/. Old links to the hardware section of Computers redirect there automatically.