Laptop Buying Guide (2025): How to Choose the Right PC (Step-by-Step Guide)

However, for some people, it may be useful to think which software you need to run and the best operating systems it runs. And let’s not forget: Chromeos and Linux are still alternative options. Here, how the four operating systems are broken.

Window: Windows is the default default operating system. Windows is the largest and most widely used operating system and supports the highest number of applications and hardware. You may be required by your workplace or as you need to run a particular application. But most importantly, going with Windows 11 to buy a laptop offers you the widest range of devices you can choose. Due to its open nature, new laptops come out throughout the year, from cheap laptops to Blucted game laptops. There are even a variety of laptops that should be considered with adventurous designs and integrated touch screens. Regardless of your budget, you will have an easier time to find something that works for you at the Windows ecosystem.

macOS: Apple’s MacOS is a little newer than Windows, but it is strictly united with the company’s hardware. Your purchasing options are limited to MacBooks. Since Apple uses her own chips and Macbooks is a completely different monster, we have a separate guide to choose the best MacBook. If you have already purchased it to the Apple ecosystem with iPhone or iPad, MacBooks has a variety of software features (such as AirDrop and Universal Control).

Chromeos: Chromeos is a good choice if you can do most of your laptop tasks in a web browser and try to save some cash. Chrome is among the cheapest (and at least powerful) you will find, so the operating system is worth thinking about whether you are in a strict budget. Although Chromebooks are mostly associated with Kir-Chim school laptops, which are mostly borrowed to high school students, they have become more than that. “Chromebook Plus” appointment It was released at the end of 2023Faster processors such as Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus are a way to emphasize high -end Chromebooks using more memory, more storage and better video cameras. Still, the same limitations are still there. You cannot run Adobe’s Creative Suite or Microsoft Office. Some applications, especially office, have an Android phone/tablet version maybe be able to do Upload to your Chromebook (or a web version), but I found that Android applications usually do not work well. Read our best Chromebooks guide for more information.

Linux: If you don’t need MS Office and don’t mind a learning curve, you can upload Linux to almost any laptop hardware created so far. As in Chromeos, the capture here, MS Office and Adobe’s popular applications such as Creative Suite do not support Linux. However, there are free, open source alternatives like, such as Libreoffice– Dark gun (Change Adobe Lightroom) and Gimp (Adobe Photoshop Change). Look at our best Linux laptop guide for some of our favorites. And if you’re wondering about Qualcomm’s Linux support in the new Snapdragon X CPU… In these works. One Experimental version of Debian Now you can install it, but still around the edges. Qualcomm’s road map It indicates that full support is probably at least six months.

Understanding processor names (CPU)

When you learn which operating system you want and you have an idea about the software you will run, you can find the minimum hardware features you need. The first thing we recommend to look at is the processor called chip or CPU. Nowadays, there are four contestants you need to know in the laptop area.

For decades, a few things in technology have been as iconic as Intel’s “Core I” brand. CPUs are complex (and often contain a number of numbers), but at least you always know that the core i7 is faster than the Core i5. Intel Introduced New branding in 2023However, it changes “Core i5 için for” Core Ultra 5 “

For example, the latest generation of chips from Intel is the 15th generation processor, also known as Intel Core Ultra Series 2. You will know that you got these last chips on the first number in Sku. For example, the most common laptop chip in this line is the nucleus of ultra 7 258V. After the right generation, the letter at the end of SKU is very important especially in this existing generation of chips. Here is a simpler casting: