Compact enough to take with you and versatile enough to run demanding applications, laptops are the best tool for serious work or play on the go.

However, there is a wide variety of sizes, features, and prices, making choosing the best laptop a challenge. That is why in this post we will explain how to choose a good laptop in 2021, what specifications you should evaluate and what is the minimum you should get in a laptop for each price range.

7 Steps to Choose a Good Laptop
1. Choose a platform: Windows, Mac or Chrome OS? Most laptops come with one of 3 operating systems: Windows, Chrome OS, or Mac OS. Choosing the right one is a personal preference, but here's a quick rundown of what each offers so you know how to choose a good laptop.

Windows 10
This is the most flexible operating system and is compatible with the largest number of laptop models and brands (as well as software) . Windows laptops range in price, from S/900 to several thousand soles, and offer a wide range of features, from touch screens, fingerprint readers to dual graphics chips. Check here for more details about Best Mini PC

Windows 10 laptops are a good option for all types of users, and they are the only option that a Gamer user should consider .

Mac OS by Apple
All MacBooks come with Apple's latest desktop operating system, MacOS Big Sur. Overall, the operating system offers similar functionality to Windows 10, but with a different version of the interface that replaces a dock of apps at the bottom of the screen with Microsoft's Start menu and taskbar. They can also make transactions with Apple Pay, receive calls or texts from their phones, and unlock their claptops with an Apple Watch.

However, MacOS is not made for touch, because no MacBook comes with a touch screen. The latest operating system, MacOS Big Sur brings iPad apps to Mac, as well as big improvements to the Safari browser.

Google's Chrome OS
Google's operating system is simple and secure, but more limited than Windows or MacOS . The user interface looks a lot like Windows with an app menu, a desktop, and the ability to drag windows, but the main app you use is the Chrome browser. The downside is that many of the web apps you use don't work particularly well offline. However, this is changing as all new ChromeBooks can now run Android apps .

If you need a device to surf the web and check email, browse social media, and chat online, Chromebooks are highly portable and tend to offer good battery life at low prices. They are also very popular in schools because they are difficult for children to infect with malware and are more functional than most tablets.

If you need a Chromebook, look for one with at least 4GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. A resolution of 1920×1080 is preferred, but rare.

2. Decide if you want a 2 in 1
These are hybrid devices that can switch between tablet mode and laptop mode. 2-in-1s generally come in two different styles: detachable ones with screens that extend completely out of the keyboard, and laptops with flexible hinges that fold up to 360°.

However, if you don't see the need to use your laptop as a whiteboard, we recommend a traditional laptop that will have more power at a lower price.

3. Choose the correct size
Before you look at specs or prices, you need to figure out how portable you need your laptop to be. Laptops are generally classified by their screen sizes, here is a classification of sizes and a recommendation for each use, so that you are sure how to choose a good laptop:

11″ to 12″: These are the thinnest and lightest devices, generally weighing between 1kg and 1.5kg and are ideal for students who need more portability than power.
13″ to 14″ : Provide the best balance between portability and power, ideal as a business laptop or engineering laptop.
15″ to 16″: This is the most popular size and is also ideal for designers and architects.
From 17″ to 18″: It is the ideal size for a Gamer laptop . Especially useful if you're going to be at your desk all the time, a 17 or 18" system could give you the kind of processing power and cooling system you need.

4. Check the keyboard and touchpad
The most impressive specs in the world are nothing if you're not going to use your laptop because of poor ergonomics , or worse, injuries like tunnel syndrome affecting your forearm and finger tendons.

If you plan on doing a lot of work on your laptop, make sure the keyboard offers solid tactile feedback and appropriate distance between the keys.

Look for a touchpad that's accurate, doesn't give you a bouncy cursor, and consistently responds to multi- touch gestures like pinch-to-zoom.

5. Know what you have to see in a laptop before you buy

The processor, the hard drive, the RAM and the video card are the components that you have to see in a laptop before buying ; however, they have so many variants and models that it can be difficult to understand. Don't worry! In the following lines is everything you need to know before buying a laptop! After reading this, he assured you that you will know how to choose a good laptop:

El CPU
The CPU is the brain of the laptop and it is what influences the performance of your computer, depending on what you want to do, even the cheapest laptop can be good enough. Here is a summary:

Intel Core i9: It is the ultra high range of Intel and is available in Premium computers and servers. This processor model is only worth paying for if you are going to use your computer as an application server .
Intel Core i7: It is the high range of Intel, the models with series that end in HQ or K have 4 cores and a higher power, which allows a high level of productivity. It is very important that you look at the series because you will also find Core i7 chips that have less power and less performance.
Intel Core i5: They have the best price-performance combination , The models with series that end in U are the most common. Those with a Y are low power but poorer in performance, while HQ models use more power and can run heavier programs and games.
Intel Core i3: Performance and price are slightly below Core i5. IF you can afford an i5, I recommend you do.
Intel Core Y Series: BEWARE! If you find Core i5 or i7 processors but they have the Y series, it means that they have a very low power consumption which allows them to run without a fan; however, the performance is much worse.
Intel Pentium / Celeron : It is the most basic processor and is present in cheap laptops, these chips offer slow performance and are intended for basic tasks : surfing the web, editing office documents. If you want to invest in a laptop that will last you a long time, try to buy at least a Core i3.
AMD Ryzen 4000 and 5000: A new set of chips designed to compete with the Intel Core i5 and Core i7. In models released in 2021 and late 2020, these chips outperform their Intel-brand counterparts . For example, the Ryzen 5 4500U CPU offers roughly the same performance as a Core i7 CPU. Not only do they have better performance, but they are also cheaper than their Intel counterparts.
AMD A, FX, or E Series: Found in budget laptops, these processors provide slow performance at a low price and are intended for web browsing and office use.
RAM memory
It is a hardware where the data of the works that you carry out simultaneously is stored, so that you can have several programs or several tabs open at the same time. If the CPU is the brain, the RAM is the number of arms you have .

This is a high benefit-cost component, if later on you want to be able to improve the performance of your laptop, make sure that the laptop you buy has the option of upgrading the RAM capacity.