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How to choose the right laptop
A laptop is an investment for years. Common mistakes are buying a weak machine because it's cheap, or a heavy gaming laptop for a student who needs something light. Start from how you'll use it.
1. By use
| Use | Suggested specs |
|---|---|
| Study, office and browsing | Recent mid-range processor, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, light weight and long battery life |
| Programming and heavy multitasking | 16–32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, high-resolution screen |
| Design and video editing | Strong processor, 32 GB RAM, dedicated graphics, color-accurate screen |
| Gaming | Strong dedicated graphics card, high refresh-rate screen, good cooling |
2. Things many people overlook
- RAM: 8 GB is now tight for most uses; 16 GB is the comfortable minimum. Check whether it can be upgraded later.
- Storage: always an SSD; don't accept a traditional HDD as the main drive.
- Screen: resolution and brightness matter if you work long hours.
- Ports: do you need HDMI, USB-A or a card reader? Some thin laptops only have USB-C.
- Keyboard: make sure Arabic letters are printed if you need them.
- Warranty: a local warranty from the agent makes a big difference if anything goes wrong.
Qarin's take: for students and office workers, prioritize light weight, battery life and 16 GB of RAM. Don't pay for a powerful graphics card unless you'll actually game or design.