Question 1

How much RAM do I actually need in a laptop?

Accepted Answer

16 GB is the minimum we'd recommend for any Windows laptop in 2026. Windows 11 itself uses 4–5 GB at idle, and Chrome with a few tabs open will push an 8 GB machine to its limits. If you edit video, work with large datasets, or run virtual machines, 32 GB is worth the investment. For Chromebooks, 4–8 GB is sufficient since ChromeOS is far lighter on memory.

Question 2

Is a Chromebook worth buying, or should I always go for Windows?

Accepted Answer

A Chromebook is genuinely worth it if your work lives in a browser — Google Docs, streaming, email, and light web tasks. They're faster to boot, more secure by design, and considerably cheaper than equivalent Windows machines. However, if you need Microsoft Office (the full desktop version), Adobe software, or any specialist application, ChromeOS won't cut it. The Samsung Chromebook Galaxy Go and ASUS Chromebook CX1 in our catalogue are honest, capable machines for the right user — just don't buy one expecting it to run Windows software.

Question 3

What's the difference between a gaming laptop and a standard laptop?

Accepted Answer

Gaming laptops include a dedicated NVIDIA or AMD GPU, which standard laptops typically lack. That GPU is what enables smooth frame rates in games, faster video rendering, and AI-accelerated workloads. The trade-off is significant: gaming laptops are heavier, run hotter, have shorter battery life (often 2–4 hours under load), and cost considerably more. The MSI Thin 15 with an RTX 4050 is a reasonable entry point; the ASUS ROG Strix G18 with an RTX 5080 is a full desktop replacement. Don't buy a gaming laptop just for the spec sheet if you don't actually game or render — you'll pay a premium for performance you'll never use.

Question 4

Should I avoid laptops with eMMC storage?

Accepted Answer

Yes, avoid eMMC storage on any Windows laptop if you can help it. eMMC is significantly slower than NVMe SSD — boot times, app loading, and file transfers all suffer noticeably. It's acceptable on Chromebooks (which are optimised for it), but on a Windows machine it creates a frustrating experience. Always check the storage spec before buying: look for "SSD" or "NVMe SSD" rather than "eMMC". The price difference between eMMC and SSD models is often small enough that the upgrade is always worthwhile.

Question 5

Which laptop brands offer the best value for money in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Lenovo and Acer consistently offer the strongest value for money in the UK market. Lenovo's IdeaPad and ThinkPad ranges deliver solid build quality and reliable performance at prices well below the market average. Acer is the go-to for budget buyers — the Aspire range in particular offers decent specs at accessible prices. HP has the largest catalogue but a higher average price; you're partly paying for brand recognition. MSI and Apple are premium choices that are only worth the outlay for specific use cases.

Question 6

Are 2-in-1 laptops actually practical, or just a gimmick?

Accepted Answer

Modern 2-in-1 laptops are genuinely practical for the right user — particularly those who take handwritten notes, present frequently, or want a single device that works as both a laptop and a tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 and MSI Summit series are well-executed examples. The caveats: they're typically heavier than a standalone tablet, the keyboard hinge adds complexity, and you pay a premium over a standard clamshell. If you rarely use the tablet mode, a traditional laptop is better value.

Question 7

What should I check before buying a laptop from a UK retailer?

Accepted Answer

Always verify the warranty terms, return policy, and whether the model is UK-spec before purchasing. Some grey-market listings ship EU keyboard layouts or lack a UK 3-pin power adaptor. John Lewis offers a standard two-year guarantee on laptops, which is worth factoring into the total cost. Check whether the retailer is an authorised reseller — particularly for Apple and Microsoft Surface — to ensure you get full manufacturer warranty support. Comparing prices across Currys, Amazon.co.uk, and AO.com using a tool like MagicPrices often reveals meaningful price differences on identical models.

Laptops Price Comparison

ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-S9005W Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Laptop 45.7 cm (18") WQXGA 32 GB DDR5-SDRAM 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Home Black, Grey

ASUS Vivobook 16 M1607KA-MB148W Copilot+ PC AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 Laptop 40.6 cm (16") WUXGA 16 GB DDR5-SDRAM 512 GB SSD Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Blue

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15AMN7 AMD Ryzen™ 5 7520U Laptop 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD UK English 8 GB LPDDR5-SDRAM 512 GB SSD Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Grey

ASUS TUF Gaming A14 FA401UH-RG007W AMD Ryzen™ 7 260 Laptop 35.6 cm (14") WQXGA 16 GB LPDDR5x-SDRAM 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Black, Grey

ASUS V16 V3607VH-RP011W Intel Core 5 210H Laptop 40.6 cm (16") WUXGA 16 GB DDR5-SDRAM 512 GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Black

Acer TravelMate P2 TMP214-56-TCO-36B7 Intel Core 3 100U Laptop 35.6 cm (14") WUXGA 8 GB DDR5-SDRAM 256 GB SSD Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Windows 11 Pro Silver

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 FA608PM-RV009W AMD Ryzen™ 9 8940HX Laptop 40.6 cm (16") WUXGA 16 GB DDR5-SDRAM 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Grey

GIGABYTE AERO X16 Gaming Laptop - Copilot+ PC, 16", 165Hz WQXGA, Ryzen AI 7 350, RTX 5060, 16GB DDR5 5200MHz, 1TB Gen4 SSD, Windows 11 Home, 2 Year Warranty, Dolby Atmos, AERO X16 1VH93UKC94AH

ASUS Vivobook 18 M1807HA-S8005W AMD Ryzen™ 7 260 Laptop 46.7 cm (18.4") WUXGA 16 GB DDR5-SDRAM 1 TB SSD Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Blue

ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614PM-RV007W AMD Ryzen™ 9 8940HX Ordinateur portable 40,6 cm (16") WUXGA 16 Go DDR5-SDRAM 1 To SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Noir, Gris

ASUS TUF Gaming FA808UM-S8013W AMD Ryzen™ 7 260 Ordinateur portable 45,7 cm (18") WUXGA 16 Go DDR5-SDRAM 1 To SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Noir, Gris

LG Gram 17Z90T-G.AD88A1 laptop Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Ultraportable 43.2 cm (17") 2.5K 32 GB LPDDR5x-SDRAM 1 TB SSD Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Home Black

LG Gram 17Z90T-G.AA78A1 laptop Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Ultraportable 43.2 cm (17") 2.5K 16 GB LPDDR5x-SDRAM 1 TB SSD Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Home Black

LG Gram AI 16Z90TL-G.AU75A1

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Hybrid (2-in-1) 35.6 cm (14") Touchscreen 2.8K 32 GB LPDDR5x-SDRAM 1 TB SSD Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Pro English Grey

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Intel Core Ultra 7 255U Hybrid (2-in-1) 35.6 cm (14") Touchscreen 2.8K 32 GB LPDDR5x-SDRAM 1 TB SSD Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Windows 11 Pro UK English Grey

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA403WW-QS075W AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Laptop 35.6 cm (14") 3K 32 GB LPDDR5x-SDRAM 2 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Home Grey

ASUS Vivobook 14 M1407KA-LY015W AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 Laptop 35.6 cm (14") WUXGA 16 GB DDR5-SDRAM 1 TB SSD Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Silver

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-73) Intel Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX5080, 18" WQXGA Gaming Notebook

ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LW-S9005W Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Laptop 45.7 cm (18") WQXGA 32 GB DDR5-SDRAM 2 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Home Grey

ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UX3405CA-QL104W Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Laptop 35.6 cm (14") Touchscreen WUXGA 32 GB LPDDR5x-SDRAM 1 TB SSD Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Home Blue

ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-S9005W laptop Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 45.7 cm (18") WQXGA 16 GB DDR5-SDRAM 1 TB SSD NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Home Black, Grey

ASUS Vivobook 16 M1607KA-MB053W AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 Laptop 40.6 cm (16") WUXGA 16 GB DDR5-SDRAM 1 TB SSD Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Windows 11 Home Blue

ASUS Zenbook Duo UX8406CA-PZ134W Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Hybrid (2-in-1) 35.6 cm (14") Touchscreen 3K 32 GB LPDDR5x-SDRAM 2 TB SSD Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Windows 11 Home Grey

Laptops Price Comparison