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10 - 12"
The thinnest and lightest notebooks around have 10-12" screens. However, you may sacrifice keyboard size for portability. Many laptops in this class double as tablets.
13 - 14"
Provides the best balance of portability and usability. Laptops with 13-14" screens usually weigh between 3 and 4.5 pounds.
15"
The most popular size, 15" laptops are the least expensive and provide plenty of desktop real estate. While most 15-inchers easily fit into a backpack, some are on the bulky side.
17 - 18"
If your laptop stays on your desk all day, a 17-18" system will likely provide everything you need for work and play. Many gaming notebooks are in this size category.
Up to $400
Those in the market for a simple notebook for everyday tasks can find a capable machine for less than $400. Think Intel Celeron or AMD E Series CPUs, 4GB of RAM and 500 GB to 750 GB of storage for Windows machines. Chromebooks need less resources, such as a Celeron CPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB SSD.
Up to $600
For well under $600, you can get a notebook with an Intel Core i5 or AMD A8 CPU, 4 to 8GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive, all respectable specs. However, at this price point, many systems have lower-res screens and graphics that aren’t good enough for gaming.
Up to $1000
As you get above $600, you’ll start to see more premium designs, such as metal finishes. Manufacturers also start to add in other features as you climb the price ladder, including higher-res screens, solid state drives and discrete graphics for those who want to play games.
Above $1000
At this price range, expect notebooks that are more portable, more powerful or both. The lightest, longest-lasting ultra-portables like the MacBook and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 carbon tend to cost more than $1,000. High-end gaming systems and mobile workstations, such as the Alienware 17, usually cost upward of $1,500.
All-Purpose
If you plan to use this as a family PC or want to do a little bit of everything, get a laptop between 13 and 15 inches in size that has solid specs. If you plan to do some simple gaming as well, the Intel Core i3, AMD A6, or A8 should do the job. If you plan to watch videos or play mainstream games, the Intel Core i5 and AMD A8, A9, or A10 are good choices.
Productivity / Business
If your main goal is to edit documents, design presentations or other productivity tasks, this is the category for you. A step up from Core i5, Intel Core i7 processors have four cores, allowing for even faster gaming and productivity. Keep an eye out for CPUs that have a 8 in the model number (ex: Core i7-8250U) because they are part of Intel's latest, 8th Generation Core Series, and offer better performance.
Gaming / Creative Professional
If you want to play demanding titles, you’ll need a powerful CPU, discrete graphics and a high-res screen. Go for a high-end processor such as the Intel Core i7 or AMD’s Ryzen line. The new top-of-the-line CPU from Intel, Core i9 processors provide faster performance than any other mobile chip. The premium price is worth it if you're a power user who uses the most demanding programs and apps.
Secondary PC / Light Use
You plan to give this laptop to the kids or you’re looking for a very basic or budget computer to web surf, email, and work on Office documents, the Intel Celeron, Pentium, AMD A4, or A6 will suffice.
Windows
Windows notebooks come in the widest variety of form factors with prices ranging from $300 to over $3,000. The current version of Microsoft's operating system, Windows 10, adds in the Cortana voice assistant, the Edge browser and the ability to switch seamlessly between tablet and desktop modes. Gaming has long been the province of windows PCs and with the arrival of Windows 10 the platform has only strengthened its dominance.
macOS
Available on Macs only, Apple's macOS provides apps for basic photo editing, video production, audio production, plus the full office suite of Pages, Number, and Keynote. All are full versions that offer an impressive amount of capability for any new users. Plus, if you're already using Apple products, a MacBook will quickly and easily integrate with all your other devices. MacBooks tend to be more expensive, with the cheapest going for $999.
Chrome OS
If surfing the Web, social networking and email are your priorities, buying a Chromebook could be a solid and affordable choice. Google’s Chrome OS provides a version of the company’s Chrome browser in an online-centric environment filled with powerful Web apps, but limited offline capability.
2-in-1
By its very nature, the 2-in-1 is a flexible device. It can be a tablet, it can be a laptop, it can be both. 2-in-1 laptops either fold or slide into tablet mode or allow you to detach the keyboard from the screen. The keyboard is usually pretty thin which allows for ultimate portability. 2-in1s also offer the best experience when using a digital pen.
Clamshell
Traditional clamshell laptops have a more substantial keyboard and tend to be more durable. Because clamshell laptops are thicker, you'll find they have more room for ports.
