
“And with photos, you’ll also want photo editing software, so you’ll need a higher spec processor to be able to do that. “Let’s say a customer wants high storage – that’s normally for photos,” says Deshan. So make sure you know what you’re getting – and that it will deliver the performance you need.

Some devices are designed to have one really impressive feature but, to keep the price down, will have lower specs on everything else. While it’s helpful to consider what you’ll be using your laptop for, try not to get too hung up on any particular feature – it’s wiser to go for an all-rounder, says Deshan. So he’s there to advise on finding the spec you need without breaking the bank. But if you are a dedicated gamer, you probably do need more oomph! Speed is an important consideration for many of us, and Deshan says that if you try to do meatier tasks on a laptop designed for light use it will be much slower than a higher spec machine, with all the frustration that causes. If you’re a light user, there’s no point in buying a machine aimed at heavy using gamers. To get an idea of the spec you need, ask yourself what you’ll mainly use your laptop for.

So you need to work out if they’re a fit for you. There are many low-cost laptops on the market, and you’ll see that their manufacturers make some pretty big claims. Most of us have only one laptop, and it ends up getting used for everything – video calling the family, backing up photos, live-streaming video games and even working from home.
