Spend Smart! Here’s How Much You Should Spend on Your Laptop

“How much should I spend on a laptop?”

That’s a question you’ll ask before you buy one of the millions of laptops released worldwide yearly. It’s a broad topic to broach, especially when you have no prior technical experience. If you aren’t careful enough, you might end up spending too much or too little.

Don’t feel discouraged yet.

With our guide below, you’ll learn how to get affordable laptops without compromising its quality. Discover which parts to invest in and how to tell you’ve got a good deal. 

Why Spend Money on a Laptop?

Whether you’re already predisposed to buying a laptop, know that making this decision is right. It’s because laptops are powerful tools that function whether you’re at home, in transit, or someone else’s house. It has enough processing power for your application demands, but versatile enough to go with you anywhere.

The only reason why it’s so difficult to find the right laptop is the sheer variety of form factors, features, sizes, and prices. Even if you have a concrete idea of what to buy, you still won’t have an idea whether you’re spending enough for the laptop. Luckily, the next sections will tell you whether you’re putting too much or too little money on your laptop purchase.

Spending Too Much Money for a Laptop

Take note, laptop prices can get exponentially higher than what most people can afford. If you aren’t careful, you’ll end up spending too much because of the hype surrounding a particular laptop. It’s easy for the bells and whistles of extravagant laptops to lure you in.

So, what are the situations that prompt you to spend more money on a laptop?

In most cases, students, office commuters, and home users opting for a single computer benefit the most. It’s because buying a more expensive laptop carries almost no drawbacks. The reason is that the more costly the device is, the better performance you’ll get from it.

The good news is that you have a wide choice of outstanding laptops if you’re upgrading. But when you buy a great PC, you must always be aware of your needs. Always be steadfast in the face of flashy, over-emphasized laptop specs.

This is only acceptable if your needs include playing high-end games or doing work with heavy graphics requirements. In this case, you must shell out more to get either a gaming rig or a workstation-level laptop. That way, when you use the laptop, you won’t regret skimping on it.

Not Spending Enough on Laptops

If you don’t spend enough money on your laptop, you’ll find it more detrimental to your productivity levels. After all, spending less than $700 can only net you some of the mid-tier to low-tier laptops. When it comes to performance, they’re decent, but you’re usually losing out on value in the long run.

So, when you want to get the most out of your purchase, you must decide on a focus. It means you must prioritize more between power and portability. After you get a definite idea, you’ll know when to increase or decrease your laptop purchase spending.

In ideal situations, a laptop can last anywhere between three and five years. If you pay more for your laptop, you feel rewarded every time you open it. After all, it’s faster, more accurate with typing, and has a sweeter view since it boasts a higher resolution.

But if the bulk of your activities are exclusive to surfing the internet or sending emails, you’re better off getting a cheaper laptop. It’s especially when all you plan to do is to browse social media networks like Facebook, with over 2.8 billion monthly users to interact with across the globe.

How Much Should I Spend on a Laptop?

A new laptop costs between $600 and $700 on average. Buying these laptops will often mean missing out on luxurious features, but they’re efficient. It’s because they’re tech-heavy multimedia machines that make your heavy tasks easier and more productive.

Regardless of the price range, all laptop brands’ R&D laboratories constantly search for new methods of delivering a better experience to their customers. To know what fits your budget, below are the three major categories that distinguish laptops according to the price. With this, you’ll know what to expect when you use any of them:

Budget Laptops

Also known as cheap laptops, devices within this price range are decent when handling daily computing activities. In most cases, they will run either a Windows 10 or Chrome OS. Most units cost $400 or less since the manufacturers’ focus is to deliver value.

With this, you’re likely to achieve a perfect balance between features and price. The only thing you must worry about is the sacrifices made to achieve this level of efficiency. For example, your chosen budget laptop will have a potent CPU, but in return will have flimsy keyboards to keep the price low.

Midrange Laptops

Within this price range, you’ll get the best out of value and prices. The cheapest laptop with midrange prices can do basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and spreadsheet work. It will likely have the hardware to run Windows more efficiently, along with a stronger chassis and a more comfortable keyboard.

Expect these laptops to have a 15” screen, with integrated graphics and a RAM of 4GB or 8GB. All these laptops come with wireless connectivity, as well as webcams and Bluetooth. With this, a lot of people find this price range the most desirable, but it still suffers from some trade-offs.

High-Tier Laptops

These premium laptops are monsters of productivity, gaming, and portability. Most of these will cost between $800 and $1,000. Even with such prices, you can expect these to deliver the most out of your monetary investments.

Expensive laptops get consistently higher scores than their lower-tier counterparts. It’s because their hardware makes it possible to lower loading times for apps. With these laptops, you’ll know that your money goes to the areas that matter the most.

Which Is the Best Laptop for the Price?

No matter what test you do, you’ll see that the high-tier laptops consistently emerge as the best for their price. It’s because their hardware allows you to get the most consistent value for longer. It’s especially when you opt-in for deals that result in cost savings.

You need not spend as much money to get a great deal on laptops. The best ones for you need not have all the luxurious features. As long as you don’t feel unsettled whenever you use it, it’s good enough for you.

Even when you already decided on your price range, choosing a specific laptop can be a tedious task. It’s because of the sheer number of options out in the market. To stay away from the junk, here are some factors you must consider:

1. Portability

This factor will always relate to its screen size. Your goal when buying a laptop is to ensure that it’s easier to take everywhere compared to your desktop computer. The bigger the laptop screen is, the heavier it tends to become.

The sweet spot for laptop screens is 15”. That way, you’ll have a balance between viewing experience and portability. But if you don’t mind the extra weight, feel free to opt for larger laptops.

2. Performance

This factor is all about major components like storage, memory, and CPU. Your needs for each will decide the final budget you’ll have for a laptop. With technological advancements, you’ll need more memory to accomplish simple tasks but worry not—most laptops have at least 8GB of RAM to compensate.

3. Brand

As much as it hurts to admit, brands matter since not everyone can make great laptops. If you already bought one from a specific brand before, you’ll know how to operate it more efficiently. It’s because each brand will have different priorities, meaning you’ll feel stressed when you transition to another brand.

4. Average Lifespan

Most experts agree that laptops start running into performance and reliability problems after four years. It happens because of the normal wear and tear in the components. As time passes, your laptop won’t keep up, meaning you must upgrade it.

As stated before, laptops will often last between 3 to 5 years. But what most manufacturers tell you is that laptops have two types of lifespans: operational and useful.

The former determines how long the laptop functions properly. The latter measures how long the system runs advanced programs while meeting its minimal system requirements. With that, you must know that the average operational lifespan of most laptops is 10 years, but this means it won’t load the latest software by then.

Get the Right Laptop for the Right Price Today

Hopefully, all this information answers your question, “how much should I spend on a laptop?” Use this whenever you’re looking to replace your current laptop.

Did you find this guide compelling? Did you find a laptop for your budget at hand? If you did, please consider reading our other tech or shopping guides and learn more valuable tips and tricks today.