Laptops: The Ultimate Buying Guide 2022
If you’re after advice about laptops, you’ve come to the right place.
For most people, tablets and smartphones are enough to get by day-to-day. But if you’re a student – or work from home – typing, trying to read documents etc without a laptop can be a faff. That’s why we’ve made this guide to help you slim down your options and pick the best laptop for your needs.
In this guide:
- 10 Best laptops for studying in 2022
- 10 Best Touchscreen Laptops 2022
- 6 Best budget laptops 2022
- 10 Best Mini laptops 2022
- 8 Best Laptop Bags and Accessories
- 6 Best 2-in-1 laptops 2022
- 10 Best Windows 10 and 11 laptops
- 10 Best ergonomic laptop stands 2022
- 26 Best Laptops For Twitch Streaming and Films in 2022
- Best Places To Buy Uni Laptops
Quick tips:
Screen size: 12 to 14-inch screened laptops offer the best balance between genuine usability and portability, in our humble opinion. The thinnest, lightest laptops tend to have 11 or 12-inch screens, weighing in at about 2.5 to 3.5 pounds. 13 to 14-inch devices are still portable (and popular), but they’re heavier. Anything bigger is ideal for gaming and more processing power, but they’re not particularly easy to lug around.
The basics: Have an idea of what you want, i.e. do you favour battery life over style? Do you want to use a laptop primarily for work or gaming? Will it need more capacity than average, i.e. for video editing software?
Operating systems: Small, thin laptops like Macbooks are exceptionally light, offering plenty of functionality. All MacBooks come with Apple’s latest desktop macOS operating system, too. However, if you aren’t a fan of Apple, a notebook laptop that runs Windows 10 or Windows 11 will be the most portable offering. Both systems are top notch, though people do tend to prefer one over the other.
Budget: Decide on a budget and stick to it. If you take nothing else from this guide, remember this. At the lower end of the price scale (think £250 and below) – you’ll have smaller, 11-inch laptops from brands like HP, Acer, Dell, ASUS and Lenovo. Up to £500, you’ll see the likes of more premium, 14-16 inch choices. Buyers with more money to spend will find a budget of up to £1000 will get powerful and larger options from Apple and Microsoft. Curry’s usefully has a filtering option for things like price, what the laptop will be used for, brands etc – so it’s a great place to start your research.
10 Best laptops for studying in 2022
Finding the best laptops for studying can be tough. There are lots to choose from, especially if you have a larger budget.
We’ve put this best laptops for studying guide together to help you pick the best laptop for see you through uni, college or any other classes you’re taking. So, regardless of your budget or size requirements, we’ve rounded up the best on the market for students in 2022.
Best laptops for studying in 2022
6 Best Budget Laptops 2022
If you’ve only got £200 or £300 to spare (and you want to buy new), we’ve got some options for you. We’ve compiled a list of the best budget laptops to consider, starting from £189.99, plus all the features you need to know to make a decision.
If you’ve got a bit more cash to splash, we’ve also picked our favourite choice of laptop under £500.
10 Best touchscreen laptops
A touchscreen laptop can be really helpful for creative uni projects or organising your workload, but shopping for touchscreen laptops can be tricky as there are loads of models to choose from with varying specs.
If you’re thinking about purchasing a touchscreen laptop, we’ve picked out some of the best for all budgets and compared the specs and features to help you to make a decision – including some budget options under £200. Uni is expensive, after all…
10 Best mini laptops 2022
Mini laptops can be really useful for students as their small size makes them perfect for travelling with.
If you’re looking to invest in a mini laptop, we’ve picked out our favourite models based on screen size, battery life and budget to help you find a model that will work best for you!
8 Best Laptop Bags and Accessories
From cooling pads to laptop sleeves, we’ve got you covered. With the right storage and stationary solutions, you can prolong the life of your laptop and make it more comfortable to use and carry around.
We’ve put this guide of the best laptop bags and accessories together to keep you and your laptop happy in the long run.
8 Best Laptop Bags and Accessories
6 Best 2-in-1 Laptops 2022
2-in-1 laptops are super popular. They’re basically a laptop and tablet hybrid that allows you to use it as you would a normal laptop, but convert it into a tablet you can tap and draw on. It’s fantastic for those wanting to present their work, make digital drawings or carry about easily.
Check out our favourite convertible laptops for students below.
10 Best Windows 10 and 11 laptops
If you’re looking at a laptop that can run Windows, you might be overwhelmed with choice. There’s a broad range of Windows 10 and 11 laptops out there that can suit all manner of purposes, so, if you are shopping for a Windows laptop, you’ll definitely be able to find something that suits your needs.
Whether you want a laptop for home or working out and about, we’ve picked out our favourite Windows options that you can get with a student discount.
10 Best Windows 10 and 11 laptops
10 Best Ergonomic Laptop Stands 2022
If you work a lot, laptop stands can be a really great option to help you lift pressure from your wrists and back. Laptop stands not only allow you to work more efficiently in your workspace, but can also help to improve your posture if you have the tendency to slouch. A laptop stand’s higher positioning also makes them useful for Zoom and Google Hangout video calls.
If you’re looking at economic laptop stands, here are some of our favourite choices to suit all budgets.
10 Best Ergonomic Laptop Stands 2022
26 Best Laptops For Twitch Streaming And Films in 2022
Those planning to stream on Twitch (or who want a laptop to stream films primarily) might feel overwhelmed with the choice.
We’ve pared down our favourites, including options from Lenovo, Acer, Razer and Alienware.
26 Best Laptops For Twitch Streaming And Films in 2022
Best Places To Buy Uni Laptops
Waiting until the Cyber Weekend to get a laptop for university? We get it, the best deals are on in the winter months. However, if your course is starting well before or after the sales period, you may be wondering how you can still get a good deal on a laptop.
When you sign up to Student Beans, you get access to thousands of discounts from brands we work with. That includes laptop brands like Apple, HP, Dell, Acer and Samsung – as well as retailers like Amazon, Curry’s and Laptop Outlet.
Best Places To Buy Uni Laptops
