What makes a great home or office laptop?
A home office laptop should deliver as close as possible an experience as a full size desktop PC can, with the additional benefits of smaller size and portability. For application such as email, presentations, coursework and photo editing, a laptop takes up far less space than a desktop PC and is much easier to take with you for on holiday or to work.
Below are the essentials you need to know when choosing a home or office laptop.
If you’re looking for info on Apple Macbook laptops we also have a dedicated Buyers Guide for them too.
Processor (CPU)
Choice of processor or CPU is key, as it is responsible for the majority of tasks including basic graphics as these are handled by the GPU integrated into the CPU. Alongside the integrated GPU, most laptop CPUs also have an integrated NPU to accelerate AI workloads such as Microsoft CoPilot+. A processor with a higher clock speed and more cores will result in a better overall experience. The tabs below give more detail on the three main brands of processor - Intel, AMD and Qualcomm and the different models each brand makes.
Intel Core Ultra CPUs
We recommend Intel Core Ultra CPUs in our home office laptops, available in a range of performance and price points, as shown in the table below.
| Core Ultra 9* | Core Ultra 7* | Core Ultra 5* | Core 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | |||||
| Price | |||||
| Office Applications | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Photo Editing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | |
| P-Cores | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 | 2 / 2 | |
| E-Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 8 / 8 | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 | |
| LP E-Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 | ✖ | |
| NPU | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | |
* There are also Core Ultra X 9/7/5 models with higher performance integrated GPUs
We also stock some previous-generation Core i9/i7/i5/i3 laptops at lower price points.
AMD Ryzen AI CPUs
We recommend AMD Ryzen AI CPUs in our home office laptops, available in a range of performance and price points, as shown in the table below.
| Ryzen AI 9 | Ryzen AI 7 | Ryzen AI 5 | Ryzen 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | |||||
| Price | |||||
| Office Applications | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Photo Editing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | |
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24 | 8 / 16 | 6 / 12 or 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 | |
| NPU | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | |
Qualcomm Snapdragon X CPUs
We recommend Qualcomm Snapdragon X CPUs in our home office laptops, available in a range of performance and price points, as shown in the table below.
| Snapdragon X Elite | Snapdragon X Plus | Snapdragon X | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||||
| Price | ||||
| Office Applications | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Photo Editing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Cores | 12-18 | 8-10 | 8 | |
| NPU | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
System Memory
While choosing a powerful CPU is important depending on your needs, application performance will be crippled without adequate system memory or RAM. You should choose the quantity of system memory depending on the types of applications and the size of your projects as indicated below. Most laptops can be upgraded with additional RAM later on as your needs change.
Relative Performance
Graphics Card (GPU)
Most home and office applications are not very graphically intensive, so laptops designed for these sorts of workloads typically feature a CPU with integrated graphics. Office laptops typically support an extra monitor as standard, which can really boost productivity compared to using a single screen. If you are intending on running graphically demanding applications such as photo and video editing we strongly recommend taking a look at our RTX Studio Laptop Buyers Guide or our Graphics Workstation Laptops Buyers Guide. Similarly, if you intend playing a lot of games then we’d recommend you read our Gaming Laptop Buyers Guide.
Application and Project Storage
An SSD is essential in a laptop, not just to make applications and projects load fast but also because they consume less power than a hard disk, helping to boost battery life, and they weigh less too. We recommend a laptop with at least a 1TB SSD or larger, as with applications and media files taking up a lot of space, you can never really have too large an SSD in your laptop. If you do run out of storage space, many laptops will have a spare M.2 slot or 2.5in bay to add in another SSD, or you can add an external SSD (see the later Connectivity section for more details).
Laptop Size & Weight
Following your choice of GPU, CPU, RAM and storage, the next consideration should be overall size and weight. Size will be primarily governed by the size of the laptop screen which can vary from as small as 12.4” to as large as 18”. While a larger screen is obviously more immersive for gaming, it does come at the expensive of weight, so if you’re going to take your laptop around with you a lot a smaller screen may be advisable.
It’s also a good idea to look at the weight and thickness of the laptop. High-end laptops tend to be made from lightweight metal, whereas cheaper laptops are made from heavier plastic. You’ll also pay a premium for thinner laptops versus a thicker bulkier laptop. The below table compares two 15.6” laptops from the same manufacturer, MSI - the laptop on the left is the standard Raider model, with the premium thin and light Stealth model on the right.
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 23.4mm | 19.5mm |
| Weight | 2.38kg | 2.1kg |
| Price | ££ | £££ |
Laptop Screens
The two key characteristics to look out for in a laptop screen are the resolution, which is the sharpness, and if you want a touchscreen.
Resolution
Resolution is the number of pixels (the tiny dots that make up the image) that the screen possesses - it is shown as a number for screen length and a number of screen height. The higher the resolution the sharper and clearer applications will appear. If you’re going spend a lot of time using graphics applications or spreadsheets you’re more likely to want as high a resolution as possible, a variety of which are displayed on the image opposite.
Touchscreen
Having a touchscreen on a laptop offers an additional way to control your applications over and above the keyboard and touchpad - either using your fingers or a pen / stylus. Many touchscreen laptops feature detachable screens, creating a 2-in-1 laptop / tablet format for greater flexibility. However, it’s worth noting that touchscreen functionality will increase the price significantly, so it’s definitely worth considering how much you will use the increased flexibility before you pay for it.
Most laptops also have at least one graphics output for you to connect an external monitor. This is often a preferred method of using your laptop at home - we’ll cover this a bit more later.
Laptop Connectivity
The size and thickness of your chosen laptop will govern the amount of inbuilt connectivity it has. Unlike desktop PCs, which can be easily upgraded over time, laptops have a fixed specification so its important to look at what ports it has, i.e. USB, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, HDMI, Ethernet and Bluetooth. Don't forget to check the WiFi capability too, as this is the most common way to connect a laptop to the Internet. The tables below show the major differences between the most common ports and WiFi found on laptops.
USB
| Standard | Bandwidth | Connector |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 480Mb/s | USB A |
| 3.0 | 5Gb/s | USB A |
| 3.1 | 10Gb/s | USB A |
| 3.2 | 20Gb/s | USB C |
| 4.0 | 40Gb/s | USB C |
| 4 2.0 | 80Gb/s | USB C |
Thunderbolt
| Standard | Bandwidth | Connector |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10Gb/s | Mini DisplayPort |
| 2 | 20Gb/s | Mini DisplayPort |
| 3 | 40Gb/s | USB C |
| 4 | 40Gb/s | USB C |
| 5 | 80Gb/s | USB C |
DisplayPort
| Standard | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.0 onwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Refresh Rate at 1440p (uncompressed) | 240Hz | 240Hz | 240Hz |
| Maximum Refresh Rate at 4K (compressed with DSC) | N/A | 240Hz | 480Hz |
| Maximum Refresh Rate at 4K (uncompressed) | 120Hz | 120Hz | 240Hz |
HDMI
| Standard | 1.3 / 1.4 | 2.0 | 2.1 onwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Refresh Rate at 1440p | 75Hz | 144Hz | 240Hz |
| Maximum Refresh Rate at 4K | 30Hz | 60Hz | 120Hz |
WiFi
| Generation | IEEE Standard | Frequency | Max. Data Rate | Max. Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 2 | 802.11b | 2.4GHz | 11Mbps | 450ft |
| Wi-Fi 1 | 802.11a | 5GHz | 54Mbps | 400ft |
| Wi-Fi 3 | 802.11g | 2.4GHz | 54Mbps | 450ft |
| Wi-Fi 5 | 802.11ac | 5GHz | 1Gbps | 1000ft |
| Wi-Fi 6 / 6E | 802.11ax | 2.4 / 5GHz | 10Gbps | 1000ft |
| Wi-Fi 7 | 802.11be | 2.4 / 5GHz / 6GHz | 24Gbps | 1000ft |
Software
Windows Operating System
Most laptops come preinstalled with Windows 11, the latest operating system from Microsoft. It is available in two main versions - Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro. But which one should you choose?
Pro is safer and easier to manage if your business has lots of PCs. In addition, you can link a Pro device to a domain, which isn't possible with Home. Pro also has useful features such as Remote Desktop to remotely connect to another PC in the office.
For further details please read our Windows Buyers Guide.
Microsoft CoPilot+ Laptops
You may also see some laptops being advertised as supporting Microsoft CoPilot+. This certifies that the laptop has a sufficiently powerful NPU (Neural Processing Unit) that works alongside the CPU (see section above) to accelerate AI tasks.
ChromeOS Operating System
Some laptops come preinstalled with the ChromeOS operating system from Google. These are known as Chromebooks, and include a variety of cloud and local-based Google apps instead of the usual Microsoft Windows ecosystem of software.
Laptop Peripherals
Make the most of your home or office laptop with these essential peripherals.
Graphics Controllers
Content creation applications may be easier to control with the use of dedicated graphics mice and tablets alongside the integrated keyboard and touchpad. These offer much greater control and flexibility with 3D and spatial workloads.
Learn more by reading our Graphics Controllers Buyers Guide.
Keyboards
Every laptop includes a compact keyboard, many of which also include RGB backlighting and some may even have superior keys with mechanical switches instead of rubber dome ones. However, you may want a dedicated gaming keyboard to connect to your laptop.
Learn more by reading our Gaming Keyboard Buyers Guide.
Mice
Every laptop includes a touchpad, however they are really only meant for web browsing and office productivity applications. You’ll almost certainly want to connect a dedicated mouse to better control your laptop.
Learn more by reading our Gaming Mice Buyers Guide.
Headsets
Although every laptop includes speakers and a microphone, because these are integrated into the underside or sides of the laptop and feature tiny drivers the sound quality and maximum volume usually leaves a lot to be desired.
Upgrade your audio experience by reading our Gaming Headset Buyers Guide.
Speakers
Although every laptop includes speakers, because these are integrated into the underside or sides of the laptop and feature tiny drivers the sound quality and maximum volume usually leaves a lot to be desired.
Upgrade your audio experience by browsing our range of standalone Speakers.
Laptop Coolers
If you’re finding your laptop runs a bit on the hot side a laptop cooler could be worth looking into. These slim laptop stands lift the laptop off the desk by a few millimetres and provide extra cooling for the laptop via an embedded fan. As an added bonus, most laptop stands also tilt the laptop slightly forwards, making typing more comfortable, if not using an external keyboard.
Browse our range of Laptop Coolers.
External Monitors
As mentioned previously having an additional external monitor can either provide simply a larger screen in a fixed desk environment, or a second (or third) screen to view multiple applications at once.
Upgrade your visual experience with either our standard Monitors Buyers Guide or Professional Monitor Buyers Guide which covers colour critical monitors.
Laptop Bags
If you’re planning on taking your laptop with you on the road make sure you invest in a good quality bag. This not only makes carrying the laptop and accessories such as mouse and headset a lot more convenient, but also will protect it from damage. We stock a variety of backpack and executive style laptop bags across a wide range of price points.
Browse our range of Laptop Bags.
Chairs
Everybody needs something to sit on when using their laptop at home or in the office. The designers of these chairs have thought about how computer users sit, how they move, and what they need most from their chair.
Learn more by reading our Gaming Chairs Buyers Guide.
Desks
Computer desks are purpose designed, having useful features such as flexible monitor arms, so you can position your screen(s) at the perfect height and angle.
Learn more by reading our Gaming Desk Buyers Guide.
Most laptops also have at least one graphics output for you to connect an external monitor. This is often a preferred method of using your laptop at home - we’ll cover this a bit more later.
Ready to buy?
There you have it, everything you need to know about choosing a new laptop. We sell a wide variety of models from top laptop brands such as Asus, MSI and Microsoft.
Need Help Choosing?
If you still have questions on how to select a laptop don't hesitate to contact one of our friendly advisors on
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
We recommend looking at what level of CPU you can afford for your budget. The CPU is the most important component in a laptop and as it's the most expensive component too, it has the biggest impact on the cost of the system. Read the Processors section of this guide for more information.
We recommend a minimum of 16GB of RAM for a home or office laptop; but you should choose the quantity of RAM depending on your CPU, read the System Memory section of this guide for more information.
A mid to high-end home office laptop with at least 6 cores and a minimum of 32GB of system memory will be good for photo editing. However, video editing is best done on a dedicated graphics card, so we’d recommend reading our RTX STUDIO LAPTOP BUYERS GUIDE.
Home or office laptops lack a dedicated graphics card that is essential for most gaming experiences. If gaming is your thing we would recommend reading our GAMING LAPTOP BUYERS GUIDE.
A laptop equipped with a suitable processor and other components will start around £400, or as little as £20 per month if paying in installments. Beware of laptops significantly cheaper than this, they are likely built using previous-generation or underpowered components that will struggle with modern applications.
3XS laptops are available to purchase using Scan Finance, paid for on flexible terms of up to 48 months or via PayPal Credit. For further information look out for the Finance section on 3XS laptop product pages.
3XS laptops are available to purchase using Scan Finance, paid for on flexible terms of up to 48 months or via PayPal Credit. For further information look out for the Finance section on 3XS laptop product pages.