Buying a new laptop can come with so much excitement and anxiety due to the many brands and models in the market. It requires making an important decision, and making the wrong one could result in a device that either lacks the essential capabilities you need or has too much of what you don't actually need.

So what mistakes should you avoid when buying a new laptop?

1. Going Too Big—Or Too Small

The size of the laptop you buy matters. You don't want to end up with a laptop that is too big or too small for use.

Buying a big laptop comes with the benefit of having a better viewing experience but carrying it around may become cumbersome as it reduces portability.

Asana App On Windows Laptop

On the other hand, buying a small-sized laptop affords you the ease of portability because it can be carried around easily, but a disadvantage would be a small display screen or keyboard for typing.

If you will be making long trips or are always on the go, a portable laptop will be your best bet, but if the display is what you are keen about, especially as a gamer or movie freak, then a big-sized laptop would do.

This is why you should consider and prioritize your size needs before buying a laptop that looks appealing to you.

2. Not Paying Attention To Ports

laptops in a pile

Ports are essential when connecting your laptop to external devices such as printers, mice, etc. To enjoy seamless connectivity, you must pay attention to the types of ports that come with a laptop and where they are located.

You can start by checking the laptop's charger port. Is it a USB-C, or will you need a power adapter? Can you find an SD card slot, or will you buy a card reader? Does it have enough USB ports to cater to your plugin devices? What about the microphone and earphone jacks? If you often do presentations, does the laptop have an HDMI or DisplayPort to connect to an external monitor?

Check the ports' specifications and compatibility before buying. Times have changed, and the number of ports that come with a laptop is decreasing gradually. Don't conclude that any laptop you buy will automatically come with all the necessary ports. Otherwise, you might have to splurge extra bucks buying a docking station for extra ports.

3. Compromising on Display and Sound Quality

Since you will be looking at your laptop's screen while using it, a high-quality display is important, as it significantly affects the outlook and overall user experience. So, consider the screen's resolution, size, panel type, refresh rate, color accuracy, and graphics processor to see if they match your taste.

For example, an ideal gaming laptop's display would be a 15.6-inch model with a high resolution (at least 1920 x 1080 pixels) for sharp and detailed graphics and a high refresh rate (at least 120 Hz) for smooth and fluid motion. It should also have a low response time (less than 5 ms), reducing input lag and ghosting, with a high color accuracy (at least 72% NTSC) that delivers vibrant and realistic colors.

You should also not compromise on the sound quality. If you plan to do a lot of movie watching or music listening on your laptop, a weak sound output can make your viewing uninteresting.

Buy a laptop with good speakers and audio output; speakers with a wide range for more clarity and detail, high sensitivity for more volume and less battery drain, and low distortion for more accuracy and fidelity.

Furthermore, look out for the speakers' placement as one wrongly placed can affect sound production and listening experience and likely result in you buying an external speaker.

4. Not Testing the Laptop Before Buying It

A muslim woman using a laptop

While reading online reviews, specifications, and buyer's guides might be a good place to start, buying a laptop without testing it can be a huge mistake. Before laying cash down, there are several questions you might have in mind which might best be answered when you test the laptop yourself.

Have a hands-on feel on the new laptop you are getting to check out its functionalities. Spend some time getting used to it; feel its weight, keyboard comfort, touchpad responsiveness, battery life, and screen quality according to your needs and usage.

Overall, testing the laptop before you buy it helps you make an informed decision; after all, seeing is believing.

5. Don't Ignore Battery Size

The laptop's battery size matters greatly if you are always on the go or without access to a steady power supply.

Check the advertised number of hours you can use the laptop after a full charge to determine if it fits your needs. However, remember that the advertised battery life may not always reflect the actual performance in real-world scenarios. So, always check user reviews and ratings before making a purchase.

6. Buying an Outdated or Obsolete Laptop

Technology is constantly evolving, as well as new laptop models and features. Do not just think of the now when buying a laptop but also of the future; so that you don't end up with one that becomes outdated quickly.

Do your research on the latest features, in-built specifications, and other hardware components just to be sure the laptop you buy is equipped with up-to-date specifications.

Consider if the laptop's specs and hardware would still be relevant in a few years, so you won't be pressured to change it.

7. Falling for Marketing Gimmicks and Unnecessary Features

Whatever form of marketing or advertisement you see on a particular laptop has the primary purpose of selling glaring features to you. Most times, these features are some you won't even use.

Do not fall for marketing hype. Rather, carefully think about why you need a laptop and the extra stuff you can do with it. There will always be newer technologies or features–a never-ending cycle.

A laptop's prominent features should align with your usage requirements and should be important to you. Do not buy a new laptop because of the hype around newer features you might not need. Instead, focus more on processing speed, RAM, storage space, graphics performance, and battery life.

8. Not Reading Reviews and Feedback From Other Customers

Reviews are one of the best ways to learn about several brands of laptops available and their specifications.

Watch review videos of your to-be laptop from popular YouTube reviewers to see them use it and hear their varying opinions on the features of the laptop.

Reading reviews also give you firsthand knowledge about the experiences of other buyers and the pros and cons of the particular laptop you have in mind. However, do not rely on feedback or review from one source to decide.

You can also ask friends who have used the same laptop brand you intend to buy. This will give you a balanced perspective.

Don't Buy a Laptop Blindly

Buying a new laptop should be easy because there is one for everyone. Remember, it is your choice; whichever laptop you settle for should reflect that choice.

So, follow the buying tips highlighted, research, compare options, and choose a laptop with the feature and specific requirements that align with your needs. And when you are ready, buy from a store with a return policy.