- Home
- Buying Guides
- Laptop buying guide
Laptop buying guide
Everything you need to find a laptop you’ll love.
In this guide we cover the most important things to consider before buying a new laptop, along with all the information you need to make sure your new laptop does exactly what you want it to do.
If you still have questions or want to see the latest features and tech for yourself, why not call into your nearest store and speak to one of our colleagues, who will happily help you find the perfect laptop.
CONTENTS
Find the right laptop for you
Operating system
A laptop’s operating system determines the way the interface looks, how it works, and the types of software you can use. There are three main operating systems, each with their own benefits.
macOS is an operating system exclusive to Apple computers. It features a clear desktop layout that’s focused on ease-of-use and stability. If you’re new to computing or prefer simple navigation, macOS is a good choice.
Works with all your Apple devices: macOS is designed to work flawlessly with other Apple devices, so if you have an iPhone or iPad transferring files, contacts and apps between them is simple. They share a similar layout too, so you’ll be much more at home and find navigation easier.
Ideal for design: Some of the most popular design software, such as Photoshop and InDesign, is optimised for macOS and can give you improved stability and performance.
Some popular software and accessories aren’t compatible with OS X, so if you want to use a specific piece of software or accessory, you may need to find an alternative.
Chrome OS is a web-focused operating system that’s designed to get you to your online content as quickly and as easily as possible.
Anything unnecessary has been removed, making it ideal for people that want a simple way to get online.
- Easy web-access: Chrome OS makes it easy to get online and to your documents - ideal for web-based computing
- Google Play: Chrome OS is the only operating system to give you access to over 1 million apps – Google Play is the same app store used by Android smartphones and tablets
- Most PC software isn’t compatible with Chrome OS, so it isn’t a great choice for anything other than web-based computing
Types of laptops
There are different types of laptops to suit different people and uses - have a look at the varieties below to see which one suits you best.
Gaming laptops are focused on performance. They feature the powerful processors and dedicated graphics cards needed to run today’s most demanding games. Like normal Windows laptops they’re available in a variety of different specifications, so whether you’re just getting into PC gaming or want the most powerful laptop possible, we have you covered.
MacBooks look great and are ideal for everything from browsing the web to graphics design. They’re constructed from premium materials and feature Apple’s exclusive OS X operating system. If you’re looking for a laptop with distinctive styling and enough power to run demanding software quickly and easily, a MacBook is ideal.
A 2 in 1 combines the best of a laptop and tablet in one device. You can type notes, essays and reports using the keyboard and then transform the 2 in 1 into a tablet in seconds for browsing the web or watching a film. All 2 in 1s run on Windows 10, so whatever you would normally use your laptop for, a 2 in 1 can make it easier.
Chromebooks are designed to get you online as easily as possible. They feature the stripped-back Chrome OS operating system that makes navigation simple, making them a great choice if your daily computing is entirely web-based. They’re the only laptops with access to Google Play (the same app store used by Android phones), so you have access to over a million apps along with music, films, and books.
Processors
The processor is the brain of your laptop. Whenever you move the mouse, open a program, or load a file the processor makes it happen. On our product pages we give you all the information necessary to decide whether a processor is powerful enough for your needs.
This is measured in GHz, and determines how fast the processor runs. A higher clock speed means your laptop can load software and files faster and that it will run smoother during normal use.
Some processors feature Turbo Boost (Intel®) or Turbo Core (AMD) technology, which increases the speed of the processor to match the task at hand. This means the laptop consumes less power during light computing tasks, which reduces power consumption and increases battery life.
Every laptop we sell has at least a dual-core processor. This allows it to handle several things at once so you can move quickly between different windows, with more apps and tabs running at once. Quad-core processors are great for running demanding software quickly, such as photo editing and music production programs. Modern creative software is optimised to run best with multi-core setups.
Before tasks are managed by the processor, they queue up in the memory cache. A bigger memory cache allows the processor to work through demanding tasks quickly. You only really need to worry about this if you plan on running professional-level creative software like Cubase or Photoshop - if you are, look for 4 MB and over.
Memory (RAM)
Random-access memory (RAM) is an important spec to consider if you’re looking for a high-performance PC. It’s worth noting that RAM has nothing to do with the amount of documents you can store on your laptop - that’s the role of the storage device.
Below is the amount of RAM we recommend for different activities. If you’re unsure about whether you need a larger amount or not, more RAM improves the general performance of your PC along with being able to handle more demanding software, so you’ll never lose anything going for more RAM.
Browsing the web, updating social media, watching video clips: 4GB and over
Watching HD or larger video, researching and writing essays, creating spreadsheets, working on presentations and other office work: 8GB and over
Editing photos - hobby, editing videos - hobby, music production - hobby, gaming - casual: 16GB and over
Graphic design, editing photos - professional, editing videos - professional, music production - professional, graphic design - professional, gaming - enthusiast, CAD design: Up to 32GB
Screens
Screen size is a great way to quickly narrow down the huge amount of choice you have when looking for a new laptop. Until recently the most common laptop size was 15.6” - now smaller laptops are increasing in popularity as advances in technology mean you don’t need to sacrifice performance for a more portable device.
If you want a perfect mix between portability and visibility, a laptop with a 14” screen is ideal. Smaller screens, such as 11.6” and 10.6”, are even easier to carry around but may be too small if you spend a lot of time typing documents or looking at spread sheets.
Laptops with 15.6” screens are the most common and are great if you’re spending more time working at a desk than on the go.
The largest screen size available today is 17.3”. While laptops with this screen size can be difficult to carry around, they offer the clearest view of your content and are great for multimedia.
Storage
Storage refers to the amount of space your laptop has for software, documents and everything else you save. There are four main types of storage available in laptops; HDD, SSD, SSHD and eMMC drives.
Unlike HDDs, solid-state drives have no moving parts. While they have lower capacities than normal hard drives they’re much thinner and run much faster, making them ideal for high-performance computing. However, they are more expensive than other drives, so tend to be featured on more premium or performance-focused laptops.
An embedded multi-media card is flash storage (the same technology used in memory sticks) that’s attached to a device’s motherboard. eMMC storage is most common on tablets, but is featured on some laptops, 2 in 1s and Chromebooks. It’s a great solution for smaller devices, although it doesn’t offer the capacity and performance benefits that other storage devices do.
Graphics
The resolution of the screen tells you how many pixels are in the display, and as a result how detailed or sharp the image on screen will be. The higher the resolution, the more detail you’ll see!
Connectivity
Connectivity refers to the way your laptop connects to the things around it, including the internet, external storage, screens and other devices. There are a number of key features to look out for.
USB ports let you connect your laptop to a number of different accessories and devices including your external mouse, printer, camera and mobile phone.
USB-C is a new type of USB port. It is smaller and has no ‘right way up’, so cables and devices can be plugged in first time, every time. USB-C is backwards compatible with older USB ports too, although you’ll need an adapter to connect devices with USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports.
USB 3.1 is a variety of USB-C, which features the fastest data-transfer speeds ever from a USB port. Although currently not that common, USB 3.1 is worth looking for if you regularly transfer large files between your laptop and other devices, such as uncompressed images or external storage.
AC WiFi is the fastest way to connect to the internet. Any laptop with AC WiFi can work with fibre optic broadband to give you the fastest connection speed possible - perfect for streaming HD videos and gaming online.
AC WiFi is available in most laptops over €499, so regardless of your PC needs you can get the best from your network connection.
HDMI connections allow you to easily connect your laptop to any modern TV or monitor. It’s the same connection used by DVD players, games consoles, SKY TV boxes and other home entertainment systems. HDMI ports transmit Full HD video signals, so you can enjoy detailed video on any TV or monitor, even if your laptop has a lower-resolution screen. Along with video, HDMI transmits audio so you only need to connect one cable to your TV.
VGA ports are an older type of video output although many monitors and TVs still support it. Unlike digital HDMI and DisplayPort connections, VGA uses an analogue video signal which can’t display content in Full HD. VGA doesn’t support audio either, so you’ll need a separate cable if you want sound. If you regularly need to connect to an external screen, consider a laptop with an HDMI port instead as VGA is normally not included on the latest computers and screens.
Extra features
Along with the main components and features, there are a few other things you might want to consider before choosing your laptop.
A dedicated graphics card is a processor with the specific role of handling visuals. They are available in varying specifications and range from those designed to give you improved multimedia playback, to high-performance cards made to run the latest games at their absolute best.
If you plan on gaming, editing videos or creating visual media, a dedicated graphics card is vital as most games and demanding visual software won’t run correctly without one.
Laptop design has improved dramatically over the last few years, with some particularly design-focused machines becoming incredibly desirable for their looks alone. If you want a beautifully designed laptop, the latest ultra-portable models are impressively thin and made entirely from premium materials, so you’ll stand out wherever you go.
Whether it’s for logging in to your laptop, phone, emails, Facebook or Twitter, they’re a necessity of modern digital life that keeps us all safe.
But wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to put in a password or PIN every time you opened up your computer?
Well, that’s exactly what Windows Hello is for! It’s a feature of Windows 11 that allows you to secure your device with either their fingerprint or face in order to quickly log in to Windows. Just like on your smartphone!
If you want to listen to music and watch films on your laptop, look out for improved audio from Bang & Olufsen, Beats Audio, Harman Kardon or Skull Candy. Along with high-quality speakers, laptops with improved audio also feature more options to fine tune the sound to your preferences. Branded audio is a great feature for anyone that loves music.
You might also need
Once you’ve found the perfect laptop, there are a few more things you should consider.
An AC router gives you the fastest connection speed possible from your home network. Most new computers and phones feature AC WiFi so upgrading your router can improve the quality of video streaming and speed up downloads as well as everyday browsing.
We have solutions to any networking problems you have, call in and speak to one of our knowledgeable colleagues to find out how to fix it.
The Cloud
The Cloud is another term for online storage. You can access the Cloud from any online device, so you can save a file at work, edit it on your phone and finish it at home.
Cloud storage is great for expanding the storage capacity of your laptop or smartphone to give you almost unlimited space for music, films and documents.
External storage
External storage gives you huge amounts of space to store data. External hard drives are ideal for backing up large amounts of data from a desktop PC, while portable hard drives are perfect for slipping into your laptop bag and carrying with you for extra storage space on the go.
Home Delivery: Choose your software and have it delivered, just like you would any other item.
Collect in store: Reserve online and collect your software in any of our stores.
Download: Buy now and download straight away. Just click ‘Buy Now for Download’ on the product page of any applicable software. If you delete the software or reset your PC just log into your Currys account to download it again.
Instore and online we have software bundles that offer big savings over buying separately.
You can also save if you buy Office or security software at the same time as a new PC, Mac, Phone or Tablet. There are too many offers to list here, so have a look at the product pages or ask in store to find out more.
Creative software lets you edit photos, cut videos, record music, design professional-looking visuals and more. Whatever project you’re about to take on, we have software to help you create something to be proud of.
Educational software includes everything you need to help you and your family develop their education or learn something new.
MAKE SURE YOUR DEVICE, DATA AND IDENTITY IS PROTECTED FROM ONLINE ATTACKS AND FRAUDSTERS
Block and remove viruses, unwanted programs and other online threats.
Avoid risky websites and dangerous downloads.
Keep your kids safe from inappropriate content with parental control.
Protect your PC and mobile devices with the same product.
Most PCs don’t come pre-installed with word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation software. These are vital for university, school or business computing. We have the full range of Microsoft Office software to suit everyone from families to small businesses, so you can work and create professional documents easily wherever you are.
Software covers all of the applications you use on your PC, from Office, Internet Security and Anti-Virus to photo and video editing. Most PCs don’t come pre-installed with essential software for keeping yourself safe online and daily computing means you need the right tools to be productive and stay secure. You can receive your software via home delivery, collect it in store, or via download, making it easy to get everything you need.
Our computer accessories range leaves no stone unturned when it comes to equipping you with everything you could possibly need to accompany your PC or laptop. So for all the bells and whistles, knick-knacks, gizmos, attachments and peripherals, look no further.
Need a bag for your laptop, a new mouse, keyboard or speakers? Then you’ll find them all in our accessories and bags section. This is where you’ll also find gaming accessories, cables and power devices, graphics cards and smart pens.
For the office, choose from our range of printers, paper and ink.