Laptops are compact enough to be carried around, yet versatile enough to run some of the demanding applications. It is an ideal tool for doing serious work, playing games or using it for college work. While smartphones and standalone tablets are always popular, most people understand everything from typing an academic paper to crunching video game. So, factors should you consider before purchasing a laptop? There are diverse variety of prices, features and sizes which makes choosing the best laptop a challenge.
If you are in a hurry you need to consider:
- Consider a two-in-one laptop (detachable or bendback) if you want to use the laptop as a tablet, if not, standard notebook may be the best choice.
- 8 plus hours battery should be a basic consideration.
- Chromebook are best for students and kids and their functionality is diversifying rapidly. MacBooks both offers expansive functionalities; the platform that you prefer is a question of personal taste.
- If you are spending more than KES 60,000, consider core i5, 8GB RAM and SSD storage
- 12.5 to 14 inch screen offers the best balance between portability and usability. Large screens are fine when you don’t travel frequently and smaller models can be purchased for kids.
Windows 10: Windows 10 is the most flexible operating system since it runs on most model as compared to mac OS and Chrome OS. Windows notebook vary in price, from KES 10,000 plus and offer diverse features from touch screen to dual graphic chips to fingerprint readers. The latest version of Microsoft flagship provide diverse improvement from windows 7 and 8 including the capacity to switch between a desktop and a tablet mode, powerful cortana digital assistant and revamped start Menu.
Apple macOS High Sierra: All macbooks come with Apple OS. In essence, the OS presents similar functionality to windows 10 but with different interface take that substitute app doc at the screen bottom for Microsoft’s taskbar and startup menu. Mac users get Siri instead of Cortana digital assistant and thus can perform transactions with Apple pay, text or take call from their phones and ultimately unlock their laptop with an Apple watch. Howbeit, macOS it doesn’t come with a touch screen.
Chrome OS: If you need a device to check email and surf the web, chat online and navigate social networks, Chromebooks are highly portable with good battery life. They are popular with parents and school since they hard for kids to infect with malware inn addition to more functions than most of tablets. If you need a chromebook, consider buying one with 4GB RAM and at least 16GB Hard disk.
Decide whether you need a two in one hybrid device that can switch between tablet mode, clamshell mode and other position between such as stand or tent mode. 2 in one can either be detachable and flexible laptops. Most of these systems serves the same purpose.
Choose the Right Size
- 11 to 12 inches: the lightest and thinnest system and weigh between 2.5-3.5 pounds.
- Provide balance between usability and portability.
- 15 inches: Weigh between 4 to 5.5 pound and are the most popular size.
- 17 to 18 inches: These laptops are not easily portable. However, they are best in playing high end games or perform workstation-level productivity.
Check out that Touchpad and Keyboard
The laptop that you are purchasing should have good ergonomics. If you plant to use your computer frequently, ensure that the keyboard offers plenty of key travel, solid tactile feedback and enough space between your keys. Ensure your laptop has precision touchpad drivers. Look for a touchpad that does not give you a jumpy cursor. It should be in consistency to multitouch gestures.
Pick your specifications
The components such as graphic chip, RAM, hard drive and processor can be quite confusing. At Almiria, we assist you pick the laptop that fits your specifications. CPU is the brain the computer and has a massive influence on laptop performance. Intel for instance has introduced 10th generation processer that will power the next generation of laptops.
Intel core i9 will supplant core i7 as the new top CPU from intel with faster performance than any mobile chip. It is available on high end gaming rigs, workstations, and premium laptops. Intel core i7 on the other hand is a step up from core i5 and the models end in K or HQ, have four cores and use higher wattage allowing faster productivity and gaming.
Intel core i5: if you need a mainstream laptop with the best combination of performance and price. The models that end with U are common like core i5-7200U. Those with Y have worst performance since they are low in power. Models like HQ appear thicker in workstation and gaming systems and use more wattage. The newest 10th generation have four cores, support wifi , better AI and with thunderbolt 3 integration.
Intel core i3 is below core i5 and is quite cheaper. Howbeit, we recommend that you step up to a core i5.
Intel Xeon on the other hand has an extremely expensive and powerful processor for massive mobile workstation. If you are doing video editing, 3D modeling or professional-grade engineering, you might need a Xeon. However the laptops are heavier with low battery life.
Celeron/Intel Pentium offer the slowest performance. However you can perform the basic tasks such as light document editing and web surfing. However, if you can pay more to get a core i3 or i5, then you are better off.
Other factors that you need to consider:
RAM: most of the laptops come with 4GB RAM. Ideally, you may need at least an 8GB or 16GB. In such a case, you can upgrade at an extra cost.
Hard Disk: Storage is an imperative component of your laptop. However, you don’t need a ton of internal storage and thus you can get a laptop with solid state drive (SSD) since you will get three times the speed. The newest PCIe x4 offer triple speed of traditional SATA.
Display: More pixels means more content that fit on the screen and the sharper the image. Some budget laptops still have 1366 x 768. However, we recommend paying extra for 1920 x 1080 also known as full HD. High end laptops have screen that are 3840 x 2160, 3200 x 1800 and 2560 x 1600 which looks sharp, consume more power and have low battery life. Touch Screen: if you are purchasing a regular laptop, the benefits of touch screen may not come your way.
Graphic Chip: If you are not creating 3D objects, playing PC games or editing, doing high-res video, an integrated chip will be fine. Discrete graphics processor from Nvidia or AMD is essential if you have any of the above needs. There are both low and high end graphics. Workstation or gaming systems usually have GTX 1650 GPUs or NVIDIA MX250 while mid models have RTX 2060 or RTX 2050.
Ports: It is helpful to have ports. Most mainstream will have HDMI and USB 3.0 port for video. Nevertheless, an increasing number of laptops uses Thunderbolt 3 ports or USB type-C. Type C is definite plus since you connect to docks and universal charge.
Connectivity: consider buying a notebook laptop with 4G LTE support if you need to use your laptop on the go. You will need to pay for the data bundles. If you need a laptop with the greatest and latest connectivity options, find one that support Wi-Fi support since it increases stable connection and theoretical throughput than 802.11ca. We suggest that you purchase laptop with Bluetooth 6 and latest standard that offers improved Bluetooth connectivity.
DVD/Blu-ray Drives: Very few devices come with optical drives since all movies and software are downloadable. Nevertheless, if you need read/write disc, you can buy an external one and connect it via USB port at KES2000.
Battery Life: If you are considering a large bulky notebook, you will need a desk near the outlet. It is important to read third part results from objective sources so that you will not gamble when it comes to battery life.
Plan Based on Your Budget: Nowadays, you can buy a refurbished laptop for under KES 20,000, however, if you can budget for more, you will get a better quality, display and exceptional performance.
These days, you can buy a usable laptop for under $200, but if you can budget more, you’ll get a system with better build quality, stronger performance and a better display. Here’s what you can get for each price range. Most of our laptops ranges from KSH 20,000 to 130,000. Most of the laptops under KSH 20,000 are mostly Chrome books which are Google centric OS with slower processor and minimal storage such as Dell Inspiron 11 3000 and HP stream 11. For a budget between KSH 35,000 and 60,000 you can get an intel core i5 with 4 to 8GB RAM and 500GB HDD. At this price, most note books don’t have an SSD storage.
For a budget between KSH 60,000 and KSH 90,000, you will get more premium designs such as metal finishes. For laptops above KSH 90,000, the notebooks are more powerful and portable. The screens have higher resolutions, discrete graphics and faster processor. The long-lasting and lightest ultra-portable like Apple MacBook and Dell XPS, tend to cost more than KSH 100,000. Mobile workstations and high-end gaming usually cost upward from KSH 150,000. Call Almiria today and we shall assist you based on your budget, specifications and needs.
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HP 14-inch Laptop, Intel Celeron, 4 GB RAM, 500GB
KSh40,700.00 Excl. Tax -
HP ProBook 430 G8, Intel Core i7 1165G7, 8GB DDR4 3200, 512GB SSD
KSh115,500.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14IML05, Intel Core i3 10110U, 4GB DDR4 2666 – 81WA00G0UE
KSh42,900.00 Excl. Tax -
HP Spectre x360 Convertible 14-ef0013dx, Intel Core i7 1255U, 16GB LPDDR4x 4266
KSh242,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 1, Intel Core i7 10510U, 8GB DDR4 2666 – 20T20024US
KSh176,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14ITL6, Intel Core i7 1165G7, 8GB DDR4 3200 82H701J7UE
KSh85,800.00 Excl. Tax -
HP 14s-dq5015nia, Intel Core i7 1255U, 8GB DDR4 3200 6G5L2EA
KSh95,700.00 Excl. Tax -
Dell Latitude E6420 Core i7 4GB 500GB Refurbished
KSh32,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP Pavilion Aero Laptop 13-be0003ne (600N1EA)
KSh82,500.00 Excl. Tax -
HP ProBook 430 G5 Notebook PC( 3VJ65ES)
KSh70,000.00 Excl. Tax - Sale!
HP Spectre 13 x360 Corei5-6200U 2.30GHz 4GB 128GB SSD Free dos 13.3 inch
KSh68,000.00 Excl. Tax - Sale!
Lenovo Ideapad 330S-141KB Core i7-8550U 8GB/1TB//DOS/14″ SLIM
KSh73,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP Probook 450 G5 – 15.6 Inch – Intel Core i7
KSh85,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP EliteBook 2560P 12.5 Inch Notebook PC Intel Core i5 2.7GHz 4GB 250GB
KSh20,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP EliteDesk 800 G5 TWR i7-8700 8GB DDR4 1TB SATA Intel UHD Graphics 630 Win10 Pro 3Yr – 8NC25EA
KSh126,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo E15,i7-1165G7,8GB DDR4,512GB SSD (20TD000EUE)
KSh115,500.00 Excl. Tax -
Asus FA506-TUF Gaming Core i7 16gb/1TB/256ssd
KSh145,200.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7, Intel Core i7 1255U, 16GB LPDDR5 5200 21CD002NUE
KSh308,000.00 Excl. Tax -
LENOVO THINKBOOK 15 G2 -20VE000WAD | Intel Core i7 1165G7 2.80GHZ, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD
KSh99,870.00 Excl. Tax -
Asus Zenbook UX463 core i7 10th Gen 16gb
KSh176,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo Ideapad S145 Core i5 4GB 1TB DOS 15.6″ Laptop – 81W800CDUE
KSh66,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus G2 ITG, Intel Core i7 1160G7, 16GB LPDDR4x 4266, 1TB SSD
KSh275,000.00 Excl. Tax - Sale!
Hp Envy 13-d099nr Intel Corei7-6500U 2.50GHz 8GB 128GB SSD 13.3″ Display Wifi Webcam HDMI Free dos Backlit Keyboard Natural Silver
KSh84,000.00 Excl. Tax -
LENOVO ThinkPad L13 Yoga,Ci7-10510U,8G,512G SSD,13.3″,W10P64,1Yr
KSh158,010.00 Excl. Tax - Sale!
Lenovo V130 Intel Core i3 7020U, 4GB DDR4 2133, 1TB, DVD±RW, Windows 10 Home, 15.6″ HD, Iron Grey
KSh43,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP 250 G6 – 15.6″ – Intel Core i3 – 500GB HDD – 4GB RAM – DOS
KSh40,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP SPECTRE X360 13-AW0003DX (2V874UA): 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM
KSh150,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP 15-bs020WM 15.6″ Touch Laptop (Dual Core, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Windows 10)
KSh36,500.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15IAU7, Intel Core i7 1255U, 8GB DDR4 3200 – 82RK003FUE
KSh92,400.00 Excl. Tax -
HP Spectre x360 Convertible 14-ef0023na, Intel Core i7 1255U, 16GB
KSh198,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo TB 15-ITL,i7-1165G7,8GB Base DDR4,512GB SSD (20VE00EMUE)
KSh106,700.00 Excl. Tax - Sale!
Hp Pavilion 14 Intel Core i5-6200U 2.30GHz 4GB RAM 500GB
KSh53,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo ThinkBook 15 G2 ITL, Intel Core i7 1165G7, 8GB DDR4 3200,512GB SSD
KSh101,200.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IHU6, Intel Core i5 11300H, 8GB DDR4 3200, 512GB SSD 82K100WEUE
KSh93,500.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G2 ITL Intel Core i5 1135G7, 8GB DDR4 4266, 256GB SSD
KSh85,800.00 Excl. Tax -
Dell Inspiron 3567 Laptop – Intel Core i3 15.6 Inch, 500GB, 4GB DDR4 RAM
KSh43,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo TB 15-ITL,i5-1135G7,8GB Base DDR4,512GB SSD (20VE0051UE)
KSh91,300.00 Excl. Tax -
Hp Spectre 13 X360 Intel Core i7-6200u 8GB 256GB SSD WiFi Webcam HDMi 13.3 inch TouchScreen Free dos Silver 1 Year Warranty
KSh120,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP PROBOOK 440 G7 14-INCH LAPTOP (10TH GEN CORE I5-10210U/8GB/1TB HDD + 256GB SSD)
KSh93,500.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 3, Intel Core i7 1255U, 16GB LPDDR5 4800 – 21BSS1BA00
KSh242,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Dell Inspiron 5570 Laptop Intel Core i7 15.6-Inch 1TB HDD 8GB RAM
KSh80,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP Pavilion X360 Core i5 1135G7 (1F4W5UA)
KSh120,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14ITL6, Intel Core i7 1165G7, 8GB DDR4 3200 82H701K3UE
KSh88,000.00 Excl. Tax - Sale!
HP – 250 G6 Celeron N3350 4GB RAM 500GB HDD W10h 15.6 inch Notebook
KSh34,000.00 Excl. Tax -
Lenovo IdeaPad S145 Laptop in Core i7 10th Gen, 8GB 1TB 15.6″ – 81W800PUUE
KSh90,000.00 Excl. Tax -
ASUS Zenbook UX463 Core I7 10th Gen – 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD ROM, 14″
KSh143,000.00 Excl. Tax -
HP 250 – UMA Celeron 3350 250 G6 / 15.6 HD SVA AG / 4GB 1D 1600 / 500GB 5400 / DOS2.0 / DVD-Writer
KSh29,500.00 Excl. Tax -
DELL LATITUDE 3500 LAPTOP Core i5-8265U 4GB 1TB 15.6 Inch HD/GeForce MX 130/WIN10P
KSh90,000.00 Excl. Tax