Five mistakes people make when buying laptops – and how to avoid them

Buying a new laptop is exciting, but it can be nerve-racking too. It’s a big outlay, and you’ll be using your glossy new machine for all sorts of purposes, hopefully for years to come. So how do you cut through the technical jargon to find the one that’s really right for you?

We spoke to Deshan Sureshan, a tech expert at Currys, to find out the top five things you should keep in mind before you make your decision.

1 Not getting the spec you need
Most of us have only one laptop, and it ends up getting used for everything – video calling the family, backing up photos, live-streaming video games and even working from home.

There are many low-cost laptops on the market, and you’ll see that their manufacturers make some pretty big claims. So you need to work out if they’re a fit for you. To get an idea of the spec you need, ask yourself what you’ll mainly use your laptop for. If you’re a light user, there’s no point in buying a machine aimed at heavy using gamers. But if you are a dedicated gamer, you probably do need more oomph! Speed is an important consideration for many of us, and Deshan says that if you try to do meatier tasks on a laptop designed for light use it will be much slower than a higher spec machine, with all the frustration that causes. So he’s there to advise on finding the spec you need without breaking the bank.

2 Tunnel vision
While it’s helpful to consider what you’ll be using your laptop for, try not to get too hung up on any particular feature – it’s wiser to go for an all-rounder, says Deshan. Some devices are designed to have one really impressive feature but, to keep the price down, will have lower specs on everything else. So make sure you know what you’re getting – and that it will deliver the performance you need.

“Let’s say a customer wants high storage – that’s normally for photos,” says Deshan. “And with photos, you’ll also want photo editing software, so you’ll need a higher spec processor to be able to do that. You’ve got to think about every single part of a laptop.”

If you can, take advantage of options such as Currys’ flexible credit* and trade-in offers, allowing you to choose a machine that’s all mouth and all trousers.

3 Forgetting your phone
Chances are, your laptop isn’t the only piece of tech you own. So when you’re buying the laptop that you’re going to have for the next few years, think about your other gadgets that it’s going to work with.

For instance, Deshan says that customers with an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch often find MacBook notebooks more intuitive to use than PCs, especially since iCloud and FaceTime work on them too.

Similarly, consider the software you’re going to use. Computer programs and games have minimum spec requirements, so make sure your chosen machine not only matches, but ideally exceeds them, so you can keep using it lag-free in the future. (Some software, such as the music production programs Logic Pro and GarageBand, are exclusive to Apple, so it’s worth double-checking before you buy that your new laptop will run the programs you want.)

4 Neglecting maintenance
The process of getting the right laptop doesn’t end at the checkout. Like any big purchase, it’s important to do regular tune-ups to keep your new machine purring. Routine maintenance includes everything from installing software and driver updates to keeping the air holes clear so it doesn’t overheat.

It’s also smart to think about what you would do if your purchase breaks down, says Deshan. While manufacturers offer warranties with varying degrees of cover, most people don’t want to find themselves without a laptop if it has to go back to be fixed.

“It’s hard to predict how long a manufacturer will take over a repair, and students can’t be without their laptop,” says Deshan. “Currys has a Care & Repair plan, so that if your laptop breaks down, bring it in, we’ve got seven days to fix it. If we can’t, we’ll replace on request.”**

Related: ‘Have I really lost all my photos?’ 11 frequently asked tech questions

5 Buying blind
There’s a reason it’s considered good sense to test drive a car before buying, and the same goes for laptops. While you can purchase online, there’s no substitute for getting your hands on the product.

Even digital natives should think about it. Who hasn’t misjudged the size of something online, ending up with a comically mis-scaled item that has to be returned? Can you tell if a laptop screen will be sharp enough for hours of closeup use from just the pixel count? Can you know if the keyboard will feel comfortable by looking at a photo?

While many manufacturers don’t have showrooms outside of major cities, there’s a Currys store close to just about everyone. Experienced, friendly staff such as Deshan, plus an online tech support team that’s available 24/7, ensure help and advice is always at hand. Even better, Currys price matches any UK retailer – including online and internet discount codes too.***

Perhaps best of all, though, is the fact that if you buy in-store, and your laptop’s in stock, you can walk away with it the same day. No waiting for couriers, no “sorry you weren’t in” cards, just you, your new laptop, and your future.

Whatever you need from your laptop, Currys has the tech expertise and range, as well as payment/finance options, in every single store. To find a laptop that works for your needs, visit currys.co.uk

_{^{*Credit available on purchases from £99. Exclusions apply. Credit subject to status. Currys Group Ltd acts as a credit broker and not as a lender. Credit is provided by Creation Consumer Finance Ltd. Both Currys Group Ltd and Creation Consumer Finance Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
** T&Cs apply.
***Excludes ink, airtime & 3rd party sellers. Visit currys.co.uk for Price Promise details. Claim within 7 days}}