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10 Common Errors in Laptop Shopping and How to Avoid Them

Common Errors in Laptop Shopping

Did you know over 71% of people experience buyer’s remorse?

This is when you buy something you didn’t intend. It also occurs when you purchase something that turns out disappointing or not as great as you hoped.

Buyer’s remorse can feel like a stab in the heart if you experience it after purchasing an expensive laptop.

Fortunately, we’re here to help you avoid running into that issue. Check out our list right here tackling the different errors in laptop shopping and what you can do to buy the right one.

  1. Buying the First Available Laptop

One of the most common errors in laptop shopping is buying the first available product on store shelves. Because something looks good and affordable doesn’t automatically mean it’s a worthwhile purchase. It might simply be on sale because the store wants to get rid of a product they struggle to sell.

This is why you should take a moment to read the laptop’s specs. Check how powerful it is, which brand it comes from, and then go over reviews. Don’t simply base your purchase on face value and the given price.

List down the laptops that pass your standards and fit into your budget. Narrow down your choices and then make a decision based on which ones satisfy your needs the most. Keep in mind that it’s rare for a laptop to satisfy all your qualifications, so go for the one that achieves most of what you want.

  1. Not Reading Online Customer Reviews

It’s okay to trust online reviews. These aren’t false advertisements or positive media manufactured by the seller or manufacturer. These come from previous clients who already purchased and tested the laptop you like.

Make it a point to look for reviews that feature images or videos. These will show you firsthand how the laptop works. You’ll be able to see whether the laptop is as fast and as powerful as advertised.

Take your time, get on YouTube, and look for an unboxing video or breakdown video.

There are a lot of tech experts on YouTube that give a detailed analysis of gadgets, including laptops. They can provide better insight and comparison. This is especially useful if you’re not sure the laptop is worth its price tag.

  1. Not Comparing Laptop Prices

Another common error is to buy a laptop without first comparing prices. A particular laptop might seem affordable at the moment. However, you could probably get it for a lower price somewhere else.

Some stores will match the price. If you can prove that another major retailer sells the same laptop for a lower price, they’ll lower theirs to ensure you buy from them and not from the competition. This is a good system to maintain loyal consumers and to convince you to keep coming back.

Comparing prices might also help you find discount vouchers. These can lower the price even further. If you shop online, you might chance upon a voucher that grants free shipping.

That said, don’t include prices from an unknown seller. Those might be scams and you won’t get the right laptop. You might not get it at all!

  1. Not Checking the Features

A lot of people buy a laptop without checking the features. This is a major error because they’ll discover that the laptop isn’t capable of handling the apps or games that they bought it for. Avoid this by testing the laptop before buying it.

Interested in high-end video games? Do you want to play games in 4K UHD resolution, 120 frames per second, and with ray-tracing graphical options? Make sure that the laptop you are checking out has the latest laptop features to handle all of that!

Don’t simply check the specs. Having 32 GB RAM, an Intel i7 processor, and the latest Nvidia or AMD GPU isn’t a guarantee that it can do all of the listed things. Not all graphic cards can handle ray-tracing, for example.

  1. Getting the Wrong Size

Don’t buy a laptop without first considering its size. Buying a 13-inch laptop and a 17-inch laptop can make or break your experience. Yes, there is a difference between small and large laptops.

Smaller laptops are the ideal choice for people who need something portable. They’ll use the laptop mostly as a supplement for their tablet or desktop PC. It’s something for quick note-taking at school or the office.

Using a bigger laptop will only slow these people down. The laptop will be too heavy and the battery will drain too quickly.

For people who need a laptop for heavy-duty work, they’ll need a bigger laptop. Get a bigger laptop to fully enjoy 4K UHD resolutions, high-quality AAA video games, and high-end video editing. The battery will drain but these are people who always bring the charger cable to keep working or playing even when on the road.

  1. Buying an Underpowered Unit

Never make the mistake of buying a laptop that isn’t as powerful as you need. That should always be a top priority. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending more trying to upgrade the laptop.

You might even end up selling it only to go back to square one. You’ll have to go out and buy another laptop to satisfy your needs.

Look for a laptop that carries a label of guaranteed quality. A good example is the lineup of Lenovo laptops that utilize the new Intel EVO platform. If you’re not that familiar with Intel EVO, you can check out this link here for more information.

The Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) and Dell Alienware line are also good examples. Of course, you can also expect high-quality laptops from Apple’s MacBook lineup since there are no other brands or manufacturers that sell macOS laptops.

  1. Not Future-Proofing

Never make the mistake of buying a laptop for “today.” It should be a habit of buying a laptop that will remain relevant and powerful even three years from now. Otherwise, the laptop you get might not even run the apps you like in a few months as they continue to get updates.

  1. Outdated Components

Checking the specs isn’t enough. You also need to get familiar with the hardware components. You never want to buy a laptop that seems powerful but carries outdated parts.

For example, the seller might state that the laptop has 4 TB of hard drive storage space. That sounds great on paper but it won’t benefit you if the laptop relies on an old HDD (hard drive disk). It’s smarter to get a laptop with only 2 TB of hard drive space but uses a faster, more efficient SSD (Solid State Drive).

Check the processor as well. A lot of sellers fool people into thinking they’re getting a powerful laptop by stating the product uses an Intel i7 processor. However, they might not reveal that it’s a sixth or seventh generation version and not the latest 11th-generation i7 chip.

  1. Wrong OS

Avoid buying a laptop without first checking the operating system. Don’t settle for a laptop that doesn’t carry the OS that you need or want.

For example, you could end up buying a laptop with all the right hardware but it uses Linux or Chrome OS as its operating system. You won’t be able to enjoy all the added power since it doesn’t use the OS you need, such as Windows 11. Not all of the apps or games you like might work with the OS included.

  1. Wrong Types of Laptops

One common error is to get the wrong type of laptop. Yes, there are different kinds of laptops for different purposes. Not all of them function the same way.

MacBooks are great laptops for people already embedded in the Apple ecosystem. This is the type of laptop for people who prefer using Apple’s lineup of apps, cloud service, and mobile products. If you already own an iPad or iPhone, you can’t go wrong with a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

It’s also a good choice if you want everything already built-in. You can use a MacBook for podcasting, easy video editing, and office work.

Not a fan of Apple products? If you want high-end productivity and gaming, stick with the aforementioned Intel EVO platform offered by Lenovo laptops. High-end gaming laptops are the preferred products of choice for heavy usage.

If you’ll only use the laptop for messaging, conference calls, movies, and social media, you should invest in a notebook. These are small laptops intended for quick and easy use. They don’t have a lot of power, but they’re more portable, and their batteries can last for hours due to the less strenuous use.

Avoid These Errors in Laptop Shopping

Now you know the different errors in laptop shopping. Avoid making these mistakes and always refer back to this guide to buy the right laptop for your needs. Read reviews, check the parts, compare prices, and always look for a brand and OS you trust.

Of course, buying gadgets and learning technology tips don’t end with this list. We offer tons more informative posts for you to discover. Don’t hesitate to read more of our content today!

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Written by Abhishek Chauhan

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