The best laptops to buy in 2017

Picking a winner when buying a new laptop is no easy task and finding the balance between the right features for you and a fair price can make for a daunting search.

Due to the range of models, operating systems and constant updates it can be hard to choose the right system that is going to last.

With so much choice just a few clicks away, We have broken down some of the main questions you should be asking when making a purchase and selected some of the best laptops, notebooks and Chromebooks you can buy, from the top performers to those which won’t break the bank.

Great value Chromebook with a flip screen for $279

A bigger screened Chromebook with plenty of connectivity for $279

Fantastic mid-range laptop with 8GB of RAM for $499

A Great Mid-Range laptop with 8Gb of Ram for $699

Quirky design that you can really write. 2017 version is $469 and older version is $319.35 or $386.71

Budget MacBook Air rival with great design for $899.99 or $842.21

Budget gaming laptop with solid battery life for $649 or $799.99

Apple's ever popular laptop for $850.00, $979, or $1,024.99

Microsoft's laptop with elegant design for $999, $1,299,$1,578.99,$2,199

Microsoft's great 2 in 1 laptop for $591, $648, $989, $1,217.92, or $1,298.99

Superb screen and battery life for $799, $827.88, $899.77, $949.11, $1,049.11, $1,249.99, or $1,573.98

Now with a price cut for this top-range Microsoft hybrid for $940.84, $1,063.23, $1,289.99, $1,499.51, $1,820, $2,049.21 , or $2,769.99

With the latest procesors and incredible screen For $1,279, $1,449, $1,479, $1,799, or $2,779

What kind of laptop do I need?

Even before you get down to the details it helps to know what sort of device you are looking for.

Do you need your device for the home or on the move? Will you only use it for email and web browsing? Will you want to stream videos or play video games?

For something cheap and portable a smaller Chromebook or laptop with low weight and a screen of around 11 inches would work, such as the Acer Chromebook R11 or the HP Steam 11. Both of these will cost under $300, although sacrifice power and storage capacity.

If you are using your laptop for email, typing documents or using the internet you may only need to spend a few hundred pounds, while you may need to spend a little more to stream videos to a higher quality.

For gaming you will need a more powerful device with a quality graphics card. The Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming is at the cheaper end of the scale for this, more expensive brands can cost thousands of dollars

And if you demand the highest specifications for video or photo editing you may want to look to a powerful MacBook.

A number of laptops are now also ‘two-in-one’ devices, that can act as a tablet by detaching from the keyboard. Other laptops also feature touchscreens with stylus pens, such as the Lenovo Yoga Book or the Microsoft Surface Laptop.

Do I want a Windows laptop, MacBook or Chromebook?

Current devices broadly run on three different operating systems that run on the three main varieties of laptop:

Windows 10

These are some of the most common devices and run Microsoft's Windows operating system. They are able to perform some of the widest ranging tasks and also have the greatest variety in models, brands and pricing. Microsoft has also recently released Windows 10 S, which is designed to compete with ChromeOS, limiting some apps and downloads.

Pros: Commonly used, greatest access to programs and apps, best for gaming

Cons: Considered more vulnerable to viruses

MacBook

The MacBook Pro, MacBook and MacBook Air are all Apple laptops running on macOS. They are generally seen as powerful, smooth and highly reliable.

Pros: Best for high performance use of creative software, connectivity to other Apple products and services

Cons: Limited access to some programs, expensive

Chromebook

Google’s ChromeOS used on Chromebooks is largely limited to online use, essentially operating like a web browser. Rather than installing programs users access them through Google's Chome Web Store. They have limited storage capacity, but are fast and inexpensive.

Pros: Cheap, fast, user friendly

Cons: Largely limited to online use and Google applications

A rough guide to tech terminology

RAM: This is the laptop’s main memory where programs and files are stored, 4GB should be your minimum unless you are buying a Chromebook, but for a high performance model you should look for 8GB or better.

CPU: The central processing unit (or CPU) essentially runs the programs on the computer. There is a huge range of options here, but generally you should be after an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor for top performance.

GPU: The graphics card (graphics processing unit or GPU) produces the pictures and images you see. High-end laptops for gaming or video editing will need a more powerful graphics card, such as those from the Nvidia GeForce or AMD Radeon series.

Solid state drive (SSD) vs hard disk drive (HDD): Many laptops now come with an SSD, which uses flash memory to draw up files faster. However, these can be slightly limited in size and more expensive than traditional hard drives.

Resolution: Screen resolution will determine the quality of a laptop’s display. Cheaper laptops will have in the region of 1366x768 pixels. More expensive models are likely to have 1920x1080, while some high-end models such as the top range Dell XPS 13 can give you a 3200x1800 display if you are willing to spend £1,000 or more.

Ports: The most common ports you will see will be for connecting standard USB-A cables. Some more recent models have started supporting USB-C, which is smaller, faster and reversible, but is not supported by so many devices. Other common ports are HDMI for HD video and Ethernet for wired internet connections.

How much do I want to spend?

The most important consideration to many buyers is cost; a low price doesn't always have to mean sacrificing performance if your laptop can still run the tasks you need.

Nowadays you can pick up a cheap laptop or Chromebook for less than $200. You will be quite limited in terms of performance on a laptop, although you could get a decent Chromebook for around that price.

For between $500 and $750 you should be expecting at least an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM or better, which will perform more complicated tasks faster.

Spending $1,000 and up you would be looking at a premium product sporting the latest generation of Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. You would want this for high intensity work such as video editing or gaming. A recent price surge from some Apple products and others has pushed more top laptops into this bracket.

What else to consider

• Screen size: Obviously a smaller screen means a smaller laptop, increasing its portability. Larger screen models will also need high resolution to create the perfect picture, but can be better if you want a more accessible screen or want to open lots of tabs.

• Weight: If you plan to lug your laptop to classes or work, you may want something that weighs 1.5kg or less. If it is going to sit on your desk most of the day you can always go for a bulkier model, which may be cheaper than a sleek ultrabook.

• Battery life: If you're going to be using your laptop at your desk for most of the time, battery life will be less of an issue, but if you work on the go or in a coffee shop, you don't want to get caught without power at a crucial moment. Some dedicated gaming laptops may only last four hours when under strain, while ultraportables can manage 12 hours or better.

Under $500

Best for Windows on a budget: Acer Swift 3

Screen: 14 inches

Weight: 1.5kg

Battery life: 10 hours

For a Windows-running performer, the Acer Swift 3 has the feel of a pricier laptop for under $500, with its smooth aluminium case reminiscent of more up-market devices.

The most basic model has an Intel i3 processor with an 128GB SSD and 8GB of RAM, enough for most daily tasks. Other features include a backlit keyboard and fingerprint scanner, and the Swift 3 is fairly connection-friendly with HDMI, USB and USB-C.

The drawbacks are largely limited to screen brightness. Improved processors will set you back another $250, although that is still great value for a solid device.

Acer Swift 3

ACER

+ Execellent windows laptop at budget price

+ i7 processors and 8GB RAM

- Screen brightness

Best for practicality: HP Chromebook 14

Screen: 14 inches

Weight: 1.7 kg

Battery life: 9.25 hours

For a bigger screen Chromebook this HP is a useable device at a reasonable price. The HP Chromebook 14 lacks some of the flashy touch screens of the latest generation, but comes with plenty of practical features including three USB ports, an SD card slot and HDMI connection.

In addition, the 1920x1080 screen resolution will provide a crisp, quality picture. This larger Chromebook will easily see you through most routine tasks.

HP Chromebook 14

+ Large screen

+ Plenty of ports

- Not the cheapest Chromebook

Best for simple stuff: Acer Chromebook R11

Screen: 11.6 inches

Weight: 1.25 kg

Battery life: 12 hours

At the cheaper end of the market, the Acer ChromeBook R11 comes in at less than $300 and looks good with a crisp white finish and aluminium top panel.

The R11 features a stylish touchscreen with 360 degree rotation, although the resolution is a little low at 1366 x 768 pixels it will look fine on the smaller screen. A solid battery life with its slimmer size and portability make this ideal for use on-the-go.

Acer Chromebook R11

+ Great value

+ A flipping touchscreen

- Low resolution

Under £1,000

Best-looking Windows laptop: Surface Laptop

Screen: 13.5 inch

Weight: 1.25 kg

Battery life: up to 14.5 hours

Microsoft's Surface Laptop is an attempt to "reset the category". There's no doubt it is an excellent device, with excellent battery life, a slim build and a unique Alcantara fabric keyboard, that feels almost warm to touch. It's also without doubt the most beautiful Windows device this year.

Drawbacks include the fact this laptop is built to run on Windows 10 S, Microsoft's new operating system that limits access to some apps. It should mean the laptop runs better in the long-run, but this has yet to be tested. The entry level model also comes with just 4GB of RAM, quite low for this price point.

Microsoft Surface Laptop

+ Stunning design and Alcantara keyboard

+ Gorgeous touchscreen

- 4GB RAM not enough power for some

Best for reliability: MacBook Air

Screen: 13.3 inch

Weight: 1.35 kg

Battery life: 12 hours

It has been two years since the last update to the MacBook Air, with many predicting a phase-out due to the launch of the new MacBook Pro in 2016. However, the Air remains the most affordable Apple notebook you can buy, all the more important given recent jumps in Apple prices.

Like most Apple products it is known for a battery life that lives up to expectations, in this case around

12 hours. The laptop also still retains traditional USB slots, unlike more recent Apple updates. While it remains a solid buy, it could be outshone by the upcoming Microsoft Surface Laptop (released in June).

Apple Macbook Air

APPLE

+ Best value Apple laptop

+ Quality Apple operating system

- Dated model

Best Apple alternative: Lenovo IdeaPad 710s

Screen: 13.3 inch

Weight: 1.1 kg

Battery life: 8 hours

A rival to the MacBook Air, the Lenovo IdeaPad 710s has been noted for its similarity in design to Apple’s cheapest model, matching its aluminium bodywork . As a cheaper alternative, the IdeaPad 710s now comes in at around $100 , $200 cheaper with an Intel Core i5-7200U processor. It is also thinner (at 14mm) and lighter than the Air.

With a display that can rotate to 180 degrees it is also flexible, but on battery life it is not as competitive as some other brands.

Lenovo Ideapad 710s

LENOVO

+ Great value for a powerful build

+ Light

- Battery life

Best for gaming for less: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming

Screen: 15.6 inches

Weight: 2.65kg

Battery life: Up to 10.5 hours

If you are not willing or unable to spend thousands of pounds on a gaming laptop, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming is a decent backup option. It is not going to outrun the high end machines, but for casual gaming you’ll get the performance you need.

The cheapest model comes in at under $1,000, which is a steal for a gaming ready device. The design includes Ethernet, SD, HDMI and USB ports and comes in a smart black and red finish.

Dell Inspiron 7000 Gaming

DELL

+ Best for gaming on a budget

+ Great battery for a gaming laptop

- Not for hardcore gamers

Best for standing out: Lenovo Yoga Book

Screen: 10.1 inch

Weight: 0.689 kg

Battery life: 15 hours

A stunning laptop/tablet hybrid launched last year, the Lenovo Yoga Book features an innovative keyboard and touchpad that stand out from the latest generation of devices.

The Yoga Book features no physical keyboard, instead presenting a virtual one which only switches on when you start using it. As well as a touch screen, the Yoga Book pushes itself as a device you can really write on, clipping a notepad over the virtual keyboard sees notes and drawings transmitted onto the main screen.

While it's an exciting offering at a low price, the keyboard is considered tricky to get used to, but the overall product is light, portable, and certainly something different.

Lenovo Yoga Book

LENOVO

+ Unique design

+ Featherweight

- Touch keyboard takes learning

Money no object

Best all-rounder: Dell XPS 13

Screen: 13.3 inches

Weight: 1.29kg

Battery life: 13 hours

The highly rated Dell XPS 13 is considered the lead challenger to the MacBook Pro. The XPS 13 features a virtually borderless 13.3 inch Infinity Edge display, which is available with touch.

Dell also claims the laptop offers up to 22 hours of battery life, although in practice this is more like 12 to 13 hours when streaming video. The latest models also run on Kaby Lake processors, Intel's newest and more powerful seventh generation processor.

Without the touch display you could currently pick up the new model for £1,149. The main drawback is an awkwardly placed webcam, sitting to the bottom left of the screen.

Best for Apple addicts: MacBook Pro

Screen: 13.3 inches

Weight: 1.37kg

Battery life: 10 hours

Coming four years after Apple’s last high-end laptop, the latest MacBook Pro is thinner, more powerful and features innovations not seen on other laptops, such as its 'Touch Bar' and a Touch ID fingerprint scanner. The Touch Bar offers shortcuts and replacing function keys, but is not supported on many apps just yet.

And the new edition has done away with some staple features, dropping support for standard USB sticks and SD cards, meaning you may have to buy new dongles or wires for its USB-C ports. Following a 2017 refresh to its range, models with the Touch Bar and fingerprint scanner.

The new MacBook Pro remains the top performing device for Apple lovers, with a beautiful screen, exquisite 'butterfly' keyboard and easy-to-use trackpad.

Best for versatility: Microsoft Surface Book

Screen: 13.5 inches

Weight: 1.6 kg

Battery life: 12 hours

Microsoft’s first ever laptop launched the Surface Book features a detachable 13.5 inch display and highly flexible hinge which gives Microsoft’s "ultimate laptop" the added versatility of a tablet.

The Surface Book has Microsoft calls a 'dynamic fulcrum hinge' connecting the keyboard and display to hold the heavier screen in place, since it holds all the parts to operate as a tablet.

The keyboard can also hold an optional discrete GPU, or graphics processor, which gives the laptop added power. This does add to the weight and top end price, and the Intel Core i5 model with the discrete GPU costs around $400 more.

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