Everything to Look for When Buying a New Laptop in 2026 | WIRED

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Most people will be happy just buying the latest MacBook Air—and I'm happy for them. But you're not most people. You want to know that your money isn't being wasted, or that you aren't missing out on the latest and greatest technological innovation. Or maybe you're just wondering what’s changed in the past five years since you last bought a laptop.

Good news—that's how my brain works too. And I've been testing laptops for well over a decade now, including all the major releases so far in 2026. Feel free to skip around, but if you have a question about a laptop or a particular aspect of a laptop, you've come to the right place.

Updated May 2026: We've added the latest chip news from Intel, AMD, Apple, and Qualcomm. We also have details on changes in pricing, the memory shortage, the latest MacBooks, and the future of Chromebooks.

Table of Contents

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- Understanding Use Cases and Budget

- Which Operating System Is Best?

- Understanding Processor Names (CPUs)

- How Much Processing Power Do You Need?

- What About a Graphics Card?

- How Much RAM Do You Need?

- How Much Storage Do You Need?

- What Kind of Screen Should You Get?

- Check for Ports!

- Webcams, Hinges, and More

- Make Your Choice

- Where to Buy

Understanding Use Cases and Budget

Before getting into the nitty-gritty, I always recommend starting with the biggest question first: What will you do with your new laptop? Is this a business machine meant primarily for office work and other simple tasks that can be done in a browser? Or perhaps you have a burgeoning interest in a hobby like PC gaming, video editing, coding, or design. Maybe one of those hobbies is more of a job for you, meaning you'll want something that is designed from the ground up to accelerate work in those applications. On the other side of the spectrum, maybe you plan to primarily use your laptop on the go, whether that's on a plane or in coffee shops. In that case, portability and battery life may be the most important factors to consider.

The answer to those questions will help point you in the right direction and ensure that you don't overspend on features or performance you don't need. For example, buying a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air just because you have extra money to spend isn't a good idea. Neither is configuring a laptop with a faster processor with less memory. And all that brings me to the budget: $1,000 is an important price. There are many good options below that price, but it's the level at which you can expect laptops to feel premium and lack significant compromises. It's the starting retail price of the starting MacBook Air, as well as several Windows laptops. That's not to say that there aren't many cheap laptops these days that are surprisingly solid. In fact, with the launch of the $599 MacBook Neo earlier this year, we're seeing a surge of competition to create the best laptop at this price.

If your budget is truly only a few hundred bucks, though, you're better off buying a Chromebook than a bottom-tier Windows laptop. They'll feel faster and lighter, and usually get longer battery life, at least compared to similarly priced Windows laptops.

Which Operating System Is Best?

Courtesy of Apple

I won't waste your time repeating the same arguments you've probably already heard about why macOS is better than Windows, or vice versa. Both have strengths and weaknesses, and you likely already have opinions about them. The truth is that these operating systems are more similar today than they have ever been, not unlike Android and iOS. So if you're on the fence, I recommend opting for a laptop that runs whichever is most familiar.

For some people, however, it might be helpful to think through what software you need to run, and which operating systems it runs best on, which will help you determine the hardware you need. And let's not forget: ChromeOS and Linux are still alternative options. So, here's how the four available operating systems break down.

Windows

Windows is the stalwart default OS. Windows is the broadest and most widely used operating system, supporting the largest number of applications and hardware. Your workplace may require it, or maybe you need it to run a specific app. Every new Windows laptop released in the past few years comes with the latest Windows 11. Due to its comparatively open nature, new laptops arrive throughout the year, ranging from cheap laptops to blinged-out gaming laptops. There is even a variety of 2-in-1 laptops to consider, with adventurous designs and integrated touchscreens. Regardless of your budget, you'll have an easier time finding something in the Windows ecosystem that works for you. Since 2024, Microsoft has been pushing Copilot AI fe