Top 6 factors to consider when buying a laptop in Kenya
Top 6 factors to consider when buying a laptop in Kenya
Find your perfect laptop with our 2024 guide.
Although they are small devices, laptops are small yet powerful devices that carry demanding applications. It’s that time of the year for an upgrade and you want to purchase a new laptop. With many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right laptop that meets your needs and fits within your budget.
Notebooks, for instance, are an excellent choice if you are doing college classes, serious work, or playing at home.
Whether you need to type a research paper, work on some graphic design task, browse the web, work on video production, or play Need For Speed and other PC games, it’s all best done on a laptop.
Since they come in a variety of features, prices, and sizes, choosing the best laptop can be a challenge. But we have made it simple for you. Check these tips out on what to consider!
1. Performance and Processing Power
What’s the purpose of the laptop? Check on what you plan to do with the laptop, whether it’s for basic tasks like browsing and word processing or resource-intensive activities like automation, video editing, data analysis, or gaming.
If your purpose is labor intensive, look for laptops with faster processors, ample RAM, and dedicated graphic cards. This should be from 8GB RAM and running on SSD.
2. Display Quality and Size
Display quality and size considerations directly impact your visual experience. Opt for laptops with higher resolutions and vibrant colors for better image clarity and accuracy.
As for screen size, opt for 12.5 to 14-inch screens to have a full balance of portability and usability. If you don’t travel much or need a laptop for multimedia purposes, you can choose larger screens 15’’ plus. Here’s how the display sizes are categorized;
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11 to 12 inches. They offer maximum portability.
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13 to 14 inches. They give you enough screen, are lightweight, and easy to carry.
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15 to 16 inches. Consider this size if you are not planning to carry it a lot. 15 inches is the most common size.
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17 to 18 inches. The laptop is basically like a desktop and is ideal for high-end games or to do workstation-level tasks.
3. Battery Life and Portability
If you need a laptop that can keep up with your on-the-go lifestyle, battery life, and portability should be a necessity. Look for laptops with long-lasting battery life to ensure uninterrupted usage throughout the day. Also, consider the weight and dimensions of the laptop to ensure easy portability without compromising on performance.
4. Storage Capacity and Connectivity Options
You don’t want a ‘you do not have enough space’ error message when installing that software. Storage matters when choosing a laptop. If it’s for lightweight work, you can select one with 256GB or 500GB HDD.
You have expandable storage options like SSD or HDD. Hard disk drives were my favorite back in the day. Today, you don’t want to operate with a snail. SSDs are faster and quieter than HDDs and have faster load and boot times. Instead of a 500GB HDD, you can opt for a 256GB SSD.
Additionally, check for connectivity options like USB ports, SD card slots, Wi-Fi capabilities, ethernet cable ports, and HDMI. This ensures seamless connectivity with your devices and peripherals. USB 3.0 ports are a must-have in a new laptop.
5. Graphics Card
Unless your type of work requires a dedicated graphics card, this should not be a factor to worry you much. Graphic cards as the name suggests, improve the resolution of your computer.
Tasks like 3D modeling and video editing require a dedicated graphics card most preferably from NVIDIA or AMD.
NVIDIA works well with Adobe programs eg Adobe Premier Pro and Photoshop whereas AMD is good for cryptocurrency mining.
5. Budget and Value for Money
Determine how much you’re willing to spend and compare various options within that range. Look for laptops that offer a good balance between features, performance, and affordability.
You can choose laptops like HP, Dell, Samsung, ASUS, Lenovo, and Macbooks. Your budget will be influenced by the processor, purpose, RAM, storage, screen size, graphics, and connectivity options.
If your budget, for instance, is Ksh 60,000, you can choose one with specs like;
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G6 Intel Core i7 8th Gen 16GB RAM 512GB SSD 14 Inch FHD Touchscreen Display
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Operating system: Windows 10/11 Pro 64-Bit Edition
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Memory: 16GB DDR4 – 2666MHz SDRAM | (Memory soldered down)
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Storage: 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD
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Optical drive: None
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Graphics Processor: Integrated: Intel® UHD Graphics 620
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Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-8365U vPro™ (1.6GHz base frequency, up to 4.1GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 6MB L3 cache, 4 cores)
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Processor Family: 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor
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Display: 14 Inches (35.56cm) diagonal FHD IPS eDP + PSR BrightView WLED-backlit touch screen direct bonded with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5, 400 nits, 72% NTSC (1920 x 1080)
6. Processor/CPU
You can choose between Intel and AMD depending on your needs. For Intel, you can choose from Core i3 to pro-grade Core i9.
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Core i3: For basic tasks, like checking your email
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Core i5: For everyday multitasking and light gaming
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Core i7: For power users, gamers, and creatives
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Core i9: For powerful workstations and professional software for data science and simulations.
Besides you need to look for the ‘generation indicator.’ The higher the number, the newer the CPU.
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13th-gen: Released in 2022
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12th-gen: Released in 2021
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11th-gen: Released in 2020
How to Choose an AMD CPU
AMD’s popular line of CPUs is Ryzen. A Ryzen 5 is similar to Core i5.
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Ryzen 3. For basic tasks
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Ryzen 5. For multitasking
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Ryzen 7. For power users and gamers
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Ryzen 9. For professional workstations
The Best Places to Buy a Laptop in Kenya
Are you in the market for a new laptop in Kenya? With so many options available, it can be hard to find the best place to make your purchase. Whether you are looking for the latest high-end model or a budget-friendly option, we have compiled some of the best places to buy a laptop. You can buy from;
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Saruk Digital
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PC World
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Jumia Kenya
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Safaricom shops
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Computer Village
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Compland Technologies
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Comps 254
Before buying a laptop, do a little homework and search for reviews online. Consult before making a decision.