Every week, customers come into the workshop with the same problem: they bought a laptop that doesn't match how they actually use it. Too slow after six months, disappointing battery life, a mediocre screen, or the opposite, an over-specced machine they only use to check email. In 2026, the market is busier than ever, and the traps are many.
This guide gives you the keys to making the right choice, without needless jargon.
If you don't fancy reading the whole guide, remember this: work out how you'll use it before you look at any spec sheet. The fastest processor in the world is useless if the battery dies after two hours or the screen tires your eyes.
Work out your use case first
The first mistake is to start with price or brand. Begin with a single question: what is this laptop really going to be used for?
Everyday office and web
Email, word processing, spreadsheets, web browsing, video calls, by far the most common usage. The technical requirements are modest. A mid-range processor, 16 GB of RAM and a good SSD are plenty. No need to spend more than €600–700.
Student
A student needs light weight, battery life and toughness above all else. A 1.3–1.5 kg laptop that lasts 10–12 hours on battery is far more valuable than an extra 2 GB of RAM. Manufacturer warranty also matters: prefer brands that offer at least 2 years.
Gaming
Gaming is still the most demanding use case. You need a dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 or 50, AMD Radeon RX 7000/8000), a powerful processor and ideally a 144 Hz screen. The trade-off: gaming laptops are heavy (2–2.5 kg), hot and short on battery. Realistic budget: 1,000–1,500€ minimum to play decently.
Design, video editing, creative work
For Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, you need a good graphics card, 32 GB of RAM minimum, a screen with high colour coverage (100% sRGB or DCI-P3) and a fast SSD. MacBook Pros with Apple Silicon (M3/M4) are particularly effective in this category. Budget: 1,200–2,000€.
Mobility and ultra-portability
If you travel often or work on the go, weight and battery life come first. Ultrabooks (Dell XPS, LG Gram, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon) offer less raw power but real lightness (under 1.3 kg) and 12 to 15 hours of battery life.
The technical criteria in 2026
Processor: Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen AI
In 2026, the new-generation processors include dedicated AI engines (NPUs) that accelerate certain tasks such as background noise removal during video calls, image generation or real-time translation.
- Intel Core Ultra 200 (H/U series): good all-rounder, excellent software compatibility
- AMD Ryzen AI 300/400: remarkable integrated graphics, very good power/consumption ratio
- Apple M4 / M4 Pro: the benchmark for energy efficiency, top battery life and performance
For office use, the "U" (low-power) processors are more than enough. The "H" and "HX" are reserved for intensive use (gaming, editing, 3D).
RAM: 16 GB DDR5 minimum
In 2026, 16 GB of RAM is the new sensible minimum. Windows 11, modern browsers and office tools consume more and more. With 8 GB, you'll be cramped very quickly.
- 16 GB: office, web, study
- 32 GB: video editing, design, heavy multitasking
- 64 GB+: virtualisation, development, professional 3D
Watch out: on many modern laptops, the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, it can't be upgraded. Check this before buying if you think you might want to expand later.
NVMe SSD: the key to everyday performance
An NVMe PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 SSD is essential. A mechanical hard drive in 2026 is a deal-breaker, boot times measured in minutes, constant sluggishness.
- 256 GB: only enough if you store everything in the cloud
- 512 GB: comfortable minimum for most uses
- 1 TB: recommended if you store photos, videos or games
Battery life: don't trust the manufacturer's numbers
Manufacturers often quote battery life under ideal conditions (minimum brightness, no Wi-Fi, no apps running). In real use, divide by 1.5 to 2.
- A laptop advertised at "18 hours" rarely lasts more than 10–12 hours in mixed use
- Gaming laptops rarely exceed 3–4 hours in standard use
- ARM ultrabooks (Apple Silicon, Snapdragon X) are the real-world battery champions
Screen: the most underrated criterion
You'll spend hours in front of this screen, it may well be the most important factor for everyday comfort.
- Resolution: Full HD (1920×1080) minimum; 2K (2560×1440) recommended at 15 inches and above
- IPS or OLED panel: better colour reproduction and viewing angles than TN panels
- Brightness: 300 nits minimum for indoor use, 500+ if you sometimes work outdoors
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz is fine for office work, 120–144 Hz for gaming
Reliable brands in 2026 : and traps to avoid
The safe bets
- Lenovo (ThinkPad, IdeaPad): tough, excellent keyboards, good professional after-sales
- ASUS (ZenBook, VivoBook, ROG for gaming): good value, wide range
- Dell (XPS, Inspiron, Latitude): premium finish on XPS, good support
- HP (Spectre, Envy, Pavilion): balanced choice in every price tier
- Apple (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro): unmissable for macOS, exemplary battery life
- Acer (Swift, Aspire): honest entry-level, check model by model
Common traps
Refurbished without a serious warranty. A refurb bought from an approved reseller (Back Market Grade A, Reconext, or directly from Apple/Dell) is a good option. But beware of "refurbished" units sold on marketplaces with no warranty, the battery may be worn out, the SSD near end of life, and you have no recourse.
Unknown brands under €350. Laptops at €260 flood Amazon or AliExpress with attractive-looking spec sheets. In practice: an obsolete Celeron or Pentium Silver processor, 4 GB of soldered RAM, eMMC storage (as slow as a hard drive), a mediocre TN screen. These machines are frustrating from day one.
The "i7 but slow". An Intel Core i7 from the 10th generation (released in 2020) is less performant than a Ryzen 5 from 2024. Don't go by the name alone, look at the TDP and real-world benchmarks.
Before buying a refurbished laptop, always check: the battery state (cycle wear), the presence of an NVMe SSD (not eMMC), and a minimum 6-month warranty. A quick diagnostic at the workshop can save you from a nasty surprise.
Budget: what can you expect in 2026?
Around 500€
This is the student or office user's budget if they want something reliable. You'll find machines with AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 (13th/14th gen), 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD. The screen is often Full HD IPS, fine. Battery life varies (6–8 h in real use). At this price, go for Lenovo IdeaPad, ASUS VivoBook or Acer Swift.
Around 800€
Value improves significantly. You can reach Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen AI 7, better screens (2K, 120 Hz), aluminium chassis and more serious battery life. This is the ideal budget for 80% of users. Examples: ASUS ZenBook 14, Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro.
Around 1,200€
You enter the "premium" range: light, long-running ultrabooks (Dell XPS 13, LG Gram, MacBook Air M4), or mid-range creative laptops (2K+ screen with good colour coverage, 32 GB of RAM). The MacBook Air M4 at this price remains an absolute reference for battery life and silent performance.
1,500€ and above
MacBook Pro M4, Dell XPS 15, ASUS ProArt, machines with OLED or mini-LED screens, 32–64 GB of RAM, ultra-fast SSDs. For creatives, video editors, developers or demanding gamers. High-end gaming laptops (RTX 4070/4080) are also in this range, with weight and power consumption to match.
In summary
| Use case | Recommended RAM | Realistic budget |
|---|---|---|
| Office / Web | 16 GB | 500–700€ |
| Student | 16 GB | 600–800€ |
| Gaming | 16–32 GB + dedicated GPU | 1,000–1,500€ |
| Creative / Editing | 32 GB | 1,200–2,000€ |
| Ultra-mobility | 16 GB | 900–1,400€ |
Need help choosing or configuring your laptop? Sam can advise and set it up in Poitiers.
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