Best Laptops for Beginners — Our Top 3 Picks

① Performance: Skip the overkill specs — you just need something that'll last a few years.

If you're new to laptops, get something that feels snappy — seriously.

A lot of beginners tell me they don't need anything fancy. And honestly, that's mostly true — there's no point buying a powerhouse right out of the gate.

But here's the flip side: go too cheap and you'll end up with something so sluggish you just stop using it. And in 2025, you really want a machine that can handle AI tools without choking. That's the sweet spot I'd aim for 😉.

Here's what I'd look for as a baseline:

• CPU: Intel Core i5 or higher / AMD Ryzen 5 or higher
• RAM: At least 16GB
• Storage: 512GB SSD or more

Hit these marks and you'll have a genuinely comfortable experience, even as a complete beginner 👌

Here's the quick reason: modern computers eat up RAM. You'll find yourself browsing with a dozen tabs open, chatting with an AI assistant, and jumping into a spreadsheet — all at the same time. Unlike your phone where you're basically always in one app, on a laptop you've got multiple windows running at once. Keep these three specs in check and you'll stay snappy now and set for several years down the road.

One more spec worth mentioning: the display. It's easy to overlook, but cheaper laptops still ship with TN panels sometimes. TN displays are genuinely rough on the eyes — so look for IPS, or better yet, OLED. Colors look way better and your eyes will thank you after a long session 👀.

Display quality directly affects eye strain — don't overlook it.

② Price: Too cheap is bad. Too expensive is also bad.

I don't think most beginners go straight for the priciest option — but just in case: don't. Paying more doesn't always mean getting more.

The laptop world moves fast. The hot chip today is mid-tier in two years. So there's really no point in overpaying for specs you don't need yet. Get something well-priced and well-specced for right now — that's the smart play.

So: don't go too cheap, don't go overboard. Hit those spec minimums, keep the price reasonable. I know that sounds easier said than done — but that's exactly why I put this list together 🙆‍♂️. Everything I recommend here checks those boxes, so if you're stuck, just start here.

The right price matters as much as the right specs.

And where you buy matters too. Online is almost always cheaper.

Some people want to try before they buy at a retail store — which is fair. But retail stores have markup built in, and the sales reps aren't always steering you toward what's best for you. I've seen too many people walk out with something that wasn't the right fit.

For online, I'd go straight to the manufacturer's own store first. Official online stores tend to have solid pricing, run sales, and sometimes bundle in extras. Amazon can occasionally beat them, but the brand's site is usually worth checking first.

Save a little buying online, and put that cash toward accessories — a mouse, a USB drive, or a USB-C hub are things you'll probably end up wanting anyway. They add up, so it's nice to have some room in the budget.

A compact USB-C hub like this one is super handy to have.

③ Usability: Lightweight and portable wins for beginners.

Last thing: usability. With phones, there's a pretty clear default recommendation. Laptops are trickier — the day-to-day experience can vary a lot depending on the model.

My recommendation for beginners: go for 14 inches and under 1.4 kg (~3.1 lbs). That combination tends to work really well for people just getting started.

Big enough to work comfortably on, small enough to actually carry around.

A 13–14 inch screen isn't too cramped, and the laptop stays light enough that carrying it feels easy. Once you get into 15–16 inch territory, the screen is great, but picking it up every day starts to feel like a commitment. If you're buying a laptop, lean into the portability — 13–14 inches and under 1.4 kg (~3.1 lbs) is the sweet spot for most beginners.

Need more screen real estate? Just grab an external monitor. You can find decent ones pretty cheap on Amazon, and plugging in basically gives you a desktop setup at home.

That's exactly what I do. My daily driver is a lightweight laptop — at home it's docked with an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. But when I head out, I just grab it and go.

An external monitor at home or in the office is a serious productivity upgrade.

For most beginners, that size range is the way to go.

Those are the three things to keep in mind when picking your first laptop ⭕️.

The laptops in this article are handpicked to hit all those marks at a reasonable price. You're not going to go wrong with any of them 👍.